upi--2020-04-21--Alex Rodriguez, Jennifer Lopez retain banker for possible Mets bid

April 21 ( UPI ) -- Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez have increased their interest in buying the New York Mets , retaining a bank to raise money for a possible bid for a share of the Major League Baseball franchise .
Sources told Variety and the New York Post that Rodriguez and Lopez hired JPMorgan Chase to raise capital for the bid .
The move came a month after Rodriguez said on The Tonight Show that he `` would certainly look '' at the opportunity to buy the franchise .
A source told the Post in February that Rodriguez @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Wilpon family , who owns the team , said it still plans to sell the Mets after a previous deal with billionaire Steve Cohen fell through in February .
The team is valued at about $ 2.6 billion .
The Wilpons assumed control of the Mets when they bought Nelson Doubleday for $ 135 million in 2002 .
Sources told Variety that Lopez and Rodriguez are working with JPMorgan Chase managing director Eric Menell , the bank 's co-head of North American media investment banking , to raise capital for their potential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ & Company 's Steve Greenberg to oversee the sale of the team .
Rodriguez made more than $ 400 million in salary during his decorated MLB tenure .
Lopez earned an estimated $ 43 million in 2019 , according to Forbes .
If Rodriguez were able to secure a share of the team , he would join former teammate Derek Jeter among MLB ownership groups that include former players .
Jeter was part of a group that purchased the Miami Marlins for $ 1.2 billion in 2017 .
Rodriguez was a Mets fan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was born in New York .

Former New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez said in March that he is interested in buying the New York Mets. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
April 21 (UPI) -- Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez have increased their interest in buying the New York Mets, retaining a bank to raise money for a possible bid for a share of the Major League Baseball franchise. Sources told Variety and the New York Post that Rodriguez and Lopez hired JPMorgan Chase to raise capital for the bid. The move came a month after Rodriguez said on The Tonight Show that he "would certainly look" at the opportunity to buy the franchise. A source told the Post in February that Rodriguez was "kicking the tires." Advertisement
The Wilpon family, who owns the team, said it still plans to sell the Mets after a previous deal with billionaire Steve Cohen fell through in February. The team is valued at about $2.6 billion.
The Wilpons assumed control of the Mets when they bought Nelson Doubleday for $135 million in 2002. Sources told Variety that Lopez and Rodriguez are working with JPMorgan Chase managing director Eric Menell, the bank's co-head of North American media investment banking, to raise capital for their potential bid.
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The Mets have hired Allen & Company's Steve Greenberg to oversee the sale of the team.
Rodriguez made more than $400 million in salary during his decorated MLB tenure. Lopez earned an estimated $43 million in 2019, according to Forbes.
If Rodriguez were able to secure a share of the team, he would join former teammate Derek Jeter among MLB ownership groups that include former players. Jeter was part of a group that purchased the Miami Marlins for $1.2 billion in 2017.
Rodriguez was a Mets fan when he was a child. Lopez was born in New York.


upi--2020-04-21--Watch: Snoop Dogg celebrates 4/20 on 'Kimmel'

The rapper , on Monday , discussed what makes 4/20 special and answered a number of 4/20 related questions .
Snoop Dogg said that 4/20 allows cannabis users to come out of the closet and partake in the drug without any judgement .
`` This the day where you could do it , no one 's gon na say noting about you .
Everybody 's gon na celebrate and everybody gon na be high so you 're gon na feel and fit right in , '' Snoop Dogg said as smoke appeared around him .
Snoop Dogg also mentioned that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ever out smoke him .
`` He got me once upon a time on 4/20 in Amsterdam .
I could n't take it .
Willie got me man , '' Snoop Dogg said while laughing .
Willie Nelson held his own 4/20 celebration on Monday by hosting a live streamed variety show titled Come and Toke It .
Nelson also appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert where he performed `` Hello Walls '' with his sons Lukas Nelson and Micah Nelson .
Nelson dedicated the performance to Faron Young who the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

April 21 (UPI) -- Snoop Dogg celebrated marijuana holiday 4/20 while appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live.
The rapper, on Monday, discussed what makes 4/20 special and answered a number of 4/20 related questions.
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Snoop Dogg said that 4/20 allows cannabis users to come out of the closet and partake in the drug without any judgement.
"This the day where you could do it, no one's gonna say noting about you. Everybody's gonna celebrate and everybody gonna be high so you're gonna feel and fit right in," Snoop Dogg said as smoke appeared around him.
Snoop Dogg also mentioned that Willie Nelson is the only person to ever out smoke him.
"He got me once upon a time on 4/20 in Amsterdam. I couldn't take it. Willie got me man," Snoop Dogg said while laughing.
Willie Nelson held his own 4/20 celebration on Monday by hosting a live streamed variety show titled Come and Toke It.
Nelson also appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert where he performed "Hello Walls" with his sons Lukas Nelson and Micah Nelson.
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Nelson dedicated the performance to Faron Young who the music legend originally wrote the song for.


upi--2020-04-21--ONS: Coronavirus deaths in England, Wales 41% higher than reported

A policeman is seen outside St.Thomas' Hospital in London on April 8. Healthcare consultants last week estimated coronavirus toll in England and Wales is far higher than the government had reported due to deaths in care homes and private homes. Photo by Will Oliver/EPA-EFE
April 21 (UPI) -- Coronavirus-related deaths in England and Wales are actually 41 percent higher than the widely cited official health department figures, Britain's Office for National Statistics reported Tuesday. The ONS tabulated deaths attributed to coronavirus not only in hospital settings but also in nursing homes, private residencies and elsewhere to place the death toll in England and Wales at more than 13,000 since the beginning of the pandemic through April 10. Advertisement
Britain's Department of Health, meanwhile, reported only 9,288 deaths during the period and included only those recorded in hospitals.
The ONS figures also showed COVID-19 deaths quickly accelerated in care homes.
The discrepancy between figures cited by health officials and the ONS fueled concerns that Britain's toll is being significantly under-reported, especially among the elderly.
The ONS figures show the "terrible toll [the] virus is having on elderly & disabled people, yet figures still only scratching the surface as already 11 days out of date," tweeted Liz Kendall, the Labor Party's shadow social care minister.
Healthcare consultants Candesic last week estimated coronavirus toll in England and Wales is far higher than the government had reported due to deaths in care homes and private homes. Those deaths were not attributed to COVID-19 in part because almost none of the dead were tested for the disease, the firm said.
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Scenes from a pandemic: World copes with COVID-19


upi--2020-04-21--Virgin Australia in 'voluntary administration' after gov't refuses $880M loan

In an open letter to Virgin Australia employees, Richard Branson blamed the Australian government and vowed the carrier will survive. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
April 21 (UPI) -- Virgin Australia said Tuesday it's entered voluntary administration after billionaire owner Richard Branson failed to secure a loan from the Australian government, putting some 16,000 jobs at risk. Australia's second-largest airline said a team of administrators have taken over to "recapitalize the business and help ensure it emerges in a stronger financial position on the other side of the COVID-19 crisis." Advertisement
Commercial air travel worldwide has declined during the crisis. Earlier, the Australian government turned down the airline's request for an $880 million loan.
In an open letter to Virgin Australia employees posted on Twitter, Branson blamed the Australian government and vowed the carrier will survive.
"This is not the end for Virgin Australia and its unique culture," Branson wrote. "Never one to give up, I want to assure all of you -- and our competitor [Qantas] -- that we are determined to see Virgin Australia back up and running soon."
Administrators said although there are no plans yet for layoffs, 80 percent of Virgin Australia's employees aren't working and the airline has cut back 95 percent of its flights.
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Vaughan Strawbridge, a voluntary administrator, said the company is looking for new owners or investors. Etihad Airways and Singapore Airlines are also major shareholders in Virgin Australia.
"The intent is to seek to sell the majority, if not all of the business, as one," said Strawbridge.
Scenes from a pandemic: World copes with COVID-19


