upi--2020-11-24--U.S. sanctions weaken Hezbollah’s allies in Lebanon

BEIRUT , Lebanon , Nov. 24 ( UPI ) -- Recent U.S sanctions targeting Hezbollah 's close political allies have weakened the Iran-backed group 's alliances and longtime support in Lebanon , analysts said .
Sanctioning Gebran Bassil , head of the Christian Free Patriotic Movement and son-in-law of Lebanese President Michel Aoun , for his role in corruption under the Magnitsky Act on Nov. 6 showed Washington aimed to maintain its `` maximum strategy pressure '' to force behavior change in Lebanon .
Bassil was the third high-ranking political official to face U.S. sanctions for supporting Hezbollah and its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a former transport minister , and Ali Hassan Khalil , a former finance minister , were blacklisted for engaging in corruption and making political and economic favors to Hezbollah .
More high-ranking officials from different sects are expected to soon be placed on the sanctions list .
`` The sanctions worked well , as they shook Hezbollah 's alliances and greatly weakened its allies , '' Amin Kammourieh , a journalist and an independent political analyst , told UPI .
Bassil , leader of the largest Christian bloc in parliament and whose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Hezbollah since 2006 , insisted that U.S. sanctions do not scare him and defied Washington for proving his implication in the country 's corruption .
However , the damage is done .
`` After the sanctions , more of Bassil 's followers are moving away from him , and the split within the group is growing , '' Kammourieh said .
`` Moreover , Christian businessmen who have interests in the U.S. or hold the U.S. nationality and have been supporting him are now saying why should they be involved and started @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Antoine Nasrallah , a prominent FPM member who was expelled along with two others in 2016 for leading a `` revolt '' after refusing to vote for Bassil as Aoun 's successor to lead the movement , said he broke away because the group is no more the one he dreamt of to rebuild the country .
Discontent with Bassil has been mounting within FPM over the way he was running the group and monopolizing decisions and over his populist approach and circumstantial alliances .
The FPM most benefited from its alliance with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Aoun as president in November 2016 after 29-month vacuum in the presidency .
In return , Aoun secured a Christian cover for Hezbollah 's policies and activities .
Such an alliance has n't been in Lebanon 's interests .
It has pushed away its traditional Arab and Western allies , which are refusing to rescue it from the economic crisis unless urgent reforms are adopted and Hezbollah is kept out of any new government .
`` Many will not vote anymore for the FMP .
This has started with the 2018 parliamentary elections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sanctions , especially among the wealthy ones who have been supporting the group with money and efforts .
Those are scared , '' Nasrallah , who is among dozens of former FPM members preparing to announce a new political movement next month , told UPI .
He said the high-ranking officials who were sanctioned may not change and would maintain their positions but their supporters and those funding them will .
He noted that the Lebanese political leaders are showing that they are strong `` but this is not true ... they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rebuild the country with non-corrupt officials who would pull us out of the economic , social and financial abyss , '' Nasrallah said .
However , Lebanese are well aware that getting rid of the corrupt political class and changing the situation in their country is no easy task and will not happen overnight .
It will be a slow , painful process to break the corrupt class and contain the heavily-armed Hezbollah .
`` In Lebanon , no revolution or coup d'état can work .
To make some changes , we only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elections , '' Nasrallah said .
Despite the acute economic crisis , Hezbollah was still able to support its popular base , paying its fighters and covering its expenses in U.S. dollars generated from illegal activities and funds sent by Iran .
It responded to Washington 's sanctions that target drying up its resources and blacklisting its allies by hardening its stance .
According to Adib Nehmeh , an expert in sustainable development , the U.S. sanctions would affect Hezbollah if it succeeds in drying up its funding sources so that it can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` The sanctions are stronger and more harmful .
Blacklisting Khalil and Fenianios was not a coincidence , for it targeted a mechanism that secured financial resources to Hezbollah from state revenues , '' Nehmeh told UPI .
`` Now , state revenues have dropped sharply and Lebanon is not to receive any international aid , so Hezbollah will be affected and the Americans are fully aware of that . ''
Sanctions alone are not enough to save Lebanon from its worst crisis since its 1975-90 civil war and will not yield @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Sometimes , sanctions work -- like against the apartheid system in South Africa .
But in Lebanon 's case , this is not enough .
I am not sure Washington will succeed in dragging the Lebanese parties to where it wants , '' a Beirut-based international lawyer told UPI on the condition he not be identified .
With no plan in place to help change the political class , the approach of outside parties in dealing with Lebanon 's crisis will remain `` unproductive , '' he said .
`` They are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lebanon falling apart , '' he said , calling for the ouster of Aoun , `` for he is the head of state '' and should shoulder the responsibility of the country 's collapse .
Lebanese thus can not bet on foreign assistance to get out of their mess .
They would need to break the internal balance of power through a mixture of popular pressure , more disputes among the ruling powers and new social forces joining the system , Nehmeh said .
Moreover , Hezbollah can not keep Lebanon on hold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iran to resume negotiations that would hopefully ease the pressure and consecrate its role in the country .
`` Lebanese can not bear anymore such a disastrous situation .
Hezbollah will be blamed openly and will be held responsible , '' Kammourieh said .
`` What will the group do when the price of a chicken will equal a month 's salary ? ''

Supporters rally during a Mawlid celebration, which marks the birth anniversary of the Muslim prophet Muhammad on October 29. One attendee holds photos of Lebanese Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah (R) and Shiite Houthi movement leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi. Photo by Yahya Arhab/EPA-EFE
BEIRUT, Lebanon, Nov. 24 (UPI) -- Recent U.S sanctions targeting Hezbollah's close political allies have also affected the Iran-backed group's alliances and weakened its longtime supporters in Lebanon, analysts say. Sanctioning Gebran Bassil, head of the Christian Free Patriotic Movement and son-in-law of Lebanese President Michel Aoun, for his role in corruption under the Magnitsky Act on Nov. 6 showed Washington aimed to maintain its "maximum strategy pressure" to force behavior change in Lebanon. Advertisement
Bassil was the third high-ranking political official to face U.S. sanctions for supporting Hezbollah and its policies. In September, Youssef Fenianos, a former transport minister, and Ali Hassan Khalil, a former finance minister, were blacklisted for engaging in corruption and making political and economic favors to Hezbollah. More high-ranking officials from different sects are expected to soon be placed on the sanctions list.
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"The sanctions worked well, as they shook Hezbollah's alliances and greatly weakened its allies," Amin Kammourieh, a journalist and an independent political analyst, told UPI.
Bassil, leader of the largest Christian bloc in parliament and whose FPM group has had a political alliance with Hezbollah since 2006, insisted that U.S. sanctions do not scare him and defied Washington for proving his implication in the country's corruption. However, the damage is done.
"After the sanctions, more of Bassil's followers are moving away from him, and the split within the group is growing," Kammourieh said. "Moreover, Christian businessmen who have interests in the U.S. or hold the U.S. nationality and have been supporting him are now saying why should they be involved and started to distance themselves from him."
Antoine Nasrallah, a prominent FPM member who was expelled along with two others in 2016 for leading a "revolt" after refusing to vote for Bassil as Aoun's successor to lead the movement, said he broke away because the group is no more the one he dreamt of to rebuild the country.
Discontent with Bassil has been mounting within FPM over the way he was running the group and monopolizing decisions and over his populist approach and circumstantial alliances.
Advertisement
The FPM most benefited from its alliance with Hezbollah when it imposed the election of Aoun as president in November 2016 after 29-month vacuum in the presidency. In return, Aoun secured a Christian cover for Hezbollah's policies and activities. Such an alliance hasn't been in Lebanon's interests. It has pushed away its traditional Arab and Western allies, which are refusing to rescue it from the economic crisis unless urgent reforms are adopted and Hezbollah is kept out of any new government.
"Many will not vote anymore for the FMP. This has started with the 2018 parliamentary elections and is set to increase after the sanctions, especially among the wealthy ones who have been supporting the group with money and efforts. Those are scared," Nasrallah, who is among dozens of former FPM members preparing to announce a new political movement next month, told UPI.
He said the high-ranking officials who were sanctioned may not change and would maintain their positions but their supporters and those funding them will. He noted that the Lebanese political leaders are showing that they are strong "but this is not true...they are afraid."
"We want to rebuild the country with non-corrupt officials who would pull us out of the economic, social and financial abyss," Nasrallah said.
Advertisement
However, Lebanese are well aware that getting rid of the corrupt political class and changing the situation in their country is no easy task and will not happen overnight. It will be a slow, painful process to break the corrupt class and contain the heavily-armed Hezbollah.
"In Lebanon, no revolution or coup d'état can work. To make some changes, we only have the democratic way, through parliamentary elections," Nasrallah said.
Despite the acute economic crisis, Hezbollah was still able to support its popular base, paying its fighters and covering its expenses in U.S. dollars generated from illegal activities and funds sent by Iran. It responded to Washington's sanctions that target drying up its resources and blacklisting its allies by hardening its stance.
According to Adib Nehmeh, an expert in sustainable development, the U.S. sanctions would affect Hezbollah if it succeeds in drying up its funding sources so that it can no longer pay its people's salaries.
"The sanctions are stronger and more harmful. Blacklisting Khalil and Fenianios was not a coincidence, for it targeted a mechanism that secured financial resources to Hezbollah from state revenues," Nehmeh told UPI. "Now, state revenues have dropped sharply and Lebanon is not to receive any international aid, so Hezbollah will be affected and the Americans are fully aware of that."
Advertisement
Sanctions alone are not enough to save Lebanon from its worst crisis since its 1975-90 civil war and will not yield desired results, some experts say.
"Sometimes, sanctions work -- like against the apartheid system in South Africa. But in Lebanon's case, this is not enough. I am not sure Washington will succeed in dragging the Lebanese parties to where it wants," a Beirut-based international lawyer told UPI on the condition he not be identified.
With no plan in place to help change the political class, the approach of outside parties in dealing with Lebanon's crisis will remain "unproductive," he said.
"They are still dealing with those who led to Lebanon falling apart," he said, calling for the ouster of Aoun, "for he is the head of state" and should shoulder the responsibility of the country's collapse.
Lebanese thus cannot bet on foreign assistance to get out of their mess. They would need to break the internal balance of power through a mixture of popular pressure, more disputes among the ruling powers and new social forces joining the system, Nehmeh said.
Moreover, Hezbollah cannot keep Lebanon on hold, waiting for the United States and Iran to resume negotiations that would hopefully ease the pressure and consecrate its role in the country.
Advertisement
"Lebanese cannot bear anymore such a disastrous situation. Hezbollah will be blamed openly and will be held responsible," Kammourieh said. "What will the group do when the price of a chicken will equal a month's salary?"


