upi--2020-05-04--J. Crew the first national retailer to file for bankruptcy since coronavirus closures

May 4 ( UPI ) -- Apparel chain J .
Crew on Monday become the first national retailer to file for bankruptcy since the coronavirus pandemic ushered in total closures for non-essential brick and mortar businesses .
J .
Crew Group and parent company Chinos Holdings announced they filed under Chapter 11 in bankruptcy court in Virginia .
More than 300 J .
Crew and Madewell locations will remain open under $ 400 million in debtor-in-possession financing from existing lenders , the company said .
As part of the deal , lenders will convert about $ 1.7 billion in J @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bankruptcy will restructure the company 's debt and `` deleverage '' its balance sheet , positioning J .
Crew and Madewell `` for long-term success , '' CEO Jan Singer said .
`` Throughout this process , we will continue to provide our customers with the exceptional merchandise and service they expect from us , and we will continue all day-to-day operations , albeit under these extraordinary COVID-19-related circumstances , '' she said in a statement .
Although the company did n't point to the coronavirus outbreak in its bankruptcy filing , restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mall-based U.S. locations that were already struggling with lower revenues .
Many analysts have said they expect consumer retail spending to decline by about 5 percent this year , largely due to the health crisis .
Sales for apparel retailers fell by more than 50 percent in March , according to the Commerce Department .

Shoppers are seen Friday at the newly reopened Northpark Mall in Dallas, Texas. Outfitter J. Crew, which has locations in hundreds of U.S. malls, filed for bankruptcy Monday. Photo by Ian Halperin/UPI | License Photo
May 4 (UPI) -- Apparel chain J. Crew on Monday become the first national retailer to file for bankruptcy since the coronavirus pandemic ushered in total closures for non-essential brick and mortar businesses. J. Crew Group and parent company Chinos Holdings announced they filed under Chapter 11 in bankruptcy court in Virginia. Advertisement
More than 300 J. Crew and Madewell locations will remain open under $400 million in debtor-in-possession financing from existing lenders, the company said. As part of the deal, lenders will convert about $1.7 billion in J. Crew debt into equity.
The bankruptcy will restructure the company's debt and "deleverage" its balance sheet, positioning J. Crew and Madewell "for long-term success," CEO Jan Singer said.
"Throughout this process, we will continue to provide our customers with the exceptional merchandise and service they expect from us, and we will continue all day-to-day operations, albeit under these extraordinary COVID-19-related circumstances," she said in a statement.
Although the company didn't point to the coronavirus outbreak in its bankruptcy filing, restrictions that began in mid-March completely closed all mall-based U.S. locations that were already struggling with lower revenues. Many analysts have said they expect consumer retail spending to decline by about 5 percent this year, largely due to the health crisis.
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Sales for apparel retailers fell by more than 50 percent in March, according to the Commerce Department.


upi--2020-05-04--Watch: Oprah Winfrey, Jon Stewart give advice to students on John Krasinski's 'Some Good News'

May 4 ( UPI ) -- Oprah Winfrey , Jon Stewart , Steven Spielberg and Malala Yousafzai gave advice to graduating students on John Krasinski 's Some Good News .
Krasinski featured the celebrities on Sunday after speaking with several graduates from the class of 2020 and allowing them to give their graduation speeches .
Winfrey , Stewart , Spielberg and Yousafzai then spoke with individual students and answered their questions .
Winfrey was asked about a low point in her career that ended up changing everything .
The television icon described how she was let go from being news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I believe that failure is an opportunity to move yourself in a different direction .
It gets better because you 've learned the lessons from the first time , '' Winfrey said .
Stewart was simply asked by a student , `` Now what ? ''
`` The person on Mr. Krasinski 's show before you , their question was answered by Oprah .
So I think it 's clear sometimes in life you 're gon na get the short end of the stick , '' Stewart said .
`` You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where no one 's grading you , there 's none of those things that will be going on .
Stop completing things and start living them , '' the comedian continued .
Ryan Reynolds also appeared on Some Good News to report on the weather .
The actor briefly walked outside and looked around before stating that it looked pretty good .
The segment was similar to when Brad Pitt recently gave a weather report on the YouTube series .

May 4 (UPI) -- Oprah Winfrey, Jon Stewart, Steven Spielberg and Malala Yousafzai gave advice to graduating students on John Krasinski's Some Good News.
Krasinski featured the celebrities on Sunday after speaking with several graduates from the class of 2020 and allowing them to give their graduation speeches.
Advertisement
Winfrey, Stewart, Spielberg and Yousafzai then spoke with individual students and answered their questions.
Winfrey was asked about a low point in her career that ended up changing everything. The television icon described how she was let go from being news anchor and started hosting a daytime talkshow.
"I believe that failure is an opportunity to move yourself in a different direction. It gets better because you've learned the lessons from the first time," Winfrey said.
Stewart was simply asked by a student, "Now what?"
"The person on Mr. Krasinski's show before you, their question was answered by Oprah. So I think it's clear sometimes in life you're gonna get the short end of the stick," Stewart said.
"You're about to enter into a world where no one's grading you, there's none of those things that will be going on. Stop completing things and start living them," the comedian continued.
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Ryan Reynolds also appeared on Some Good News to report on the weather. The actor briefly walked outside and looked around before stating that it looked pretty good.
The segment was similar to when Brad Pitt recently gave a weather report on the YouTube series.


upi--2020-05-04--Iranian people must imagine life after the mullahs

May 4 ( UPI ) -- John Lennon wrote his famous song `` Imagine '' inviting us to consider a perfect world .
Perfection may be difficult to achieve , but for the 80 million suffering and oppressed people of Iran , imagining a better future , without the mullahs , may be the first necessary step on the way to achieving it .
Iran is facing social collapse , enduring the triple whammy of a corrupt , theocratic dictatorship , a disintegrating economy and a manifestly bungled attempt to control the coronavirus pandemic .
The mullahs ' regime has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control of the disease .
Having stolen the people 's wealth for 41 years since the 1979 revolution , squandering billions on the export of terror and on proxy wars , spending billions more on their top-secret nuclear weapons program , while stuffing bags of cash into their own private bank accounts , they are now facing economic and social meltdown .
Even the state-owned Aftab-e-Yazd daily newspaper wrote last week , `` There is a fear that the post-coronavirus deep social crisis which exists today will deepen further .
How long can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tomans ( $ 60 dollars ) in aid ?
Distributing money will not solve the problem .
The problem is due to the fact that many businesses have suffered , there is huge unemployment , rising inflation and all of these can bring about social collapse .
Add these to the recent discontent and protest movements and you get a true picture of the state of the country . ''
Iran , despite its rich , civilized and open culture , has become an international pariah , its religious fascist regime condemned for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terror , while its 80 million beleaguered citizens , over half of whom are under 30 , struggle to feed their families against a background of power outages , water shortages and food prices that have risen by more than 60 percent and a death toll from coronavirus that has spiraled out of control .
The Iranian people have long known that the regime is more toxic than the virus .
The mullahs are terrified that their theocratic system will come tumbling down , as the impoverished masses rise up in fury and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Iran 's descent into economic chaos can be laid directly at the door of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Hassan Rouhani .
Their policy of aggressive military expansionism and conflict across the Middle East has seen them consistently pour resources into Bashar al-Assad 's murderous civil war in Syria , the genocidal campaign against the Sunni population of neighboring Iraq , their support for the Houthi rebels in Yemen and their vast funding for the Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza .
They pay $ 750 million every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is clearly no longer sustainable .
The people of Iran need to imagine what life would be like without the mullahs .
With a democratically elected government restoring freedom , justice , human rights and women 's rights , ending the sponsorship of terror and proxy wars , ending the race to build a nuclear weapon and ending corruption , the economy of Iran would be transformed .
Although the coronavirus lockdown has affected the world in an unprecedented way and it will certainly take years to recover , Iran 's recovery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has the world 's second-largest gas reserves and fourth-largest crude oil reserves .
The combination of sanctions and the collapse in oil prices due to the pandemic has brought Iran 's greatest industry to a shuddering halt .
But when the lockdown is over , people will rush back into their cars and aircraft around the world and oil and gas prices will rise again .
Iran would be in a prime position to benefit from this resurgence , but only if the mullahs have been deposed , democracy restored and sanctions lifted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ imagine what life would be like if they had a new government that no longer spent billions every year on internal oppression and the development of nuclear weapons and accompanying missile technology .
Imagine the billions that is channeled to Syria , Yemen , Iraq , Lebanon and Gaza being spent instead on schools , hospitals and social welfare in Iran .
Imagine the money that has been corruptly stolen from the Iranian people by Khamenei and the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps being restored to its rightful owners , the people of Iran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that have been frozen by sanctions , being freed for use in rebuilding the Iranian economy .
According to Brian Hook , senior U.S. policy adviser on Iran to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo , Iran has spent more than $ 16 billion during the past few years to fund militant terrorists across the Middle East , cash that was repatriated to Iran under the terms of U.S. President Barack Obama 's flawed nuclear deal .
Hook says that as Iran 's economy teeters on the brink of collapse under the tough sanctions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Islamic Republic 's authoritarian leadership has spent its limited cash reserves to bolster terror groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas , as well as militant terrorists in Syria , Iraq and Yemen .
The Iranian economy is in a plummeting decline .
Spiraling inflation and a collapsing currency have combined with the coronavirus crisis to bring the country to a virtual standstill .
The active Iranian work force is 26 million , of whom at least 10 million were jobless even before COVID-19 struck .
Youth unemployment was at a staggering 40 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the population are living at or under the absolute poverty line , unable to meet their essential daily needs .
Now the country is in virtual lockdown , but the regime is doing nothing to help .
Indeed , in a blind panic , Rouhani has pretended that the pandemic is under control and has ordered Iranians to return to work , leaving them with the choice of starving to death in lockdown or dying of COVID-19 back at work .
These are life-or-death choices for the Iranian people .
They are fed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They are fed up with living in poverty and deprivation , as the mullahs siphon off the country 's wealth to fill their coffers and to finance conflict and terror throughout the Middle East .
They know that the regime 's system of velayat-e-faqih , the guardianship of the Islamic jurist , offers no solution to the economic crisis and no future for Iran .
The whole Iranian economy is focused on the military requirements of the IRGC .
Iranian society is facing chaos and social collapse .
The capacity of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ longer there .
Instead , the mullahs turn their attention to test firing new missiles and demonizing the main democratic opposition movement , the Peoples ' Mojahedin of Iran ( PMOI/MEK ) , in an attempt to hide the reality of their economic mismanagement .
In the lyrics of his song `` Imagine , '' Lennon sang : `` You may say I 'm a dreamer , but I 'm not the only one .
I hope someday you 'll join us and the world will live as one . ''
The world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mullahs and join the people of Iran who dream of a better future .
Struan Stevenson is the coordinator of the Campaign for Iran Change .
He was a member of the European Parliament representing Scotland ( 1999-2014 ) , president of the Parliament 's Delegation for Relations with Iraq ( 2009-14 ) and chairman of the Friends of a Free Iran Intergroup ( 2004-14 ) .
He is an international lecturer on the Middle East and president of the European Iraqi Freedom Association .

