upi--2020-09-27--Experts warn of 'huge surge' in COVID-19 cases in fall and winter months

Sept. 27 ( UPI ) -- Experts are predicting a surge in COVID-19 cases in the fall and winter months as new cases rise while some areas continue to lift restrictions related to the pandemic .
The University of Washington 's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation 's model forecasts that daily deaths from the coronavirus could surge from 765 to 3,000 by late December .
The United States leads the world in cases and deaths , reporting 7,093,285 cases and 204,606 deaths , according to data gathered by John 's Hopkins University .
IHME Director Dr. Chris Murray said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' beginning in October and accelerating through the end of the year , warning that the winter surge may have already begun in Europe .
`` Cases are exploding there .
So we know it 's coming and we expect it to hit the U.S. pretty soon , '' he said .
Murray added that changes in behavior due to easing of coronavirus restrictions and an increase in indoor activities due to cooler weather are likely to contribute to the surge .
`` First , as case counts have come down in some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people become less careful , they tend to have more contact , '' Murray said .
`` But then the most important effect is the seasonality of the virus , that people go indoors , transmission happens more . ''
Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , warned U.S. cities and counties to brace for `` the challenge '' of fall and winter as the nation averages more than 40,000 cases nationwide .
`` You do n't want to enter into the fall and winter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , because if you do , you got a difficult situation that 's going to be really challenging , '' he said .
Johns Hopkins data shows that at least 24 states are reporting an increase in new cases compared to the previous week .
California , which leads the nation in COVID-19 cases with 802,308 , reporting 4,071 new cases on Sunday and added 55 new deaths for the third-highest death toll at 15,587 .
Second-place Texas reported 1,292 cases for a total of 735,132 cases and 37 new deaths for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported 1,882 new cases on Sunday bringing its total to 700,564 -- third place in the nation -- and 10 new deaths for the fifth-highest death toll in the country at 13,032 as Gov .
Ron DeSantis signed an executive order Friday transitioning the state into Phase 3 of reopening allowing restaurants and bars to operate at 100 % capacity .
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez on Sunday criticized DeSantis ' decision , saying reopening bars and removing fines for people not following restrictions presents a `` significant handicap '' to virus containment efforts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time , '' Suarez said on CNN .
`` This is definitely an acceleration .
It 's a lot faster than we had planned . ''
New York reported 866 new cases placing it fourth in the nation with 455,626 cases and six new deaths for the nation 's highest total at 33,131 , including probable deaths .
On Saturday , it reported more than 1,000 cases for the first time since early June .
New Jersey , which ranks second in the nation in deaths at 16,103 after three new deaths on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case numbers since June 4 at 712 for a total of 202,850 , ninth in the nation .
Fifth place Georgia reported 826 new cases Sunday for a total of 314,685 and 32 new deaths for the 10th highest death toll at 6,946 .

The University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation's COVID-19 model forecasts that daily death totals could surge from 765 to 3,000 by late December. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 27 (UPI) -- Experts are predicting a surge in COVID-19 cases in the fall and winter months as new cases rise while some areas continue to lift restrictions related to the pandemic. The University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation's model forecasts that daily deaths from the coronavirus could surge from 765 to 3,000 by late December. Advertisement
The United States leads the world in cases and deaths, reporting 7,093,285 cases and 204,606 deaths, according to data gathered by John's Hopkins University.
IHME Director Dr. Chris Murray said the model shows a "huge surge" beginning in October and accelerating through the end of the year, warning that the winter surge may have already begun in Europe.
"Cases are exploding there. So we know it's coming and we expect it to hit the U.S. pretty soon," he said.
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Murray added that changes in behavior due to easing of coronavirus restrictions and an increase in indoor activities due to cooler weather are likely to contribute to the surge.
"First, as case counts have come down in some states, we tend to see that people become less careful, they tend to have more contact," Murray said. "But then the most important effect is the seasonality of the virus, that people go indoors, transmission happens more."
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, warned U.S. cities and counties to brace for "the challenge" of fall and winter as the nation averages more than 40,000 cases nationwide.
"You don't want to enter into the fall and winter with a community spread at that level, because if you do, you got a difficult situation that's going to be really challenging," he said.
Johns Hopkins data shows that at least 24 states are reporting an increase in new cases compared to the previous week.
California, which leads the nation in COVID-19 cases with 802,308, reporting 4,071 new cases on Sunday and added 55 new deaths for the third-highest death toll at 15,587.
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Second-place Texas reported 1,292 cases for a total of 735,132 cases and 37 new deaths for the fourth-highest death toll at 15,522.
Florida reported 1,882 new cases on Sunday bringing its total to 700,564 -- third place in the nation -- and 10 new deaths for the fifth-highest death toll in the country at 13,032 as Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order Friday transitioning the state into Phase 3 of reopening allowing restaurants and bars to operate at 100% capacity.
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez on Sunday criticized DeSantis' decision, saying reopening bars and removing fines for people not following restrictions presents a "significant handicap" to virus containment efforts.
"This is a very dangerous time," Suarez said on CNN. "This is definitely an acceleration. It's a lot faster than we had planned."
New York reported 866 new cases placing it fourth in the nation with 455,626 cases and six new deaths for the nation's highest total at 33,131, including probable deaths. On Saturday, it reported more than 1,000 cases for the first time since early June.
New Jersey, which ranks second in the nation in deaths at 16,103 after three new deaths on Sunday, also recorded its highest daily case numbers since June 4 at 712 for a total of 202,850, ninth in the nation.
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Fifth place Georgia reported 826 new cases Sunday for a total of 314,685 and 32 new deaths for the 10th highest death toll at 6,946.


upi--2020-09-27--Rounds of rain to usher in cooler conditions across East Coast

A change in the weather pattern this week will not only bring an area of wet weather into the Northeast , but also usher cooler air into the region .
A dry pattern has remained stationary across much of the Northeast for the majority of September , and for some locations , much longer .
`` Portions of Maine , New Hampshire , Massachusetts , Connecticut and Rhode Island are in an extreme drought , while much of New England to central Pennsylvania are in severe drought , '' said AccuWeather Meteorologist Ryan Adamson .
The storm bringing in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the country .
A huge dip in the jet stream will send that rain to the Eastern Seaboard as well as deliver a drastic cooldown in the Midwest .
With the jet stream diving so far south , this storm will be able to tap into some tropical moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf Stream off the Atlantic Coast of the Southeast .
Rain will progress from West to East on Tuesday and into Tuesday night , with rain likely to continue across eastern New England again Wednesday and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heaviest rain may target places like Hartford , Conn. , New York City and Philadelphia on Tuesday night , with another round possible late Wednesday , '' added Adamson .
Travel delays can be expected and outdoor plans may need indoor alternatives through the middle of the week .
Any wind that accompanies the wet weather could also lead to additional early leaf drop , affecting the foliage later this fall .
Several rounds of rain could be beneficial to the region , helping ease some of the drought distress .
But with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so close together , flooding could also become a concern .
However , flooding will be most predominant in areas that have received excessive rain over the last several months , like Washington , D.C. ; Richmond , Va. ; Raleigh and Charlotte , N.C. Across the mid-Atlantic and central Appalachians , some rivers are just now starting to recede following the heavy , tropical rainfall from Beta .
Additional rainfall could cause water levels to rise in some smaller creeks and rivers in the region .
As the wet weather pulls northward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will move into the Northeast in its place .
This air mass will not only bring the return of drier conditions , but cooler air as well .
`` As the calendar turns to October on Thursday , locations like the Adirondacks of Upstate New York as well as some high ground in northwestern Pennsylvania and the Laurel Highlands may not make it out of the 50s Fahrenheit , '' Adamson said .
By Friday , afternoon high temperatures in the 50s will be even more widespread across the interior Northeast , while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 60s .
Although a drastic change from the warmth early this week , temperatures of this degree are right around normal or a few degrees lower than normal for this time of year .
`` The core of the coldest air will remain in the Midwest late this week , but temperatures only in the 60s are forecast to extend as far south as Raleigh and Atlanta , '' added Adamson .
Chilly air and mostly dry conditions are likely to stick around in the Northeast into next weekend .

A cyclist wears a plastic rain covering while riding in Times Square as tropical storm Fay approaches New York City on July 10, 2020. A change in the weather pattern this week will not only bring wet weather into the Northeast, but also usher cooler air into the region. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
A change in the weather pattern this week will not only bring an area of wet weather into the Northeast, but also usher cooler air into the region. A dry pattern has remained stationary across much of the Northeast for the majority of September, and for some locations, much longer. Advertisement
"Portions of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island are in an extreme drought, while much of New England to central Pennsylvania are in severe drought," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Ryan Adamson.
The storm bringing in the wet weather will originate in the center of the country. A huge dip in the jet stream will send that rain to the Eastern Seaboard as well as deliver a drastic cooldown in the Midwest.
With the jet stream diving so far south, this storm will be able to tap into some tropical moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf Stream off the Atlantic Coast of the Southeast.
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Rain will progress from West to East on Tuesday and into Tuesday night, with rain likely to continue across eastern New England again Wednesday and Wednesday night.
"Some of the heaviest rain may target places like Hartford, Conn., New York City and Philadelphia on Tuesday night, with another round possible late Wednesday," added Adamson.
Travel delays can be expected and outdoor plans may need indoor alternatives through the middle of the week.
Any wind that accompanies the wet weather could also lead to additional early leaf drop, affecting the foliage later this fall.
Several rounds of rain could be beneficial to the region, helping ease some of the drought distress. But with these two rounds of heavier rain being so close together, flooding could also become a concern.
However, flooding will be most predominant in areas that have received excessive rain over the last several months, like Washington, D.C.; Richmond, Va.; Raleigh and Charlotte, N.C.
Across the mid-Atlantic and central Appalachians, some rivers are just now starting to recede following the heavy, tropical rainfall from Beta. Additional rainfall could cause water levels to rise in some smaller creeks and rivers in the region.
As the wet weather pulls northward into Canada, a new air mass will move into the Northeast in its place. This air mass will not only bring the return of drier conditions, but cooler air as well.
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"As the calendar turns to October on Thursday, locations like the Adirondacks of Upstate New York as well as some high ground in northwestern Pennsylvania and the Laurel Highlands may not make it out of the 50s Fahrenheit," Adamson said.
By Friday, afternoon high temperatures in the 50s will be even more widespread across the interior Northeast, while places east of the Appalachians remain in the 60s.
Although a drastic change from the warmth early this week, temperatures of this degree are right around normal or a few degrees lower than normal for this time of year.
"The core of the coldest air will remain in the Midwest late this week, but temperatures only in the 60s are forecast to extend as far south as Raleigh and Atlanta," added Adamson.
Chilly air and mostly dry conditions are likely to stick around in the Northeast into next weekend.


