upi--2020-06-16--NFL head Roger Goodell encourages team to sign QB Colin Kaepernick

June 16 ( UPI ) -- NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is encouraging one of the league 's teams to sign free-agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick , a controversial figure who began to kneel before games four years ago during the national anthem as a protest against injustice and police brutality .
Goodell made the appeal on The Return of Sports special on ESPN Monday .
Kaepernick has n't played in the league since the 2016 season , when his actions generated substantial controversy .
His failure to sign with a team has been strongly linked to the silent protests , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ players that season .
Kaepernick met with the Seattle Seahawks in 2017 but was not signed , and went unsigned last off-season after he worked out for several teams .
Kaepernick has been linked to several teams since those workouts .
`` If he wants to resume his career in the NFL , then obviously it 's gon na take a team to make that decision , '' Goodell said .
`` But I welcome that , support a club making that decision and encourage them to do that . ''
Goodell also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` guide '' the NFL on social issues that have recently led to unrest and protests in the United States after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25 .
`` If his efforts are not on the field but continuing to work in this space , we welcome him to that table and to help us , guide us , help us make better decisions about the kinds of things that need to be done in the communities , '' Goodell added .
`` We have invited him in before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that everybody 's welcome at that table and trying to help us deal with some very complex , difficult issues that have been around for a long time .
`` But I hope we 're at a point now where everybody 's committed to making long-term , sustainable change . ''
Goodell issued a statement last week that said the NFL was `` wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier '' when they tried to draw attention to racial inequality .
He did not mention Kaepernick 's name in the apology , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was one of the players he cited Monday during the ESPN special .
`` We should have listened to our players earlier , '' he said .
`` Including Colin Kaepernick , including Eric Reid , including Kenny Stills , and so many others , Malcolm Jenkins -- so many people that really brought these issues to light .
It actually goes back to 2014 in Ferguson ( Mo . )
when Michael Brown was killed . ''
This month , the NFL committed $ 250 million over 10 years to social justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ players to identify programs that address criminal justice and police reform , as well as economic and educational advancement for African Americans .
Kaepernick , 32 , did n't immediately respond to Goodell 's comments .
Sources told The Athletic and Pro Football Talk earlier this month that Kaepernick is still interested in a return to the NFL .

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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (C) takes a knee during the national anthem before a game between the Niners and Dallas Cowboys at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on October 2, 2016. File Photo by John Mabanglo/EPA
June 16 (UPI) -- NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is encouraging one of the league's teams to sign free-agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick, a controversial figure who began to kneel before games four years ago during the national anthem as a protest against injustice and police brutality. Goodell made the appeal on The Return of Sports special on ESPN Monday. Advertisement
Kaepernick hasn't played in the league since the 2016 season, when his actions generated substantial controversy. His failure to sign with a team has been strongly linked to the silent protests, which was adopted by a number of other players that season.
Kaepernick met with the Seattle Seahawks in 2017 but was not signed, and went unsigned last off-season after he worked out for several teams. Kaepernick has been linked to several teams since those workouts.
"If he wants to resume his career in the NFL, then obviously it's gonna take a team to make that decision," Goodell said. "But I welcome that, support a club making that decision and encourage them to do that."
Goodell also welcomed Kaepernick to "help" and "guide" the NFL on social issues that have recently led to unrest and protests in the United States after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25.
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"If his efforts are not on the field but continuing to work in this space, we welcome him to that table and to help us, guide us, help us make better decisions about the kinds of things that need to be done in the communities," Goodell added. "We have invited him in before, and we want to make sure that everybody's welcome at that table and trying to help us deal with some very complex, difficult issues that have been around for a long time.
"But I hope we're at a point now where everybody's committed to making long-term, sustainable change."
Goodell issued a statement last week that said the NFL was "wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier" when they tried to draw attention to racial inequality. He did not mention Kaepernick's name in the apology, but the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback was one of the players he cited Monday during the ESPN special.
"We should have listened to our players earlier," he said. "Including Colin Kaepernick, including Eric Reid, including Kenny Stills, and so many others, Malcolm Jenkins -- so many people that really brought these issues to light. It actually goes back to 2014 in Ferguson (Mo.) when Michael Brown was killed."
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This month, the NFL committed $250 million over 10 years to social justice initiatives and said it will work with players to identify programs that address criminal justice and police reform, as well as economic and educational advancement for African Americans.
Kaepernick, 32, didn't immediately respond to Goodell's comments. Sources told The Athletic and Pro Football Talk earlier this month that Kaepernick is still interested in a return to the NFL.


upi--2020-06-16--NBC renews 'Manifest' for a third season, cancels 'Sunnyside,' 'Bluff City Law' and 'Indebted'

June 16 ( UPI ) -- NBC has renewed drama Manifest starring Melissa Roxburgh and Josh Dallas for a third season .
`` Buckle up , Manifesters !
Season 3 of # Manifest has been cleared for takeoff on @ NBC , '' the official Twitter account for the series announced on Monday alongside a video of creator Jeff Rake recapping the second season .
Manifest follows passengers onboard Flight 828 who reached their destination more than five years after their plane mysteriously vanished .
NBC has also canceled three programs after one season , including Sunnyside , Bluff City @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Kal Penn who also starred , followed the actor as a disgraced former city councilman who tutors a group of immigrants for their citizenship test .
Poppy Liu , Kiran Deol , Moses Storm , Diana Maria Riva , Samba Schutte and Joel Kim Booster also star .
Bluff City Law , from creators Michael Aguilar and Dean Georgaris , starred Caitlin McGee as lawyer Sydney Strait who rejoins her father 's Memphis law firm .
Jimmy Smiths portrayed the father , Elijah .
Barry Sloane , Michael Luwoye , MaameYaa Boafo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Scott Shepherd and Josh Kelly also starred .
Indebted , created by Dan Levy , followed Adam Pally and Abby Elliott as young parents Dave and Rebecca who take in Dave 's parents who have fallen on hard times .
Jessy Hodges , Steven Weber and Fran Drescher also starred .

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"Manifest" stars Melissa Roxburgh (L) and Josh Dallas arrive on the red carpet at the 2018 NBCUniversal Upfront on May 2018. NBC has renewed "Manifest" for a third season. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
June 16 (UPI) -- NBC has renewed drama Manifest starring Melissa Roxburgh and Josh Dallas for a third season. "Buckle up, Manifesters! Season 3 of #Manifest has been cleared for takeoff on @NBC," the official Twitter account for the series announced on Monday alongside a video of creator Jeff Rake recapping the second season. Advertisement
Manifest follows passengers onboard Flight 828 who reached their destination more than five years after their plane mysteriously vanished.
Athena Karkanis, J.R. Ramirez, Luna Blaise, Jack Messina, Parveen Kaur and Matt Long also star.
Buckle up, Manifesters! Season 3 of #Manifest has been cleared for takeoff on @NBC. Watch as @jeff_rake recaps the last season and teases what's to come. pic.twitter.com/6Wj11yp309— Manifest (@NBCManifest) June 16, 2020
NBC has also canceled three programs after one season, including Sunnyside, Bluff City Law and Indebted.
Sunnyside, created by Kal Penn who also starred, followed the actor as a disgraced former city councilman who tutors a group of immigrants for their citizenship test. Poppy Liu, Kiran Deol, Moses Storm, Diana Maria Riva, Samba Schutte and Joel Kim Booster also star.
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Bluff City Law, from creators Michael Aguilar and Dean Georgaris, starred Caitlin McGee as lawyer Sydney Strait who rejoins her father's Memphis law firm. Jimmy Smiths portrayed the father, Elijah. Barry Sloane, Michael Luwoye, MaameYaa Boafo, Stony Blyden, Jayne Atkinson, Scott Shepherd and Josh Kelly also starred.
Indebted, created by Dan Levy, followed Adam Pally and Abby Elliott as young parents Dave and Rebecca who take in Dave's parents who have fallen on hard times. Jessy Hodges, Steven Weber and Fran Drescher also starred.


upi--2020-06-16--At least 3 killed in India-China Himalayan border dispute

June 16 ( UPI ) -- A decades-long border dispute between China and India in the Himalayas has turned deadly for the first time in nearly a half-century .
An Indian colonel and two soldiers died in fighting late Monday , authorities said , adding that they were killed with batons and stones .
The western Himalayan border , where both countries fought the Sino-Indian War in 1962 , had not seen a deadly conflict there since 1975 , 45 years ago .
Indian officials said there were casualties on both sides .
The fighting lasted for several hours until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ During the de-escalation process underway in the Galwan Valley , a violent face-off took place , '' the Indian Army said in a statement .
`` The loss of lives on the Indian side includes an officer and two soldiers .
Senior military officials of the two sides are currently meeting at the venue to defuse the situation . ''
Thousands of soldiers fought in the area along the unmarked border in a confrontation that had been brewing for weeks .
Last month , Indian officials accused China of sending soldiers into an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tents .
The Chinese state-run Global Times blamed Indian troops for crossing into its territory .
`` The Indian troops on Monday severely violated the consensus reached in the two countries ' army commander-level talks on June 6 , as they crossed the border twice for illegal activities and launched provocative attacks against Chinese personnel , '' Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said in a statement .