upi--2020-11-24--On This Day, Nov. 24: Apollo 12 returns to Earth

Nov. 24 ( UPI ) -- On this date in history : In 1859 , Charles Darwin 's On the Origin of Species was published .
In 1863 , Union Gen. U.S. Grant launched the U.S. Civil War battle of Chattanooga in Tennessee .
In 1869 , women from 21 states met in Cleveland to organize the American Women Suffrage Association .
In 1874 , Joseph Glidden received a patent for barbed wire , which altered the development of ranching on the Great Plains .
In 1917 , nine officers and with the Milwaukee Police Department and two civilians were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been made by Gallean anarchists .
Prior to the attacks on September 11 , 2001 , this was the single most fatal event in U.S. law enforcement history .
In 1963 , Lee Harvey Oswald , accused assassin of President John F. Kennedy , was fatally shot by nightclub owner Jack Ruby in the Dallas police headquarters basement two days after Kennedy was slain .
In 1969 , Apollo 12 returned to Earth with astronauts Charles Conrad Jr. , Richard Gordon and Alan Bean .
It was NASA 's second moon-landing mission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ became known as `` D.B .
Cooper '' hijacked a Northwest Airlines flight from Portland , Ore. , parachuted south of Seattle with a $ 200,000 ransom collected from the airline -- and disappeared .
In 1985 , Arab commandos forced an Egypt Air jetliner to Malta and began shooting passengers , fatally wounding two .
Fifty-seven other people died when Egyptian commandos stormed the jet .
In 1992 , the United States lowered its flag over the last U.S. base in the Philippines , ending nearly a century of military presence in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a brigade of 5,000 U.S. troops left Diyala province in Iraq .
It was considered the first significant pullback of American forces from the country .
In 2009 , two men were executed in China for involvement in the country 's 2008 tainted milk scandal , which sickened 300,000 infants , killing six .
In 2012 , at least 112 people were killed in a fire that swept through a clothing factory outside Dhaka , Bangladesh .
In 2014 , Cleveland police fatally shot 12-year-old Tamir Rice , who was holding a toy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charged , but the city agreed to pay his family $ 6 million to settle a lawsuit .
{ link : In 2019 , former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg formally announced his candidacy fo presidenct as a Democrat .
: `` https : //www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2020/03/04/Ex-NYC-Mayor-Mike-Bloomberg-drops-presidential-bid-backs-Biden/9041583335041/ '' target= '' _blank '' } He withdrew from the race in March 2020 .

1/4
A U.S. Navy underwater demolition team swimmer assists the Apollo 12 crew during recovery operations in the Pacific Ocean on November 24, 1969. File Photo courtesy of NASA
Nov. 24 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1859, Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species was published. Advertisement
In 1863, Union Gen. U.S. Grant launched the U.S. Civil War battle of Chattanooga in Tennessee.
In 1869, women from 21 states met in Cleveland to organize the American Women Suffrage Association.
In 1874, Joseph Glidden received a patent for barbed wire, which altered the development of ranching on the Great Plains.
In 1917, nine officers and with the Milwaukee Police Department and two civilians were killed by a bomb, believed to have been made by Gallean anarchists. Prior to the attacks on September 11, 2001, this was the single most fatal event in U.S. law enforcement history.
In 1963, Lee Harvey Oswald, accused assassin of President John F. Kennedy, was fatally shot by nightclub owner Jack Ruby in the Dallas police headquarters basement two days after Kennedy was slain.
UPI File Photo
In 1969, Apollo 12 returned to Earth with astronauts Charles Conrad Jr., Richard Gordon and Alan Bean. It was NASA's second moon-landing mission.
Advertisement
In 1971, a passenger who became known as "D.B. Cooper" hijacked a Northwest Airlines flight from Portland, Ore., parachuted south of Seattle with a $200,000 ransom collected from the airline -- and disappeared.
In 1985, Arab commandos forced an Egypt Air jetliner to Malta and began shooting passengers, fatally wounding two. Fifty-seven other people died when Egyptian commandos stormed the jet.
In 1992, the United States lowered its flag over the last U.S. base in the Philippines, ending nearly a century of military presence in its former colony.
In 1995, Irish voters passed a referendum removing a constitutional ban on divorce.
In 2007, a brigade of 5,000 U.S. troops left Diyala province in Iraq. It was considered the first significant pullback of American forces from the country.
In 2009, two men were executed in China for involvement in the country's 2008 tainted milk scandal, which sickened 300,000 infants, killing six.
File Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI
In 2012, at least 112 people were killed in a fire that swept through a clothing factory outside Dhaka, Bangladesh.
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In 2014, Cleveland police fatally shot 12-year-old Tamir Rice, who was holding a toy gun. The officers involved were not charged, but the city agreed to pay his family $6 million to settle a lawsuit.{link:
In 2019, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg formally announced his candidacy fo presidenct as a Democrat.: "https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2020/03/04/Ex-NYC-Mayor-Mike-Bloomberg-drops-presidential-bid-backs-Biden/9041583335041/" target="_blank"} He withdrew from the race in March 2020.


upi--2020-11-24--Trump campaign loses 5 more election cases in Pennsylvania

Nov. 23 ( UPI ) -- The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has rejected five lawsuits filed by the Trump campaign seeking to disqualify a few thousand ballots , delivering President Donald Trump another defeat in his litigious efforts to challenge the results of the general election .
The court issued an opinion Monday to five consolidated appeals the president had filed seeking to disqualify the Philadelphia County Board of Elections from counting 8,329 absentee and mail-in ballots due to their lack of a handwritten name , address or date of the voter on the outside of the return envelope .
Justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Baer and Debra Todd , ruled that the election code does not require for such votes to be disqualified where no fraud or irregularity has been alleged .
`` Failures to include a handwritten name , address or date in the voter declaration on the back of the outer envelope , while constituting technical violations of the Election Code , do not warrant the wholesale disenfranchisement of thousands of Pennsylvania voters , '' Donohue wrote .
The court said that its opinion was guided by the principle that the election code should be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ambiguous language so as to not deprive the electors their right to vote .
Justices David Wecht and Kevin Dougherty issued separate opinions agreeing with Donohue but showing concern over the lack of weight her opinion gave to the importance of the information that is to be handwritten on the ballot envelope .
`` In my opinion , there is an unquestionable purpose behind requiring electors to date and sign the declaration , '' Dougherty wrote , stating the date on the envelope is proof of when the elector executed their ballot in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dating late arrived votes .
`` I recognize there is presently no dispute that all undated ballots at issue here arrived in a timely manner .
But I am also cognizant that our interpretation of this relatively new statue will act as precedential guidance for future cases , '' Dougherty said .
Wecht wrote he disagrees with calling the failure to write the information on the envelope as a `` minor irregularity , '' stating that in future elections , `` I would treat the date and sign requirement as mandatory in both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ item sufficient without more to invalid the ballot in question . ''
The opinion came in support of a lower court 's decision that the president had appealed .
The state 's highest court on Monday also ruled in a separate yet similar appeal by Nicole Ziccarelli , a Republican senatorial candidate , who sought to invalidate 2,349 ballots that were signed but not dated in Allegheny County .
All 10,678 votes will be counted in the state that President-elect Joe Biden is projected to have won by tens of thousands of votes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days following the election , but President Donald Trump has yet to concede defeat and continues to spread widely discredit claims of voter fraud online while stating he has won the election .
`` So much egregious conduct , '' Trump said in a tweet on Monday flagged by Twitter for being disputed .
`` We will win ! ''
Trump , his campaign and the Republican Party have filed a slew of court cases challenging results in key swing states , such as Pennsylvania and Georgia , many of which have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @

The processing of ballots continues into the evening at the Allengheny County vote processing warehouse on the northside of Pittsburgh, Pa., on November 6. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 23 (UPI) -- The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has rejected five lawsuits filed by the Trump campaign seeking to disqualify a few thousand ballots, delivering President Donald Trump another defeat in his litigious efforts to challenge the results of the general election. The court issued an opinion Monday to five consolidated appeals the president had filed seeking to disqualify the Philadelphia County Board of Elections from counting 8,329 absentee and mail-in ballots due to their lack of a handwritten name, address or date of the voter on the outside of the return envelope. Advertisement
Justice Christine Donohue, joined by Justices Max Baer and Debra Todd, ruled that the election code does not require for such votes to be disqualified where no fraud or irregularity has been alleged.
"Failures to include a handwritten name, address or date in the voter declaration on the back of the outer envelope, while constituting technical violations of the Election Code, do not warrant the wholesale disenfranchisement of thousands of Pennsylvania voters," Donohue wrote.
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The court said that its opinion was guided by the principle that the election code should be "liberally construed" in cases of ambiguous language so as to not deprive the electors their right to vote.
Justices David Wecht and Kevin Dougherty issued separate opinions agreeing with Donohue but showing concern over the lack of weight her opinion gave to the importance of the information that is to be handwritten on the ballot envelope.
"In my opinion, there is an unquestionable purpose behind requiring electors to date and sign the declaration," Dougherty wrote, stating the date on the envelope is proof of when the elector executed their ballot in full and prevents potential fraud for back dating late arrived votes.
"I recognize there is presently no dispute that all undated ballots at issue here arrived in a timely manner. But I am also cognizant that our interpretation of this relatively new statue will act as precedential guidance for future cases," Dougherty said.
Wecht wrote he disagrees with calling the failure to write the information on the envelope as a "minor irregularity," stating that in future elections, "I would treat the date and sign requirement as mandatory in both particulars, with the omission of either item sufficient without more to invalid the ballot in question."
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The opinion came in support of a lower court's decision that the president had appealed.
The state's highest court on Monday also ruled in a separate yet similar appeal by Nicole Ziccarelli, a Republican senatorial candidate, who sought to invalidate 2,349 ballots that were signed but not dated in Allegheny County.
All 10,678 votes will be counted in the state that President-elect Joe Biden is projected to have won by tens of thousands of votes.
Biden was named president-elect in the days following the election, but President Donald Trump has yet to concede defeat and continues to spread widely discredit claims of voter fraud online while stating he has won the election.
"So much egregious conduct," Trump said in a tweet on Monday flagged by Twitter for being disputed. "We will win!"
Trump, his campaign and the Republican Party have filed a slew of court cases challenging results in key swing states, such as Pennsylvania and Georgia, many of which have been withdrawn or decided against their favor.


