upi--2020-02-19--Defector Thae Yong-ho: Trump’s North Korea policy was a failure

SEOUL , Feb. 19 ( UPI ) -- One of North Korea 's highest-ranking defectors , Thae Yong-ho , said on Wednesday that U.S. President Donald Trump 's outreach to Kim Jong Un , which led up to their summit in Singapore , was a `` total failure . ''
Thae , who was the North Korean deputy ambassador to Britain before defecting in 2016 , called the agreement signed by Trump and Kim at their historic Singapore summit in June 2018 `` the worst diplomatic catastrophe I 've ever seen in American foreign policy . ''
He made his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday afternoon in downtown Seoul .
Thae has been highly critical of the efforts by both the United States and South Korea to take a conciliatory diplomatic approach with North Korea and has long warned that Kim Jong Un would never get up nuclear weapons .
`` I strongly believe that the Kim Jong Un regime will not denuclearize at all , '' Thae said .
The former diplomat praised the more hardline stance on negotiations that the United States has taken since a second summit between Kim and Trump , held last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without an agreement .
Thae , who was labeled `` human scum '' by North Korean state media after his defection , announced last week that he will run for election to South Korea 's National Assembly in April under the main opposition party , the conservative United Future Party .
He said that his campaign would spread a message of democracy to North Koreans , especially the thousands of students , workers and diplomats living abroad who have smartphones and are able to access the internet .
`` This is a great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our democracy and freedom , '' Thae said .
`` North Koreans , who had little interest in South Korean elections in the past , have started to pay attention and become interested due to my campaign . ''
Thae would become the second North Korean defector to serve in the National Assembly if he is elected .
Cho Myung-chul , who came to South Korea in 1994 , served as a representative from 2012 to 2016 .
Thae also criticized the approach of South Korean President Moon Jae-in 's administration , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the first step in the peace process , arguing instead that humanitarian issues should be the focus .
`` If we only talk about cheap labor and natural resources , we are just exploiting North Korea , not using this as a bridge to unification , '' Thae said .
`` [ W ] e have to approach them in a way that is more humanitarian , because we share the same blood , because we are the same human race .
That is how we will be able to attract North @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with an economic marriage . ''
The defector will be running for office under the name Thae Gu-min , which means `` rescue the people . ''
`` I adopted the new name and registered it in 2016 to make it harder for the North to track me down and harm me , '' Thae said .
Thae addressed recent reports that his smartphone was hacked by North Korea , saying the attacks `` were not the first time . ''
He added that he is in regular contact with security experts and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I am now able to safeguard myself against these hackers ' attacks and I also have connections with the right organizations in the government in order for security , '' he said .
Thae said his long experience as a diplomat would allow him to speak with authority to both ruling and opposition party lawmakers in the National Assembly and help shape a new policy towards North Korea .
`` I have been talking for a long time about issues related to unification , but because I was just a normal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Thae said .
`` If I do get elected , I would like to use my experience and knowledge working in former North Korean diplomatic circles to draw up rational and effective diplomatic policies . ''
He added he would approach lawmakers in Washington if elected to try to convince them that the United States-South Korea alliance should be built on shared values rather than only economic interests .
`` I want to tell the American lawmakers that this alliance is not only for commercial purposes , '' Thae said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of values and for the sake of freedom and democracy . ''
Washington and Seoul have been deadlocked over a new cost-sharing agreement for maintaining the roughly 28,500 U.S. troops stationed on the peninsula .
Thae 's criticism of Trump 's diplomatic approach to North Korea echoes comments made by former members of the president 's administration in recent days .
Trump 's former chief of staff John Kelly was quoted in The Atlantic last week saying that Kim Jong Un `` will never give his nuclear weapons up , '' while former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday that the administration 's effort to get Pyongyang to denuclearize was `` going to fail , '' according to The Washington Post .
`` This idea that [ North Korea ] can be coaxed into giving up ... their nuclear program was flawed from the start , '' Bolton said .

North Korean defector Thae Yong-ho, who's running for a seat in South Korea's National Assembly, told reporters Trump's diplomatic approach to North Korea has failed. Photo by Thomas Maresca/ UPI
SEOUL, Feb. 19 (UPI) -- One of North Korea's highest-ranking defectors, Thae Yong-ho, said Wednesday that U.S. President Donald Trump's outreach to Kim Jong Un, which led up to their summit in Singapore, was a "total failure." Thae, who served as the North Korean deputy ambassador to Britain before defecting in 2016, called the agreement signed by Trump and Kim at their historic Singapore summit in June 2018 "the worst diplomatic catastrophe I've ever seen in American foreign policy." Advertisement
He made his comments at a briefing with reporters Wednesday afternoon in downtown Seoul.
Thae has been highly critical of the efforts by the United States and South Korea to take a conciliatory diplomatic approach with North Korea and has long warned that Kim would never give up nuclear weapons.
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"I strongly believe that the Kim Jong Un regime will not denuclearize at all," Thae said.
The former diplomat praised the more hard-line stance on negotiations that the United States has taken since a second summit between Kim and Trump, held last February in Hanoi, Vietnam, ended without an agreement.
Thae, who was labeled "human scum" by North Korean state media after his defection, announced last week that he will run for election to South Korea's National Assembly in April under the main opposition party, the conservative United Future Party.
He said his campaign would spread a message of democracy to North Koreans, especially the thousands of students, workers and diplomats living abroad who have smartphones and are able to access the Internet.
"This is a great opportunity to show the North Korean people our democracy and freedom," Thae said. "North Koreans, who had little interest in South Korean elections in the past, have started to pay attention and become interested due to my campaign."
Thae would become the second North Korean defector to serve in the National Assembly if he is elected. Cho Myung-chul, who came to South Korea in 1994, served as a representative from 2012 to 2016.
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Thae also criticized the approach of South Korean President Moon Jae-in's administration, which has favored economic engagement with North Korea as the first step in the peace process, arguing instead that humanitarian issues should be the focus.
"If we only talk about cheap labor and natural resources, we are just exploiting North Korea, not using this as a bridge to unification," Thae said. "[W]e have to approach them in a way that is more humanitarian, because we share the same blood, because we are the same human race. That is how we will be able to attract North Koreans to agree with unification, not with an economic marriage."
The defector will be running for office under the name Thae Gu-min, which means "rescue the people."
"I adopted the new name and registered it in 2016 to make it harder for the North to track me down and harm me," Thae said.
Thae addressed recent reports that his smartphone was hacked by North Korea, saying the attacks "were not the first time."
He added that he is in regular contact with security experts and government agencies to protect against future attempts.
"I am now able to safeguard myself against these hackers' attacks, and I also have connections with the right organizations in the government in order for security," he said.
Advertisement
Thae said his long experience as a diplomat would allow him to speak with authority to both ruling and opposition party lawmakers in the National Assembly and help shape a new policy toward North Korea.
"I have been talking for a long time about issues related to unification, but because I was just a normal citizen, my voice was not heard," Thae said. "If I do get elected, I would like to use my experience and knowledge working in former North Korean diplomatic circles to draw up rational and effective diplomatic policies."
He added he would approach lawmakers in Washington if elected to try to convince them that the United States-South Korea alliance should be built on shared values rather than only economic interests.
"I want to tell the American lawmakers that this alliance is not only for commercial purposes," Thae said. "This alliance must be for the sake of values and for the sake of freedom and democracy."
Washington and Seoul have been deadlocked over a new cost-sharing agreement for maintaining the roughly 28,500 U.S. troops stationed on the peninsula.
Thae's criticism of Trump's diplomatic approach to North Korea echoes comments made by former members of the president's administration in recent days.
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Trump's former chief of staff John Kelly was quoted in The Atlantic last week saying that Kim "will never give his nuclear weapons up," while former national security adviser John Bolton said Monday that the administration's effort to get Pyongyang to denuclearize was "going to fail," according to The Washington Post.
"This idea that [North Korea] can be coaxed into giving up ... their nuclear program was flawed from the start," Bolton said.


upi--2020-02-19--6 Democrats, including rising Michael Bloomberg, set for debate in Las Vegas

Feb. 19 ( UPI ) -- Six Democratic presidential candidates , including Michael Bloomberg for the first time , will take the stage for a debate in Nevada on Wednesday ahead of the state 's caucuses this weekend .
The party 's ninth debate will begin at 9 p.m. EST at the Paris Las Vegas hotel and will be broadcast by NBC News and in Spanish on Universo and Noticias Telemundo .
The candidates who have qualified for the debate are Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders ; former South Bend , Ind.
, Mayor Pete Buttigieg ; Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vice President Joe Biden and Bloomberg .
A lot of attention is expected to be focused on Bloomberg , the former Republican and New York City mayor who has surged in the polls recently after entering the race last fall .
The billionaire has not accepted any public donations for his campaign , and made the debate field after the Democratic Party eliminated the donor criteria .
`` Mike is looking forward to joining the other Democratic candidates on stage and making the case for why he 's the best candidate to defeat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Bloomberg campaign manager Kevin Sheekey said Tuesday .
Some of the other candidates in the field have acknowledged , and denounced , Bloomberg 's rise .
`` It 's a shame Mike Bloomberg can buy his way into the debate , '' Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren , who underperformed in Iowa and New Hampshire , wrote on Twitter .
`` But at least now primary voters curious about how each candidate will take on Donald trump can get a live demonstration of how we each take on an egomaniac billionaire . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ caucuses Saturday in Nevada , the third state to vote on the primary calendar .
Early voting began last weekend and more than 11,000 ballots have been cast .
The debate also comes a day after Sanders ' campaign requested a recount of the Iowa caucuses after a recanvass showed that Buttigieg won by less than one-hundredth of a percent in state delegate equivalents but still won two more delegates .
After both Iowa and New Hampshire , Buttigieg leads all candidates with 22 pledged delegates , followed by Sanders with 21 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Biden with 6 .
Bloomberg has not won any delegates because he was n't on the ballot in either state .
President Donald Trump is also set to hold a rally in Las Vegas on Friday , even though Nevada elected to cancel its Republican caucuses .
`` The Republican Party is 100 percent behind the president of the United States in the state of Nevada , '' said Michael McDonald , chairman of the state Republican Party .
`` I can speak to that without question .
The enthusiasm is enormous @ @

