upi--2020-07-14--United States rejects Beijing's claims to South China Sea

July 13 ( UPI ) -- The United States on Monday rejected most of Beijing 's maritime claims to the South China Sea , declaring a formal challenge to China 's control over the waters .
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo issued a statement saying the United States was strengthening its policy in a `` vital , contentious '' part of the region .
`` We are making clear : Beijing 's claims to offshore resources across most of the South China Sea are completely unlawful , as is its campaign of bullying to control them , '' Pompeo said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the area alongside Vietnam , Malaysia , the Philippines , Taiwan and Brunei .
In his statement on Monday , Pompeo cited a 2016 ruling by the United Nations declaring that China had no grounds for the so-called Nine-Dash-Line maps that depict China 's claim to the area .
Pompeo said the United States would reject China 's claim to James Shoal , a small submerged bank off the coast of Malaysia , and any waters beyond a 12-nautical mile territorial sea derived from islands in the Spratly Islands , an archipelago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States ' top diplomat has previously criticized Beijing over its behavior in the waterway , accusing it of illegally building islands in the South China Sea that prevent neighboring nations from energy development .
The decision marks a departure of the United States ' usual policy of avoiding judgments on maritime disputes in the area , where it holds no claims .
China early Tuesday rejected Pompeo 's statement out of hand calling his accusations `` unreasonable '' and the United States `` distractors , saboteurs and disruptors of regional peace and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in the United States said China maintains the right to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and interests in the South China Sea , urging the United States to stop interfering in its internal business .
`` The United States is not a party to the dispute in the South China Sea but has frequently intervened in the South China Sea issue under the guise of maintaining stability in the South China Sea , showing off force , showing tension and instigating confrontation in the region , '' the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comes amid increased tension between the two countries as they have traded sanctions over human rights abuses by the Chinese government against Muslim minorities in the Xinjiang region .
Last week , both countries held naval military exercises in the area .
The U.S. moved two aircraft carrier strike groups headed by the USS Ronald Reagan and the USS Nimitz into the region while the Chinese Navy conducted military drills around the Parcel Islands .

A file picture dated from 2015 shows an areal view of alleged artificial islands built by China in disputed waters in the South China Sea, west of Palawan, Philippines. Photo by Ritchie B. Tongo/EPA
July 13 (UPI) -- The United States on Monday rejected most of Beijing's maritime claims to the South China Sea, declaring a formal challenge to China's control over the waters. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo issued a statement saying the United States was strengthening its policy in a "vital, contentious" part of the region. Advertisement
"We are making clear: Beijing's claims to offshore resources across most of the South China Sea are completely unlawful, as is its campaign of bullying to control them," Pompeo said.
China holds competing claims over much of the area alongside Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Brunei.
In his statement on Monday, Pompeo cited a 2016 ruling by the United Nations declaring that China had no grounds for the so-called Nine-Dash-Line maps that depict China's claim to the area.
Pompeo said the United States would reject China's claim to James Shoal, a small submerged bank off the coast of Malaysia, and any waters beyond a 12-nautical mile territorial sea derived from islands in the Spratly Islands, an archipelago between Vietnam and the Philippines.
The United States' top diplomat has previously criticized Beijing over its behavior in the waterway, accusing it of illegally building islands in the South China Sea that prevent neighboring nations from energy development.
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The decision marks a departure of the United States' usual policy of avoiding judgments on maritime disputes in the area, where it holds no claims.
China early Tuesday rejected Pompeo's statement out of hand calling his accusations "unreasonable" and the United States "distractors, saboteurs and disruptors of regional peace and stability."
In a statement, the spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in the United States said China maintains the right to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and interests in the South China Sea, urging the United States to stop interfering in its internal business.
"The United States is not a party to the dispute in the South China Sea but has frequently intervened in the South China Sea issue under the guise of maintaining stability in the South China Sea, showing off force, showing tension and instigating confrontation in the region," the statement said.
Pompeo's statement also comes amid increased tension between the two countries as they have traded sanctions over human rights abuses by the Chinese government against Muslim minorities in the Xinjiang region.
Last week, both countries held naval military exercises in the area. The U.S. moved two aircraft carrier strike groups headed by the USS Ronald Reagan and the USS Nimitz into the region while the Chinese Navy conducted military drills around the Parcel Islands.


upi--2020-07-14--British people healthier than those in United States, study says

Health care in the United States is often touted as the best in the world , but Americans seem to be in worse health than their British peers , a new study shows .
Even the richest Americans in their 50s and early 60s had higher rates of diabetes , high blood pressure , arthritis and mental health problems than their wealthy British counterparts .
Those who were in the top 10 percent in earnings -- after-tax median incomes of $ 144,000 for Americans and $ 71,000 for the English -- had significantly worse health on four of 16 outcomes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have better outcomes than English adults on any of the 16 health measures , even in the highest income group , the researchers noted .
Still , the biggest gaps in health were found among those who made the least money .
Middle-aged Brits in the bottom 20 percent of income had better health than the poorest Americans .
Poor Americans were much more likely to have high blood pressure , arthritis , diabetes , heart problems , stroke , chronic lung disease and mental health problems than their poor British peers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also much more likely to have a high reading on three key health measurements -- blood pressure , blood sugar and a marker for inflammation called C-reactive protein .
The disparities persisted even after adjusting for age , gender , race , household size , marital status , immigrant status and education level .
For the study , researchers from the University of Michigan and the University College London used data from two studies that included data on nearly 13,000 Americans and 5,700 Brits .
The team focused on the age group just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the United States , so income can affect health care coverage , or lack thereof .
By contrast , all Brits are automatically covered by the National Health Service .
The age of 55 was the youngest age for which nationally representative data was available for both countries , the researchers noted .
`` This approach lets us shed a lot more light on the within-country differences , as well as the differences between countries , '' said researcher HwaJung Choi , a health economist and research assistant professor of internal medicine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at older adults , we likely would n't see this level of discrepancy , partly because of the effects of Medicare coverage , '' she said in a university news release .
Although Americans fared worse than their British counterparts , income still played a role in health care in the United Kingdom , with low-income Brits faring worse than their wealthier counterparts .
`` These are remarkable results , and confirm the value of comparisons between countries , '' said study co-author Andrew Steptoe , head of the Research Department of Behavioural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Differences in health care are part of the story , but even in England where care is free for everyone at the point of delivery , there are still marked differences in health related to income . ''
The report was published online July 13 in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine .
`` Our analysis provides a comprehensive view of health disparities across many key outcomes , and shines a brighter light on the large differences in health and risk for the rich and poor in our country , '' said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ professor of internal medicine at the University of Michigan .
`` A number of the disparities that we found between low-income and high-income Americans -- such as a higher risk of diabetes , hypertension and higher levels of inflammation -- are likely contributing to the much higher risk for COVID-related complications and death among the poor , '' he added in the release .
For more on health in America , head to the American Public Health Association .

Health care in the United States is often touted as the best in the world, but Americans seem to be in worse health than their British peers, a new study shows.
Even the richest Americans in their 50s and early 60s had higher rates of diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis and mental health problems than their wealthy British counterparts.
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Those who were in the top 10 percent in earnings -- after-tax median incomes of $144,000 for Americans and $71,000 for the English -- had significantly worse health on four of 16 outcomes that were studied. Americans did not have better outcomes than English adults on any of the 16 health measures, even in the highest income group, the researchers noted.
Still, the biggest gaps in health were found among those who made the least money. Middle-aged Brits in the bottom 20 percent of income had better health than the poorest Americans.
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Poor Americans were much more likely to have high blood pressure, arthritis, diabetes, heart problems, stroke, chronic lung disease and mental health problems than their poor British peers, the researchers found.
The Americans were also much more likely to have a high reading on three key health measurements -- blood pressure, blood sugar and a marker for inflammation called C-reactive protein.
The disparities persisted even after adjusting for age, gender, race, household size, marital status, immigrant status and education level.
For the study, researchers from the University of Michigan and the University College London used data from two studies that included data on nearly 13,000 Americans and 5,700 Brits.
The team focused on the age group just below the main eligibility age for Medicare in the United States, so income can affect health care coverage, or lack thereof. By contrast, all Brits are automatically covered by the National Health Service. The age of 55 was the youngest age for which nationally representative data was available for both countries, the researchers noted.
"This approach lets us shed a lot more light on the within-country differences, as well as the differences between countries," said researcher HwaJung Choi, a health economist and research assistant professor of internal medicine at Michigan. "If we looked at older adults, we likely wouldn't see this level of discrepancy, partly because of the effects of Medicare coverage," she said in a university news release.
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Although Americans fared worse than their British counterparts, income still played a role in health care in the United Kingdom, with low-income Brits faring worse than their wealthier counterparts.
"These are remarkable results, and confirm the value of comparisons between countries," said study co-author Andrew Steptoe, head of the Research Department of Behavioural Science and Health at University College London. "Differences in health care are part of the story, but even in England where care is free for everyone at the point of delivery, there are still marked differences in health related to income."
The report was published online July 13 in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine.
"Our analysis provides a comprehensive view of health disparities across many key outcomes, and shines a brighter light on the large differences in health and risk for the rich and poor in our country," said co-author Dr. Kenneth Langa, a research professor of internal medicine at the University of Michigan.
"A number of the disparities that we found between low-income and high-income Americans -- such as a higher risk of diabetes, hypertension and higher levels of inflammation -- are likely contributing to the much higher risk for COVID-related complications and death among the poor," he added in the release.
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More information
For more on health in America, head to the American Public Health Association.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-07-14--New Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Beasley leaves NBA bubble after positive test