upi--2020-11-24--Study: Age of parents key to whether kids get vaccinated against COVID-19

As scientists worked on COVID-19 vaccines , other researchers were addressing a question : Once shots are available , will parents vaccinate their kids against the new coronavirus ?
The answer : Younger parents are much less likely than older ones to plan to vaccinate their children and themselves against COVID-19 .
`` Parents ' willingness to vaccinate themselves and their children against COVID-19 will be vital to preventing community-wide spread of coronavirus , once a vaccine becomes available , '' said study lead author Dr. Matthew Davis .
He is chair of pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccines are approved for use in children , vaccinating youth may be integral to reducing the transmission risk of coronavirus in schools and daycares next year on a nationwide basis , '' Davis said .
The study found that 52 % of parents aged 18 to 35 were likely to have their kids vaccinated against COVID-19 , compared with 67 % of parents aged 36 to 45 .
Most likely to vaccinate : parents aged 46 and older , at 69 % .
Overall , 63 % of parents plan to vaccinate their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too , will get the shots .
The findings were reported in a research letter published online recently in medRxiv , an internet site that distributes unpublished manuscripts about clinical research , medicine and health .
The survey , conducted July 5 to 10 in both English and Spanish , included 1,108 households across the United States .
Parents were asked to rate how likely they were to vaccinate their kids .
Parents with a college education were more likely to plan to vaccinate than those with a high school education or less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccinate than Hispanic parents , the survey showed .
The researchers found no association between a state 's COVID-19 cases or death rates and parents ' views on vaccination .
Senior study author Dr. Stephen Patrick is director of the Vanderbilt Center for Child Health Policy in Nashville , Tenn .
He said , `` The COVID-19 pandemic has had a substantial impact on the lives of children and families across the U.S .
While a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine will likely play an important role in returning families ' lives back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that goal if parents trust its safety for themselves and their children . ''
Understanding and addressing parental COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy is essential , Patrick added in a university news release .
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers COVID-19 vaccine information .

As scientists worked on COVID-19 vaccines, other researchers were addressing a question: Once shots are available, will parents vaccinate their kids against the new coronavirus?
The answer: Younger parents are much less likely than older ones to plan to vaccinate their children and themselves against COVID-19.
Advertisement
"Parents' willingness to vaccinate themselves and their children against COVID-19 will be vital to preventing community-wide spread of coronavirus, once a vaccine becomes available," said study lead author Dr. Matthew Davis. He is chair of pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.
"If COVID-19 vaccines are approved for use in children, vaccinating youth may be integral to reducing the transmission risk of coronavirus in schools and daycares next year on a nationwide basis," Davis said.
The study found that 52% of parents aged 18 to 35 were likely to have their kids vaccinated against COVID-19, compared with 67% of parents aged 36 to 45. Most likely to vaccinate: parents aged 46 and older, at 69%.
Overall, 63% of parents plan to vaccinate their kids and 60% said they, too, will get the shots.
The findings were reported in a research letter published online recently in medRxiv, an internet site that distributes unpublished manuscripts about clinical research, medicine and health.
Advertisement
The survey, conducted July 5 to 10 in both English and Spanish, included 1,108 households across the United States. Parents were asked to rate how likely they were to vaccinate their kids.
Parents with a college education were more likely to plan to vaccinate than those with a high school education or less. White parents were less likely to vaccinate than Hispanic parents, the survey showed.
The researchers found no association between a state's COVID-19 cases or death rates and parents' views on vaccination.
Senior study author Dr. Stephen Patrick is director of the Vanderbilt Center for Child Health Policy in Nashville, Tenn.
He said, "The COVID-19 pandemic has had a substantial impact on the lives of children and families across the U.S. While a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine will likely play an important role in returning families' lives back to normal, it can only achieve that goal if parents trust its safety for themselves and their children."
Understanding and addressing parental COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy is essential, Patrick added in a university news release.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers COVID-19 vaccine information.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-11-25--Judge halts certifying Pennsylvania's election results; Gov. Tom Wolf appeals

Nov. 25 ( UPI ) -- A day after Pennsylvania certified its election results showing the commonwealth had been won by President-elect Joe Biden , a local judge on Wednesday ordered further certification actions to be halted causing the administration of Gov .
Tom Wolf to ask the state 's Supreme Court to intervene in a scathing appeal .
`` Since the birth of our nation nearly 250 years ago , no court has ever issued an order purporting to interfere with a state 's ascertainment of its presidential electors -- until today , '' the administration said in its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justification for the lower court 's issuance of such an order in this case . ''
The ask to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court lists the reasons its intervention is appropriate to vacate the lower court 's order as the claims of the petitioners Rep. Mike Kelly and other Republicans were meritless , lack standing , were filed too late and the court that issued the order `` lacked jurisdiction over Petitioners ' claims , '' among other reasons .
The court document says the ramifications of the order even if let stand for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ certification of all states ' election results , foreclose the seating of elected representatives and indefinitely postpone the general assembly 's next term while undermining the will of voters and casting `` a wholly unwarranted cloud over Pennsylvania 's election results . ''
The appeal to the Supreme Court was filed after Republican Commonwealth Court Judge Patricia A. McCullough ruled to place an injunction pending an evidentiary hearing to be held Friday .
Josh Shapiro , the commonwealth 's attorney general , tweeted that the order does not impact Tuesday 's appointment of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they would be appealing to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court .
McCullough 's order came in response to the case filed by Kelly on Saturday asking the court to invalidate all 2.5 million mail-in votes , accusing them of being unconstitutional .
The plaintiffs argued that a law Wolf signed in October of last year to expand absentee and mail-in voting was unconstitutional as it needed to be a constitutional amendment .
`` Act 77 is another illegal attempt to override the limitations on absentee voting prescribed in the Pennsylvania Constitution , without first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ constitution to all for the expansion , '' the court document said .
President Donald Trump , who has filed several cases challenging election results in key battleground states including Pennsylvania , defended Kelly 's case on Twitter .
`` This is not at all frivolous , '' he said in a tweet flagged for containing disputed claims about the election .
`` It is brought on behalf of one of the most respected members of the United States Congress who is disgusted , like so many others , by an Election that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This order comes in a bonkers lawsuit that claims all vote-by-mail in Pennsylvania was illegal , rending the election for every office a nullity , '' he wrote on Election Law Blog .
`` This wo n't stick as the case works its way up the food chain . ''

Rep. Mike Kelly of Pennsylvania has asked the court to invalidate millions of ballots cast by mail. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 25 (UPI) -- A day after Pennsylvania certified its election results showing the commonwealth had been won by President-elect Joe Biden, a local judge on Wednesday ordered further certification actions to be halted causing the administration of Gov. Tom Wolf to ask the state's Supreme Court to intervene in a scathing appeal. "Since the birth of our nation nearly 250 years ago, no court has ever issued an order purporting to interfere with a state's ascertainment of its presidential electors -- until today," the administration said in its appeal. "There is no conceivable justification for the lower court's issuance of such an order in this case." Advertisement
The ask to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court lists the reasons its intervention is appropriate to vacate the lower court's order as the claims of the petitioners Rep. Mike Kelly and other Republicans were meritless, lack standing, were filed too late and the court that issued the order "lacked jurisdiction over Petitioners' claims," among other reasons.
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The court document says the ramifications of the order even if let stand for a short time threatens to disrupt the certification of all states' election results, foreclose the seating of elected representatives and indefinitely postpone the general assembly's next term while undermining the will of voters and casting "a wholly unwarranted cloud over Pennsylvania's election results."
The appeal to the Supreme Court was filed after Republican Commonwealth Court Judge Patricia A. McCullough ruled to place an injunction pending an evidentiary hearing to be held Friday.
Josh Shapiro, the commonwealth's attorney general, tweeted that the order does not impact Tuesday's appointment of electors through certifying election results, stating they would be appealing to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
McCullough's order came in response to the case filed by Kelly on Saturday asking the court to invalidate all 2.5 million mail-in votes, accusing them of being unconstitutional.
The plaintiffs argued that a law Wolf signed in October of last year to expand absentee and mail-in voting was unconstitutional as it needed to be a constitutional amendment.
"Act 77 is another illegal attempt to override the limitations on absentee voting prescribed in the Pennsylvania Constitution, without first following the necessary procedure to amend the constitution to all for the expansion," the court document said.
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President Donald Trump, who has filed several cases challenging election results in key battleground states including Pennsylvania, defended Kelly's case on Twitter.
"This is not at all frivolous," he said in a tweet flagged for containing disputed claims about the election. "It is brought on behalf of one of the most respected members of the United States Congress who is disgusted, like so many others, by an Election that is a fraudulent mess."
Rick Hansen, a law professor at UC Irvine, wrote that McCullough's order won't stand.
"This order comes in a bonkers lawsuit that claims all vote-by-mail in Pennsylvania was illegal, rending the election for every office a nullity," he wrote on Election Law Blog. "This won't stick as the case works its way up the food chain."


upi--2020-11-25--Anthony Fauci, Kamala Harris top 'Time' 2020 Person of the Year nominees

Nov. 25 ( UPI ) -- Dr. Anthony Fauci and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris are among the nominees for Time 's 2020 Person of the Year .
The list of nominees for the annual honor bestowed by the publication includes multiple figures who were central to two of the major events that defined 2020 : the COVID-19 pandemic amd the 2020 presidential election .
Fauci , the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , became a household name amid the pandemic appearing at briefings as a member of the White House coronavirus task force and later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the administration 's response to the virus .
Other nominees include New York Gov .
Chris Cuomo , who has been praised for his response to the pandemic in a state that early in the year was an epicenter for the virus ; Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer , who faced strong opposition against measures she put in place to contain the spread of COVID-19 ; and the nation 's essential workers who have continued to provide necessary services while facing risk of contracting the virus .
Harris , who served as President-elect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her own bid for president , is set to become the first woman , first Black woman and first Asian person to serve as vice president .
Stacy Abrams , the former 2018 Democratic gubernatorial nominee for Georgia , also received a nomination following her work to mobilize voters in the state , which voted to elect a Democratic president for the first time since 1992 .
Biden and Trump were also nominated .
The list also included Black Lives Matter activists , following protests against racial injustice and police brutality sparked primarily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Readers can vote for their selection online by visiting Time 's website and selecting `` yes '' or `` no '' for each of the nominees .
A winner will be declared on Dec. 10 .
Fauci and essential workers were tied for the highest percentage of `` yes '' votes with 81 % , followed by Harris at 68 % , Biden at 64 % , Black Lives Matter activists at 61 % and Abrams at 59 % .

