upi--2020-07-01--Doctors prescribing more muscle relaxants for back pain

Back pain plagues many Americans , and new research shows that doctors are doling out muscle relaxant prescriptions to treat the pain -- often along with an opioid painkiller .
Experts worry that muscle relaxants may not help much and could cause troubling side effects , especially in older patients .
The study found the rate of long-term prescriptions for muscle relaxants to treat back and other muscle pain tripled between 2005 and 2016 .
Also concerning , nearly 70 percent of those prescribed muscle relaxants were given a prescription for an opioid pain-relieving medication like oxycodone ( OxyContin ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medications together increases the potential risk of ill effects , the researchers said .
`` We tried to develop a picture of the national [ use ] of skeletal muscle relaxants under the hypothesis that maybe physicians -- concerned about the use of opioids -- might be prescribing skeletal muscle relaxants more often , '' said study lead author Charles Leonard .
He 's an assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine .
`` We saw about a threefold increase in patients on continued therapy with skeletal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these drugs and they stay on these drugs , '' Leonard said .
But the problem is they have n't been studied for long-term use .
Skeletal muscle relaxants are approved for short-term treatment of muscle spasms and back pain .
Examples of muscle relaxants include baclofen ( Lioresal ) , carisoprodol ( Soma ) , cyclobenzaprine ( Fexmid ) and tizanidine ( Zanaflex ) .
Recommendations generally limit use of these drugs to a maximum of three weeks , since they have not been shown to work for muscle spasms beyond that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be very sedating .
Serious side effects associated with their use include dizziness , falls , fractures , car accidents , dependence and overdose .
Muscle relaxants pose a significant risk to people over 65 , and the American Geriatrics Society advises against their use in this age group .
Despite this recommendation , nearly a quarter of office visits for muscle relaxants in 2016 were for seniors , the study noted .
This group makes up less than 15 percent of the general population .
`` Older adults seem to disproportionately get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adding that seniors are often taking other medications as well , which can boost the odds of an adverse reaction .
In particular , the U.S. Food and Drug Administration cautions against using muscle relaxants and opioids together , noting the combination can cause difficulty breathing and death , according to background notes .
The study was based on national prescribing data from 2005 to 2016 .
The researchers looked at the total number of visits a year , what medications were prescribed and if the prescription was new or ongoing .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relaxants was to treat back problems .
Leonard said the research did n't look specifically at why doctors were prescribing these medications more , but he suspects there are at least a few factors driving the increase .
One is that there are n't really any good alternative drugs , so doctors may not want to take them away .
Another is that patients may put some pressure on their doctor to treat their pain .
But skeletal muscle relaxants should n't be considered a first-line treatment for back pain or muscle spasms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ therapy and over-the-counter medications like Advil or Tylenol can help lessen the pain .
`` The data shows that while skeletal muscle relaxants are better than a placebo , there 's no evidence that they provide benefit beyond nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , '' Leonard said .
Dr. David Sibell is a professor of anesthesiology and perioperative medicine from the Oregon Health and Science University School of Medicine and Comprehensive Pain Center .
`` The one thing that hit me hardest was the steady beat of new patients prescribed skeletal muscle relaxants that do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sibell , who was n't involved in the study .
`` If there is effectiveness for skeletal muscle relaxants , it 's only short-term .
There 's no long-term data .
And those 65 and older are very vulnerable to all of the adverse effects of these drugs , '' he said .
Sibell said there are other treatment options available .
In addition to physical therapy and over-the-counter medications , a prescription anti-inflammatory topical gel may help some people .
There are also certain procedures a pain management specialist can offer , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to have a greater appreciation of the toxicity of this class of medication .
They should not be used for more than a few days at a time , '' Sibell advised .
The study findings were published June 24 in JAMA Network Open .
Learn more about back pain from the U.S. National Library of Medicine .

Back pain plagues many Americans, and new research shows that doctors are doling out muscle relaxant prescriptions to treat the pain -- often along with an opioid painkiller.
Experts worry that muscle relaxants may not help much and could cause troubling side effects, especially in older patients.
Advertisement
The study found the rate of long-term prescriptions for muscle relaxants to treat back and other muscle pain tripled between 2005 and 2016.
Also concerning, nearly 70 percent of those prescribed muscle relaxants were given a prescription for an opioid pain-relieving medication like oxycodone (OxyContin) at the same time. Taking these medications together increases the potential risk of ill effects, the researchers said.
"We tried to develop a picture of the national [use] of skeletal muscle relaxants under the hypothesis that maybe physicians -- concerned about the use of opioids -- might be prescribing skeletal muscle relaxants more often," said study lead author Charles Leonard. He's an assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine.
Advertisement
"We saw about a threefold increase in patients on continued therapy with skeletal muscle relaxants. People get put on these drugs and they stay on these drugs," Leonard said. But the problem is they haven't been studied for long-term use.
Skeletal muscle relaxants are approved for short-term treatment of muscle spasms and back pain. Examples of muscle relaxants include baclofen (Lioresal), carisoprodol (Soma), cyclobenzaprine (Fexmid) and tizanidine (Zanaflex).
Recommendations generally limit use of these drugs to a maximum of three weeks, since they have not been shown to work for muscle spasms beyond that time.
Leonard said these medications can be very sedating. Serious side effects associated with their use include dizziness, falls, fractures, car accidents, dependence and overdose.
Muscle relaxants pose a significant risk to people over 65, and the American Geriatrics Society advises against their use in this age group.
Despite this recommendation, nearly a quarter of office visits for muscle relaxants in 2016 were for seniors, the study noted. This group makes up less than 15 percent of the general population.
"Older adults seem to disproportionately get these drugs," Leonard said, adding that seniors are often taking other medications as well, which can boost the odds of an adverse reaction.
Advertisement
In particular, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration cautions against using muscle relaxants and opioids together, noting the combination can cause difficulty breathing and death, according to background notes.
The study was based on national prescribing data from 2005 to 2016. The researchers looked at the total number of visits a year, what medications were prescribed and if the prescription was new or ongoing.
The most common reason people were taking muscle relaxants was to treat back problems.
Leonard said the research didn't look specifically at why doctors were prescribing these medications more, but he suspects there are at least a few factors driving the increase. One is that there aren't really any good alternative drugs, so doctors may not want to take them away. Another is that patients may put some pressure on their doctor to treat their pain.
But skeletal muscle relaxants shouldn't be considered a first-line treatment for back pain or muscle spasms, Leonard said. He said physical therapy and over-the-counter medications like Advil or Tylenol can help lessen the pain.
"The data shows that while skeletal muscle relaxants are better than a placebo, there's no evidence that they provide benefit beyond nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs," Leonard said.
Advertisement
Dr. David Sibell is a professor of anesthesiology and perioperative medicine from the Oregon Health and Science University School of Medicine and Comprehensive Pain Center.
"The one thing that hit me hardest was the steady beat of new patients prescribed skeletal muscle relaxants that don't come off them," said Sibell, who wasn't involved in the study.
"If there is effectiveness for skeletal muscle relaxants, it's only short-term. There's no long-term data. And those 65 and older are very vulnerable to all of the adverse effects of these drugs," he said.
Sibell said there are other treatment options available. In addition to physical therapy and over-the-counter medications, a prescription anti-inflammatory topical gel may help some people. There are also certain procedures a pain management specialist can offer, he said.
"I think people need to have a greater appreciation of the toxicity of this class of medication. They should not be used for more than a few days at a time," Sibell advised. The study findings were published June 24 in JAMA Network Open.
More information
Learn more about back pain from the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-07-01--Oshkosh Defense to build 248 JLTVs in $127.7M Pentagon contract

July 1 ( UPI ) -- The U.S. Army Contracting Command ordered the construction of 248 Joint Light Tactical Vehicles by Oshkosh Defense LLC , the company announced on Wednesday .
The Defense Department said Tuesday that a $ 127.7 million contract was awarded for work to be completed by January 2022 .
The vehicles will be used by the U.S. Army , Marine Corps and State Department .
The company has produced over 7,500 JLTVs for the U.S. military , and other NATO nations have expressed interest in obtaining the light utility/combat multi-role vehicles .
The vehicle comes in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Guns Carrier - General Purpose base vehicle , with a Heavy Guns Carrier Mission Package Configuration ; the M1279 Utility base vehicle platform in Utility Mission Package Configuration ; the M1280 General Purpose Mission Package Configuration and the M1281 Close Combat Weapons Carrier Configuration .
Integrated weapons include 30mm anti-tank missile systems , anti-aircraft missile systems , unmanned aerial vehicle systems , and counter-UAV systems .
It is powered by a 340-horsepower , 6.6-liter diesel engine based on the General Motors Duramax engine .
`` The JLTV was designed to provide our troops @ @ @ @ @ @ @ George Mansfield , Oshkosh Defense in a statement on Wednesday , `` and while adversaries , terrains , and tactics have all evolved immensely since the vehicle 's conception , the JLTV 's flexible design allows the light tactical vehicle fleet to evolve at a similar pace . ''

Oshkosh Defense on Tuesday was awarded a $127.7 million contract to provide 248 more Joint Light Tactical Vehicles for the U.S. Army, Marines and State Department. Photo courtesy of Oshkosh Defense
July 1 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army Contracting Command ordered the construction of 248 Joint Light Tactical Vehicles by Oshkosh Defense LLC, the company announced on Wednesday. The Defense Department said Tuesday that a $127.7 million contract was awarded for work to be completed by January 2022. The vehicles will be used by the U.S. Army, Marine Corps and State Department. Advertisement
The company has produced over 7,500 JLTVs for the U.S. military, and other NATO nations have expressed interest in obtaining the light utility/combat multi-role vehicles.
The vehicle comes in four variants, including the M1278 Heavy Guns Carrier - General Purpose base vehicle, with a Heavy Guns Carrier Mission Package Configuration; the M1279 Utility base vehicle platform in Utility Mission Package Configuration; the M1280 General Purpose Mission Package Configuration and the M1281 Close Combat Weapons Carrier Configuration.
Integrated weapons include 30mm anti-tank missile systems, anti-aircraft missile systems, unmanned aerial vehicle systems, and counter-UAV systems. It is powered by a 340-horsepower, 6.6-liter diesel engine based on the General Motors Duramax engine.
"The JLTV was designed to provide our troops with unmatched mission capabilities," said George Mansfield, Oshkosh Defense in a statement on Wednesday, "and while adversaries, terrains, and tactics have all evolved immensely since the vehicle's conception, the JLTV's flexible design allows the light tactical vehicle fleet to evolve at a similar pace."