July 14 ( UPI ) -- Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Beasley , who recently signed with the team , has left the NBA 's bubble at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando , Fla. League sources told ESPN and The Athletic on Tuesday that Beasley left the bubble after testing positive for the coronavirus .
According to the outlets , the veteran forward returned home and his roster status is now up in the air .
Nets general manager Sean Marks said during a conference call last week that Beasley arrived at the team 's hotel and passed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft then was required to test negative for the virus on six consecutive days before being cleared to practice with the team .
The Nets signed Beasley , 31 , as a substitute player July 9 for the league 's restart beginning later this month in Orlando .
Brooklyn had open roster spots after Spencer Dinwiddie , DeAndre Jordan and Taurean Prince withdrew from the restart after testing positive for COVID-19 .
The team also will be without injured stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving .
Beasley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2018-19 campaign with the Los Angeles Lakers , averaging seven points and 2.3 rebounds in 26 games .
He was traded to the L.A. Clippers at the trade deadline that season and was subsequently waived .
Beasley has played for seven teams in the league , including three stints with the Miami Heat .
He also spent time with three teams in China .
The Nets ' first game of the restart is against the Orlando Magic on July 31 .
Brooklyn is currently in seventh place in the Eastern Conference standings .

Former Los Angeles Lakers forward Michael Beasley (L) last played in the NBA during the 2018-19 campaign with the Lakers, averaging seven points and 2.3 rebounds in 26 games. File Photo by Larry W. Smith/EPA-EFE
July 14 (UPI) -- Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Beasley, who recently signed with the team, has left the NBA's bubble at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla. League sources told ESPN and The Athletic on Tuesday that Beasley left the bubble after testing positive for the coronavirus. According to the outlets, the veteran forward returned home and his roster status is now up in the air. Advertisement
Nets general manager Sean Marks said during a conference call last week that Beasley arrived at the team's hotel and passed a physical. The former No. 2 overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft then was required to test negative for the virus on six consecutive days before being cleared to practice with the team.
The Nets signed Beasley, 31, as a substitute player July 9 for the league's restart beginning later this month in Orlando. Brooklyn had open roster spots after Spencer Dinwiddie, DeAndre Jordan and Taurean Prince withdrew from the restart after testing positive for COVID-19. The team also will be without injured stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
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Beasley last played in the NBA during the 2018-19 campaign with the Los Angeles Lakers, averaging seven points and 2.3 rebounds in 26 games. He was traded to the L.A. Clippers at the trade deadline that season and was subsequently waived.
Beasley has played for seven teams in the league, including three stints with the Miami Heat. He also spent time with three teams in China.
The Nets' first game of the restart is against the Orlando Magic on July 31. Brooklyn is currently in seventh place in the Eastern Conference standings.


upi--2020-07-14--Britain bars Huawei from 5G network over security concerns

July 14 ( UPI ) -- The British government on Tuesday ordered that Chinese tech giant Huawei be removed from the nation 's 5G mobile network within seven years due to growing concerns about national security .
Speaking to lawmakers , Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said mobile network operators in Britain will no longer be able to buy Huawei equipment at the end of 2020 and will also be required to remove existing Huawei infrastructure by 2027 .
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered the move after discussions with cabinet members at the prime minister 's office at Downing Street @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next election , we will have implemented in law an irreversible path for the complete removal of Huawei equipment from our 5G networks , '' Dowden added in a statement .
`` We have not taken this decision lightly .
And I must be frank that this decision will have consequences for every constituency in the country . ''
The move is a major reversal for the British government , which in January gave Huawei access to next-generation mobile networks and allowed the company to be part of its future 5G mobile network @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against Huawei imposed in May as a motivating factor for Britain 's reversal .
`` These sanctions are not the first attempt by the United States to restrict Huawei 's ability to supply equipment to 5G networks .
They are , however , the first to have potentially severe impacts on Huawei 's ability to supply new equipment in [ Britain ] , '' he said .
The United States has had a ban on Huawei equipment for years on similar national security grounds .
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ban Chinese companies from participating in their telecommunications infrastructure , welcomed the move by Britain .
`` With this decision , the U.K. joins a growing list of countries from around the world that are standing up for their national security by prohibiting the use of untrusted , high-risk vendors , '' Pompeo said in a statement .
`` We will continue to work with our British friends on fostering a secure and vibrant 5G ecosystem , which is critical to transatlantic security and prosperity . ''
Britain now joins the Czech Republic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Poland , Romania and Sweden as well as the United States , in banning the Chinese telecom from future 5G networks , Pompeo said .
Tuesday 's change will delay Britain 's 5G rollout by a few years and increase the cost by as much as $ 2.5 billion .
British officials , however , said it is worth the change due to national security concerns with the Chinese company .

Huawei equipment is seen at a store in Beijing, China, on August 21, 2019. The change Tuesday will delay Britain's 5G rollout by a few years and increase the cost by as much as $2.5 billion. File Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI | License Photo
July 14 (UPI) -- The British government on Tuesday ordered that Chinese tech giant Huawei be removed from the nation's 5G mobile network within seven years due to growing concerns about national security. Speaking to lawmakers, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said mobile network operators in Britain will no longer be able to buy Huawei equipment at the end of 2020 and will also be required to remove existing Huawei infrastructure by 2027. Advertisement
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered the move after discussions with cabinet members at the prime minister's office at Downing Street.
"By the time of the next election, we will have implemented in law an irreversible path for the complete removal of Huawei equipment from our 5G networks," Dowden added in a statement.
"We have not taken this decision lightly. And I must be frank that this decision will have consequences for every constituency in the country."
The move is a major reversal for the British government, which in January gave Huawei access to next-generation mobile networks and allowed the company to be part of its future 5G mobile network.
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Tuesday, Dowden cited U.S. sanctions against Huawei imposed in May as a motivating factor for Britain's reversal.
"These sanctions are not the first attempt by the United States to restrict Huawei's ability to supply equipment to 5G networks. They are, however, the first to have potentially severe impacts on Huawei's ability to supply new equipment in [Britain]," he said.
The United States has had a ban on Huawei equipment for years on similar national security grounds.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who has been lobbying for other countries to ban Chinese companies from participating in their telecommunications infrastructure, welcomed the move by Britain.
"With this decision, the U.K. joins a growing list of countries from around the world that are standing up for their national security by prohibiting the use of untrusted, high-risk vendors," Pompeo said in a statement. "We will continue to work with our British friends on fostering a secure and vibrant 5G ecosystem, which is critical to transatlantic security and prosperity."
Britain now joins the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Romania and Sweden as well as the United States, in banning the Chinese telecom from future 5G networks, Pompeo said.
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Tuesday's change will delay Britain's 5G rollout by a few years and increase the cost by as much as $2.5 billion. British officials, however, said it is worth the change due to national security concerns with the Chinese company.


upi--2020-07-14--Kansas Rep. Steve Watkins charged on four counts of voter fraud

July 14 ( UPI ) -- U.S. Rep. Steve Watkins was charged with three felonies and a misdemeanor Tuesday in an investigation into whether he voted illegally in a municipal election in 2019 .
District Attorney Mike Kagay filed four counts against Watkins , R-Kansas , including felony interference with law enforcement by providing false information , voting without being qualified and unlawful advanced voting in addition to a misdemeanor charge of failing to notify the Department of Motor Vehicles of a change of address .
The charges of interference and unlawful advance voting carry sentences of five to 17 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without being qualified range from 11 to 34 months .
Charges against Watkins stem from 2019 local elections , during which Watkins listed a UPS store address on his voter registration .
He has stated he listed the address by mistake , as he used the store as a mailing address for his campaign and later changed the address on his voter registration to an apartment complex in Topeka .
Watkins , who is serving in his first term , described the timing of the charges as `` hyper political '' and `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attorney shares a consultant with one of his opponents in the state 's primary .
`` We 've cooperated with the district attorney completely , '' he said .
`` I look forward to clearing my name . ''