June 16 (UPI) -- A decades-long border dispute between China and India in the Himalayas has turned deadly for the first time in nearly a half-century.
An Indian colonel was among the 20 people who died in fighting late Monday, authorities said, adding that they were killed with batons and stones, or they fell into a gorge. No shots were fired.
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The western Himalayan border, where both countries fought the Sino-Indian War in 1962, had not seen a deadly conflict there since 1975, 45 years ago. Indian officials said there were casualties on both sides.
The fighting lasted for several hours until both sides disengaged early Tuesday.
"During the de-escalation process underway in the Galwan Valley, a violent face-off took place," the Indian Army said in a statement. "The loss of lives on the Indian side includes an officer and two soldiers. Senior military officials of the two sides are currently meeting at the venue to defuse the situation."
Thousands of soldiers fought in the area along the unmarked border in a confrontation that had been brewing for weeks. Last month, Indian officials accused China of sending soldiers into an India-controlled area to build guard posts and tents.
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The Chinese state-run Global Times blamed Indian troops for crossing into its territory.
"The Indian troops on Monday severely violated the consensus reached in the two countries' army commander-level talks on June 6, as they crossed the border twice for illegal activities and launched provocative attacks against Chinese personnel," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said in a statement.


upi--2020-06-16--Potential COVID-19 vaccine begins early-stage human trials in London

Stylist Katie Winston ( R ) cuts the hair of customer Dee Broderick on the sidewalk outside the 7-0-3 Salon in Chesterfield , Mo.
, on May 26 .
Although stylists and customers wear masks , the salon has offered customers the option of haircuts outdoors for those who may have coronavirus concerns .
Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | Dentist Ronald Sherstoff examines a high-speed drill at his office in Chesterfield , Mo.
, on May 19 .
Sherstoff has purchased an air filtration system that destroys airborne viruses that could be transmitted by the drill , and all staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gloves and face shields to protect themselves .
Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | Nicholas Calio , president and CEO of Airlines for America , uses disinfecting wipes before testifying before a hearing on the pandemic 's impact on the aviation industry May 6 on Capitol Hill in Washington , D.C. Photo by Jim Watson/UPI | A hairstylist and his client wear protective face masks and gloves at a salon in Jerusalem on May 1 .
Israel has eased some coronavirus restrictions , allowing small stores and beauty salons to open , while maintaining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Debbie Hill/UPI |

The initial safety trial will involve two doses given to 300 patients. If successful, a stage-three trial with 6,000 patients is planned in the coming months. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo
June 16 (UPI) -- British researchers this week will start human trials for a potential coronavirus vaccine developed by infectious diseases experts at Imperial College London, officials said. The vaccine, which has received more than $50 million in government funding, will soon enter early-phase testing for safety and efficacy, British Business Minister Alok Sharma announced. Advertisement
"The fast progress of Imperial's vaccine is testament to the ingenuity and tenacity of Britain's researchers," Sharma said Monday. "If these trials are successful a vaccine will not only help us tackle coronavirus but also emerging diseases now and into the future."
Robin Shattock, lead researcher at Imperial College, said the effort could lead to benefits beyond just the current health crisis.
"The COVID-19 pandemic has claimed thousands of lives and had a huge impact on daily life," he said. "In the long term, a viable vaccine could be vital for protecting the most vulnerable, enabling restrictions to be eased and helping people to get back to normal life."
The initial safety trial will involve two doses given to 300 patients. If successful, a stage-three trial with 6,000 patients is planned in the coming months.
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The Imperial College vaccine candidate uses synthetic strands of the novel coronavirus' genetic code to generate an antibody response.
This is the second COVID-19 vaccine candidate to enter clinical trials in Britain. Oxford University, partnering with AstraZeneca, entered its candidate into second-phase human trials last month.
World moves to reopen amid COVID-19 pandemic


upi--2020-06-16--Eagles Pro Bowl G Brandon Brooks tears Achilles, out for season

June 16 ( UPI ) -- The Philadelphia Eagles will need a replacement player to step up in 2020 after star guard Brandon Brooks sustained a torn Achilles .
Brooks announced the injury Monday on Twitter .
Sources told ESPN and NBC Sports Philadelphia Brooks sustained the injury while working out at the NovaCare Complex .
The three-time Pro Bowl selection is expected to miss the entire 2020 season .
`` So I guess now that news is out yes I tore my other Achilles but when life gives you lemons you make lemonade .
I 'll be back and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Brooks tweeted .
Brooks was rehabbing from late-season shoulder surgery while at the Eagles ' training complex in Philadelphia .
Players who do n't need medical treatment are still not allowed at NFL team facilities due to the coronavirus pandemic .
Brooks dislocated the shoulder in Week 17 .
He then missed the Eagles ' wild card playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks .
Brooks , 30 , has n't missed a start on the Eagles ' offensive line since 2016 .
The 6-foot-5 , 335-pound guard has made the Pro @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seasons .
Brooks entered the league as a third-round pick by the Houston Texans in the 2012 NFL Draft .
He signed with the Eagles in free agency before the 2016 season .
In addition to replacing Brooks , the Eagles also must fill the void left by Pro Bowl tackle Jason Peters .
Peters remains a free agent .
The Eagles still have Pro Bowl center Jason Kelce , Pro Bowl tackle Lane Johnson and guard Isaac Seumalo on their offensive line .
Kelce and Seumalo each started 16 games in 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Andre Dillard -- a first-round pick by the Eagles in 2019 -- started four games last season and is expected to start at tackle in 2020 .
The Eagles also picked up offensive lineman Jack Driscoll in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft .
Reserve offensive lineman Matt Pryor is also a candidate to replace Brooks this season .
The Eagles could opt to go into free agency and replace Brooks with a more experienced offensive lineman .
The Eagles are set to play the Indianapolis Colts in their first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Philadelphia 's first game of the 2020 regular season is scheduled to be against the Washington Redskins Sept. 13 in Landover , Md .

Philadelphia Eagles guard Brandon Brooks (79) is expected to miss the entire 2020 season after he tore his Achilles as he rehabbed at the team's training facility. File Photo by Kamil Krzaczynski/UPI | License Photo
June 16 (UPI) -- The Philadelphia Eagles will need a replacement player to step up in 2020 after star guard Brandon Brooks sustained a torn Achilles. Brooks announced the injury Monday on Twitter. Sources told ESPN and NBC Sports Philadelphia Brooks sustained the injury while working out at the NovaCare Complex. The three-time Pro Bowl selection is expected to miss the entire 2020 season. Advertisement
"So I guess now that news is out yes I tore my other Achilles but when life gives you lemons you make lemonade. I'll be back and better than ever. Appreciate the love," Brooks tweeted.
Brooks was rehabbing from late-season shoulder surgery while at the Eagles' training complex in Philadelphia. Players who don't need medical treatment are still not allowed at NFL team facilities due to the coronavirus pandemic. Brooks dislocated the shoulder in Week 17. He then missed the Eagles' wild card playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks.
Brooks, 30, hasn't missed a start on the Eagles' offensive line since 2016. The 6-foot-5, 335-pound guard has made the Pro Bowl in each of the last three seasons. Brooks entered the league as a third-round pick by the Houston Texans in the 2012 NFL Draft. He signed with the Eagles in free agency before the 2016 season.
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In addition to replacing Brooks, the Eagles also must fill the void left by Pro Bowl tackle Jason Peters. Peters remains a free agent. The Eagles still have Pro Bowl center Jason Kelce, Pro Bowl tackle Lane Johnson and guard Isaac Seumalo on their offensive line. Kelce and Seumalo each started 16 games in 2019. Johnson started 12 games last season.
Andre Dillard -- a first-round pick by the Eagles in 2019 -- started four games last season and is expected to start at tackle in 2020. The Eagles also picked up offensive lineman Jack Driscoll in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Reserve offensive lineman Matt Pryor is also a candidate to replace Brooks this season. The Eagles could opt to go into free agency and replace Brooks with a more experienced offensive lineman.
Brooks signed a four-year, $56.5 million contract extension in November.
The Eagles are set to play the Indianapolis Colts in their first pre-season game Aug. 13 in Indianapolis. Philadelphia's first game of the 2020 regular season is scheduled to be against the Washington Redskins Sept. 13 in Landover, Md.


upi--2020-06-16--South Korea COVID-19 clusters rise after rules relaxed

June 16 ( UPI ) -- South Korea is struggling to contain what may be a `` next wave '' of coronavirus infections , following a government decision to loosen social distancing restrictions in late April .
The latest infection clusters are occurring in several places , including day care centers , schools , hospitals and churches .
The infections are rapidly spreading in the greater Seoul metropolitan area , which includes Gyeonggi Province , Yonhap reported Tuesday .
South Korea 's confirmed cases are lower than many countries , including neighbors China and Japan .
The country has more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Australia , however .
According to Gyeonggi provincial authorities , recent cases have involved the deadly virus spreading from schoolteachers to students , as the country 's school-aged children return to classrooms .
In Icheon , a town in the province , a 28-year-old schoolteacher was confirmed for the virus .
A total of 1,130 students are being tested for COVID-19 , authorities said .
A cluster in the satellite city of Bucheon occurred at a cultural center , where a 40-year-old day care director tested positive for the virus .
People the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 24 teachers and 66 children , as well as their families , are being tested , according to Yonhap .
Infections connected to a cluster at Richway , a Seoul-based health product provider that hires door-to-door vendors , continue to be reported in various parts of the greater Seoul area .
Three patients connected to Richway were identified on Monday , and an additional three people were confirmed on Tuesday , bringing the total number of related cases to 54 , according to reports .
South Korea 's `` second wave '' of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nightclubs .
The mean reproduction number of COVID-19 in Korea was greater than 1 after mid-May , indicating the infection was spreading exponentially after May 23 , according to local newspaper Kukmin Ilbo on Tuesday .
The director of the National Institute of Health warned Tuesday the virus can `` spread at any time . ''