upi--2020-09-27--'Tenet' tops the North American box office for 4th week with $3.4M

Sept. 27 ( UPI ) -- Tenet is the No .
1 movie in North America for a fourth week , earning an additional $ 3.4 million in receipts , BoxOfficeMojo.com announced Sunday .
Coming in at No .
2 is The New Mutants with $ 1.1 million , followed by Unhinged at No .
3 with $ 1 million , Star Wars : Episode V -- The Empire Strikes Back at No .
4 with $ 910,000 and Infidel at No .
5 with $ 745,000 .
Rounding out the top tier are The Broken Hearts Gallery at No @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at No .
7 with $ 305,000 , The Last Shift at No .
8 with $ 235,000 , Kajillionaire at No .
9 with $ 215,000 and The SpongeBob Movie : Sponge on the Run at No .
10 with $ 140,000 .
Because of the coronavirus pandemic , most new movie debuts have been delayed until next year , with some U.S. theatrical releases , such as Mulan , skipped altogether in favor of at-home , streaming-service premieres .
Theaters throughout the United States and Canada were closed for months in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spread of the virus .
They recently began opening their doors , however attendance has been low with few new movies to entice audience members .
On March 8 , the North American box office take was about $ 100 million .

Robert Pattinson's "Tenet" is the No. 1 movie in North America for a fourth week. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 27 (UPI) -- Tenet is the No. 1 movie in North America for a fourth week, earning an additional $3.4 million in receipts, BoxOfficeMojo.com announced Sunday. Coming in at No. 2 is The New Mutants with $1.1 million, followed by Unhinged at No. 3 with $1 million, Star Wars: Episode V -- The Empire Strikes Back at No. 4 with $910,000 and Infidel at No. 5 with $745,000. Advertisement
Rounding out the top tier are The Broken Hearts Gallery at No. 6 with $470,000, Shortcut at No. 7 with $305,000, The Last Shift at No. 8 with $235,000, Kajillionaire at No. 9 with $215,000 and The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run at No. 10 with $140,000.
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, most new movie debuts have been delayed until next year, with some U.S. theatrical releases, such as Mulan, skipped altogether in favor of at-home, streaming-service premieres.
Theaters throughout the United States and Canada were closed for months in keeping with social-distancing practices intended to slow the spread of the virus.
They recently began opening their doors, however attendance has been low with few new movies to entice audience members.
On March 8, the North American box office take was about $100 million.


upi--2020-09-27--Coronavirus global death toll passes 1 million

Sept. 27 ( UPI ) -- More than eight months after the first death was reported from coronavirus in mainland China , the global death toll passed to 1 million Sunday , according to one tracking service .
A 61-year-old man who was a regular customer at a market in Wuhan was announced as a fatality by the nation on Jan. 15 .
Since then the toll has skyrocketed , first spreading to Europe , then to the United States with hotpots in South America , Mexico and India .
Worldometers.info reported 1,00,741 so far Sunday Johns Hopkins tracking lists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 260 days , the average numbers of deaths is around 3,800 per day .
For the first few months , mainland China was the world leader but the nation has n't reported a death since late April 26 , and its count of 4,634 deaths ranks 32nd in the world .
Since April , the nation has also reported only a few cases for a total of 85,351 .
That is a small fraction of the 33 million cases worldwide .
The world 's mortality rate is 2.9 % compared with 5.4 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States overtook Italy with the most deaths , tallying a world-leading 204,465 and 7,094,145 cases for a 3.1 % mortality rate , according to Johns Hopkins .
With only 4 percent of the world 's population , the nation has 20 % of the fatalities and 22 % of the infections .
Nations from the Western Hemisphere occupy three of the top four positions in the world for fatalities : No .
2 Brazil with 141,441 and Mexico with 76,243 .
The exception is India in third place with 94,503 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ hotspots in South America with a total toll of 247,784 deaths , including 1,532 more Saturday and 146 so far Sunday .
With five in the top 15 , Peru is seventh with 32,142 , Colombia 11th with 25,296 , Argentina 14th with 15,543 , Chile 15th with 12,591 .
The disease is so deadly , Brazil on Thursday canceled Rio de Janeiro 's Carnival celebration scheduled in mid-February for the time in 108 years .
In 1912 , it was canceled due to the death of the long-time foreign minister Jose Maria @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's first confirmed coronavirus case was on Feb. 26 , one day after this year 's carnival ended .
Mexico is fourth in deaths but eighth in cases with 726,431 as the nation of 129.2 million people has conducted only 1.6 million tests .
In comparison , the United States with 331.5 million people has conducted 103.5 million .
China reportedly leads the world with 160 million tests .
The border between Mexico and the United State will remain closed through Oct. 21 for nonessential travel .
In addition , the U.S.-Canada border @ @ @ @ @ @ @ below the United States and Mexico with 9,262 deaths , just 45 in the past week , including six Sunday .
But cases have been spiking , including 1,776 on Monday , which is the highest since May with 1,387 reported Sunday .
On Wednesday , Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that a second wave of the coronavirus is already underway in most of the nation .
`` We 're on the brink of a fall that could be much worse than the spring , '' Trudeau said during a rare address @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this is n't the news that any of us wanted to hear and we ca n't change today 's numbers or even tomorrow 's .
Those were already decided by what we did or did n't do two weeks ago .
`` It 's all too likely we wo n't be gathering for Thanksgiving [ Oct. 12 ] but we still have a shot at Christmas .
Together we have the power to get this second wave under control . ''
In North America , all but around 13,000 of the 307,399 deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mexico and Canada .
Saturday 's increase was 1,249 .
The increase so far Sunday was 650 .
Asia has recorded 189,105 deaths , an increase of more than 1,200 , with about half of the total in India .
The continent ranks fifth for most deaths but has the most cases with 10.2 million .
The increase Saturday was 1,788 .
India is second in the world with 5,992,533 cases , second behind the United States .
On Sunday , the nation reported 88,600 new cases with the record 97,894 earlier this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per day is a matter of concern .
And everybody from governments , union governments , state governments , medical professionals , everybody is concerned , '' Dr. Arvind Kumar , a lung specialist at New Delhi 's Gangaram Hospital , told ABC News .
`` And are we constantly having discussion , dialog , on what to do to contain this number ? ''
The nation also reported 1,124 deaths and consistently leads the world in daily death totals .
In May , Prime Minister Narendra Modi began easing the lockdown .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday after being closed for six months .
Iran is the only other Asian nation in the top 10 in deaths -- 10th with 6,242 , including 195 more Sunday .
South Korea and Japan have controlled the pandemic .
Since March in South Korea , cases have exceeded 300 only seven times , all in August , with a high of 441 .
The nation reported 61 on Saturday and 95 on Sunday .
Japan also experienced a surge in cases in August with a peak of 1,998 on Aug. 3 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ July 29 in Japan , deaths have risen more than 50 % from 1,001 to 1,540 .
But the most was only 19 on Sept. 5 and 8 on Saturday .
In October , Japan plans to reopen borders for foreign visitors , including students and business people , but excluding tourists Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said Friday .
`` To revitalize the economy , it is indispensable to resume international travel , '' Suga told a meeting of a government task force on coronavirus response , which made the decision on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prevent the spread of the virus .
Cases have been surging in Israel in the past week , including a record 11,316 on Wednesday , the first time it was more than 10,000 .
Sunday 's increase was 2,274 .
These spikes came after Rosh Hashanah , which began at sundown on Sept. 18 .
The Health Ministry is concerned that Yom Kippur , which starts Sunday at sundown , could lead to a sharp rise in infection .
On Friday it was reported about 400 Jerusalem yeshiva students who had attended Rosh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week , Israel imposed tighter restrictions during the country 's second general lockdown , including limitations on workplaces and prayer gatherings .
The nation has recorded 1,450 deaths , including nine more .
In Europe , where four nations are in the top 10 for most dead , cases also have been spiking .
Britain reported 5,693 cases Sunday , two days after a record 6,874 .
Britain announced 17 additional deaths for 41,988 in fifth place with the record daily high 1,172 .
France announced 11,123 cases Sunday , three days after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 27 deaths for eighth place .
Spain did n't report any data over the weekend but Friday 's cases were 4,122 , compared with a record 11,588 on Sept. 18 , with 114 more deaths in ninth place .
Italy has kept its cases below 2,000 since April 29 with 1,766 reported Sunday .
The nation , which at one time was the world 's epicenter and reached 919 in one day , reported 17 deaths and is in fifth place .
With cases rising in Britain , a leading science adviser is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ circuit breaker , or mini-lockdown can be used to reset the clock , '' Professor John Edmunds , a member of the government 's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies , told the Guardian 's Observer .
`` The idea would be to bring the incidence back to what it was a few weeks earlier .
You replace two weeks of exponential growth with two weeks of a decline in cases .
`` This can have a big effect on the total number of cases , particularly if it is implemented shortly after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week , the government imposed tighter coronavirus restrictions in one-quarter of Britain , including bans on household mixing .
Those added measures included London .
In Europe , there have been 220,246 deaths , including 516 so far Sunday and 216 Saturday .
In Oceania , there are 910 deaths with Australia at 872 and New Zealand at 25 .
Since May 29 , New Zealand has reported three deaths with the last one Sept. 16 .
And cases stand at 1,833 .
In one week , Australia has reported 23 deaths , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ begin easing lockdown measures at midnight Monday .
That includes lifting the curfew with public gatherings between two households up to five people allowed .
In addition , outdoor pools and child care centers can reopen .
And 127,000 people can go back to work .
`` Seven weeks ago , our average case numbers were peaking at more than 400 every single day .
Today , Melbourne 's rolling case average is 22.1 .
It 's a remarkable thing -- and an achievement that belongs to every single Victorian , '' Victoria @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement Sunday .
But he stressed : `` That is something we can all be pleased about but that does n't mean this is over . ''
In Africa , there have been 35,080 deaths , which is about 1,000 more from the previous week , led by South Africa with 16,376 , including 64 more Saturday followed by Egypt with 5,869 with 16 more .
South Africa has the 10th-most cases in the world at 669,498 .
South Africa went into a lower level 1 lockdown last week .
Venues are capped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people indoors and 500 outdoors .
Gyms and recreational facilities have had limits increased to 50 % of total capacity .