Campaign buttons for Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg are seen on a table in New York City before a "Women for Mike" event on January 15. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 19 (UPI) -- Six Democratic presidential candidates, including Michael Bloomberg for the first time, will take the stage for a debate in Nevada on Wednesday ahead of the state's caucuses this weekend. The party's ninth debate will begin at 9 p.m. EST at the Paris Las Vegas hotel and will be broadcast by NBC News and in Spanish on Universo and Noticias Telemundo. Advertisement
The candidates who have qualified for the debate are Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders; former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg; Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren; Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar; former Vice President Joe Biden and Bloomberg.
A lot of attention is expected to be focused on Bloomberg, the former Republican and New York City mayor who has surged in the polls recently after entering the race last fall. The billionaire has not accepted any public donations for his campaign, and made the debate field after the Democratic Party eliminated the donor criteria.
"Mike is looking forward to joining the other Democratic candidates on stage and making the case for why he's the best candidate to defeat Donald Trump and unite the country," Bloomberg campaign manager Kevin Sheekey said Tuesday.
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Some of the other candidates in the field have acknowledged, and denounced, Bloomberg's rise.
"It's a shame Mike Bloomberg can buy his way into the debate," Warren wrote on Twitter. "But at least now primary voters curious about how each candidate will take on Donald Trump can get a live demonstration of how we each take on an egomaniac billionaire."
Wednesday's debate comes ahead of the caucuses Saturday in Nevada, the third state to vote on the primary calendar. Early voting began last weekend and more than 11,000 ballots have been cast.
The debate also comes a day after Sanders' campaign requested a recount of the Iowa caucuses after a recanvass showed that Buttigieg won by less than one-hundredth of a percent in state delegate equivalents but still won two more delegates.
After Iowa and New Hampshire, Buttigieg leads all candidates with 22 pledged delegates, followed by Sanders with 21, Warren with 8, Klobuchar with 7 and Biden with 6. Bloomberg has not won any delegates because he wasn't on the ballot in either state.
Trump is set to hold a rally in Las Vegas on Friday, even though Nevada elected to cancel its Republican caucuses.
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"The Republican Party is 100 percent behind the president of the United States in the state of Nevada," said Michael McDonald, chairman of the state Republican Party. "I can speak to that without question. The enthusiasm is enormous."


upi--2020-02-19--Stupid gene is at work in today's domestic, foreign policy

In my book , Anatomy of Failure : Why America Loses Every War It Starts , I explain that one of the endemic causes of failure was due to the acute lack of knowledge and understanding of the circumstances in which force was used .
Obviously , ideology , politics , group think , bureaucratic ineptness and other factors contributed .
However , in retrospect , perhaps another reason demonstrated failure : stupidity .
And , quixotically , is it possible that stupidity arises from a `` stupid gene '' deeply embedded in human DNA ?
Of course , what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an error or making a mistake ?
Is cognitive dissonance , that is , actions known to be harmful or dangerous , such as smoking or taking risks that are foolish , simply an extension of stupidity ?
Or is stupidity ignorance and lack of intelligence and IQ ?
And what happens when something stupid , such as making the wrong decision , turns out well or a stupid bet returns a huge amount of money ?
That said , many decisions made by states are , by any definition , `` stupid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allowed the events of 1914 to turn into a world war .
Yet that happened .
No capable American politician would allow the national debt to soar to $ 23 trillion , accepting annual deficits in excess of $ 1 trillion .
Yet , that is the case .
American failure in using force often arose from various degrees of stupidity , in turn arising from arrogance and a sense of superiority .
For the United States , for understandable reasons , World War II produced arrogance and this sense of superiority .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and protective isolation provided by two vast oceans and natural resources of incalculable value moderated and contained most of stupidity .
The attack on Pearl Harbor and the sinking the American battle fleet changed that in December 1941 .
In three and a half years , from a standing start , the arsenal of democracy armed America and its allies , ultimately forcing the fascist enemies of Japan , Italy and Germany to surrender unconditionally .
In 1945 , with much of the world in ruin , America was the strategic , military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That achievement led to an arrogance and sense of superiority , as well as an unshakeable belief in the righteousness of democracy and its universal appeal .
That would lead to disastrous and some stupid decisions .
For the first two decades of the Cold War , America acted often with impunity in overthrowing or attempting to overthrow regimes antithetical to democracy , from Latin America to Iran .
As John Kennedy put it in 1961 , `` We will pay any price and bear any burden '' to advance the cause of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promises and pretenses were .
In retrospect , three presidents made stupid decisions that produced 58,000 dead Americans and countless Vietnamese in the first war the United States lost since the Civil War .
Failure would persist .
Grenada , Lebanon , Afghanistan and the second Iraq War turned to be disasters of one form or another .
Only the George H.W .
Bush administration avoided the peril of the `` stupid gene . ''
This gene is not confined to these shores .
Brexit may well prove to be a really stupid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And China 's handling of the coronavirus is bordering on stupidity run amok .
Alas , the stupid gene is at work in today 's American domestic politics .
The failed Democratic ploy to impeach and convict the president ; a Democratic Party split between nominating the inconceivable or the unelectable ; and the demise of the Republican Party under Donald Trump are the latest symptoms of this gene 's presence .
No doubt the 2020 campaign will produce many more acts of stupidity beyond the Iowa caucus debacle .
Sadly , foreign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last and current administration have made China and Russia not merely competitors but adversaries and potential enemies .
U.S. military strategy is `` to deter and , if war comes , defeat '' either .
To say this is stupid understates the meaning of this word .
No one has defined what deter or defeat means and whether these are even achievable aims .
Yes , China and Russia have interests that conflict with ours , allies and friends .
Yet , which of these conflicts would cause a war ?
No one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hypothetical scenarios such as China invading Taiwan or Russia moving into the Baltics , the latter an assault no Russian leader would seriously consider .
Historians well into the future will ponder how all this has happened and why so many stupidity induced acts occurred simultaneously .
Possibly , as Shakespeare observed , `` To err is human . ''
And possibly that underestimates the power of the stupid gene .
One can only hope that a future Nobel laureate is working hard on a cure .
Harlan Ullman is a senior adviser @ @ @ @ @ @ @ book is `` Anatomy of Failure : Why America Has Lost Every War It Starts . ''
Follow him @ harlankullman .

The demise of the Republican Party under President Donald Trump is a symptom of the stupidity gene. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
In my book, Anatomy of Failure: Why America Loses Every War It Starts, I explain that one of the endemic causes of failure was due to the acute lack of knowledge and understanding of the circumstances in which force was used. Obviously, ideology, politics, group think, bureaucratic ineptness and other factors contributed. However, in retrospect, perhaps another reason demonstrated failure: stupidity. And, quixotically, is it possible that stupidity arises from a "stupid gene" deeply embedded in human DNA? Of course, what is stupid as opposed simply to committing an error or making a mistake? Is cognitive dissonance, that is, actions known to be harmful or dangerous, such as smoking or taking risks that are foolish, simply an extension of stupidity? Or is stupidity ignorance and lack of intelligence and IQ? And what happens when something stupid, such as making the wrong decision, turns out well or a stupid bet returns a huge amount of money? Advertisement Advertisement
That said, many decisions made by states are, by any definition, "stupid." No rational person would have allowed the events of 1914 to turn into a world war. Yet that happened. No capable American politician would allow the national debt to soar to $23 trillion, accepting annual deficits in excess of $1 trillion. Yet, that is the case.
American failure in using force often arose from various degrees of stupidity, in turn arising from arrogance and a sense of superiority. For the United States, for understandable reasons, World War II produced arrogance and this sense of superiority. America's first 14 decades of existence and protective isolation provided by two vast oceans and natural resources of incalculable value moderated and contained most of stupidity. The attack on Pearl Harbor and the sinking the American battle fleet changed that in December 1941.
In three and a half years, from a standing start, the arsenal of democracy armed America and its allies, ultimately forcing the fascist enemies of Japan, Italy and Germany to surrender unconditionally. In 1945, with much of the world in ruin, America was the strategic, military and economic colossus dominating the globe. That achievement led to an arrogance and sense of superiority, as well as an unshakeable belief in the righteousness of democracy and its universal appeal.
Advertisement
That would lead to disastrous and some stupid decisions. For the first two decades of the Cold War, America acted often with impunity in overthrowing or attempting to overthrow regimes antithetical to democracy, from Latin America to Iran. As John Kennedy put it in 1961, "We will pay any price and bear any burden" to advance the cause of liberty.
Vietnam showed how wrong those promises and pretenses were. In retrospect, three presidents made stupid decisions that produced 58,000 dead Americans and countless Vietnamese in the first war the United States lost since the Civil War.
Failure would persist. Grenada, Lebanon, Afghanistan and the second Iraq War turned to be disasters of one form or another. Only the George H.W. Bush administration avoided the peril of the "stupid gene." This gene is not confined to these shores. Brexit may well prove to be a really stupid decision taken by the United Kingdom. And China's handling of the coronavirus is bordering on stupidity run amok.
Alas, the stupid gene is at work in today's American domestic politics. The failed Democratic ploy to impeach and convict the president; a Democratic Party split between nominating the inconceivable or the unelectable; and the demise of the Republican Party under Donald Trump are the latest symptoms of this gene's presence. No doubt the 2020 campaign will produce many more acts of stupidity beyond the Iowa caucus debacle.
Advertisement
Sadly, foreign policy is far from immune. The last and current administration have made China and Russia not merely competitors but adversaries and potential enemies. U.S. military strategy is "to deter and, if war comes, defeat" either. To say this is stupid understates the meaning of this word.
No one has defined what deter or defeat means and whether these are even achievable aims. Yes, China and Russia have interests that conflict with ours, allies and friends. Yet, which of these conflicts would cause a war? No one has answered this question other than through hypothetical scenarios such as China invading Taiwan or Russia moving into the Baltics, the latter an assault no Russian leader would seriously consider.
Historians well into the future will ponder how all this has happened and why so many stupidity induced acts occurred simultaneously. Possibly, as Shakespeare observed, "To err is human." And possibly that underestimates the power of the stupid gene. One can only hope that a future Nobel laureate is working hard on a cure.
Harlan Ullman is a senior adviser at the Atlantic Council. His latest book is "Anatomy of Failure: Why America Has Lost Every War It Starts." Follow him @harlankullman.