Rep. Steve Watkins, R-Kansas, was charged with three felonies and a misdemeanor Tuesday for listing a UPS store as his address on his 2019 voter registration. Photo courtesy U.S. House of Representatives
July 14 (UPI) -- U.S. Rep. Steve Watkins was charged with three felonies and a misdemeanor Tuesday in an investigation into whether he voted illegally in a municipal election in 2019. District Attorney Mike Kagay filed four counts against Watkins, R-Kansas, including felony interference with law enforcement by providing false information, voting without being qualified and unlawful advanced voting in addition to a misdemeanor charge of failing to notify the Department of Motor Vehicles of a change of address. Advertisement
The charges of interference and unlawful advance voting carry sentences of five to 17 months in prison while sentences for voting without being qualified range from 11 to 34 months.
Charges against Watkins stem from 2019 local elections, during which Watkins listed a UPS store address on his voter registration.
He has stated he listed the address by mistake, as he used the store as a mailing address for his campaign and later changed the address on his voter registration to an apartment complex in Topeka.
Watkins, who is serving in his first term, described the timing of the charges as "hyper political" and "very suspicious," saying the district attorney shares a consultant with one of his opponents in the state's primary.
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"We've cooperated with the district attorney completely," he said. "I look forward to clearing my name."


upi--2020-07-14--U.S. withdraws from five bases in Afghanistan, reduces forces to 8,600 troops

July 14 ( UPI ) -- The United States announced Tuesday that it has withdrawn from five bases in Afghanistan and reduced the size of its forces in the country , following through on an agreement with the Taliban earlier this year .
Department of Defense spokesman Johnathan Hoffman said the United States withdrew from the bases and reduced its forces in Afghanistan to 8,600 to meet the obligation in the agreement reached in February .
`` We maintain the capabilities and authorities necessary to protect ourselves , our Allies and partners , and U.S. national interests , '' Hoffman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ execute our counterterrorism mission while simultaneously supporting the 38-nation NATO Resolute Support Train , Advise Assist mission and Afghan National Defense and Security Forces as they work to secure peace in the country . ''
U.S. special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad and Taliban political chief Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar signed the agreement on Feb. 29 , with the United States pledging a full withdrawal of U.S. and NATO troops after 14 months on the condition that the Taliban meet certain security requirements .
The process began in March , as the United States was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ within 135 days from the signing date .
`` The United States honors its obligations , '' Hoffman said .
`` All sides should reduce violence and embark on intra-Afghan negotiations capable of achieving a negotiated and lasting peace for Afghanistan . ''

The United States on Tuesday announced it has withdrawn from five bases in Afghanistan and reduced its forces in the country from 13,000 troops to 8,600 after signing an agreement in February. File Photo by Jalil Rezayee/EPA-EFE
July 14 (UPI) -- The United States announced Tuesday that it has withdrawn from five bases in Afghanistan and reduced the size of its forces in the country, following through on an agreement with the Taliban earlier this year. Department of Defense spokesman Johnathan Hoffman said the United States withdrew from the bases and reduced its forces in Afghanistan to 8,600 to meet the obligation in the agreement reached in February. Advertisement
"We maintain the capabilities and authorities necessary to protect ourselves, our Allies and partners, and U.S. national interests," Hoffman said. "We will continue to execute our counterterrorism mission while simultaneously supporting the 38-nation NATO Resolute Support Train, Advise Assist mission and Afghan National Defense and Security Forces as they work to secure peace in the country."
U.S. special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad and Taliban political chief Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar signed the agreement on Feb. 29, with the United States pledging a full withdrawal of U.S. and NATO troops after 14 months on the condition that the Taliban meet certain security requirements.
The process began in March, as the United States was tasked with reducing its forces in Afghanistan within 135 days from the signing date.
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"The United States honors its obligations," Hoffman said. "All sides should reduce violence and embark on intra-Afghan negotiations capable of achieving a negotiated and lasting peace for Afghanistan."


upi--2020-07-14--Watch: NBA great Shaquille O'Neal helps stranded driver on Florida interstate

July 14 ( UPI ) -- Former NBA great and Pro Basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal stopped to help a female driver who was left stranded along a Florida interstate after a blown tire .
The Alachua County Sheriff 's Office said in a Facebook post Tuesday that O'Neal , who lives in the Orlando area , was traveling on Interstate 75 near Gainesville on Monday when he witnessed the crash and pulled over to help with the woman 's tire .
In the video posted on social media , the driver is heard telling deputies that her tire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over .
She said O'Neal stopped to help , and the basketball legend remained with her until deputies arrived at the scene .
The former Los Angeles Lakers star then fist-bumped the deputies , who thanked him for stopping and providing assistance .
`` He fist-bumped Deputies Purington and Dillon before going on his way , '' the sheriff 's office wrote on Facebook .
`` Hey Basketball Cop Foundation you 're not the only one that knows Shaq . ''
O'Neal , 48 , won four NBA championships in his 19-year career @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he played for the Orlando Magic , Lakers , Miami Heat , Phoenix Suns , Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics .
The 15-time All-Star selection was named league MVP in 2000 and claimed three NBA Finals MVP awards .

July 14 (UPI) -- Former NBA great and Pro Basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal stopped to help a female driver who was left stranded along a Florida interstate after a blown tire.
The Alachua County Sheriff's Office said in a Facebook post Tuesday that O'Neal, who lives in the Orlando area, was traveling on Interstate 75 near Gainesville on Monday when he witnessed the crash and pulled over to help with the woman's tire.
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In the video posted on social media, the driver is heard telling deputies that her tire blew out, forcing her to pull over. She said O'Neal stopped to help, and the basketball legend remained with her until deputies arrived at the scene.
The former Los Angeles Lakers star then fist-bumped the deputies, who thanked him for stopping and providing assistance.
"He fist-bumped Deputies Purington and Dillon before going on his way," the sheriff's office wrote on Facebook. "Hey Basketball Cop Foundation you're not the only one that knows Shaq."
Advertisement Yesterday, Shaquille O'Neal was traveling through Alachua County on I-75 when he witnessed a crash. He stopped to check...Posted by Alachua County Sheriff on Tuesday, July 14, 2020
O'Neal, 48, won four NBA championships in his 19-year career. During his time in the league, he played for the Orlando Magic, Lakers, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics.
The 15-time All-Star selection was named league MVP in 2000 and claimed three NBA Finals MVP awards.


upi--2020-07-14--Ruth Bader Ginsburg hospitalized for treatment for possible infection

July 14 ( UPI ) -- Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was hospitalized on Tuesday morning for treatment of @ @ @ @ @ court announced .
Ginsburg was initially evaluated at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington , D.C. @ @ @ @ @ experiencing fever and chills and was admitted to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore on Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ statement .
`` She underwent an endoscopic procedure at Johns Hopkins this afternoon to clean @ @ @ @ @ that was placed last August , '' the Supreme Court said .
`` The justice @ @ @ @ @ stay in the hospital for a few days to receive intravenous antibiotic treatment . ''
@ @ @ @ @ in oral arguments from a hospital room while recovering from a benign gallbladder condition in @ @ @ @ @ hospitalized in November after being admitted for chills and a fever .
She was previously @ @ @ @ @ her pancreas in August and has been treated for colon and pancreatic cancer in the @ @

The Supreme Court announced that Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was hospitalized early Tuesday for treatment for a possible infection. File Photo by Kamil Krzaczynski/UPI | License Photo
July 14 (UPI) -- Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was hospitalized on Tuesday morning for treatment of a possible infection, the court announced. Ginsburg was initially evaluated at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C., on Monday night after experiencing fever and chills and was admitted to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore on Tuesday morning, according to a statement. Advertisement
"She underwent an endoscopic procedure at Johns Hopkins this afternoon to clean out a bile duct stent that was placed last August," the Supreme Court said. "The justice is resting comfortably and will stay in the hospital for a few days to receive intravenous antibiotic treatment."
Ginsburg, 87, participated in oral arguments from a hospital room while recovering from a benign gallbladder condition in May.
She was also hospitalized in November after being admitted for chills and a fever. She was previously treated for a tumor on her pancreas in August and has been treated for colon and pancreatic cancer in the past.


upi--2020-07-14--Joe Biden details $2 trillion climate change plan

July 14 ( UPI ) -- Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden on Tuesday detailed a $ 2 trillion climate change planned focus on investments into clean energy and infrastructure .
Biden 's campaign said the former vice president would seek to deploy those resources to create new jobs in the auto industry and union jobs to upgrade infrastructure as well as efforts to reduce carbon emission over the four years of his first term if elected president .
`` These are the most critical investments we can make for the long term health and vitality of both the American economy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the American people , '' he said .
`` When Donald Trump thinks about climate change , the only word he can muster is 'hoax . '
When I think about climate change , the word I think of is 'jobs . '
'' Under the plan , Biden would seek to create 1 million new auto industry jobs including manufacturing parts and materials for electric vehicles , millions of union jobs to rebuild roads , bridges and other infrastructure , 1 million jobs to upgrade 4 million buildings , and 250,000 jobs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ natural gas wells , and reclaiming mines .
Biden also pledged to achieve a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035 and spur the construction of 1.5 million sustainable homes and housing units .
`` I know meeting the challenge would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to jolt new life into our economy , strengthen our global leadership , protect our planet for future generations , '' he said .
`` If I have the honor of being elected president , we 're not just going to tinker around the edges .
We 're going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the opportunity , meet this moment in history . ''