The people of Iran need to imagine what life would be like without President Hassan Rouhani and the regime of mullahs. Photo courtesy of Iran president's office/EPA-EFE
May 4 (UPI) -- John Lennon wrote his famous song "Imagine" inviting us to consider a perfect world. Perfection may be difficult to achieve, but for the 80 million suffering and oppressed people of Iran, imagining a better future, without the mullahs, may be the first necessary step on the way to achieving it. Iran is facing social collapse, enduring the triple whammy of a corrupt, theocratic dictatorship, a disintegrating economy and a manifestly bungled attempt to control the coronavirus pandemic. The mullahs' regime has lost control of the economy and lost control of the disease. Having stolen the people's wealth for 41 years since the 1979 revolution, squandering billions on the export of terror and on proxy wars, spending billions more on their top-secret nuclear weapons program, while stuffing bags of cash into their own private bank accounts, they are now facing economic and social meltdown. Advertisement Advertisement
Even the state-owned Aftab-e-Yazd daily newspaper wrote last week, "There is a fear that the post-coronavirus deep social crisis which exists today will deepen further. How long can the government continue to distribute a million tomans ($60 dollars) in aid? Distributing money will not solve the problem. The problem is due to the fact that many businesses have suffered, there is huge unemployment, rising inflation and all of these can bring about social collapse. Add these to the recent discontent and protest movements and you get a true picture of the state of the country."
Iran, despite its rich, civilized and open culture, has become an international pariah, its religious fascist regime condemned for human rights abuse and the export of terror, while its 80 million beleaguered citizens, over half of whom are under 30, struggle to feed their families against a background of power outages, water shortages and food prices that have risen by more than 60 percent and a death toll from coronavirus that has spiraled out of control.
The Iranian people have long known that the regime is more toxic than the virus. The mullahs are terrified that their theocratic system will come tumbling down, as the impoverished masses rise up in fury and throw them into the dustbin of history.
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Iran's descent into economic chaos can be laid directly at the door of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Hassan Rouhani. Their policy of aggressive military expansionism and conflict across the Middle East has seen them consistently pour resources into Bashar al-Assad's murderous civil war in Syria, the genocidal campaign against the Sunni population of neighboring Iraq, their support for the Houthi rebels in Yemen and their vast funding for the Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza. They pay $750 million every year to Hezbollah in Lebanon alone. This is clearly no longer sustainable.
The people of Iran need to imagine what life would be like without the mullahs. With a democratically elected government restoring freedom, justice, human rights and women's rights, ending the sponsorship of terror and proxy wars, ending the race to build a nuclear weapon and ending corruption, the economy of Iran would be transformed. Although the coronavirus lockdown has affected the world in an unprecedented way and it will certainly take years to recover, Iran's recovery could be dynamic by comparison.
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Iran has the world's second-largest gas reserves and fourth-largest crude oil reserves. The combination of sanctions and the collapse in oil prices due to the pandemic has brought Iran's greatest industry to a shuddering halt. But when the lockdown is over, people will rush back into their cars and aircraft around the world and oil and gas prices will rise again. Iran would be in a prime position to benefit from this resurgence, but only if the mullahs have been deposed, democracy restored and sanctions lifted.
The Iranian people also have to imagine what life would be like if they had a new government that no longer spent billions every year on internal oppression and the development of nuclear weapons and accompanying missile technology. Imagine the billions that is channeled to Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Lebanon and Gaza being spent instead on schools, hospitals and social welfare in Iran. Imagine the money that has been corruptly stolen from the Iranian people by Khamenei and the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps being restored to its rightful owners, the people of Iran. Imagine the billions in international assets that have been frozen by sanctions, being freed for use in rebuilding the Iranian economy.
According to Brian Hook, senior U.S. policy adviser on Iran to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Iran has spent more than $16 billion during the past few years to fund militant terrorists across the Middle East, cash that was repatriated to Iran under the terms of U.S. President Barack Obama's flawed nuclear deal. Hook says that as Iran's economy teeters on the brink of collapse under the tough sanctions regime imposed by the Trump administration, the Islamic Republic's authoritarian leadership has spent its limited cash reserves to bolster terror groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas, as well as militant terrorists in Syria, Iraq and Yemen.
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The Iranian economy is in a plummeting decline. Spiraling inflation and a collapsing currency have combined with the coronavirus crisis to bring the country to a virtual standstill. The active Iranian work force is 26 million, of whom at least 10 million were jobless even before COVID-19 struck. Youth unemployment was at a staggering 40 percent. At least 70 percent of the population are living at or under the absolute poverty line, unable to meet their essential daily needs.
Now the country is in virtual lockdown, but the regime is doing nothing to help. Indeed, in a blind panic, Rouhani has pretended that the pandemic is under control and has ordered Iranians to return to work, leaving them with the choice of starving to death in lockdown or dying of COVID-19 back at work.
These are life-or-death choices for the Iranian people. They are fed up with their corrupt, fundamentalist rulers. They are fed up with living in poverty and deprivation, as the mullahs siphon off the country's wealth to fill their coffers and to finance conflict and terror throughout the Middle East. They know that the regime's system of velayat-e-faqih, the guardianship of the Islamic jurist, offers no solution to the economic crisis and no future for Iran.
Advertisement
The whole Iranian economy is focused on the military requirements of the IRGC. Iranian society is facing chaos and social collapse. The capacity of the regime to reform the economy is no longer there. Instead, the mullahs turn their attention to test firing new missiles and demonizing the main democratic opposition movement, the Peoples' Mojahedin of Iran (PMOI/MEK), in an attempt to hide the reality of their economic mismanagement.
In the lyrics of his song "Imagine," Lennon sang: "You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us and the world will live as one." The world needs to end its appeasement of the mullahs and join the people of Iran who dream of a better future.
Struan Stevenson is the coordinator of the Campaign for Iran Change. He was a member of the European Parliament representing Scotland (1999-2014), president of the Parliament's Delegation for Relations with Iraq (2009-14) and chairman of the Friends of a Free Iran Intergroup (2004-14). He is an international lecturer on the Middle East and president of the European Iraqi Freedom Association.


upi--2020-05-04--Israeli gov't to vote on 4-stage proposal to reopen retail malls, parks

Israelis wear mandatory face masks due to the COVID-19 pandemic while they shop in Jerusalem, Israel, on Friday. Photo by Debbie Hill/UPI | License Photo
May 4 (UPI) -- The Israeli government will vote Monday whether to allow shopping centers, libraries, gyms, water sports and non-medical treatment facilities to reopen as active coronavirus cases decline. Lawmakers will vote on a proposal that all malls, national parks, single-room vacation cabins and hotels with direct-access rooms should be allowed to reopen Tuesday. Advertisement
Some specific businesses have already been allowed to reopen across Israel, but none that attract sizable crowds like malls and large retail districts.
The four-stage proposal calls for markets, gyms, museums and sporting events without crowds to open May 17. Restaurants and event venues would reopen May 31 and schools are expected to reopen next week.
Police in Israel have said many residents have ignored social distancing and face covering rules, including some at beaches in Tel Aviv and Herzliya. Others crowded outdoor spaces and markets.
An Israeli ban is still active that prohibits residents from traveling more than 328 feet away from their homes for non-permitted activities.
Authorities say they gave about 55,000 citations last week for violations and about 150 businesses have been shut down for violating rules.
Israel has had more than 16,000 cases and more than 200 deaths due to the outbreak.
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Scenes from a pandemic: World copes with COVID-19


upi--2020-05-04--Dez Bryant: Cowboys 'out of line' for signing Andy Dalton before Dak Prescott