upi--2020-02-19--Passengers disembark from coronavirus-infected cruise ship

Feb. 19 ( UPI ) -- Hundreds of passengers of a coronavirus-stricken cruise ship docked off Japan 's eastern coast began disembarking Wednesday after their 14-day quarantine expired .
The Diamond Princess , with 2,666 passengers and 1,045 crew , has been anchored in Yokohama Port since Feb. 3 , after a former passenger was confirmed sickened with a virus that originated early December in China where it has killed over 2,000 people but has since spread across the globe .
The vessel was placed under a two-week quarantine , during which the virus spread among its passengers , infecting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ half of all confirmed cases outside of China .
The United States and South Korea have already repatriated nationals who were passengers of the cruise ship while several others are chartering flights to evacuate their citizens .
Ship operator Princess Cruises said in a Wednesday update that passengers who are disembarking from the ship will be those who are not taking government repatriation flights home .
`` The disembark process will be undertaken over several consecutive days since they will be tested and the testing and results require two to three days to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` A certificate that indicates a negative COVID-19 test result is expected to be granted by Japanese health authorities to exit the ship . ''
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention commended Japan for its quarantine efforts but said in an update that `` it may not have been sufficient to prevent transmission among individuals on the ship . ''
The rate of infection among the passengers represents an ongoing public health risk and the remaining Americans on board the vessel will be required to wait another 14 days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 before they will be allowed to board flights for the United States , the federal health agency said .
`` If an individual from this cruise arrives in the United States before the 14-day period ends , they will still be subject to a mandatory quarantine , '' it said , stating there could be more infections among the Diamond Princess ' remaining passengers .
The United States returned 328 Americans from the cruise ship earlier this week leaving just under 100 onboard .
Canada , Australia and Hong Kong on Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its citizens , Princess Diamond said .
Canada said Tuesday that an aircraft was in the air heading for Japan to repatriate its citizens with plans on returning to North America on Thursday .
It did not state how many of the 256 Canadian passengers of the Diamond Princess would be evacuated , though the 43 who have tested positive for the virus will remain in the hospital in Japan .
Those who return will be placed in a second 14-day quarantine at the NAV Canada Training Institute in Cornwall , Ontario .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive for the virus will not be admitted on the flight , Canda said .
Hong Kong said it has 352 residents on board the cruise ship including 50 infected with the disease , and it had a team in Japan working to return them to the semi-autonomous region of China .
Secretary for Security John Lee told reporters Wednesday during a press conference that more than 200 have said they will take the flight and that they are pressing the Japanese authorities to give priority treatment to their citizens .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them all to come down , '' Chan said .
`` Our aim is to allow all Hong Kong residents to be allowed to disembark today so that they will all be sent back to Hong Kong as soon as possible . ''
The Hong Kong government said those passengers who return will also be subjected to a two-week quarantine .
`` This is an imperative for safeguarding the health of the passengers concerned and the health of their families and for preventing and controlling the spread of the epidemic , '' it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said it was to evacuate more than 200 nationals on Wednesday from the ship who will be placed under a two-week quarantine on their return .
Britain has said it was also working on returning its citizens on the ship .
Wednesday morning , Chinese health officials said the death toll from COVID-19 rose by 136 deaths that occurred in the previous 24 hours to 2,004 while the number of confirmed cases of the virus climbed by 1,749 to 74,185 .
Globally , the death toll stood at a minimum of 2,009 as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hong Kong and Taiwan have each reported a death outside mainland China .

1/3
The quarantined cruise ship Diamond Princess is seen at the Daikoku Pier in Yokohama, Kanagawa-Prefecture, Japan on Wednesday. Passengers who have tested negative for the novel coronavirus began disembarking from cruise ship today. Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 19 (UPI) -- Chinese health officials early Thursday reported 114 new deaths that occurred in the previous 24 hours, raising the death toll for mainland China to 2,118 since the epidemic began in December. Among the newly reported deaths, 108 occurred in the epicenter Hubei province with 88 in Wuhan, the city where the disease is believed to have emerged from, China's National Health Commission said early Thursday in its daily update on the epidemic. Advertisement
The health officials also reported 394 newly confirmed cases over the previous 24 hours with 349 recorded in Hubei, raising the mainland total to 74,576.
While the rate of infection and the number of daily deaths in China appears to be steadily declining, outside of mainland China at least three more patients died.
Iran's head of public relations at the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Kianush Jahanpur, confirmed via Twitter its first two patients infected with COVID-19 in the city of Qom had died -- the first confirmed deaths to the disease in the Middle East.
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The Chinese health officials also confirmed on Thursday a second person had died in Hong Kong from the disease. The semiautonomous region recorded its first death on Feb. 4.
Globally, the death toll stood at a minimum of 2,126 as France, the Philippines, Japan and Taiwan have each reported a death outside mainland China.
The new taillies follow hundreds of passengers of a coronavirus-stricken cruise ship docked off Japan's eastern coast began disembarking Wednesday after their 14-day quarantine expired.
The Diamond Princess, with 2,666 passengers and 1,045 crew, has been anchored in Yokohama Port since Feb. 4, after a former passenger was confirmed sickened with the virus.
The vessel was placed under a two-week quarantine, during which the virus spread among its passengers, infecting at least 621 people -- more than half of all confirmed cases outside China, after the Ministry of Health confirmed late Wednesday an additional 79 cases. All ill passengers have been transported to medical institutions on land.
The United States and South Korea repatriated nationals who were passengers of the cruise ship earlier in the week, while several countries are chartering flights to evacuate their citizens.
Ship operator Princess Cruises said in a Wednesday update that passengers who are disembarking from the ship will be those who are not taking government repatriation flights home.
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"The disembark process will be undertaken over several consecutive days, since they will be tested, and the testing and results require two to three days to complete," the cruise line said. "A certificate that indicates a negative COVID-19 test result is expected to be granted by Japanese health authorities to exit the ship."
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention commended Japan for its quarantine efforts but said in an update that "it may not have been sufficient to prevent transmission among individuals on the ship."
The rate of infection among the passengers represents an ongoing public health risk, and the remaining Americans on board the vessel will be required to wait another 14 days without exhibiting symptoms or testing positive for COVID-19 before they will be allowed to board flights for the United States, the federal health agency said.
"If an individual from this cruise arrives in the United States before the 14-day period ends, they will still be subject to a mandatory quarantine," the CDC said, stating there could be more infections among the Diamond Princess' remaining passengers.
The United States returned 328 Americans from the cruise ship earlier this week leaving just under 100 on board.
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Early Thursday, a Cathay Pacific flight touched down in Hong Kong, repatriating 106 passengers of the cruise ship who were deplaned and then escorted to a government quarantine facility for the next 14 days.
Hong Kong said it had 352 residents on board the cruise ship, including 50 infected with the disease who will remain in Japan a medical facilities.
Secretary for Security John Lee told reporters Wednesday during a press conference that more than 200 have said they wanted to take the flight and that they were pressing the Japanese authorities to give priority treatment to their citizens.
"We are pressing the Japanese authorities to allow them all to come down," Lee said. "Our aim is to allow all Hong Kong residents to be allowed to disembark today, so that they will all be sent back to Hong Kong as soon as possible."
The Hong Kong government said the passengers who return will also be subjected to a two-week quarantine.
"This is an imperative for safeguarding the health of the passengers concerned and the health of their families and for preventing and controlling the spread of the epidemic," it said in a statement.
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Meanwhile, Canada and Australia said Wednesday they were continuing to arrange chartered flights for its citizens, the cruise line said.
Canada said Tuesday an aircraft was in the air heading for Japan to repatriate its citizens with plans to return to North America on Thursday. It did not state how many of the 256 Canadian passengers of the Diamond Princess would be evacuated, though the 43 who have tested positive for the virus will remain in the hospital in Japan.
Those who return will be placed in a second 14-day quarantine at the NAV Canada Training Institute in Cornwall, Ontario.
Passengers who suffer from symptoms or test positive for the virus will not be admitted on the flight, Canda said.
Australia also said it was to evacuate more than 200 nationals on Wednesday from the ship who will be placed under a two-week quarantine on their return.
Britain has said it was also working on returning its citizens on the ship.