South Korean cases of COVID-19 are on the rise following a decision to carefully reopen schools and other places of social gathering in the country. File Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Photo
June 16 (UPI) -- South Korea is struggling to contain what may be a "next wave" of coronavirus infections, following a government decision to loosen social distancing restrictions in late April. The latest infection clusters are occurring in several places, including day care centers, schools, hospitals and churches. The infections are rapidly spreading in the greater Seoul metropolitan area, which includes Gyeonggi Province, Yonhap reported Tuesday. Advertisement
South Korea's confirmed cases are lower than many countries, including neighbors China and Japan. The country has more infections than Taiwan, New Zealand or Australia, however.
According to Gyeonggi provincial authorities, recent cases have involved the deadly virus spreading from schoolteachers to students, as the country's school-aged children return to classrooms.
In Icheon, a town in the province, a 28-year-old schoolteacher was confirmed for the virus. A total of 1,130 students are being tested for COVID-19, authorities said.
A cluster in the satellite city of Bucheon occurred at a cultural center, where a 40-year-old day care director tested positive for the virus. People the patient came in contact with, including 24 teachers and 66 children, as well as their families, are being tested, according to Yonhap.
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Infections connected to a cluster at Richway, a Seoul-based health product provider that hires door-to-door vendors, continue to be reported in various parts of the greater Seoul area. Three patients connected to Richway were identified on Monday, and an additional three people were confirmed on Tuesday, bringing the total number of related cases to 54, according to reports.
South Korea's "second wave" of infections occurred with a cluster at Seoul nightclubs. The mean reproduction number of COVID-19 in Korea was greater than 1 after mid-May, indicating the infection was spreading exponentially after May 23, according to local newspaper Kukmin Ilbo on Tuesday.
The director of the National Institute of Health warned Tuesday the virus can "spread at any time."


upi--2020-06-16--WWE Raw: Randy Orton targets Christian

WWE Raw: Randy Orton targets Christian

June 16 ( UPI ) -- Randy Orton , after defeating Hall of Famer Edge at Backlash , set his sights on Edge 's former tag team partner and best friend Christian on Raw .
The Viper opened Raw on Monday to gloat about his Backlash victory in a bout that WWE has called the greatest wrestling match ever .
Edge suffered a torn triceps during the encounter , which will leave him out of action for an extended amount of time .
Christian , who has n't competed in WWE for six years and is retired from in-ring action @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Edge .
Orton said Christian has always been jealous of Edge and challenged him to a Unsanctioned match .
An unsanctioned match , where anything goes , would allow Christian to compete without having to worry about WWE doctors clearing him for competition .
Christian was given until the end of the night to decide if he wanted to face Orton .
Living legend Ric Flair attempted to talk Christian out of going ahead with the match but the former Tag Team and World Champion took Orton up on his offer .
Flair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ competing right before the bell rang with Orton already in the ring .
Flair , once Christian was dead set on having the match , delivered a low blow to Christian , immobilizing him .
Orton took his time and slowly prepared to use The Punt , a rare attack he uses only to injure others .
Orton successfully kicked Christian in the head and pinned him for the three count .
Orton was heard telling Christian that he was sorry but that he was forced to put him down .
WWE medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away on a stretcher .
Also on Raw , WWE Champion Drew McIntyre found himself having to defend his title in a Tag Team match with 24/7 Champion R-Truth against Bobby Lashley and MVP .
If McIntyre and Truth lost the match , Lashley would become the new WWE Champion .
Lashley , earlier in the night , told his wife Lana that he wanted a divorce after she got involved with his championship match against McIntyre at Backlash .
Lashley and MVP blame Lana for The All Mighty losing .
McIntyre started @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to end things on his own until Truth tagged himself him .
Lashley and MVP were able to handle Truth until McIntyre re-entered the bout .
Truth was able to dodge an attack from Lashley outside the ring which sent him straight into the steel stairs .
The champ nailed MVP with a Claymore and helped Truth deliver a Splash from the top rope to win the match .
Raw Women 's Champion Asuka defended her title once again against Nia Jax in a rematch from Backlash .
The rematch was short lived @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the referee and pushed him down onto the mat .
The referee started to disqualify Jax until Asuka quickly pinned Jax from behind to win the match .
Other moments from Raw included Kevin Owens defeating Angel Garza ; Big Show helping Raw Tag Team Champions The Street Profits and The Viking Raiders fight off Akira Tozawa and his ninjas ; The IIconics defeating Natalya and Liv Morgan before being granted a future title match against Women 's Tag Team Champions Bayley and Sasha Banks ; United States Champion Apollo Crews defeating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ son Dominik getting revenge on Seth Rollins and his disciples for injuring his father .

June 16 (UPI) -- Randy Orton, after defeating Hall of Famer Edge at Backlash, set his sights on Edge's former tag team partner and best friend Christian on Raw.
The Viper opened Raw on Monday to gloat about his Backlash victory in a bout that WWE has called the greatest wrestling match ever. Edge suffered a torn triceps during the encounter, which will leave him out of action for an extended amount of time.
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Christian, who hasn't competed in WWE for six years and is retired from in-ring action, arrived onto the scene to defend Edge.
Orton said Christian has always been jealous of Edge and challenged him to a Unsanctioned match. An unsanctioned match, where anything goes, would allow Christian to compete without having to worry about WWE doctors clearing him for competition.
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Christian was given until the end of the night to decide if he wanted to face Orton. Living legend Ric Flair attempted to talk Christian out of going ahead with the match but the former Tag Team and World Champion took Orton up on his offer.
Flair once again tried to stop Christian from competing right before the bell rang with Orton already in the ring. Flair, once Christian was dead set on having the match, delivered a low blow to Christian, immobilizing him.
Orton took his time and slowly prepared to use The Punt, a rare attack he uses only to injure others. Orton successfully kicked Christian in the head and pinned him for the three count.
Orton was heard telling Christian that he was sorry but that he was forced to put him down. WWE medical personnel attended to Christian and took him away on a stretcher.
Also on Raw, WWE Champion Drew McIntyre found himself having to defend his title in a Tag Team match with 24/7 Champion R-Truth against Bobby Lashley and MVP. If McIntyre and Truth lost the match, Lashley would become the new WWE Champion.
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Lashley, earlier in the night, told his wife Lana that he wanted a divorce after she got involved with his championship match against McIntyre at Backlash. Lashley and MVP blame Lana for The All Mighty losing.
McIntyre started the Tag Team match off and wanted to end things on his own until Truth tagged himself him. Lashley and MVP were able to handle Truth until McIntyre re-entered the bout.
Truth was able to dodge an attack from Lashley outside the ring which sent him straight into the steel stairs. The champ nailed MVP with a Claymore and helped Truth deliver a Splash from the top rope to win the match.
Raw Women's Champion Asuka defended her title once again against Nia Jax in a rematch from Backlash.
The rematch was short lived, however, after Jax became frustrated with the referee and pushed him down onto the mat. The referee started to disqualify Jax until Asuka quickly pinned Jax from behind to win the match.
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Other moments from Raw included Kevin Owens defeating Angel Garza; Big Show helping Raw Tag Team Champions The Street Profits and The Viking Raiders fight off Akira Tozawa and his ninjas; The IIconics defeating Natalya and Liv Morgan before being granted a future title match against Women's Tag Team Champions Bayley and Sasha Banks; United States Champion Apollo Crews defeating Shelton Benjamin; and Rey Mysterio's son Dominik getting revenge on Seth Rollins and his disciples for injuring his father.


upi--2020-06-16--Watch live: Fed Chair Jerome Powell details economic recovery in Senate

June 16 ( UPI ) -- Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell is set to testify in the Senate on Tuesday , the first of two days during which he 's expected to map out the United States ' COVID-19 economic recovery picture .
Powell will appear remotely before the Senate banking committee at 10 a.m. EDT to discuss the Fed 's semiannual monetary policy report to Congress .
He will appear in the House on Wednesday .
In the report , the U.S. central bank said the COVID-19 pandemic has caused `` tremendous human and economic hardship '' throughout the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a decline in economic activity , a surge in joblessness , weaker demand and low oil prices .
`` Financial conditions have improved , in part reflecting policy measures to support the U.S. economy and the flow of credit , '' the report says .
`` The Federal Reserve is committed to using its full range of tools to support the U.S. economy in this challenging time , thereby promoting its maximum-employment and price-stability goals . ''
The Fed updated its Secondary Market Corporate Credit facility on Monday and expanded its reach to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to exchange-traded funds .
The Federal Open Market Committee voted last week to leave interest rates unchanged and said it will likely keep them near zero until at least 2022 , after lowering rates twice in March due to the pandemic .
Powell is required to testify in Congress about the report twice a year , providing an overview of the domestic economy .
His first update occurred in early February before the full impact of the health crisis and the mass closures that followed .
At the meeting in February , Powell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the tools to fight off a recession , saying `` it would be important for fiscal policy to support the economy if it weakens '' given the interest rates at the time , which were situated between 1.5 and 1.75 percent .
At the time , Powell said the Fed would use qualitative easing , the process of buying large amounts of government debt to drive down long-term interest rates , to fight economic downturn .
Powell is scheduled to testify before the House financial services committee at noon EDT Wednesday .
His @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sizable influence on U.S. markets .
His appearance Tuesday coincides with the release of U.S. retail sales figures for May .