Former Vice President Joe Biden announced a $2 trillion climate change plan focused on creating millions of jobs to manufacture electric vehicles and improve infrastructure over four years. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
July 14 (UPI) -- Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden on Tuesday detailed a $2 trillion climate change planned focus on investments into clean energy and infrastructure. Biden's campaign said the former vice president would seek to deploy those resources to create new jobs in the auto industry and union jobs to upgrade infrastructure as well as efforts to reduce carbon emission over the four years of his first term if elected president. Advertisement
"These are the most critical investments we can make for the long term health and vitality of both the American economy and the physical health and safety of the American people," he said. "When Donald Trump thinks about climate change, the only word he can muster is 'hoax.' When I think about climate change, the word I think of is 'jobs.'"
Under the plan, Biden would seek to create 1 million new auto industry jobs including manufacturing parts and materials for electric vehicles, millions of union jobs to rebuild roads, bridges and other infrastructure, 1 million jobs to upgrade 4 million buildings, and 250,000 jobs in conservation including plugging abandoned oil and natural gas wells, and reclaiming mines.
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Biden also pledged to achieve a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035 and spur the construction of 1.5 million sustainable homes and housing units.
"I know meeting the challenge would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to jolt new life into our economy, strengthen our global leadership, protect our planet for future generations," he said. "If I have the honor of being elected president, we're not just going to tinker around the edges. We're going to make historic investments that will seize the opportunity, meet this moment in history."


upi--2020-07-14--Air Force anticipates virtual reality trainer for B-52 pilots

July 14 ( UPI ) -- The Air Force hopes to adopt a virtual reality trainer to help B-52 Stratofortress student-pilots train for combat .
The Virtual Reality Procedures Trainer , developed by Maj. Mark Budgeon of Air Force Global Strike Command , Maj. Brandon Wolf , 307th Operations Support Squadron , and Maj. Justin Stephenson , 11th Bomb Squadron chief pilot and chief of innovations , along with King Crow Studios , was released earlier in July at StrikeWerx in Bossier City , La .
A prototype is expected later this year .
`` Our adversaries are getting much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` This system has the potential to revolutionize the entire training process and make our student graduates better . ''
The VPRT is intended to reduce human bias in instruction , provide better access to training for student pilots and give students immediate feedback -- reducing their chances of developing poor habits early in training .
It would also be accessible to students all the time , Wolf said , allowing more time for instruction and practice before getting in the cockpit .
`` Its operating system is intuitive , so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it to them and say 'go ' , '' Budgeon said .
`` We can do anything in this environment , '' said Cody Louviere , King Crowe Studios ' founder .
`` We are here at the right time because technology is advancing exponentially . ''
The military is increasingly embracing virtual reality as a training tool .
In June Marine Corps Times reported that the Marine Corps is looking to procure at least six virtual reality flight simulators to share with applicants at recruiting events to address a pilot shortage in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Air Force announced that airmen at Dyess Air Force Base in Texas C-130J Super Hercules to learn and practice aircraft maintenance to circumvent the traditional process of requiring a C-130 for maintenance , which can take weeks .
`` We request an aircraft to be down three days a week in order to train our students , '' said Master Sgt .
Nicholas Massingill , 19th Maintenance Group development and instructor section chief.. `` When we do that , we are taking aircraft away from the mission .
While VR will never replace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ familiarization to the task , so the instructors can speed up the process when conducting hands-on training . ''

Maj. Justin Stephenson, 11th Bomb Squadron chief pilot and chief of innovations, practices with the Virtual Reality Program Trainer at StrikeWerx in Bossier City, La., July 7. The VRPT uses virtual reality technology to improve instruction for B-52 Stratofortress student-pilots. Photo by Ted Daigle/U.S. Air Force
July 14 (UPI) -- The Air Force hopes to adopt a virtual reality trainer to help B-52 Stratofortress student-pilots train for combat. The Virtual Reality Procedures Trainer, developed by Maj. Mark Budgeon of Air Force Global Strike Command, Maj. Brandon Wolf, 307th Operations Support Squadron, and Maj. Justin Stephenson, 11th Bomb Squadron chief pilot and chief of innovations, along with King Crow Studios, was released earlier in July at StrikeWerx in Bossier City, La. Advertisement
A prototype is expected later this year.
"Our adversaries are getting much better, much faster," Budgeon said. "This system has the potential to revolutionize the entire training process and make our student graduates better."
The VPRT is intended to reduce human bias in instruction, provide better access to training for student pilots and give students immediate feedback -- reducing their chances of developing poor habits early in training.
It would also be accessible to students all the time, Wolf said, allowing more time for instruction and practice before getting in the cockpit.
"Its operating system is intuitive, so all we have to do is hand it to them and say 'go'," Budgeon said.
"We can do anything in this environment," said Cody Louviere, King Crowe Studios' founder. "We are here at the right time because technology is advancing exponentially."
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The military is increasingly embracing virtual reality as a training tool.
In June Marine Corps Times reported that the Marine Corps is looking to procure at least six virtual reality flight simulators to share with applicants at recruiting events to address a pilot shortage in the service.
And in January the Air Force announced that airmen at Dyess Air Force Base in Texas C-130J Super Hercules to learn and practice aircraft maintenance to circumvent the traditional process of requiring a C-130 for maintenance, which can take weeks.
"We request an aircraft to be down three days a week in order to train our students," said Master Sgt. Nicholas Massingill, 19th Maintenance Group development and instructor section chief.. "When we do that, we are taking aircraft away from the mission. While VR will never replace hands-on training, it will help bring familiarization to the task, so the instructors can speed up the process when conducting hands-on training."


upi--2020-07-14--Atlanta Braves signing former All-Star OF Yasiel Puig

July 14 ( UPI ) -- The Atlanta Braves are signing former Los Angeles Dodgers star outfielder Yasiel Puig for the 2020 MLB season .
League sources told ESPN and MLB Media on Tuesday that Puig 's deal is pending a physical .
The former All-Star also needs a negative coronavirus test before being allowed to join the club at training camp .
The agreement with Puig comes after Braves outfielder Nick Markakis decided to opt out of the 2020 season earlier this month .
Markakis said he reached his decision after an `` eye-opening talk '' with All-Star first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who was an All-Star selection in 2014 , had a .267 batting average with 24 home runs and 84 RBIs in 149 games last season with the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians .
The 29-year-old slugger recorded a .297 average with the Indians after being acquired from the Reds on July 30 .
Puig , who joined the Reds in a December 2018 trade with the Dodgers , has a career .277 batting average with 132 home runs and 415 RBIs .
His best season came in 2017 , when he had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homers and 74 RBIs in Los Angeles .
Puig will join a Braves outfield group that includes Ronald Acuna Jr. , Marcell Ozuna , Ender Inciarte and Adam Duvall .

Former Cincinnati Reds outfielder Yasiel Puig had a .267 batting average with 24 home runs and 84 RBIs in 149 games last season with the Reds and Cleveland Indians. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo
July 14 (UPI) -- The Atlanta Braves are signing former Los Angeles Dodgers star outfielder Yasiel Puig for the 2020 MLB season. League sources told ESPN and MLB Media on Tuesday that Puig's deal is pending a physical. The former All-Star also needs a negative coronavirus test before being allowed to join the club at training camp. Advertisement
The agreement with Puig comes after Braves outfielder Nick Markakis decided to opt out of the 2020 season earlier this month. Markakis said he reached his decision after an "eye-opening talk" with All-Star first baseman and teammate Freddie Freeman.
Puig, who was an All-Star selection in 2014, had a .267 batting average with 24 home runs and 84 RBIs in 149 games last season with the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians. The 29-year-old slugger recorded a .297 average with the Indians after being acquired from the Reds on July 30.
Puig, who joined the Reds in a December 2018 trade with the Dodgers, has a career .277 batting average with 132 home runs and 415 RBIs. His best season came in 2017, when he had a .263 average with a career-best 28 homers and 74 RBIs in Los Angeles.
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Puig will join a Braves outfield group that includes Ronald Acuna Jr., Marcell Ozuna, Ender Inciarte and Adam Duvall.


upi--2020-07-14--Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns finalizing 5-year, $125M extension

July 14 ( UPI ) -- The Cleveland Browns and All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett are closing in on a massive multiyear contract extension .
League sources told ESPN and NFL Media on Tuesday that Garrett is close to signing a five-year extension worth about $ 125 million with the Browns .
According to the outlets , the deal is n't done yet , but the sides are near an agreement .
Garrett , 24 , is expected to sign the contract extension as early as Wednesday .
According to ESPN , the Pro Bowl defensive lineman passed a physical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worth a total of about $ 144 million over seven years -- would make Garrett the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league , surpassing Chicago Bears star Khalil Mack ( $ 23 million ) in average annual salary .
Garrett entered this off-season with two years left on his rookie deal after the Browns picked up his fifth-year option .
The deal would keep Garrett under contract in Cleveland through the 2026 season .
According to NFL Media , the extension includes $ 50 million fully guaranteed at signing and $ 100 million in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 10 games last season , but he was suspended for the final six contests after hitting Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph with his own helmet during a skirmish at the end of their Nov. 14 game .
The NFL reinstated Garrett earlier this off-season .
The Browns selected Garrett with the No .
1 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft out of Texas A & M .
He has notched 30.5 sacks and six forced fumbles in 37 career games in Cleveland .