upi--2020-02-19--Massachusetts lawmaker arrested for corruption

Feb. 19 ( UPI ) -- Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service have arrested a Massachusetts state lawmaker on more than two dozen corruption charges for embezzling campaign funds and bank and tax fraud , authorities said .
Massachusetts Rep. David Nangle was arrested at his home in Lowell early Tuesday , the FBI announced via Twitter .
According to the unsealed 28-count indictment , the Democratic politician , who has served the 17th Middlesex District since 1999 , is accused of conducting a scheme that began in 2014 that allowed him to steal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign , a bank and the IRS to make personal purchases and to cover his gambling habit .
`` As alleged , Rep. Nangle used the power of his position on Beacon Hill to fund a lifestyle out of his reach , unwittingly financed by those who put him there , while also cheating you , the taxpayers , '' Special Agent in Charge Joseph R. Bonavolonta of the FBI Boston Division said in a statement .
`` Today 's arrest should be a warning to others that corruption in any form , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be tolerated . ''
The 28-page indictment alleges that from 2014 to 2019 , the 59-year-old former ethics committee chairman was heavily in debt as a result of `` extensive gambling '' at several casinos and at Internet gambling sites , and to sustain his habit he used campaign funds , defrauded his bank and failed to report income to the IRS .
He also used the funds to cover golf club dues , rent cars and buy flowers for his girlfriends , gas , hotels and restaurants .
U.S. Attorney Andrew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nangle is accused of stealing more than $ 70,000 from his campaign through the use of a debit card and buying gift cards purportedly for his staff and using them for his own expenses .
According to court documents , Nangle knew he was barred from using his campaign funds for personal purchases and concealed his scheme by filing false reports to an independent state agency to disguise his spending .
For example , he listed $ 1,675 he spent at a Lowell golf club on membership dues and locker fees as `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state agency .
Nangle also obtained hundreds of thousands in loans from a bank to repay his debts by lying on applications , misstating his income and understating his debt , prosecutors said .
In total , he faces 28 charges , including 10 counts of wire fraud , four counts of bank fraud , nine counts of making false statements to a bank and five counts of filing false tax returns .
If convicted , Nangle faces up to 30 years in prison for the wire and bank fraud charges , @ @ @

Feb. 19 (UPI) -- Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service have arrested a Massachusetts state lawmaker on more than two dozen corruption charges for embezzling campaign funds and bank and tax fraud, authorities said.
Massachusetts Rep. David Nangle was arrested at his home in Lowell early Tuesday, the FBI announced via Twitter.
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According to the unsealed 28-count indictment, the Democratic politician, who has served the 17th Middlesex District since 1999, is accused of conducting a scheme that began in 2014 that allowed him to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from his campaign, a bank and the IRS to make personal purchases and to cover his gambling habit.
"As alleged, Rep. Nangle used the power of his position on Beacon Hill to fund a lifestyle out of his reach, unwittingly financed by those who put him there, while also cheating you, the taxpayers," Special Agent in Charge Joseph R. Bonavolonta of the FBI Boston Division said in a statement. "Today's arrest should be a warning to others that corruption in any form, at any level of government, will not be tolerated."
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The 28-page indictment alleges that from 2014 to 2019, the 59-year-old former ethics committee chairman was heavily in debt as a result of "extensive gambling" at several casinos and at Internet gambling sites, and to sustain his habit he used campaign funds, defrauded his bank and failed to report income to the IRS.
He also used the funds to cover golf club dues, rent cars and buy flowers for his girlfriends, gas, hotels and restaurants.
U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling said during a press conference that Nangle is accused of stealing more than $70,000 from his campaign through the use of a debit card and buying gift cards purportedly for his staff and using them for his own expenses.
According to court documents, Nangle knew he was barred from using his campaign funds for personal purchases and concealed his scheme by filing false reports to an independent state agency to disguise his spending. For example, he listed $1,675 he spent at a Lowell golf club on membership dues and locker fees as "catering" in the report sent to the state agency.
Nangle also obtained hundreds of thousands in loans from a bank to repay his debts by lying on applications, misstating his income and understating his debt, prosecutors said.
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In total, he faces 28 charges, including 10 counts of wire fraud, four counts of bank fraud, nine counts of making false statements to a bank and five counts of filing false tax returns.
If convicted, Nangle faces up to 30 years in prison for the wire and bank fraud charges, prosecutors said.


upi--2020-02-19--Measles complications affect every organ

Hepatitis , appendicitis and viral meningitis are among the serious complications that can occur when you get the measles , doctors warn in a new report .
The study -- which outlines cases involving three adults who developed major complications -- is also a reminder of the importance of vaccination against the illness .
Measles is highly contagious , but it 's also easily prevented by getting a vaccine , experts note .
However , unfounded fears about vaccination have resulted in reemergence of measles as a global health problem , the authors of the new study said .
Measles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the United States , but cases have been increasing as pockets of `` anti-vaxxers '' proliferate .
In 2019 , nearly 1,300 cases were reported -- the most since 1992 , according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
Measles can also become a serious health threat , as the three cases outlined in the new European report show .
The research was led by Dr. Thelma Xerri , from the Departments of Medicine and Infectious Disease at Mater Dei Hospital in Msida , Malta .
While typical symptoms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and an extensive rash , measles suppresses the immune system and has been linked with complications in every organ of the body .
One case in this report involved a young man who had received only the first of two measles shots as a child .
He developed hepatitis as a result of a measles infection .
In another case , a young woman developed appendicitis , and a third involved a middle-aged man who complained of blurred vision and severe headache .
He was diagnosed with viral meningitis , caused by measles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and had no long-lasting health problems , according to the report published Feb. 17 in the journal BMJ Case Reports .
Overall , nearly one-third of reported measles cases are associated with one or more complications , the researchers saId .
According to the report , other potential measles complications include : pneumonia ; seizures ; encephalomyelitis , an inflammation of the brain and spinal cord that causes neurological problems ; and SSPE , or subacute sclerosing panencephalitis , a progressive neurological disorder that causes permanent nervous system damage and leads to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killed 110,000 people worldwide , most of them young children .
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on measles .

Hepatitis, appendicitis and viral meningitis are among the serious complications that can occur when you get the measles, doctors warn in a new report.
The study -- which outlines cases involving three adults who developed major complications -- is also a reminder of the importance of vaccination against the illness.
Advertisement
Measles is highly contagious, but it's also easily prevented by getting a vaccine, experts note.
However, unfounded fears about vaccination have resulted in reemergence of measles as a global health problem, the authors of the new study said.
Measles was once thought to be almost eliminated in the United States, but cases have been increasing as pockets of "anti-vaxxers" proliferate. In 2019, nearly 1,300 cases were reported -- the most since 1992, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Measles can also become a serious health threat, as the three cases outlined in the new European report show. The research was led by Dr. Thelma Xerri, from the Departments of Medicine and Infectious Disease at Mater Dei Hospital in Msida, Malta.
While typical symptoms include fever, cough, pink eye and an extensive rash, measles suppresses the immune system and has been linked with complications in every organ of the body.
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One case in this report involved a young man who had received only the first of two measles shots as a child. He developed hepatitis as a result of a measles infection.
In another case, a young woman developed appendicitis, and a third involved a middle-aged man who complained of blurred vision and severe headache. He was diagnosed with viral meningitis, caused by measles.
All three made a full recovery and had no long-lasting health problems, according to the report published Feb. 17 in the journal BMJ Case Reports.
Overall, nearly one-third of reported measles cases are associated with one or more complications, the researchers saId.
According to the report, other potential measles complications include: pneumonia; seizures; encephalomyelitis, an inflammation of the brain and spinal cord that causes neurological problems; and SSPE, or subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, a progressive neurological disorder that causes permanent nervous system damage and leads to a vegetative state.
In 2017, measles killed 110,000 people worldwide, most of them young children.
More information
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on measles.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-02-19--Famous birthdays for Feb. 19: Smokey Robinson, Millie Bobby Brown

Feb. 19 ( UPI ) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Pisces .

1/3
Smokey Robinson arrives on the red carpet for the "The Apollo" screening at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival at The Apollo Theater on April 24 in New York City. The singer turns 80 on February 19. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 19 (UPI) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Pisces. They include Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus in 1473 Advertisement
-- Romanian sculptor Constantin Brancusi in 1876
-- Actor Merle Oberon in 1911
-- Novelist Carson McCullers in 1917
-- Actor Lee Marvin in 1924
-- Television/movie director John Frankenheimer in 1930
-- Singer William "Smokey" Robinson in 1940 (age 80)
-- Singer Lou Christie in 1943 (age 77)
-- Author Amy Tan in 1952 (age 68)
-- Former Argentine President Cristina Fernandez in 1953 (age 67)
-- Actor Jeff Daniels in 1955 (age 65)
File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
-- NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in 1959 (age 61)
-- Britain's Prince Andrew in 1960 (age 60)
-- Singer Seal, born Henry Olusegun Adeola Samuel, in 1963 (age 57)
-- Actor Justine Bateman in 1966 (age 54)
-- Actor Benicio Del Toro in 1967 (age 53)
-- Actor Bellamy Young in 1970 (age 50)
File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
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-- Actor Eric Lange in 1973 (age 47)
-- Actor Haylie Duff in 1985 (age 35)
-- Tennis player Katharina Gerlach in 1998 (age 22)
-- Actor David Mazouz in 2001 (age 19)
-- Actor Millie Bobby Brown in 2004 (age 16)


upi--2020-02-19--Tokyo Olympics: U.S. softball dream team motivated sport's return