Some Chinese continue to wear protective face masks outdoors while others do not after the government lifted the requirement in Beijing on August 24. Mainland China was the original epicenter of the pandemic, announcing the first fatality from the disease on January 15. File Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 27 (UPI) -- More than eight months after the first death was reported from the coronavirus in mainland China, the global death toll passed 1 million Sunday, according to one tracking service. A 61-year-old man who was a regular customer at a market in Wuhan was announced as a fatality by the nation on Jan. 15. Advertisement
Since then, the toll has skyrocketed, first spreading to Europe, then to the United States with hotpots in South America, Mexico and India. Worldometers.info reported 1,002,389 late Sunday. Johns Hopkins tracking lists the total deaths at 996,674. Over 260 days, the average number of deaths is around 3,800 per day.
For the first few months, mainland China was the world leader but the nation hasn't reported a death since late April 26, and its count of 4,634 deaths ranks 32nd in the world. Since April, the nation has also reported only a few cases for a total of 85,351.
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That is a small fraction of the 33 million cases worldwide. The world's mortality rate is 2.9% compared with 5.4% in China.
On April 12, the United States overtook Italy with the most deaths, tallying a world-leading 204,752 and 7,114,235 cases for a 3.1% mortality rate, according to Johns Hopkins. With only 4% of the world's population, the nation has 20% of the fatalities and 22% of the infections.
Nations from the Western Hemisphere occupy three of the top four positions in the world for fatalities: No. 2 Brazil with 141,741 and Mexico with 76,430. The exception is India in third place with 94,503.
Along with Brazil, several nations are hotspots in South America with a total toll of 248,722 deaths, including 1,532 more Saturday and 966 on Sunday. With five in the top 15, Peru is seventh with 32,262, Colombia 11th with 25,488, Argentina 14th with 15,749 and Chile is in 15th with 12,641.
The disease is so deadly, Brazil on Thursday canceled Rio de Janeiro's Carnival celebration scheduled in mid-February for the time in 108 years. In 1912, it was canceled due to the death of the long-time foreign minister Jose Maria da Silva Paranhos Jr.
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The nation's first confirmed coronavirus case was on Feb. 26, one day after this year's carnival ended.
On Saturday, Brazil reported 732 new deaths.
Mexico is fourth in deaths but eighth in cases with 726,431 as the nation of 129.2 million people has conducted only 1.6 million tests. In comparison, the United States with 331.5 million people has conducted 103.5 million. China reportedly leads the world with 160 million tests.
On Saturday, Mexico reported 405 fatalities.
The border between Mexico and the United State will remain closed through Oct. 21 for nonessential travel.
In addition, the U.S.-Canada border also is closed.
Canada is far below the United States and Mexico with 9,268 deaths, just 51 in the past week, including six Sunday. But cases have been spiking, including 1,776 on Monday, which is the highest since May with 1,454 reported Sunday.
On Wednesday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that a second wave of the coronavirus is already underway in most of the nation.
"We're on the brink of a fall that could be much worse than the spring," Trudeau said during a rare address to the nation. "I know this isn't the news that any of us wanted to hear and we can't change today's numbers or even tomorrow's. Those were already decided by what we did or didn't do two weeks ago.
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"It's all too likely we won't be gathering for Thanksgiving [Oct. 12] but we still have a shot at Christmas. Together we have the power to get this second wave under control," he said.
In North America, all but around 13,000 of the 307,674 deaths have been in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Saturday's increase was 1,249. The increase for Sunday was 738.
Asia has recorded 189,522 deaths, an increase of more than 1,700, with more than half of the total in India. The continent ranks fifth for most deaths but has the most cases with 10.2 million. The increase Saturday was 1,799.
India is second in the world with 5,992,532 cases, second behind the United States. On Sunday, the nation reported 88,600 new cases with a record 97,894 set earlier this month.
"The number of cases per day is a matter of concern. And everybody from governments, union governments, state governments, medical professionals, everybody is concerned," Dr. Arvind Kumar, a lung specialist at New Delhi's Gangaram Hospital, told ABC News. "And are we constantly having discussion, dialog, on what to do to contain this number?"
The nation also reported 1,124 deaths and consistently leads the world in daily death totals.
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In May, Prime Minister Narendra Modi began easing the lockdown. The Taj Mahal was reopened to tourists Monday after being closed for six months.
Iran is the only other Asian nation in the top 10 in deaths -- 10th with 25,589, including 195 more on Sunday.
South Korea and Japan have controlled the pandemic.
Since March in South Korea, cases have exceeded 300 only seven times, all in August, with a high of 441. The nation reported 61 on Saturday and 95 on Sunday.
The death toll stands at 401.
Japan also experienced a surge in cases in August with a peak of 1,998 on Aug. 3. Saturday's increase was 558.
Since July 29 in Japan, deaths have risen more than 50% from 1,001 to 1,545. But the most was only 19 on Sept. 5 and eight on Saturday. On Sunday, it reported only five lives lost to the disease.
In October, Japan plans to reopen borders for foreign visitors, including students and business people, but excluding tourists Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said Friday.
"To revitalize the economy, it is indispensable to resume international travel," Suga told a meeting of a government task force on coronavirus response, which made the decision on the condition that sufficient measures are taken to prevent the spread of the virus.
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Cases have been surging in Israel in the past week, including a record 11,316 on Wednesday, the first time it was more than 10,000. Sunday's increase was 2,274.
These spikes came after Rosh Hashanah, which began at sundown on Sept. 18.
The Health Ministry is concerned that Yom Kippur, which starts Sunday at sundown, could lead to a sharp rise in infection.
On Friday it was reported about 400 Jerusalem yeshiva students who had attended Rosh Hashanah prayers together were infected.
Last week, Israel imposed tighter restrictions during the country's second general lockdown, including limitations on workplaces and prayer gatherings.
The nation has recorded 1,450 deaths, including nine more.
In Europe, where four nations are in the top 10 for most dead, cases also have been spiking.
Britain reported 5,693 cases Sunday, two days after a record 6,874. Britain announced 17 additional deaths for 41,988 in fifth place with the record daily high 1,172.
France announced 11,123 cases Sunday, three days after a record 16,096, as well as 27 deaths for eighth place. Spain didn't report any data over the weekend but Friday's cases were 4,122, compared with a record 11,588 on Sept. 18, with 114 more deaths in ninth place.
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Italy has kept its cases below 2,000 since April 29 with 1,766 reported Sunday. The nation, which at one time was the world's epicenter and reached 919 in one day, reported 17 deaths and is in fifth place.
With cases rising in Britain, a leading science adviser is urging "mini-lockdowns."
"A circuit breaker, or mini-lockdown, can be used to reset the clock," Professor John Edmunds, a member of the government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, told the Guardian's Observer. "The idea would be to bring the incidence back to what it was a few weeks earlier. You replace two weeks of exponential growth with two weeks of a decline in cases.
"This can have a big effect on the total number of cases, particularly if it is implemented shortly after the epidemic starts to grow."
Last week, the government imposed tighter coronavirus restrictions in one-quarter of Britain, including bans on household mixing. Those added measures included London.
In Europe, there have been 220,285 deaths, including 228 on Sunday and 557 on Saturday.
In Oceania, there are 912 deaths with Australia at 872 and New Zealand at 25.
Since May 29, New Zealand has reported three deaths with the last one Sept. 16. And cases stand at 1,833.
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In one week, Australia has reported 24 deaths, including two Sunday.
Metropolitan Melbourne will begin easing lockdown measures at midnight Monday. That includes lifting the curfew with public gatherings between two households up to five people allowed. In addition, outdoor pools and child care centers can reopen. And 127,000 people can go back to work.
"Seven weeks ago, our average case numbers were peaking at more than 400 every single day. Today, Melbourne's rolling case average is 22.1. It's a remarkable thing -- and an achievement that belongs to every single Victorian," Victoria State Premier Daniel Andrews said in a statement Sunday.
But he stressed: "That is something we can all be pleased about but that doesn't mean this is over."
In Africa, there have been 35,215 deaths, which is about 1,000 more from the previous week, led by South Africa with 16,398, including 64 more Saturday and 22 on Sunday followed by Egypt with 5,883 with 16 more Saturday and 14 on Sunday. South Africa has the 10th-most cases in the world at 670,766.
South Africa went into a lower level 1 lockdown last week. Venues are capped at 50% capacity, including 50 people indoors and 500 outdoors. Gyms and recreational facilities have had limits increased to 50% of total capacity.


upi--2020-09-27--Senate to begin hearings on Amy Coney Barrett confirmation Oct. 12