May 4 ( UPI ) -- Former Dallas Cowboys star Dez Bryant called the team `` out of line '' for signing free agent quarterback Andy Dalton before they can work out a contract extension for Dak Prescott .
The longtime Cowboys wide receiver was teammates with Prescott in 2016 and 2017 .
Bryant voiced his displeasure with the Cowboys for Prescott 's lack of a contract extension Saturday after the team signed Dalton to a one-year contract .
`` Nothing against Andy Dalton , because I think he 's a great player , but the Cowboys are extremely out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Pay Dak .
I watched the Cowboys pay Tony [ Romo ] twice , once without having a winning record .
I guess the Cowboys view the quarterback position as a plug-in piece because of the dominant offense . ''
Prescott has been involved in negotiations for a new contract for months .
The Cowboys placed the franchise tag on the star quarterback in March .
He will receive a salary of about $ 33 million in 2020 if he ca n't agree to terms for a long term contract before the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offense `` can be special . ''
He also said a player does n't deserve to be quarterback of the team if they do n't succeed in the offense .
Bryant said Prescott `` is the guy for the position . ''
Prescott , 26 , threw for a career-high 4,902 yards and 30 touchdowns in 2019 .
He also completed 65.1 percent of his throws and tossed 11 interceptions in 16 starts last season .
Prescott owns a 40-24 record and has never missed a start in his four seasons with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 NFL Draft has 97 career touchdown passes against 36 interceptions in 64 games for Dallas .
The Cincinnati Bengals released Dalton Thursday .
He is expected to be Prescott 's top backup in 2020 .

Former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (L) said the NFC East franchise should have agreed to a contract extension with quarterback Dak Prescott (R) as soon as the 2019 regular season ended. File Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo
May 4 (UPI) -- Former Dallas Cowboys star Dez Bryant called the team "out of line" for signing free agent quarterback Andy Dalton before they can work out a contract extension for Dak Prescott. The longtime Cowboys wide receiver was teammates with Prescott in 2016 and 2017. Bryant voiced his displeasure with the Cowboys for Prescott's lack of a contract extension Saturday after the team signed Dalton to a one-year contract. Advertisement
"Nothing against Andy Dalton, because I think he's a great player, but the Cowboys are extremely out of line," Bryant tweeted. "Pay Dak. I watched the Cowboys pay Tony [Romo] twice, once without having a winning record. I guess the Cowboys view the quarterback position as a plug-in piece because of the dominant offense."
Prescott has been involved in negotiations for a new contract for months. The Cowboys placed the franchise tag on the star quarterback in March. He will receive a salary of about $33 million in 2020 if he can't agree to terms for a long term contract before the regular season.
Advertisement The cowboys offense can be special... you can place anybody in that offense if they screw up with that much talent on the field they don't deserve to play QB.. But Dak is the guy for the position... he earned that https://t.co/1zjAJIRwXr— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) May 3, 2020
Bryant said the Cowboys offense "can be special." He also said a player doesn't deserve to be quarterback of the team if they don't succeed in the offense. Bryant said Prescott "is the guy for the position."
Prescott, 26, threw for a career-high 4,902 yards and 30 touchdowns in 2019. He also completed 65.1 percent of his throws and tossed 11 interceptions in 16 starts last season. Prescott owns a 40-24 record and has never missed a start in his four seasons with the Cowboys. The fourth-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft has 97 career touchdown passes against 36 interceptions in 64 games for Dallas.
The Cincinnati Bengals released Dalton Thursday. He is expected to be Prescott's top backup in 2020.


upi--2020-05-04--Rays' Blake Snell wins 'MLB The Show' Players League video game tournament

May 4 ( UPI ) -- Tampa Bay Rays ace Blake Snell swept Chicago White Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito in a best-of-five championship series to win the inaugural MLB The Show Players League .
Snell beat Giolito 5-1 in Game 1 .
He beat the White Sox pitcher 3-2 in Game 2 and swept the series with a 6-0 thrashing of Giolito 's squad in Game 3 .
The three-inning games streamed Sunday on ESPN and on social media platforms .
`` I need it so bad , '' Snell tweeted about the win .
Snell won $ 25,000 for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Suncoast with the triumph .
Major League Baseball , the Major League Baseball Players Association and Sony also donated $ 5,000 on behalf of each player who participated to a Boys & Girls Club affiliate in that player 's community .
The Rays raised a virtual banner for Snell at their stadium after his win and posted a photo of the honor on social media .
The MLB The Show Players League included 30 teams in a 29-game regular season .
Each player streamed the games on his respective YouTube or Twitch channel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regular-season MLB The Show campaign .
He warmed up to win 22 of his 25 regular-season matchups and had just one loss in his playoff run against Gavin Lux , Jeff McNeil and Giolito .
Giolito reached the championship series after series wins against Bo Bichette and Ian Happ .
Texas Rangers star Joey Gallo was voted the tournament 's best player and Baltimore Orioles outfielder Dwight Smith Jr. was voted best manager .
`` They showed their competitiveness and at the end of the day , that 's what the fans love @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Manfred told MLB.com .
`` Emotion and competitiveness really go a long way and it made the programming very good . ''
The MLB regular season has been suspended indefinitely since March due to the coronavirus pandemic .

May 4 (UPI) -- Tampa Bay Rays ace Blake Snell swept Chicago White Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito in a best-of-five championship series to win the inaugural MLB The Show Players League.
Snell beat Giolito 5-1 in Game 1. He beat the White Sox pitcher 3-2 in Game 2 and swept the series with a 6-0 thrashing of Giolito's squad in Game 3. The three-inning games streamed Sunday on ESPN and on social media platforms.
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"I need it so bad," Snell tweeted about the win.
Snell won $25,000 for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast with the triumph. Major League Baseball, the Major League Baseball Players Association and Sony also donated $5,000 on behalf of each player who participated to a Boys & Girls Club affiliate in that player's community.
The Rays raised a virtual banner for Snell at their stadium after his win and posted a photo of the honor on social media.
The MLB The Show Players League included 30 teams in a 29-game regular season. Each player streamed the games on his respective YouTube or Twitch channel.
Advertisement
Snell was 2-2 to start his regular-season MLB The Show campaign. He warmed up to win 22 of his 25 regular-season matchups and had just one loss in his playoff run against Gavin Lux, Jeff McNeil and Giolito.
Giolito reached the championship series after series wins against Bo Bichette and Ian Happ. Texas Rangers star Joey Gallo was voted the tournament's best player and Baltimore Orioles outfielder Dwight Smith Jr. was voted best manager.
"They showed their competitiveness and at the end of the day, that's what the fans love to see," MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred told MLB.com. "Emotion and competitiveness really go a long way and it made the programming very good."
The MLB regular season has been suspended indefinitely since March due to the coronavirus pandemic.


upi--2020-05-04--'Love Island' U.K. Season 7 pushed back to 2021

May 4 ( UPI ) -- Season 7 of British reality series Love Island has been delayed until 2021 due @ @ @ @ @ The announcement was made on Monday by director of television at ITV , Kevin Lygo @ @ @ @ @ this time , preparations would be underway Mallorca , Spain where the seventh season was @ @ @ @ @ Love Island follows a group of singles who must couple up every few days to @ @ @ @ @ villa .
`` We have tried every which way to make Love Island this summer @ @ @ @ @ just not possible to produce it in a way that safeguards the wellbeing of everyone @ @ @ @ @ is the priority , '' Lygo said in a statement .
`` We are very @ @ @ @ @ show , but making it safely is our prime concern and Love Island will be @ @ @ @ @ 2021 , '' he continued .