Feb. 19 ( UPI ) -- Fans and players have been deprived of softball as an Olympic sport for a dozen years , and Team USA plans to remind everyone this summer in Japan what they 've been missing .
It 's an incentive that even helped lure one of softball 's best out of retirement .
`` Playing again in 2020 was n't really on my mind until about 2 1/2 years ago , '' said pitcher Cat Osterman , who retired in 2015 before returning to Team USA in 2018 .
During the gap , she said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did n't get the chance to compete in the Olympics and showcase our sport . ''
Team USA lost to Japan in the 2008 gold medal game -- the last time fans saw softball at the Olympics .
Team USA had won all previous gold medals since 1996 .
The loss snapped a 22-game winning streak .
But this dream team , composed of the world 's best players , is n't thinking about revenge .
`` For most of us who were part of the 2008 team , we tried to forget @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it behind you as quickly as you could , '' Osterman said .
`` It was n't exactly a good , memorable moment for us . ''
The Americans have steamrolled recent foes and qualified for the Olympics on their first try .
They beat Japan in July 's USA Softball International Cup championship .
Team USA is the world 's No .
1 team , while Japan is No .
2 .
Six teams will compete in the Olympics .
Besides the United States and Japan , they are Italy , Mexico @ @ @ @ @ @ @ begins July 22 , with the gold and bronze medal games set for July 28 .
Games will be played at Yokohama Stadium in Yokohama and Fukushima Azuma Stadium in Fukushima .
The faces of Osterman , 36 , and fellow ace pitcher Monica Abbott , 34 , will be familiar for softball fans during the Summer Games , but a lot is different within the sport -- and for female athletes overall -- compared with 2008 .
`` I think the landscape has changed because our culture has changed , '' Osterman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now have more access to female athletes due to social media .
Back in the 2004 and 2008 , that was n't exactly the case . ''
`` When [ fans ] have more access and we can actually prove [ athletes ] have more influence , then obviously you want to get paid for that influence like athletes now do , '' Osterman said of players who use social media to make money off the field .
`` In female athletics , we have a platform now .
We have the [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for people and the right to essentially equal or more pay if you are winning . ''
Megan Rapinoe became one of the faces for a movement for equal pay for players on the United States Women 's National Team -- compared to the men 's team -- during the 2019 Women 's World Cup .
Her social platform has grown by more than 470,000 followers since the tournament , according to Twitter .
Her increased popularity has also resulted in new endorsements and global recognition .
Osterman has gained more than 50,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Twitter .
Abbott 's following has climbed from 460 to more than 34,000 in the last decade .
`` I think the biggest thing , especially for women 's soccer , is that they win , '' Osterman said .
`` Why would n't you pay your winners ?
As a culture , we 've grown and TV has also embraced female athletics .
... [ Social media ] keeps adding opportunities for female athletes . ''
Abbott signed the first $ 1 million contract in National Pro Fastpitch history in 2016 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ soccer team 's World Cup win as a potential motive for her team offering her the record-setting pact .
`` The sport is really growing , but growth takes time .
I think we 've made huge strides since the 2008 Olympics , '' Abbott said .
`` Softball has always been where the Olympics showcases the best of the best , '' Osterman said .
`` Everybody sends the best players so the world can see how great our sport is . ''
Abbott and Osterman are the only players on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won a gold medal in the 2004 Summer Games , while leading Team USA with 23 strikeouts .
Abbott made her Olympic debut during the 2008 Summer Games , pitching the Americans into the gold medal game by beating Japan in the semifinals .
Abbott and Osterman are among the best players on Team USA , but the Summer Games should elevate the popularity of their teammates .
Former Florida star Aubree Munro Watson will be one of easiest players to spot in Japan .
Team USA 's catcher has a distinct playing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the team 's most competitive players .
Team USA also has a sure-handed middle infield , including ex-UCLA shortstop Delaney Spaulding , ex-Washington second baseman Ali Aguilar and ex-California first baseman Valerie Arioto .
Former Michigan star Amanda Chidester is known as one of National Pro Fastpitch 's best hitters and brings a balance of power and contact to the batter 's box .
Two-time NCAA player of the year Rachel Garcia pitches for Team USA .
She went 29-1 with a 1.14 ERA and 286 strikeouts last season at UCLA .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Garcia and former two-time Pac-12 player of the year Ally Carda ( UCLA ) are the right-handed arms on the pitching staff , complementing left-handed Osterman and Abbott .
Abbott is college softball 's all-time wins leader , while Osterman has the best strikeout rate .
They rank first and second , respectively , in career strikeouts .
`` I think it 's going to be a fun game .
We have a good mix of speed and power , '' Abbott said .
`` The key for us will be putting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Abbott threw a no-hitter Sunday against Oklahoma State as part of the Stand Beside Her Tour .
Major League Baseball is the presenting sponsor of the training tour , which is helping Team USA prepare for the Summer Games .
`` We have a pretty good group of girls who have been around the USA Softball program for several years , so there is a lot of pride in our history and the standards we set , '' Abbott said .
`` We also know the world is getting better at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gold medal .
... We have a big challenge ahead of us , but we are ready . ''
Team USA faces the New Mexico as part of the Stand Beside Her Tour at 11 p.m. EST Thursday at the Big League Dreams Complex in Cathedral City , Calif .

Team USA pitcher Monica Abbott signed the first $1 million contract in National Pro Fastpitch history in 2016. Photo by Jade Hewitt, courtesy of USA Softball
Feb. 19 (UPI) -- Fans and players have been deprived of softball as an Olympic sport for a dozen years, and Team USA plans to remind everyone this summer in Japan what they've been missing. It's an incentive that even helped lure one of softball's best out of retirement. Advertisement
"Playing again in 2020 wasn't really on my mind until about 2 1/2 years ago," said pitcher Cat Osterman, who retired in 2015 before returning to Team USA in 2018. During the gap, she said, "a lot of [players] didn't get the chance to compete in the Olympics and showcase our sport."
Team USA lost to Japan in the 2008 gold medal game -- the last time fans saw softball at the Olympics. Team USA had won all previous gold medals since 1996. The loss snapped a 22-game winning streak.
But this dream team, composed of the world's best players, isn't thinking about revenge.
Advertisement
"For most of us who were part of the 2008 team, we tried to forget the loss -- you tried to put it behind you as quickly as you could," Osterman said. "It wasn't exactly a good, memorable moment for us."
The Americans have steamrolled recent foes and qualified for the Olympics on their first try. They beat Japan in July's USA Softball International Cup championship. Team USA is the world's No. 1 team, while Japan is No. 2.
Six teams will compete in the Olympics. Besides the United States and Japan, they are Italy, Mexico, Canada and Australia. The tournament begins July 22, with the gold and bronze medal games set for July 28. Games will be played at Yokohama Stadium in Yokohama and Fukushima Azuma Stadium in Fukushima.
The faces of Osterman, 36, and fellow ace pitcher Monica Abbott, 34, will be familiar for softball fans during the Summer Games, but a lot is different within the sport -- and for female athletes overall -- compared with 2008.
"I think the landscape has changed because our culture has changed," Osterman said. "A lot of people now have more access to female athletes due to social media. Back in the 2004 and 2008, that wasn't exactly the case."
Advertisement
Social media's role
"When [fans] have more access and we can actually prove [athletes] have more influence, then obviously you want to get paid for that influence like athletes now do," Osterman said of players who use social media to make money off the field.
"In female athletics, we have a platform now. We have the [proof] of what our influence does for people and the right to essentially equal or more pay if you are winning."
Megan Rapinoe became one of the faces for a movement for equal pay for players on the United States Women's National Team -- compared to the men's team -- during the 2019 Women's World Cup.
Her social platform has grown by more than 470,000 followers since the tournament, according to Twitter. Her increased popularity has also resulted in new endorsements and global recognition.
Osterman has gained more than 50,000 followers since Jan. 2011, according to Twitter. Abbott's following has climbed from 460 to more than 34,000 in the last decade.
"I think the biggest thing, especially for women's soccer, is that they win," Osterman said. "Why wouldn't you pay your winners? As a culture, we've grown and TV has also embraced female athletics. ... [Social media] keeps adding opportunities for female athletes."
Advertisement
Abbott signed the first $1 million contract in National Pro Fastpitch history in 2016. She cited the 2015 U.S. women's soccer team's World Cup win as a potential motive for her team offering her the record-setting pact.
"The sport is really growing, but growth takes time. I think we've made huge strides since the 2008 Olympics," Abbott said.
Best players in world
"Softball has always been where the Olympics showcases the best of the best," Osterman said. "Everybody sends the best players so the world can see how great our sport is."
Abbott and Osterman are the only players on the 2020 roster with Olympic experience.
Osterman won a gold medal in the 2004 Summer Games, while leading Team USA with 23 strikeouts. Abbott made her Olympic debut during the 2008 Summer Games, pitching the Americans into the gold medal game by beating Japan in the semifinals.
Abbott and Osterman are among the best players on Team USA, but the Summer Games should elevate the popularity of their teammates.
Former Florida star Aubree Munro Watson will be one of easiest players to spot in Japan. Team USA's catcher has a distinct playing style and is known as one of the team's most competitive players.
Advertisement
Team USA also has a sure-handed middle infield, including ex-UCLA shortstop Delaney Spaulding, ex-Washington second baseman Ali Aguilar and ex-California first baseman Valerie Arioto. Former Michigan star Amanda Chidester is known as one of National Pro Fastpitch's best hitters and brings a balance of power and contact to the batter's box.
Two-time NCAA player of the year Rachel Garcia pitches for Team USA. She went 29-1 with a 1.14 ERA and 286 strikeouts last season at UCLA. She also hit .343 with 11 home runs.
Garcia and former two-time Pac-12 player of the year Ally Carda (UCLA) are the right-handed arms on the pitching staff, complementing left-handed Osterman and Abbott.
Abbott is college softball's all-time wins leader, while Osterman has the best strikeout rate. They rank first and second, respectively, in career strikeouts.
"I think it's going to be a fun game. We have a good mix of speed and power," Abbott said. "The key for us will be putting it all together at the right time."
Abbott threw a no-hitter Sunday against Oklahoma State as part of the Stand Beside Her Tour. Major League Baseball is the presenting sponsor of the training tour, which is helping Team USA prepare for the Summer Games.
Advertisement
"We have a pretty good group of girls who have been around the USA Softball program for several years, so there is a lot of pride in our history and the standards we set," Abbott said. "We also know the world is getting better at softball. Japan obviously won the last gold medal. ... We have a big challenge ahead of us, but we are ready."
Team USA faces the New Mexico as part of the Stand Beside Her Tour at 11 p.m. EST Thursday at the Big League Dreams Complex in Cathedral City, Calif.


upi--2020-02-19--On This Day, Feb. 19: U.S. Marines land on Iwo Jima

Feb. 19 ( UPI ) -- On this date in history : In 1878 , Thomas Edison patented the first gramophone .
In 1922 , vaudeville star Ed Wynn became the first big name in show business to sign for a regular radio show .
In 1942 , as a security measure during World War II , the U.S. government began relocating Japanese-Americans living in coastal Pacific areas to internment camps in remote areas of several states .
They were allowed to return to their homes in January 1945 .
In 1945 , U.S. Marines landed on the island of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ major battles in the Pacific during World War II .
In 1981 , the United States blamed insurgency in El Salvador on communist powers arming leftist guerrillas .
In 1986 , the Soviet Union launched the Mir space station .
It was occupied for 10 of its 15 years in orbit .
In 2003 , all 289 people aboard an Iranian military transport plane were killed when it crashed in a mountainous region of southeastern Iran .
In 2005 , U.S. Roman Catholic officials said they received 1,092 charges of clergy sex abuse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Cuban President Fidel Castro , 81 , who temporarily handed power to his brother , Raul , in July 2006 , because of illness , stepped down permanently after 49 years in power .
Raul , 76 , then formally succeeded him .
In 2019 , Sen. Bernie Sanders , I-Vt. , announced he was running for president a second time as a Democrat .