Sept. 27 ( UPI ) -- Members of the Senate will begin hearings next month weighing the confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett , President Donald Trump 's nominee to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg .
The Senate judiciary committee is set to begin four days of hearings to consider Barrett 's nomination beginning on Oct. 12 as Trump has called for the Republican-held Senate to swiftly complete the confirmation process , which would swing the court to a 6-3 conservative majority , ahead of November 's elections .
`` This should be a straightforward and prompt confirmation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be very quick .
I 'm sure it will be extremely non-controversial .
We said that last time , did n't we ? ''
Trump said on Saturday referring to the contentious confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in October 2018 amid sexual assault allegations .
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky is set to meet with Barrett next week and hailed her nomination on Saturday .
`` The Senate will evaluate this nomination on the basis of Judge Barrett 's objective qualifications .
But it can not escape notice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national admiration for her shining example of strong female leadership at the very top of her field , '' said McConnell .
Democrats are expected to make efforts to block portions of the proceedings despite lacking the necessary votes to block the nomination outright .
Some Democrats including Sen. Bob Casey , D-Penn .
; Sen. Mazie Hirono , D-Hawaii ; and Sen. Jeff Merkley , D-Ore. ; have said they will refuse to meet with Barrett , as many Republicans did in 2016 after former President Barack Obama nominated Merrick Garland to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate judiciary committee have , however , said they plan to attend the confirmation hearings .
Among those on the committee are Democratic Sens .
Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Tim Kaine of Virginia who both said they plan to vote against Barret 's confirmation despite backing her 2017 nomination to the federal bench .
`` I can not support a process that risks further division of the American people at a time when we so desperately need to come together , '' said Manchin .
`` I will not vote to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court nominee before Election Day on Nov .
3 . ''
Democrats have also made the case that Barrett 's nomination would put the Affordable Care Act , also known as Obamacare , at risk as the court is scheduled to weigh a case regarding the constitutionality of the policy a week after the election .
`` A vote by any Senator for Judge Amy Coney Barrett is a vote to strike down the Affordable Care Act and eliminate protections for millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions , '' said Sen. Chuck Schumer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who served as vice president alongside Obama when the ACA was put into effect , also warned of the dangers of the Supreme Court ruling against the policy .
`` If President Trump has his way , complications from COVID-19 , like lung scarring and heart damage , could become the next deniable pre-existing condition , '' said Biden .
`` The American people know the U.S. Supreme Court decision affect their everyday lives . ''
Sen. Mike Lee , R-Utah , countered the concern highlighting Barrett 's reputation as a `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Week Sunday and stating that potential justice 's previous contributions to the law should not be used to predict how they might vote on a single Supreme Court case .
`` We are talking about Judge Barrett here and we 're talking about constitutionality .
Judge Barrett will look at this not on the basis of what 's politically expedient , she 'd look at it on the basis of constitutionality , '' Lee said .

Republicans and Democrats in Congress are readying for confirmation proceedings for President Donald Trump's latest Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barret, which are set to begin in the Senate on Oct. 12. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 27 (UPI) -- Members of the Senate will begin hearings next month weighing the confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett, President Donald Trump's nominee to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The Senate judiciary committee is set to begin four days of hearings to consider Barrett's nomination beginning on Oct. 12 as Trump has called for the Republican-held Senate to swiftly complete the confirmation process, which would swing the court to a 6-3 conservative majority, ahead of November's elections. Advertisement
"This should be a straightforward and prompt confirmation. This should be very easy. It should be very quick. I'm sure it will be extremely non-controversial. We said that last time, didn't we?" Trump said on Saturday referring to the contentious confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in October 2018 amid sexual assault allegations.
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Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky is set to meet with Barrett next week and hailed her nomination on Saturday.
"The Senate will evaluate this nomination on the basis of Judge Barrett's objective qualifications. But it cannot escape notice that this nominee has also already won national admiration for her shining example of strong female leadership at the very top of her field," said McConnell.
Democrats are expected to make efforts to block portions of the proceedings despite lacking the necessary votes to block the nomination outright.
Some Democrats including Sen. Bob Casey, D-Penn.; Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii; and Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore.; have said they will refuse to meet with Barrett, as many Republicans did in 2016 after former President Barack Obama nominated Merrick Garland to the high court.
Members of the Senate judiciary committee have, however, said they plan to attend the confirmation hearings.
Among those on the committee are Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Tim Kaine of Virginia who both said they plan to vote against Barret's confirmation despite backing her 2017 nomination to the federal bench.
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"I cannot support a process that risks further division of the American people at a time when we so desperately need to come together," said Manchin. "I will not vote to confirm Judge Coney Barrett or any Supreme Court nominee before Election Day on Nov. 3."
Democrats have also made the case that Barrett's nomination would put the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, at risk as the court is scheduled to weigh a case regarding the constitutionality of the policy a week after the election.
"A vote by any Senator for Judge Amy Coney Barrett is a vote to strike down the Affordable Care Act and eliminate protections for millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions," said Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, who served as vice president alongside Obama when the ACA was put into effect, also warned of the dangers of the Supreme Court ruling against the policy.
"If President Trump has his way, complications from COVID-19, like lung scarring and heart damage, could become the next deniable pre-existing condition," said Biden. "The American people know the U.S. Supreme Court decision affect their everyday lives."
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Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, countered the concern highlighting Barrett's reputation as a "textualist" on ABC News' This Week Sunday and stating that potential justice's previous contributions to the law should not be used to predict how they might vote on a single Supreme Court case.
"We are talking about Judge Barrett here and we're talking about constitutionality. Judge Barrett will look at this not on the basis of what's politically expedient, she'd look at it on the basis of constitutionality," Lee said.


upi--2020-09-27--Netflix announces 'Resident Evil' anime series

The show subtitled Infinite Darkness is based on the popular Resident Evil video-game franchise from Capcom .
`` This will @ @ @ @ @ around the stories of the two popular characters , Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield @ @ @ @ @ dynamic action scenes , this series will reveal a Resident Evil world unlike anything seen @ @ @ @ @ service said about the cartoon in a press release .
No voice cast has been @ @ @ @ @ series is also in the works at Netflix .
The franchise began in 1996 and @ @ @ @ @ 100 million video games worldwide .
A six-movie series starring , Milla Jovovich , grossed @ @ @ @ @ making it the most successful film series based on a video game .

An anime show based on "Resident Evil" is in the works at Netflix. Milla Jovovich starred in six "Resident Evil" live-action movies. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 27 (UPI) -- Netflix announced plans Sunday to release a Resident Evil anime series in 2021. The show subtitled Infinite Darkness is based on the popular Resident Evil video-game franchise from Capcom. Advertisement
"This will be a horror-action series based around the stories of the two popular characters, Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield. By adding suspense into dynamic action scenes, this series will reveal a Resident Evil world unlike anything seen before," the streaming service said about the cartoon in a press release.
No voice cast has been announced yet.
A live-action series is also in the works at Netflix.
The franchise began in 1996 and has gone on to sell 100 million video games worldwide.
A six-movie series starring, Milla Jovovich, grossed $1.2 billion worldwide, making it the most successful film series based on a video game.
Infinite darkness is fast approaching. Are you ready? pic.twitter.com/PXfhUNjPE4— NX (@NXOnNetflix) September 27, 2020


upi--2020-09-27--Busta Rhymes, dressed as a dragon, eliminated from 'Masked Singer'

Sept. 23 ( UPI ) -- Busta Rhymes was the first disguised celebrity eliminated from Season 4 of FOX 's @ @ @ @ @ on Wednesday night .
The rapper was dressed as a dragon for the show .
@ @ @ @ @ , Nicole Scherzinger and Robin Thicke are the judges , and Nick Cannon is the @ @ @ @ @ IT WAS @ BustaRhymes !
!
!
!
!
# TheMaskedSinger , '' Scherzinger tweeted @ @ @ @ @

Sept. 23 (UPI) -- Busta Rhymes was the first disguised celebrity eliminated from Season 4 of FOX's The Masked Singer competition series on Wednesday night.
The rapper was dressed as a dragon for the show.


upi--2020-09-27--'Game of Thrones' alum Rose Leslie debuts baby bump in Make Magazine

Sept. 27 ( UPI ) -- Game of Thrones and Downton Abbey actress Rose Leslie debuted her growing baby bump in a photo for Britain 's Make Magazine .
`` So wonderful working with the beautiful Rose Leslie for the cover story of @ make_magazineuk out now ! ''
Ursula Lake , the publication 's art director , said in an Instagram post Saturday .
`` A very special all woman team photographic shoot capturing Rose at this wonderful time as she prepares for motherhood for the first time !
My team were : @ billiescheepersphotography @ liztaw doing beautiful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rose wears @ stellamccartney .
Huge thanks to @ vrwpublicity for organising the shoot and to Hannah Rand for her interview . ''
She married her former GOT co-star , Kit Harington , in June 2019 after about seven years of dating .
Leslie , 33 , did n't reveal her baby 's sex or anticipated birthdate in the Make Magazine article , but she did reveal she and Harington , 33 , have been spending time at their new home in the English countryside .
She jokingly calls the Tudor manor house @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' referring to the name of her husband 's GOT character .
`` What a glorious thing to be able to run to the countryside and recoup .
It 's a great privilege to be surrounded by greenery , birdsong and hedgerows , and our delightful neighbours .
It 's so peaceful , '' she said .
`` It 's incredibly old .
We have a thatched roof , which currently has an enormous hornet 's nest in it .
I do love to think about the house and all the people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happy , how did they live ?
All the families passing under those ancient beams . ''

1/3
Rose Leslie (L) and Kit Harington are expecting their first child. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 27 (UPI) -- Game of Thrones and Downton Abbey actress Rose Leslie debuted her growing baby bump in a photo for Britain's Make Magazine. "So wonderful working with the beautiful Rose Leslie for the cover story of @make_magazineuk out now!" Ursula Lake, the publication's art director, said in an Instagram post Saturday. Advertisement
"A very special all woman team photographic shoot capturing Rose at this wonderful time as she prepares for motherhood for the first time! My team were: @billiescheepersphotography @liztaw doing beautiful hair and @justinejenkins wonderful makeup. Rose wears @stellamccartney. Huge thanks to @vrwpublicity for organising the shoot and to Hannah Rand for her interview."
She married her former GOT co-star, Kit Harington, in June 2019 after about seven years of dating.
Leslie, 33, didn't reveal her baby's sex or anticipated birthdate in the Make Magazine article, but she did reveal she and Harington, 33, have been spending time at their new home in the English countryside.
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She jokingly calls the Tudor manor house "the house that Jon Snow built," referring to the name of her husband's GOT character.
"What a glorious thing to be able to run to the countryside and recoup. It's a great privilege to be surrounded by greenery, birdsong and hedgerows, and our delightful neighbours. It's so peaceful," she said.
"It's incredibly old. We have a thatched roof, which currently has an enormous hornet's nest in it. I do love to think about the house and all the people who have lived there. Were they happy, how did they live? All the families passing under those ancient beams."


upi--2020-09-27--Basil Eidenbenz replaces Thue Rasmussen in 'The Witcher' Season 2

Sept. 27 ( UPI ) -- Basil Eidenbenz has signed on to replace Thue Rasmussen in Netflix 's The Witcher @ @ @ @ @ fans , please give as much love to # basileidenbenz as you gave me , @ @ @ @ @ Rasmussen had joined the cast for Season 2 and filmed some scenes in February and @ @ @ @ @ United Kingdom was shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Rasmussen announced last week @ @ @ @ @ of the role of Eskel because he had conflicts with the rescheduled film dates .
@ @ @ @ @ the role when filming resumed last month .