upi--2020-07-01--Man with metal detector finds surfer's lost wedding ring

July 1 ( UPI ) -- A New Zealand surfer who dropped his wedding ring into the ocean was reunited with the precious possession with help from a stranger with a metal detector .
Craig Hudson of Auckland said he was surfing at Orewa Beach when his wedding ring fell from his finger and splashed into the ocean .
Hudson said he dove underwater to search for the ring , but was unable to find it .
`` I spent ages trying to find it with no luck and that dreaded feeling that I was going to have to tell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Hudson 's wife , Bronwyn , posted in a Facebook group dedicated to the Hibiscus Coast in the hopes that someone had found the ring , but there were no leads .
She saw a post from Oliver Trottier of Snells Beach , who had used his metal detector to find someone else 's lost ring .
Bronwyn Hudson enlisted Trottier 's help to search for her husband 's lost ring .
Trottier said an electrical storm caused too much interference for him to have any luck Sunday , but after several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ring in a deep hole .
`` Gold rings have good conductors .
The machine just freaks out when it goes over that kind of thing , '' Trottier said .
Hudson said he was surprised that Trottier found his lost item .
`` It 's pretty special that someone would give up their time to find it , '' he said .
Hudson said the incident was n't even the first time he had lost the ring -- he once lost it during a trip to the lake with some friends , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a picnic bag that had been in his garage ever since the trip .
`` The fact I 've lost it for a second time and someone else found it it 's incredible .
It must be a sign my marriage will last , '' he told the New Zealand Herald .

A New Zealand surfer who lost his wedding ring in the ocean was reunited with the ring thanks to a stranger with a metal detector. Photo by SookyungAn/Pixabay.com
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe July 1 (UPI) -- A New Zealand surfer who dropped his wedding ring into the ocean was reunited with the precious possession with help from a stranger with a metal detector. Craig Hudson of Auckland said he was surfing at Orewa Beach when his wedding ring fell from his finger and splashed into the ocean. Advertisement
Hudson said he dove underwater to search for the ring, but was unable to find it.
"I spent ages trying to find it with no luck and that dreaded feeling that I was going to have to tell my wife," Hudson told Stuff.co.nz.
Hudson's wife, Bronwyn, posted in a Facebook group dedicated to the Hibiscus Coast in the hopes that someone had found the ring, but there were no leads.
She saw a post from Oliver Trottier of Snells Beach, who had used his metal detector to find someone else's lost ring.
Bronwyn Hudson enlisted Trottier's help to search for her husband's lost ring.
Trottier said an electrical storm caused too much interference for him to have any luck Sunday, but after several hours of searching Monday he found the ring in a deep hole.
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"Gold rings have good conductors. The machine just freaks out when it goes over that kind of thing," Trottier said.
Hudson said he was surprised that Trottier found his lost item.
"It's pretty special that someone would give up their time to find it," he said.
Hudson said the incident wasn't even the first time he had lost the ring -- he once lost it during a trip to the lake with some friends, and it turned up 11 years later in a picnic bag that had been in his garage ever since the trip.
"The fact I've lost it for a second time and someone else found it it's incredible. It must be a sign my marriage will last," he told the New Zealand Herald.


upi--2020-07-01--Homeland Security Dept. forms task force to protect federal monuments over July Fourth weekend

July 1 ( UPI ) -- The Department of Homeland Security said Wednesday it plans to deploy a newly established task force to protect federal statues and other monuments over the Fourth of July weekend .
Acting Secretary Chad Wolf established the Protecting American Communities Task Force to protect monuments after many have been toppled in recent weeks because of their links to slavery , racism or colonialism .
President Donald Trump signed an executive order last week to protect federal monuments and direct the department to provide personnel to assist with the effort .
`` DHS is answering the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enforcement personnel across the country to protect our historic landmarks , '' Wolf said .
`` We wo n't stand idly by while violent anarchists and rioters seek not only to vandalize and destroy the symbols of our nation , but to disrupt law and order and sow chaos in our communities . ''
Wolf said his department will monitor potential civil unrest or destruction and deploy resources to protect federal monuments , and work with the Interior and Justice departments to share intelligence .
`` As we approach the July 4th holiday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pre-positioning of Rapid Deployment Teams across the country to respond to potential threats to facilities and property , '' he said .
`` While the department respects every American 's right to protest peacefully , violence and civil unrest will not be tolerated . ''
The effort comes amid widespread Black Lives Matter protests worldwide inspired by the police-involved death of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25 .
Some demonstrators have brought down -- or attempted to bring down -- statues honoring historic figures who have owned slaves or been involved in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Native Americans , such as President Andrew Jackson , Christopher Columbus and Civil War Gen. Robert E. Lee .
In some places , leaders have approved the official removal of such statues , including a Confederate monument in Denton , Texas , a statue of President Theodore Roosevelt at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City and a statue of George Preston Marshall , founder of the NFL 's Washington Redskins .

A statue of Gen. Robert E. Lee is seen in Richmond, Va., on June 20. It is one of dozens of monuments nationwide that have been targeted by demonstrators in recent weeks. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo
July 1 (UPI) -- The Department of Homeland Security said Wednesday it plans to deploy a newly established task force to protect federal statues and other monuments over the Fourth of July weekend. Acting Secretary Chad Wolf established the Protecting American Communities Task Force to protect monuments after many have been toppled in recent weeks because of their links to slavery, racism or colonialism. Advertisement
President Donald Trump signed an executive order last week to protect federal monuments and direct the department to provide personnel to assist with the effort.
"DHS is answering the president's call to use our law enforcement personnel across the country to protect our historic landmarks," Wolf said. "We won't stand idly by while violent anarchists and rioters seek not only to vandalize and destroy the symbols of our nation, but to disrupt law and order and sow chaos in our communities."
Wolf said his department will monitor potential civil unrest or destruction and deploy resources to protect federal monuments, and work with the Interior and Justice departments to share intelligence.
"As we approach the July 4th holiday, I have directed the deployment and pre-positioning of Rapid Deployment Teams across the country to respond to potential threats to facilities and property," he said.
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"While the department respects every American's right to protest peacefully, violence and civil unrest will not be tolerated."
The effort comes amid widespread Black Lives Matter protests worldwide inspired by the police-involved death of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25. Some demonstrators have brought down -- or attempted to bring down -- statues honoring historic figures who have owned slaves or been involved in the Confederacy or efforts to forcefully relocate Native Americans, such as President Andrew Jackson, Christopher Columbus and Civil War Gen. Robert E. Lee.
In some places, leaders have approved the official removal of such statues, including a Confederate monument in Denton, Texas, a statue of President Theodore Roosevelt at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City and a statue of George Preston Marshall, founder of the NFL's Washington Redskins.
Protesters march for social justice


upi--2020-07-02--New jellyfish robots can outswim their inspiration

July 2 ( UPI ) -- Engineers have developed soft-bodied robots that can outswim their biological inspiration -- jellyfish .
The jellyfish robots , described this week in the journal Advanced Materials Technologies , were engineered with pre-stressed polymers , a new method that lends strength to soft-bodied robots .
`` Our previous work focused on making soft robots that were inspired by cheetahs - and while the robots were very fast , they still had a stiff inner spine , '' Jie Yin , an assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at North Carolina State University and corresponding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a news release .
`` We wanted to make a completely soft robot , without an inner spine , that still utilized that concept of switching between two stable states in order to make the soft robot move more powerfully -- and more quickly .
And one of the animals we were inspired by was the jellyfish . ''
To build the new jellyfish robots , researchers bonded two polymer layers derived from the same material .
Scientists stretched one layer to pre-stress the polymer .
The second unadulterated layer featured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make the robot 'flex ' by pumping air into the channel layer , and we control the direction of that flex by controlling the relative thickness of the pre-stressed layer , '' Yin said .
By stretching the polymer layer -- pulling each end in opposite directions , for example -- scientists can create layers that want to assume different curved , or warped , shapes .
When combined with a thicker unstressed layer , the warped layer assumes a smile-like bend as air is pumped through the air channel .
If the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ air channel causes the warped layer to accentuate its frown , each end curling downward .
To build the jellyfish robots , scientists stretched the pre-stressed layer in four different directions , combining it with thin second layer outfitted with a ring-like air channel .
In a relaxed state , the soft-bodied disk takes on a shallow bowl-like appearance , with the dome curving upwards .
When the air channel is activated , the outside of the disk bends downward , propelling the jellyfish-bot through the water .
In tests , the jellyfish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second , nearly double the speeds of the three jellyfish species analyzed for the project .
Researchers used the same construction method for the jellyfish robot to create a gripping robot .
Unlike most gripping robots , which require energy to maintain their hold , the new robot remains clenched shut during its relaxed state .
Filling the air channel causes the robot to release its cargo .
`` The advantage here is that you do n't need energy to hold on to the object during transport -- it 's more efficient , @ @ @ @