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) was suspended for the final six games last season after hitting Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph (2) with his own helmet during a skirmish at the end of their Nov. 14 game. The NFL reinstated Garrett earlier this off-season. File Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI | License Photo
July 14 (UPI) -- The Cleveland Browns and All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett are closing in on a massive multiyear contract extension. League sources told ESPN and NFL Media on Tuesday that Garrett is close to signing a five-year extension worth about $125 million with the Browns. According to the outlets, the deal isn't done yet, but the sides are near an agreement. Advertisement
Garrett, 24, is expected to sign the contract extension as early as Wednesday. According to ESPN, the Pro Bowl defensive lineman passed a physical Tuesday.
The extension -- which is worth a total of about $144 million over seven years -- would make Garrett the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league, surpassing Chicago Bears star Khalil Mack ($23 million) in average annual salary. Garrett entered this off-season with two years left on his rookie deal after the Browns picked up his fifth-year option.
The deal would keep Garrett under contract in Cleveland through the 2026 season. According to NFL Media, the extension includes $50 million fully guaranteed at signing and $100 million in total guarantees.
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Garrett recorded 10 sacks in 10 games last season, but he was suspended for the final six contests after hitting Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph with his own helmet during a skirmish at the end of their Nov. 14 game. The NFL reinstated Garrett earlier this off-season.
The Browns selected Garrett with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft out of Texas A&M. He has notched 30.5 sacks and six forced fumbles in 37 career games in Cleveland.


upi--2020-07-14--Astronomers spot most distant fleeting flash afterglow from SGRB

July 14 ( UPI ) -- Astronomers said Tuesday they saw the most distant afterglow ever from a short gamma-ray burst 10 billion light years away .
Short gamma-ray bursts emit huge amounts of energy in about one second , and most likely occur when two neutron stars merge , according to researchers .
With only seven or eight SGRBs typically detected a year and fleeting flash afterglows lasting at most a few hours , a Northwestern University team was shocked to detect this new one , according to a study to be published Astrophysical Journal Letters .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distant SGRB , as they are extremely rare and very faint , '' Northwestern assistant professor of physics and astronomy Wenfai Fong , a senior author of the study , said in a statement .
`` We perform 'forensics ' with telescopes to understand its local environment , because what its home galaxy looks like can tell us a lot about the underlying physics of these systems . ''
Northwestern University astronomers detected the afterglow of the second most distant known SGRB by remotely accessing the international Gemini Observatory using a Gemini-North telescope @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
NASA 's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory first detected the SGRB , which emits huge amounts of energy in about one second , on Thanksgiving night in 2018 , and an alert of the event was broadcast worldwide .
The Northwestern-led team remotely accessed the observatory within hours and measured the optical afterglow .
The burst , known as SGRB181123B , occurred just 3.8 billion years after the Big Bang , according to the researchers .
Based on follow-up observations , researchers say that the burst , at 10 billion light years away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SGRB and the most distant one with an optical afterglow .
It also placed it in the epoch of cosmic high noon when the universe was in its `` teenage years '' and rapidly forming stars , they said .
`` We believe we are uncovering the tip of the iceberg in terms of distant SGRBs , '' said study first author Kerry Paterson .
`` That motivates us to further study past events and intensely examine future ones , '' said Paterson , a postdoctoral associate at Northwestern University 's Center for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The follow-up also gave the team insight into the rate of neuron star mergers during cosmic high noon .
`` Our research now suggests neuron star mergers could occur surprisingly quickly for some systems -- with neutron star binaries spiraling together in less than a billion years to create an SGRB , '' Paterson said .

The afterglow of burst captured by the Gemini North telescope in Mauna Kea, Hawaii, is marked with a circle. Photo by the International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/K. Paterson & W. Fong/Travis Rector, Mahdi Zamani & Davide de Martin
July 14 (UPI) -- Astronomers said Tuesday they saw the most distant afterglow ever from a short gamma-ray burst 10 billion light years away. Short gamma-ray bursts emit huge amounts of energy in about one second, and most likely occur when two neutron stars merge, according to researchers. Advertisement
With only seven or eight SGRBs typically detected a year and fleeting flash afterglows lasting at most a few hours, a Northwestern University team was shocked to detect this new one, according to a study to be published Astrophysical Journal Letters.
"We certainly did not expect to discover a distant SGRB, as they are extremely rare and very faint," Northwestern assistant professor of physics and astronomy Wenfai Fong, a senior author of the study, said in a statement. "We perform 'forensics' with telescopes to understand its local environment, because what its home galaxy looks like can tell us a lot about the underlying physics of these systems."
Northwestern University astronomers detected the afterglow of the second most distant known SGRB by remotely accessing the international Gemini Observatory using a Gemini-North telescope, located atop Mauna Kea in Hawaii.
NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory first detected the SGRB, which emits huge amounts of energy in about one second, on Thanksgiving night in 2018, and an alert of the event was broadcast worldwide.
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The Northwestern-led team remotely accessed the observatory within hours and measured the optical afterglow.
The burst, known as SGRB181123B, occurred just 3.8 billion years after the Big Bang, according to the researchers.
Based on follow-up observations, researchers say that the burst, at 10 billion light years away, was the the second most distant SGRB and the most distant one with an optical afterglow.
It also placed it in the epoch of cosmic high noon when the universe was in its "teenage years" and rapidly forming stars, they said.
"We believe we are uncovering the tip of the iceberg in terms of distant SGRBs," said study first author Kerry Paterson.
"That motivates us to further study past events and intensely examine future ones," said Paterson, a postdoctoral associate at Northwestern University's Center for Interdiciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics.
The follow-up also gave the team insight into the rate of neuron star mergers during cosmic high noon.
"Our research now suggests neuron star mergers could occur surprisingly quickly for some systems -- with neutron star binaries spiraling together in less than a billion years to create an SGRB," Paterson said.


upi--2020-07-14--Trump signs legislation imposing sanctions on China for Hong Kong security law

July 14 ( UPI ) -- President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed legislation to sanction China for its efforts to interfere with Hong Kong 's autonomy .
The president signed the Hong Kong Autonomy Act that would impose sanctions on businesses and individuals that assisted China in implementing a security law that criminalizes secession , sedition , subversion , terrorism and working with foreign agencies to undermine the national security of China in Hong Kong .
`` This law gives my administration powerful new tools to hold responsible the individuals and the entities involved in extinguishing Hong Kong 's freedom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced the signing of an executive order that would end preferential treatment for Hong Kong .
`` Hong Kong will now be treated the same as mainland China , '' he said .
`` No special privileges , no special economic treatment and no export of sensitive technologies . ''
When the security law went into effect at the end of June , Secretary of State Mike Pompeo condemned the measure , declaring that the United States `` will not stand idly by while China swallows Hong Kong into its authoritarian maw .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ declared efforts to deny China access to U.S. data , rejected Beijing 's claims to the South China Sea and imposed sanctions against top Chinese officials for human rights abuses against Uyghur Muslims in the Xinjiang region , prompting retaliatory measures from Beijing .

President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed legislation imposing sanctions against China for its Hong Kong security law and an executive order ending preferential treatment for Hong Kong. Photo by Tasos Katopodis/UPI | License Photo
July 15 (UPI) -- In the latest escalation in tensions between Washington and Beijing, China on Wednesday vowed to sanction U.S. institutions and politicians in retaliation for President Donald Trump signing legislation to punish Chinese officials for infringing upon Hong Kong's autonomy. In a statement on Wednesday, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned Trump's signing of the Hong Kong Autonomy Act hours earlier into law as interfering in its internal affairs, promising to take "necessary action to impose sanctions against related U.S. institutions and individuals." Advertisement
Specifics of the sanctions were not mentioned but China said attempts by the United States to block the implementation of a widely condemned national security law would fail.
The president signed the Hong Kong Autonomy Act into law Tuesday that would impose sanctions on businesses and individuals that assisted China in implementing a security law that criminalizes secession, sedition, subversion, terrorism and working with foreign agencies to undermine the national security of China in Hong Kong.
"This law gives my administration powerful new tools to hold responsible the individuals and the entities involved in extinguishing Hong Kong's freedom," Trump said.
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Trump also announced the signing of an executive order that would end preferential treatment for Hong Kong.
"Hong Kong will now be treated the same as mainland China," he said. "No special privileges, no special economic treatment and no export of sensitive technologies."
Tensions between the adversaries have climbed in recent months with the United States passing legislation to condemn and punish China over its human rights record.
However, the situation has accelerated since June 30 when Beijing imposed the national security law that U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has described as the "death knell" for the former British colony's autonomy from China, vowing the United States "will not stand idly by while China swallows Hong Kong into its authoritarian maw."
This month the United States has declared efforts to deny China access to U.S. data, rejected Beijing's claims to the South China Sea and imposed sanctions against top Chinese officials for human rights abuses against Uyghur Muslims in the Xinjiang region, prompting retaliatory measures from Beijing.