upi--2020-04-21--Iran orders people back to work amid coronavirus

April 21 ( UPI ) -- Either stay at home and die of hunger , or go out to work and die of the coronavirus .
That seems to be the stark choice on offer to the population of Iran .
Insisting that they have managed to control the virus , the theocratic regime has ordered its impoverished citizens to return to work or face severe fines or even imprisonment .
President Hassan Rouhani has said it is safe for people to return to work and for schools to reopen and many shops , factories , warehouses and workshops have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the disease .
Far from controlling COVID-19 , as Rouhani and the supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei insist , resistance units of the main opposition , People 's Mojahdein Organization of Iran ( PMOI/MEK ) , report that there are more than 1 million Iranians infected with the virus , with the overall death toll spiraling to over 33,000 .
The mullahs have lost control of the disease and lost control of the Iranian economy .
Having stolen the people 's wealth for 41 years since the 1979 revolution , squandering billions on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wars in Syria , Yemen , Lebanon , Gaza and Iraq , spending billions more on their top-secret nuclear weapons program , while stuffing bags of cash into their own private bank accounts , they are now facing crunch time .
The perfect storm of an economy in free fall due to brazen mismanagement and U.S. President Donald Trump 's `` maximum pressure '' sanctions policy , combined with the mushrooming impact of the coronavirus , has left the mullahs adrift in a sea of turmoil and confusion .
On the one hand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus and the overall death toll is much lower than the true figures and that everything is fine , while on the other hand , they go cap in hand to the International Monetary Fund begging for a $ 5 billion bailout package .
Even Mohsen Rafsanjani , chairman of Tehran 's City Council , has acknowledged that the true statistics for those infected and killed by the virus are much greater than those announced daily on state-controlled media , by the government .
For Iran 's 80 million people , the majority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus , on incomes at or below the international poverty line , the mullahs ' offer of coronavirus loans of 1 million tomans ( $ 60 ) per family , repayable after two months , is a bizarre joke .
They know from social media the generous extent of coronavirus aid being distributed internationally by countries around the globe .
They know that in the United Kingdom , Boris Johnson has pledged help of £330 billion ( $ 410 billion ) .
Emmanuel Macron in France , Pedro Sánchez in Spain , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have pledged similar massive aid packages , which will cause years of debt and austerity .
In America , Trump has pledged trillions of dollars in economic relief .
Every civilized nation is pursuing a policy of almost total lockdown , with major compensation being provided for workers forced to stay at home and for shops , restaurants , factories and warehouses forced to close .
But these nations and their democratically elected governments put the lives and health of their citizens first .
Iran 's beleaguered citizens recognize that no such help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , despite the fact that Khamenei and his elite cohorts are well-known to have ready access to funds worth many billions of dollars .
According to information leaked by some of the regime 's senior officials , there are five institutions that control in excess of 60 percent of the national wealth .
These include : the Headquarters to Execute the Imam 's Order ( Setad Ejraie Farman Imam ) , the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ' Khatam al-Anbiya Garrison , the Astan-e Quds Razavi , the Martyrs Foundation and the Mostaz'afan Foundation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the direct total of Khamenei .
Setad 's assets and capital alone are estimated to be in excess of $ 100 billion .
The National Development Fund , which is also under the total control of Khamenei , reportedly has billions of dollars in assets .
These institutions possess huge assets and facilities plundered from the Iranian people .
Even a small portion of their riches could pay for the costs of confronting the coronavirus , including paying the salaries of workers , employees , doctors and nurses .
But Khamenei , Rouhani @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their own pockets or direct these funds to waging war on their Middle East neighbors and sponsoring terror than saving lives and businesses in Iran .
Now the `` Islamic Republic '' has begun to realize the error of their ways .
The seething unrest in the general population that erupted in a nationwide uprising in November 2019 is bubbling under the surface , ready to explode .
Iran is once again a powder keg .
The IRGC -- the regime 's Gestapo -- murdered 1,500 of the unarmed protesters during the November @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of these young political prisoners are now facing almost certain contagion in the regime 's death-trap prisons , where no medical facilities to combat the coronavirus have been provided .
Resulting prison riots and breakouts have been ruthlessly crushed by the IRGC , with dozens of escapees killed and injured and several subsequently recaptured and executed .
The mullahs now fear another wave of protests which will explode into a new revolution , sweeping their medieval regime from power .
They are terrified and their panic has been reflected in speeches and writings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The state-run Mizan News Agency , which is affiliated with the Iranian regime 's judiciary , published a recent article in which they stated : `` With a severe shortage of goods and commodities , there is a possibility of a rebellion .
But whether there will be national uprisings against the regime , the extent of the people 's resilience to the crisis should be mentioned .
Crossing the line of resilience and the lack of a centralized crisis management mechanism can turn local and regional uprisings into nationwide uprisings .
Linking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ developments , including November 2019 , creates a rebellion process . ''
On April 7 , the state-run Iran-Emrouz daily newspaper stated : `` We are going to have a major social upheaval after the coronavirus is over .
The situation is not going to be calm .
It is going to be exactly like the period after the 2017 elections [ uprisings ] , and we are going to see repeated and powerful incidents . ''
The media are right .
The Iranian people have had enough .
Being told to choose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from disease at work , they may decide that the greatest threat to their lives is not starvation or COVID-19 .
The greatest threat to their lives is the theocratic regime and the only cure is regime change .
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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ East and president of the European Iraqi Freedom Association .

Iranians wearing face masks and protective gloves go shopping at Tehran's grand bazaar on Monday. Photo by Abedin Taherkenareh/EPA-EFE
April 21 (UPI) -- Either stay at home and die of hunger, or go out to work and die of the coronavirus. That seems to be the stark choice on offer to the population of Iran. Insisting that they have managed to control the virus, the theocratic regime has ordered its impoverished citizens to return to work or face severe fines or even imprisonment. President Hassan Rouhani has said it is safe for people to return to work and for schools to reopen and many shops, factories, warehouses and workshops have resumed operations, exposing their workers to the disease. Advertisement
Far from controlling COVID-19, as Rouhani and the supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei insist, resistance units of the main opposition, People's Mojahdein Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), report that there are more than 1 million Iranians infected with the virus, with the overall death toll spiraling to over 33,000.
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The mullahs have lost control of the disease and lost control of the Iranian economy. Having stolen the people's wealth for 41 years since the 1979 revolution, squandering billions on the export of terror and on proxy wars in Syria, Yemen, Lebanon, Gaza and Iraq, spending billions more on their top-secret nuclear weapons program, while stuffing bags of cash into their own private bank accounts, they are now facing crunch time.
The perfect storm of an economy in free fall due to brazen mismanagement and U.S. President Donald Trump's "maximum pressure" sanctions policy, combined with the mushrooming impact of the coronavirus, has left the mullahs adrift in a sea of turmoil and confusion.
On the one hand, they pretend the spread of the virus and the overall death toll is much lower than the true figures and that everything is fine, while on the other hand, they go cap in hand to the International Monetary Fund begging for a $5 billion bailout package. Even Mohsen Rafsanjani, chairman of Tehran's City Council, has acknowledged that the true statistics for those infected and killed by the virus are much greater than those announced daily on state-controlled media, by the government.
Advertisement
For Iran's 80 million people, the majority of whom were surviving, even before the virus, on incomes at or below the international poverty line, the mullahs' offer of coronavirus loans of 1 million tomans ($60) per family, repayable after two months, is a bizarre joke. They know from social media the generous extent of coronavirus aid being distributed internationally by countries around the globe.
They know that in the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson has pledged help of £330 billion ($410 billion). Emmanuel Macron in France, Pedro Sánchez in Spain, Angela Merkel in Germany and other leaders have pledged similar massive aid packages, which will cause years of debt and austerity. In America, Trump has pledged trillions of dollars in economic relief.
Every civilized nation is pursuing a policy of almost total lockdown, with major compensation being provided for workers forced to stay at home and for shops, restaurants, factories and warehouses forced to close. But these nations and their democratically elected governments put the lives and health of their citizens first. Iran's beleaguered citizens recognize that no such help is being offered by their oppressive rulers, despite the fact that Khamenei and his elite cohorts are well-known to have ready access to funds worth many billions of dollars.
Advertisement
According to information leaked by some of the regime's senior officials, there are five institutions that control in excess of 60 percent of the national wealth. These include: the Headquarters to Execute the Imam's Order (Setad Ejraie Farman Imam), the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Khatam al-Anbiya Garrison, the Astan-e Quds Razavi, the Martyrs Foundation and the Mostaz'afan Foundation. All of these institutions are under the direct total of Khamenei.
Setad's assets and capital alone are estimated to be in excess of $100 billion. The National Development Fund, which is also under the total control of Khamenei, reportedly has billions of dollars in assets. These institutions possess huge assets and facilities plundered from the Iranian people. Even a small portion of their riches could pay for the costs of confronting the coronavirus, including paying the salaries of workers, employees, doctors and nurses. But Khamenei, Rouhani and their clerical cronies would rather fill their own pockets or direct these funds to waging war on their Middle East neighbors and sponsoring terror than saving lives and businesses in Iran.
Now the "Islamic Republic" has begun to realize the error of their ways. The seething unrest in the general population that erupted in a nationwide uprising in November 2019 is bubbling under the surface, ready to explode. Iran is once again a powder keg. The IRGC -- the regime's Gestapo -- murdered 1,500 of the unarmed protesters during the November uprising and arrested thousands more. Many of these young political prisoners are now facing almost certain contagion in the regime's death-trap prisons, where no medical facilities to combat the coronavirus have been provided. Resulting prison riots and breakouts have been ruthlessly crushed by the IRGC, with dozens of escapees killed and injured and several subsequently recaptured and executed.
Advertisement
The mullahs now fear another wave of protests which will explode into a new revolution, sweeping their medieval regime from power. They are terrified and their panic has been reflected in speeches and writings by some of their top officials. The state-run Mizan News Agency, which is affiliated with the Iranian regime's judiciary, published a recent article in which they stated: "With a severe shortage of goods and commodities, there is a possibility of a rebellion. But whether there will be national uprisings against the regime, the extent of the people's resilience to the crisis should be mentioned. Crossing the line of resilience and the lack of a centralized crisis management mechanism can turn local and regional uprisings into nationwide uprisings. Linking the corona crisis in Iran with past developments, including November 2019, creates a rebellion process."
On April 7, the state-run Iran-Emrouz daily newspaper stated: "We are going to have a major social upheaval after the coronavirus is over. The situation is not going to be calm. It is going to be exactly like the period after the 2017 elections [uprisings], and we are going to see repeated and powerful incidents."
The media are right. The Iranian people have had enough. Being told to choose death from hunger at home or death from disease at work, they may decide that the greatest threat to their lives is not starvation or COVID-19. The greatest threat to their lives is the theocratic regime and the only cure is regime change.
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 president of the European Iraqi Freedom Association.


upi--2020-04-21--Scientists find microbes eating ethane spewing from deep-sea vents

April 21 ( UPI ) -- Scientists in Germany have discovered a community of microbes that subsist on the ethane seeping from hot deep-sea vents at the bottom of the Gulf of California .
They described their findings Tuesday in the journal mBio .
Different microbes can turn a variety of organic compounds into energy , but ethane consumption is rare .
Most microbes can break down their preferred food source without assistance , but the breakdown of the two main components of natural gas , methane and ethane , requires cooperation between two different types of microbes , archaea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ known as a consortium .
Because consortium microbes tend to reproduce very slowly , studying them in the lab is difficult .
Scientists were surprised to find that ethane-munching microbes found at the bottom of Guaymas Basin are fast growers , with cells doubling every week .
`` The laboratory cultures keep me pretty busy .
But this way we now have enough biomass for extensive analyses , '' researcher Cedric Hahn , doctoral student at the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology , said in a news release .
`` For example @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intercellular intermediates in ethane degradation .
Also , we present the first complete genome of a natural gas-degrading archaea in this study . ''
The bacteria from the newly discovered consortium are known species , but researchers had never seen the archaea species .
They named the species Ethanoperedens thermophilum , meaning `` heat-loving ethane-eater . ''
`` We have found gene sequences of these archaea at many deep-sea vents .
Now we finally understand their function , '' said researcher Katrin Knittle .
Scientists also found that the newly named archaea 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Researchers are now working to find out whether other consortium pairings can be manipulated to produce ethane instead of methane .
`` We are not yet ready to understand all the steps involved in ethane degradation , '' said researcher Rafael Laso Pérez .
`` We are currently investigating how Ethanoperedens can work so efficiently .
If we understand its tricks , we could culture new archaea in the lab that could be used to obtain resources that currently have to be extracted from natural gas . ''
It 's possible consortium @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used to limit carbon emissions from various pollution sources .
`` This is still a long way off , '' Wegener said .
`` But we are pursuing our research .
One thing we know for sure : We should n't underestimate the smallest inhabitants of the sea ! ''