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Dr. Anthony Fauci was tied with essential workers for the most votes in Time's 2020 Person of the Year poll. Photo by Chris Kleponis/Pool | License Photo
Nov. 25 (UPI) -- Dr. Anthony Fauci and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris are among the nominees for Time's 2020 Person of the Year. The list of nominees for the annual honor bestowed by the publication includes multiple figures who were central to two of the major events that defined 2020: the COVID-19 pandemic amd the 2020 presidential election. Advertisement
Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, became a household name amid the pandemic appearing at briefings as a member of the White House coronavirus task force and later drawing criticism from President Donald Trump amid the administration's response to the virus.
Other nominees include New York Gov. Chris Cuomo, who has been praised for his response to the pandemic in a state that early in the year was an epicenter for the virus; Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who faced strong opposition against measures she put in place to contain the spread of COVID-19; and the nation's essential workers who have continued to provide necessary services while facing risk of contracting the virus.
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Harris, who served as President-elect Joe Biden's running mate after ending her own bid for president, is set to become the first woman, first Black woman and first Asian person to serve as vice president.
Stacy Abrams, the former 2018 Democratic gubernatorial nominee for Georgia, also received a nomination following her work to mobilize voters in the state, which voted to elect a Democratic president for the first time since 1992.
Biden and Trump were also nominated.
The list also included Black Lives Matter activists, following protests against racial injustice and police brutality sparked primarily by the police killing of George Floyd.
Readers can vote for their selection online by visiting Time's website and selecting "yes" or "no" for each of the nominees. A winner will be declared on Dec. 10.
Fauci and essential workers were tied for the highest percentage of "yes" votes with 81%, followed by Harris at 68%, Biden at 64%, Black Lives Matter activists at 61% and Abrams at 59%.


upi--2020-11-25--Thanksgiving Feed-the-Troops meals to be delivered 'grab-and-go style'

Nov. 25 ( UPI ) -- The U.S. military 's annual Thanksgiving Feed-the-Troops tradition will shift to a grab-and-go style takeout meal as opposed to large group gatherings in dining facilities .
The Defense Logistics Agency announced the changes motivated by the COVID-19 pandemic Wednesday while ensuring that service members will still receive home-cooked meals `` with all the trimmings '' for the Thanksgiving holiday .
`` The holidays will look quite different this year for everyone , '' DLA 's Troop Support commander Army Brig .
Gen. Gavin Lawerence said .
`` I 'm proud that our workforce is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warfighters get a proper holiday meal , especially since many of us will not be able to be with our family and friends .
We want to make sure that they get that taste of home no matter where they are in the world . ''
The DLA said it has shipped out 9,000 whole turkeys , 51,000 pounds of roasted turkeys , 74,000 pounds of beef , 21,000 pounds of ham , 67,000 pounds of shrimp , 16,000 pounds of sweet potatoes , 19,000 pounds of pies and cakes and 7,000 gallons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Our supply chain takes the holidays very seriously , '' said Army Col. Eric McCoy , DLA 's Troop Support subsistence director .
`` Our troops are far away from home and they definitely look forward to this meal .
Disappointing them is not an option . ''
The changes to the meal come as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention earlier this month urged Americans not to travel for the Thanksgiving holiday in order to limit the spread of COVID-19 .

Meals for the U.S. military's annual Thanksgiving Feed-the-Troops tradition will shift to a grab-and-go style rather than large sit-down group gatherings in dining facilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo by Master Sgt. Joshua Allmaras
Nov. 25 (UPI) -- The U.S. military's annual Thanksgiving Feed-the-Troops tradition will shift to a grab-and-go style takeout meal as opposed to large group gatherings in dining facilities. The Defense Logistics Agency announced the changes motivated by the COVID-19 pandemic Wednesday while ensuring that service members will still receive home-cooked meals "with all the trimmings" for the Thanksgiving holiday. Advertisement
"The holidays will look quite different this year for everyone," DLA's Troop Support commander Army Brig. Gen. Gavin Lawerence said. "I'm proud that our workforce is doing everything possible to make sure our warfighters get a proper holiday meal, especially since many of us will not be able to be with our family and friends. We want to make sure that they get that taste of home no matter where they are in the world."
The DLA said it has shipped out 9,000 whole turkeys, 51,000 pounds of roasted turkeys, 74,000 pounds of beef, 21,000 pounds of ham, 67,000 pounds of shrimp, 16,000 pounds of sweet potatoes, 19,000 pounds of pies and cakes and 7,000 gallons of eggnog for the annual meal.
"Our supply chain takes the holidays very seriously," said Army Col. Eric McCoy, DLA's Troop Support subsistence director. "Our troops are far away from home and they definitely look forward to this meal. Disappointing them is not an option."
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The changes to the meal come as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention earlier this month urged Americans not to travel for the Thanksgiving holiday in order to limit the spread of COVID-19.


upi--2020-11-25--U.S. Army Corps of Engineers denies permit for Pebble Mine in Alaska

Nov. 25 ( UPI ) -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Wednesday rejected a permit for the proposed , controversial Pebble Mine in Alaska .
The Corps ' Alaska commander , Col. Damon Delarosa said that Pebble Limited Partnership 's plan to deal with waste from the mine `` does not comply with Clean Water Act guidelines '' and that the project as proposed `` is contrary to the public interest . ''
Delarosa said the decision was `` based on all available facts and complies with existing laws and regulations , '' following analysis of the project @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The site of the proposed mine is located in a remote area in southwestern Alaska , which drains into the Bristol Bay , prompting opposition to the plan from activists and local fishing operations , as well as President Donald Trump 's son , Donald Jr. , and prominent Republicans .
In August , the Corps said the project -- which would be the largest gold and copper mine in North America -- has the potential to provide the creation of jobs and extraction of natural resources .
But , `` as currently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ environmental impacts within the unique Bristol Bay watershed and lacks adequate compensatory mitigation . ''
At the time , then-CEO Tom Collier , who since has resigned , said the company was `` well into '' an effort to present a mitigation plan .
Pebble said it plans to launch an appeal of Wednesday 's decision within 60 days .
`` One of the real tragedies of this decision is the loss of economic opportunities for people living in the area , '' Pebble CEO Joh Shively said .
`` A politically driven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many had for a better life . ''
Joel Reynolds , a senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council , said Wednesday 's decision `` speaks volumes about how bad this project is , how uniquely unacceptable it is . ''
`` We 've had to kill this project more than once and we 're going to continue killing for as long as it takes to protect Bristol Bay , '' said Reynolds .
Sen. Dan Sullivan , R-Alaska , also said that the Army Corps `` made the correct decision .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ high bar so that we do not trade on resource for another , '' he said .

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Wednesday rejected Pebble Limited Partnership's permit to build a mine in Alaska's Bristol Bay. Photo by Stan Shebs/Wikimedia Commons
Nov. 25 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Wednesday rejected a permit for the proposed, controversial Pebble Mine in Alaska. The Corps' Alaska commander, Col. Damon Delarosa said that Pebble Limited Partnership's plan to deal with waste from the mine "does not comply with Clean Water Act guidelines" and that the project as proposed "is contrary to the public interest." Advertisement
Delarosa said the decision was "based on all available facts and complies with existing laws and regulations," following analysis of the project and about three years of review.
The site of the proposed mine is located in a remote area in southwestern Alaska, which drains into the Bristol Bay, prompting opposition to the plan from activists and local fishing operations, as well as President Donald Trump's son, Donald Jr., and prominent Republicans.
In August, the Corps said the project -- which would be the largest gold and copper mine in North America -- has the potential to provide the creation of jobs and extraction of natural resources.
But, "as currently proposed, the project could have substantial environmental impacts within the unique Bristol Bay watershed and lacks adequate compensatory mitigation."
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At the time, then-CEO Tom Collier, who since has resigned, said the company was "well into" an effort to present a mitigation plan.
Pebble said it plans to launch an appeal of Wednesday's decision within 60 days.
"One of the real tragedies of this decision is the loss of economic opportunities for people living in the area," Pebble CEO Joh Shively said. "A politically driven decision has taken away the hope that many had for a better life."
Joel Reynolds, a senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council, said Wednesday's decision "speaks volumes about how bad this project is, how uniquely unacceptable it is."
"We've had to kill this project more than once and we're going to continue killing for as long as it takes to protect Bristol Bay," said Reynolds.
Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, also said that the Army Corps "made the correct decision."
"Pebble had to meet a high bar so that we do not trade on resource for another," he said.