An artistic rendering of a soft robot jellyfish. Photo by NC State University
July 2 (UPI) -- Engineers have developed soft-bodied robots that can outswim their biological inspiration -- jellyfish. The jellyfish robots, described this week in the journal Advanced Materials Technologies, were engineered with pre-stressed polymers, a new method that lends strength to soft-bodied robots. Advertisement
"Our previous work focused on making soft robots that were inspired by cheetahs - and while the robots were very fast, they still had a stiff inner spine," Jie Yin, an assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at North Carolina State University and corresponding author on the newly published paper, said in a news release. "We wanted to make a completely soft robot, without an inner spine, that still utilized that concept of switching between two stable states in order to make the soft robot move more powerfully -- and more quickly. And one of the animals we were inspired by was the jellyfish."
To build the new jellyfish robots, researchers bonded two polymer layers derived from the same material. Scientists stretched one layer to pre-stress the polymer. The second unadulterated layer featured an air channel.
"We can make the robot 'flex' by pumping air into the channel layer, and we control the direction of that flex by controlling the relative thickness of the pre-stressed layer," Yin said.
Advertisement
By stretching the polymer layer -- pulling each end in opposite directions, for example -- scientists can create layers that want to assume different curved, or warped, shapes. When combined with a thicker unstressed layer, the warped layer assumes a smile-like bend as air is pumped through the air channel. If the second layer is thinner, the activated air channel causes the warped layer to accentuate its frown, each end curling downward.
To build the jellyfish robots, scientists stretched the pre-stressed layer in four different directions, combining it with thin second layer outfitted with a ring-like air channel.
In a relaxed state, the soft-bodied disk takes on a shallow bowl-like appearance, with the dome curving upwards. When the air channel is activated, the outside of the disk bends downward, propelling the jellyfish-bot through the water.
In tests, the jellyfish robots traveled more than two inches per second, nearly double the speeds of the three jellyfish species analyzed for the project.
Researchers used the same construction method for the jellyfish robot to create a gripping robot. Unlike most gripping robots, which require energy to maintain their hold, the new robot remains clenched shut during its relaxed state. Filling the air channel causes the robot to release its cargo.
Advertisement
"The advantage here is that you don't need energy to hold on to the object during transport -- it's more efficient," Yin said.


upi--2020-07-02--Look: Cassie Randolph describes 'awful few months' since Colton Underwood split

July 2 ( UPI ) -- Cassie Randolph says she 's experienced an `` awful few months '' since her split from Colton Underwood .
The 25-year-old television personality said in an Instagram post Wednesday that she 's struggled with fame and haters since splitting from Underwood , the star of The Bachelor Season 23 .
Randolph won Underwood 's season of The Bachelor , which ended with the couple together but not engaged .
The pair announced their split in May 2019 , more than two months after the Season 23 finale .
In her post Wednesday , Randolph @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her into the spotlight .
She said she 's been trying to navigate her new normal while retaining her identity .
`` I used to think a platform would give me a voice , but in many ways a platform takes your voice .
For someone like me it 's been paralyzing , '' the star said .
`` I can overthink everything .
It takes really thick skin to navigate constant drama , fake articles , nasty DMs & comments or rumors started by people who feel entitled for your personal life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strength to shrug off strangers who regularly criticize your character based on conclusions they drew while watching an edited TV show ( I could say so much here ) , '' she added .
`` It can feel like an uphill battle . ''
Randolph said she sometimes wants to ignore her `` sensitive side '' and tell off her critics .
`` I feel like saying : ok all you mother [ expletive ] hating on me for my breakup - please stop .
It 's been an awful few months for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I 'm STILL going thru it , '' she said .
`` It 's hard enough w/out your know-it-all comments .
You literally know nothing so go away . ''
Randolph said `` truly critical issues in the world , '' including Black Lives Matter and COVID-19 , help put her `` personal problems in perspective . ''
She said she took a break from Instagram for 30 days to regroup and reflect .
`` Life is short .
We all have struggles to figure out .
All we can do is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when we reflect , we do n't feel regret , '' the star said .
`` Always be learning , always be growing . ''
Fellow Bachelor alums Kaitlyn Bristowe , Jade Roper , Tia Booth , Raven Gates , Becca Tilley and Catherine Agro were among those to show their support for Randolph in the comments .
`` So much love to you ! ''
Tilley wrote .
`` love this .
love you .
proud of how you 've handled everything .
gods light and energy shines through your beautiful soul @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Matt James was announced as the star of The Bachelor Season 25 .
James is the first Black man to be cast as the show 's lead .

July 2 (UPI) -- Cassie Randolph says she's experienced an "awful few months" since her split from Colton Underwood.
The 25-year-old television personality said in an Instagram post Wednesday that she's struggled with fame and haters since splitting from Underwood, the star of The Bachelor Season 23.
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Randolph won Underwood's season of The Bachelor, which ended with the couple together but not engaged. The pair announced their split in May 2019, more than two months after the Season 23 finale.
In her post Wednesday, Randolph described how The Bachelor "thrust" her into the spotlight. She said she's been trying to navigate her new normal while retaining her identity.
"I used to think a platform would give me a voice, but in many ways a platform takes your voice. For someone like me it's been paralyzing," the star said. "I can overthink everything. It takes really thick skin to navigate constant drama, fake articles, nasty DMs & comments or rumors started by people who feel entitled for your personal life."
Advertisement
"It takes incredible mental strength to shrug off strangers who regularly criticize your character based on conclusions they drew while watching an edited TV show (I could say so much here)," she added. "It can feel like an uphill battle."
Randolph said she sometimes wants to ignore her "sensitive side" and tell off her critics.
"I feel like saying: ok all you mother [expletive] hating on me for my breakup - please stop. It's been an awful few months for ME trying to go thru it. I'm STILL going thru it," she said. "It's hard enough w/out your know-it-all comments. You literally know nothing so go away."
Randolph said "truly critical issues in the world," including Black Lives Matter and COVID-19, help put her "personal problems in perspective." She said she took a break from Instagram for 30 days to regroup and reflect.
"Life is short. We all have struggles to figure out. All we can do is the best we know in the moment so when we reflect, we don't feel regret," the star said. "Always be learning, always be growing."
Fellow Bachelor alums Kaitlyn Bristowe, Jade Roper, Tia Booth, Raven Gates, Becca Tilley and Catherine Agro were among those to show their support for Randolph in the comments.
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"So much love to you!" Tilley wrote.
"love this. love you. proud of how you've handled everything. gods light and energy shines through your beautiful soul," Agro added.
In June, Matt James was announced as the star of The Bachelor Season 25. James is the first Black man to be cast as the show's lead.


upi--2020-07-02--China releases North Korean defector accused of spying, report says

July 2 ( UPI ) -- A North Korean defector of Japanese nationality has been released from Chinese detention after serving five years in prison for espionage , according to a Japanese press report .
The man , who was brought into custody in 2015 at the Chinese border city of Dandong on charges of spying , has been freed and is planning to return home to Japan , Yomiuri Shimbun reported Thursday .
The man was likely among at least two with Japanese passports reported by the Yomiuri to be arrested in 2015.One man was apprehended after allegedly trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and was suspected of assisting North Koreans in China , a group that Beijing does not recognize as refugees .
The unidentified man was placed `` under surveillance at his residence '' , which Yomiuri 's sources said at the time means he was detained at a hotel or another location .
A second man was arrested while assisting North Korean defectors in the Chinese city of Dandong near the North Korean border .
At the time , the man was described as being of Korean and Japanese ancestry .
He was repatriated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his family , but later defected in the 1990s , resettling in Japan in 2001 .
On Thursday , the Yomiuri described the released prisoner as a 59-year-old defector and a native of Kanagawa Prefecture .
He was released from a Chinese prison located in the northeastern city of Dalian , in Liaoning Province , according to the report .
In 2015 , China arrested multiple Japanese citizens , including a woman who was identified as a naturalized citizen originally from China .
Migration out of North Korea has declined dramatically in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has also raised tensions with the South by targeting a U.S.-South Korea working group .
Yonhap reported Thursday Seoul 's foreign ministry disclosed its intention to dispel concerns about the working group domestically , and that the issue was raised during a recent meeting between U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun and his South Korean counterpart Lee Do-hoon .

A Japanese national who was brought into custody in 2015 at the Chinese border city of Dandong on charges of spying has been freed, according to a Japanese press report. File Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI | License Photo
July 2 (UPI) -- A North Korean defector of Japanese nationality has been released from Chinese detention after serving five years in prison for espionage, according to a Japanese press report. The man, who was brought into custody in 2015 at the Chinese border city of Dandong on charges of spying, has been freed and is planning to return home to Japan, Yomiuri Shimbun reported Thursday. Advertisement
The man was likely among at least two with Japanese passports reported by the Yomiuri to be arrested in 2015.One man was apprehended after allegedly trying to fraudulently open a bank account, and was suspected of assisting North Koreans in China, a group that Beijing does not recognize as refugees. The unidentified man was placed "under surveillance at his residence", which Yomiuri's sources said at the time means he was detained at a hotel or another location.
A second man was arrested while assisting North Korean defectors in the Chinese city of Dandong near the North Korean border. At the time, the man was described as being of Korean and Japanese ancestry. He was repatriated to North Korea in the 1960s with his family, but later defected in the 1990s, resettling in Japan in 2001.
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On Thursday, the Yomiuri described the released prisoner as a 59-year-old defector and a native of Kanagawa Prefecture. He was released from a Chinese prison located in the northeastern city of Dalian, in Liaoning Province, according to the report.
In 2015, China arrested multiple Japanese citizens, including a woman who was identified as a naturalized citizen originally from China.
Migration out of North Korea has declined dramatically in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Pyongyang has also raised tensions with the South by targeting a U.S.-South Korea working group.
Yonhap reported Thursday Seoul's foreign ministry disclosed its intention to dispel concerns about the working group domestically, and that the issue was raised during a recent meeting between U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun and his South Korean counterpart Lee Do-hoon.


upi--2020-07-02--Gallup: Nearly two-thirds of Americans say COVID-19 crisis getting worse

A woman wearing a mask jogs in New York City's Brooklyn Bridge Park on June 25, with One World Trade Center and the Manhattan Skyline in the background at sunset. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
July 2 (UPI) -- Nearly two-thirds of Americans, a record share, believe the coronavirus crisis is getting worse, according to a new survey Thursday. Gallup said 65 percent of respondents polled last week, amid new surges in cases nationwide, said the overall COVID-19 situation is worsening either by a "little" or "a lot." That figure is an increase from 37 percent just two weeks earlier, and the previous high of 56 percent in April. Advertisement
Less than a quarter, 23 percent, answered that the situation is getting better -- down from 47 percent earlier this month.
Gallup also said the share of U.S. adults "very" or "somewhat" concerned about catching the coronavirus disease has increased to 56 percent, the highest figure since it was at 57 percent in April.
Gallup said the results are based on its online COVID-19 tracking survey, which interviews weekly random samples from its probability-based panel. The pollster says it uses probability-based, random sampling methods to recruit panel members.
"Americans may dispute whether the recent increase in new daily coronavirus cases represents a continuation of the first wave or the start of a second wave of infections -- but there is a growing public consensus that the situation is getting worse," Gallup wrote.
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"Recent developments are a grim reminder that even as the number of new daily cases declined in recent months, the virus never went away. Consequently, Americans are increasingly likely to think the disruptions to daily life will persist in the U.S. through at least the end of this year."
Gallup polled nearly 3,500 panel members for the survey, which has a margin of error of 3 points.
COVID-19 pandemic alters life in New York City


upi--2020-07-02--GOP support for mail voting is growing, but hard to hear over Trump