Scientists were able to collect microbial samples from hot vents at the bottom of the ocean using ALVIN, a deep-diving submersible. Photo by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
April 21 (UPI) -- Scientists in Germany have discovered a community of microbes that subsist on the ethane seeping from hot deep-sea vents at the bottom of the Gulf of California. They described their findings Tuesday in the journal mBio. Different microbes can turn a variety of organic compounds into energy, but ethane consumption is rare. Most microbes can break down their preferred food source without assistance, but the breakdown of the two main components of natural gas, methane and ethane, requires cooperation between two different types of microbes, archaea and bacteria. Advertisement
The cooperative pairing is known as a consortium. Because consortium microbes tend to reproduce very slowly, studying them in the lab is difficult. Scientists were surprised to find that ethane-munching microbes found at the bottom of Guaymas Basin are fast growers, with cells doubling every week.
"The laboratory cultures keep me pretty busy. But this way we now have enough biomass for extensive analyses," researcher Cedric Hahn, doctoral student at the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, said in a news release. "For example, we were able to identify key intercellular intermediates in ethane degradation. Also, we present the first complete genome of a natural gas-degrading archaea in this study."
Advertisement
The bacteria from the newly discovered consortium are known species, but researchers had never seen the archaea species. They named the species Ethanoperedens thermophilum, meaning "heat-loving ethane-eater."
"We have found gene sequences of these archaea at many deep-sea vents. Now we finally understand their function," said researcher Katrin Knittle.
Scientists also found that the newly named archaea's close relatives eat CO2 and emit ethane. Researchers are now working to find out whether other consortium pairings can be manipulated to produce ethane instead of methane.
"We are not yet ready to understand all the steps involved in ethane degradation," said researcher Rafael Laso Pérez. "We are currently investigating how Ethanoperedens can work so efficiently. If we understand its tricks, we could culture new archaea in the lab that could be used to obtain resources that currently have to be extracted from natural gas."
It's possible consortium pairings cultured in the lab could be used to limit carbon emissions from various pollution sources.
"This is still a long way off," Wegener said. "But we are pursuing our research. One thing we know for sure: We shouldn't underestimate the smallest inhabitants of the sea!"


upi--2020-04-21--'The Batman' pushed back to October 2021

April 21 ( UPI ) -- The Batman , starring Robert Pattinson as the Caped Crusader , has been delayed until Oct. 1 2021 , Warner Bros. has announced .
The film , from director Matt Reeves , had it 's production suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
The Batman was originally set to hit theaters on June 25 , 2021 .
Zoe Kravitz also stars as Catwoman along with Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth , Colin Farrell as The Penguin , Paul Dano as The Riddler and Jeffrey Wright as Commissioner Gordon .
Warner Bros. has also delayed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Newark until March 12 , 2021 .
The film was going to be released on Sept. 25 , 2020 .
The Elvis Presley biopic from director Baz Luhrmann , starring Austin Butler as the music icon , will now be released on Nov. 5 , 2021 instead of Oct. 1 , 2021 .
Will Smith 's King Richard , where he portrays the father of Venus and Serena Williams , will hit theaters on Nov. 19 , 2021 instead of Nov. 25 , 2020 .
The Flash starring Ezra Miller has been moved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of opening on July 1 , 2022 and Shazam 2 with Zachary Levi will be released on Nov. 4 , 2022 instead of April 1 , 2022 .
Warner Bros. has not changed the July 17 release date of Tenet from director Christopher Nolan or Wonder Woman 1984 's new Aug. 14 release date .
The COVID-19 pandemic has shut down movie theaters around the world , causing studios to delay new films and release others early for digital platforms as viewers stay home .
Sony has delayed Ghostbusters : Afterlife from July @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while Disney has pushed back Pixar animated film Soul from June 19 to Nov. 20 .

1/2
"The Batman" star Robert Pattinson arrives at the 70th annual Cannes International Film Festival on May 2017. "The Batman" has been delayed until October. 2021. File Photo by David Silpa/UPI | License Photo
April 21 (UPI) -- The Batman, starring Robert Pattinson as the Caped Crusader, has been delayed until Oct. 1 2021, Warner Bros. has announced. The film, from director Matt Reeves, had it's production suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Batman was originally set to hit theaters on June 25, 2021. Advertisement
Zoe Kravitz also stars as Catwoman along with Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth, Colin Farrell as The Penguin, Paul Dano as The Riddler and Jeffrey Wright as Commissioner Gordon.
Warner Bros. has also delayed Sopranos prequel film The Many Saints of Newark until March 12, 2021. The film was going to be released on Sept. 25, 2020.
The Elvis Presley biopic from director Baz Luhrmann, starring Austin Butler as the music icon, will now be released on Nov. 5, 2021 instead of Oct. 1, 2021. Will Smith's King Richard, where he portrays the father of Venus and Serena Williams, will hit theaters on Nov. 19, 2021 instead of Nov. 25, 2020.
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The Flash starring Ezra Miller has been moved up to June 2, 2022 instead of opening on July 1, 2022 and Shazam 2 with Zachary Levi will be released on Nov. 4, 2022 instead of April 1, 2022.
Warner Bros. has not changed the July 17 release date of Tenet from director Christopher Nolan or Wonder Woman 1984's new Aug. 14 release date.
The COVID-19 pandemic has shut down movie theaters around the world, causing studios to delay new films and release others early for digital platforms as viewers stay home.
Sony has delayed Ghostbusters: Afterlife from July 10 to March 5, 2021, while Disney has pushed back Pixar animated film Soul from June 19 to Nov. 20.


upi--2020-04-21--In Photos: Moments from Jennifer Lopez's career

Lopez attends the premiere of `` The Wedding Planner '' in Culver City , Calif. , on January 23 , @ @ @ @ @ Fiore in the film .
She became the first female artist to have the No @ @ @ @ @ The Wedding Planner '' ) and the No .
1 album ( `` J .
@ @ @ @ @ week .
Photo by Russs Einhorn/Star Max/UPI

Lopez, the grand marshall of the Puerto Rican Day Parade, waves to the crowd as she rides up Fifth Avenue on June 13, 1999 in New York City. Lopez has Puerto Rican heritage, but was born in the Bronx in New York City. Photo by Hayden Roger Celestin/UPI


upi--2020-04-21--Queen Elizabeth II turns 94: A look back in pictures

Elizabeth pays an unexpected visit to Britain ’ s Concorde 002 supersonic jet with test pilot Brian Trubshaw at London @ @ @ @ @ return from its Far East tour on August 21 , 1972 .
The unscheduled royal @ @ @ @ @ went to Heathrow to board an aircraft for a journey to Edinburgh , Scotland .
@ @ @ @ @ the Concorde before departing .
UPI File Photo

From left to right, Elizabeth, with her husband Prince Philip and her children Prince Charles and Princess Anne, arrive from Windsor for the opening of the 1972 Royal Ascot, where they made the traditional open carriage drive down the course before the day's racing began. UPI File Photo


upi--2020-04-21--Draymond Green: Kevin Durant was' 'elephant in the room' for Warriors last year

April 21 ( UPI ) -- Draymond Green says Kevin Durant was the `` elephant in the room '' during his final season with the Golden State Warriors and should have told the team sooner about his intentions to leave in free agency .
Green spoke about his former teammate during the Uninterrupted show WRTS : After Party .
The Warriors star said he saw similarities to how the 1990s Chicago Bulls handled player contracts and transactions while watching The Last Dance documentary series , but wished Durant would have been as direct about the situation as Phil Jackson was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Durant to the Nets last summer , as the 10-time All-Star would have left the team in free agency anyway if the Warriors would n't have completed the sign-and-trade deal with Brooklyn .
Durant played on a one-year deal at the end of his tenure with the Warriors before choosing to opt-out of the 2020 season with the team .
Green said Durant should have let the Warriors know sooner if he wanted to stay or leave , a move which would have allowed them to clear the air and minimize distractions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ limit the questions the team dealt with from the media .
`` So , for instance , Kevin took the one-year deal on his own , '' Green said .
`` So that was kind of the elephant in the room .
And although [ coach ] Steve Kerr 's approach was like , 'Hey , guys , let 's approach this year because we do n't know what next year brings , ' you 've got Kevin 's contract , you 've got [ Klay Thompson ] 's contract , and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing , although I had another year after that year , which was this year .
`` And so that was kind of the elephant in the room , and although Steve would kind of hit on it , [ saying ] 'Let 's just enjoy this year for what it is because we do n't know what next year holds , ' it did n't necessarily carry the same weight because what should have happened was Kevin come out and say , 'Hey , man , this is it , so let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'This is n't it . '
'' The Bulls knew their team was falling apart and Jackson led the 1997-1998 campaign with the mantra of The Last Dance , motivating the players to win another championship before the team was broken up .
`` I think Phil [ Jackson ] did what was great , which is acknowledge the elephant in the room , '' Green said .
`` Because all year , if Phil does n't do that , all year everyone else is dealing with that somewhere .
And whether it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media ] , so now once you get these questions from the media , we 've already addressed that as a team .
`` We really do n't need to talk about that .
And our season was a little different from the standpoint of it was contracts , but it was on players .
It was n't necessarily the organization . ''
Green and Thompson said they were committed to the Warriors when they answered questions about their contracts last season , unlike Durant .
`` And then you kind of had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' I do n't know what I 'm going to do next year , and it do n't matter ' ; but it does matter , because you 're not the only person that has to answer that question , '' Green said .
Durant , 31 , averaged 25.8 points , 7.1 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game in three seasons with the Warriors .
The 2013-2014 NBA MVP won two championships with Golden State .