upi--2020-11-25--Trump pardons former national security adviser Michael Flynn

Nov. 25 ( UPI ) -- President Donald Trump on Wednesday granted a pardon to his former national security adviser Michael Flynn .
Trump made the announcement in a tweet Wednesday afternoon , ending the three-year legal saga that saw Flynn twice plead guilty to lying to the FBI during its investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and later rescind the plea .
`` It is my great honor to announce that General Michael T. Flynn has been granted a full pardon , '' Trump wrote .
`` Congratulations to @ GenFlynn and his wonderful family , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truly fantastic Thanksgiving ! ''
Trump had said he was `` strongly considering '' granting Flynn a pardon as early as March , suggesting that the FBI and Justice Department lost some of Flynn 's records related to his charge of making a false statement to the FBI .
He made those statements as part of former special counsel Robert Mueller 's investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election .
Flynn originally pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with former Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak , but withdrew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prosecutors broke an agreement for his cooperation when they requested he receive jail time instead of probation .
His sentencing hearing then was indefinitely suspended in February , after his lawyers said the prosecution was unable to produce an internal Justice Department memo clearing Flynn of being a Russian agent .
Trump 's full pardon comes as the transition of power to President-elect Joe Biden has begun , with the General Services Administration releasing transition funds to Biden 's campaign and Trump signing off to allow Biden to receive the President 's Daily @ @

President Donald Trump on Wednesday pardoned his former national security adviser Michael Flynn, who previously pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI during its investigation into the 2016 presidential election. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 25 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump on Wednesday granted a pardon to his former national security adviser Michael Flynn. Trump made the announcement in a tweet Wednesday afternoon, ending the three-year legal saga that saw Flynn twice plead guilty to lying to the FBI during its investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and later rescind the plea. Advertisement
"It is my great honor to announce that General Michael T. Flynn has been granted a full pardon," Trump wrote. "Congratulations to @GenFlynn and his wonderful family, I know you will now have a truly fantastic Thanksgiving!"
Trump had said he was "strongly considering" granting Flynn a pardon as early as March, suggesting that the FBI and Justice Department lost some of Flynn's records related to his charge of making a false statement to the FBI.
He made those statements as part of former special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.
Flynn originally pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with former Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak, but withdrew the guilty plea Jan. 14, stating prosecutors broke an agreement for his cooperation when they requested he receive jail time instead of probation.
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His sentencing hearing then was indefinitely suspended in February, after his lawyers said the prosecution was unable to produce an internal Justice Department memo clearing Flynn of being a Russian agent.
Trump's full pardon comes as the transition of power to President-elect Joe Biden has begun, with the General Services Administration releasing transition funds to Biden's campaign and Trump signing off to allow Biden to receive the President's Daily Brief.


upi--2020-11-25--Crock-Pot recalls nearly 1M pressure cookers due to burn risk

Nov. 25 ( UPI ) -- Nearly 1 million Crock-Pot pressure cookers were recalled due to a potential burn risk .
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall on Crock-Pot 6-Quart Express Crock Multi-Cookers manufactured between July 2017 and October 2018 and sold at Walmart , Target , Amazon and other retailers nationwide in a statement on Tuesday .
`` The recalled Crock-Pot multi-cooker can pressurize when the lid is not fully locked , '' the CPSC said .
`` This can cause the lid to suddenly detach while the product is in use , posing burn risks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ejected from the product . ''
Crock-Pot also acknowledged the issue in a statement on its website .
`` Crock-Pot has identified that the lids of select 6-Quart Express Crock Multi-Cookers can detach during use if not used in accordance with the owner 's manual , the company said .
SunBeam Products , which owns Crock-Pot , said it received 119 reports of lid detachment , which resulted in 99 burn injuries ranging from first-degree to third-degree burns .
CPSC urged consumers to immediately stop using the recalled Crock-Pots in pressure cooker mode @ @ @ @ @ @ @ replacement lid .
The agency added , however , that the Crock-Pot may still be used for slow cooking and sauteing .

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a recall of nearly 1 million Crock-Pot pressure cookers, saying the lids can potentially detach, presenting a burn risk to users. Photo courtesy U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Nov. 25 (UPI) -- Nearly 1 million Crock-Pot pressure cookers were recalled due to a potential burn risk. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall on Crock-Pot 6-Quart Express Crock Multi-Cookers manufactured between July 2017 and October 2018 and sold at Walmart, Target, Amazon and other retailers nationwide in a statement on Tuesday. Advertisement
"The recalled Crock-Pot multi-cooker can pressurize when the lid is not fully locked," the CPSC said. "This can cause the lid to suddenly detach while the product is in use, posing burn risks to consumers from hot food and liquids ejected from the product."
Crock-Pot also acknowledged the issue in a statement on its website.
"Crock-Pot has identified that the lids of select 6-Quart Express Crock Multi-Cookers can detach during use if not used in accordance with the owner's manual," the company said.
SunBeam Products, which owns Crock-Pot, said it received 119 reports of lid detachment, which resulted in 99 burn injuries ranging from first-degree to third-degree burns.
CPSC urged consumers to immediately stop using the recalled Crock-Pots in pressure cooker mode and contact Crock-Pot to obtain a free replacement lid.
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The agency added, however, that the Crock-Pot may still be used for slow cooking and sauteing.


upi--2020-11-25--Canadian Army promotes polar bear to honorary master corporal

Nov. 25 ( UPI ) -- The Canadian Army celebrated the fifth birthday of a beloved polar bear at the Toronto Zoo by giving the animal a promotion to honorary master corporal .
The zoo announced Brig .
Gen. Conrad Mialkowski , commander of 4th Canadian Division and Joint Task Force Central , visited the zoo to bestow Juno the polar bear with the rank of honorary master corporal .
Juno was born on Remembrance Day , the Canadian holiday for honoring armed forces members who died in the line of duty , and was named in honor of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ War II .
The bear was previously dubbed an honorary private by the army , before later being promoted to honorary corporal .
`` We are truly honored that the Canadian Army has promoted Juno to master corporal as she continues to be an outstanding ambassador for her counterparts in wild , '' Toronto Zoo CEO Dolf DeJong said in a news release .
`` Juno and the other polar bears that call the Toronto Zoo home , play an integral role in educating our guests about the direct impact of climate change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ directly impacts polar bears in the wild . ''

Juno, a polar bear at the Toronto Zoo, was promoted to the rank of honorary master corporal by the Canadian Army in honor of the animal's birthday, which falls on the country's Remembrance Day. Photo courtesy of the Toronto Zoo
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Nov. 25 (UPI) -- The Canadian Army celebrated the fifth birthday of a beloved polar bear at the Toronto Zoo by giving the animal a promotion to honorary master corporal. The zoo announced Brig. Gen. Conrad Mialkowski, commander of 4th Canadian Division and Joint Task Force Central, visited the zoo to bestow Juno the polar bear with the rank of honorary master corporal. Advertisement
Juno was born on Remembrance Day, the Canadian holiday for honoring armed forces members who died in the line of duty, and was named in honor of the Canadian landings on Juno Beach in World War II.
The bear was previously dubbed an honorary private by the army, before later being promoted to honorary corporal.
"We are truly honored that the Canadian Army has promoted Juno to master corporal as she continues to be an outstanding ambassador for her counterparts in wild," Toronto Zoo CEO Dolf DeJong said in a news release. "Juno and the other polar bears that call the Toronto Zoo home, play an integral role in educating our guests about the direct impact of climate change and the loss of sea ice that directly impacts polar bears in the wild."
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upi--2020-11-25--Canadian lottery winner was unaware of jackpot for over a month

Nov. 25 ( UPI ) -- A Canadian man said he was completely unaware that he had won a lottery @ @ @ @ @ 75,000 until he took a big stack of tickets into a store to scan over @ @ @ @ @ Monkman of Ponoka , Alberta , told Western Canada Lottery Corp. officials he bought a @ @ @ @ @ from the 7-Eleven store in Ponoka in late August , but the Sept. 1 drawing @ @ @ @ @ checking the numbers .
Monkman said he ended up taking a big stack of unchecked @ @ @ @ @ more than a month and a half later and discovered the Extra add-on to his @ @ @ @ @ six digits in the drawing , 1-1-7-7-3-7-4 , earning him $ 76,924 .
`` Well @ @ @ @ @ little bit by surprise , '' Monkman said of discovering his jackpot weeks after the @ @ @ @ @ plans to use some of the money to make upgrades to his home and share @ @ @ @ @

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Nov. 25 (UPI) -- A Canadian man said he was completely unaware that he had won a lottery jackpot of more than $75,000 until he took a big stack of tickets into a store to scan over a month later.
Stan Monkman of Ponoka, Alberta, told Western Canada Lottery Corp. officials he bought a Lotto Max ticket with Extra from the 7-Eleven store in Ponoka in late August, but the Sept. 1 drawing came and went without his checking the numbers.
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Monkman said he ended up taking a big stack of unchecked tickets to a local store more than a month and a half later and discovered the Extra add-on to his ticket had matched the last six digits in the drawing, 1-1-7-7-3-7-4, earning him $76,924.
"Well, it took me a little bit by surprise," Monkman said of discovering his jackpot weeks after the drawing.
Monkman said he plans to use some of the money to make upgrades to his home and share some with his children.


upi--2020-11-25--President-elect Joe Biden calls for unity during Thanksgiving address

Nov. 25 ( UPI ) -- President-elect Joe Biden called for unity and encouraged Americans to stay vigilant against the COVID-19 pandemic during a Thanksgiving address Wednesday afternoon .
`` Faith , courage , sacrifice , service to country , service to each other and gratitude even in the face of suffering have long been part of what Thanksgiving means in America , '' Biden said , adding that the soul of the nation has been forged through difficult circumstances .
He acknowledged the difficulties Americans are facing during the pandemic .
`` I know the country has grown weary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We need to remember that we 're at war with the virus , not one another . ''
U.S. health officials are advising against typical holiday travel due to significant rises in coronavirus cases and deaths nationwide .
Nearly 173,000 new COVID-19 cases and 2,100 deaths were reported nationally Tuesday , according to Johns Hopkins University .
`` We have to try to slow the growth of this virus , '' Biden said , acknowledging the doctors , nurses and frontline workers who have lost their lives during the pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Americans .
It means wearing a mask , keeping social distancing , limiting the size of any group we 're in .
Until we have a vaccine , these are the most effective tools to combat the virus . ''
He promised to take steps to combat the disease once in office , including increasing testing , protective gear and guidance to get more businesses and schools open , and he called on Americans to do their part .
`` I know we can and we will beat this virus , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to lose this war .
We 'll get our lives back . ''
He reinforced his message of unity and called voting the `` noblest instrument of nonviolent protest ever conceived . ''
`` I believe this grim season of division and demonization is going to give way to a year of light and unity , '' he said .