July 2 ( UPI ) -- President Donald Trump 's increasingly hyperbolic attacks on voting by mail , amplified by Attorney General William Barr and the Republican National Committee , have triggered alarms that the country is heading toward another contested election .
Trump appears to be gearing up to cast doubt on an outcome that does n't go his way .
Primaries marred by hours-long lines , voting machine malfunctions and controversies over absentee ballots have many bracing for a meltdown starting Election Day .
A much bigger surge of mailed-in votes in November virtually guarantees the results wo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the stage for a crisis in voter confidence if the results are close enough to be challenged , as happened in 2000 .
Yet for all that , voting rights advocates mobilizing to secure the election and neutralize Trump 's divisive voting rhetoric have surprising and influential allies in their corner : many leading Republicans .
GOP governors , Republican election officials and prominent conservatives are increasingly pushing to expand voting by mail .
They 're also forcefully rejecting Trump 's baseless claims the practice is `` corrupt '' because it invites fraud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to boot .
`` It 's very sad and very disappointing that with almost five months to go , the president seems to [ want to ] try to delegitimize the Nov. 3 election , '' former Pennsylvania Gov .
Tom Ridge , a Republican , told NPR after Trump 's recent escalation of attacks on mail-in voting .
A former Homeland Security secretary , Ridge co-chairs a new nonpartisan group , VoteSafe , formed this spring to push to expand mail-in voting and assure safe in-person voting during this pandemic-plagued election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ released an error-riddled ad that suggested without evidence that voting by mail is `` rigged up '' to `` churn out '' ballots for voters with no eligibility or signature requirements , former Republican Rep. Zach Wamp of Tennessee did n't hold back .
`` Shame on you ! ''
Wamp tweeted at RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel .
`` I 've been a GOP activist at every level for 40 years .
This is bull crap +our party deserves better . ''
Wamp starred in his own ad recently as part of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign to urge lawmakers on Capitol Hill , particularly Senate Republicans , to increase funding for election administration during the pandemic .
Congress has granted the states $ 400 million so far .
The House has voted to allocate $ 3.6 billion more as part of its latest , $ 3 trillion coronavirus economic recovery package , but the Senate will not move to negotiate a much less expensive alternative until late this month .
`` Many Republican governors are expanding absentee voting options , and they need Congress ' help , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for by Issue One Action .
Wamp co-chairs Issue One 's bipartisan ReFormers Caucus of former members of Congress and administration officials promoting fixes to the political system .
( The advocacy group operates The Fulcrum but has no say in its journalism . )
The Republican governors of Maryland , Missouri , Nebraska , New Hampshire and Ohio have all encouraged major mail-in voting expansions in response to the pandemic .
Absentee voting has been around since the Civil War and has gained traction recently amid broad bipartisan support .
Conservative Utah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its election entirely by mail .
More than half the states allow `` no excuse '' absentee voting , and about half of voters have cast ballots by mail this primary season , compared with 25 percent in 2018 .
Absentee voting `` comports with conservative principles , '' argues a recent white paper released by the R Street Institute , a generally right-leaning think tank In `` The Conservative Case for Expanded Access to Absentee Ballots , '' R Street scholars argue that voting absentee is partisan-neutral , cost-effective , secure , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elderly and disabled .
More Republicans are speaking out to defend mail-in voting in part out of self-preservation .
Notes Matt Baca , director of VoteSafe : `` The president is scaring his own voters away from an opportunity to cast their own ballot . ''
There is still plenty of partisan disagreement over mail-in voting , of course .
While most Americans support giving voters the option to vote by mail , enthusiasm is stronger among Democrats , who have also been less likely than Republicans to vote in person during this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of State Paul Pate mailed absentee ballot request forms to all registered voters ahead of the June legislative and congressional primaries , his fellow Republicans in charge of the Legislature stepped in to prevent a similar mailing for the general election .
And in battleground Michigan , a group of Trump backers staged a letter-burning to protest the state sending all 7.7 million registered voters an application to vote absentee in November .
Partisan splits in voter behavior may help fuel conspiracy theories in a close election , prominent election law scholar Richard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ primary a month ago featured more Democrats voting by mail , and more Republicans voting in person , Hasen noted on his ElectionLawBlog : `` If this pattern holds for November and nationwide , it means that Trump could be leading in places on election night only to have the outcome change as absentee ballots are counted in coming days . ''
Nevertheless , voter enthusiasm for voting by mail is unlikely to disappear after the pandemic .
The recent attacks on mail-in voting `` are very problematic and destructive with regard to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , CEO of the National Vote at Home Institute .
`` Election administration must be free from partisan politics . ''
But she adds that voters from both parties have made their preferences clear : `` I do think that this has fundamentally shifted the way that Americans are going to vote going forward . ''
Indeed , Trump 's own actions may speak louder than his words -- he himself voted by mail in the recent primary .
Eliza Newlin Carney is a contributing writer for The Fulcrum , where this article @ @ @

The Republican governors of Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire and Ohio have all encouraged major mail-in voting expansions in response to the pandemic. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
July 2 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump's increasingly hyperbolic attacks on voting by mail, amplified by Attorney General William Barr and the Republican National Committee, have triggered alarms that the country is heading toward another contested election. Trump appears to be gearing up to cast doubt on an outcome that doesn't go his way. Primaries marred by hours-long lines, voting machine malfunctions and controversies over absentee ballots have many bracing for a meltdown starting Election Day. A much bigger surge of mailed-in votes in November virtually guarantees the results won't be known for days, setting the stage for a crisis in voter confidence if the results are close enough to be challenged, as happened in 2000. Advertisement
Yet for all that, voting rights advocates mobilizing to secure the election and neutralize Trump's divisive voting rhetoric have surprising and influential allies in their corner: many leading Republicans.
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GOP governors, Republican election officials and prominent conservatives are increasingly pushing to expand voting by mail. They're also forcefully rejecting Trump's baseless claims the practice is "corrupt" because it invites fraud and foreign tampering -- and helps Democrats, to boot.
"It's very sad and very disappointing that with almost five months to go, the president seems to [want to] try to delegitimize the Nov. 3 election," former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, a Republican, told NPR after Trump's recent escalation of attacks on mail-in voting. A former Homeland Security secretary, Ridge co-chairs a new nonpartisan group, VoteSafe, formed this spring to push to expand mail-in voting and assure safe in-person voting during this pandemic-plagued election.
When the Republican National Committee recently released an error-riddled ad that suggested without evidence that voting by mail is "rigged up" to "churn out" ballots for voters with no eligibility or signature requirements, former Republican Rep. Zach Wamp of Tennessee didn't hold back.
"Shame on you!" Wamp tweeted at RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel. "I've been a GOP activist at every level for 40 years. This is bull crap +our party deserves better."
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Wamp starred in his own ad recently as part of a $750,000 "Making Voting Safe" campaign to urge lawmakers on Capitol Hill, particularly Senate Republicans, to increase funding for election administration during the pandemic. Congress has granted the states $400 million so far. The House has voted to allocate $3.6 billion more as part of its latest, $3 trillion coronavirus economic recovery package, but the Senate will not move to negotiate a much less expensive alternative until late this month.
"Many Republican governors are expanding absentee voting options, and they need Congress' help," Wamp says in the ad, paid for by Issue One Action. Wamp co-chairs Issue One's bipartisan ReFormers Caucus of former members of Congress and administration officials promoting fixes to the political system. (The advocacy group operates The Fulcrum but has no say in its journalism.)
The Republican governors of Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire and Ohio have all encouraged major mail-in voting expansions in response to the pandemic.
Absentee voting has been around since the Civil War and has gained traction recently amid broad bipartisan support. Conservative Utah is one of five states to conduct its election entirely by mail. More than half the states allow "no excuse" absentee voting, and about half of voters have cast ballots by mail this primary season, compared with 25 percent in 2018.
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Absentee voting "comports with conservative principles," argues a recent white paper released by the R Street Institute, a generally right-leaning think tank
In "The Conservative Case for Expanded Access to Absentee Ballots," R Street scholars argue that voting absentee is partisan-neutral, cost-effective, secure, popular and inclusive of voters who are elderly and disabled. More Republicans are speaking out to defend mail-in voting in part out of self-preservation. Notes Matt Baca, director of VoteSafe: "The president is scaring his own voters away from an opportunity to cast their own ballot."
There is still plenty of partisan disagreement over mail-in voting, of course. While most Americans support giving voters the option to vote by mail, enthusiasm is stronger among Democrats, who have also been less likely than Republicans to vote in person during this year's primaries.
After Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate mailed absentee ballot request forms to all registered voters ahead of the June legislative and congressional primaries, his fellow Republicans in charge of the Legislature stepped in to prevent a similar mailing for the general election. And in battleground Michigan, a group of Trump backers staged a letter-burning to protest the state sending all 7.7 million registered voters an application to vote absentee in November.
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Partisan splits in voter behavior may help fuel conspiracy theories in a close election, prominent election law scholar Richard Hasen has warned. After Pennsylvania's primary a month ago featured more Democrats voting by mail, and more Republicans voting in person, Hasen noted on his ElectionLawBlog: "If this pattern holds for November and nationwide, it means that Trump could be leading in places on election night only to have the outcome change as absentee ballots are counted in coming days."
Nevertheless, voter enthusiasm for voting by mail is unlikely to disappear after the pandemic.
The recent attacks on mail-in voting "are very problematic and destructive with regard to voter confidence," acknowledges Amber McReynolds, CEO of the National Vote at Home Institute. "Election administration must be free from partisan politics."
But she adds that voters from both parties have made their preferences clear: "I do think that this has fundamentally shifted the way that Americans are going to vote going forward." Indeed, Trump's own actions may speak louder than his words -- he himself voted by mail in the recent primary.
Eliza Newlin Carney is a contributing writer for The Fulcrum, where this article originally appeared.


upi--2020-07-02--Lesley Manville joins 'The Crown' Season 5 as Princess Margaret

July 2 ( UPI ) -- Lesley Manville has been cast as Princess Margaret in the fifth and final season @ @ @ @ @ .
Margaret is the younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II .
Manville is taking over @ @ @ @ @ who previously took over for Vanessa Kirby .
The Crown follows Elizabeth 's reign throughout @ @ @ @ @ be joined by Imelda Staunton as Elizabeth .
Olivia Colman and Claire Foy previously portrayed @ @ @ @ @ `` I could not be happier to be playing Princess Margaret .
The baton is @ @ @ @ @ formidable actresses and I really do n't want to let the side down , '' @ @ @ @ @ Crown 's official Twitter page .
`` Furthermore , to play siblings with my dear @ @ @ @ @ nothing short of a complete joy , '' she continued .
The Crown Season 3 @ @ @ @ @ has not given a release date for Season 4 or Season 5 .