The coronavirus pandemic has prompted casting changes in the ensemble of Henry Cavill's Netflix show, "The Witcher." File Photo by Oliver Contreras/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 27 (UPI) -- Basil Eidenbenz has signed on to replace Thue Rasmussen in Netflix's The Witcher Season 2. "Dear fans, please give as much love to #basileidenbenz as you gave me," Rasmussen tweeted Saturday. Advertisement
Rasmussen had joined the cast for Season 2 and filmed some scenes in February and March before production in the United Kingdom was shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Rasmussen announced last week that he had dropped out of the role of Eskel because he had conflicts with the rescheduled film dates.
Victoria actor Eidenbenz took over the role when filming resumed last month.
The fantasy action-drama stars Henry Cavill.


upi--2020-09-27--Christina Anstead, Ant Anstead discuss split in Instagram posts

Sept. 27 ( UPI ) -- Reality TV personality Christina Anstead reflected on her career and relationships in a lengthy Instagram message this weekend .
Saturday 's post included a photo of her , casually dressed and sitting in her car .
She wrote about how she initially had no intention of going into television and planned to pursue a career in sports management .
Instead , she went into real estate and her knack for house-flipping led to one docu-series after another , including Christina on the Coast and Flip or Flop .
She also discussed her failed marriages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I never thought I would have one divorce let alone two , '' Anstead admitted .
`` I never thought I would have 2 baby daddies -- but sometimes life throws us curve balls .
Instead of getting stuck in these 'setbacks ' I choose to look at these challenges as opportunities to grow .
So while some may judge me and throw around rumors about me , most of you support me .
And that says a lot about this world and where we are headed .
I 'm messy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working on healing . ''
Her estranged husband , Ant , also took to Instagram to share how he is feeling about the breakup they announced this month .
`` Anyone who really knows me knows that I do n't like to share private matters publicly .
I have remained silent while holding on to hope .
I never gave up on us .
I pray Christina 's decision brings her happiness , '' the Wheeler Dealers star wrote on Saturday .
The post also showed a photo of the couple in happier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2017 , married in December 2018 and welcomed their son Hudson in September 2019 .
Christina also has a 5-year-old son named Brayden James and 9-year-old daughter , Taylor Reese , with her ex-husband and Flip or Flop co-star , El Moussa .
El Moussa has been engaged to reality television personality , Heather Rae Young , since July .

Christina Anstead and Ant Anstead are sharing their feelings about their breakup on Instagram this weekend. File Photo by James Atoa/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 27 (UPI) -- Reality TV personality Christina Anstead reflected on her career and relationships in a lengthy Instagram message this weekend. Saturday's post included a photo of her, casually dressed and sitting in her car. Advertisement
She wrote about how she initially had no intention of going into television and planned to pursue a career in sports management.
Instead, she went into real estate and her knack for house-flipping led to one docu-series after another, including Christina on the Coast and Flip or Flop.
She also discussed her failed marriages to Ant Anstead and Tarek El Moussa.
"I never thought I would have one divorce let alone two," Anstead admitted.
"I never thought I would have 2 baby daddies -- but sometimes life throws us curve balls. Instead of getting stuck in these 'setbacks' I choose to look at these challenges as opportunities to grow. So while some may judge me and throw around rumors about me, most of you support me. And that says a lot about this world and where we are headed. I'm messy, I'm real and I'm working on healing."
Her estranged husband, Ant, also took to Instagram to share how he is feeling about the breakup they announced this month.
"Anyone who really knows me knows that I don't like to share private matters publicly. I have remained silent while holding on to hope. I never gave up on us. I pray Christina's decision brings her happiness," the Wheeler Dealers star wrote on Saturday.
The post also showed a photo of the couple in happier times.
They began dating in October 2017, married in December 2018 and welcomed their son Hudson in September 2019.
Christina also has a 5-year-old son named Brayden James and 9-year-old daughter, Taylor Reese, with her ex-husband and Flip or Flop co-star, El Moussa.
El Moussa has been engaged to reality television personality, Heather Rae Young, since July.


upi--2020-09-28--French Open: Coco upsets Konta; Wawrinka ousts Murray

Sept. 28 ( UPI ) -- American teen tennis phenom Cori `` Coco '' Gauff upset No .
9 seed Johanna Konta and Stan Wawrinka eliminated Andy Murray to highlight first-round action at the 2020 French Open in Paris .
Coco cruised to a 6-3 , 6-3 straight sets triumph over Konta Sunday at Roland Garros .
The 16-year-old Delray Beach , Fla. , native dispatched of Konta in 1 hour and 41 minutes .
`` It was a great match , '' Coco said after the win .
`` I knew she was a great fighter so I had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Konta , 29 , had two aces , 22 winners and 41 errors .
Coco had three aces , 14 winners and 26 unforced errors in the win .
She went up 3-0 in the first set before Konta won her first game .
Coco and Konta exchanged the next five games before Coco won the first set .
Konta jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second set before Coco broke her serve and won the next five consecutive games .
Konta broke Coco 's serve and won the eight game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won match point .
Coco will face Italian Martina Trevisan in the second round on Wednesday in Paris .
Women 's No .
1 seed Simona Halep also advanced to the second round with a straight sets win over Sara Sorribes Tormo .
Anna Karolina Schmiedlova also knocked out Venus Williams in straight sets on Sunday .
Victoria Azarenka , Maria Sakkari and Elise Mertens were among the other top women 's players to advance on the singles circuit .
Wawrinka -- the men 's No .
16 seed -- dispatched of Murray @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He won the first-round match 6-1 , 6-3 , 6-2 in 1 hour and 37 minutes .
Wawrinka fired nine aces and 42 winners in the victory .
Murray had two aces and 10 winners in the loss .
`` I was expecting a tough match , '' Wawrinka said .
`` I was really focussed .
With a champion like Andy , even if the scoreboard is one-sided , you never know what 's going to happen . ''
Wawrinka -- the 2015 French Open champ -- faces German Dominik Koepfer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
6 Alexander Zverev was the highest-seeded men 's player to advance on Sunday .
Unseeded Jannik Sinner upset No .
11 David Goffin in straight sets .
No .
12 Diego Schwartzman cruised to a straight sets win over Miomir Kecmanovic .
No .
21 John Isner beat Elliot Benchetrit .
No .
23 Benoit Paire and No .
27 Taylor Fritz also advanced to the second round with Sunday victories .
The 2020 French Open women 's final will be Oct. 10 .
The men 's final is scheduled for Oct. @ @

Cori "Coco" Gauff beat Johanna Konta in the first round match of the French Open on Sunday at Roland Garros in Paris. Photo by Ian Langsdon/EPA-EFE
Sept. 28 (UPI) -- American teen tennis phenom Cori "Coco" Gauff upset No. 9 seed Johanna Konta and Stan Wawrinka eliminated Andy Murray to highlight first-round action at the 2020 French Open in Paris. Coco cruised to a 6-3, 6-3 straight sets triumph over Konta Sunday at Roland Garros. The 16-year-old Delray Beach, Fla., native dispatched of Konta in 1 hour and 41 minutes. Advertisement
"It was a great match," Coco said after the win. "I knew she was a great fighter so I had to stay on my game."
Konta, 29, had two aces, 22 winners and 41 errors. Coco had three aces, 14 winners and 26 unforced errors in the win. She went up 3-0 in the first set before Konta won her first game. Coco and Konta exchanged the next five games before Coco won the first set.
Konta jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second set before Coco broke her serve and won the next five consecutive games. Konta broke Coco's serve and won the eight game before Coco broke Konta's serve and won match point.
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Coco will face Italian Martina Trevisan in the second round on Wednesday in Paris.
Women's No. 1 seed Simona Halep also advanced to the second round with a straight sets win over Sara Sorribes Tormo.
Anna Karolina Schmiedlova also knocked out Venus Williams in straight sets on Sunday. Victoria Azarenka, Maria Sakkari and Elise Mertens were among the other top women's players to advance on the singles circuit.
Wawrinka -- the men's No. 16 seed -- dispatched of Murray in straight sets Sunday at Roland Garros. He won the first-round match 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 in 1 hour and 37 minutes. Wawrinka fired nine aces and 42 winners in the victory. Murray had two aces and 10 winners in the loss.
"I was expecting a tough match," Wawrinka said. "I was really focussed. With a champion like Andy, even if the scoreboard is one-sided, you never know what's going to happen."
Wawrinka -- the 2015 French Open champ -- faces German Dominik Koepfer in the second round Wednesday.
No. 6 Alexander Zverev was the highest-seeded men's player to advance on Sunday. Unseeded Jannik Sinner upset No. 11 David Goffin in straight sets.
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No. 12 Diego Schwartzman cruised to a straight sets win over Miomir Kecmanovic. No. 21 John Isner beat Elliot Benchetrit. No. 23 Benoit Paire and No. 27 Taylor Fritz also advanced to the second round with Sunday victories.
The 2020 French Open women's final will be Oct. 10. The men's final is scheduled for Oct. 11.
Serena Williams' tennis career: a look back


upi--2020-09-28--Chrissy Teigen hospitalized due to excessive bleeding

Sept. 28 ( UPI ) -- Chrissy Teigen informed her fans on Instagram that she was being hospitalized due to excessive bleeding .
Teigen , who is pregnant with her third child , posted videos on Sunday from her hospital bed to her Instagram Stories .
The 34-year-old explained that she has been on bed rest for a few weeks due to bleeding .
`` I 'm about halfway through pregnancy and the blood and has been going on for like a month , maybe a little less than a month .
But we 're talking more than your period @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot of people spot and it 's usually fine but mine was a lot , '' Teigen said to the camera .
`` I guess in the simplest of terms , we can say my placenta is really really weak .
I feel really good .
The baby is so healthy , growing stronger than Luna or Miles .
He moves a lot .
He moves so much earlier than they ever did , '' she continued by referencing her children Luna , 4 , and Miles , 2 , that she shares @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she will continue to get as much rest as possible and also posted clips of Legend helping to take care of her inside the hospital .
Teigen and Legend , 41 , recently announced that they are expecting a baby boy .
Teigen first displayed her baby bump in Legend 's music video for `` Wild . ''
The pair became married in 2013 .