Parishioners sit in folding chairs with candles, listening to prayers outside of the St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Ladue, Mo., on December 24. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 25 (UPI) -- President-elect Joe Biden called for unity and encouraged Americans to stay vigilant against the COVID-19 pandemic during a Thanksgiving address Wednesday afternoon. "Faith, courage, sacrifice, service to country, service to each other and gratitude even in the face of suffering have long been part of what Thanksgiving means in America," Biden said, adding that the soul of the nation has been forged through difficult circumstances. Advertisement
He acknowledged the difficulties Americans are facing during the pandemic.
"I know the country has grown weary of the fight," he said. "We need to remember that we're at war with the virus, not one another."
U.S. health officials are advising against typical holiday travel due to significant rises in coronavirus cases and deaths nationwide.
Nearly 173,000 new COVID-19 cases and 2,100 deaths were reported nationally Tuesday, according to Johns Hopkins University.
"We have to try to slow the growth of this virus," Biden said, acknowledging the doctors, nurses and frontline workers who have lost their lives during the pandemic.
"It's literally our patriotic duty as Americans. It means wearing a mask, keeping social distancing, limiting the size of any group we're in. Until we have a vaccine, these are the most effective tools to combat the virus."
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He promised to take steps to combat the disease once in office, including increasing testing, protective gear and guidance to get more businesses and schools open, and he called on Americans to do their part.
"I know we can and we will beat this virus," he said. "America is not going to lose this war. We'll get our lives back."
He reinforced his message of unity and called voting the "noblest instrument of nonviolent protest ever conceived."
"I believe this grim season of division and demonization is going to give way to a year of light and unity," he said.


upi--2020-11-25--Watch: Rockefeller Center Christmas tree owl released back into the wild

Nov. 25 ( UPI ) -- The owl that stowed away in the Christmas tree erected at New York 's @ @ @ @ @ clean bill of health and released back into the wild .
The Ravensbeard Wildlife Center @ @ @ @ @ female owl , named Rocky , after she was found in the Christmas tree 's @ @ @ @ @ said veterinarians gave the go-ahead for the tiny saw-whet owl to return to the wild @ @ @ @ @ video on Facebook of Rocky 's release in a wooded area of upstate New York @ @ @ @ @ tough little bird and we 're happy to see her back in her natural habitat @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We are sure that Rocky will feel your love and support through her @ @ @ @

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Nov. 25 (UPI) -- The owl that stowed away in the Christmas tree erected at New York's Rockefeller Center was given a clean bill of health and released back into the wild.
The Ravensbeard Wildlife Center, which cared for the female owl, named Rocky, after she was found in the Christmas tree's branches earlier this month, said veterinarians gave the go-ahead for the tiny saw-whet owl to return to the wild.
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The wildlife center shared video on Facebook of Rocky's release in a wooded area of upstate New York.
"She is a tough little bird and we're happy to see her back in her natural habitat," the post said. "We are sure that Rocky will feel your love and support through her journey south."


upi--2020-11-25--Watch: Florida man thaws Thanksgiving turkey in backyard pool

Nov. 25 ( UPI ) -- A Florida man posted a video showing off his family 's most unusual pre-Thanksgiving @ @ @ @ @ turkey in their backyard swimming pool .
Mark O'Donnell posted a Facebook Live video showing @ @ @ @ @ turkey into the swimming pool behind their Clearwater home to thaw out for cooking .
@ @ @ @ @ packaging was closely examined for leaks before the thawing process to make sure none of @ @ @ @ @ the meat .
He said the turkey will be removed after spending a day thawing @ @ @ @ @ his family has been thawing the Thanksgiving turkey in the pool for 18 years .

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Nov. 25 (UPI) -- A Florida man posted a video showing off his family's most unusual pre-Thanksgiving tradition: thawing out the turkey in their backyard swimming pool.
Mark O'Donnell posted a Facebook Live video showing his family dumping the 16-pound turkey into the swimming pool behind their Clearwater home to thaw out for cooking.
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O'Donnell said the turkey's packaging was closely examined for leaks before the thawing process to make sure none of the chlorinated water seeped into the meat. He said the turkey will be removed after spending a day thawing in pool.
O'Donnell said his family has been thawing the Thanksgiving turkey in the pool for 18 years.


upi--2020-11-25--U.S. Air Force announces next locations for new C-130J cargo planes

Nov. 25 ( UPI ) -- Three National Guard bases and a Navy Reserve base were selected to receive new C-130J Super Hercules cargo planes , the U.S. Air Force announced on Wednesday .
Louisville Air National Guard Base in Kentucky , McLaughlin ANGB in West Virginia and Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Texas are set to start receiving eight new aircraft each in the coming year .
Savannah ANGB in Georgia is also scheduled to receive C-130Js `` if they become available in the future , '' officials said in a press release .
The Lockheed Martin-built @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they will replace , and offer reduced manpower requirements and operating and support costs , providing life-cycle cost savings , the Air Force said .
The C-130J climbs faster and higher , flies farther at a higher cruise speed , and takes off and lands in a shorter distance than its predecessors .
The new planes are equipped with integrated digital avionics and state-of-the-art navigation , including a dual inertial navigation system and GPS .
The aircraft also include fully integrated defensive systems , low-power color radar , new turboprop engines with six-bladed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and ice-protection systems .
`` The West Virginia National Guard is exceptional and has worked tirelessly to ensure the 130th Airlift Wing in Charleston is the best home for the Air National Guard C-130J , '' Sen. Joe Manchin , D-W.Va , said in a joint statement with Sen. Shelley Moore Capito , R-W.Va. '' The men and women of our National Guard are able to fulfill an expanded role with more capable and modern aircraft , and I know that our National Guard will continue to represent West Virginia well , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the House Armed Services Committee , though , suggested that placement of the new planes in Georgia was an attempt by the Air Force to influence the state 's Senate election races .
Rep. Adam Smith , D-Wash. , said in a statement that the timing of the announcement `` raises serious concerns . ''
The decision `` could mar the service 's historically repeatable , transparent , and deliberate strategic basing process , which until now has helped insulate basing decisions from political influence , '' Smith said .
Smith added including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision `` inherently politicizes the announcement amidst the ongoing Senate runoffs in the state . ''

The U.S. Air Force announced four locations on Wednesday -- in Texas, West Virginia, Kentucky and Georgia -- to receive the new C-130J aircraft. Photo courtesy of U.S. Air Force
Nov. 25 (UPI) -- Three National Guard bases and a Navy Reserve base were selected to receive new C-130J Super Hercules cargo planes, the U.S. Air Force announced on Wednesday. Louisville Air National Guard Base in Kentucky, McLaughlin ANGB in West Virginia and Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Texas are set to start receiving eight new aircraft each in the coming year. Advertisement
Savannah ANGB in Georgia is also scheduled to receive C-130Js "if they become available in the future," officials said in a press release.
The Lockheed Martin-built planes are improvements over earlier C-130 variants they will replace, and offer reduced manpower requirements and operating and support costs, providing life-cycle cost savings, the Air Force said.
The C-130J climbs faster and higher, flies farther at a higher cruise speed, and takes off and lands in a shorter distance than its predecessors.
The new planes are equipped with integrated digital avionics and state-of-the-art navigation, including a dual inertial navigation system and GPS.
The aircraft also include fully integrated defensive systems, low-power color radar, new turboprop engines with six-bladed all-composite propellers and improved fuel, environmental and ice-protection systems.
"The West Virginia National Guard is exceptional and has worked tirelessly to ensure the 130th Airlift Wing in Charleston is the best home for the Air National Guard C-130J," Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va, said in a joint statement with Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va.
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"The men and women of our National Guard are able to fulfill an expanded role with more capable and modern aircraft, and I know that our National Guard will continue to represent West Virginia well," the senators said.
The head of the House Armed Services Committee, though, suggested that placement of the new planes in Georgia was an attempt by the Air Force to influence the state's Senate election races.
Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., said in a statement that the timing of the announcement "raises serious concerns."
The decision "could mar the service's historically repeatable, transparent, and deliberate strategic basing process, which until now has helped insulate basing decisions from political influence," Smith said.
Smith added including Georgia in the Air Force's basing decision "inherently politicizes the announcement amidst the ongoing Senate runoffs in the state."


upi--2020-11-25--Researchers link specific gut bacteria to irritable bowel syndrome

Nov. 25 ( UPI ) -- Researchers have discovered a connection between Brachyspira , a specific intestinal bacterium , and the incidence of irritable bowel syndrome , according to a study published Wednesday in the journal Gut .
The discovery could lead to new medication and remedy for the illness , which affects the large intestine with cramping , abdominal pain , bloating , gas and diarrhea or constipation , said researchers at Sweden 's University of Gothenburg .
The syndrome affects between 25 and 45 million people in the United States , the majority of them female , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world population , according to the International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders .
The researchers used biopsies of intestines to determine a link between the Brachispira bacteria , which typically hide in mucus layers and are not generally noticed in sampling , a Wednesday press release said .
`` Unlike most other gut bacteria , Brachyspira is in direct contact with the cells [ of the intestines ] and covers their surface .
I was immensely surprised when we kept finding Brachyspira in more and more IBS patients , but not in healthy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Karolina Sjöberg Jabbar .
`` Many questions remain to be answered , but we are hopeful that we might have found a treatable cause of IBS in at least some patients , '' said Jabbar , a researcher at Gothenburg .
The presence of the bacteria was significantly more common in IBS cases than in the general population surveyed .
The bacteria was seen in nineteen of 62 patients with IBS , compared to zero of 31 volunteers , who did not have the disease and were used as a control group .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ diarrhea , researchers said .
`` The study suggests that the bacterium may be found in about a third of individuals with IBS , '' said study co-author Magnus Simren .
`` We want to see whether this can be confirmed in a larger study , and we 're also going to investigate whether , and how , Brachyspira causes symptoms in IBS .
Our findings may open up completely new opportunities for treating and perhaps even curing some IBS patients , '' said Simren , a professor of gastroenterology at Gothenburg 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sahlgrenska University Hospital .