Lesley Manville will play Princess Margaret in the fifth season of The Crown. pic.twitter.com/R5aZEBOW0t— The Crown (@TheCrownNetflix) July 2, 2020
July 2 (UPI) -- Lesley Manville has been cast as Princess Margaret in the fifth and final season of Netflix's The Crown.
Margaret is the younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II. Manville is taking over the role from Helena Bonham-Carter who previously took over for Vanessa Kirby.
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The Crown follows Elizabeth's reign throughout the years. Manville will be joined by Imelda Staunton as Elizabeth. Olivia Colman and Claire Foy previously portrayed Elizabeth on the series.
"I could not be happier to be playing Princess Margaret. The baton is being passed on from two formidable actresses and I really don't want to let the side down," Manville said Thursday on The Crown's official Twitter page.
"Furthermore, to play siblings with my dear friend Imelda Staunton will be nothing short of a complete joy," she continued.
The Crown Season 3 premiered in November. Netflix has not given a release date for Season 4 or Season 5.


upi--2020-07-02--Another 1.4 million U.S. workers file new unemployment claims

Stylist Katie Winston ( R ) cuts the hair of customer Dee Broderick on the sidewalk outside the 7-0-3 Salon @ @ @ @ @ on May 26 .
Although stylists and customers wear masks , the salon has offered @ @ @ @ @ outdoors for those who may have coronavirus concerns .
Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | Dentist @ @ @ @ @ drill at his office in Chesterfield , Mo.
, on May 19 .
Sherstoff has @ @ @ @ @ that destroys airborne viruses that could be transmitted by the drill , and all staff @ @ @ @ @ masks , gloves and face shields to protect themselves .
Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI |

A woman jogs by graffiti sprayed on boarded windows at Manhattan's closed Aritzia Fashion Boutique retail store, on June 22 in the SOHO neighborhood of New York City. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
July 2 (UPI) -- Another 1.4 million American workers have filed for new unemployment benefits, the Labor Department said in its weekly report Thursday. The department said 1.43 million new claims were filed by the end of last week, a decrease of 55,000. The report said the unemployment rate was at 13.2 percent on June 27, unchanged from the week before. Advertisement
The department also revised up last week's report by 2,000 claims.
Most analysts had expected around 1.3 million new claims. Thursday's report marks the 15th consecutive week of at least 1 million new filings.
The department reported just under 1.4 million new claims last week. While still very high by historical standards, Thursday's figure continues a steady decline from a peak of more than 13 million new claims over a two-week period in April.
The report put continuing claims, which lag initial claims by a week, at 19.3 million.
The Labor Department also issued its June jobs report on Thursday, which said the U.S. economy added 4.8 million jobs for the month. The report came a day earlier than normal due to the federal holiday on Friday.
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World moves to reopen amid COVID-19 pandemic
Visitors wear face masks as they tour the Whitney Museum of American Art as it reopens on September 3. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo


upi--2020-07-02--U.S. economy added nearly 5 million jobs in June, Labor Dept. says

July 2 ( UPI ) -- The U.S. economy added 4.8 million jobs for the month of June , the Labor Department said Thursday in its monthly employment assessment .
The report also noted the unemployment rate fell to 11.1 percent for the month .
The assessment is the department 's first since it stunned Wall Street a month ago by reporting an addition of 2.5 million new jobs for May -- a report that analysts had expected to show between 7 and 8 million payroll losses .
Most analysts predicted Thursday 's report to show an addition of about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employers recalled scores of workers who 'd been furloughed by the COVID-19 pandemic .
`` These improvements in the labor market reflected the continued resumption of economic activity that had been curtailed in March and April due to the coronavirus pandemic and efforts to contain it , '' the department 's report states .
The assessment notes significant gains in leisure and hospitality , retail trade , education and health services and manufacturing .
`` The unemployment rate declined by 2.2 percentage points ... and the number of unemployed persons fell by 3.2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday 's report also added another 190,000 jobs for the month of May , and subtracted 100,000 from April 's total .
ADP and Moody 's Analytics , private analysts whose monthly assessments typically precede the Labor Department 's by two days , estimated Wednesday the U.S. economy added 2.4 million jobs in June .
The government figures came a day early due to the federal holiday on Friday .
Some economists have predicted unemployment could remain high for months , with populous states like California , Texas and Florida scaling back reopening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases over the last two weeks .
Mary C. Daly , president of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco , said she expects the unemployment rate to stay above 10 percent for the rest of 2020 .
`` I would hesitate to call this a recovery , '' she told The Washington Post .
`` The longer the virus is with us , the more permanent job separations occur . ''
The Labor Department on Thursday also issued its weekly report on new unemployment claims , which cited 1.4 million new filings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. workers have now filed new claims for 15 consecutive weeks , but the numbers have been in steady decline since 13 million claims were filed over a two-week period in April .

An American flag is reflected in a Manhattan window on June 26, as a store employee dresses a display at the Maje women's clothing store at Rockefeller Center in New York City. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
July 2 (UPI) -- The U.S. economy added 4.8 million jobs for the month of June, the Labor Department said Thursday in its monthly employment assessment. The report also noted the unemployment rate fell to 11.1 percent for the month. Advertisement
The assessment is the department's first since it stunned Wall Street a month ago by reporting an addition of 2.5 million new jobs for May -- a report that analysts had expected to show between 7 and 8 million payroll losses.
Most analysts predicted Thursday's report to show an addition of about 3 million jobs, weeks after many employers recalled scores of workers who'd been furloughed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
"These improvements in the labor market reflected the continued resumption of economic activity that had been curtailed in March and April due to the coronavirus pandemic and efforts to contain it," the department's report states.
The assessment notes significant gains in leisure and hospitality, retail trade, education and health services and manufacturing.
"The unemployment rate declined by 2.2 percentage points ... and the number of unemployed persons fell by 3.2 million," the department added.
Friday's report also added another 190,000 jobs for the month of May, and subtracted 100,000 from April's total.
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ADP and Moody's Analytics, private analysts whose monthly assessments typically precede the Labor Department's by two days, estimated Wednesday the U.S. economy added 2.4 million jobs in June. The government figures came a day early due to the federal holiday on Friday.
Some economists have predicted unemployment could remain high for months, with populous states like California, Texas and Florida scaling back reopening plans due to new increases in COVID-19 cases over the last two weeks.
Mary C. Daly, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, said she expects the unemployment rate to stay above 10 percent for the rest of 2020.
"I would hesitate to call this a recovery," she told The Washington Post. "The longer the virus is with us, the more permanent job separations occur."
The Labor Department on Thursday also issued its weekly report on new unemployment claims, which cited 1.4 million new filings last week. More than 1 million U.S. workers have now filed new claims for 15 consecutive weeks, but the numbers have been in steady decline since 13 million claims were filed over a two-week period in April.
World moves to reopen amid COVID-19 pandemic
Visitors wear face masks as they tour the Whitney Museum of American Art as it reopens on September 3. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo


upi--2020-07-02--Webb Simpson, Cameron Champ return to PGA Tour after COVID-19-related withdraws last week

July 2 ( UPI ) -- World No .
6 Webb Simpson and No .
80 Cameron Champ returned Thursday for the PGA Tour 's Rocket Mortgage Classic after they withdrew from the Travelers Championship eight days ago due to coronavirus-related precautions .
Simpson withdrew from the Travelers because a family member tested positive for COVID-19 while Champ himself tested positive .
Simpson , 34 , won the RBC Heritage before he withdrew from the Travelers three days later .
The PGA Tour said he withdrew `` out of an abundance of caution . ''
Simpson was tested twice for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Travelers and tested negative each time .
He said he would `` quarantine under Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines . ''
He tweeted Saturday that his entire family has since tested negative for the coronavirus .
Simpson teed off with Rickie Fowler and Nate Lashley at 7:45 a.m. EDT Thursday on hole No .
10 at Detroit Golf Club .
Champ , 25 , was the only player in the field who tested positive for COVID-19 last week at TPC River Highlands -- prior to the first round of the tournament @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No .
245 Nick Watney also tested positive for COVID-19 but withdrew after the first round .
No .
5 Brooks Koepka , No .
53 Graeme McDowell , No .
132 Bud Cauley and No .
1,563 Chase Koepka joined Simpson , McCarthy , Watney and Champ as withdraws from last week 's Travelers .
McDowell 's caddie and Brooks Koepka 's caddie also tested positive for the coronavirus at the Travelers .
Cauley played in the same group as McCarthy .
Chase Koepka practiced with his brother Brooks and McDowell before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ withdrawn from the Rocket Mortgage Classic .
The PGA Tour announced his positive test Sunday after he missed the cut at the Travelers .
Brooks Koepka , Chase Koepka , Frittelli , McDowell , McCarthy and Watney are not in the field for the Rocket Mortgage Classic .
No .
139 Harris English and No .
716 Chad Campbell tested positive for COVID-19 in pre-tournament screening prior to the Rocket Mortgage Classic .
They have withdrawn from the four-day tournament .
The PGA Tour announced Wednesday that it will allow players or caddies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- to return to competition if they return two negative tests , which are taken at least 24 hours apart .
The PGA Tour required a 10-day self-isolation period before the rule change .
The alteration allowed Champ 's entrance in the Rocket Mortgage Classic after he returned three negative tests in 72 hours .
Champ tees off at 2:10 p.m. EDT Thursday in Detroit .
The Rocket Mortgage Classic runs through Sunday at Detroit Golf Club .