upi--2020-07-14--Former VA nursing aid pleads guilty to murder in deaths of 7 patients

July 14 ( UPI ) -- A former nursing aide at a West Virginia Veterans Affairs medical facility pleaded guilty Tuesday after being charged in a series of patient deaths .
Reta Mays , 46 , pleaded guilty to seven counts of second-degree murder and one count of assault with intent to commit murder in connection with the deaths of seven veterans who died after being injected with insulin .
Court documents identified the victims as Robert Edge Sr. , Robert Kozul George Shaw , W.A.H.
, Felix McDermott and Raymond Golden .
Prosecutors requested that Mays serve seven consecutive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ term .
As part of the plea agreement , May waived her ability to appeal her case and conviction or be released on parole .
While working the night shift in a ward that housed many patients with diabetes , Mays was accused of `` willfully , '' `` deliberately '' and maliciously '' administering insulin to patients who were not prescribed it .
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jaro Douglas said in court Tuesday that by injecting these patients with insulin , May caused their blood sugar to drop to deadly levels .
Seven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ injected and an eighth patient was injected with insulin but hospital staff were able to stabilize him , although he died two weeks later .
Families of the victims also filed a wrongful death suit , stating employees of the VA Medical Center were either aware , or should have been aware of the unprescribed insulin injections and that the hospital failed to thoroughly investigate the deaths .
Mays told U.S. District Judge Thomas Kleech that though she earned 80 hours of college credit , she never held a professional license .

July 14 (UPI) -- A former nursing aide at a West Virginia Veterans Affairs medical facility pleaded guilty Tuesday after being charged in a series of patient deaths.
Reta Mays, 46, pleaded guilty to seven counts of second-degree murder and one count of assault with intent to commit murder in connection with the deaths of seven veterans who died after being injected with insulin.
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Court documents identified the victims as Robert Edge Sr., Robert Kozul George Shaw, W.A.H., Felix McDermott and Raymond Golden.
Prosecutors requested that Mays serve seven consecutive life sentences and an additional 20-year prison term.
As part of the plea agreement, May waived her ability to appeal her case and conviction or be released on parole.
While working the night shift in a ward that housed many patients with diabetes, Mays was accused of "willfully," "deliberately" and maliciously" administering insulin to patients who were not prescribed it.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jaro Douglas said in court Tuesday that by injecting these patients with insulin, May caused their blood sugar to drop to deadly levels.
Seven of the patients died shortly after being injected and an eighth patient was injected with insulin but hospital staff were able to stabilize him, although he died two weeks later.
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Families of the victims also filed a wrongful death suit, stating employees of the VA Medical Center were either aware, or should have been aware of the unprescribed insulin injections and that the hospital failed to thoroughly investigate the deaths.
Mays told U.S. District Judge Thomas Kleech that though she earned 80 hours of college credit, she never held a professional license.


upi--2020-07-14--CDC: Three of four Americans wear masks to prevent COVID-19 spread

July 14 ( UPI ) -- More than 75 percent of American adults wear face coverings when out in public to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 , according to a survey released Tuesday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
The percentage of people who reported complying with agency recommendations to wear a face mask increased by about 13 percentage points from April to May , when just under 62 percent of Americans surveyed reported using them , the CDC researchers said .
Face coverings have become a politically divisive issue as states have started to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to contain the new coronavirus , SARS-CoV-2 .
CDC researchers said the survey did not specifically address these issues .
`` Continuing to track the sociodemographic differences and behavioral influences of use of cloth face coverings and other face masks over time is important as communities continue to monitor cases , hospitalizations , and deaths and enhance prevention strategies , '' the CDC researchers wrote .
The agency first recommended the use of face masks or coverings April 3 as part of an effort to contain the spread of the coronavirus .
Several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- have since mandated the use of coverings in public spaces , including supermarkets and pharmacies , where social distancing may be difficult .
Scientific evidence to date has indicated that wearing a mask helps prevent spread of COVID-19 .
Infection rates among staff at Mass General Brigham dropped from 21 percent before the 12-hospital system in Massachusetts instituted a policy requiring universal masking of all patients to 11.5 percent afterward , according to an analysis published Tuesday by JAMA Network Open .
In addition , N99 masks , which are designed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ droplets that spread COVID-19 -- were found by University of Arizona researchers to be up to 99 percent effective at blocking the virus even after a 20-minute exposure .
Arizona researchers found that more commonly available N95 masks were up to 60 percent effective and even homemade face coverings like scarves were more than 40 percent effective at preventing virus transmission , according to the study , published in June by the Journal of Hospital Infection .
For the CDC survey , agency researchers questioned more than 500 U.S. adults twice -- the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its face mask recommendations were announced , and again in May , roughly one month later .
Seventy-six percent of participants in the survey said they were wearing masks in May , up from just under 62 percent who were wearing them in April , the CDC said .
Use of face coverings in public increased to 75 percent in May from 54 percent a month earlier among white Americans and rose to 79 percent from 37 percent among seniors age 65 and older over the same period , according to the agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent in May from 44 percent in April among Midwesterners , the CDC researchers said .
Still , mask-wearing remained most prevalent in the northeastern United States , where 87 percent said they used them in May , up from 77 percent in April , the CDC said .

Most American adults are wearing face coverings to help contain the spread of COVID-19, according to new data from the CDC. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo
July 14 (UPI) -- More than 75 percent of American adults wear face coverings when out in public to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, according to a survey released Tuesday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The percentage of people who reported complying with agency recommendations to wear a face mask increased by about 13 percentage points from April to May, when just under 62 percent of Americans surveyed reported using them, the CDC researchers said. Advertisement
Face coverings have become a politically divisive issue as states have started to relax social distancing measures put in place to contain the new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2. CDC researchers said the survey did not specifically address these issues.
"Continuing to track the sociodemographic differences and behavioral influences of use of cloth face coverings and other face masks over time is important as communities continue to monitor cases, hospitalizations, and deaths and enhance prevention strategies," the CDC researchers wrote.
The agency first recommended the use of face masks or coverings April 3 as part of an effort to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
Several states -- New York, among them -- have since mandated the use of coverings in public spaces, including supermarkets and pharmacies, where social distancing may be difficult.
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Scientific evidence to date has indicated that wearing a mask helps prevent spread of COVID-19.
Infection rates among staff at Mass General Brigham dropped from 21 percent before the 12-hospital system in Massachusetts instituted a policy requiring universal masking of all patients to 11.5 percent afterward, according to an analysis published Tuesday by JAMA Network Open.
In addition, N99 masks, which are designed to filter airborne particles -- including the respiratory droplets that spread COVID-19 -- were found by University of Arizona researchers to be up to 99 percent effective at blocking the virus even after a 20-minute exposure.
Arizona researchers found that more commonly available N95 masks were up to 60 percent effective and even homemade face coverings like scarves were more than 40 percent effective at preventing virus transmission, according to the study, published in June by the Journal of Hospital Infection.
For the CDC survey, agency researchers questioned more than 500 U.S. adults twice -- the first time in April, just after its face mask recommendations were announced, and again in May, roughly one month later.
Seventy-six percent of participants in the survey said they were wearing masks in May, up from just under 62 percent who were wearing them in April, the CDC said.
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Use of face coverings in public increased to 75 percent in May from 54 percent a month earlier among white Americans and rose to 79 percent from 37 percent among seniors age 65 and older over the same period, according to the agency.
Mask use also increased to 74 percent in May from 44 percent in April among Midwesterners, the CDC researchers said.
Still, mask-wearing remained most prevalent in the northeastern United States, where 87 percent said they used them in May, up from 77 percent in April, the CDC said.


upi--2020-07-14--Michigan fight over masks results in stabbing, shooting death

July 14 ( UPI ) -- An argument over wearing face masks at a convenience store in Michigan led to a 77-year-old man being stabbed and his suspected attacker being shot to death by police Tuesday , state police said .
The altercation happened around 6:45 a.m. , when 43-year-old Sean Ernest Ruis entered the Quality Dairy store in Windsor Township without wearing a mask .
The 77-year-old man , whose identity was n't revealed , confronted the man about wearing a mask , which was required by an order signed by Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer .
The argument continued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stabbed the 77-year-old man before fleeing .
The older man was hospitalized in stable condition .
An Eaton County sheriff 's deputy tracked Ruis down in a neighboring town around 7:15 a.m. and pulled over his vehicle .
Surveillance footage , which is graphic in nature , appears to show Ruis exiting his vehicle before lunging toward the deputy , who opened fire .
Ruis falls to the ground after several gunshots .
Michigan State Police Lt. Brian Oleksyk said Ruis died during surgery at a Lansing-area hospital .
The sheriff 's office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hand as he ran toward the deputy .
Eaton County Sheriff 's Tom Reich said the deputy who opened fire was placed on administrative leave during an investigation into the shooting .
`` It 's very unfortunate that she had to use her weapon but she saved her life ; that 's the most important thing right here , '' he said .
Michigan Department of Transportation spokesman Jeff Cranson said Ruis worked for the department as a transportation technician since 2008 .
The altercation over face masks was the second in Michigan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A dollar store security guard died during a confrontation with customers in May .