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (L) said former teammate Kevin Durant (R) should have informed the team earlier about his intentions to leave the Warriors last off-season. File Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI | License Photo
April 21 (UPI) -- Draymond Green says Kevin Durant was the "elephant in the room" during his final season with the Golden State Warriors and should have told the team sooner about his intentions to leave in free agency. Green spoke about his former teammate during the Uninterrupted show WRTS: After Party. The Warriors star said he saw similarities to how the 1990s Chicago Bulls handled player contracts and transactions while watching The Last Dance documentary series, but wished Durant would have been as direct about the situation as Phil Jackson was with the Bulls. Advertisement
The Warriors traded Durant to the Nets last summer, as the 10-time All-Star would have left the team in free agency anyway if the Warriors wouldn't have completed the sign-and-trade deal with Brooklyn. Durant played on a one-year deal at the end of his tenure with the Warriors before choosing to opt-out of the 2020 season with the team.
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Green said Durant should have let the Warriors know sooner if he wanted to stay or leave, a move which would have allowed them to clear the air and minimize distractions. Green said acknowledging contract situations would also limit the questions the team dealt with from the media.
"So, for instance, Kevin took the one-year deal on his own," Green said. "So that was kind of the elephant in the room. And although [coach] Steve Kerr's approach was like, 'Hey, guys, let's approach this year because we don't know what next year brings,' you've got Kevin's contract, you've got [Klay Thompson]'s contract, and I kind of got thrown in that contract thing, although I had another year after that year, which was this year.
"And so that was kind of the elephant in the room, and although Steve would kind of hit on it, [saying] 'Let's just enjoy this year for what it is because we don't know what next year holds,' it didn't necessarily carry the same weight because what should have happened was Kevin come out and say, 'Hey, man, this is it, so let's do this,' or, 'This isn't it.'"
The Bulls knew their team was falling apart and Jackson led the 1997-1998 campaign with the mantra of The Last Dance, motivating the players to win another championship before the team was broken up.
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"I think Phil [Jackson] did what was great, which is acknowledge the elephant in the room," Green said. "Because all year, if Phil doesn't do that, all year everyone else is dealing with that somewhere. And whether it's coming in questions [from the media], so now once you get these questions from the media, we've already addressed that as a team.
"We really don't need to talk about that. And our season was a little different from the standpoint of it was contracts, but it was on players. It wasn't necessarily the organization."
Green and Thompson said they were committed to the Warriors when they answered questions about their contracts last season, unlike Durant.
"And then you kind of had Kevin, [saying] like, 'I don't know what I'm going to do next year, and it don't matter'; but it does matter, because you're not the only person that has to answer that question," Green said.
Durant, 31, averaged 25.8 points, 7.1 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game in three seasons with the Warriors. The 2013-2014 NBA MVP won two championships with Golden State.


upi--2020-04-21--Amnesty: Saudi Arabia executed record number of inmates in 2019

April 21 ( UPI ) -- Saudi Arabia executed a record 184 people in 2019 while capital punishment generally declined in the rest of the world , human rights group Amnesty International said Tuesday .
Iraq , South Sudan , and Yemen joined Saudi Arabia as nations where the use of the death penalty significantly increased last year even as world as a whole saw a 5 percent decline , Amnesty said in its annual review of capital punishment .
`` The death penalty is an abhorrent and inhuman punishment ; and there is no credible evidence that it deters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Clare Algar , Amnesty International 's senior director for research , advocacy and policy .
`` A large majority of countries recognize this and it 's encouraging to see that executions continue to fall worldwide . ''
China remained the top executing country in the world , Amnesty said .
Its exact total is unknown , since Beijing treats executions as a state secret , but the toll is estimated to be in the thousands .
Iran , Saudi Arabia , Iraq and Egypt round out the top five .
Saudi executions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last year , the majority for drug-related offenses and murder .
However , Amnesty said Saudi officials are increasingly using the death penalty as a political weapon against Shia Muslim dissidents .
Iraq had the greatest rise , where executions nearly doubled from at least 52 in 2018 to at least 100 in 2019 , mainly due to the government executing members of the Islamic State terror group .
Still , Amnesty said the overall decline led to optimism that global abolition of the death penalty was `` within reach '' -- only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ executions worldwide .
`` We are calling on all states to abolish the death penalty , '' Algar said .
`` There needs to be international pressure on the world 's last remaining executioners to end this inhuman practice for good . ''

Saudi executions jumped from 149 in 2018 to 184 last year, the majority for drug-related offenses and murder. File Photo by Tolga Bozoglu/EPA-EFE
April 21 (UPI) -- Saudi Arabia executed a record 184 people in 2019 while capital punishment generally declined in the rest of the world, human rights group Amnesty International said Tuesday. Iraq, South Sudan, and Yemen joined Saudi Arabia as nations where the use of the death penalty significantly increased last year even as world as a whole saw a 5 percent decline, Amnesty said in its annual review of capital punishment. Advertisement
"The death penalty is an abhorrent and inhuman punishment; and there is no credible evidence that it deters crime more than prisons terms," said Clare Algar, Amnesty International's senior director for research, advocacy and policy. "A large majority of countries recognize this and it's encouraging to see that executions continue to fall worldwide."
China remained the top executing country in the world, Amnesty said. Its exact total is unknown, since Beijing treats executions as a state secret, but the toll is estimated to be in the thousands. Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Egypt round out the top five.
Saudi executions jumped from 149 in 2018 to 184 last year, the majority for drug-related offenses and murder.
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However, Amnesty said Saudi officials are increasingly using the death penalty as a political weapon against Shia Muslim dissidents.
Iraq had the greatest rise, where executions nearly doubled from at least 52 in 2018 to at least 100 in 2019, mainly due to the government executing members of the Islamic State terror group.
Still, Amnesty said the overall decline led to optimism that global abolition of the death penalty was "within reach" -- only 20 countries are responsible for all known executions worldwide.
"We are calling on all states to abolish the death penalty," Algar said. "There needs to be international pressure on the world's last remaining executioners to end this inhuman practice for good."


upi--2020-04-21--WWE Raw: Drew McIntyre challenges Seth Rollins

April 21 ( UPI ) -- WWE Champion Drew McIntyre challenged Seth Rollins to a title match at the Money in the Bank pay-per-view event on Raw .
McIntyre kicked things off on Monday by addressing Rollins after The Messiah had attacked him last week with two Curb Stomps .
McIntyre said that Rollins is one of the most decorated WWE superstars of all time , but that he wants to continually push himself by beating the best .
Rollins accepted the challenge , saying that both himself and McIntyre have been able to defeat Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ takes place on May 10 .
McIntyre competed in the main event against Angel Garza , one of Zelina Vega 's clients along with United States Champion Andrade and Austin Theory who were ringside for the match .
Garza was able to gain a small advantage due to receiving help from Andrade and Theory but the champ eventually took out Vega 's crew by diving outside the ring .
McIntyre then ended things by nailing Garza with the Claymore for the three count .
Theory also received a Claymore after the match was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disciple Murphy faced each other in a Money in the Bank qualifying match .
The winner would be able to compete in the Men 's Money in the Bank Ladder match on May 10 .
Mysterio and Murphy had a highly competitive match where Murphy was able to escape from Mysterio 's 619 maneuver twice .
Mysterio won the match after finally connecting with this third 619 followed by a Frog Splash .
The Men 's and Women 's Money in the Bank Ladder matches this year will be unique as they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The matches will begin on the ground floor of the office space where superstars will fight and race each other to the rooftop where the Money in the Bank briefcase is located .
The Money in the Bank briefcase guarantees the winner a world championship match at anytime .
Aleister Black qualified for the Men 's Money in the Bank Ladder match after he defeated Theory as did Apollo Crews who defeated MVP .
SmackDown 's Daniel Bryan will also be competing in the bout after qualifying on Friday .
Other moments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hartwell ; Ricochet and Cedric Alexander defeating Shane Thorne and Brendan Vink ; Nia Jax defeating Kairi Sane ; Liv Morgan defeating Ruby Riott ; NXT Women 's Champion Charlotte Flair defeating Kayden Carter ; Andrade defeating Akira Tozawa ; and Bianca Belair defeating Santana Garrett .

April 21 (UPI) -- WWE Champion Drew McIntyre challenged Seth Rollins to a title match at the Money in the Bank pay-per-view event on Raw.
McIntyre kicked things off on Monday by addressing Rollins after The Messiah had attacked him last week with two Curb Stomps.
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McIntyre said that Rollins is one of the most decorated WWE superstars of all time, but that he wants to continually push himself by beating the best.
Rollins accepted the challenge, saying that both himself and McIntyre have been able to defeat Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania. The Money in the Bank pay-per-view event takes place on May 10.
McIntyre competed in the main event against Angel Garza, one of Zelina Vega's clients along with United States Champion Andrade and Austin Theory who were ringside for the match.
Garza was able to gain a small advantage due to receiving help from Andrade and Theory but the champ eventually took out Vega's crew by diving outside the ring.
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McIntyre then ended things by nailing Garza with the Claymore for the three count. Theory also received a Claymore after the match was over.
Rey Mysterio and Rollins' disciple Murphy faced each other in a Money in the Bank qualifying match. The winner would be able to compete in the Men's Money in the Bank Ladder match on May 10.
Mysterio and Murphy had a highly competitive match where Murphy was able to escape from Mysterio's 619 maneuver twice. Mysterio won the match after finally connecting with this third 619 followed by a Frog Splash.
The Men's and Women's Money in the Bank Ladder matches this year will be unique as they are taking place at WWWE headquarters in Stamford. The matches will begin on the ground floor of the office space where superstars will fight and race each other to the rooftop where the Money in the Bank briefcase is located.
The Money in the Bank briefcase guarantees the winner a world championship match at anytime.
Aleister Black qualified for the Men's Money in the Bank Ladder match after he defeated Theory as did Apollo Crews who defeated MVP. SmackDown's Daniel Bryan will also be competing in the bout after qualifying on Friday.
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Other moments from Raw included Shayna Baszler defeating Indi Hartwell; Ricochet and Cedric Alexander defeating Shane Thorne and Brendan Vink; Nia Jax defeating Kairi Sane; Liv Morgan defeating Ruby Riott; NXT Women's Champion Charlotte Flair defeating Kayden Carter; Andrade defeating Akira Tozawa; and Bianca Belair defeating Santana Garrett.