Webb Simpson teed off for the first round of the Rocket Mortgage Classic Thursday in Detroit after he withdrew from last week's Travelers Championship. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
July 2 (UPI) -- World No. 6 Webb Simpson and No. 80 Cameron Champ returned Thursday for the PGA Tour's Rocket Mortgage Classic after they withdrew from the Travelers Championship eight days ago due to coronavirus-related precautions. Simpson withdrew from the Travelers because a family member tested positive for COVID-19 while Champ himself tested positive. Advertisement
Simpson, 34, won the RBC Heritage before he withdrew from the Travelers three days later. The PGA Tour said he withdrew "out of an abundance of caution." Simpson was tested twice for COVID-19 before the first round of the Travelers and tested negative each time. He said he would "quarantine under Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines."
He tweeted Saturday that his entire family has since tested negative for the coronavirus. Simpson teed off with Rickie Fowler and Nate Lashley at 7:45 a.m. EDT Thursday on hole No. 10 at Detroit Golf Club.
Champ, 25, was the only player in the field who tested positive for COVID-19 last week at TPC River Highlands -- prior to the first round of the tournament. No. 181 Denny McCarthy and No. 245 Nick Watney also tested positive for COVID-19 but withdrew after the first round.
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No. 5 Brooks Koepka, No. 53 Graeme McDowell, No. 132 Bud Cauley and No. 1,563 Chase Koepka joined Simpson, McCarthy, Watney and Champ as withdraws from last week's Travelers.
McDowell's caddie and Brooks Koepka's caddie also tested positive for the coronavirus at the Travelers. Cauley played in the same group as McCarthy. Chase Koepka practiced with his brother Brooks and McDowell before the Travelers.
Dylan Frittelli also has withdrawn from the Rocket Mortgage Classic. The PGA Tour announced his positive test Sunday after he missed the cut at the Travelers.
Brooks Koepka, Chase Koepka, Frittelli, McDowell, McCarthy and Watney are not in the field for the Rocket Mortgage Classic. No. 139 Harris English and No. 716 Chad Campbell tested positive for COVID-19 in pre-tournament screening prior to the Rocket Mortgage Classic. They have withdrawn from the four-day tournament.
The PGA Tour announced Wednesday that it will allow players or caddies who test positive -- but are asymptomatic -- to return to competition if they return two negative tests, which are taken at least 24 hours apart. The PGA Tour required a 10-day self-isolation period before the rule change. The alteration allowed Champ's entrance in the Rocket Mortgage Classic after he returned three negative tests in 72 hours.
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Champ tees off at 2:10 p.m. EDT Thursday in Detroit. The Rocket Mortgage Classic runs through Sunday at Detroit Golf Club.


upi--2020-07-02--WWE NXT: Sasha Banks and Io Shirai collide, Tegan Nox wins big

July 2 ( UPI ) -- NXT Women 's Champion Io Shirai faced off against Women 's Tag Team Champion Sasha Banks on WWE NXT , which was branded as The Great American Bash .
The Great American Bash is an older pay-per-view event created by the late , great Dusty Rhodes .
The NXT arena was covered in red , white and blue on Wednesday with two muscle cars parked alongside the entrance ramp .
Shirai and Banks had a fast-paced and hard-hitting match in the main event .
Banks ' Tag Team Champion partner Bayley , who is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was at ringside .
Banks punished Shirai by kicking her in the head while the Genius of the Sky was on the top rope .
The Boss then performed a Sunset Flip Powerbomb to send Shirai crashing into the ringside barricade .
Shirai would later regain control and locked in the Crossface submission hold .
Banks , desperate for help , looked to Bayley who tossed one of the Tag Team Championship belts into the ring to distract the referee .
Bayley then punched Shirai so she could release the hold .
Banks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a weapon when suddenly Raw Women 's Champion Asuka made a surprise appearance .
Asuka spit her green mist into Banks ' face , blinding her .
Shirai then performed a Moonsault to pick up the victory .
Asuka and Shirai , who were tag team partners together in Japan , celebrated together with their championships .
Asuka will be defending her Raw Women 's Championship against Banks on July 19 at Extreme Rules : The Horror Show .
Also on WWE NXT , Tegan Nox , Dakota Kai , Mia Yim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fatal 4-Way Elimination match to determine who will face Shirai next for the NXT Women 's Championship .
LeRae was eliminated first after Yim nailed her with the Protect Ya Neck .
Yim and Nox had formed a temporary alliance during the bout but Kai was able to eliminate Yim with a surprise pin from behind .
Bitter rivals Nox and Kai were the only two left standing .
Nox won the match after she blasted Kai with the Shiniest Wizard for the three count .
The mysterious Dexter Lumis had NXT 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The bout involved Lumis and Strong being bound together by a strap .
Strong , who is terrified of Lumis after Lumis kidnapped him weeks ago , had nowhere to run due to the strap .
Lumis tried to place Strong into the trunk of one of the parked cars but Strong escaped .
Lumis was able to quickly take care of Strong 's Undisputed Era partner Bobby Fish and placed Strong into the Silence submission hold to win the match .
Other moments from WWE NXT included Timothy Thatcher defeating Oney Lorcan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Robert Stone in a Handicap match .
WWE NXT will hold a second night of the Great American Bash next week where NXT Champion Adam Cole will face North American Champion Keith Lee in a winner takes all match .

July 2 (UPI) -- NXT Women's Champion Io Shirai faced off against Women's Tag Team Champion Sasha Banks on WWE NXT, which was branded as The Great American Bash.
The Great American Bash is an older pay-per-view event created by the late, great Dusty Rhodes. The NXT arena was covered in red, white and blue on Wednesday with two muscle cars parked alongside the entrance ramp.
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Shirai and Banks had a fast-paced and hard-hitting match in the main event. Banks' Tag Team Champion partner Bayley, who is also the SmackDown Women's Champion, was at ringside.
Banks punished Shirai by kicking her in the head while the Genius of the Sky was on the top rope. The Boss then performed a Sunset Flip Powerbomb to send Shirai crashing into the ringside barricade.
Shirai would later regain control and locked in the Crossface submission hold. Banks, desperate for help, looked to Bayley who tossed one of the Tag Team Championship belts into the ring to distract the referee. Bayley then punched Shirai so she could release the hold.
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Banks went to grab the belt to use as a weapon when suddenly Raw Women's Champion Asuka made a surprise appearance. Asuka spit her green mist into Banks' face, blinding her. Shirai then performed a Moonsault to pick up the victory.
Asuka and Shirai, who were tag team partners together in Japan, celebrated together with their championships. Asuka will be defending her Raw Women's Championship against Banks on July 19 at Extreme Rules: The Horror Show.
Also on WWE NXT, Tegan Nox, Dakota Kai, Mia Yim and Candice LeRae faced off in a Fatal 4-Way Elimination match to determine who will face Shirai next for the NXT Women's Championship.
LeRae was eliminated first after Yim nailed her with the Protect Ya Neck. Yim and Nox had formed a temporary alliance during the bout but Kai was able to eliminate Yim with a surprise pin from behind.
Bitter rivals Nox and Kai were the only two left standing. Nox won the match after she blasted Kai with the Shiniest Wizard for the three count.
The mysterious Dexter Lumis had NXT's first-ever Strap match against Roderick Strong. The bout involved Lumis and Strong being bound together by a strap.
Strong, who is terrified of Lumis after Lumis kidnapped him weeks ago, had nowhere to run due to the strap. Lumis tried to place Strong into the trunk of one of the parked cars but Strong escaped.
Lumis was able to quickly take care of Strong's Undisputed Era partner Bobby Fish and placed Strong into the Silence submission hold to win the match.
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Other moments from WWE NXT included Timothy Thatcher defeating Oney Lorcan, and Rhea Ripley defeating Aliyah and Robert Stone in a Handicap match.
WWE NXT will hold a second night of the Great American Bash next week where NXT Champion Adam Cole will face North American Champion Keith Lee in a winner takes all match.


upi--2020-07-02--Latest satellites give stargazers a new sky view

ORLANDO , Fla. , July 2 ( UPI ) -- The recent boon of satellite launches has given stargazers something new to look at in orbit .
Whether they are delighted or annoyed depends on whom you ask .
SpaceX 's Starlink satellites show up in the night sky for short periods like a glowing chain of stars .
They are especially visible in the days after a launch -- usually from Florida -- because the company releases about 60 at a time , stacked together .
As they fly around the globe , they spread out in a line @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thrusters to fire , raising them to a higher orbit .
Astronomers have complained the satellites can ruin their observations .
In response , SpaceX has worked on ways to dim their visibility , including testing a sunshade .
But that wo n't affect the view until they are in a higher orbit .
In the meantime , others seem to enjoy the spectacle .
`` There 's no denying the coolness of seeing the string of lights in the sky , '' said Yan Fernandez , astronomy professor at the University of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was able to see them just a few days after a launch , so they were still pretty close together in a line . ''
SpaceX founder Elon Musk plans to launch thousands more satellites , which beam broadband service to the Earth .
Fernandez and other astronomers say locating such spacecraft , and knowing when they will fly over , is easier than ever .
Smartphone apps , such as Satellite Tracker by Star Walk , or websites like Heavens-Above.com , help sky gazers know when to watch .
Dawn and twilight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but watching from a dark area is still important , Fernandez said .
The Heavens-Above website lets you set up an account and a list of locations and what satellites will be visible in those spots at what time .
It also has a simulated sky map telling users what is overhead in real-time .
`` We are not having in-person events now , because of the pandemic , but when we do , it 's always fun to point out when Starlink or the International Space Station are overhead , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of its large dinner table-size satellites in orbit , each weighing over 500 pounds .
It began launching 60 satellites at a time in May 2019 .
Stargazers have sent in photos of the Starlink chain in the sky to Tennessee-based Amateur Astronomy magazine , said editor Charlie Warren .
`` Originally it was a novelty .
After the initial launches , people were excited about it and would send in images .
Then we heard complaints too , but I think that has died down , '' Warren said .