May 4 (UPI) -- Season 7 of British reality series Love Island has been delayed until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The announcement was made on Monday by director of television at ITV, Kevin Lygo.
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Lygo said that around this time, preparations would be underway Mallorca, Spain where the seventh season was set to take place.
Love Island follows a group of singles who must couple up every few days to avoid being eliminated from a villa.
"We have tried every which way to make Love Island this summer, but logistically it's just not possible to produce it in a way that safeguards the wellbeing of everyone involved and that for us is the priority," Lygo said in a statement.
"We are very sorry for fans of the show, but making it safely is our prime concern and Love Island will be back stronger than ever in 2021," he continued.


upi--2020-05-04--Florida, Ohio, Indiana among states lifting lockdown restrictions Monday

May 4 ( UPI ) -- Florida , Ohio and Indiana are among more states that are instituting eased coronavirus-related restrictions beginning Monday .
Restaurants and retail businesses in Florida are allowed to reopen at 25 percent capacity on Monday , as part of the first phase of a plan announced last week by Gov .
Ron DeSantis .
The plan does not apply , however , to the three counties of the Miami metropolitan area -- Miami-Dade , Broward and Palm Beach .
Fitness centers and bars , however , are not among the businesses that can reopen anywhere @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parks , including some with beach access , will begin reopening with some restrictions on Monday .
They will have limited facilities while those connected to beaches will allow active recreation only , such as walking , jogging , swimming and fishing .
Sunbathing , chairs , canopies or coolers will not be allowed .
DeSantis was in Daytona Beach on Sunday to meet with health officials and discuss the possibility of allowing hospitals to resume elective surgeries .
In Ohio , manufacturing , distribution , construction and office work returns Monday under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Gov .
Mike DeWine .
There are a series of social distancing guidelines , however , that include at least six feet of space between people , mandatory face coverings , required hand washing , easily available hand sanitizer and staggered arrival of employees and guests .
In offices , employers must limit capacity to less than what is allowed under local fire codes .
In South Carolina , the state 's mandatory stay-at-home order expires Monday under a timetable announced last week by Gov .
Henry McMaster .
The governor is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide outdoor dining in addition to takeout , curbside and delivery service .
McMaster is also lifting an order requiring travelers entering the state from `` hotspots '' to self-quarantine for two weeks .
McMaster and state epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell , however , urge anyone considered to be at-risk to limit exposure to others .
In Indiana , the second part of a five-stage reopening plan begins for most of the state .
In the initial step , underway since mid-March , essential businesses and services were allowed to open .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allowed to increase to 25 people in most counties , while those age 65 and older or those at increased risk are encouraged to remain home as much as possible .
Three Indiana counties -- including Marion County , which encompasses Indianapolis -- will institute the second stage at later dates under orders Friday by Gov .
Eric Holcomb .
In most of the state , manufacturers , industrial and other infrastructure operations that were n't considered essential may open beginning Monday , while retail and commercial businesses may open at 50 percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ food may open starting May 11 at 50 percent capacity , but bar seating will remain closed .

A sign in front of a Denny's restaurant in Lake Jackson, Texas, on Sunday informs customers the dining room is now open. More states began allowing businesses to reopen on Monday. Photo by Trask Smith/UPI | License Photo
May 4 (UPI) -- Florida, Ohio and Indiana are among more states that are instituting eased coronavirus-related restrictions beginning Monday. Restaurants and retail businesses in Florida are allowed to reopen at 25 percent capacity on Monday, as part of the first phase of a plan announced last week by Gov. Ron DeSantis. The plan does not apply, however, to the three counties of the Miami metropolitan area -- Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach. Advertisement
Fitness centers and bars, however, are not among the businesses that can reopen anywhere in the state.
Also, state parks, including some with beach access, will begin reopening with some restrictions on Monday. They will have limited facilities while those connected to beaches will allow active recreation only, such as walking, jogging, swimming and fishing. Sunbathing, chairs, canopies or coolers will not be allowed.
DeSantis was in Daytona Beach on Sunday to meet with health officials and discuss the possibility of allowing hospitals to resume elective surgeries.
In Ohio, manufacturing, distribution, construction and office work returns Monday under a multistage reopening plan announced last month by Gov. Mike DeWine.
There are a series of social distancing guidelines, however, that include at least six feet of space between people, mandatory face coverings, required hand washing, easily available hand sanitizer and staggered arrival of employees and guests.
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In offices, employers must limit capacity to less than what is allowed under local fire codes.
In South Carolina, the state's mandatory stay-at-home order expires Monday under a timetable announced last week by Gov. Henry McMaster.
The governor is also allowing restaurants across the state to provide outdoor dining in addition to takeout, curbside and delivery service. McMaster is also lifting an order requiring travelers entering the state from "hotspots" to self-quarantine for two weeks.
McMaster and state epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell, however, urge anyone considered to be at-risk to limit exposure to others.
In Indiana, the second part of a five-stage reopening plan begins for most of the state.
In the initial step, underway since mid-March, essential businesses and services were allowed to open. In the second phase, social gatherings are allowed to increase to 25 people in most counties, while those age 65 and older or those at increased risk are encouraged to remain home as much as possible.
Three Indiana counties -- including Marion County, which encompasses Indianapolis -- will institute the second stage at later dates under orders Friday by Gov. Eric Holcomb.
In most of the state, manufacturers, industrial and other infrastructure operations that weren't considered essential may open beginning Monday, while retail and commercial businesses may open at 50 percent capacity.
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Restaurants and bars that serve food may open starting May 11 at 50 percent capacity, but bar seating will remain closed.
Stay-home orders draw demonstrations across U.S.


upi--2020-05-04--Google celebrates Teacher Appreciation Week with new Doodle

May 4 ( UPI ) -- Google is celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week 2020 with a new Doodle created in partnership @ @ @ @ @ of the Year .
The 54 State Teachers of the Year visited Google headquarters in @ @ @ @ @ Doodle .
The colorful Doodle , which appears on Google 's homepage , pays homage @ @ @ @ @ subjects such as art , science and math .
Google shared the Doodle concepts , @ @ @ @ @ that inspired the finished piece by Doodler Kevin Laughlin .
`` Today ( and everyday @ @ @ @ @ across the nation , who continue to work tirelessly to shape our future generations , @ @ @ @ @ the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic , '' Google said .

Google is commemorating Teacher Appreciation Week with a new Doodle. Image courtesy of Google
May 4 (UPI) -- Google is celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week 2020 with a new Doodle created in partnership with the 54 State Teachers of the Year. The 54 State Teachers of the Year visited Google headquarters in February to help design the Doodle. Advertisement
The colorful Doodle, which appears on Google's homepage, pays homage to a number of school subjects such as art, science and math.
Google shared the Doodle concepts, created by the teachers, that inspired the finished piece by Doodler Kevin Laughlin.
"Today (and everyday!) we honor teachers across the nation, who continue to work tirelessly to shape our future generations, even in the midst of the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic," Google said.


upi--2020-05-04--Halley's Comet will spark Eta Aquarids meteor shower late Monday

The second meteor shower in as many weeks will dazzle the eyes of stargazers around the globe , but the light show late Monday will battle against the glow of a nearly full moon when it reaches its peak .
The Eta Aquarids is an annual meteor shower in early May , and this year , reaches its climax on Monday night and the pre-dawn hours Tuesday .
`` This shower happens to be one of if not the best in the Southern Hemisphere , '' AccuWeather Astronomy Blogger Dave Samuhel said .
`` It is a moderate shower for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ south of the equator may count as many as 40 shooting stars per hour at the height of the celestial light show , the American Meteor Society ( AMS ) said .
This includes Australia , New Zealand , Africa and South America .
`` From the equator northward , they usually only produce medium rates of 10-30 per hour just before dawn , '' the AMS added .
This year , the meteor shower will be peaking just two nights before the final supermoon of 2020 .
The bright moon may make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fainter meteors , but it should not completely wash out the shower .
Of course , weather and cloud cover will significantly factor into how well sky gazers in different parts of the country are able to witness the meteor shower .
Onlookers across the southern U.S. and the interior West are forecast to have the best viewing contains for 2020 's iteration of the Eta Aquarids .
Mainly clear conditions are also on tap for parts of New England and into Quebec .
A storm gathering over the central U.S. will spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and into parts of Appalachia , obscuring the night sky .
Clouds could also spoil the meteor shower over the Pacific Northwest as a storm moves into the region .
The Eta Aquarids will be active on the nights leading up to and immediately following the peak , so people that have cloudy weather on Monday night may be able to spot some shooting stars later in the week when the clouds clear .
No special equipment is needed to watch a meteor shower , although people should pack some patience when heading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stars .
`` Give yourself a solid hour to look for meteors .
Get comfortable .
Lay down on a blanket , or a reclining chair , '' Samuhel said .
People should also avoid looking toward the moon , which will be above the horizon for most of the night .
Looking at the moon can make it harder to see meteors , so try to focus in the darkest part of the sky .
The best time to watch the meteor shower will be after midnight once the shower 's radiant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ radiant point is simply the part of the sky where the meteors originate , but you do not need to look in this direction so spot meteors .
However , as the radiant point climbs higher in the sky , more and more meteors will able to be seen .
Many of the meteor showers throughout the year are caused by debris left behind by comets when they visit the inner solar system .
When this debris enters the Earth 's atmosphere , it burns incredibly bright for a few brief seconds .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ caused by particles ranging in size from about that of a small pebble down to a grain of sand , and generally weigh less than 1-2 grams , '' the AMS said .
The debris that causes the Eta Aquarids is actually dust left behind by one of the most famous comets - Halley 's Comet .
Halley 's Comet only orbits the sun once every 75 years , but each year in early May , the Earth passes through some of the debris that it left behind .
`` The Eta Aquarids @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Halley 's comet .
The other being the Orionids in October.
`` People that miss out on the Eta Aquarids will need to wait a few months before the next opportunity to catch a meteor shower .
According to the AMS , the next major meteor shower will not peak until late July .