upi--2020-04-21--Italy to begin easing coronavirus lockdown on May 4

Pedestrians in Beijing, China, continue to wear face masks on Tuesday although the government has declared the coronavirus threat has largely passed. Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI | License Photo
April 21 (UPI) -- The coronavirus disease that's disrupted life for billions of people around the world probably came from an animal and was not created in a laboratory, the World Health Organization said in an update Tuesday. All evidence so far has indicated COVID-19 was not "manipulated or constructed" in a lab or anywhere else, WHO spokeswoman Fadela Chaib told reporters at a briefing in Geneva. Advertisement
"It is probable, likely that the virus is of animal origin," she said.
Chaib said the WHO's analysis concluded there had "certainly" been an intermediate animal host, most likely bats, by the time the virus infected humans.
By Tuesday, the number of cases reported worldwide so far approached 2.5 million and the death toll was close to 172,000, according to Johns Hopkins University. The United States has the most cases, 788,000.
Earlier, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced that his nation will move to gradually lift its lockdown starting May 4. He promised details of the plan by the end of this week and "a reasonable prediction."
"Let's stop being strict with our country," he wrote in a Facebook post. "The whole world is struggling. We can be proud of how we are facing this very hard test."
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Italy's population of 60 million were placed under lockdown March 9 when it had fewer than 10,000 cases. Restrictions were tightened two weeks later to prohibit movements within Italy and close all non-essential businesses.
Conte said his government can't "abandon the line of maximum caution" to "indulge" public opinion, industry and companies that have demanded the lockdowns be lifted.
"We need to reopen on the basis of a program that will consider all details and cross-cross all the data."
In Spain, organizers on Tuesday canceled the San Fermin Fiesta this summer in Pamplona, best known for its "running of the bulls." The annual event typically attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors. Organizers said it's not possible to stage the festival safely this year.
In Germany, officials said the famed Oktoberfest has also been canceled. It was scheduled to start Sept. 18.
Bavarian Minister President Markus Soder and Munich's Lord Mayor Dieter Reiter said staging the festival would be too risky.
"We are living in different times," he said. "And living with corona means living carefully."
Scenes from a pandemic: World copes with COVID-19


upi--2020-04-21--Judge: Hanukkah stabbing suspect unfit to stand trial

April 21 ( UPI ) -- A federal judge has ruled the man accused of stabbing five people at a rabbi 's home late last year is unfit to stand trial for hate-crime charges .
Judge Cathy Seibel ruled Monday following the review of a psychological report that Grafton Thomas , 37 , is suffering from mental illness and ordered him to be hospitalized at a mental facility for up to four months for treatment to determine if he will regain the capacity for his criminal proceedings to continue .
`` The defendant is presently suffering from a mental disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the extent that he is unable to assist properly in his defense , '' Seibel ruled .
Thomas faces five counts of obstructing the free exercise of religion in an attempt to kill and five counts of willfully causing bodily injury to victims because of religion in federal court for allegedly entering the Monsey , N.Y. , home of a Hasidic Jewish rabbi during a Hanukkah celebration on Dec. 28 and attacking several of those present .
According to court documents , Thomas told the dozen people at the house that `` no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of them with an 18-inch machete .
Following his arrest , law enforcement discovered handwritten journals in his residence with several pages of anti-Semitic references .
Josef Neumann , 72 , who was injured in the attack , died late last month from his injuries .
The ruling affects only the federal hate-crime charges .
He also faces attempted murder and burglary charges in Rockland County in connection to the attack , but a judge there has yet to rule on his competency to stand trial , the Rockland Journal News reported .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ charges .

April 21 (UPI) -- A federal judge has ruled the man accused of stabbing five people at a rabbi's home late last year is unfit to stand trial for hate-crime charges.
Judge Cathy Seibel ruled Monday following the review of a psychological report that Grafton Thomas, 37, is suffering from mental illness and ordered him to be hospitalized at a mental facility for up to four months for treatment to determine if he will regain the capacity for his criminal proceedings to continue.
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"The defendant is presently suffering from a mental disease or defect rendering him mentally incompetent to the extent that he is unable to assist properly in his defense," Seibel ruled.
Thomas faces five counts of obstructing the free exercise of religion in an attempt to kill and five counts of willfully causing bodily injury to victims because of religion in federal court for allegedly entering the Monsey, N.Y., home of a Hasidic Jewish rabbi during a Hanukkah celebration on Dec. 28 and attacking several of those present.
According to court documents, Thomas told the dozen people at the house that "no one is leaving" before attacking several of them with an 18-inch machete. Following his arrest, law enforcement discovered handwritten journals in his residence with several pages of anti-Semitic references.
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Josef Neumann, 72, who was injured in the attack, died late last month from his injuries.
The ruling affects only the federal hate-crime charges. He also faces attempted murder and burglary charges in Rockland County in connection to the attack, but a judge there has yet to rule on his competency to stand trial, the Rockland Journal News reported.
Thomas has pleaded not guilty to all charges.


upi--2020-04-21--New York ramps up COVID-19 antibody tests to gauge scope of outbreak, immunity

April 20 ( UPI ) -- New York started collecting blood samples Monday from 3,000 randomly selected people for antibody testing as part of its response to the COVID-19 pandemic .
The results may provide a more accurate assessment of how many have been infected with the new coronavirus , but could also serve as a platform for research into potential treatments .
There is , however , some concern about the accuracy of the tests , and questions as to whether enough hospitals and clinics will have access to the materials -- and use them properly .
Richard Serino @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Chan School of Public Health 's National Preparedness Leadership Initiative and a deputy minister at the Federal Emergency Management Agency under President Barack Obama , cautioned against thinking that these early antibody testing efforts will lead to a `` re-opening '' of the U.S. economy anytime soon in a conference call with reporters on Monday .
`` Training doctors and nurses on how to use these tests and how to interpret the results is going to be key , '' he said .
Whether or not public hospitals and testing labs -- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ constraints -- can afford the tests and the costs associated with processing samples `` is also an issue , '' he added .
On Sunday , Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the state 's plan to test a sample of New Yorkers for the presence of antibodies produced by people infected with COVID-19 .
Selected participants started receiving the test kits from the state 's Department of Health on Monday .
`` This will be the first true snapshot of exactly how many people were infected by COVID-19 ( and ) will help us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we 've already accomplished , '' the governor said in a statement .
New York City has been the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak , with more than 250,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 , and more than 14,000 deaths , according to Johns Hopkins University .
The testing plan follows a similar model used in Germany , according to Cuomo .
The nation , which has a population of more than 80 million -- roughly four times that of New York state -- used the same sample size for its antibody testing survey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Donald Trump recommended that states use the antibody tests as they start relaxing social distancing measures implemented to combat the pandemic .
However , public health experts have suggested more still needs to be learned about the tests -- and the virus -- before they can be relied upon as a gauge of immunity .
`` Nobody is sure whether someone with antibodies is fully protected against having the disease or being exposed again , '' Dr. Mike Ryan , executive director of World Health Organization 's emergencies program , told reporters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the tests have issues with sensitivity ( and ) they may give a false negative result . ''
In general , the immune system creates antibodies as it successfully fights infection .
People with antibodies in their blood have a lower risk for re-infection -- although whether that holds true with the new coronavirus , SARS-CoV-2 , remains to be seen .
As with any virus , researchers have developed a test for antibodies , using genetic information from the virus itself .
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has given fast-tract approval @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks , some of which products promise results in 15 minutes or less .
Accuracy could be an issue with the tests .
Early evaluations of one platform published last week in Infection Ecology and Epidemiology found that it was less than 70 percent accurate at identifying one class of antibodies .
It has also been suggested that blood plasma donated by people who have recovered from COVID-19 could be used as a treatment for the virus for those with more serious illness .
New York is already the site of a clinical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guidance from the WHO , released Friday , indicated that testing positive for coronavirus antibodies does not necessarily mean a person has immunity .
Cuomo also told the media Monday that a group of hospitals from across the state will be submitting the results of their clinical trials of hydroxychloroquine -- an anti-malaria drug touted as a possible treatment for COVID-19 -- to federal health officials over the next day or so .
Cuomo declined to offer details on the results of the trials .

New York begins collecting blood samples from select residents as part of COVID-19 research efforts. Photo by kropekk_pl /Pixabay
April 21 (UPI) -- New York started collecting blood samples Monday from 3,000 randomly selected people for antibody testing as part of its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The results may provide a more accurate assessment of how many have been infected with the new coronavirus, but could also serve as a platform for research into potential treatments. Advertisement
There is, however, some concern about the accuracy of the tests, and questions as to whether enough hospitals and clinics will have access to the materials -- and use them properly.
Richard Serino, distinguished visiting fellow at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health's National Preparedness Leadership Initiative and a deputy minister at the Federal Emergency Management Agency under President Barack Obama, cautioned against thinking that these early antibody testing efforts will lead to a "re-opening" of the U.S. economy anytime soon in a conference call with reporters on Monday.
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"Training doctors and nurses on how to use these tests and how to interpret the results is going to be key," he said. Whether or not public hospitals and testing labs -- many of which operate under severe budget constraints -- can afford the tests and the costs associated with processing samples "is also an issue," he added.
On Sunday, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the state's plan to test a sample of New Yorkers for the presence of antibodies produced by people infected with COVID-19. Selected participants started receiving the test kits from the state's Department of Health on Monday.
"This will be the first true snapshot of exactly how many people were infected by COVID-19 (and) will help us to reopen and rebuild without jeopardizing what we've already accomplished," the governor said in a statement.
New York City has been the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak, with more than 250,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, and more than 14,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.
The testing plan follows a similar model used in Germany, according to Cuomo. The nation, which has a population of more than 80 million -- roughly four times that of New York state -- used the same sample size for its antibody testing survey, he said.
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Last week, President Donald Trump recommended that states use the antibody tests as they start relaxing social distancing measures implemented to combat the pandemic. However, public health experts have suggested more still needs to be learned about the tests -- and the virus -- before they can be relied upon as a gauge of immunity.
"Nobody is sure whether someone with antibodies is fully protected against having the disease or being exposed again," Dr. Mike Ryan, executive director of World Health Organization's emergencies program, told reporters last week. "Plus some of the tests have issues with sensitivity (and) they may give a false negative result."
In general, the immune system creates antibodies as it successfully fights infection. People with antibodies in their blood have a lower risk for re-infection -- although whether that holds true with the new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, remains to be seen.
As with any virus, researchers have developed a test for antibodies, using genetic information from the virus itself. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has given fast-tract approval to several SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests in recent weeks, some of which products promise results in 15 minutes or less.
Advertisement
Accuracy could be an issue with the tests. Early evaluations of one platform published last week in Infection Ecology and Epidemiology found that it was less than 70 percent accurate at identifying one class of antibodies.
It has also been suggested that blood plasma donated by people who have recovered from COVID-19 could be used as a treatment for the virus for those with more serious illness. New York is already the site of a clinical trial of this approach.
However, guidance from the WHO, released Friday, indicated that testing positive for coronavirus antibodies does not necessarily mean a person has immunity.
Cuomo also told the media Monday that a group of hospitals from across the state will be submitting the results of their clinical trials of hydroxychloroquine -- an anti-malaria drug touted as a possible treatment for COVID-19 -- to federal health officials over the next day or so. Cuomo declined to offer details on the results of the trials.