Swedish researchers said on Wednesday that they found a link between the Bachyspira bacteria and irritable bowel syndrome. Photo by derneuemann /Pixabay
Nov. 25 (UPI) -- Researchers have discovered a connection between Brachyspira, a specific intestinal bacterium, and the incidence of irritable bowel syndrome, according to a study published Wednesday in the journal Gut. The discovery could lead to new medication and remedy for the illness, which affects the large intestine with cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas and diarrhea or constipation, said researchers at Sweden's University of Gothenburg. Advertisement
The syndrome affects between 25 and 45 million people in the United States, the majority of them female, and between 5% and 10% of the world population, according to the International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders.
The researchers used biopsies of intestines to determine a link between the Brachispira bacteria, which typically hide in mucus layers and are not generally noticed in sampling, a Wednesday press release said.
"Unlike most other gut bacteria, Brachyspira is in direct contact with the cells [of the intestines] and covers their surface. I was immensely surprised when we kept finding Brachyspira in more and more IBS patients, but not in healthy individuals," said study lead author Karolina Sjöberg Jabbar.
"Many questions remain to be answered, but we are hopeful that we might have found a treatable cause of IBS in at least some patients," said Jabbar, a researcher at Gothenburg.
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The presence of the bacteria was significantly more common in IBS cases than in the general population surveyed.
The bacteria was seen in nineteen of 62 patients with IBS, compared to zero of 31 volunteers, who did not have the disease and were used as a control group.
The bacterium was common with patients with diarrhea, researchers said.
"The study suggests that the bacterium may be found in about a third of individuals with IBS," said study co-author Magnus Simren.
"We want to see whether this can be confirmed in a larger study, and we're also going to investigate whether, and how, Brachyspira causes symptoms in IBS. Our findings may open up completely new opportunities for treating and perhaps even curing some IBS patients," said Simren, a professor of gastroenterology at Gothenburg's Sahlgrenska Academy and a senior consultant at Sahlgrenska University Hospital.


upi--2020-11-25--Watch: Minnesota squirrel appears drunk after eating old pear

Nov. 25 ( UPI ) -- A Minnesota woman who has been feeding the squirrels outside her home shared video of one of the animals acting drunk after eating an apparently fermented pear .
Katy Morlok of Inver Grove Heights said she recently started to feed the squirrels that gather in her yard so she can watch them through the window while she 's working from home .
Morlok said she cleaned out her refrigerator recently and decided to give an old pear she found to the squirrels after an Internet search confirmed the fruit was a safe food for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saw a squirrel she nicknamed `` Lil Red '' take the pear and run up a tree .
She said the squirrel reappeared about an hour later and was noticeably off balance .
She captured video of the animal repeatedly appearing to almost fall over .
`` And then it kind of dawned on me ... oh no , those pears were so old I bet they fermented , '' Morlok told KMSP-TV .
`` And then he got drunk and I did not mean to do that so I went out and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Morlok said she was concerned about Lil Red 's health , but he seemed OK the following morning .
`` In the morning , he came back for his little hangover breakfast and he 's been fine ever since , '' she said .

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Nov. 25 (UPI) -- A Minnesota woman who has been feeding the squirrels outside her home shared video of one of the animals acting drunk after eating an apparently fermented pear.
Katy Morlok of Inver Grove Heights said she recently started to feed the squirrels that gather in her yard so she can watch them through the window while she's working from home.
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Morlok said she cleaned out her refrigerator recently and decided to give an old pear she found to the squirrels after an Internet search confirmed the fruit was a safe food for the animals.
The woman said she saw a squirrel she nicknamed "Lil Red" take the pear and run up a tree.
She said the squirrel reappeared about an hour later and was noticeably off balance. She captured video of the animal repeatedly appearing to almost fall over.
"And then it kind of dawned on me ... oh no, those pears were so old I bet they fermented," Morlok told KMSP-TV. "And then he got drunk and I did not mean to do that so I went out and I grabbed all the pears."
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Morlok said she was concerned about Lil Red's health, but he seemed OK the following morning.
"In the morning, he came back for his little hangover breakfast and he's been fine ever since," she said.


upi--2020-11-25--Delta, pilots agree to cut work hours to stave off layoffs, furloughs

Nov. 25 ( UPI ) -- Delta Air Lines pilots on Wednesday approved a labor agreement in an attempt to fend off furloughs next year by reducing their hours .
The Air Line Pilots Association approved the deal with 74 % support , which will cut pilots ' guaranteed monthly flying time an average of 2 % , or two hours each .
Delta had threatened furloughs if the plan , which covers 1,700 pilots , was not accepted .
`` We are grateful to keep all our pilots actively employed and provide stability for you and your families , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operations , said in a message to pilots Wednesday .
Laughter warned that the travel industry is still unsteady and volatile , however , due to depressed demand for air travel brought on by the coronavirus pandemic , and the surge of cases in recent weeks .
`` But there is still much to be thankful for , '' he said .
`` And by working together we continue to maintain and grow a loyal customer base that feels confident choosing Delta time and again for our safety , reliability and service .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ comes at the same time Southwest Airlines is engaged in negotiations with its union workers for similar measures .
The aim is to cut operating costs and sidestep involuntary layoffs or furloughs -- something the budget carrier has never done before in 50 years of flying .
American Airlines and United Airlines have already furloughed tens of thousands of employees , but they had to wait until October to make the cuts , per the agreement in the spring that gave them critical federal funding aid .

Gates at New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport are sparse with travelers on August 4, as the pandemic has seriously depressed demand for air travel. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 25 (UPI) -- Delta Air Lines pilots on Wednesday approved a labor agreement in an attempt to fend off furloughs next year by reducing their hours. The Air Line Pilots Association approved the deal with 74% support, which will cut pilots' guaranteed monthly flying time an average of 2%, or two hours each. Advertisement
Delta had threatened furloughs if the plan, which covers 1,700 pilots, was not accepted.
"We are grateful to keep all our pilots actively employed and provide stability for you and your families," John Laughter, Delta chief of operations, said in a message to pilots Wednesday.
Laughter warned that the travel industry is still unsteady and volatile, however, due to depressed demand for air travel brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, and the surge of cases in recent weeks.
"But there is still much to be thankful for," he said. "And by working together we continue to maintain and grow a loyal customer base that feels confident choosing Delta time and again for our safety, reliability and service."
The pilots' agreement with Delta comes at the same time Southwest Airlines is engaged in negotiations with its union workers for similar measures. The aim is to cut operating costs and sidestep involuntary layoffs or furloughs -- something the budget carrier has never done before in 50 years of flying.
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American Airlines and United Airlines have already furloughed tens of thousands of employees, but they had to wait until October to make the cuts, per the agreement in the spring that gave them critical federal funding aid.


upi--2020-11-25--Steelers-Ravens game moved to Sunday due to COVID-19 positive tests

Nov. 25 ( UPI ) -- The Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens game , which had been planned for Thanksgiving , has been moved to Sunday because several Ravens players tested positive for COVID-19 , the NFL announced Wednesday .
`` This decision was made out of an abundance of caution to ensure the health and safety of players , coaches and game-day personnel , and in consultation with medical experts , '' the league said in a statement .
Several Ravens players , including running backs Mark Ingram and J.K. Dobbins , have tested positive for COVID-19 within the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and ESPN that three more Ravens players will be added to the reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday .
The league did not make its decision due based on the number of positive tests , but rather because of the number of players deemed to be close contacts .
The league will now have more days to test players and attempt to contain the spread before it allows the teams to take the field .
`` We appreciate the NFL for its diligence in working closely with us to ensure the well-being of players , coaches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Pittsburgh Steelers organizations , '' the Ravens said .
`` Protecting the health and safety of each team , in addition to our communities at large , is of utmost importance .
We will continue to follow guidance from the NFL and its medical experts , as we focus on safely resuming preparations for Sunday 's game . ''
The Ravens and Steelers had been scheduled to play at 8:20 p.m. EST Thursday as part of an NBC broadcast .
The league has not announced a time or network for the game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Steelers players were unhappy about the date change for their Week 12 matchup .
`` First the NFL takes away our bye week because another team ca n't get their situation together , now they take away our Thanksgiving prime-time game for the same reason .
SMH [ shake my head ] , '' Steelers receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster wrote on Twitter .
The Steelers previously had their Week 4 game against the Tennessee Titans postponed due to an outbreak among Titans players .
That game was moved into the team 's Week 7 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Detroit Lions in the first game of the NFL 's Thanksgiving schedule .
That game kicks off at 12:30 p.m. EST on CBS .
The Dallas Cowboys then will host the Washington Football Team at 4:30 p.m. EST on Fox .