1/2
SpaceX launched 60 Starlink satellites on June 13 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, boosting the number of the spacecraft in orbit, which are sometimes visible from the ground, to over 500. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI | License Photo
ORLANDO, Fla., July 2 (UPI) -- The recent boon of satellite launches has given stargazers something new to look at in orbit. Whether they are delighted or annoyed depends on whom you ask. SpaceX's Starlink satellites show up in the night sky for short periods like a glowing chain of stars. They are especially visible in the days after a launch -- usually from Florida -- because the company releases about 60 at a time, stacked together. Advertisement
As they fly around the globe, they spread out in a line.
Eventually, SpaceX signals their ion thrusters to fire, raising them to a higher orbit.
Astronomers have complained the satellites can ruin their observations. In response, SpaceX has worked on ways to dim their visibility, including testing a sunshade. But that won't affect the view until they are in a higher orbit.
In the meantime, others seem to enjoy the spectacle.
"There's no denying the coolness of seeing the string of lights in the sky," said Yan Fernandez, astronomy professor at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. "I was able to see them just a few days after a launch, so they were still pretty close together in a line."
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SpaceX founder Elon Musk plans to launch thousands more satellites, which beam broadband service to the Earth.
Fernandez and other astronomers say locating such spacecraft, and knowing when they will fly over, is easier than ever. Smartphone apps, such as Satellite Tracker by Star Walk, or websites like Heavens-Above.com, help sky gazers know when to watch.
Dawn and twilight are when the satellites are most visible, but watching from a dark area is still important, Fernandez said.
The Heavens-Above website lets you set up an account and a list of locations and what satellites will be visible in those spots at what time. It also has a simulated sky map telling users what is overhead in real-time.
"We are not having in-person events now, because of the pandemic, but when we do, it's always fun to point out when Starlink or the International Space Station are overhead," Fernandez said.
SpaceX has over 500 of its large dinner table-size satellites in orbit, each weighing over 500 pounds. It began launching 60 satellites at a time in May 2019.
Stargazers have sent in photos of the Starlink chain in the sky to Tennessee-based Amateur Astronomy magazine, said editor Charlie Warren.
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"Originally it was a novelty. After the initial launches, people were excited about it and would send in images. Then we heard complaints too, but I think that has died down," Warren said.
Out-of-this-world images from space
The International Space Station is pictured from the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour during a flyaround of the orbiting lab that took place following its undocking from the Harmony module’s space-facing port on November 8. Photo courtesy of NASA


upi--2020-07-02--Los Angeles Lakers star Dwight Howard wants to play in NBA restart

July 2 ( UPI ) -- Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard wants to play in the NBA season restart this month in Orlando , Fla. , and the team said it wo n't replace the 16-year veteran despite some concern that he would opt out .
Howard in May called basketball and entertainment `` distractions '' amid the Black Lives Matter social justice movement .
He also cares for his 6-year-old son , David , whose mother died in March .
`` We 've been in communication with Dwight the whole way with supportive phone calls and text messages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporters .
`` We do n't know what the level of participation is going to be yet .
He wants to play .
We 're hopeful that he 's able to join us . ''
The NBA season has been suspended since mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic but is scheduled to resume July 30 at Disney 's ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando .
Some Lakers players reported to a pre-training camp Wednesday in El Segundo , Calif. , but Howard did not .
The team plans to fly to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Georgia as he satisfies the NBA 's home quarantine and testing protocols for players who will participate in the season restart .
Lakers General Manager Rob Pelinka said the team is working with Howard 's agent , the league and the NBA Players Association to find a way for Howard to report to the team .
The 22 teams that plan to participate in the restart had to submit rosters -- with a maximum of 17 players -- to the league by Wednesday .
`` He has an extenuating circumstance that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terms of what that is ultimately going to look like , '' Vogel said .
`` But we 're hopeful and optimistic that he 'll be able to join us in Orlando . ''
The Lakers ' Avery Bradley opted out of the season restart last week and was replaced Wednesday when the team signed J.R. Smith .
Howard , 34 , began his NBA career in Orlando after being drafted No .
1 overall by the Magic in 2004 and played for the franchise for eight seasons .
He later played in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before signing with the Lakers last year .
This season , he has been a significant role player for the team .
The 6-foot-10 , 265-pound three-time Defensive Player of the Year averaged 7.5 points , 7.4 rebounds , 1.2 blocks and just over 19 minutes per game in 62 appearances before the season was suspended .
The eight-time All-Star worked in a rotation with Lakers big men Anthony Davis , JaVale McGee and Markieff Morris .
LeBron James , Alex Caruso and Davis were among the players who worked out Wednesday in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ game of the restart is scheduled against the crosstown rival Los Angeles Clippers at 9 p.m. EDT on July 30 .

Howard wants to play in the NBA season restart but has dealt with "extenuating circumstances" while the season has been on hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
July 2 (UPI) -- Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard wants to play in the NBA season restart this month in Orlando, Fla., and the team said it won't replace the 16-year veteran despite some concern that he would opt out. Howard in May called basketball and entertainment "distractions" amid the Black Lives Matter social justice movement. He also cares for his 6-year-old son, David, whose mother died in March. Advertisement
"We've been in communication with Dwight the whole way with supportive phone calls and text messages," Lakers coach Frank Vogel told reporters. "We don't know what the level of participation is going to be yet. He wants to play. We're hopeful that he's able to join us."
The NBA season has been suspended since mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic but is scheduled to resume July 30 at Disney's ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando. Some Lakers players reported to a pre-training camp Wednesday in El Segundo, Calif., but Howard did not. The team plans to fly to central Florida next week.
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Howard is in Georgia as he satisfies the NBA's home quarantine and testing protocols for players who will participate in the season restart.
Lakers General Manager Rob Pelinka said the team is working with Howard's agent, the league and the NBA Players Association to find a way for Howard to report to the team. The 22 teams that plan to participate in the restart had to submit rosters -- with a maximum of 17 players -- to the league by Wednesday.
"He has an extenuating circumstance that he's working with the league on in terms of what that is ultimately going to look like," Vogel said. "But we're hopeful and optimistic that he'll be able to join us in Orlando."
The Lakers' Avery Bradley opted out of the season restart last week and was replaced Wednesday when the team signed J.R. Smith.
Howard, 34, began his NBA career in Orlando after being drafted No. 1 overall by the Magic in 2004 and played for the franchise for eight seasons. He later played in Houston, Atlanta, Charlotte and Washington before signing with the Lakers last year. This season, he has been a significant role player for the team.
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The 6-foot-10, 265-pound three-time Defensive Player of the Year averaged 7.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and just over 19 minutes per game in 62 appearances before the season was suspended. The eight-time All-Star worked in a rotation with Lakers big men Anthony Davis, JaVale McGee and Markieff Morris.
LeBron James, Alex Caruso and Davis were among the players who worked out Wednesday in El Segundo.
The Lakers' first game of the restart is scheduled against the crosstown rival Los Angeles Clippers at 9 p.m. EDT on July 30.


upi--2020-07-02--AEW Fyter Fest: Kenny Omega, Adam Page defend against Best Friends

July 2 ( UPI ) -- AEW World Tag Team Champions Kenny Omega and Hangman Adam Page defended their titles against Best Friends in the main event of Fyter Fest , night one .
AEW has been promoting Fyter Fest as a pay-per-view-like event that aired in place of Dynamite on Wednesday at 8 p.m EDT .
A second night of Fyter Fest will take place next Wednesday at the same time .
Trent of Best Friends had his mother Sue drop him and his partner Chuck Taylor off at the arena right before their title bout .
# FTR @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , entered the arena and pulled out beach chairs and beer to enjoy the action .
Best Friends held their own against Omega and Page and were close to winning it all after Trent dodged the Last Call and responded with Strong Zero with help from Taylor on Page but Omega was able to break up the pinfall .
Page started to take the match into his own hands and nailed Trent with a Dead-Eye and then his signature Buckshot Lariat moments later to win the match .
# FTR entered the ring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and offered them beer .
Page , a known drinker , accepted the beer but Omega poured his drink onto the floor , angering # FTR who were then ready to fight until The Young Bucks arrived and calmed things down .
Also at Fyter Fest , Hikaru Shida defended her AEW Women 's World Championship against Penelope Ford who was accompanied to the ring by her fiance , Kip Sabian .
Referee Aubrey Edwards quickly ejected Sabian from ringside following a brief altercation , leaving Ford alone .
Shida and Ford had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ either way .
Ford was able to reverse Shida 's Falcon Arrow into a pin , nearly winning the bout .
Ford distracted the referee by grabbing the AEW Women 's World Championship which allowed Sabian to return with a kendo stick .
Shida , however , quickly stopped him with a punch and then whacked him with the weapon .
Shida won the match after she performed a second Falcon Arrow followed by a Running Knee Strike .
Cody defended his TNT Championship against Jake Hager .
Cody was accompanied to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hager came with his wife , Catalina .
Hager , who had gotten into a verbal altercation with Anderson during the match , exited the ring and started choking the professional wrestling legend .
Hager then hit Cody with a German Suplex when he came over to help .
Hager placed Cody into the Ankle Lock but The American Nightmare reached the ropes .
Catalina would get involved and slapped Cody while the referee was distracted .
Cody 's brother Dustin then came over to help and punched Hager .
Cody was able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a pin to win the match in surprising fashion .
Hager was frustrated afterwards and knocked out the referee before leaving .
Other moments from Fyter Fest , night one , included Jurassic Express defeating MJF and his bodyguard Wardlow ; Private Party defeating Santana and Ortiz ; and Taz announcing that Jon Moxley 's AEW World Championship match against Brian Cage has been moved to July 15 .