upi--2020-04-21--Cattle industry losses expected to quickly outpace federal aid

EVANSVILLE , Ind.
, April 21 ( UPI ) -- American livestock producers will receive the lion 's share of the $ 19 billion federal Coronavirus Food Assistance Program , with $ 5.1 billion earmarked for American cattle producers .
But with cattle industry losses expected to surpass $ 13.6 billion , according to new research from Oklahoma State University , industry leaders fear the aid will not be enough to save struggling ranchers .
`` The bottom line is there will be guys in cow-calf production that at this point probably will not be able to cover their production @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a professor of agribusiness and an Oklahoma State University Extension livestock marketing specialist , who lead the study .
`` There are some producers that will not survive this , '' Peel said .
Falling consumer demand for meat from Americans staying home to slow the spread of the coronavirus is at the heart of the issue .
The demand for meat initially surged in early March , when governors started to close restaurants and schools and issued the first stay-at-home orders .
Consumers flooded supermarkets and stockpiled staples like meat , bread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fell dramatically in the final weeks of March .
American consumers had stocked up , and nationwide restaurant closures wiped out 40 percent or more of the market for beef .
Live cattle prices have fallen some 30 percent since January , according to the American Farm Bureau Federation , to about 85 cents a pound from $ 1.20 .
Now , ranchers face yet another complication -- packing plants have been closing because workers contracted the coronavirus .
JBS , an international meat processing company , announced Monday it was closing its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It is the third American plant the company has shuttered amid the pandemic .
The other two were beef facilities .
Smithfield Foods closed its pork processing plant in Sioux Falls , S.D.
, last week .
Meanwhile , National Beef Packing has closed its plant in Tama , Iowa , and Cargill closed a plant in Hazleton , Pa. '' We 've seen more packing plants shut down or scale back production because of sick workers , '' said Colin Woodall , CEO of the Denver-based National Cattlemen 's Beef Association @ @ @ @ @ @ @ backup of cattle in the system . ''
That backup means some producers are struggling to sell cattle .
`` Producers have adjusted as much as they can to buy time , '' said Jim Petrik , a South Dakota rancher who raises cattle and hogs .
`` You can put cattle out to pasture to feed on grass , and reduce the energy in their diets so they grow slower .
But at some point , they have to be harvested . ''
Petrik added that the coronavirus aid will be welcomed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't make up for all the losses .
Details of how the program will be implemented are scant , but according to U.S. Sen. John Hoeven , R-N.D. , who is chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee , ranchers might be compensated for 85 percent of their price loss between Jan. 1 and April 15 .
They also might be able to claim 30 percent of their expected losses over the next six months .
Payments to producers will be capped at $ 125,000 per commodity , with an overall limit of $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ payments are expected to begin arriving in late May or early June , Hoeven said .
`` We 're grateful , do n't get me wrong , '' Petrik said .
`` But it 's not like having our markets back .
This year might be the worst we 've had financially . ''

Cattle producers are putting more cows to pasture and feeding them less energy-rich diets to slow their growth as demand for beef dries up amid the coronavirus pandemic. File Photo by Gary C. Caskey/UPI | License Photo
EVANSVILLE, Ind., April 21 (UPI) -- American livestock producers will receive the lion's share of the $19 billion federal Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, with $5.1 billion earmarked for American cattle producers. But with cattle industry losses expected to surpass $13.6 billion, according to new research from Oklahoma State University, industry leaders fear the aid will not be enough to save struggling ranchers. Advertisement
"The bottom line is there will be guys in cow-calf production that at this point probably will not be able to cover their production costs," said Derrell Peel, a professor of agribusiness and an Oklahoma State University Extension livestock marketing specialist, who lead the study.
"There are some producers that will not survive this," Peel said.
Falling consumer demand for meat from Americans staying home to slow the spread of the coronavirus is at the heart of the issue.
Advertisement
The demand for meat initially surged in early March, when governors started to close restaurants and schools and issued the first stay-at-home orders. Consumers flooded supermarkets and stockpiled staples like meat, bread and eggs.
But that initial demand fell dramatically in the final weeks of March. American consumers had stocked up, and nationwide restaurant closures wiped out 40 percent or more of the market for beef.
Live cattle prices have fallen some 30 percent since January, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation, to about 85 cents a pound from $1.20.
Now, ranchers face yet another complication -- packing plants have been closing because workers contracted the coronavirus.
JBS, an international meat processing company, announced Monday it was closing its pork processing plant in Worthington, Minn. It is the third American plant the company has shuttered amid the pandemic. The other two were beef facilities.
Smithfield Foods closed its pork processing plant in Sioux Falls, S.D., last week. Meanwhile, National Beef Packing has closed its plant in Tama, Iowa, and Cargill closed a plant in Hazleton, Pa.
"We've seen more packing plants shut down or scale back production because of sick workers," said Colin Woodall, CEO of the Denver-based National Cattlemen's Beef Association. "Now, there's a backup of cattle in the system."
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That backup means some producers are struggling to sell cattle.
"Producers have adjusted as much as they can to buy time," said Jim Petrik, a South Dakota rancher who raises cattle and hogs. "You can put cattle out to pasture to feed on grass, and reduce the energy in their diets so they grow slower. But at some point, they have to be harvested."
Petrik added that the coronavirus aid will be welcomed by ranchers, but that it won't make up for all the losses.
Details of how the program will be implemented are scant, but according to U.S. Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., who is chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, ranchers might be compensated for 85 percent of their price loss between Jan. 1 and April 15.
They also might be able to claim 30 percent of their expected losses over the next six months.
Payments to producers will be capped at $125,000 per commodity, with an overall limit of $250,000 per individual or entity.
The payments are expected to begin arriving in late May or early June, Hoeven said.
"We're grateful, don't get me wrong," Petrik said. "But it's not like having our markets back. This year might be the worst we've had financially."


upi--2020-04-21--SpaceX plans Wednesday Starlink satellite launch from Florida

ORLANDO , Fla. , April 21 ( UPI ) -- SpaceX plans to launch its seventh Starlink satellite cluster from Florida at 3:37 p.m. EDT Wednesday amid restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic .
The Falcon 9 rocket is prepared for lift off from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center .
The planned launch has an hourlong period for same-day delays , according to the U.S. Space Force weather forecast window .
The weather is expected to be 90 percent favorable for a launch , according to a Space Force forecast .
Thursday is a backup day in case of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more Starlink satellites to SpaceX 's constellation , boosting the number to 422 -- by far the largest known satellite network .
Elon Musk 's space firm previously launched 60 Starlink satellites at a time in May , November , Jan. 6 and 29 , Feb. 17 and March 18 , with two test satellites launched before that .
The coronavirus pandemic prompted NASA and the Space Force to bar most public or media from viewing recent launches .
Personnel are required to work from home , if possible , but in-person launch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NASA and Space Force officials have said they are taking all precautions , including rotating of launch crews , restricting interaction between those crews and sitting farther apart .
The planned satellite launch comes as SpaceX is preparing for a launch in late May of the first crewed flight of NASA astronauts from U.S. soil since 2011 .
Astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley are scheduled to ride in a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule to the International Space Station .
The booster for SpaceX 's launch Wednesday has been used three times , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Crew Dragon capsule to the space station in March 2019 .
SpaceX said it completed a test-firing of the mission 's Falcon 9 rocket Friday .
For Wednesday 's launch , one of the fairings , or rocket nose cone halves , was used previously to launch a commercial satellite in August , SpaceX said .
During its last Starlink launch , SpaceX announced via live broadcast the results of an experiment : that a nonreflective coating on a single Starlink satellite in orbit makes it notably less visible from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Starlink satellites make it far more difficult to conduct observations from ground-based telescopes .
SpaceX now says it plans to try a new experiment : installing a sunshade on a satellite in an upcoming launch .
The company did not immediately respond to requests for more information about that experiment .
Starlink satellites are roughly the size of a large dinner table , with each weighing more than 500 pounds .
SpaceX intends to launch thousands of satellites to beam broadband around the globe , providing high-speed Internet everywhere , even in extreme @ @ @ @ @ @