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell testifies before the House financial services committee on the monetary policy and the state of the economy, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on February 11. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
June 16 (UPI) -- Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell told lawmakers Tuesday there's "significant uncertainty" about exactly how long it will take for the U.S. economy to recover from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. In remote testimony before the Senate banking committee, the Fed chief said there are too many factors to consider when looking at the near-term picture -- even though there have been some indications the domestic economy has begun to bounce back. Advertisement
The Commerce Department surprised Wall Street shortly before the Senate hearing began by reporting that U.S. retail sales surged by a record 17.7 percent in May, far exceeding what most experts predicted.
Powell said, however, the bigger picture is a bit murky.
"The levels of output and employment remain far below their pre-pandemic levels, and significant uncertainty remains about the timing and strength of the recovery," he told the committee. "Much of that economic uncertainty comes from uncertainty about the path of the disease and the effects of measures to contain it."
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"Until the public is confident that the disease is contained, a full recovery is unlikely," he said.
Powell echoed remarks he made last week at a meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee, when it voted to leave interest rates unchanged and said they would probably stay that way until at least 2022.
Tuesday is the first of two days of congressional testimony for Powell, who gave the second of two regular semiannual updates on the U.S. economy. He last appeared in February, before the severity of the health crisis arrived in the United States.
In his testimony, Powell also noted that the COVID-19 impact is particularly pronounced for small businesses and minorities.
"If a small or medium-sized business becomes insolvent because the economy recovers too slowly, we lose more than just that business," he said. "These businesses are the heart of our economy and often embody the work of generations."
Powell added that the Fed will base corporate bond-buying moves on market conditions and will not attempt to control the debt market by wielding clout.
"I don't see us wanting to run through the bond market like an elephant snuffing out price signals, things like that," he said.
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At the first congressional meeting in February, Powell warned that the central bank may lack the tools to fight off a recession, saying "it would be important for fiscal policy to support the economy if it weakens" given the interest rates at the time, which were between 1.5 and 1.75 percent.
At the time, Powell said the Fed would use qualitative easing, the process of buying large amounts of government debt to drive down long-term interest rates, to fight economic downturn.
In the Fed's report, issued Friday, the U.S. central bank said the COVID-19 pandemic has caused "tremendous human and economic hardship" throughout the United States and the world and cited a decline in economic activity, a surge in joblessness, weaker demand and low oil prices.
"Financial conditions have improved, in part reflecting policy measures to support the U.S. economy and the flow of credit," the report says. "The Federal Reserve is committed to using its full range of tools to support the U.S. economy in this challenging time, thereby promoting its maximum-employment and price-stability goals."
The Fed on Monday updated its Secondary Market Corporate Credit facility and expanded its reach to buy individual corporate bonds and exchange-traded funds.
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World moves to reopen amid COVID-19 pandemic


upi--2020-06-16--North Korea blows up inter-Korean liaison office in border city of Kaesong

SEOUL , June 16 ( UPI ) -- Days after issuing a warning , North Korea demolished the inter-Korean liaison office in the border city of Kaesong on Tuesday afternoon , ratcheting up the tension on the Korean Peninsula .
North Korea destroyed the office at 2:49 p.m. local time , South Korea 's Ministry of Unification confirmed .
North Korean state-run media reported on the demolition , saying that `` the liaison office was tragically ruined with a terrific explosion . ''
The destruction was done `` corresponding to the mindset of the enraged people to surely force human @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the scum , to pay dearly for their crimes , '' the Korean Central News Agency wrote .
Pyongyang has been regularly releasing angry statements and threats against Seoul for nearly two weeks , triggered by the longstanding practice of North Korean defectors sending information leaflets across the border via balloons .
Residents on the southern side of the border saw smoke and heard an explosion in the North Korean city , news agency Yonhap reported .
Kim Yo Jong , sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un , specifically threatened the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement that `` before long , a tragic scene of the useless north-south joint liaison office completely collapsed would be seen . ''
Earlier on Tuesday , the North Korean military issued a statement saying it was `` studying an action plan for taking measures to make the army advance again into the zones that had been demilitarized under the north-south agreement . ''
The inter-Korean liaison office was established in September 2018 to facilitate cooperation and communication between the two Koreas during a period of rapprochement marked by summits between South Korean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Last week , North Korea cut off all communications with the South after repeatedly complaining in state-run media about the information leaflets being sent across the border by defectors .
The South Korean government expressed `` strong regret '' over the demolition of the liaison office , the director of the National Security Council said in a statement texted to reporters on Tuesday evening after an emergency meeting was convened by President Moon .
Calling the destruction `` a violation of the expectations of all who wish to develop inter-Korean relations , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responsibility for the incidents arising from it lies entirely with the North . ''
`` We strictly warn that if the North continues to take steps to exacerbate the situation , we will respond strongly , '' the NSC statement concluded .

Smoke is seen rising in the border city of Kaesong after North Korea demolished the inter-Korean liaison office there on Tuesday afternoon amid rising tensions with the South. Photo by Yonhap
SEOUL, June 16 (UPI) -- Days after issuing a warning, North Korea demolished the inter-Korean liaison office in the border city of Kaesong on Tuesday, ratcheting up the tension on the Korean Peninsula. North Korea destroyed the office at 2:49 p.m. local time, South Korea's Ministry of Unification confirmed. Advertisement
North Korean state-run media reported on the demolition, saying that "the liaison office was tragically ruined with a terrific explosion."
The destruction was done "corresponding to the mindset of the enraged people to surely force human scum and those, who have sheltered the scum, to pay dearly for their crimes," the Korean Central News Agency wrote.
Pyongyang has been regularly releasing angry statements and threats against Seoul for nearly two weeks, triggered by the longstanding practice of North Korean defectors sending information leaflets across the border via balloons.
Residents on the southern side of the border saw smoke and heard an explosion in the North Korean city, news agency Yonhap reported.
Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, specifically threatened the office on Saturday, saying in a statement that "before long, a tragic scene of the useless north-south joint liaison office completely collapsed would be seen."
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Earlier on Tuesday, the North Korean military issued a statement saying it was "studying an action plan for taking measures to make the army advance again into the zones that had been demilitarized under the north-south agreement."
The inter-Korean liaison office was established in September 2018 to facilitate cooperation and communication between the two Koreas during a period of rapprochement marked by summits between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong Un.
Last week, North Korea cut off all communications with the South after repeatedly complaining in state-run media about the information leaflets being sent across the border by defectors.
The South Korean government expressed "strong regret" over the demolition of the liaison office, the director of the National Security Council said in a statement texted to reporters on Tuesday evening after an emergency meeting was convened by Moon.
Calling the destruction "a violation of the expectations of all who wish to develop inter-Korean relations," the government said that the "responsibility for the incidents arising from it lies entirely with the North."
"We strictly warn that if the North continues to take steps to exacerbate the situation, we will respond strongly," the NSC statement concluded.


upi--2020-06-16--NYPD finds 'no criminality' after officers fall ill from drinking milkshakes

June 16 ( UPI ) -- The New York City Police Department ruled Tuesday that `` no criminality '' was involved in an incident that resulted in three officers being hospitalized after drinking milkshakes that a police union claimed were contaminated with a `` toxic substance '' at a fast-food restaurant in lower Manhattan .
The officers were eating a meal at a Shake Shack restaurant on Broadway and Fulton Street on Monday night when `` a toxic substance , believed to be bleach '' was discovered in their drinks , the NYC Police Benevolent Association union said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alert .
`` When NYC police officers can not even take meal without coming under attack , it is clear that environment in which we work has deteriorated to a critical level , '' the union said in the statement .
`` We can not afford to let our guard down for even a moment . ''
The union said the sickened officers are expected to recover .
The NYPD launched an investigation into the incident and determined there was no cause for charges , said Chief Rodney Harrison early Tuesday without further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the NYPD 's Manhattan South investigators , it has been determined that there was no criminality by Shake Shack 's employees , '' he tweeted .
The burger chain Shake Shack said it was `` horrified '' to learn of the incident and was working with police in their investigation .
The incident comes amid heightened scrutiny of police throughout the nation , including New York City , as protesters have taken to the streets demanding police reforms and equality following the police-involved killing of George Floyd late last month .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a protest detail in lower Manhattan , and advised its members to inspect any food they purchase while on duty .
`` Whenever possible , take meal in groups of two or more , and remain vigilant for the duration of the meal period , '' it said .
A second union , the Detectives ' Endowment Association , said the officers were `` intentionally poisoned , '' urging police officers not to buy any food from unknown locations .
`` Police in New York City and across the country are under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ simply because of the uniform we wear , '' the union said in a statement .
`` We MUST be more vigilant than ever . ''

Two police unions have warned officers against eating food at restaurants after three officers were hospitalized due to drinking milkshakes at New York City Shake Shack that were believed to have been poisoned. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
June 16 (UPI) -- The New York City Police Department ruled Tuesday that "no criminality" was involved in an incident that resulted in three officers being hospitalized after drinking milkshakes that a police union claimed were contaminated with a "toxic substance" at a fast-food restaurant in lower Manhattan. The officers were eating a meal at a Shake Shack restaurant on Broadway and Fulton Street on Monday night when "a toxic substance, believed to be bleach" was discovered in their drinks, the NYC Police Benevolent Association union said in a statement warning its members to be on alert. Advertisement
"When NYC police officers cannot even take meal without coming under attack, it is clear that environment in which we work has deteriorated to a critical level," the union said in the statement. "We cannot afford to let our guard down for even a moment."
The union said the sickened officers are expected to recover.
The NYPD launched an investigation into the incident and determined there was no cause for charges, said Chief Rodney Harrison early Tuesday without further explanation.
"After a thorough investigation by the NYPD's Manhattan South investigators, it has been determined that there was no criminality by Shake Shack's employees," he tweeted.
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The burger chain Shake Shack said it was "horrified" to learn of the incident and was working with police in their investigation.
We are horrified by the reports of police officers injured at our 200 Broadway Shack in Manhattan. We are working with the police in their investigation right now.— SHAKE SHACK (@shakeshack) June 16, 2020
The incident comes amid heightened scrutiny of police throughout the nation, including New York City, as protesters have taken to the streets demanding police reforms and equality following the police-involved killing of George Floyd late last month.
The union said the officers had been assigned to a protest detail in lower Manhattan, and advised its members to inspect any food they purchase while on duty.
"Whenever possible, take meal in groups of two or more, and remain vigilant for the duration of the meal period," it said.
A second union, the Detectives' Endowment Association, said the officers were "intentionally poisoned," urging police officers not to buy any food from unknown locations.
"Police in New York City and across the country are under attack by vicious criminals who dislike us simply because of the uniform we wear," the union said in a statement. "We MUST be more vigilant than ever."