July 14 (UPI) -- An argument over wearing face masks at a convenience store in Michigan led to a 77-year-old man being stabbed and his suspected attacker being shot to death by police Tuesday, state police said.
The altercation happened around 6:45 a.m., when 43-year-old Sean Ernest Ruis entered the Quality Dairy store in Windsor Township without wearing a mask. The 77-year-old man, whose identity wasn't revealed, confronted the man about wearing a mask, which was required by an order signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
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The argument continued outside the store, where Ruis allegedly stabbed the 77-year-old man before fleeing. The older man was hospitalized in stable condition.
An Eaton County sheriff's deputy tracked Ruis down in a neighboring town around 7:15 a.m. and pulled over his vehicle. Surveillance footage, which is graphic in nature, appears to show Ruis exiting his vehicle before lunging toward the deputy, who opened fire. Ruis falls to the ground after several gunshots.
Michigan State Police Lt. Brian Oleksyk said Ruis died during surgery at a Lansing-area hospital.
The sheriff's office said Ruis had a knife in his hand as he ran toward the deputy.
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Eaton County Sheriff's Tom Reich said the deputy who opened fire was placed on administrative leave during an investigation into the shooting.
"It's very unfortunate that she had to use her weapon but she saved her life; that's the most important thing right here," he said.
Michigan Department of Transportation spokesman Jeff Cranson said Ruis worked for the department as a transportation technician since 2008.
The altercation over face masks was the second in Michigan to result in someone's death. A dollar store security guard died during a confrontation with customers in May.


upi--2020-07-14--Boeing awarded $1.2B deal for 8 F-15EX fighter jets

July 14 ( UPI ) -- The U.S. Air Force has awarded Boeing a $ 1.2 billion contract -- with a ceiling of nearly $ 23 billion -- to build the first lot of eight F-15EX fighter jets .
The F-15EX is the newest version of a tactical fighter aircraft the Air Force has used since 1976 , and is expected to replace the service 's oldest F-15C/Ds , the Air Force said on Monday .
`` The F-15EX is the most advanced version of the F-15 ever built , due in large part to its digital backbone , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manager , in a press statement .
`` Its unmatched range , price and best-in-class payload capacity make the F-15EX an attractive choice for the U.S. Air Force . ''
Based on the F-15QA fighters Boeing has produced for Qatar 's military , the newer plane is designed to handle a crew of up to two people .
It includes the Eagle Passive Active Warning and Survivability System and the Suite 9.1 Operational Flight Program software .
The aircraft also carries more weapons than any other fighter in its class and can launch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pounds and are up to 22 feet long , according to Boeing .
The first two aircraft are under construction at the Boeing F-15 production facility in St. Louis , the manufacturer said this week , and the jets are scheduled for delivery in the second quarter of fiscal year 2021 .
Future plans call for as many as 144 F-15EX aircraft , according to Boeing , with the Air Force acknowledging it plans to purchase 76 of the new model fighters during the current five-year Future Years Defense Program .
`` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way to refresh the capacity and update the capabilities provided by our aging F-15C/D fleets , '' said Air Force Gen. Mike Holmes , commander of Air Combat Command .
`` The F-15EX is ready to fight as soon as it comes off the line . ''
According to the Air Force , the first eight F-15EX aircraft will be fielded at Eglin Air Force Base , Fla. At the end of June , General Electric was awarded $ 101.3 million to produce engines for F-15EX aircraft .

The Department of the Air Force awarded a nearly $1.2 billion contract for its first lot of eight F-15EX fighter aircraft this week. Photo courtesy of U.S. Air Force
July 14 (UPI) -- The U.S. Air Force has awarded Boeing a $1.2 billion contract -- with a ceiling of nearly $23 billion -- to build the first lot of eight F-15EX fighter jets. The F-15EX is the newest version of a tactical fighter aircraft the Air Force has used since 1976, and is expected to replace the service's oldest F-15C/Ds, the Air Force said on Monday. Advertisement
"The F-15EX is the most advanced version of the F-15 ever built, due in large part to its digital backbone," said Lori Schneider, Boeing F-15EX program manager, in a press statement. "Its unmatched range, price and best-in-class payload capacity make the F-15EX an attractive choice for the U.S. Air Force."
Based on the F-15QA fighters Boeing has produced for Qatar's military, the newer plane is designed to handle a crew of up to two people. It includes the Eagle Passive Active Warning and Survivability System and the Suite 9.1 Operational Flight Program software.
The aircraft also carries more weapons than any other fighter in its class and can launch hypersonic weapons that weigh up to 7,000 pounds and are up to 22 feet long, according to Boeing.
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The first two aircraft are under construction at the Boeing F-15 production facility in St. Louis, the manufacturer said this week, and the jets are scheduled for delivery in the second quarter of fiscal year 2021.
Future plans call for as many as 144 F-15EX aircraft, according to Boeing, with the Air Force acknowledging it plans to purchase 76 of the new model fighters during the current five-year Future Years Defense Program.
"The F-15EX is the most affordable and immediate way to refresh the capacity and update the capabilities provided by our aging F-15C/D fleets," said Air Force Gen. Mike Holmes, commander of Air Combat Command. "The F-15EX is ready to fight as soon as it comes off the line."
According to the Air Force, the first eight F-15EX aircraft will be fielded at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.
At the end of June, General Electric was awarded $101.3 million to produce engines for F-15EX aircraft.


upi--2020-07-14--USS Bonhomme Richard remains on fire, two more sailors hurt while battling blaze

July 14 ( UPI ) -- Fire crews could extinguish the blaze on the USS Bonhomme Richard within 24 hours , Rear Admiral Philip Sobeck said Tuesday .
`` Significant progress has been made , '' Sobeck told reporters at a briefing .
Previously , San Diego 's fire chief had said the blaze , which broke out Sunday morning , could continue to burn for several days .
Helicopters have dumped 1,200 buckets of water on the amphibious assault vessel , which let crews move further on board to fight the blaze , and tugboats assisted from the waterline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is stable and its million-gallon fuel tanks are no longer is no longer in danger of catching fire .
Late Monday night , the Navy announced that personnel who were hospitalized due to injuries suffered while fighting an ongoing blaze on the Bonhomme Richard have been released .
A total of 36 sailors and 23 civilians have treated for injuries like heat exhaustion and smoke inhalation caused by the fire .
The fire was first reported in a lower cargo area where seafaring tanks and landing craft are parked , and appears to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boxes , rags and other ship maintenance supplies are stored , according to Rear Adm. Philip Sobeck , commander of Expeditionary Strike Group 3 .
One million gallons of fuel are stored on the ship , and Sobeck said firefighters are working to ensure the fire does n't reach that section of the ship .
There was also an explosion of unknown origin on the ship that took place about two hours after the blaze was first reported .

U.S. Navy helicopters assist in fighting a fire that has been burning on the SS Bonhomme Richard since Sunday morning. Image via Naval Surface Forces/ Twitter
July 14 (UPI) -- Fire crews could extinguish the blaze on the USS Bonhomme Richard within 24 hours, Rear Admiral Philip Sobeck said Tuesday. "Significant progress has been made," Sobeck told reporters at a briefing. Advertisement
Previously, San Diego's fire chief had said the blaze, which broke out Sunday morning, could continue to burn for several days.
Helicopters have dumped 1,200 buckets of water on the amphibious assault vessel, which let crews move further on board to fight the blaze, and tugboats assisted from the waterline.
According to Sobeck, the ship is stable and its million-gallon fuel tanks are no longer is no longer in danger of catching fire.
Late Monday night, the Navy announced that personnel who were hospitalized due to injuries suffered while fighting an ongoing blaze on the Bonhomme Richard have been released.
A total of 36 sailors and 23 civilians have treated for injuries like heat exhaustion and smoke inhalation caused by the fire.
The fire was first reported in a lower cargo area where seafaring tanks and landing craft are parked, and appears to have started in an area where cardboard boxes, rags and other ship maintenance supplies are stored, according to Rear Adm. Philip Sobeck, commander of Expeditionary Strike Group 3.
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One million gallons of fuel are stored on the ship, and Sobeck said firefighters are working to ensure the fire doesn't reach that section of the ship.
There was also an explosion of unknown origin on the ship that took place about two hours after the blaze was first reported.
In the past 48 hours, Federal Fire Department San Diego and U.S. Navy Sailors have conducted numerous firefighting operations, making significant progress with the help of aerial firefighting operations conducted by U.S. Navy helicopters. pic.twitter.com/VPdDwzc44f— Naval Surface Forces (@SurfaceWarriors) July 14, 2020


upi--2020-07-14--Life in ocean abyss recovered quickly after end-Cretaceous mass extinction event, study shows