May 4 -- The second meteor shower in as many weeks will dazzle stargazers around the globe, but the light show late Monday will battle against the glow of a nearly full moon when it reaches its peak.
The Eta Aquarids is an annual meteor shower in early May, and this year reaches its climax on Monday night and the predawn hours Tuesday.
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"This shower happens to be one of if not the best in the Southern Hemisphere," AccuWeather astronomy blogger Dave Samuhel said. "It is a moderate shower for the Northern Hemisphere."
People living south of the equator may count as many as 40 shooting stars per hour at the height of the celestial light show, the American Meteor Society said. This includes Australia, New Zealand, Africa and South America.
"From the equator northward, they usually only produce medium rates of 10-30 per hour just before dawn," the AMS added.
Advertisement
This year, the meteor shower will be peaking just two nights before the final supermoon of 2020. The bright moon may make it difficult to see some of the fainter meteors, but it should not completely wash out the shower.
A view of a shooting star during the Perseid meteor shower. Photo by AccuWeather astronomy blogger Dave Samuhel
Of course, weather and cloud cover will significantly factor into how well sky gazers in different parts of the country are able to witness the meteor shower.
Onlookers across the southern United States and the interior West are forecast to have the best viewing contains for 2020's iteration of the Eta Aquarids. Mainly clear conditions are also on tap for parts of New England and into Quebec.
A storm gathering over the central United States will spread disruptive clouds over much of the Midwest and into parts of Appalachia, obscuring the night sky.
Clouds could also spoil the meteor shower over the Pacific Northwest as a storm moves into the region.
The Eta Aquarids will be active on the nights leading up to and immediately following the peak, so people that have cloudy weather on Monday night may be able to spot some shooting stars later in the week when the clouds clear.
Advertisement
No special equipment is needed to watch a meteor shower, although people should pack some patience when heading out to spend some time under the stars.
"Give yourself a solid hour to look for meteors. Get comfortable. Lay down on a blanket, or a reclining chair," Samuhel said.
People should also avoid looking toward the moon, which will be above the horizon for most of the night. Looking at the moon can make it harder to see meteors, so try to focus in the darkest part of the sky.
The best time to watch the meteor shower will be after midnight once the shower's radiant point climbs above the horizon.
The radiant point is simply the part of the sky where the meteors originate, but you do not need to look in this direction so spot meteors. However, as the radiant point climbs higher in the sky, more and more meteors will able to be seen.
Many of the meteor showers throughout the year are caused by debris left behind by comets when they visit the inner solar system. When this debris enters the Earth's atmosphere, it burns incredibly bright for a few brief seconds.
"The majority of visible meteors are caused by particles ranging in size from about that of a small pebble down to a grain of sand, and generally weigh less than 1-2 grams," the AMS said.
Advertisement
The debris that causes the Eta Aquarids is actually dust left behind by one of the most famous comets -- Halley's Comet.
Halley's Comet only orbits the sun once every 75 years, but each year in early May, the Earth passes through some of the debris that it left behind.
"The Eta Aquarids are one of two meteor showers sparked by Halley's comet. The other being the Orionids in October. "
People who miss out on the Eta Aquarids will need to wait a few months before the next opportunity to catch a meteor shower.
According to the AMS, the next major meteor shower will not peak until late July.


upi--2020-05-04--Trump: 100K Americans may die from COVID-19

May 4 ( UPI ) -- President Donald Trump said as many as 100,000 Americans may die from the coronavirus -- a significant increase from his forecast from a few weeks ago .
Trump made the comment Sunday during a virtual town hall hosted by FOX News at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington , D.C. , as the United States ' death toll stood at more than 67,000 .
The president said if it was n't for his administration more than 1 million Americans would die from the coronavirus .
`` We 're going to lose anywhere from 75 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a horrible thing .
We should n't lose one person over this .
This should 've been stopped in China , '' he said , adding , `` If we did n't do it , the minimum we would have lost was a million two , a million four , a million five -- that 's the minimum .
We would have lost probably higher .
It 's possible higher than 2.2 [ million people ] . ''
On April 10 , Trump told reporters that the death toll to the virus would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' and 10 days later he said the United States `` was going toward 50- or 60,000 people '' died to the coronavirus .
Fox News anchor Bret Baier remarked that Trump had increased his previous 60,000 number with the president responding that `` it 's going up . ''
`` I used to say 65,000 , and it goes up and it goes up rapidly , '' Trump said during the two-hour town hall .
`` But it 's still going to be , no matter how you look at it , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if we did n't shut down . ''
Since reporting its first infection on Jan. 21 , the number of cases in the United States has multiplied and as of Sunday , it had 1.1 million infections -- four times that of Spain , which has the second-highest number of cases at 217,466 , according to a live tally of the virus by Johns Hopkins University .

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President Donald Trump speaks during a Fox News virtual town hall inside of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., on Sunday. Photo by Oliver Contreras/UPI | License Photo
May 4 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump said as many as 100,000 Americans may die from the coronavirus -- a significant increase from his forecast from a few weeks ago. Trump made the comment Sunday during a virtual town hall hosted by FOX News at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., as the United States' death toll stood at more than 67,000. The president said if it wasn't for his administration more than 1 million Americans would die from the coronavirus. Advertisement
"We're going to lose anywhere from 75, 80 to 100,000 people. That's a horrible thing. We shouldn't lose one person over this. This should've been stopped in China," he said, adding, "If we didn't do it, the minimum we would have lost was a million two, a million four, a million five -- that's the minimum. We would have lost probably higher. It's possible higher than 2.2 [million people]."
On April 10, Trump told reporters that the death toll to the virus would be "substantially below the 100,000," and 10 days later he said the United States "was going toward 50- or 60,000 people" died to the coronavirus.
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Fox News anchor Bret Baier remarked that Trump had increased his previous 60,000 number with the president responding that "it's going up."
"I used to say 65,000, and it goes up and it goes up rapidly," Trump said during the two-hour town hall. "But it's still going to be, no matter how you look at it, at the lower end of the plane if we didn't shut down."
Since reporting its first infection on Jan. 21, the number of cases in the United States has multiplied and as of Sunday, it had 1.1 million infections -- four times that of Spain, which has the second-highest number of cases at 217,466, according to a live tally of the virus by Johns Hopkins University.


upi--2020-05-04--European nations ease coronavirus lockdown restrictions; death toll nears 250,000

May 4 ( UPI ) -- A slew of European countries , including hard-hit Spain and Italy , took steps Monday to gradually ease lockdown restrictions put in place to prevent the spread of the deadly and infectious coronavirus .
Italy on Monday entered Phase Two of Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte 's plan to ease the country out from the world 's longest lockdown that began nearly 80 days ago .
Currently third in the world for cases with 210,717 but second in deaths to the virus with 28,884 , Italy was placed under stringent restrictions as clusters of COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ January .
However , following declining infections and deaths that peaked in mid-March , travel restrictions will be eased from Monday allowing people to visit family within their immediate region and employees to travel outside their area for work .
Parks , gardens and public villas will be open to visitors who maintain a 3-feet distance from others .
And restaurants will be open for home delivery and take-away services , Italy 's Ministry of Health said .
Manufacturing , construction and real estate work may also resume , the ministry added .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with 217,466 cases , some businesses will be allowed to open from Monday , including restaurant take-out services , and book and hardware stores as well as garages will resume serving customers by appointment .
Also from Monday , masks will be required to ride public transportation , Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez detailed Saturday when adults were allowed for the first time in 48 days to exercise outside , extending a measure that was offered to children under 14 a week earlier .
`` These are small comforts that are coming in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are important , '' Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Saturday in a televised address .
Portugal was also set on Monday to lift some restrictions including opening small shops and businesses , such as hairdressers and car dealerships .
Senior schools will be allowed to reopen on May 18 as will museums , bars and restaurants .
Globally , the virus has infected more than 3.5 million people , including 1.45 million in Europe alone .
The continent has also recorded more than half of the nearly 250,000 deaths to the disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worldometers.info .
In Asia , the first epicenter of the virus , Japan on Monday was preparing to extend its nationwide state of emergency another month , public broadcaster NHK reported .
The current state of emergency was to expire on Wednesday but is expected to be extended until May 31 to keep current restrictions in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 .
Japan , which has nearly 15,000 cases of the virus resulting in 487 deaths , declared the monthlong state of emergency on April 7 for the capital Tokyo and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Meanwhile , China on Monday reported a seventh consecutive day without a death to COVID-19 , capping off the first three days of its five-day May Day holiday that saw domestic tourism surge .
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism reported 85 million domestic tourist trips over the first three days of the holiday that began May 1 , equalling about $ 4.97 billion , Xinhua reported .
In Hubei Province , ground zero of the pandemic and China 's worst-hit region to the virus , 22 major tourist attractions reopened for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in late January , receiving some 520,400 visitors , the provincial cultural tourism bureau said , state-owned China News Service reported .
In Wuhan city , where the virus emerged late last year , around 178,000 people visited on Saturday when it lowered its emergency response level from its highest to second-highest warning .
The tourism surge for the city , however , represented a 71 percent revenue plunge from the year prior and a 58 percent drop in visitors to 21 tourist sites , it said .
Beijing health officials on Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all of which were imported , increasing its total number of cases to 83,964 .
Ten countries have more cases than China , with the United States ' 1.1 million cases more than any other nation .
While the original epicenter of the virus , Asia accounts for fewer than 600,000 infections resulting in 19,619 deaths , according to the health data tracker .
Meanwhile , Oceania has the fewest number of cases at 8,411 and 115 deaths , according to health data .
In New Zealand , Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first time since implementing staunch lockdown restrictions in late March .
The country moved down to Alert Level 3 on its four-alert system last week with plans next week for the cabinet in Wellington to decide if the country will drop to Alert Level 2 and what that will look like .
`` We need every day between now and next Monday to know for sure that we succeeded in locking in the gains of Level 4 , recovered effectively in our waiting room of Level 3 and are in a position @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zealanders back greater freedom , '' she said during a press conference .
She also said she 'd be joining Australia 's Cabinet meeting Tuesday over discussions on creating `` a trans-Tasman travel bubble , '' that would allow for residents from the two countries to travel between them without requiring a two-week quarantine upon arrival .
`` Both our countries ' strong record on fighting the virus has placed us in the enviable position of being able to plan the next stage in our economic rebuild , '' she said .
New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 20 deaths .