upi--2020-06-16--NYPD disbands plainclothes anti-crime units

June 16 ( UPI ) -- New York Police Commissioner Dermot F. Shea has announced that he will be disbanding the police department 's elite anti-crime units whose plainclothes officers target violent crime throughout the city .
Shea told reporters Monday during a press conference that effective immediately roughly 600 officers from those units will be transitioned to other departments in an effort to update the force for modern policing , describing the move as a substantial cultural change to foster trust with the community .
`` Make no mistake , this is a seismic shift in the culture of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he said .
`` It will be felt immediately throughout the five district attorneys ' offices .
It will be felt immediately in the communities that we protect . ''
Eliminating the units closes one of the last chapters in the city 's controversial `` stop-and-frisk '' era when police would stop and search residents in high-crime areas , he said .
Critics argued the policing practice targeted minorities and a federal judge agreed in 2013 , ending the policy for being unconstitutional .
Shea said at times the old method @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of reducing crime and maintaining relations with the public .
`` This is 21st century policing , '' he said , explaining that the job of building prosecutable cases has n't changed but the key difference is `` we must do it in a manner that builds trust between the officers and the community they serve . ''
The announcement came as weeks of protests have called for police reforms and equality following the death of George Floyd who was killed by a white officer late last month .
Shea said terminating the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests but that it was time to change how officers police New York City .
`` We can do it with brains .
We can do it with guile .
We can move away from brute force , '' he said , adding these units , at the orders of their superiors , were responsible for a disproportionate number of misconduct complaints and shootings .
Patrick J. Lynch , president of the Police Benevolent Association union , rebuked the move .
`` Anti-crime 's mission was to protect New Yorkers by proactively preventing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and murders are both climbing steadily upward , but our city leaders have clearly decided that proactive policing is n't a priority anymore , '' Lynch said in a statement .
`` They chose this strategy .
They will have to reckon with the consequences . ''
The unexpected announcement came hours after Gov .
Andrew Cuomo announced new police reform laws for New York , requiring officers to report within six hours of firing their weapon , mandating police departments and courts to track arrest data and ordering officers to provide medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who require it .

An NYPD Police officer stands by a barricade near a Target retail store as he helps secure the area around Columbus Circle in New York City on Friday. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
June 16 (UPI) -- New York Police Commissioner Dermot F. Shea has announced that he will be disbanding the police department's elite anti-crime units whose plainclothes officers target violent crime throughout the city. Shea told reporters Monday during a press conference that effective immediately roughly 600 officers from those units will be transitioned to other departments in an effort to update the force for modern policing, describing the move as a substantial cultural change to foster trust with the community. Advertisement
"Make no mistake, this is a seismic shift in the culture of how the NYPD polices this great city," he said. "It will be felt immediately throughout the five district attorneys' offices. It will be felt immediately in the communities that we protect."
Eliminating the units closes one of the last chapters in the city's controversial "stop-and-frisk" era when police would stop and search residents in high-crime areas, he said.
Critics argued the policing practice targeted minorities and a federal judge agreed in 2013, ending the policy for being unconstitutional.
Shea said at times the old method of policing put at odds the goals of reducing crime and maintaining relations with the public.
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"This is 21st century policing," he said, explaining that the job of building prosecutable cases hasn't changed but the key difference is "we must do it in a manner that builds trust between the officers and the community they serve."
The announcement came as weeks of protests have called for police reforms and equality following the death of George Floyd who was killed by a white officer late last month.
Shea said terminating the units was not a result of the protests but that it was time to change how officers police New York City.
"We can do it with brains. We can do it with guile. We can move away from brute force," he said, adding these units, at the orders of their superiors, were responsible for a disproportionate number of misconduct complaints and shootings.
Patrick J. Lynch, president of the Police Benevolent Association union, rebuked the move.
"Anti-crime's mission was to protect New Yorkers by proactively preventing crime, especially gun violence. Shooting and murders are both climbing steadily upward, but our city leaders have clearly decided that proactive policing isn't a priority anymore," Lynch said in a statement. "They chose this strategy. They will have to reckon with the consequences."
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The unexpected announcement came hours after Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced new police reform laws for New York, requiring officers to report within six hours of firing their weapon, mandating police departments and courts to track arrest data and ordering officers to provide medical and health services to those under arrest who require it.


upi--2020-06-16--Researchers test hookworm against MS, study results mixed

In a new trial there are hints , but no proof , that a wriggling intestinal parasite might help fight multiple sclerosis .
The lowly hookworm has for years been proposed as a potential treatment for multiple sclerosis , or MS , and other autoimmune disorders .
But the first clinical trial testing the potential benefits of the parasite against MS has produced decidedly mixed results , according to the report published online June 15 in JAMA Neurology .
Hookworm treatment did not cause any decrease in the brain lesions associated with MS , compared with patients who received a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , `` there were some hints of a potential beneficial effect , '' said researcher Dr. Cris Constantinescu , a professor of clinical neuroscience at the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom .
The group treated with hookworm experienced an increase in T regulatory cells , which balance the immune system and prevent autoimmune diseases , the researchers said .
`` The immune response went in the direction that is good for MS treatment , '' Constantinescu said .
`` A larger trial would be needed , perhaps of a longer duration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pronounced effect . ''
Multiple sclerosis occurs when the immune system starts attacking the central nervous system , damaging the fatty insulation that surrounds nerve fibers as well as the fibers themselves .
Scars form on the brain and spinal cord , and people have problems moving and controlling their bodies .
The idea of treating MS with hookworms stems from the `` hygiene hypothesis . ''
This holds that folks these days are at increased risk of allergic and autoimmune conditions because the cleanliness of modern living prevents exposure to childhood illnesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a neurologist with the Cleveland Clinic .
For example , Constantinescu said that MS and other inflammatory disorders have increased in parts of the globe where hookworms and other gut parasites have been eliminated .
`` Hookworms are gut parasites that have lived in the intestines of humans for thousands of years , '' Constantinescu said .
`` They have adapted to survive by preventing humans from mounting a very strong immune response against them .
This in turn means that the immune response against hookworm does not damage the host 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The dampening of the immune response is through a variety of chemicals hookworms make , '' Constantinescu continued .
`` These chemicals can suppress inflammatory disorders , which is the main way in which hookworm can help treat MS. '' Small studies have shown some potential benefit .
To give the hookworm therapy its first serious road test , Constantinescu and his colleagues recruited 71 MS patients and randomly assigned them to either be treated with the parasites or with a placebo .
Hookworms penetrate the skin during their larval phase , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where they can live for as long as five years , Constantinescu said .
For this study , hookworm larvae were placed on a gauze pad that was applied to patients ' arms for at least a half hour .
Patients assigned to the placebo group received a gauze pad dampened with purified water .
The patients were then tracked for nine months , to see if the hookworms would forestall the progress of scarring in their brains .
Disappointingly , MRIs revealed no significant difference between the brains of patients treated with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treatment , the researchers said .
The negative result could be because the clinical trial was short or because it did n't have a large number of participants , Constantinescu said .
It also could be because patients in the trial were suffering from milder MS .
Better news came with the second goal of the trial , to see if the hookworms helped calm MS patients ' immune response .
Those patients had increased numbers of T regulatory cells , a sign that hookworms can produce the sort of change that might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MS , the study authors explained .
But overall the results indicate that `` it 's probably a pretty weak therapy , and it 's probably not particularly effective , '' Ontaneda said .
The potential of hookworm particularly suffers in comparison to the strong and effective immune-modulating drugs now available to people with MS , Ontaneda said .
But Constantinescu still stands by hookworm therapy as something that could benefit some MS patients .
`` Although the landscape of MS treatment has changed substantially in the last few years , and there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for MS , some populations with MS -- perhaps who have milder disease and prefer this approach -- may benefit , '' Constantinescu said .
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society has more about multiple sclerosis .

In a new trial there are hints, but no proof, that a wriggling intestinal parasite might help fight multiple sclerosis.
The lowly hookworm has for years been proposed as a potential treatment for multiple sclerosis, or MS, and other autoimmune disorders.
Advertisement
But the first clinical trial testing the potential benefits of the parasite against MS has produced decidedly mixed results, according to the report published online June 15 in JAMA Neurology.
Hookworm treatment did not cause any decrease in the brain lesions associated with MS, compared with patients who received a placebo, the findings showed.
However, "there were some hints of a potential beneficial effect," said researcher Dr. Cris Constantinescu, a professor of clinical neuroscience at the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom.
The group treated with hookworm experienced an increase in T regulatory cells, which balance the immune system and prevent autoimmune diseases, the researchers said.
Advertisement
"The immune response went in the direction that is good for MS treatment," Constantinescu said. "A larger trial would be needed, perhaps of a longer duration. Higher doses may have a more pronounced effect."
Multiple sclerosis occurs when the immune system starts attacking the central nervous system, damaging the fatty insulation that surrounds nerve fibers as well as the fibers themselves. Scars form on the brain and spinal cord, and people have problems moving and controlling their bodies.
The idea of treating MS with hookworms stems from the "hygiene hypothesis." This holds that folks these days are at increased risk of allergic and autoimmune conditions because the cleanliness of modern living prevents exposure to childhood illnesses and infections, said Dr. Daniel Ontaneda, a neurologist with the Cleveland Clinic.
For example, Constantinescu said that MS and other inflammatory disorders have increased in parts of the globe where hookworms and other gut parasites have been eliminated.
"Hookworms are gut parasites that have lived in the intestines of humans for thousands of years," Constantinescu said. "They have adapted to survive by preventing humans from mounting a very strong immune response against them. This in turn means that the immune response against hookworm does not damage the host's own tissue," he explained.
Advertisement
"The dampening of the immune response is through a variety of chemicals hookworms make," Constantinescu continued. "These chemicals can suppress inflammatory disorders, which is the main way in which hookworm can help treat MS."
Small studies have shown some potential benefit. To give the hookworm therapy its first serious road test, Constantinescu and his colleagues recruited 71 MS patients and randomly assigned them to either be treated with the parasites or with a placebo.
Hookworms penetrate the skin during their larval phase, then make their way to the gut where they can live for as long as five years, Constantinescu said.
For this study, hookworm larvae were placed on a gauze pad that was applied to patients' arms for at least a half hour. Patients assigned to the placebo group received a gauze pad dampened with purified water.
The patients were then tracked for nine months, to see if the hookworms would forestall the progress of scarring in their brains.
Disappointingly, MRIs revealed no significant difference between the brains of patients treated with hookworms and those who received the placebo treatment, the researchers said.
The negative result could be because the clinical trial was short or because it didn't have a large number of participants, Constantinescu said. It also could be because patients in the trial were suffering from milder MS.
Advertisement
Better news came with the second goal of the trial, to see if the hookworms helped calm MS patients' immune response. Those patients had increased numbers of T regulatory cells, a sign that hookworms can produce the sort of change that might help delay or halt the progression of MS, the study authors explained.
But overall the results indicate that "it's probably a pretty weak therapy, and it's probably not particularly effective," Ontaneda said.
The potential of hookworm particularly suffers in comparison to the strong and effective immune-modulating drugs now available to people with MS, Ontaneda said.
But Constantinescu still stands by hookworm therapy as something that could benefit some MS patients.
"Although the landscape of MS treatment has changed substantially in the last few years, and there are now several very potent disease-modifying treatments for MS, some populations with MS -- perhaps who have milder disease and prefer this approach -- may benefit," Constantinescu said.
More information
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society has more about multiple sclerosis.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-06-16--On This Day, June 16: SLA member Kathleen Ann Soliah arrested