The #AEW World Tag Team Championships were on the line as the challengers #BestFriends stepped up to the champs @KennyOmegamanX & Adam Page! Rewatch night one of #FyterFest for FREE via the @TNTDrama app or https://t.co/GdI7QAsxEP for our Intl fans. #AEWonTNT #AEWDynamite pic.twitter.com/F5uQLrP8lF— All Elite Wrestling (@AEWrestling) July 2, 2020
July 2 (UPI) -- AEW World Tag Team Champions Kenny Omega and Hangman Adam Page defended their titles against Best Friends in the main event of Fyter Fest, night one.
AEW has been promoting Fyter Fest as a pay-per-view-like event that aired in place of Dynamite on Wednesday at 8 p.m EDT. A second night of Fyter Fest will take place next Wednesday at the same time.
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Trent of Best Friends had his mother Sue drop him and his partner Chuck Taylor off at the arena right before their title bout.
#FTR, as the title match heated up, entered the arena and pulled out beach chairs and beer to enjoy the action.
Best Friends held their own against Omega and Page and were close to winning it all after Trent dodged the Last Call and responded with Strong Zero with help from Taylor on Page but Omega was able to break up the pinfall.
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Page started to take the match into his own hands and nailed Trent with a Dead-Eye and then his signature Buckshot Lariat moments later to win the match. #FTR entered the ring and congratulated Page and Omega on winning and offered them beer.
Page, a known drinker, accepted the beer but Omega poured his drink onto the floor, angering #FTR who were then ready to fight until The Young Bucks arrived and calmed things down.
Also at Fyter Fest, Hikaru Shida defended her AEW Women's World Championship against Penelope Ford who was accompanied to the ring by her fiance, Kip Sabian.
Referee Aubrey Edwards quickly ejected Sabian from ringside following a brief altercation, leaving Ford alone. Shida and Ford had a highly-competitive match that could have gone either way.
Ford was able to reverse Shida's Falcon Arrow into a pin, nearly winning the bout. Ford distracted the referee by grabbing the AEW Women's World Championship which allowed Sabian to return with a kendo stick. Shida, however, quickly stopped him with a punch and then whacked him with the weapon.
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Shida won the match after she performed a second Falcon Arrow followed by a Running Knee Strike.
Cody defended his TNT Championship against Jake Hager. Cody was accompanied to the ring by his coach Arn Anderson while Hager came with his wife, Catalina.
Hager, who had gotten into a verbal altercation with Anderson during the match, exited the ring and started choking the professional wrestling legend. Hager then hit Cody with a German Suplex when he came over to help.
Hager placed Cody into the Ankle Lock but The American Nightmare reached the ropes. Catalina would get involved and slapped Cody while the referee was distracted. Cody's brother Dustin then came over to help and punched Hager.
Cody was able to counter Hager's Triangle Chokehold into a pin to win the match in surprising fashion. Hager was frustrated afterwards and knocked out the referee before leaving.
Other moments from Fyter Fest, night one, included Jurassic Express defeating MJF and his bodyguard Wardlow; Private Party defeating Santana and Ortiz; and Taz announcing that Jon Moxley's AEW World Championship match against Brian Cage has been moved to July 15.


upi--2020-07-02--More than 100 killed by landslide at rainy Myanmar jade mine

July 2 ( UPI ) -- A large landslide at a jade mining site in northern Myanmar Thursday killed at least 113 people and left the fate of dozens more unknown , authorities said .
The landslide at the Hpakant jade mining site in Kachin State occurred after heavy rainfall .
Along with the deaths , there were more than 50 injured , provincial leader Khin Maung Myint said .
The mining location is 600 miles north of Yangon , Myanmar 's largest city .
Myanmar produces most of the world 's high-quality jade .
Mine waste , or tailings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and poured into an open-pit mine .
Many of those trapped in the mine died in muddy water produced by a wave of tailings .
U Kyaw Min , administrator for Wai Khar District , added that he expects more deaths and said additional rain has slowed the rescue work .
`` At least 200 will be killed from this , '' Min said .
`` We ca n't go deeper to rescue , so we have to pick up the floating dead bodies .
It 's also difficult to send the patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of the rain . ''
Freelance miners often work mines looking for jade , but many become unstable during the rainy season .
Kachin , which borders China and India , has been a site of tension between Myanmar 's military and ethnic fighters .

Rescue workers carry a victim after a landslide Thursday at a jade mining site in Hpakant, Kachin State, Myanmar. Photo by Myanmar Fire Services Dept./EPA-EFE
July 2 (UPI) -- A large landslide at a jade mining site in northern Myanmar Thursday killed at least 113 people and left the fate of dozens more unknown, authorities said. The landslide at the Hpakant jade mining site in Kachin State occurred after heavy rainfall. Along with the deaths, there were more than 50 injured, provincial leader Khin Maung Myint said. Advertisement
The mining location is 600 miles north of Yangon, Myanmar's largest city. Myanmar produces most of the world's high-quality jade.
Mine waste, or tailings, more than 250 feet high collapsed and poured into an open-pit mine. Many of those trapped in the mine died in muddy water produced by a wave of tailings.
U Kyaw Min, administrator for Wai Khar District, added that he expects more deaths and said additional rain has slowed the rescue work.
"At least 200 will be killed from this," Min said. "We can't go deeper to rescue, so we have to pick up the floating dead bodies. It's also difficult to send the patients to hospitals because the roads are muddy because of the rain."
Freelance miners often work mines looking for jade, but many become unstable during the rainy season. Kachin, which borders China and India, has been a site of tension between Myanmar's military and ethnic fighters.


upi--2020-07-02--Report: More than 60 countries violated sanctions with North Korea last year

SEOUL , July 2 ( UPI ) -- Sixty-two countries violated United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea over a one-year period , according to a report from Washington , D.C.-based think tank the Institute for Science and International Security .
The report , released on Wednesday , cites over 250 alleged violations from February 2019 to February 2020 based on data compiled by the United Nations Panel of Experts on North Korea .
The 62 countries in violation represented an increase of six countries compared to the previous year , according to the Institute .
China topped the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Hong Kong followed with over 20 .
Sierra Leone , Russia and Indonesia each had a total of 10 or more alleged violations and several countries , including India , Italy , Singapore and Vietnam , had more than five violations each .
South Korea made the list for violating sanctions that included entities selling luxury goods to North Korea , including a pair of armored Mercedes Benzes , and importing coal from the North .
The United States was also listed as a country through which payments related to vessels and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , however , that both South Korea and the United States were among the countries `` reported to have taken remedying actions since becoming aware of the violations and to have prosecuted or extradited responsible companies and individuals . ''
In May , the U.S. Justice Department unsealed an indictment charging 28 North Koreans and five Chinese citizens with operating a money laundering scheme worth billions of dollars to help fund the North 's nuclear weapons program .
The United States also issued guidance in May for the maritime industry and energy sector @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as North Korea use to evade sanctions , including secretive ship-to-ship transfers done at sea and the disabling of automatic identification systems on vessels .
The Institute for Science and International Security report found that nine countries were involved in arms sales and other military-related cooperation with North Korea , including China , Egypt , Iran and Syria .
`` The states in this category warrant special international scrutiny , as they provide a platform for the DPRK to sell arms and also make sensitive procurements for its own WMD and missile programs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic People 's Republic of Korea is the official name of North Korea .
The United Nations Security Council toughened sanctions against North Korea in 2017 after Pyongyang tested long-range ballistic missiles and detonated a nuclear weapon at its Punggye-ri test site .
Sanctions have remained a sticking point in nuclear negotiations between North Korea and the United States , which have been stalled since a summit between United States President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in February 2018 failed to produce an agreement .
North Korea had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exchange for taking steps to wind down its nuclear program .
South Korean President Moon Jae-in has pushed for another Trump-Kim summit before the U.S. presidential election in November , according to reports Wednesday .

A report from a U.S. think tank released Wednesday found that 62 countries violated international sanctions on North Korea over the past year. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
SEOUL, July 2 (UPI) -- Sixty-two countries violated United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea over a one-year period, according to a report from a Washington, D.C.-based think tank The Institute for Science and International Security report, released Wednesday, cites over 250 alleged violations from February 2019 to February 2020 based on data compiled by the United Nations Panel of Experts on North Korea. Advertisement
The 62 countries in violation represented an increase of six countries compared to the previous year, according to the institute.
China topped the chart with more than 60 alleged violations and Hong Kong followed with over 20. Sierra Leone, Russia and Indonesia each had a total of 10 or more alleged violations and several countries, including India, Italy, Singapore and Vietnam, had more than five violations each.
South Korea made the list for violating sanctions that included entities selling luxury goods to North Korea, including a pair of armored Mercedes Benzes, and importing coal from the North.
The United States was also listed as a country through which payments related to vessels and shipping were routed.
The report noted, however, that South Korea and the United States were among the countries "reported to have taken remedying actions since becoming aware of the violations and to have prosecuted or extradited responsible companies and individuals."
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In May, the U.S. Justice Department unsealed an indictment charging 28 North Koreans and five Chinese citizens with operating a money-laundering scheme worth billions of dollars to help fund the North's nuclear weapons program.
The United States also issued guidance in May for the maritime industry and energy sector to help avoid practices that countries such as North Korea use to evade sanctions, including secretive ship-to-ship transfers done at sea and the disabling of automatic identification systems on vessels.
The Institute for Science and International Security report found that nine countries were involved in arms sales and other military-related cooperation with North Korea, including China, Egypt, Iran and Syria.
"The states in this category warrant special international scrutiny, as they provide a platform for the DPRK to sell arms and also make sensitive procurements for its own WMD and missile programs," the report said.
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is the official name of North Korea.
The U.N. Security Council toughened sanctions against North Korea in 2017 after Pyongyang tested long-range ballistic missiles and detonated a nuclear weapon at its Punggye-ri test site.
Sanctions have remained a sticking point in nuclear negotiations between North Korea and the United States, which have been stalled since a summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in February 2018 failed to produce an agreement.
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North Korea had been seeking the lifting of some sanctions in exchange for taking steps to wind down its nuclear program.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in has pushed for another Trump-Kim summit before the U.S. presidential election in November, according to reports Wednesday.