Chrissy Teigen (L) and John Legend arrive for the Vanity Fair Oscar party on February 9. Teigen announced on Instagram that she was in the hospital due to excessive bleeding. File Photo by Chris Chew/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 28 (UPI) -- Chrissy Teigen informed her fans on Instagram that she was being hospitalized due to excessive bleeding. Teigen, who is pregnant with her third child, posted videos on Sunday from her hospital bed to her Instagram Stories. Advertisement
The 34-year-old explained that she has been on bed rest for a few weeks due to bleeding.
"I'm about halfway through pregnancy and the blood and has been going on for like a month, maybe a little less than a month. But we're talking more than your period girls and definitely not spotting. A lot of people spot and it's usually fine but mine was a lot," Teigen said to the camera.
"I guess in the simplest of terms, we can say my placenta is really really weak. I feel really good. The baby is so healthy, growing stronger than Luna or Miles. He moves a lot. He moves so much earlier than they ever did," she continued by referencing her children Luna, 4, and Miles, 2, that she shares with husband John Legend.
Teigen said she will continue to get as much rest as possible and also posted clips of Legend helping to take care of her inside the hospital.
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Teigen and Legend, 41, recently announced that they are expecting a baby boy. Teigen first displayed her baby bump in Legend's music video for "Wild." The pair became married in 2013.
Moments from Chrissy Teigen's career


upi--2020-09-28--Gallup: Rare majority in U.S. say government should do more to solve problems

Sept. 28 ( UPI ) -- Amid the historic COVID-19 pandemic , most Americans say the federal government should do more to solve its greatest problems -- a majority call for help that 's been extremely rare over the past few decades .
In a survey Monday , the pollster asked adults in all 50 states and Washington , D.C. , whether the federal government is trying to do too much , or if it needs to do more to solve the largest problems .
The poll showed that 54 % said it needs to do more .
Gallup said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it first asked the question in 1992 .
Forty-one percent said the government is doing too much .
The figure is 7 points higher than it was last year and 20 points higher than the share in 2012 , when just 34 % called for more action .
Since 1992 , the figure has reached 50 % only one other time -- shortly after the Sept. 11 , 2001 , terrorist attacks , when exactly half said the government should do more .
`` The ongoing tribulations brought on by the coronavirus pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the public 's desire for an increase in government action , '' Gallup wrote .
The pollster also noted that the majority 's call for help is somewhat of a referendum on President Donald Trump 's response .
`` Governors are more broadly seen as better than the president in communicating a clear plan of action to deal with the situation , and they are also viewed as better able to handle any emerging health challenges , '' Gallup wrote .
`` During this uncertain time , the public seems to want such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 83 % of Democrats , 56 % of independents and 22 % of Republicans said the government should do more .
`` The latest 61-point gap between Democrats and Republicans is the highest on record , '' Gallup noted .
`` Although it is similar to differences of 60 points in 2016 and 58 points in 2011 .
`` Throughout Barack Obama 's presidency , Republicans were less inclined than they are now to call for government intervention . ''
When asked if federal leaders should promote `` traditional values '' or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ half of respondents said no to government-promoted values while 47 % said it should advocate for traditional values .
Gallup polled more than 1,000 adults earlier this month for the survey , which has a margin of error of 4 points .

American flags are seen at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Saturday after President Donald Trump formally nominated Amy Coney Barrett to succeed Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the U.S. Supreme Court bench. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 28 (UPI) -- Amid the historic COVID-19 pandemic, most Americans say the federal government should do more to solve its greatest problems -- a majority call for help that's been extremely rare over the past few decades. In a survey Monday, the pollster asked adults in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., whether the federal government is trying to do too much, or if it needs to do more to solve the largest problems. Advertisement
The poll showed that 54% said it needs to do more.
Gallup said the survey marked the greatest majority since it first asked the question in 1992.
Forty-one percent said the government is doing too much.
The figure is 7 points higher than it was last year and 20 points higher than the share in 2012, when just 34% called for more action.
Since 1992, the figure has reached 50% only one other time -- shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, when exactly half said the government should do more.
"The ongoing tribulations brought on by the coronavirus pandemic in the U.S. have seemingly resulted in the public's desire for an increase in government action," Gallup wrote.
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The pollster also noted that the majority's call for help is somewhat of a referendum on President Donald Trump's response.
"Governors are more broadly seen as better than the president in communicating a clear plan of action to deal with the situation, and they are also viewed as better able to handle any emerging health challenges," Gallup wrote. "During this uncertain time, the public seems to want such interventions from their government."
Politically, 83% of Democrats, 56% of independents and 22% of Republicans said the government should do more.
"The latest 61-point gap between Democrats and Republicans is the highest on record," Gallup noted. "Although it is similar to differences of 60 points in 2016 and 58 points in 2011.
"Throughout Barack Obama's presidency, Republicans were less inclined than they are now to call for government intervention."
When asked if federal leaders should promote "traditional values" or "no values at all," half of respondents said no to government-promoted values while 47% said it should advocate for traditional values.
Gallup polled more than 1,000 adults earlier this month for the survey, which has a margin of error of 4 points.


upi--2020-09-28--In photos: Moments from Major League Baseball for the week of Sept. 20, 2020

Miami Marlins players celebrate with a team photo on the mound after defeating the New York Yankees 4-3 and clinching @ @ @ @ @ York City on Friday .
Photo by John Angelillo/UPI

Miami Marlins players celebrate with a team photo on the mound after defeating the New York Yankees 4-3 and clinching a playoff birth in New York City on Friday. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI


upi--2020-09-28--A.J. Pollock homers twice as Los Angeles Dodgers finish with best record in win over Angels

Sept. 28 ( UPI ) -- A.J .
Pollock hacked two home runs to help the Los Angeles Dodgers punctuate the abbreviated regular season with a three-game sweep of the crosstown Angels and finish with the best record in Major League Baseball .
Pollock went 3 for 3 with three RBIs , two runs scored and a walk in the 5-0 triumph Sunday at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles .
The Dodgers bullpen combined to allow just three hits in the shutout .
`` It 's definitely gratifying to go out there and perform and feel good and contribute to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` It 's always fun getting the chance to go out and win a ring .
`` We have a lot of challenges ahead , but we are in a good spot right now . ''
The Dodgers compiled a 43-17 record for the COVID-19 shortened 60-game season , claiming the best record in baseball for the second time in four years .
They next host the Milwaukee Brewers in a National League wild card series at 10 p.m. EDT Wednesday at Dodger Stadium .
The Angels ( 26-34 ) finished the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ League West and failed to make the playoffs , which were temporarily expanded this year by six teams .
The Angeles fired general manager Billy Eppler after the loss .
The franchise has n't produced a winning season since 2014 .
Dodgers starter Victor Gonzalez retired the first three Angels hitters in order to start Sunday 's game .
In his first at-bat , Pollock took two consecutive balls from Angels starter Patrick Sandoval before swatting the 2-0 fastball to left field for a 401-foot solo home run to give the Dodgers a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another run when he grounded into a double play in the bottom of the third and the Dodgers went up 3-0 after scoring on a fielding error in the same inning .
Pollock returned to the plate for his second home run in the bottom of the seventh inning .
Angels relief pitcher Hoby Milner allowed a Joc Pederson single in the first at-bat before Pollock got ahead 3-1 in the count and smashed Milner 's fifth offering to center field for a 407-foot , two-run homer .
Sandoval allowed one hit and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his fifth loss of the season .
Dustin May , in his third win in relief for the Dodgers , allowed two hits and had five strikeouts in four scoreless innings to finish his 2020 campaign at 3-1 .

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Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder A.J. Pollock watches his solo home run, off Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Patrick Sandoval, clear the wall in the first inning Sunday at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 28 (UPI) -- A.J. Pollock hacked two home runs to help the Los Angeles Dodgers punctuate the abbreviated regular season with a three-game sweep of the crosstown Angels and finish with the best record in Major League Baseball. Pollock went 3 for 3 with three RBIs, two runs scored and a walk in the 5-0 triumph Sunday at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. The Dodgers bullpen combined to allow just three hits in the shutout. Advertisement
"It's definitely gratifying to go out there and perform and feel good and contribute to the team," Pollock told reporters. "It's always fun getting the chance to go out and win a ring.
"We have a lot of challenges ahead, but we are in a good spot right now."
The Dodgers compiled a 43-17 record for the COVID-19 shortened 60-game season, claiming the best record in baseball for the second time in four years. They next host the Milwaukee Brewers in a National League wild card series at 10 p.m. EDT Wednesday at Dodger Stadium.
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The Angels (26-34) finished the season in fourth place in the American League West and failed to make the playoffs, which were temporarily expanded this year by six teams.
The Angeles fired general manager Billy Eppler after the loss. The franchise hasn't produced a winning season since 2014.
Dodgers starter Victor Gonzalez retired the first three Angels hitters in order to start Sunday's game.
In his first at-bat, Pollock took two consecutive balls from Angels starter Patrick Sandoval before swatting the 2-0 fastball to left field for a 401-foot solo home run to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead.
Corey Seager brought in another run when he grounded into a double play in the bottom of the third and the Dodgers went up 3-0 after scoring on a fielding error in the same inning.
Pollock returned to the plate for his second home run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Angels relief pitcher Hoby Milner allowed a Joc Pederson single in the first at-bat before Pollock got ahead 3-1 in the count and smashed Milner's fifth offering to center field for a 407-foot, two-run homer.
Sandoval allowed one hit and three runs in 2 2/3 innings for his fifth loss of the season. Dustin May, in his third win in relief for the Dodgers, allowed two hits and had five strikeouts in four scoreless innings to finish his 2020 campaign at 3-1.
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This week in Major League Baseball


upi--2020-09-28--In photos: Scenes from California's record-breaking wildfire season

California is among several Western states experiencing a historic wildfire season , with more than 3.6 million acres burned by @ @ @ @ @ two dozen people have died with thousands of structures destroyed .
Here 's a look @ @ @ @ @

Smoke covers the deserted town of Calistoga, Calif., as the town is under mandatory evacuation with the Glass fire continuing to burn. It has grown to 58,000 acres. Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI


upi--2020-09-28--'Bachelor' alum Lesley Murphy pregnant with first child

Sept. 28 ( UPI ) -- Bachelor alum Lesley Murphy has announced on Instagram that she is expecting her first @ @ @ @ @ .
Murphy made the announcement on Sunday by uploading a black and white video of @ @ @ @ @ kisses her baby bump .
`` Started from the kitchen now we 're here .
@ @ @ @ @ 2021 !
Finally someone to occupy the middle seat , '' Murphy captioned the video @ @ @ @ @ I could n't be more excited to grow our little family !
! ''
she @ @ @ @ @ , a professional drone pilot from Australia , announced in February that they are engaged @ @ @ @ @ competed on Season 17 of The Bachelor which featured Sean Lowe and also appeared on @ @ @ @ @ split from her Bachelor Winter Games co-star Dean Unglert in 2018 .