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An empty restaurant in Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II amid the coronavirus emergency in Milan, Italy, on March 11. Photo by Mourad Balti Touati/EPA-EFE
May 4 (UPI) -- Hard-hit Spain and Italy took steps Monday to gradually ease lockdown restrictions put in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 while French mayors called for school reopening plans to be delayed. Italy on Monday entered Phase Two of Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte's plan to ease the country out from the world's longest lockdown that began nearly 80 days ago. Advertisement
Currently third in the world for cases with 210,717 but second in deaths to the virus with 28,884, Italy was placed under stringent restrictions as clusters of COVID-19 exponentially grew and deaths mounted in late January.
However, following declining infections and deaths that peaked in mid-March, travel restrictions will be eased from Monday allowing people to visit family within their immediate region and employees to travel outside their area for work.
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Parks, gardens and public villas will be open to visitors who maintain a 3-foot distance from others. And restaurants will be open for home delivery and take-away services, Italy's Ministry of Health said. Manufacturing, construction and real estate work may also resume.
In Spain, the second-worst-hit country with 217,466 cases, some businesses will be allowed to open from Monday, including restaurant take-out services, and book and hardware stores. Garages will resume serving customers by appointment.
Also from Monday, masks will be required to ride public transportation.
"These are small comforts that are coming in doses, and may appear insufficient but are important," Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Saturday in a televised address.
In France, however, local mayors in the country's most populous region on Monday pushed back against President Emanuel Macron's decision to reopen schools on May 11.
More than 300 mayors in the Ile-de-France region, which includes Paris, denounced the plan as "untenable and unrealistic" and called for the date to be pushed back to give them more time to set up the necessary precautions.
"The preparation for deconfinement is being forced ahead despite the fact that we don't have enough information to prepare the population and the directives keep changing," the said in an open letter published in the French newspaper La Tribune.
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Globally, the virus has infected more than 3.5 million people, including 1.45 million in Europe. The continent has also recorded more than half of the nearly 250,000 deaths to the disease, according to health data tracked by worldometers.info.
In Geneva, Switzerland, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised $8 billion in pledges made by the international community Monday in an online coronavirus vaccine fundraising effort launched by the European Union.
The European Commission kicked off the effort with a $1 billion pledge of its own.
"This virus will be with us for a long time and we must come together to develop and share the tools to defeat it," Ghebreyesus said at his daily briefing. "We will prevail through national unity and global solidarity."
In Asia, the first epicenter of the virus, Japan on Monday was preparing to extend its nationwide state of emergency another month, public broadcaster NHK reported.
The current state of emergency was to expire on Wednesday but is expected to be extended until May 31 to keep current restrictions in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Japan, which has nearly 15,000 cases of the virus resulting in 487 deaths, declared the monthlong state of emergency on April 7 for the capital Tokyo and six other prefectures before extending it nationwide.
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Meanwhile, China on Monday reported a seventh consecutive day without a death to COVID-19, capping off the first three days of its five-day May Day holiday that saw domestic tourism surge.
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism reported 85 million domestic tourist trips over the first three days of the holiday that began May 1, equalling about $4.97 billion, Xinhua reported.
In Hubei Province, ground zero of the pandemic and China's worst-hit region to the virus, 22 major tourist attractions reopened for the first time since going under lockdown in late January, receiving some 520,400 visitors, the provincial cultural tourism bureau said, state-owned China News Service reported.
In Wuhan city, where the virus emerged late last year, around 178,000 people visited on Saturday when it lowered its emergency response level from its highest to second-highest warning.
The tourism surge for the city, however, represented a 71 percent revenue plunge from the year prior and a 58 percent drop in visitors to 21 tourist sites, it said.
Beijing health officials on Monday reported three new cases of infection, all of which were imported, increasing its total number of cases to 83,964. Ten countries have more cases than China, with the United States' 1.1 million cases more than any other nation.
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While the original epicenter of the virus, Asia accounts for fewer than 600,000 infections resulting in 19,619 deaths, according to the health data tracker.
Meanwhile, Oceania has the fewest number of cases at 8,411 and 115 deaths, according to health data.
In New Zealand, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced zero new cases of the coronavirus for the first time since implementing staunch lockdown restrictions in late March.
The country moved down to Alert Level 3 on its four-alert system last week with plans next week for the cabinet in Wellington to decide if the country will drop to Alert Level 2 and what that will look like.
"We need every day between now and next Monday to know for sure that we succeeded in locking in the gains of Level 4, recovered effectively in our waiting room of Level 3 and are in a position to move down again and give New Zealanders back greater freedom," she said during a press conference.
She also said she'd be joining Australia's Cabinet meeting Tuesday over discussions on creating "a trans-Tasman travel bubble," that would allow for residents from the two countries to travel between them without requiring a two-week quarantine upon arrival.
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"Both our countries' strong record on fighting the virus has placed us in the enviable position of being able to plan the next stage in our economic rebuild," she said.
New Zealand has fewer than 1,500 cases resulting in 20 deaths.
World moves to reopen amid COVID-19 pandemic


upi--2020-05-04--Thomas Lennon says 'Reno 911!' jokes based in facts

LOS ANGELES , May 4 ( UPI ) -- The inept Reno , Nev. , sheriff 's department is back to bumble its way through a revival of Reno 911 !
, premiering Monday on Quibi .
Thomas Lennon , who co-created the show and stars as Lt. Jim Dangle , said plot lines in the new series are based on real laws and events .
The original series ran from 2003 to 2009 on Comedy Central .
The style is faux documentary , like the real police documentary series Cops , as cameras follow the Reno police on wacky @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revival , the Reno police officers record a public service announcement saying that posting pornography involving an ex is a crime .
The state of Nevada really passed a law outlawing `` revenge porn '' in 2015 .
`` I 'll spend some time doing a little bit of research , '' Lennon told UPI in a phone interview .
`` Like , what 's something we can do a PSA about that really feels grounded in a Nevada state thing ?
So absolutely that 's true . ''
Another episode has Deputy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a concealed carry fashion show .
She 's not undercover .
She participates in the event , the likes of which also occur in the real world .
`` I do n't know if you 've seen it , but there 's fashion shows for women 's fashion that you can carry guns under , '' Lennon said .
One place in Nevada that forbids open carry is the Hoover Dam , so Reno 911 !
based some jokes around that real-life law , too .
`` We have a big piece @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weapons at the Hoover Dam , '' Lennon said .
`` It 's a real thing . ''
The Reno 911 !
revival also addresses new developments in police work since the original series ended .
One episode has a group of young videographers follow the Reno police .
Lennon based that on the actual Copwatch activist movement that monitors police activity with video cameras .
Life imitated art when the cast of Reno 911 !
recorded a video for the real Santa Clarita Sheriff 's Department about burglary prevention in February after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` When we were there to go chat and talk to the people in charge , the actual Copwatch people were hanging around with their video camera , '' Lennon said .
`` The show kind of blurs into reality quite a bit . ''
Since 2009 , incidents like the Trayvon Martin shooting and Ferguson , Mo.
, protests over Michael Brown 's shooting illuminated issues that surround racial profiling and police violence .
The Reno revival opens with African-American Deputy S. Jones ( Cedric Yarbrough ) responding to a call he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outcome proves him wrong .
Lennon said a future episode deals with police violence head-on .
Instead of reducing police violence against African-American victims , the Reno officers decide they should increase violence against white victims to even things out .
`` Ultimately , we get a character that we 've had , Chris Tallman who plays Gary the Klansman , who 's our local white supremacist , '' Lennon said .
`` We end up getting him to volunteer to try to be the white guy that we shoot . ''
Reno @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Comedy Central .
The cast reunited for a 90-minute movie , Reno 911 !
Miami , in 2007 .
Quibi episodes are no more than 10 minutes , and many Reno episodes are under seven .
`` I mean this in a good way , '' Lennon said .
`` We 're like a movie theater candy of a show .
We 're not supposed to be a meal .
We 're just supposed to be a weird little treat that gets you high just for a short couple of minutes . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lennon , McLendon-Covey and Yabrough , co-creator Robert Ben Garant , Niecy Nash and co-creator Kerri Kenney-Silver -- improvised their dialogue .
They still improvise , but Lennon says they are more concise .
Gone are the 40 minute improv sessions of the Comedy Central era .
`` I do n't know if it 's the attention span or the new format or maybe because we 're literally 20 years older than when we did the pilot , '' Lennon said .
`` We do n't improvise for nearly as long as we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The upside of that is I think we 're getting more funny material because everybody has kind of honed their improv chops so much . ''
One thing that has not changed is the pair of short shorts that Lennon wears as Dangle .
They have only become more snug in the decade since the Comedy Central series .
`` When we shot the pilot , I think I was 29 and I smoked two packs of cigarettes a day , '' Lennon said .
`` So I did n't really eat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mostly was just living on nicotine .
Now I 'm 49 with a 10-year-old , and I just absolutely love Italian food .
So yeah , to say that the shorts are a little more snug would be an enormous understatement . ''