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket like this one is scheduled for launch Wednesday with Starlink satellites aboard. File Photo by Joe Marino-Bill Cantrell/UPI | License Photo
ORLANDO, Fla., April 21 (UPI) -- SpaceX plans to launch its seventh Starlink satellite cluster from Florida at 3:37 p.m. EDT Wednesday amid restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic. The Falcon 9 rocket is prepared for lift off from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center. The planned launch has an hourlong period for same-day delays, according to the U.S. Space Force weather forecast window. Advertisement
The weather is expected to be 90 percent favorable for a launch, according to a Space Force forecast. Thursday is a backup day in case of problems.
The launch will add 60 more Starlink satellites to SpaceX's constellation, boosting the number to 422 -- by far the largest known satellite network.
Elon Musk's space firm previously launched 60 Starlink satellites at a time in May, November, Jan. 6 and 29, Feb. 17 and March 18, with two test satellites launched before that.
The coronavirus pandemic prompted NASA and the Space Force to bar most public or media from viewing recent launches. Personnel are required to work from home, if possible, but in-person launch operations are considered essential for missions.
NASA and Space Force officials have said they are taking all precautions, including rotating of launch crews, restricting interaction between those crews and sitting farther apart.
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The planned satellite launch comes as SpaceX is preparing for a launch in late May of the first crewed flight of NASA astronauts from U.S. soil since 2011.
Astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley are scheduled to ride in a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule to the International Space Station.
The booster for SpaceX's launch Wednesday has been used three times, including the first full uncrewed test flight of the Crew Dragon capsule to the space station in March 2019. SpaceX said it completed a test-firing of the mission's Falcon 9 rocket Friday.
For Wednesday's launch, one of the fairings, or rocket nose cone halves, was used previously to launch a commercial satellite in August, SpaceX said.
During its last Starlink launch, SpaceX announced via live broadcast the results of an experiment: that a nonreflective coating on a single Starlink satellite in orbit makes it notably less visible from the ground.
Astronomers have complained that the Starlink satellites make it far more difficult to conduct observations from ground-based telescopes.
SpaceX now says it plans to try a new experiment: installing a sunshade on a satellite in an upcoming launch. The company did not immediately respond to requests for more information about that experiment.
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Starlink satellites are roughly the size of a large dinner table, with each weighing more than 500 pounds.
SpaceX intends to launch thousands of satellites to beam broadband around the globe, providing high-speed Internet everywhere, even in extreme weather or aboard super-fast jets.


upi--2020-04-21--Famous birthdays for April 21: Tony Romo, Queen Elizabeth II

April 21 ( UPI ) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Taurus .
-- German @ @ @ @ @ established the concept of the kindergarten , in 1782

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Tony Romo sits on the bench during the Cowboy's game against the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field in Landover, Md., on September 18, 2016. Romo turns 40 on April 21. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
April 21 (UPI) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Taurus. They include: Advertisement
-- Russian ruler Catherine II -- "Catherine the Great" -- in 1729
-- German educator Friedrich Froebel, who established the concept of the kindergarten, in 1782
-- British novelist Charlotte Bronte in 1816
-- Naturalist/author John Muir in 1838
-- German sociologist Max Weber in 1864
-- Actor Anthony Quinn in 1915
-- British barrister/writer John Mortimer in 1923
-- Britain's Queen Elizabeth II in 1926 (age 94)
File Photo by Lucas Jackson/UPI
-- Comedian/actor/director Elaine May in 1932 (age 88)
-- Actor/director Charles Grodin in 1935 (age 85)
-- Anti-death penalty advocate Sister Helen Prejean in 1939 (age 81)
-- Singer Iggy Pop in 1947 (age 73)
-- Actor/singer Patti LuPone in 1949 (age 71)
-- Actor Tony Danza in 1951 (age 69)
-- Actor Andie MacDowell in 1958 (age 62)
File Photo by Sven Hoogerhuis/UPI
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-- Singer Robert Smith in 1959 (age 61)
-- Comedian/actor Rob Riggle in 1970 (age 50)
-- Irish singer/songwriter Glen Hansard in 1970 (age 50)
-- Actor James McAvoy in 1979 (age 41)
-- Former pro football quarterback Tony Romo in 1980 (age 40)
-- Actor/TV personality Terrence J in 1982 (age 38)
-- Cctor Gugu Mbatha-Raw in 1983 (age 37)
-- Actor Emma Tremblay in 2004 (age 16)


upi--2020-04-21--NFL Mock Draft 2020: Dolphins take risk with Tua Tagovailoa, Eagles trade for WR

April 21 ( UPI ) -- Former LSU star Joe Burrow most likely will be the No .
1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft .
How the rest of the draft unfolds remains unclear .
My latest mock draft includes Ohio State stars Chase Young and Jeff Okudah coming off the board immediately after Burrow .
I expect the Miami Dolphins to take the biggest risk in the first round by snatching Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa at No .
5 , despite his injury history in college .
My first round picks include three quarterbacks , one running @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offensive linemen and 15 defensive players .
I also expect several trades .
The 2020 NFL Draft begins at 8 p.m. EDT Thursday and will air on ESPN , NFL Network and ABC .
The draft ends Saturday .
Bengals director of player personnel , Duke Tobin : `` What we believe and what we know is that [ Burrow has ] real leadership qualities .
He 's got real football intellect .
I think the game is extremely important to him .
He loves the challenge of the preparation , which is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ players .
You 've really got to love the grind in preparing for a game and there is a grind .
You have to really thrive off of that .
Those traits come across when you visit with Joe . ''
Redskins VP of player personnel Kyle Smith : `` We 're the first of 32 teams that has three potential options : moving up , moving back or taking a pick .
[ Young ] is obviously one of a lot of players .
It 's a good draft .
There are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be in consideration . ''
Lions GM Bob Quinn : `` With the No .
3 pick , or wherever we end up picking , the idea is to get an impactful player .
I think if there 's a number of players up in that top of the draft that we feel good about , we 'll see what happens Thursday , but I feel like that 's the goal . ''
Dolphins GM Chris Grier on drafting players with injury history : `` Historically , it can go all over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talent .
You also talk about the kid -- the person and his work ethic .
You do look at injuries .
It is a factor [ depending on ] the position he plays .
Every decision has to be weighed with that . ''
Browns chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta : `` We are very open-minded .
We have moved [ traded ] down in the past .
We have also moved up in the past .
I would n't really put anything past us . ''
Eagles GM Howie Roseman : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get into a situation where then you force things .
Obviously , it 's human nature to you see a hole on your roster or see a position that you want to upgrade and feel like you just are going to use this opportunity to do just that , but you do n't want to compound the problem by making a pick that does n't really help . ''
Patriots coach Bill Belichick : `` We evaluate everything we do and are always trying to learn from every situation to improve .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 've been here . ''

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Alabama star Jerry Jeudy (L) could be the first wide receiver selected in the 2020 NFL Draft. File Photo by Ken Levine/UPI | License Photo
April 21 (UPI) -- Former LSU star Joe Burrow most likely will be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. How the rest of the draft unfolds remains unclear. My latest mock draft includes Ohio State stars Chase Young and Jeff Okudah coming off the board immediately after Burrow. Advertisement
I expect the Miami Dolphins to take the biggest risk in the first round by snatching Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa at No. 5, despite his injury history in college.
My first round picks include three quarterbacks, one running back, six wide receivers, seven offensive linemen and 15 defensive players. I also expect several trades.
The 2020 NFL Draft begins at 8 p.m. EDT Thursday and will air on ESPN, NFL Network and ABC. The draft ends Saturday.
2020 NFL Mock Draft
1. Cincinnati Bengals: LSU QB Joe Burrow
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Bengals director of player personnel, Duke Tobin: "What we believe and what we know is that [Burrow has] real leadership qualities. He's got real football intellect. I think the game is extremely important to him. He loves the challenge of the preparation, which is a mark of a lot of good players. You've really got to love the grind in preparing for a game and there is a grind. You have to really thrive off of that. Those traits come across when you visit with Joe."
2. Washington Redskins: Ohio State DE Chase Young
Redskins VP of player personnel Kyle Smith: "We're the first of 32 teams that has three potential options: moving up, moving back or taking a pick. [Young] is obviously one of a lot of players. It's a good draft. There are a lot of really good players that will be in consideration."
3. Detroit Lions: Ohio State CB Jeff Okudah
Lions GM Bob Quinn: "With the No. 3 pick, or wherever we end up picking, the idea is to get an impactful player. I think if there's a number of players up in that top of the draft that we feel good about, we'll see what happens Thursday, but I feel like that's the goal."
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4. New York Giants: Clemson LB Isaiah Simmons
5. Miami Dolphins: Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa
Dolphins GM Chris Grier on drafting players with injury history: "Historically, it can go all over the place. You always want the talent. You also talk about the kid -- the person and his work ethic. You do look at injuries. It is a factor [depending on] the position he plays. Every decision has to be weighed with that."
6. Los Angeles Chargers: Oregon QB Justin Herbert
7. Carolina Panthers: Auburn DT Derrick Brown
8. Arizona Cardinals: Alabama OT Jedrick Willis
9. Jacksonville Jaguars: Louisville OT Mekhi Becton
10. Cleveland Browns: Iowa OT Tristan Wirfs
Browns chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta: "We are very open-minded. We have moved [traded] down in the past. We have also moved up in the past. I wouldn't really put anything past us."
11. New York Jets: Alabama WR Jerry Jeudy
12. Las Vegas Raiders: Oklahoma WR CeeDee Lamb
13. Philadelphia Eagles (projected trade from San Francisco 49ers): Alabama WR Henry Ruggs III
Eagles GM Howie Roseman: "You just don't want to get into a situation where then you force things. Obviously, it's human nature to you see a hole on your roster or see a position that you want to upgrade and feel like you just are going to use this opportunity to do just that, but you don't want to compound the problem by making a pick that doesn't really help."
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14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Georgia OT Andrew Thomas
15. Denver Broncos: Florida CB C.J. Henderson
16. Atlanta Falcons: South Carolina DT Javon Kinlaw
17. Dallas Cowboys: LSU EDGE K'Lavon Chaisson
18. Miami Dolphins: Houston OT Joshua Jones
19. Las Vegas Raiders: Oklahoma LB Kenneth Murray
20. Jacksonville Jaguars: Penn State EDGE Yetur Gross-Matos
21. San Francisco 49ers (trade from Eagles): Clemson CB A.J. Terrell
22. Minnesota Vikings: Utah CB Jaylon Johnson
23. New England Patriots: Iowa DE A.J. Epenesa
Patriots coach Bill Belichick: "We evaluate everything we do and are always trying to learn from every situation to improve. We've done that every year since I've been here."
24. New Orleans Saints: LSU LB Patrick Queen
25. Minnesota Vikings: LSU WR Justin Jefferson
26. Green Bay Packers (Trade from Dolphins): Clemson WR Tee Higgins
27. Seattle Seahawks: USC OT Austin Jackson
28. Baltimore Ravens: Wisconsin LB Zack Baun
29. Tennessee Titans: LSU CB Kristian Fulton
30. Miami Dolphins (Trade from Packers): Georgia RB D'Andre Swift
31. San Francisco 49ers: TCU DT Ross Blacklock
32. Kansas City Chiefs: Michigan C Cesar Ruiz