Sept. 28 (UPI) -- Bachelor alum Lesley Murphy has announced on Instagram that she is expecting her first child with fiance Alex Kavanagh.
Murphy made the announcement on Sunday by uploading a black and white video of herself dancing with Kavanagh who kisses her baby bump.
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"Started from the kitchen now we're here. Baby Kavanagh taking flight in 2021! Finally someone to occupy the middle seat," Murphy captioned the video.
"@drone.pilot and I couldn't be more excited to grow our little family!!" she continued.
Murphy and Kavanagh, a professional drone pilot from Australia, announced in February that they are engaged to be married.
Murphy competed on Season 17 of The Bachelor which featured Sean Lowe and also appeared on Bachelor Winter Games. She split from her Bachelor Winter Games co-star Dean Unglert in 2018.


upi--2020-09-28--Iran's mullahs torture and execute while U.N. dithers

Sept. 28 ( UPI ) -- While international leaders are making lofty speeches at the United Nations General Assembly in New York , during their `` virtual '' annual conference this week , the Iranian regime has plumbed the depths of depravity by torturing and executing young political prisoners who were arrested during the nationwide uprisings in 2018 and 2019 .
On Sept. 12 , they hanged 27-year-old Navid Afkari , a champion wrestler and a celebrity in Iran .
He had been detained along with his two brothers for participating in street protests in the city of Shiraz in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 50 days then forced to make a false , televised confession .
His burial was restricted to only half a dozen close family members and heavily policed to prevent further mass demonstrations from Iranians outraged by his execution .
Seventeen Nobel laureates signed a statement condemning Afkari 's execution .
Now many other political prisoners , tortured into making confessions , have been transferred to death row to await execution .
Resistance units inside Iran have uncovered the scandalous extent of torture and human rights abuse directed mainly at political prisoners and particularly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the nationwide uprising across Iran last November .
The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps , the theocratic regime 's Gestapo , has utilized its Intelligence Division to set up a network of temporary and secret torture centers across Iran to deal with the huge number of arrested protesters .
In Shiraz , the city where Afkari was brutalized and executed , the secret torture center has been identified in the Ebrat building .
Over 12,000 political prisoners , many of whom were children or teenagers under the age of 18 , who were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken to Ebrat and other secret torture centers across Iran for brutal beatings , agonizing electric shock torture , mock executions and whippings to force them to make false confessions , after which they were transferred to prisons such as Gohardasht , Evin and Greater Tehran ( Fashafuyeh ) for detention and possible execution .
Secret torture centers have been identified at Shahriar Security Police Center and Gisha Security Police base , among a long list of others .
Many prisoners who were severely wounded by torture , by having their fingernails pulled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ denied medical attention after their wounds became infected .
Dozens who were wounded by gunshots during the protests , when the IRGC and security forces fired live ammunition into the crowds , killing 1,500 and wounding thousands , were dragged from their hospital beds by the security forces .
They were taken to the network of secret torture centers , where they were tied , blindfolded and assaulted for days on end .
Some died under torture .
These are depraved crimes against humanity of the worst kind .
It is incredible that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even as leaders of the international community participate in the U.N. General Assembly in New York , making noble speeches about human rights .
It is a scandalous indictment of the international community 's failure to hold the Islamic Republic to account for these crimes and indeed for the 1988 massacre of over 30,000 political prisoners , one of the worst atrocities since the end of World War II .
It is thought-provoking that the United Nations recently sent an independent mission of investigation to Venezuela , resulting in a harsh and condemnatory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ human rights abuse in that country .
While that action was commendable , it is bewildering that no such similar action has been directed at the Iranian regime , where the abuse of human rights is much , much worse than in Venezuela .
At a time when both Amnesty International and the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights have furnished the U.N. Secretary General with detailed reports on the abuse of human rights ongoing in Iran , urgent action needs to be taken .
The United Nations must instruct an independent mission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iran and demand their immediate release .
They must urge individual member states of the United Nations , particularly from European countries , to instruct their ambassadors in Tehran to visit political prisoners and to call for an end to torture and execution .
The world can not stand idly by and watch this horror unfold .
Twenty-one human rights groups have issued a joint appeal to the United Nations to launch an investigation into the 1988 massacre of political prisoners in Iran .
The massacre , which led to the execution of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members of the opposition People 's Mojahedin Organization of Iran ( PMOI/MEK ) , has never been investigated and the perpetrators have never been held to account .
Many of the key executioners from 1988 are now in positions of power in the clerical regime .
Key among them is Ebrahim Raisi , the regime 's current judiciary chief .
In 1988 , he was Tehran 's deputy prosecutor and a key member of Tehran 's `` Death Commission , '' a group of regime officials who carried out minutes-long trials for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alireza Avaie , a member of the Death Commission in Khuzestan , is today justice minister in President Hassan Rouhani 's government .
His two predecessors , who held office in the previous eight years , Mustafa Pour-Mohammadi and Morteza Bakhtiari , were also members of the Death Commissions .
Surely this is a wake-up call for the United Nations .
The time for fine words is long past and the time for action has arrived .
The United Nations must stop dithering .
There must be no impunity for those past and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indicted for crimes against humanity and brought before the international criminal courts .
As the U.N. General Assembly continues in New York , the world is watching .
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 is also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

It is incredible that medieval tortures and executions are continuing, even as leaders of the international community participate in the U.N. General Assembly in New York, making noble speeches about human rights. Photo courtesy of United Nations
Sept. 28 (UPI) -- While international leaders are making lofty speeches at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, during their "virtual" annual conference this week, the Iranian regime has plumbed the depths of depravity by torturing and executing young political prisoners who were arrested during the nationwide uprisings in 2018 and 2019. On Sept. 12, they hanged 27-year-old Navid Afkari, a champion wrestler and a celebrity in Iran. He had been detained along with his two brothers for participating in street protests in the city of Shiraz in 2018. Afkari was brutally tortured for 50 days then forced to make a false, televised confession. His burial was restricted to only half a dozen close family members and heavily policed to prevent further mass demonstrations from Iranians outraged by his execution. Advertisement
Seventeen Nobel laureates signed a statement condemning Afkari's execution. Now many other political prisoners, tortured into making confessions, have been transferred to death row to await execution.
Advertisement
Resistance units inside Iran have uncovered the scandalous extent of torture and human rights abuse directed mainly at political prisoners and particularly at the thousands of young people detained during the nationwide uprising across Iran last November. The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, the theocratic regime's Gestapo, has utilized its Intelligence Division to set up a network of temporary and secret torture centers across Iran to deal with the huge number of arrested protesters. In Shiraz, the city where Afkari was brutalized and executed, the secret torture center has been identified in the Ebrat building.
Over 12,000 political prisoners, many of whom were children or teenagers under the age of 18, who were arrested following the November uprising, were taken to Ebrat and other secret torture centers across Iran for brutal beatings, agonizing electric shock torture, mock executions and whippings to force them to make false confessions, after which they were transferred to prisons such as Gohardasht, Evin and Greater Tehran (Fashafuyeh) for detention and possible execution.
Secret torture centers have been identified at Shahriar Security Police Center and Gisha Security Police base, among a long list of others. Many prisoners who were severely wounded by torture, by having their fingernails pulled out, or bones broken, were denied medical attention after their wounds became infected. Dozens who were wounded by gunshots during the protests, when the IRGC and security forces fired live ammunition into the crowds, killing 1,500 and wounding thousands, were dragged from their hospital beds by the security forces. They were taken to the network of secret torture centers, where they were tied, blindfolded and assaulted for days on end. Some died under torture.
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These are depraved crimes against humanity of the worst kind. It is incredible that medieval tortures and executions are continuing, even as leaders of the international community participate in the U.N. General Assembly in New York, making noble speeches about human rights. It is a scandalous indictment of the international community's failure to hold the Islamic Republic to account for these crimes and indeed for the 1988 massacre of over 30,000 political prisoners, one of the worst atrocities since the end of World War II.
It is thought-provoking that the United Nations recently sent an independent mission of investigation to Venezuela, resulting in a harsh and condemnatory report accusing the Nicolás Maduro regime of human rights abuse in that country. While that action was commendable, it is bewildering that no such similar action has been directed at the Iranian regime, where the abuse of human rights is much, much worse than in Venezuela.
At a time when both Amnesty International and the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights have furnished the U.N. Secretary General with detailed reports on the abuse of human rights ongoing in Iran, urgent action needs to be taken. The United Nations must instruct an independent mission of investigation to visit political prisoners in Iran and demand their immediate release. They must urge individual member states of the United Nations, particularly from European countries, to instruct their ambassadors in Tehran to visit political prisoners and to call for an end to torture and execution. The world cannot stand idly by and watch this horror unfold.
Advertisement
Twenty-one human rights groups have issued a joint appeal to the United Nations to launch an investigation into the 1988 massacre of political prisoners in Iran. The massacre, which led to the execution of more than 30,000 political prisoners, primarily members of the opposition People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), has never been investigated and the perpetrators have never been held to account. Many of the key executioners from 1988 are now in positions of power in the clerical regime.
Key among them is Ebrahim Raisi, the regime's current judiciary chief. In 1988, he was Tehran's deputy prosecutor and a key member of Tehran's "Death Commission," a group of regime officials who carried out minutes-long trials for the prisoners being sent to the gallows. Alireza Avaie, a member of the Death Commission in Khuzestan, is today justice minister in President Hassan Rouhani's government. His two predecessors, who held office in the previous eight years, Mustafa Pour-Mohammadi and Morteza Bakhtiari, were also members of the Death Commissions.
Surely this is a wake-up call for the United Nations. The time for fine words is long past and the time for action has arrived. The United Nations must stop dithering. There must be no impunity for those past and present crimes. The guilty must be indicted for crimes against humanity and brought before the international criminal courts. As the U.N. General Assembly continues in New York, the world is watching.
Advertisement
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 is also president of the European Iraqi Freedom Association.


upi--2020-09-28--Brittany Cartwright, Jax Taylor expecting a baby boy

Sept. 28 ( UPI ) -- Vanderpump Rules stars Brittany Cartwright and Jax Taylor have announced on Instagram that they @ @ @ @ @ together .
`` It 's a BOY !
!
!
! ''
Cartwright said on @ @ @ @ @ and Taylor finding out they are having a boy at a gender reveal party .
@ @ @ @ @ the party which featured the reality star holding up a an infant sized shirt that @ @ @ @ @ I 'm the # 1 guy in this group . ''
Cartwright and Taylor married @ @ @ @ @ couple recently said that Cartwright is 11 weeks pregnant and is due to give birth @ @ @ @ @ Rules stars Lala Kent and Stassi Schroeder also expecting their first children .
Kent is @ @ @ @ @ fiance Randall Emmett while Schroeder , who was fired from Vanderpump Rules in June , @ @ @ @ @ her fiance Beau Clark .