1/4
Left to right, Niecy Nash, Thomas Lennon, Mary Birdsong, Kerri Kenney-Silver and Wendi McLendon-Covey return in "Reno 911!" Photo courtesy of Quibi
LOS ANGELES, May 4 (UPI) -- The inept Reno, Nev., sheriff's department is back to bumble its way through a revival of Reno 911!, premiering Monday on Quibi. Thomas Lennon, who co-created the show and stars as Lt. Jim Dangle, said plot lines in the new series are based on real laws and events. The original series ran from 2003 to 2009 on Comedy Central. The style is faux documentary, like the real police documentary series Cops, as cameras follow the Reno police on wacky misadventures. Advertisement
In one episode of the revival, the Reno police officers record a public service announcement saying that posting pornography involving an ex is a crime. The state of Nevada really passed a law outlawing "revenge porn" in 2015.
"I'll spend some time doing a little bit of research," Lennon told UPI in a phone interview. "Like, what's something we can do a PSA about that really feels grounded in a Nevada state thing? So absolutely that's true."
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Another episode has Deputy Clementine Johnson (Wendi McLendon-Covey) perform in a concealed carry fashion show. She's not undercover. She participates in the event, the likes of which also occur in the real world.
"I don't know if you've seen it, but there's fashion shows for women's fashion that you can carry guns under," Lennon said.
One place in Nevada that forbids open carry is the Hoover Dam, so Reno 911! based some jokes around that real-life law, too.
"We have a big piece about please don't open carry your weapons at the Hoover Dam," Lennon said. "It's a real thing."
The Reno 911! revival also addresses new developments in police work since the original series ended. One episode has a group of young videographers follow the Reno police. Lennon based that on the actual Copwatch activist movement that monitors police activity with video cameras.
Life imitated art when the cast of Reno 911! recorded a video for the real Santa Clarita Sheriff's Department about burglary prevention in February after filming the episode based on Copwatch.
"When we were there to go chat and talk to the people in charge, the actual Copwatch people were hanging around with their video camera," Lennon said. "The show kind of blurs into reality quite a bit."
Since 2009, incidents like the Trayvon Martin shooting and Ferguson, Mo., protests over Michael Brown's shooting illuminated issues that surround racial profiling and police violence. The Reno revival opens with African-American Deputy S. Jones (Cedric Yarbrough) responding to a call he believes is racial profiling. The comedic outcome proves him wrong.
Lennon said a future episode deals with police violence head-on. Instead of reducing police violence against African-American victims, the Reno officers decide they should increase violence against white victims to even things out.
"Ultimately, we get a character that we've had, Chris Tallman who plays Gary the Klansman, who's our local white supremacist," Lennon said. "We end up getting him to volunteer to try to be the white guy that we shoot."
Reno 911! was a half-hour comedy on Comedy Central. The cast reunited for a 90-minute movie, Reno 911! Miami, in 2007. Quibi episodes are no more than 10 minutes, and many Reno episodes are under seven.
"I mean this in a good way," Lennon said. "We're like a movie theater candy of a show. We're not supposed to be a meal. We're just supposed to be a weird little treat that gets you high just for a short couple of minutes."
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The cast of Reno 911! -- Lennon, McLendon-Covey and Yabrough, co-creator Robert Ben Garant, Niecy Nash and co-creator Kerri Kenney-Silver -- improvised their dialogue. They still improvise, but Lennon says they are more concise. Gone are the 40 minute improv sessions of the Comedy Central era.
"I don't know if it's the attention span or the new format or maybe because we're literally 20 years older than when we did the pilot," Lennon said.
"We don't improvise for nearly as long as we used to," he said. "The upside of that is I think we're getting more funny material because everybody has kind of honed their improv chops so much."
One thing that has not changed is the pair of short shorts that Lennon wears as Dangle. They have only become more snug in the decade since the Comedy Central series.
"When we shot the pilot, I think I was 29 and I smoked two packs of cigarettes a day," Lennon said. "So I didn't really eat any food very much, because I mostly was just living on nicotine. Now I'm 49 with a 10-year-old, and I just absolutely love Italian food. So yeah, to say that the shorts are a little more snug would be an enormous understatement."


upi--2020-05-04--Famous birthdays for May 4: Will Arnett, Katherine Jackson

May 4 ( UPI ) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Taurus .
-- Katherine @ @ @ @ @ singing Jackson family , in 1930 ( age 90 ) -- Sigmund `` Jackie '' @ @ @ @ @ Jackson 5 , in 1951 ( age 69 )

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Will Arnett attends the premiere of "Lego Movie 2: The Second Part" at the Regency Village Theatre in Los Angeles on February 2, 2019. The actor turns 50 on May 4. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
May 4 (UPI) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Taurus. They include: Advertisement
-- Educator Horace Mann in 1796
-- First lady Julia Tyler in 1820
-- English biologist/agnostic Thomas Huxley in 1825
-- American landscape painter Frederic Church in 1826
-- Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in 1928
-- Actor Audrey Hepburn in 1929
-- Opera singer Roberta Peters in 1930
-- Katherine Jackson, matriarch of the singing Jackson family, in 1930 (age 90)
File Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI
-- Guitarist Dick Dale in 1937
-- Novelist Robin Cook in 1940 (age 80)
-- Political commentator George Will in 1941 (age 79)
-- Singer Nickolas Ashford in 1941
-- Sigmund "Jackie" Jackson, member of the Jackson 5, in 1951 (age 69)
-- Singer Oleta Adams in 1953 (age 67)
-- Actor Pia Zadora in 1953 (age 67)
-- Artist Keith Haring in 1958
-- Country singer Randy Travis in 1959 (age 61)
File Photo by Terry Wyatt/UPI
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-- Actor Ana Gasteyer in 1967 (age 53)
-- Actor Will Arnett in 1970 (age 50)
-- Bassist Mike Dirnt, born Michael Ryan Pritchard, in 1972 (age 48)
-- Model/fashion designer Kimora Lee Simmons in 1975 (age 45)
-- Sports reporter Erin Andrews in 1978 (age 42)
-- Pop singer Lance Bass in 1979 (age 41)
-- Professional golfer Rory McIlroy in 1989 (age 31)
-- Actor Grace Phipps in 1992 (age 28)
-- Actor Alexander Gould in 1994 (age 26)
-- Actor Alex Lawther in 1995 (age 25)
-- Actor Shameik Moore in 1995 (age 25)


upi--2020-05-04--Retail alcohol sales soar during coronavirus pandemic

EVANSVILLE , Ind.
, May 4 ( UPI ) -- With bars , breweries and restaurants across the country closed during the coronavirus pandemic , retail alcohol sales are soaring .
Beer sales climbed more than 20 percent between March 8 and April 19 , coinciding with governors ' stay-at-home orders , according to data compiled by the Connecticut-based analytics firm Bump Williams Consulting .
During that same time , wine sales jumped nearly 30 percent , spirits sales rose nearly 40 percent and hard seltzer sales skyrocketed some 330 percent , according to the firm .
`` Compared to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ astronomical growth for all [ alcoholic ] beverages , '' said Dave Williams , the vice president of analytics and insights at Bump Williams .
The obvious reason for the growth is the Americans are suddenly eating -- and drinking -- mostly at home , Williams said .
This sudden change in consumer behavior has injected new life into some legacy brands that have seen sales declines in recent years , Williams said .
Busch Light , for example , saw sales increase some 44 percent since the quarantine measures in the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Los Angeles-based analytics firm .
Anheuser-Busch , the company that makes Busch Light , declined to comment , saying it is `` currently in a quiet period as we 'll be announcing earnings on May 7 . ''
Other popular low cost beers , like Miller Lite , Michelob Ultra and Natural Light , had sales increase between about 14 and 17 percent , according to InMarket .
`` During periods that are more stressful , or when there 's a sudden relief of stress , you tend to see [ alcohol @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Todd Dipaola , InMarket 's co-founder and CEO .
`` We 're experiencing that now . ''
Low-cost light beers are selling particularly well , which makes sense given the economic uncertainty many households are facing , Dipaola said .
`` You 're far more likely to grab a budget-friendly beer if you do n't know if the money is going to be there tomorrow , '' he said .
Not all brands are seeing the same massive sales increase .
Grupo Modelo , the brewer of Corona beer , temporarily halted production @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mexico to comply with a coronavirus health emergency declared by the government , which ordered non-essential businesses to close .
Meanwhile , small-scale operations , like breweries , that do not have a strong retail presence have seen their markets collapse since the start of the pandemic .
`` If you are not already on the [ grocery ] store shelf , and you do n't have a distribution network , there are very limited options for getting your product out the door , '' Bump Williams Consulting 's Williams said .
Sales @ @ @ @ @ @ @ average of 65 percent , according to the Brewers Association , a Colorado-based trade organization that represents independent breweries .
`` We 're selling 95 percent less of what we were leading up to this , '' said John Mills , the owner of Damsel Brew Pub , a two-year-old brewery in Evansville , Ind .
`` I think we 'll be OK , '' Mills said .
`` This managed to hit us at a time when I had some cash reserves , and I have a really understanding landlord .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my staff .
It 's just me here now . ''