1/6
The Iwo Jima Memorial is covered by snow in Arlington, Va., on January 28, 2007. On February 19, 1945, U.S. Marines landed on the island of Iwo Jima, opening one of the major battles in the Pacific during World War II. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 19 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1878, Thomas Edison patented the first gramophone. Advertisement
In 1922, vaudeville star Ed Wynn became the first big name in show business to sign for a regular radio show.
In 1942, as a security measure during World War II, the U.S. government began relocating Japanese-Americans living in coastal Pacific areas to internment camps in remote areas of several states. They were allowed to return to their homes in January 1945.
In 1945, U.S. Marines landed on the island of Iwo Jima, opening one of the major battles in the Pacific during World War II.
In 1981, the United States blamed insurgency in El Salvador on communist powers arming leftist guerrillas.
In 1986, the Soviet Union launched the Mir space station. It was occupied for 10 of its 15 years in orbit.
File Photo courtesy of NASA
In 1997, China's "paramount leader" Deng Xiaoping died at age 92.
In 2003, all 289 people aboard an Iranian military transport plane were killed when it crashed in a mountainous region of southeastern Iran.
Advertisement
In 2005, U.S. Roman Catholic officials said they received 1,092 charges of clergy sex abuse, most involving boys.
In 2008, Cuban President Fidel Castro, 81, who temporarily handed power to his brother, Raul, in July 2006, because of illness, stepped down permanently after 49 years in power. Raul, 76, then formally succeeded him.
UPI File Photo
In 2019, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., announced he was running for president a second time as a Democrat.


upi--2020-02-19--'Couch potato' lifestyle a danger to women's hearts

Most folks know that being a couch potato is bad for their health , but new research suggests that women who spend hours in their chairs and sofas might face greater risks than believed .
Sitting for long periods of time can increase risk factors for heart disease and diabetes , particularly if those bouts of sitting are n't broken up by occasionally getting up and stretching , the study found .
Each additional hour of total sitting time per day is linked to a 6 percent increase in insulin levels and a 7 percent increase in insulin resistance , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ additional 15 minutes of uninterrupted sitting is associated with 7 percent higher insulin levels and an almost 9 % increase in insulin resistance .
Long periods of sitting were also associated with excess weight , a wider waist and increased triglyceride levels , said senior researcher Dorothy Sears .
She 's a professor of nutrition at the Arizona State University College of Health Solutions , in Phoenix .
`` People need to think about trying to break up their sitting time , '' Sears said .
`` Clinicians focus on getting people to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get people to think about breaking up their sitting . ''
The benefits of exercise are well-known , but most people do n't understand that sitting around can wipe out those benefits , Sears said .
`` We know from previous studies that exercise does not negate the negative effects of sitting time unless folks are engaged in extensive amounts of exercise , like two hours a day , and who does that ? ''
Sears said .
For the new study , Sears and her colleagues asked 518 postmenopausal women to wear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days , removing the devices only to sleep , shower or swim .
These gadgets allowed the researchers to precisely track each woman 's physical activity throughout the day .
`` We were able to measure their actual sitting time , and not just the total sitting time they had during the day but how long the average time was they spent sitting in chair or in a seated posture without getting up -- what we call a sitting bout , '' Sears said .
The women had an average age of 63 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ definition of obesity , the study authors said .
Blood tests showed that the women who had more total sitting time , and who sat for longer periods uninterrupted , were more likely to have higher levels of insulin and more insulin resistance .
The findings were published Feb. 17 in the Journal of the American Heart Association .
According to Dr. Malissa Wood , co-director of the Corrigan Women 's Heart Health Program at Massachusetts General Hospital , in Boston , `` This is further evidence that the sedentary life many people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Wood was not involved in the new study .
`` Many people in the world sort of think if you exercise for 30 or 40 minutes in the morning you 're all set , and you can go sit in a chair for the rest of your day , '' Wood said .
`` What we 're seeing here is that being seated , regardless of whatever else they did , was detrimental . ''
Sears explained that sitting for long periods impairs blood flow to the lower part of your body @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your metabolism .
And Wood noted that prolonged sitting also prevents your body from enjoying small improvements that occur with even small amounts of movement .
`` It 's very likely in those settings with increased activity that the metabolism is switched into a different gear that potentially revs up the pathways to improve utilization of glucose and improve lipid numbers , '' Wood explained .
`` When you 're seated , those pathways likely are n't as active .
They go more into a hibernation mode .
As humans , we 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women faced the greatest risk from sitting , the researchers found .
In addition to the effects of sitting on insulin , Hispanic women also had 5 % increased blood sugar levels for every 15-minute increase in uninterrupted sitting , compared to a less than 1 percent increase for non-Hispanic women , the results showed .
Hispanics in general have a higher risk of diabetes than non-Hispanic whites , both Sears and Wood said .
`` There seems to be some kind of genetic component that causes increased risk , '' Sears said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stay healthy need to keep moving , and make sure to break up long periods of sitting by getting up to stretch or walk a bit .
`` Societies that experience better health into their ninth and tenth decades of life , one of the factors that 's very common amongst them is that they move throughout the day , '' Wood said .
`` They do n't necessarily move a lot but they get up , they move , they 're active .
They do functional exercise , carrying things , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Johns Hopkins has more about the heart health risks of sitting .

Most folks know that being a couch potato is bad for their health, but new research suggests that women who spend hours in their chairs and sofas might face greater risks than believed.
Sitting for long periods of time can increase risk factors for heart disease and diabetes, particularly if those bouts of sitting aren't broken up by occasionally getting up and stretching, the study found.
Advertisement
Each additional hour of total sitting time per day is linked to a 6 percent increase in insulin levels and a 7 percent increase in insulin resistance, the study showed.
Further, each additional 15 minutes of uninterrupted sitting is associated with 7 percent higher insulin levels and an almost 9% increase in insulin resistance.
Long periods of sitting were also associated with excess weight, a wider waist and increased triglyceride levels, said senior researcher Dorothy Sears. She's a professor of nutrition at the Arizona State University College of Health Solutions, in Phoenix.
Advertisement
"People need to think about trying to break up their sitting time," Sears said. "Clinicians focus on getting people to exercise, but we also need to get people to think about breaking up their sitting."
The benefits of exercise are well-known, but most people don't understand that sitting around can wipe out those benefits, Sears said.
"We know from previous studies that exercise does not negate the negative effects of sitting time unless folks are engaged in extensive amounts of exercise, like two hours a day, and who does that?" Sears said.
For the new study, Sears and her colleagues asked 518 postmenopausal women to wear accelerometers on their right hip for 14 days, removing the devices only to sleep, shower or swim. These gadgets allowed the researchers to precisely track each woman's physical activity throughout the day.
"We were able to measure their actual sitting time, and not just the total sitting time they had during the day but how long the average time was they spent sitting in chair or in a seated posture without getting up -- what we call a sitting bout," Sears said.
The women had an average age of 63, and on average met the clinical definition of obesity, the study authors said.
Advertisement
Blood tests showed that the women who had more total sitting time, and who sat for longer periods uninterrupted, were more likely to have higher levels of insulin and more insulin resistance.
The findings were published Feb. 17 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
According to Dr. Malissa Wood, co-director of the Corrigan Women's Heart Health Program at Massachusetts General Hospital, in Boston, "This is further evidence that the sedentary life many people in our country live is dangerous." Wood was not involved in the new study.
"Many people in the world sort of think if you exercise for 30 or 40 minutes in the morning you're all set, and you can go sit in a chair for the rest of your day," Wood said. "What we're seeing here is that being seated, regardless of whatever else they did, was detrimental."
Sears explained that sitting for long periods impairs blood flow to the lower part of your body, which can create inflammation and reduce your metabolism.
And Wood noted that prolonged sitting also prevents your body from enjoying small improvements that occur with even small amounts of movement.
"It's very likely in those settings with increased activity that the metabolism is switched into a different gear that potentially revs up the pathways to improve utilization of glucose and improve lipid numbers," Wood explained. "When you're seated, those pathways likely aren't as active. They go more into a hibernation mode. As humans, we're not meant to hibernate."
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Hispanic women faced the greatest risk from sitting, the researchers found.
In addition to the effects of sitting on insulin, Hispanic women also had 5% increased blood sugar levels for every 15-minute increase in uninterrupted sitting, compared to a less than 1 percent increase for non-Hispanic women, the results showed.
Hispanics in general have a higher risk of diabetes than non-Hispanic whites, both Sears and Wood said.
"There seems to be some kind of genetic component that causes increased risk," Sears said.
Wood advised that people who want to stay healthy need to keep moving, and make sure to break up long periods of sitting by getting up to stretch or walk a bit.
"Societies that experience better health into their ninth and tenth decades of life, one of the factors that's very common amongst them is that they move throughout the day," Wood said. "They don't necessarily move a lot but they get up, they move, they're active. They do functional exercise, carrying things, lifting things, bending, stretching."
More information
Johns Hopkins has more about the heart health risks of sitting.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-02-19--Trump pledges government's 'total support' for L.A.'s 2028 Olympics

Feb. 18 ( UPI ) -- U.S. President Donald Trump has confirmed the federal government 's support for Los Angeles ' hosting of the 2028 Summer Olympic Games .
Trump attended a meeting with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee organizers Tuesday at the Montage Beverly Hills hotel in Los Angeles where he signed a document pledging the government 's support for the city 's hosting of the international games .
He said it confirms the government 's `` total support '' of the endeavor that will be a `` major economic victory . ''
The multi-week event will create @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the economy , including $ 7 billion in wages , he said .
`` From the day I took office , I 've done everything in my power to make sure that L.A. achieves the winning bid , '' he said .
`` And now for the third time in history , the city of Los Angeles -- the city of angels -- will once again lift up the Olympic torch and welcome the world 's greatest competitors to the Summer Games . ''
The announcement comes amid frayed relations between the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump as they have filed several lawsuits against his administration 's environment and immigration policies .
Trump has also chastised the city of Los Angeles over its homelessness crisis , which he touched on Tuesday , stating if its politicians do n't do something to fix the situation , the federal government may have to jump in .
`` We 're really taking a role in it , '' he said .
`` I see it , I see what 's happening to L.A. , I see what 's happening to San Franciso @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 've happened . ''
Following the meeting , Trump was to meet with supporters at a joint fundraising committee dinner at the hotel .
Los Angles was selected in September of 2017 to host the 2028 games , which will be its third time hosting the event after having done so in 1984 and 1932 .