upi--2020-04-21--On This Day, April 21: Red Baron flying ace dies in WWI

April 21 ( UPI ) -- On this date in history : In 1509 , Henry VIII became king of England after his father , Henry VII , died .
In 1836 , with the battle cry `` Remember the Alamo ! ''
Texas forces under Sam Houston defeated the army of Mexican Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna at San Jacinto , Texas , opening the path to Texas independence .
In 1913 , California state Sen. Ernest S. Birdsall of Placer County stated in an interview with United Press that the citizens of California demanded the prohibition of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ owning farm land .
The California Alien Land Law of 1913 was aimed at discouraging immigration to the state .
In 1918 , Manfred von Richthofen , German World War I flying ace known as `` The Red Baron , '' was killed by Allied fire over Vaux-sur-Somme , France .
In 1954 , U.S. Air Force planes began flying French troops to Indochina to reinforce Dien Bien Phu .
The city later fell to communist Viet Minh forces .
In 1960 , Brasilia was inaugurated as Brazil 's capital , moving the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In 1967 , a Greek army coup in Athens sent King Constantine into exile in Italy .
In 1975 , Nguyen Van Thieu resigned as president of South Vietnam after denouncing the United States as untrustworthy .
His replacement , Tran Van Huong , prepared for peace talks with North Vietnam as communist forces advanced on Saigon .
In 1987 , the bombing of a bus terminal in Colombo , Sri Lanka , killed 127 people and injured 288 .
In 1992 , gas explosions ripped through the historic center of Guadalajara @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people and injuring hundreds of others .
In 2005 , the U.S. Senate approved the nomination of John Negroponte to be the nation 's first national intelligence director .
In 2008 , the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced a link had been found between contaminated drug thinners from China and 81 deaths in the United States .
In 2011 , John Ensign , R-Nev. , resigned his U.S. Senate seat amid a budding ethics scandal .
Ensign admitted an affair with his former campaign treasurer earlier and had been under Republican pressure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Taliban attack on Camp Shaheen near Mazar-i-Sharif , Afghanistan , left more than 100 Afghan soldiers dead and dozens injured .

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On April 21, 1918, Manfred von Richthofen, German World War I flying ace known as "The Red Baron," was killed by Allied fire over Vaux-sur-Somme, France. File Photo by C.J. von Duhren
April 21 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1509, Henry VIII became king of England after his father, Henry VII, died. Advertisement
In 1836, with the battle cry "Remember the Alamo!" Texas forces under Sam Houston defeated the army of Mexican Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna at San Jacinto, Texas, opening the path to Texas independence.
In 1913, California state Sen. Ernest S. Birdsall of Placer County stated in an interview with United Press that the citizens of California demanded the prohibition of "aliens ineligible for citizenship" from owning farm land. The California Alien Land Law of 1913 was aimed at discouraging immigration to the state.
In 1918, Manfred von Richthofen, German World War I flying ace known as "The Red Baron," was killed by Allied fire over Vaux-sur-Somme, France.
In 1954, U.S. Air Force planes began flying French troops to Indochina to reinforce Dien Bien Phu. The city later fell to communist Viet Minh forces.
In 1960, Brasilia was inaugurated as Brazil's capital, moving the seat of government from Rio de Janeiro.
In 1967, a Greek army coup in Athens sent King Constantine into exile in Italy.
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In 1975, Nguyen Van Thieu resigned as president of South Vietnam after denouncing the United States as untrustworthy. His replacement, Tran Van Huong, prepared for peace talks with North Vietnam as communist forces advanced on Saigon.
UPI File Photo
In 1987, the bombing of a bus terminal in Colombo, Sri Lanka, killed 127 people and injured 288.
In 1992, gas explosions ripped through the historic center of Guadalajara, Mexico, killing more than 200 people and injuring hundreds of others.
In 2005, the U.S. Senate approved the nomination of John Negroponte to be the nation's first national intelligence director.
File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI
In 2008, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced a link had been found between contaminated drug thinners from China and 81 deaths in the United States.
In 2011, John Ensign, R-Nev., resigned his U.S. Senate seat amid a budding ethics scandal. Ensign admitted an affair with his former campaign treasurer earlier and had been under Republican pressure to step down.
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In 2017, a Taliban attack on Camp Shaheen near Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan, left more than 100 Afghan soldiers dead and dozens injured.
In 2019, comedian Volodymyr Zelensky defeated incumbent President Petro Poroshenko in Ukraine's presidential runoff election.


upi--2020-04-21--Thousands turn to backyard 'victory gardens' during pandemic

ORLANDO , Fla. , April 21 ( UPI ) -- Large numbers of Americans have started vegetable gardens while staying home as the coronavirus pandemic complicates grocery shopping and interrupts food supply chains .
University extension offices in Oregon , Florida and other states reported a surge in the volume of questions and signups for gardening programs , and seed companies reported booming sales .
The attraction of gardening is a combination of a distraction at home with the ability to eat fresh food without going out , experts said .
`` We have over 29,000 registered for the free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we might get 20 or 30 registered all year , '' said Gail Langellotto , professor of horticulture at Oregon State University and statewide coordinator of the master gardener program .
Novice issues , such as where to find the best place in a yard to plant , what grows on a shady balcony and why do plants look wilted or unhealthy dominate what is being asked of program volunteers , Langellotto said .
`` Our volunteers are usually at county fairs , farmers markets or stores to answer questions , '' she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ totally online , offering [ virtual ] consults to home-gardening clients in some counties . ''
Parents with children stuck at home use gardening as a distraction for the whole family , Langellotto said .
That 's one motive behind vegetable gardening for Katinka Merritt of Ocala , Fla. , about 75 miles northwest of Orlando .
`` I started gardening with my kids .
Mostly it was to keep them busy since they are home from school , '' Merritt said .
She also joined a Facebook group called Victory 2020 Garden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension .
She was one of many writing on the page about switching from flowers to vegetables .
`` I just joined , and I 'm already learning more about gardening and hearing about what other people are planting , '' Merritt said .
`` I have seven kids , so it has helped them learn about food and where it comes from .
The kids get super excited . ''
Erin Harlow , commercial horticulture agent with the University of Florida , named the Victory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ victory gardens planted by Americans during World War I and World War II .
Members can sign up for an online class on how to grow vegetables .
`` I expected to get maybe 40 people , but it 's over 1,000 now and growing , '' Harlow said .
`` My intent was to also encourage social distancing connections . ''
The program received a $ 4,500 grant from the University of Florida to send free seed packets of corn , beans and squash to new members .
Seed companies like Gurney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Botanical Interests in Colorado posted messages on their websites to ask customers for patience as they dealt with tremendous demand .
`` We 've seen a 600 percent increase in sales over last year , '' said Judy Seaborn , co-owner at Botanical Interests .
`` It 's all for vegetables , or leafy greens , which makes sense . ''
Her company announced a pause for a week in taking new orders online due to a two-week backlog .
She split her workforce into two shifts to keep them more distant from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of each type of vegetable to focus on volume .
`` I 'm really proud of gardeners for getting out there and planting .
I think we 'll need it , and the mental break it provides , '' Seaborn said .

Nate and Josie Harlow, ages 7 and 4, respectively, plant tomatoes in their family victory garden near Lake City, Fla. Photo courtesy of Erin Harlow/University of Florida
ORLANDO, Fla., April 21 (UPI) -- Large numbers of Americans have started vegetable gardens while staying home as the coronavirus pandemic complicates grocery shopping and interrupts food supply chains. University extension offices in Oregon, Florida and other states reported a surge in the volume of questions and signups for gardening programs, and seed companies reported booming sales. Advertisement
The attraction of gardening is a combination of a distraction at home with the ability to eat fresh food without going out, experts said.
"We have over 29,000 registered for the free, online vegetable gardening course. Normally we might get 20 or 30 registered all year," said Gail Langellotto, professor of horticulture at Oregon State University and statewide coordinator of the master gardener program.
Gardening grants us solace - research bears that out. Digging in the soil is good for our mental health and we need that more than ever as we follow Gov. Kate Brown's order to "stay home, save lives." https://t.co/dE123wxHrI pic.twitter.com/bcTCEaNNJy— OregonStateUnivExt (@OregonStateExt) April 3, 2020 Advertisement
Novice issues, such as where to find the best place in a yard to plant, what grows on a shady balcony and why do plants look wilted or unhealthy dominate what is being asked of program volunteers, Langellotto said.
"Our volunteers are usually at county fairs, farmers markets or stores to answer questions," she said. "Now, we are totally online, offering [virtual] consults to home-gardening clients in some counties."
Parents with children stuck at home use gardening as a distraction for the whole family, Langellotto said.
That's one motive behind vegetable gardening for Katinka Merritt of Ocala, Fla., about 75 miles northwest of Orlando.
"I started gardening with my kids. Mostly it was to keep them busy since they are home from school," Merritt said.
Facebook groups
She also joined a Facebook group called Victory 2020 Garden, established by the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension. She was one of many writing on the page about switching from flowers to vegetables.
"I just joined, and I'm already learning more about gardening and hearing about what other people are planting," Merritt said. "I have seven kids, so it has helped them learn about food and where it comes from. The kids get super excited."
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Erin Harlow, commercial horticulture agent with the University of Florida, named the Victory 2020 Garden program as a reference to victory gardens planted by Americans during World War I and World War II. Members can sign up for an online class on how to grow vegetables.
"I expected to get maybe 40 people, but it's over 1,000 now and growing," Harlow said. "My intent was to also encourage social distancing connections."
The program received a $4,500 grant from the University of Florida to send free seed packets of corn, beans and squash to new members.
Seed companies like Gurney's, based in Indiana, and Botanical Interests in Colorado posted messages on their websites to ask customers for patience as they dealt with tremendous demand.
"We've seen a 600 percent increase in sales over last year," said Judy Seaborn, co-owner at Botanical Interests. "It's all for vegetables, or leafy greens, which makes sense."
Her company announced a pause for a week in taking new orders online due to a two-week backlog.
She split her workforce into two shifts to keep them more distant from each other, and narrowed the selection of each type of vegetable to focus on volume.
"I'm really proud of gardeners for getting out there and planting. I think we'll need it, and the mental break it provides," Seaborn said.