Retail alcohol sales are up considerably during the coronavirus pandemic, largely because Americans are eating -- and drinking -- at home. File Photo by Billie Jean Shaw/UPI
EVANSVILLE, Ind., May 4 (UPI) -- With bars, breweries and restaurants across the country closed during the coronavirus pandemic, retail alcohol sales are soaring. Beer sales climbed more than 20 percent between March 8 and April 19, coinciding with governors' stay-at-home orders, according to data compiled by the Connecticut-based analytics firm Bump Williams Consulting. Advertisement
During that same time, wine sales jumped nearly 30 percent, spirits sales rose nearly 40 percent and hard seltzer sales skyrocketed some 330 percent, according to the firm.
"Compared to a year ago, we're seeing astronomical growth for all [alcoholic] beverages," said Dave Williams, the vice president of analytics and insights at Bump Williams.
The obvious reason for the growth is the Americans are suddenly eating -- and drinking -- mostly at home, Williams said.
This sudden change in consumer behavior has injected new life into some legacy brands that have seen sales declines in recent years, Williams said.
Busch Light, for example, saw sales increase some 44 percent since the quarantine measures in the United States began, according to InMarket, a Los Angeles-based analytics firm.
Anheuser-Busch, the company that makes Busch Light, declined to comment, saying it is "currently in a quiet period as we'll be announcing earnings on May 7."
Advertisement
Other popular low cost beers, like Miller Lite, Michelob Ultra and Natural Light, had sales increase between about 14 and 17 percent, according to InMarket.
"During periods that are more stressful, or when there's a sudden relief of stress, you tend to see [alcohol] consumption go up," said Todd Dipaola, InMarket's co-founder and CEO. "We're experiencing that now."
Low-cost light beers are selling particularly well, which makes sense given the economic uncertainty many households are facing, Dipaola said.
"You're far more likely to grab a budget-friendly beer if you don't know if the money is going to be there tomorrow," he said.
Not all brands are seeing the same massive sales increase.
Grupo Modelo, the brewer of Corona beer, temporarily halted production and marketing operations in early April in Mexico to comply with a coronavirus health emergency declared by the government, which ordered non-essential businesses to close.
Meanwhile, small-scale operations, like breweries, that do not have a strong retail presence have seen their markets collapse since the start of the pandemic.
"If you are not already on the [grocery] store shelf, and you don't have a distribution network, there are very limited options for getting your product out the door," Bump Williams Consulting's Williams said.
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Sales at the small breweries have fallen an average of 65 percent, according to the Brewers Association, a Colorado-based trade organization that represents independent breweries.
"We're selling 95 percent less of what we were leading up to this," said John Mills, the owner of Damsel Brew Pub, a two-year-old brewery in Evansville, Ind.
"I think we'll be OK," Mills said. "This managed to hit us at a time when I had some cash reserves, and I have a really understanding landlord. But I've had to lay off all my staff. It's just me here now."


upi--2020-05-04--On This Day, May 4: Kent State shootings leave 4 students dead

May 4 ( UPI ) -- On this date in history : In 1494 , on his second expedition to the New World , Columbus discovered Jamaica .
In 1886 , four police officers were killed when a bomb was thrown during a meeting of anarchists in Chicago 's Haymarket Square protesting labor unrest .
Four leaders of the demonstration , which became known as the Haymarket Square Riot , were convicted and hanged .
In 1904 , construction began on the Panama Canal .
In 1926 , the Trade Union Congress called a general strike in response to government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coal miners .
More than 2 million workers across Britain went on strike .
In 1942 , the Battle of the Coral Sea began .
It was a turning point for the Allies in World War II .
In 1945 , French author Marcel Conversy wrote of the 15 months he spent as a prisoner at Buchenwald concentration camp , describing it as a `` living hell . ''
In 1953 , The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for fiction .
In 1959 , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nel Blu Dipinto di Blu ( Volare ) '' by Domenico Modugno won the awards for Record and Song of the Year .
In 1970 , National Guardsmen killed four students at Kent State University in Ohio during a demonstration against the Vietnam War .
The shootings set off a nationwide student strike that forced hundreds of schools to temporarily close .
In 1980 , President Joseph Broz Tito of Yugoslavia died at age 87 .
In 1982 , an Argentine jet fighter sank the British destroyer HMS Sheffield during the Falkland Islands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ electric chair shot flames around convicted killer Jesse Tafero 's head as he was executed in Florida , prompting several states to abandon the method of execution and switch to lethal injection .
In 2000 , the `` I Love You '' virus crashed computers around the world .
In 2002 , more than 100 people died when an EAS Airlines jet crashed in the northern Nigerian city of Kano .
In 2006 , confessed terrorist Zacarias Moussaoui was sentenced to life in prison without parole .
The 37-year-old Moroccan implicated himself in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the United States .
In 2009 , fighting between feuding families broke out at a wedding in southeast Turkey , with combatants using guns and grenades , leading to the deaths of 44 people , including the bride and groom .
In 2011 , rival Palestinian political factions Hamas and Fatah signed a reconciliation accord , citing as common causes opposition to the Israeli occupation and disillusionment with U.S. peace efforts .
In 2014 , Juan Carlos Varela was elected president of Panama .
In 2019 , first-case Maximum Security was disqualified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It was the first disqualification in the race 's storied history .
Country House was ultimately declared the winner .

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Students dive to the ground as the National Guard fires on faculty and students May 4, 1970, to protest the war in Vietnam. File Photo courtesy of Kent State University Archives | License Photo
May 4 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1494, on his second expedition to the New World, Columbus discovered Jamaica. Advertisement
In 1886, four police officers were killed when a bomb was thrown during a meeting of anarchists in Chicago's Haymarket Square protesting labor unrest. Four leaders of the demonstration, which became known as the Haymarket Square Riot, were convicted and hanged.
In 1904, construction began on the Panama Canal.
In 1926, the Trade Union Congress called a general strike in response to government plans to change the working conditions for coal miners. More than 2 million workers across Britain went on strike.
In 1942, the Battle of the Coral Sea began. It was a turning point for the Allies in World War II.
In 1945, French author Marcel Conversy wrote of the 15 months he spent as a prisoner at Buchenwald concentration camp, describing it as a "living hell."
In 1953, The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for fiction.
In 1959, the first Grammy Awards were presented. "Nel Blu Dipinto di Blu (Volare)" by Domenico Modugno won the awards for Record and Song of the Year.
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In 1970, National Guardsmen killed four students at Kent State University in Ohio during a demonstration against the Vietnam War. The shootings set off a nationwide student strike that forced hundreds of schools to temporarily close.
File Photo courtesy of Kent State University Archives
In 1980, President Joseph Broz Tito of Yugoslavia died at age 87.
In 1982, an Argentine jet fighter sank the British destroyer HMS Sheffield during the Falkland Islands war.
In 1990, a faulty electric chair shot flames around convicted killer Jesse Tafero's head as he was executed in Florida, prompting several states to abandon the method of execution and switch to lethal injection.
In 2000, the "I Love You" virus crashed computers around the world.
In 2002, more than 100 people died when an EAS Airlines jet crashed in the northern Nigerian city of Kano.
In 2006, confessed terrorist Zacarias Moussaoui was sentenced to life in prison without parole. The 37-year-old Moroccan implicated himself in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.
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In 2009, fighting between feuding families broke out at a wedding in southeast Turkey, with combatants using guns and grenades, leading to the deaths of 44 people, including the bride and groom.
In 2011, rival Palestinian political factions Hamas and Fatah signed a reconciliation accord, citing as common causes opposition to the Israeli occupation and disillusionment with U.S. peace efforts.
File Photo by Mohammed Hosam/UPI
In 2014, Juan Carlos Varela was elected president of Panama.
In 2019, first-case Maximum Security was disqualified at the Kentucky Derby for interference. It was the first disqualification in the race's storied history. Country House was ultimately declared the winner.