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President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media next to Air Force One before departing for Los Angeles, at Joint Base Andrews on Tuesday. Photo by Stefani Reynolds/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 18 (UPI) -- Speaking in Los Angeles Tuesday night, President Donald Trump pledged total support from the federal government for the city to put on the Summer Olympic Games in eight years. Trump attended a meeting with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Los Angeles organizers at the Montage Beverly Hills hotel, where he signed a pledge to back the 2028 Games -- saying it guarantees "total support" for the Olympics he said will be a "major economic victory." Advertisement
The Games will create more than 110,000 jobs and add $18 billion to the local economy, including $7 billion in wages, he said.
"From the day I took office, I've done everything in my power to make sure that LA achieves the winning bid," the president added. "And now for the third time in history, the city of Los Angeles -- the City of Angels -- will once again lift up the Olympic torch and welcome the world's greatest competitors to the Summer Games."
Trump's visit Tuesday was just his fifth in California, a heavily Democratic state that the president's administration has repeatedly criticized over a variety of immigration issues -- most notably for its major cities being "sanctuary cities," municipalities that do not cooperate with federal immigration warrants.
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Trump has also chastised Los Angeles over its homelessness. Tuesday night, he said the federal government might have to take control of the situation if California leaders can't.
"We're really taking a role in it," he said. "I see what's happening to LA, I see what's happening to San Francisco ... There's no reason this should've happened."
Following the meeting, Trump met with supporters at a joint fundraising committee dinner at the hotel. He will attend another fundraising event Wednesday.
The International Olympic Committee in 2017 selected Los Angeles as the 2028 host site. The city has hosted the Summer Games twice before, in 1932 and 1984.


upi--2020-02-18--United States designates Chinese media as government operations

Feb. 18 ( UPI ) -- The U.S. State Department on Tuesday designated five Chinese media companies as foreign missions of the Asian nation , requiring them to register with the United States as if they were an embassy or consulate .
Xinhua News Agency , the China Global Television Network , China Radio International , China Daily and the People 's Daily have been designated as foreign missions under the Foreign Missions Act , two State Department officials with the Office of Foreign Missions told reporters Tuesday in Washington , D.C. '' We 're making this designation based on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of these are subject to the control of the Chinese government , '' a senior State Department official said on background .
Effective immediately , the media companies must notify the Office of Foreign Missions within the State Department about who their employees are and where they live .
They will also need to get approval from the State Department to buy or lease real estate , the officials said .
The senior State Department official said it took time to come to the decision to designate the outlets as foreign missions , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what they are -- `` organs of the Chinese one-party state propaganda apparatus . ''
`` The fact of the matter is , each and every single one of these entities does , in fact , work 100 percent for the Chinese government and the Chinese Communist Party , '' the official said .
The official said the move was implemented as Chinese President Xi Jinping has tightened his reins on media , especially state-run media since he took over as he sees it crucial to the future of the Communist Party and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Strategy also highlighted China as one of the United States ' great power competitors , the officials said , who added that they are n't seeking conflict with Beijing but to create transparency .
However , the move is expected to anger Beijing , which has repeatedly lashed out at the United States in recent months for attacking China , specifically over its human rights record .
The pair declined to speculate on how Beijing may respond or that it might retaliate against American journalists working in the Asian nation .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operating environment that U.S. and other foreign journalists operate under in China , '' the official said .
`` ...
It 's already the case that freedom of the press is under severe siege in the People 's Republic of China , and that was long before this announcement came about . ''
The officials stressed that the move is not intended to constrain the journalistic work of the organizations .
`` We are serving a certain purpose by making clear that these guys are part and parcel of the PRC government , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are not independent journalist outlets . ''

Feb. 18 (UPI) -- The U.S. State Department on Tuesday designated five Chinese media companies as foreign missions of the Asian nation, requiring them to register with the United States as if they were an embassy or consulate.
Xinhua News Agency, the China Global Television Network, China Radio International, China Daily and the People's Daily have been designated as foreign missions under the Foreign Missions Act, two State Department officials with the Office of Foreign Missions told reporters Tuesday in Washington, D.C.
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"We're making this designation based on the very indisputable fact that all five of these are subject to the control of the Chinese government," a senior State Department official said on background.
Effective immediately, the media companies must notify the Office of Foreign Missions within the State Department about who their employees are and where they live. They will also need to get approval from the State Department to buy or lease real estate, the officials said.
The senior State Department official said it took time to come to the decision to designate the outlets as foreign missions, but that they must call the entities what they are -- "organs of the Chinese one-party state propaganda apparatus."
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"The fact of the matter is, each and every single one of these entities does, in fact, work 100 percent for the Chinese government and the Chinese Communist Party," the official said.
The official said the move was implemented as Chinese President Xi Jinping has tightened his reins on media, especially state-run media since he took over as he sees it crucial to the future of the Communist Party and the country.
The 2017 National Security Strategy also highlighted China as one of the United States' great power competitors, the officials said, who added that they aren't seeking conflict with Beijing but to create transparency.
However, the move is expected to anger Beijing, which has repeatedly lashed out at the United States in recent months for attacking China, specifically over its human rights record.
The pair declined to speculate on how Beijing may respond or that it might retaliate against American journalists working in the Asian nation.
"We're painfully aware of the very tough operating environment that U.S. and other foreign journalists operate under in China," the official said. "... It's already the case that freedom of the press is under severe siege in the People's Republic of China, and that was long before this announcement came about."
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The officials stressed that the move is not intended to constrain the journalistic work of the organizations.
"We are serving a certain purpose by making clear that these guys are part and parcel of the PRC government," the official said. "These are not independent journalist outlets."


upi--2020-02-18--Pittsburgh Steelers hire Ike Hilliard as wide receivers coach

Feb. 18 ( UPI ) -- The Pittsburgh Steelers named nine-year coaching veteran and former NFL wideout Ike Hilliard as their new wide receivers coach , the team announced Tuesday .
Hilliard takes over for interim receivers coach Ray Sherman , who came out of retirement to replace Darryl Drake after Drake 's death during last year 's training camp .
Hilliard previously served as the Washington Redskins ' wide receivers coach from 2014 to 2019 , his second stint with the franchise in that role after holding the position in 2012 .
He also worked as the wideouts coach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the assistant receivers coach for the Miami Dolphins in 2011 .
Before his coaching career , Hilliard was an All-American receiver at the University of Florida and was selected by the New York Giants in the first round ( No .
7 overall ) of the 1997 NFL Draft .
Hilliard played eight seasons with the Giants ( 1997-2004 ) before spending his final four seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ( 2005-08 ) .
In 161 career games , he recorded 546 receptions for 6,397 yards and 35 touchdowns .
Hilliard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Steelers , who previously added Matt Canada as the team 's quarterbacks coach .

Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Ike Hilliard played eight seasons with the New York Giants and four with the Bucs. File Photo by Nell Redmond/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 18 (UPI) -- The Pittsburgh Steelers named nine-year coaching veteran and former NFL wideout Ike Hilliard as their new wide receivers coach, the team announced Tuesday. Hilliard takes over for interim receivers coach Ray Sherman, who came out of retirement to replace Darryl Drake after Drake's death during last year's training camp. Advertisement
Hilliard previously served as the Washington Redskins' wide receivers coach from 2014 to 2019, his second stint with the franchise in that role after holding the position in 2012. He also worked as the wideouts coach for the Buffalo Bills in 2013 and as the assistant receivers coach for the Miami Dolphins in 2011.
Before his coaching career, Hilliard was an All-American receiver at the University of Florida and was selected by the New York Giants in the first round (No. 7 overall) of the 1997 NFL Draft.
We have hired Ike Hilliard as wide receivers coach. MORE: https://t.co/efgLmRNeab pic.twitter.com/6O5J10Md2h— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) February 18, 2020
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Hilliard played eight seasons with the Giants (1997-2004) before spending his final four seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2005-08). In 161 career games, he recorded 546 receptions for 6,397 yards and 35 touchdowns.
Hilliard became the second off-season hire for the Steelers, who previously added Matt Canada as the team's quarterbacks coach.


upi--2020-02-18--Death toll tops 2,000; countries evacuate citizens from coronavirus-stricken ship