On this date in history : In 1883 , the New York Giants had the first Ladies ' Day baseball game .
In 1909 , President William Howard Taft , in a message to Congress , recommended the adoption of a constitutional amendment giving the federal government the right to levy and collect an income tax .
In 1940 , Marshal Henri-Philippe Petain became prime minister of the Vichy government in France .
In 1963 , the Soviet Union put the first woman into space , cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova .
In 1999 , police arrested Kathleen Ann Soliah , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which kidnapped newspaper heiress Patty Hearst .
She pleaded guilty to planting bombs and a role in killing a bank customer during a robbery .
Soliah , who later changed her name to Sara Jane Olson , was released from prison in 2009 .
In 2005 , Sgt .
Leigh Ann Hester , 23 , of Bowling Green , Ky. , became the first female soldier to receive the Silver Star for bravery in combat in the Iraq war .
In 2011 , U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner , D-N.Y. , announced he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggestive photos on social networks Facebook and Twitter .
He left office the following week .
In 2012 , Saudi Arabia announced the death of Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz al-Saud eight months after he became heir to the throne .
He was succeeded as crown prince by Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud .
In 2013 , Justin Rose won the U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club in suburban Philadelphia .
He was the first player from Britain to win the event since Tony Jacklin in 1970 .
In 2019 , Israeli Prime Minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , was convicted of breach of trust in a case involving the misuse of state funds for a private chef .

1/3
On June 16, 1999, police arrested Kathleen Ann Soliah, a member of the terrorist Symbionese Liberation Army, which kidnapped newspaper heiress Patty Hearst. She pleaded guilty to planting bombs and a role in killing a bank customer during a robbery. Soliah, who later changed her name to Sara Jane Olson, was released from prison in 2009. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
On this date in history: In 1883, the New York Giants had the first Ladies' Day baseball game. Advertisement
In 1909, President William Howard Taft, in a message to Congress, recommended the adoption of a constitutional amendment giving the federal government the right to levy and collect an income tax.
In 1940, Marshal Henri-Philippe Petain became prime minister of the Vichy government in France.
Vichy, France, Marshal Philippe Petain (L) greets Nazi leader Adolf Hitler in 1940. File Photo courtesy the German Federal Archive
In 1963, the Soviet Union put the first woman into space, cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova.
In 1999, police arrested Kathleen Ann Soliah, a member of the terrorist Symbionese Liberation Army, which kidnapped newspaper heiress Patty Hearst. She pleaded guilty to planting bombs and a role in killing a bank customer during a robbery. Soliah, who later changed her name to Sara Jane Olson, was released from prison in 2009.
In 2005, Sgt. Leigh Ann Hester, 23, of Bowling Green, Ky., became the first female soldier to receive the Silver Star for bravery in combat in the Iraq war.
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In 2011, U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., announced he would resign after admitting he sent sexually suggestive photos on social networks Facebook and Twitter. He left office the following week.
File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
In 2012, Saudi Arabia announced the death of Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz al-Saud eight months after he became heir to the throne. He was succeeded as crown prince by Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud.
In 2013, Justin Rose won the U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club in suburban Philadelphia. He was the first player from Britain to win the event since Tony Jacklin in 1970.
In 2019, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's wife, Sara Netanyahu, was convicted of breach of trust in a case involving the misuse of state funds for a private chef.
Sara Netanyahu, the wife of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, arrives in Jerusalem's Magistrate Court, for a hearing on a plea deal over the misuse of state funds for meals at the premier's residence. Photo by Debbie Hill/UPI


upi--2020-06-16--Famous birthdays for June 16: Phil Mickelson, Laurie Metcalf

June 16 ( UPI ) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Gemini .

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Phil Mickelson drives on the 17th tee on the second day of the Open Championship at Royal Portrush on July 19. The golfer turns 50 on June 16. File Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo
June 16 (UPI) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Gemini. They include: Advertisement
-- Scottish golf legend Old Tom Morris in 1821
-- American Indian leader Geronimo in 1829
-- British film comedian Stan Laurel in 1890
-- Newspaper publisher Katharine Graham in 1917
-- Author Joyce Carol Oates in 1938 (age 82)
File Photo by David Silpa/UPI
-- Country singer Billy Crash Craddock in 1939 (age 81)
-- Actor Joan Van Ark in 1943 (age 77)
-- Boxer Roberto Duran in 1951 (age 69)
-- Singer/songwriter Gino Vannelli in 1952 (age 68)
-- Actor Laurie Metcalf in 1955 (age 65)
File Photo by Serena Xu-Ning/UPI
-- Professional golfer Phil Mickelson in 1970 (age 50)
-- Rapper Tupac Shakur in 1971
-- Actor John Cho in 1972 (age 48)
-- Actor Missy Peregrym in 1982 (age 38)
-- Comedian Abby Elliott in 1987 (age 33)
-- Actor Anna Cathcart in 2003 (age 17)
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upi--2020-06-16--GOP congressman, family test positive for COVID-19

June 16 ( UPI ) -- Rep. Tom Rice has said he , his wife and their son have tested positive for the deadly and infectious coronavirus .
In a statement published to his personal Facebook account on Monday , the Republican congressman for South Carolina said he , his wife , Wrenzie Rice ; and their son Lucas Rice had contracted the `` Wuhan Flu , '' a controversial term for COVID-19 that has been criticized for being derogatory and stigmatizing .
`` COVID-19 is a serious , sometimes deadly illness , '' he wrote .
`` We , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He said they were all `` on the mend and doing fine . ''
Several U.S. politicians and government officials have contracted COVID-19 , including Sen. Rand Paul , who contracted the virus in March , and Sen. Tim Kaine and his wife , Anne Holton , who tested positive for COVID-19 late last month .
The virus first emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year before infecting the world over .
In the past six months , more than 8 million people have contracted the virus , resulting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a live tracker of the virus by Johns Hopkins University .
With more than 2.1 million infections and 116,000 fatalities , the United States leads the world in both cases and deaths attributed to COVID-19 .
In his statement , Rice said his son contracted the virus early last week , was tested Tuesday with the results confirmed on Friday .
He said Lucas had `` gotten really sick '' with a high fever and a bad cough , but his condition has since improved .
`` He 's still weak but getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ little , '' he said .
Rice said he also fell ill early last week but only suffered from mild symptoms , including loss of taste and smell .
His wife contracted it on Thursday , he said , adding , `` she is worse than I was but nowhere near as bad as Lucas , '' suffering from a slight fever , a bad cough and headaches and back pain .
`` We are finishing our quarantine and looking forward to seeing you all again , '' he said .