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The Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers game has been moved to Sunday after several Ravens players tested positive for COVID-19. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 25 (UPI) -- The Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens game, which had been planned for Thanksgiving, has been moved to Sunday because several Ravens players tested positive for COVID-19, the NFL announced Wednesday. "This decision was made out of an abundance of caution to ensure the health and safety of players, coaches and game-day personnel, and in consultation with medical experts," the league said in a statement. Advertisement
Several Ravens players, including running backs Mark Ingram and J.K. Dobbins, have tested positive for COVID-19 within the last week. Sources told NFL Network and ESPN that three more Ravens players will be added to the reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday.
The league did not make its decision due based on the number of positive tests, but rather because of the number of players deemed to be close contacts. The league will now have more days to test players and attempt to contain the spread before it allows the teams to take the field.
"We appreciate the NFL for its diligence in working closely with us to ensure the well-being of players, coaches and staff from both the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers organizations," the Ravens said.
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"Protecting the health and safety of each team, in addition to our communities at large, is of utmost importance. We will continue to follow guidance from the NFL and its medical experts, as we focus on safely resuming preparations for Sunday's game."
The Ravens and Steelers had been scheduled to play at 8:20 p.m. EST Thursday as part of an NBC broadcast. The league has not announced a time or network for the game on its new Sunday date.
Some Steelers players were unhappy about the date change for their Week 12 matchup.
"First the NFL takes away our bye week because another team can't get their situation together, now they take away our Thanksgiving prime-time game for the same reason. SMH [shake my head]," Steelers receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster wrote on Twitter.
The Steelers previously had their Week 4 game against the Tennessee Titans postponed due to an outbreak among Titans players. That game was moved into the team's Week 7 bye.
The Houston Texans will face the Detroit Lions in the first game of the NFL's Thanksgiving schedule. That game kicks off at 12:30 p.m. EST on CBS.
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The Dallas Cowboys then will host the Washington Football Team at 4:30 p.m. EST on Fox.


upi--2020-11-25--B-1B Lancer bomber can carry hypersonic weapon externally, test shows

Nov. 25 ( UPI ) -- A B-1B Lancer bomber conducted a demonstration testing its ability to externally carry potential hypersonic weapons , the U.S. Air Force announced .
The `` external captive carry '' test was conducted last week by the 412th Test Wing 's 419th Flight Test Squadron at Edwards Air Force Base , Calif. , the Air Force said on Tuesday .
The plane carried an inert Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile outside its fuselage .
An earlier test demonstrated the capability of carrying large weapons within the plane .
The tests indicate that the B-1B can deliver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by definition fly at over five times the speed of sound .
The United States , China and Russia are all developing hypersonic missiles .
Russia announced the test-firing of its Zircon hypersonic missile in October , striking a target 300 miles from its firing location after traveling at over 6,100 mph .
In 2018 , the China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics claimed that it successfully tested a hypersonic aircraft that could `` break any missile defense system . ''
The next step by the Air Force will be a demonstration of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aircraft , the branch said .
`` Adapting a small number of our healthiest B-1s to carry hypersonic weapons is vital to bridge between the bomber force we have today , to the force of tomorrow , '' Gen. Tim Ray , Air Force Global Strike Command commander , said in a press release .
`` This is a major step forward in our global precision fires capability and it is important we pursue these technologies to remain ahead of our competitors , '' Ray said .

The U.S. Air Force announced the successful test of an externally mounted missile on a B-1-B lancer, indicating the plane is capable of carrying hypersonic missiles. Photo by Ethan Wagner/U.S. Air Force
Nov. 25 (UPI) -- A B-1B Lancer bomber conducted a demonstration testing its ability to externally carry potential hypersonic weapons, the U.S. Air Force announced. The "external captive carry" test was conducted last week by the 412th Test Wing's 419th Flight Test Squadron at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., the Air Force said on Tuesday. Advertisement
The plane carried an inert Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile outside its fuselage.
An earlier test demonstrated the capability of carrying large weapons within the plane. The tests indicate that the B-1B can deliver and launch large hypersonic weapons, which by definition fly at over five times the speed of sound.
The United States, China and Russia are all developing hypersonic missiles.
Russia announced the test-firing of its Zircon hypersonic missile in October, striking a target 300 miles from its firing location after traveling at over 6,100 mph.
In 2018, the China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics claimed that it successfully tested a hypersonic aircraft that could "break any missile defense system."
The next step by the Air Force will be a demonstration of a release of an external weapon from the aircraft, the branch said.
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"Adapting a small number of our healthiest B-1s to carry hypersonic weapons is vital to bridge between the bomber force we have today, to the force of tomorrow," Gen. Tim Ray, Air Force Global Strike Command commander, said in a press release.
"This is a major step forward in our global precision fires capability and it is important we pursue these technologies to remain ahead of our competitors," Ray said.


upi--2020-11-25--Alabama coach Nick Saban tests positive again for COVID-19

Nov. 25 ( UPI ) -- Alabama 's Nick Saban will not coach the Crimson Tide against rival Auburn in @ @ @ @ @ he tested positive for COVID-19 , the school said Wednesday .
`` He has very @ @ @ @ @ test will not be categorized as a potential false positive , '' the university said @ @ @ @ @ `` He will follow all appropriate guidelines and isolate at home . ''
Saban , @ @ @ @ @ for COVID-19 in October , but that was clarified as a false positive .
The @ @ @ @ @ No .
1 in the College Football Playoff rankings -- host the Tigers at 3:30 @ @ @ @ @ , Ala. Saban will need to isolate for at least 10 days , per Southeastern @ @ @ @ @ Tide are scheduled to battle Arkansas in their season finale Dec. 4 .
Offensive coordinator @ @ @ @ @ head coaching duties in Saban 's absence .

Alabama learned Wednesday morning that football coach Nick Saban tested positive for COVID-19 and will need to isolate for at least 10 days. File Photo by Kent Gidley/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 25 (UPI) -- Alabama's Nick Saban will not coach the Crimson Tide against rival Auburn in Saturday's Iron Bowl because he tested positive for COVID-19, the school said Wednesday. "He has very mild symptoms, so this test will not be categorized as a potential false positive," the university said in a statement Wednesday. "He will follow all appropriate guidelines and isolate at home." Advertisement
Saban, 69, also tested positive for COVID-19 in October, but that was clarified as a false positive.
The Crimson Tide -- who rank No. 1 in the College Football Playoff rankings -- host the Tigers at 3:30 p.m. EST Saturday in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Saban will need to isolate for at least 10 days, per Southeastern Conference protocol.
The Crimson Tide are scheduled to battle Arkansas in their season finale Dec. 4. Offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian likely will assume head coaching duties in Saban's absence.


upi--2020-11-25--Look: Loose boa constrictor found wandering Madrid neighborhood

Nov. 25 ( UPI ) -- Police in Madrid said an officer captured a boa constrictor spotted slithering loose through @ @ @ @ @ .
Madrid police said Environment Unit officers responded to the neighborhood in the Calle Jose @ @ @ @ @ a large snake slithering through their yards .
The 4.75-foot snake was captured safely and @ @ @ @ @ Animal Recovery Center .
Police determined the snake had escaped from its owner 's home @ @ @ @ @ are looking into whether the snake 's owner had the proper permits to keep the @ @ @ @ @ .

Police in Madrid said an officer captured a boa constrictor spotted slithering loose through a neighborhood after escaping its owner's home through a window. Photo courtesy of the Municipal Police of Madrid
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Nov. 25 (UPI) -- Police in Madrid said an officer captured a boa constrictor spotted slithering loose through a neighborhood by surprised residents. Madrid police said Environment Unit officers responded to the neighborhood in the Calle Jose Calvo area when neighbors reported a large snake slithering through their yards. Advertisement
The 4.75-foot snake was captured safely and taken to Madrid's Wild Animal Recovery Center.
Police determined the snake had escaped from its owner's home through a window. Investigators are looking into whether the snake's owner had the proper permits to keep the exotic animal as a pet.


upi--2020-11-25--YouTube suspends One America News Network for COVID-19 content

Nov. 25 ( UPI ) -- YouTube confirmed Tuesday it has suspended the One America News Network for violating its video platform policy on sharing COVID-19 misinformation .
The video company , which is owned by Google , said it has also removed OANN 's YouTube channel from its YouTube Partner Program , under which content creators earn a portion of ad revenue , for repeatedly violating its policy on misinformation .
The violation , or strike , prevents OANN from uploading any new videos for a week .
The company must reapply to the YouTube Partner Program to start @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Three strikes could get the network permanently banned from YouTube .
`` Since early in this pandemic , we 've worked to prevent the spread of harmful misinformation associated with COVID-19 on YouTube , '' the company said .
`` After careful review , we removed a video from OANN and issued a strike on the channel for violating our COVID-19 .
YouTube said OANN posted a video that claimed there is a guaranteed cure for the coronavirus .
`` Additionally , due to repeated violations of our COVID-19 misinformation policy and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the channel from the YouTube Partner Program and as a result , monetization on YouTube , '' YouTube said .
President Donald Trump had praised One America News Network in the past for reporting that appeared to support him and his policies .
The president called on his supporters to view OANN instead of Fox News after Fox called Arizona for President-elect Joe Biden during the general election earlier this month .
YouTube said it has removed some 200,000 videos related to dangerous or misleading COVID-19 information since February .

White House correspondent for One America News Network Chanel Rion attends a news briefing with members of the coronavirus task force at the White House on April 8. YouTube banned the network from the platform for a week Tuesday for spreading misinformation about the virus. Photo by Chris Kleponis/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 25 (UPI) -- YouTube confirmed Tuesday it has suspended the One America News Network for violating its video platform policy on sharing COVID-19 misinformation. The video company, which is owned by Google, said it has also removed OANN's YouTube channel from its YouTube Partner Program, under which content creators earn a portion of ad revenue, for repeatedly violating its policy on misinformation. Advertisement
The violation, or strike, prevents OANN from uploading any new videos for a week. The company must reapply to the YouTube Partner Program to start making money off its videos again. Three strikes could get the network permanently banned from YouTube.
"Since early in this pandemic, we've worked to prevent the spread of harmful misinformation associated with COVID-19 on YouTube," the company said. "After careful review, we removed a video from OANN and issued a strike on the channel for violating our COVID-19.
YouTube said OANN posted a video that claimed there is a guaranteed cure for the coronavirus.
"Additionally, due to repeated violations of our COVID-19 misinformation policy and other channel monetization policies, we've suspended the channel from the YouTube Partner Program and as a result, monetization on YouTube," YouTube said.
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President Donald Trump had praised One America News Network in the past for reporting that appeared to support him and his policies. The president called on his supporters to view OANN instead of Fox News after Fox called Arizona for President-elect Joe Biden during the general election earlier this month.
YouTube said it has removed some 200,000 videos related to dangerous or misleading COVID-19 information since February.