Feb. 18 ( UPI ) -- The death toll from an outbreak of the coronavirus has topped 2,000 , health officials said Wednesday as South Korea , Canada , Australia and Britain rush to evacuate citizens from a cruise ship that is quarantined off Japan 's coast amid a drastic increase of COVID-19 infections among its passengers .
The Diamond Princess , anchored in Japan 's Yokohama Port with 2,666 passengers and 1,045 crew , is the world 's largest cluster of confirmed COVID-19 cases outside China , with 88 new cases confirmed Tuesday that raised the total to 542 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was placed under a 14-day quarantine on Feb. 3 .
Japan 's Ministry of Health said passengers who test negative for the coronavirus will be able to leave starting Wednesday , when the quarantine expires .
However , a South Korean presidential plane touched down early Wednesday at Gimpo International Airport in western Seoul with six nationals and a Japanese spouse on board who were evacuated from the ship , Yonhap reported .
The plane landed at Haneda Airport in nearby Tokyo Tuesday night for the repatriation mission , departing Japan in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ originally reported that of the 14 South Koreans who are aboard the Diamond Princess , four would be evacuated along with the Japanese spouse .
The remaining South Koreans are to disembark the vessel later this week if they test negative for COVID-19 .
Britain also issued a statement Tuesday stating it was coordinating a flight `` as soon as possible , '' and Australia is planning to evacuate more than 200 nationals on Wednesday .
Meanwhile , Canada also said an aircraft it charted earlier in the week was in the air @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the North American country on Thursday .
`` The departure date will be confirmed once final arrangements with the government of Japan and Princess Cruises are in place , '' the Canadian government said in a statement .
It did not state how many of the 256 Canadian passengers of the Diamond Princess would be evacuated , though the 43 who have tested positive for the virus will remain in the hospital in Japan .
News of the evacuations follows two chartered flights returning to the United States with 328 American evacuees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early Monday .
Among the passengers were 14 who tested positive for COVID-19 , nearly doubling the number of confirmed cases in the United States to 29 .
Ninety-two Americans remain under quarantine on the ship .
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday that all people currently on board the Diamond Princess will be under travel restrictions to the United States .
They must wait at least 14 days after leaving the cruise ship before traveling to the United States .
`` After disembarkation from the Diamond Princess , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to wait 14 days without having symptoms or a positive coronavirus test result before they are permitted to board flights to the United States , '' the CDC said in a statement .
If someone who had been on the cruise ship travels to the United States within the 14-day time period , they must undergo a mandatory quarantine in the United States until the two weeks is up .
Meanwhile , China 's National Health Commission increased its death toll on Wednesday to 2,004 after 136 people died in the previous 24 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 132 occurred in the epicenter of Hubei province , including 116 in the city of Wuhan , where the disease is believed to have emerged .
Globally , the death toll stood at 2,009 as France , the Philippines , Japan , Hong Kong and Taiwan have each reported a death outside mainland China .
China also said the number of infections increased by 1,749 over Monday to 74,185 .
World Health Organization officials said Tuesday there have been 92 cases of person-to-person transmission in 12 countries outside of China , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from many of these countries to make `` meaningful comparisons . ''
`` We have not seen sustained local transmission of coronavirus except in specific circumstances like the Diamond Princess cruise ship , '' WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during a news briefing in Geneva .
Mike Ryan , director of WHO 's Health Emergencies Program , said officials in Japan initially decided to quarantine passengers on the Diamond Princess , where they could be `` kept together '' and monitored , but that `` clearly , there has been more transmission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experts plan to study what led to such widespread and rapid transmission on the Diamond Princess , but Ryan urged the public to keep the `` event in perspective . ''
`` The vast majority of people on the ship do n't have COVID-19 , '' he said , adding that many of the cases seem to be `` mild disease . ''
As part of its global COVID-19 response efforts , WHO has shipped personal protective equipment , or PPE , to 21 member countries , and will provide the gear to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The agency has also provided COVID-19 testing kits to 40 countries in Africa and 29 in the Americas , which means they will have their own testing capacity by the end of this week .
According to Tedros , these countries -- most of them low-income -- had been sending samples to other countries for testing and waiting several days for results .
Thanks to these initiatives , `` we still have a chance of preventing a broader global catastrophe , '' he said .
Meanwhile , Chinese health officials announced the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the widening epidemic after he contracted the deadly coronavirus while caring for infected patients .
Liu Zhiming , director of the Wuchang Hospital in Wuhan , died Tuesday at age of 51 , the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission said .
`` Since the outbreak , comrade Liu Zhiming , regardless of his personal safety , led the medical staff of Wuchang Hospital to fight the epidemic and made important contributions to the prevention and control of new-type coronavirus pneumonia in our city , '' the commission said in a statement .
Liu @ @ @ @ @ @ @ professionals fighting the disease in China 's Hubei province with officials stating last week more than 1,700 front-line medics had been infected , six of whom had died .
Among the dead is 34-year-old Li Wenliang -- an ophthalmologist at Wuhan who was punished by police for attempting to inform friends and family online in December when the outbreak began .
His death attracted widespread anger , forcing the government to initiate an investigation .

1/3
Passengers of The Diamond Princess cruise ship who test negative for the virus will start to disembark starting Wednesday. Photo by Jiji Press/EPA-EFE
Feb. 18 (UPI) -- The death toll from an outbreak of the coronavirus has topped 2,000, health officials said Wednesday as South Korea, Canada, Australia and Britain rush to evacuate citizens from a cruise ship that is quarantined off Japan's coast amid a drastic increase of COVID-19 infections among its passengers. The Diamond Princess, anchored in Japan's Yokohama Port with 2,666 passengers and 1,045 crew, is the world's largest cluster of confirmed COVID-19 cases outside China, with 88 new cases confirmed Tuesday that raised the total to 542 passengers infected with the disease since it was placed under a 14-day quarantine in early this month. Advertisement
Japan's Ministry of Health said passengers who test negative for the coronavirus will be able to leave starting Wednesday, when the quarantine expires.
However, a South Korean presidential plane touched down early Wednesday at Gimpo International Airport in western Seoul with six nationals and a Japanese spouse on board who were evacuated from the ship, Yonhap reported.
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The plane landed at Haneda Airport in nearby Tokyo Tuesday night for the repatriation mission, departing Japan in the early hours of Wednesday.
It was originally reported that of the 14 South Koreans who are aboard the Diamond Princess, four would be evacuated along with the Japanese spouse. The remaining South Koreans are to disembark the vessel later this week if they test negative for COVID-19.
Britain also issued a statement Tuesday stating it was coordinating a flight "as soon as possible," and Australia is planning to evacuate more than 200 nationals on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Canada also said an aircraft it charted earlier in the week was in the air heading to Japan and was to return to the North American country on Thursday.
"The departure date will be confirmed once final arrangements with the government of Japan and Princess Cruises are in place," the Canadian government said in a statement.
It did not state how many of the 256 Canadian passengers of the Diamond Princess would be evacuated, though the 43 who have tested positive for the virus will remain in the hospital in Japan.
News of the evacuations follows two chartered flights returning to the United States with 328 American evacuees from the cruise ship late Sunday and early Monday.
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Among the passengers were 14 who tested positive for COVID-19, nearly doubling the number of confirmed cases in the United States to 29. Ninety-two Americans remain under quarantine on the ship.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday that all people currently on board the Diamond Princess will be under travel restrictions to the United States. They must wait at least 14 days after leaving the cruise ship before traveling to the United States.
"After disembarkation from the Diamond Princess, these passengers and crew will be required to wait 14 days without having symptoms or a positive coronavirus test result before they are permitted to board flights to the United States," the CDC said in a statement.
If someone who had been on the cruise ship travels to the United States within the 14-day time period, they must undergo a mandatory quarantine in the United States until the two weeks is up.
Meanwhile, China's National Health Commission increased its death toll on Wednesday to 2,004 after 136 people died in the previous 24 hours. Among the newly recorded deaths, 132 occurred in the epicenter of Hubei province, including 116 in the city of Wuhan, where the disease is believed to have emerged.
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Globally, the death toll stood at 2,009 as France, the Philippines, Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan have each reported a death outside mainland China.
China also said the number of infections increased by 1,749 over Monday to 74,185.
World Health Organization officials said Tuesday there have been 92 cases of person-to-person transmission in 12 countries outside of China, but the agency doesn't have sufficient data from many of these countries to make "meaningful comparisons."
"We have not seen sustained local transmission of coronavirus except in specific circumstances like the Diamond Princess cruise ship," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during a news briefing in Geneva.
Mike Ryan, director of WHO's Health Emergencies Program, said officials in Japan initially decided to quarantine passengers on the Diamond Princess, where they could be "kept together" and monitored, but that "clearly, there has been more transmission than expected."
WHO and other experts plan to study what led to such widespread and rapid transmission on the Diamond Princess, but Ryan urged the public to keep the "event in perspective."
"The vast majority of people on the ship don't have COVID-19," he said, adding that many of the cases seem to be "mild disease."
As part of its global COVID-19 response efforts, WHO has shipped personal protective equipment, or PPE, to 21 member countries, and will provide the gear to another 106 countries in the coming weeks.
Advertisement
The agency has also provided COVID-19 testing kits to 40 countries in Africa and 29 in the Americas, which means they will have their own testing capacity by the end of this week.
According to Tedros, these countries -- most of them low-income -- had been sending samples to other countries for testing and waiting several days for results. Thanks to these initiatives, "we still have a chance of preventing a broader global catastrophe," he said.
Meanwhile, Chinese health officials announced the death of a doctor at ground zero of the widening epidemic after he contracted the deadly coronavirus while caring for infected patients.
Liu Zhiming, director of the Wuchang Hospital in Wuhan, died Tuesday at age of 51, the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission said.
"Since the outbreak, comrade Liu Zhiming, regardless of his personal safety, led the medical staff of Wuchang Hospital to fight the epidemic and made important contributions to the prevention and control of new-type coronavirus pneumonia in our city," the commission said in a statement.
Liu's death is the latest among health professionals fighting the disease in China's Hubei province with officials stating last week more than 1,700 front-line medics had been infected, six of whom had died.
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Among the dead is 34-year-old Li Wenliang -- an ophthalmologist at Wuhan who was punished by police for attempting to inform friends and family online in December when the outbreak began. His death attracted widespread anger, forcing the government to initiate an investigation.