July 14 ( UPI ) -- Researchers said Tuesday that organisms in the ocean 's abyss were able to recover quickly after the end-Cretaceous mass extinction event which killed off dinosaurs 66 million years ago .
An asteroid hit earth at the end of the Cretaceous period creating the Chicxulub Crater in the Yucatan Peninsula , Mexico , and wiping out 75 percent of species on earth , including non-avian dinosaurs .
Organisms living on the seafloor of the Chicxulub Crater did not experience as much extinction from the event 66 million years ago and , with some changes to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quickly , researchers report in a study published this week in the journal Geology .
`` By comparing the end-Cretaceous record to earlier events like the end Permian mass extinction -- the so-called 'Great Dying ' when 90 percent of life on Earth went extinct -- geoscientists can determine how different environmental changes affect life , '' researchers said in a press release .
The new evidence was discovered after a joint expedition by scientists from the International Ocean Discovery Program and International Continental Scientific Drilling Program in April and May 2016 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and recovered rock cores that show the impact from the event .
The scientists then used new evidence of trace fossils from burrowing organisms that lived in the seafloor a few years after the impact , found during the expedition , to show that the seafloor ecosystem was able to quickly recover .
By comparison , it took seafloor burrowing organisms several million years to recover after the end-Permian mass extinction that occurred about 254 million years ago .
That event wiped out about 96 percent of marine life and 70 percent of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the Permian extinction was caused by global warming that left animals unable to breathe .

Francisco J. Rodriguez-Tovar, lead author of the new study on rapid recovery from the end-Cretaceous mass extinction event, is in Bremen, Germany, working with a core taken from the the Chicxulub impact crater. Photo courtesy of The Geological Society of America.
July 14 (UPI) -- Researchers said Tuesday that organisms in the ocean's abyss were able to recover quickly after the end-Cretaceous mass extinction event which killed off dinosaurs 66 million years ago. An asteroid hit earth at the end of the Cretaceous period creating the Chicxulub Crater in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, and wiping out 75 percent of species on earth, including non-avian dinosaurs. Advertisement
Organisms living on the seafloor of the Chicxulub Crater did not experience as much extinction from the event 66 million years ago and, with some changes to community structure, were able to recover quickly, researchers report in a study published this week in the journal Geology.
"By comparing the end-Cretaceous record to earlier events like the end Permian mass extinction -- the so-called 'Great Dying' when 90 percent of life on Earth went extinct -- geoscientists can determine how different environmental changes affect life," researchers said in a press release.
The new evidence was discovered after a joint expedition by scientists from the International Ocean Discovery Program and International Continental Scientific Drilling Program in April and May 2016. Scientists drilled into the Chicxulub impact crater and recovered rock cores that show the impact from the event.
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The scientists then used new evidence of trace fossils from burrowing organisms that lived in the seafloor a few years after the impact, found during the expedition, to show that the seafloor ecosystem was able to quickly recover.
By comparison, it took seafloor burrowing organisms several million years to recover after the end-Permian mass extinction that occurred about 254 million years ago. That event wiped out about 96 percent of marine life and 70 percent of terrestrial species.
Previous research has shown that the Permian extinction was caused by global warming that left animals unable to breathe.


upi--2020-07-14--Telluride Film Festival cancells 2020 fest

July 14 ( UPI ) -- The Telluride Film Festival announced Tuesday that the 2020 fest , scheduled for Sept. 3-7 in Telluride , Colo , is cancelled .
The fest had previously announced a limited , socially distanced festival following COVID-19 guidelines .
Citing the rise in COVID-19 cases , the festival released a statement explaining they felt they could not proceed even with a restricted fest .
`` Even the best strategy is threatened by this out of control environment , '' the statement read .
`` No matter how much many of us wear our masks and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has worsened rather than improved . ''
On Monday , California Gov .
Gavin Newsom announced new closures as a result of rising COVID-19 cases .
Those indoor businesses closing include movie theaters , many of which planned to reopen on Wednesday .
The Telluride Film Festival would see attendees from around the country and around the world attend .
Hollywood and international filmmakers , press , executives and fans would have traveled from places all with different case levels and different protocols .
The festival plans to announce the lineup of films @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Festival .
Normally , the festival would announce the lineup on Sept. 2 to surprise attendees .
Since the festival will not go on , they will announce the selections so that those films can benefit from the prestige of being selected for Telluride .
`` We hope that many of you will seek out and discover the titles we 've selected for this year 's program at the New York Film Festival , Toronto International Film Festival , or Venice Film Festival , '' the statement read .
`` Or when they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
2020 would have been the 47th year of the Telluride Film Festival .

The Telluride Film Festival will not hold its 2020 event on Labor Day weekend due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo courtest of Telluride Film Festival
July 14 (UPI) -- The Telluride Film Festival announced Tuesday that the 2020 fest, scheduled for Sept. 3-7 in Telluride, Colo, is cancelled. The fest had previously announced a limited, socially distanced festival following COVID-19 guidelines. Citing the rise in COVID-19 cases, the festival released a statement explaining they felt they could not proceed even with a restricted fest. Advertisement
"Even the best strategy is threatened by this out of control environment," the statement read. "No matter how much many of us wear our masks and observe social distancing protocols, the pandemic has worsened rather than improved."
On Monday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced new closures as a result of rising COVID-19 cases. Those indoor businesses closing include movie theaters, many of which planned to reopen on Wednesday.
The Telluride Film Festival would see attendees from around the country and around the world attend. Hollywood and international filmmakers, press, executives and fans would have traveled from places all with different case levels and different protocols.
The festival plans to announce the lineup of films that were selected for the Telluride Film Festival. Normally, the festival would announce the lineup on Sept. 2 to surprise attendees. Since the festival will not go on, they will announce the selections so that those films can benefit from the prestige of being selected for Telluride.
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"We hope that many of you will seek out and discover the titles we've selected for this year's program at the New York Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, or Venice Film Festival," the statement read. "Or when they're made available on a wider basis."
2020 would have been the 47th year of the Telluride Film Festival.


upi--2020-07-14--Dow Rises 556 points, posting three-day winning streak

July 14 ( UPI ) -- The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed more than 500 points on Tuesday , marking three consecutive days of gains .
The blue-chip index closed the day up 556.79 points , or 2.13 percent , while the S & P 500 gained 1.34 percent and the Nasdaq Composite increased 0.94 percent .
Caterpillar stock drove the Dow higher , rising 4.83 percent , while Exxon Mobil and Chevron stock both gained more than 3 percent .
Boeing stock increased 2.48 percent , despite announcing that airlines had canceled 60 more orders of its 737 Max @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was led by the energy sector , which gained 2.5 percent , while materials and industrials each increased 1 percent .
Tech stocks , however , faltered on Tuesday as Amazon fell 0.64 percent and Netflix dropped 0.12 percent , while Google 's parent company , Alphabet , rose 0.57 percent and Facebook gained 0.31 percent .
The Nasdaq 's gains came after the index rose nearly 2 percent to a record in early trading Monday but ended the day down more than 2 percent .
Federal Reserve governor Lael Brainard said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for some time '' as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic .
`` That calls for a sustained and comprehensive framework of accommodation , '' she said .
Brainard added that fiscal support , such as one-time individual relief payments and expanded unemployment insurance benefits , `` will remain vital '' to recovery in spending and hiring .

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 556 points on Tuesday, rising for three consecutive sessions. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
July 14 (UPI) -- The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed more than 500 points on Tuesday, marking three consecutive days of gains. The blue-chip index closed the day up 556.79 points, or 2.13 percent, while the S&P 500 gained 1.34 percent and the Nasdaq Composite increased 0.94 percent. Advertisement
Caterpillar stock drove the Dow higher, rising 4.83 percent, while Exxon Mobil and Chevron stock both gained more than 3 percent. Boeing stock increased 2.48 percent, despite announcing that airlines had canceled 60 more orders of its 737 Max aircraft.
The S&P 500 was led by the energy sector, which gained 2.5 percent, while materials and industrials each increased 1 percent.
Tech stocks, however, faltered on Tuesday as Amazon fell 0.64 percent and Netflix dropped 0.12 percent, while Google's parent company, Alphabet, rose 0.57 percent and Facebook gained 0.31 percent.
The Nasdaq's gains came after the index rose nearly 2 percent to a record in early trading Monday but ended the day down more than 2 percent.
Federal Reserve governor Lael Brainard said that the U.S. economy "will face headwinds for some time" as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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"That calls for a sustained and comprehensive framework of accommodation," she said.
Brainard added that fiscal support, such as one-time individual relief payments and expanded unemployment insurance benefits, "will remain vital" to recovery in spending and hiring.