Rep. Tom Rice said he and his family have contracted the coronavirus. Photo courtesy of Rep. Tom Rice/ Website
June 16 (UPI) -- Rep. Tom Rice has said he, his wife and their son have tested positive for the deadly and infectious coronavirus. In a statement published to his personal Facebook account on Monday, the Republican congressman for South Carolina said he, his wife, Wrenzie Rice; and their son Lucas Rice had contracted the "Wuhan Flu," a controversial term for COVID-19 that has been criticized for being derogatory and stigmatizing. Advertisement
"COVID-19 is a serious, sometimes deadly illness," he wrote. "We, however, have fared well."
He said they were all "on the mend and doing fine."
Several U.S. politicians and government officials have contracted COVID-19, including Sen. Rand Paul, who contracted the virus in March, and Sen. Tim Kaine and his wife, Anne Holton, who tested positive for COVID-19 late last month.
The virus first emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year before infecting the world over. In the past six months, more than 8 million people have contracted the virus, resulting in nearly 440,000 deaths, according to a live tracker of the virus by Johns Hopkins University.
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With more than 2.1 million infections and 116,000 fatalities, the United States leads the world in both cases and deaths attributed to COVID-19.
In his statement, Rice said his son contracted the virus early last week, was tested Tuesday with the results confirmed on Friday. He said Lucas had "gotten really sick" with a high fever and a bad cough, but his condition has since improved.
"He's still weak but getting stronger -- moving around and eating a little," he said.
Rice said he also fell ill early last week but only suffered from mild symptoms, including loss of taste and smell.
His wife contracted it on Thursday, he said, adding, "she is worse than I was but nowhere near as bad as Lucas," suffering from a slight fever, a bad cough and headaches and back pain.
"We are finishing our quarantine and looking forward to seeing you all again," he said.


upi--2020-06-16--Calorie counts on menus may save billions in healthcare costs

Calorie labeling requirements for menus in U.S. restaurant chains could save tens of thousands of lives and billions of dollars in health care and other costs , a new study claims .
Researchers created a model to assess what would happen if the labeling rule led to moderate calorie reductions among 1 million Americans , aged 35 to 80 .
Between 2018 , when the law went into effect , and 2023 , healthier menu choices could prevent 14,698 new cases of heart disease -- including 1,575 deaths -- and 21,522 new type 2 diabetes cases , the study concluded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years of life , in good health .
Over a lifetime , healthier menu choices could head off an estimated 135,781 new cases of heart disease -- including 27,646 deaths -- prevent 99,736 cases of type 2 diabetes and add 367,450 years of life , in good health , researchers concluded .
That translates to a savings of up to $ 14 billion in health care costs , as well as up to $ 5 billion in lost productivity and other costs , according to the study recently published in the journal Circulation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prior to COVID-19 , Americans were relying on restaurants for one in five calories , on average .
Most likely , we will come to rely on them again .
Our study shows that menu calorie labeling may prevent meaningful disease and save billions of dollars in healthcare costs , '' said co-author Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian , dean of nutrition science and policy at Tufts University in Boston .
Based on prior studies of food labeling , the model suggested that calorie counts on menus would result in 7 percent fewer calories eaten @ @ @ @ @ @ @ researchers conservatively assumed that half of the `` saved '' restaurant calories would be offset by additional calories consumed by diners elsewhere , such as at home .
The American Academy of Family Physicians has more on healthy food choices .

Calorie counts on menus could result in 7 percent fewer calories eaten during an average restaurant meal, researchers say. Photo by kaboompics /Pixabay
Calorie labeling requirements for menus in U.S. restaurant chains could save tens of thousands of lives and billions of dollars in health care and other costs, a new study claims. Researchers created a model to assess what would happen if the labeling rule led to moderate calorie reductions among 1 million Americans, aged 35 to 80. Advertisement
Between 2018, when the law went into effect, and 2023, healthier menu choices could prevent 14,698 new cases of heart disease -- including 1,575 deaths -- and 21,522 new type 2 diabetes cases, the study concluded. Healthier menu choices could add 8,749 years of life, in good health.
Over a lifetime, healthier menu choices could head off an estimated 135,781 new cases of heart disease -- including 27,646 deaths -- prevent 99,736 cases of type 2 diabetes and add 367,450 years of life, in good health, researchers concluded.
That translates to a savings of up to $14 billion in health care costs, as well as up to $5 billion in lost productivity and other costs, according to the study recently published in the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
"Prior to COVID-19, Americans were relying on restaurants for one in five calories, on average. Most likely, we will come to rely on them again. Our study shows that menu calorie labeling may prevent meaningful disease and save billions of dollars in healthcare costs," said co-author Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, dean of nutrition science and policy at Tufts University in Boston.
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Based on prior studies of food labeling, the model suggested that calorie counts on menus would result in 7 percent fewer calories eaten during an average restaurant meal.
But researchers conservatively assumed that half of the "saved" restaurant calories would be offset by additional calories consumed by diners elsewhere, such as at home.
More information
The American Academy of Family Physicians has more on healthy food choices.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-06-16--North Korean army threatens to enter demilitarized areas

June 15 ( UPI ) -- North Korea 's military warned Tuesday that it was preparing action plans against South Korea , including advancing into border zones that had been demilitarized under an inter-Korean agreement signed in 2018 , as tensions that began over a leaflet campaign by defectors continue to rise .
`` Our army is keeping a close watch on the current situation in which the north-south relations are turning worse and worse , and getting itself fully ready for providing a sure military guarantee to any external measures to be taken by the Party and government , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ People 's Army said in a statement carried by state-run media .
Military leaders are `` studying an action plan for taking measures to make the army advance again into the zones that had been demilitarized under the north-south agreement , turn the front line into a fortress and further heighten the military vigilance against the south , '' continued the statement in the Korean Central News Agency .
The warning came days after Kim Yo Jong , sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un , called South Korea an `` enemy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If I drop a hint of our next plan the [ S ] outh Korean authorities are anxious about , the right to taking the next action against the enemy will be entrusted to the General Staff of our army , '' she said in KCNA on Saturday .
Pyongyang has been issuing angry statements and threats against Seoul regularly for nearly two weeks , apparently triggered by the longstanding practice of North Korean defectors sending information leaflets across the border via balloons .
South Korean officials have moved to rein in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday that it would press charges against two activist groups for sending the leaflets , while police and the coast guard have stepped up patrols at border areas .
North Korea has already severed communications lines with the South , cutting off channels at the inter-Korean liaison office in the border city of Kaesong as well as military and presidential hotlines .
Pyongyang has also spoken out angrily against the United States in recent days , warning Washington against meddling in inter-Korean affairs and condemning what it called an `` empty promise '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second anniversary of the historic summit between Trump and Kim Jong Un .
Nuclear negotiations between the United States and North Korea have been at a standstill since a second Trump-Kim summit , held last year in Hanoi , Vietnam , failed to produce an agreement on issues such as sanctions relief for the North and a timetable for proceeding with denuclearization .
After a 17-month hiatus , Pyongyang restarted tests of short-range missiles in the latter half of 2019 and has continued the launches in 2020 .
At the end of last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no longer any reason for North Korea to be `` unilaterally bound '' to its commitment to halt nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests .
South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Monday urged North Korea to stay on the course of peace and to implement the agreements reached during a pair of inter-Korean summits in 2018 , including dismantling guard posts and withdrawing military personnel from parts of the DMZ .
`` We can not reverse the promise of peace on the Korean Peninsula , '' Moon said in remarks made on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il .
`` We ask North Korea not to close the window of dialogue . ''

North Korea's military announced on Tuesday that it was reviewing plans to re-enter demilitarized border areas amid a row with South Korea over information leaflets being sent by defectors. File Photo by Jeon Heon-Kyun/EPA-EFE
June 16 (UPI) -- North Korea's military warned Tuesday that it was preparing action plans against South Korea, including advancing into border zones that had been demilitarized under an inter-Korean agreement signed in 2018, as tensions that began over a leaflet campaign by defectors continue to rise. "Our army is keeping a close watch on the current situation in which the north-south relations are turning worse and worse, and getting itself fully ready for providing a sure military guarantee to any external measures to be taken by the party and government," the general staff of the Korean People's Army said in a statement carried by state-run media. Advertisement
Military leaders are "studying an action plan for taking measures to make the army advance again into the zones that had been demilitarized under the north-south agreement, turn the front line into a fortress and further heighten the military vigilance against the south," continued the statement from the Korean Central News Agency.
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The warning came days after Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, called South Korea an "enemy" and threatened military force.
"If I drop a hint of our next plan the [S]outh Korean authorities are anxious about, the right to taking the next action against the enemy will be entrusted to the general staff of our army," she said via KCNA on Saturday.
Pyongyang has been issuing angry statements and threats against Seoul regularly for nearly two weeks, apparently triggered by the longstanding practice of North Korean defectors sending information leaflets across the border via balloons.
South Korean officials have moved to rein in the defectors, with the government announcing last Wednesday that it would press charges against two activist groups for sending the leaflets, while police and the coast guard have stepped up patrols at border areas.
North Korea has severed communications lines with the South, cutting off channels at the inter-Korean liaison office in the border city of Kaesong as well as military and presidential hotlines.
Pyongyang has also spoken out angrily against the United States in recent days, warning Washington against meddling in inter-Korean affairs and condemning what it called an "empty promise" from President Donald Trump on Friday on the second anniversary of the historic summit between Trump and Kim Jong Un.
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Nuclear negotiations between the United States and North Korea have been at a standstill since a second Trump-Kim summit, held last year in Hanoi, Vietnam, failed to produce an agreement on issues such as sanctions relief for the North and a timetable for proceeding with denuclearization.
After a 17-month hiatus, Pyongyang restarted tests of short-range missiles in the latter half of 2019 and has continued the launches in 2020.
At the end of last year, Kim Jong Un announced that there was no longer any reason for North Korea to be "unilaterally bound" to its commitment to halt nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Monday urged North Korea to stay on the course of peace and to implement the agreements reached during a pair of inter-Korean summits in 2018, including dismantling guard posts and withdrawing military personnel from parts of the DMZ.
"We cannot reverse the promise of peace on the Korean Peninsula," Moon said in remarks made on the 20th anniversary of a summit agreement between South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il. "We ask North Korea not to close the window of dialogue."


upi--2020-06-16--United States accuses Venezuela of illegally naming electoral council

June 15 ( UPI ) -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday accused the government of embattled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro of illegally installing a new regime-friendly national electoral council that will oversee elections scheduled for later this year .
In a statement , the United States ' top diplomat said the people of Venezuela `` demand and deserve '' free elections , claiming this move will deprive them of that .
On Friday , the Supreme Court , which is packed with Maduro supporters , named a new National Electoral Council that Pompeo said is a continuation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manipulate '' the Venezuelan Constitution as it is the responsibility of the National Assembly to elect the council 's members .
Juan Guaido , leader of the opposition National Assembly and self-appointed interim president , described the Supreme Court as `` illegitimate '' and its appointing of members to the electoral council as `` a new blow to democracy . ''
The United States leads a roughly 60-country coalition that recognizes Guaido as Venezuela 's interim president following Maduro 's re-election being deemed as illegitimate in late 2018 .
Since then , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic pressure on the socialist president to step down .
Maduro has been able to cling to power despite the repeatedly imposed sanctions and diplomatic isolation due to support from Russia , Cuba and China , U.S. officials have said .
Pompeo on Monday said the newly selected National Electoral Council will `` rubber-stamp '' the decisions of the Maduro region and `` ignore the conditions required for free elections . ''
In early January , the Trump administration called for negotiations with Maduro over establishing a transitional government , a seemingly softer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of isolation it had been pursuing .
Conditions of that transitional government include an independent electoral council , Pompeo reiterated Monday .
`` This step by the regime and its Supreme Court takes Venezuela even further away from a democratic transition , '' he said .