TV personality Jax Taylor (L) and Brittany Cartwright announced on Instagram they are expecting a baby boy together. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 28 (UPI) -- Vanderpump Rules stars Brittany Cartwright and Jax Taylor have announced on Instagram that they are expecting a baby boy together. "It's a BOY!!!!" Cartwright said on Sunday alongside photos of herself and Taylor finding out they are having a boy at a gender reveal party. Advertisement
Taylor also uploaded photos from the party which featured the reality star holding up a an infant sized shirt that features the phrase, "I'm the #1 guy in this group."
Cartwright and Taylor married in June 2019. The couple recently said that Cartwright is 11 weeks pregnant and is due to give birth in April.
Fellow Vanderpump Rules stars Lala Kent and Stassi Schroeder also expecting their first children.
Kent is expecting a daughter with her fiance Randall Emmett while Schroeder, who was fired from Vanderpump Rules in June, is expecting a daughter with her fiance Beau Clark.


upi--2020-09-28--Cardinals beat Brewers; both teams clinch playoff spots

Sept. 28 ( UPI ) -- The St. Louis Cardinals beat the Milwaukee Brewers in their final game of the regular season , but both National League Central teams emerged from the game with playoff berths .
Cardinals starter Austin Gomber allowed one hit and one run in four innings in the 5-2 win Sunday at Busch Stadium in St. Louis .
Cardinals center fielder Harrison Bader went 2 for 3 with two runs scored , an RBI , a home run and a triple .
Paul Goldschmidt also went 3 for 4 with an RBI in the win .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the postseason despite a 17-day midseason hiatus from their schedule in August due to a team COVID-19 outbreak .
The Cardinals had 18 people impacted by the coronavirus and had to play 53 games in 44 days .
`` When we did n't play for two weeks , you had no idea what to expect , '' Goldschmidt told reporters .
`` How were we going to play ?
What was going to happen ?
What was the schedule going to be like ?
`` It kind of felt like if we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be a huge accomplishment in itself , or to even be in the race .
For us to do it , I think it 's a great accomplishment . ''
The Cardinals ( 30-28 ) used three RBI singles to earn a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning on Sunday in St. Louis .
Daniel Vogelbach then plated Christian Yelich on an RBI groundout in the top of the fourth frame for the Brewers .
Bader hit a 425-foot solo homer to left field in the bottom of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the game 's final run with an RBI single in the top of the ninth inning for the Brewers .
Brewers starter Brett Anderson allowed two hits and two runs in two innings to finish the season at 4-4 .
Nottingham led the Brewers at the plate with a 2 for 4 night .
Cardinals relief pitcher Alex Reyes allowed two hits and a run in 1 2/3 innings to earn his first save of the season .
The Cardinals clinched the No .
5 seed in the National League due to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
8 seed after losses by the Philadelphia Phillies and San Francisco Giants .
`` There were so many challenges that we had to deal with on a daily basis , behind the scenes things that you do n't deal with in a normal year , '' Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich said .
`` It was n't pretty .
We took a beating sometimes .
`` We had our ups and downs , but we were able to find a way to sneak in . ''
The Cardinals face the San Diego Padres @ @ @ @ @ @ @ series at 5 p.m. EDT Wednesday in San Diego .
The Brewers ( 29-31 ) battle the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of another wild card series at 10 p.m. EDT Wednesday in Los Angeles .

1/3
St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina (C) hit .262 this season to help his squad make the 2020 postseason. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 28 (UPI) -- The St. Louis Cardinals beat the Milwaukee Brewers in their final game of the regular season, but both National League Central teams emerged from the game with playoff berths. Cardinals starter Austin Gomber allowed one hit and one run in four innings in the 5-2 win Sunday at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. Cardinals center fielder Harrison Bader went 2 for 3 with two runs scored, an RBI, a home run and a triple. Advertisement
Paul Goldschmidt also went 3 for 4 with an RBI in the win.
St. Louis managed to clinch a spot in the postseason despite a 17-day midseason hiatus from their schedule in August due to a team COVID-19 outbreak. The Cardinals had 18 people impacted by the coronavirus and had to play 53 games in 44 days.
"When we didn't play for two weeks, you had no idea what to expect," Goldschmidt told reporters. "How were we going to play? What was going to happen? What was the schedule going to be like?
"It kind of felt like if we made the playoffs, it was going to be a huge accomplishment in itself, or to even be in the race. For us to do it, I think it's a great accomplishment."
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The Cardinals (30-28) used three RBI singles to earn a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning on Sunday in St. Louis. Daniel Vogelbach then plated Christian Yelich on an RBI groundout in the top of the fourth frame for the Brewers.
Bader hit a 425-foot solo homer to left field in the bottom of the fourth inning. Jacob Nottingham then plated the game's final run with an RBI single in the top of the ninth inning for the Brewers.
Brewers starter Brett Anderson allowed two hits and two runs in two innings to finish the season at 4-4. Nottingham led the Brewers at the plate with a 2 for 4 night. Cardinals relief pitcher Alex Reyes allowed two hits and a run in 1 2/3 innings to earn his first save of the season.
The Cardinals clinched the No. 5 seed in the National League due to the victory. The Brewers snagged the No. 8 seed after losses by the Philadelphia Phillies and San Francisco Giants.
"There were so many challenges that we had to deal with on a daily basis, behind the scenes things that you don't deal with in a normal year," Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich said. "It wasn't pretty. We took a beating sometimes.
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"We had our ups and downs, but we were able to find a way to sneak in."
The Cardinals face the San Diego Padres in Game 1 of a wild card series at 5 p.m. EDT Wednesday in San Diego. The Brewers (29-31) battle the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of another wild card series at 10 p.m. EDT Wednesday in Los Angeles.
This week in Major League Baseball


upi--2020-09-28--Ex-Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale detained, hospitalized in Florida

Sept. 28 ( UPI ) -- Brad Parscale , a former campaign manager for President Donald Trump 's re-election bid , has been hospitalized in Florida after barricading himself in his home and threatening to harm himself , police said .
Authorities in Fort Lauderdale said officers responded to Parscale 's home on Sunday after receiving an emergency call of an armed man threatening to harm himself .
At his home , Parscale 's wife told police he had access to multiple firearms .
`` It was indicated to me that he had weapons , '' Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to leave his house , after which he was detained on a mental health hold and taken to the hospital .
Parscale , 44 , was demoted by the Trump campaign in July after a campaign rally in Tulsa , Okla. , drew only about 6,000 attendees .
He was replaced with his deputy , Bill Stepien , but remained on the staff as a senior adviser .
`` Brad Parscale is a member of our family and we all love him .
We are ready to support him and his family in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tim Murtaugh said .
Parscale was hailed by the campaign as a digital guru whose voter modeling and use of `` mircotargeted '' online advertising was credited as a key factor in Trump 's election four years ago .
He was originally hired by Trump 's son-in-law and top adviser Jared Kushner .
Parscale attracted attention earlier this year when the Lincoln Project , a group of anti-Trump Republicans , ran a political ad targeting his `` rich '' lifestyle in Florida -- where the president is registered to vote and owns multiple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2019 that a company owned by Parscale had received hundreds of thousands of dollars from Trump 's flagship political action committee , which is barred from coordinating with the campaign .

Former Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale, right, is pictured as he arrives for a panel discussion at the Conservative Political Action Conference on February 28 in National Harbor, Md. File Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 28 (UPI) -- Brad Parscale, a former campaign manager for President Donald Trump's re-election bid, has been hospitalized in Florida after barricading himself in his home and threatening to harm himself, police said. Authorities in Fort Lauderdale said officers responded to Parscale's home on Sunday after receiving an emergency call of an armed man threatening to harm himself. Advertisement
At his home, Parscale's wife told police he had access to multiple firearms.
"It was indicated to me that he had weapons," Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis said.
Police eventually convinced Parscale to leave his house, after which he was detained on a mental health hold and taken to the hospital.
Parscale, 44, was demoted by the Trump campaign in July after a campaign rally in Tulsa, Okla., drew only about 6,000 attendees. He was replaced with his deputy, Bill Stepien, but remained on the staff as a senior adviser.
"Brad Parscale is a member of our family and we all love him. We are ready to support him and his family in any way possible," campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh said.
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Parscale was hailed by the campaign as a digital guru whose voter modeling and use of "mircotargeted" online advertising was credited as a key factor in Trump's election four years ago. He was originally hired by Trump's son-in-law and top adviser Jared Kushner.
Parscale attracted attention earlier this year when the Lincoln Project, a group of anti-Trump Republicans, ran a political ad targeting his "rich" lifestyle in Florida -- where the president is registered to vote and owns multiple luxury resorts.
CNN reported in August 2019 that a company owned by Parscale had received hundreds of thousands of dollars from Trump's flagship political action committee, which is barred from coordinating with the campaign.