A handout photo made available by Miraflores Presidential Palace shows Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro during a meeting with members of the Armed Forces in Caracas, Venezuela, on May 4. Photo by Miraflores Presidential Palace/EPA-EFE
June 15 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday accused the government of embattled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro of illegally installing a new regime-friendly national electoral council that will oversee elections scheduled for later this year. In a statement, the United States' top diplomat said the people of Venezuela "demand and deserve" free elections, claiming this move will deprive them of that. Advertisement
On Friday, the Supreme Court, which is packed with Maduro supporters, named a new National Electoral Council that Pompeo said is a continuation of the regime's efforts to "manipulate" the Venezuelan Constitution as it is the responsibility of the National Assembly to elect the council's members.
Juan Guaido, leader of the opposition National Assembly and self-appointed interim president, described the Supreme Court as "illegitimate" and its appointing of members to the electoral council as "a new blow to democracy."
The United States leads a roughly 60-country coalition that recognizes Guaido as Venezuela's interim president following Maduro's re-election being deemed as illegitimate in late 2018. Since then, the Trump administration has been applying diplomatic and economic pressure on the socialist president to step down.
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Maduro has been able to cling to power despite the repeatedly imposed sanctions and diplomatic isolation due to support from Russia, Cuba and China, U.S. officials have said.
Pompeo on Monday said the newly selected National Electoral Council will "rubber-stamp" the decisions of the Maduro region and "ignore the conditions required for free elections."
In early January, the Trump administration called for negotiations with Maduro over establishing a transitional government, a seemingly softer approach than the previous yearlong hard-line policy of isolation it had been pursuing.
Conditions of that transitional government include an independent electoral council, Pompeo reiterated Monday.
"This step by the regime and its Supreme Court takes Venezuela even further away from a democratic transition," he said.


upi--2020-06-15--Oklahoma State's Mike Gundy 'making changes' after OAN shirt backlash

June 15 ( UPI ) -- Oklahoma State head football coach Mike Gundy vowed to `` make changes '' after players , including All-American running back Chuba Hubbard , threatened to boycott the team in response to a photo of him wearing an OAN shirt .
Hubbard , the country 's leading rusher last season , tweeted Monday that he `` will not be doing anything with Oklahoma State until things change '' after the picture of Gundy wearing the OAN shirt surfaced .
OAN stands for One America News , a news network that has been known to promote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Donald Trump .
Some on-air network commentators also have been critical of the Black Lives Matter movement , which Hubbard has supported on his social media channels .
`` I will not stand for this , '' Hubbard wrote on social media .
`` This is completely insensitive to everything going on in society , and it 's unacceptable . ''
Hubbard received support from teammates and former Oklahoma State players , but after the university president and athletic director both released statements expressing their concerns , the star tailback posted a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 51-second clip , the coach and the running back shook hands .
`` In light of today 's tweet with the T-shirt that I was wearing , I met with some players and realize it 's a very sensitive issue with what 's going on in today 's society , '' Gundy said in the video .
`` And so , we had a great meeting .
[ I was ] made aware of some things that players feel like can make our organization , our culture even better than it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'm looking forward to making some changes , and it starts at the top with me .
And we 've got good days ahead . ''
Hubbard then said he had `` gone about it the wrong way by tweeting '' and added that `` from now on we 're going to focus on bringing change , and that 's the most important thing . ''
Oklahoma State senior linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga , who previously tweeted his support of Hubbard , said that everyone `` came to a conclusion '' and will resume @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are happy to have came to a conclusion and opened a gateway to create some serious change around Oklahoma State , '' Ogbongbemiga wrote on Twitter .
`` My teammates and I have all agreed we will go ahead and resume all workouts and activities .
We 're all in this together . ''
Hubbard , a redshirt junior from Alberta , Canada , rushed for 2,094 yards last season .
He was named first-team All-American and the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year in 2019 .

June 15 (UPI) -- Oklahoma State head football coach Mike Gundy vowed to "make changes" after players, including All-American running back Chuba Hubbard, threatened to boycott the team in response to a photo of him wearing an OAN shirt.
Hubbard, the country's leading rusher last season, tweeted Monday that he "will not be doing anything with Oklahoma State until things change" after the picture of Gundy wearing the OAN shirt surfaced.
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OAN stands for One America News, a news network that has been known to promote conspiracy theories and is often mentioned by President Donald Trump. Some on-air network commentators also have been critical of the Black Lives Matter movement, which Hubbard has supported on his social media channels.
"I will not stand for this," Hubbard wrote on social media. "This is completely insensitive to everything going on in society, and it's unacceptable."
I will not stand for this.. This is completely insensitive to everything going on in society, and it's unacceptable. I will not be doing anything with Oklahoma State until things CHANGE. https://t.co/psxPn4Khoq— Chuba Hubbard (@Hubbard_RMN) June 15, 2020 Advertisement
Hubbard received support from teammates and former Oklahoma State players, but after the university president and athletic director both released statements expressing their concerns, the star tailback posted a video of himself and Gundy. In the 51-second clip, the coach and the running back shook hands.
"In light of today's tweet with the T-shirt that I was wearing, I met with some players and realize it's a very sensitive issue with what's going on in today's society," Gundy said in the video. "And so, we had a great meeting. [I was] made aware of some things that players feel like can make our organization, our culture even better than it is here at Oklahoma State.
"I'm looking forward to making some changes, and it starts at the top with me. And we've got good days ahead."
Hubbard then said he had "gone about it the wrong way by tweeting" and added that "from now on we're going to focus on bringing change, and that's the most important thing."
Change is coming I promise you that. pic.twitter.com/wTGHtByh3N— Chuba Hubbard (@Hubbard_RMN) June 15, 2020
Oklahoma State senior linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga, who previously tweeted his support of Hubbard, said that everyone "came to a conclusion" and will resume workouts.
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"By voicing our opinion we are happy to have came to a conclusion and opened a gateway to create some serious change around Oklahoma State," Ogbongbemiga wrote on Twitter. "My teammates and I have all agreed we will go ahead and resume all workouts and activities. We're all in this together."
Hubbard, a redshirt junior from Alberta, Canada, rushed for 2,094 yards last season. He was named first-team All-American and the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year in 2019.


upi--2020-06-15--UEFA to choose Lisbon as host site for Champions League knockout rounds

June 15 ( UPI ) -- The 2019-20 UEFA Champions League season will wrap up with an eight-team knockout tournament held over two weeks in Lisbon , Portugal .
UEFA 's executive committee must agree on the proposal Wednesday to resume the tournament , which was suspended in March because of the coronavirus pandemic .
The plan is expected to be agreed upon after a consensus was reached Monday , according to Reuters .
Under the plan , the competition for Europe 's biggest soccer prize will resume with the second leg of remaining round of 16 matches , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the scheduled venues , according to Sky Italia and Reuters .
The single leg quarterfinal games will take place in Lisbon from Aug. 12-15 , according to the outlets .
The semifinals will be played on Aug. 18 and 19 , and the Champions League final will happen on Aug. 23 in the Portuguese capital .
The games are likely to be shared between Lisbon 's two major stadiums , according to Reuters .
The matches will happen at Benfica 's Estadio da Luz and Sporting Lisbon 's Jose Alvalade Stadium .
Four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Paris Saint-Germain , RB Leipzig , Atalanta and Atletico Madrid .
The remaining round of 16 contests are Manchester City 's home matchup against Real Madrid , Chelsea 's visit to Bayern Munich , Juventus ' home game against Olympique Lyonnais and Napoli 's visit to Barcelona .
Istanbul was originally set to host the 2020 Champions League final in May .
Instead , the Turkish city will host the 2021 final .

The UEFA's executive committee must agree on the plan Wednesday. File Photo by Salvatore Di Nolfi/EPA-EFE
June 15 (UPI) -- The 2019-20 UEFA Champions League season will wrap up with an eight-team knockout tournament held over two weeks in Lisbon, Portugal. UEFA's executive committee must agree on the proposal Wednesday to resume the tournament, which was suspended in March because of the coronavirus pandemic. The plan is expected to be agreed upon after a consensus was reached Monday, according to Reuters. Advertisement
Under the plan, the competition for Europe's biggest soccer prize will resume with the second leg of remaining round of 16 matches, with the four games set for mid-July at the scheduled venues, according to Sky Italia and Reuters.
The single leg quarterfinal games will take place in Lisbon from Aug. 12-15, according to the outlets. The semifinals will be played on Aug. 18 and 19, and the Champions League final will happen on Aug. 23 in the Portuguese capital.
The games are likely to be shared between Lisbon's two major stadiums, according to Reuters. The matches will happen at Benfica's Estadio da Luz and Sporting Lisbon's Jose Alvalade Stadium.
Four teams have already advanced to the quarterfinals: Paris Saint-Germain, RB Leipzig, Atalanta and Atletico Madrid. The remaining round of 16 contests are Manchester City's home matchup against Real Madrid, Chelsea's visit to Bayern Munich, Juventus' home game against Olympique Lyonnais and Napoli's visit to Barcelona.
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Istanbul was originally set to host the 2020 Champions League final in May. Instead, the Turkish city will host the 2021 final.