upi--2020-08-17--Death Valley heats to potential Earth-record 130 degrees

Aug. 17 ( UPI ) -- Death Valley , Calif. , experienced what might have been the hottest temperature ever recorded on the Earth , experts say .
The mercury reached 130 degrees Fahrenheit Sunday afternoon , according to the National Weather service .
The temperature was recorded at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center at Death Valley National Park , the NWS said .
Before Sunday , the hottest temperature ever reliably recorded on the planet also occurred in Death Valley , 129.2 degrees in mid-2013 .
Previous records exceeding 130 degrees -- in Death Valley in 1913 and Tunisia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said weather historian Christopher Burt .
A reading of 136.4 degrees in Libya in 1922 also has veracity questions .
`` It is possible to demonstrate that a temperature of 134°F in Death Valley on July 10 , 1913 was ... essentially not possible from a meteorological perspective , '' Burt wrote four years ago .
`` Thus , the best explanation for the record high report ( s ) in July 1913 is observer error . ''
The World Meteorological Organization said if verified , Sunday 's temperature would be the hottest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 've seen so far indicates that is a legitimate observation , '' Randy Cerveny , of the World Meteorological Organization 's weather and climate extremes team , said .
`` In the upcoming weeks , we will , of course , be examining it in detail , along with the U.S. National Climate Extremes Committee , using one of our international evaluation teams . ''
Death Valley , well-known for scorching temperatures , lies some 190 feet below sea level in the Mojave Desert of southeastern California , the lowest dry location in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ average temperature of 108.1 degrees in July 2018 , the hottest month ever recorded there .
Record highs were seen in various locations in the southwestern United States on Saturday .
Needles , Calif. , reached 123 degrees ; Barstow , Calif. , hit 113 degrees ; Kingsman , Ariz. , saw 111 degrees and Las Vegas registered 113 degrees .

A temperature of 134 degrees Fahrenheit was recorded in Death Valley in 1913, but there are questions about its veracity. File Photo by JPlenio /Pixabay
Aug. 17 (UPI) -- Death Valley, Calif., experienced what might have been the hottest temperature ever recorded on the Earth, experts say. The mercury reached 130 degrees Fahrenheit Sunday afternoon, according to the National Weather service. Advertisement
The temperature was recorded at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center at Death Valley National Park, the NWS said. Before Sunday, the hottest temperature ever reliably recorded on the planet also occurred in Death Valley, 129.2 degrees in mid-2013.
Previous records exceeding 130 degrees -- in Death Valley in 1913 and Tunisia in 1931 -- have credibility issues, said weather historian Christopher Burt. A reading of 136.4 degrees in Libya in 1922 also has veracity questions.
"It is possible to demonstrate that a temperature of 134°F in Death Valley on July 10, 1913 was ... essentially not possible from a meteorological perspective," Burt wrote four years ago. "Thus, the best explanation for the record high report(s) in July 1913 is observer error."
The World Meteorological Organization said if verified, Sunday's temperature would be the hottest global temperature recorded.
"Everything I've seen so far indicates that is a legitimate observation," Randy Cerveny, of the World Meteorological Organization's weather and climate extremes team, said. "In the upcoming weeks, we will, of course, be examining it in detail, along with the U.S. National Climate Extremes Committee, using one of our international evaluation teams."
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Death Valley, well-known for scorching temperatures, lies some 190 feet below sea level in the Mojave Desert of southeastern California, the lowest dry location in the United States. It recorded an average temperature of 108.1 degrees in July 2018, the hottest month ever recorded there.
Record highs were seen in various locations in the southwestern United States on Saturday. Needles, Calif., reached 123 degrees; Barstow, Calif., hit 113 degrees; Kingsman, Ariz., saw 111 degrees and Las Vegas registered 113 degrees.


upi--2020-08-17--Watch: Karen Huger on Candiace Dillard's controversial tweets

Aug. 17 ( UPI ) -- Karen Huger says she `` ca n't force '' her friend and Real Housewives of Potomac co-star Candiace Dillard to `` behave '' on Twitter .
Huger , 57 , discussed Dillard , 33 , on Sunday 's episode of Watch What Happens Live following controversy about Dillard 's past tweets .
Huger was asked to weigh in on Dillard `` going hard '' on Twitter .
She said she has n't advised Dillard to stay off of social media .
`` Look , Candiace is a grown woman .
I can be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but I ca n't force her to behave any way on Twitter .
She does her own thing and it oftentimes gets her into trouble , and it 's very sad . ''
Dillard called out a blogger in an Instagram Live video last week , calling him `` an obese piece of [ expletive ] who just needs to drop dead . ''
In addition , she apologized to the LGBTQ community Wednesday for past `` insensitive '' tweets .
`` I , alone , am responsible for my words and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hurt my friends , colleagues , family and fans .
At the time I was a private citizen , speaking carelessly and crassly as we often do , and for my lack of better judgment , I am sorry , '' Dillard wrote .
`` While I 've learned and matured over the past decade , I am still evolving .
The language I used carelessly was n't acceptable back then , and it is n't acceptable now .
I acknowledge that my words were hurtful , and for that I am deeply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ WWHL , Huger also discussed her relationship with her co-star Ashley Darby 's husband , Michael Darby .
The Darbys welcomed their first child together , son Dean , in July 2019 .
`` To be honest , I think this fatherhood thing looks really good on Michael , '' Huger said .

Aug. 17 (UPI) -- Karen Huger says she "can't force" her friend and Real Housewives of Potomac co-star Candiace Dillard to "behave" on Twitter.
Huger, 57, discussed Dillard, 33, on Sunday's episode of Watch What Happens Live following controversy about Dillard's past tweets.
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Huger was asked to weigh in on Dillard "going hard" on Twitter. She said she hasn't advised Dillard to stay off of social media.
"Look, Candiace is a grown woman. I can be a friend and just lead by example, but I can't force her to behave any way on Twitter. She does her own thing and it oftentimes gets her into trouble, and it's very sad."
Dillard called out a blogger in an Instagram Live video last week, calling him "an obese piece of [expletive] who just needs to drop dead." In addition, she apologized to the LGBTQ community Wednesday for past "insensitive" tweets.
"I, alone, am responsible for my words and I deeply regret saying anything that could have hurt my friends, colleagues, family and fans. At the time I was a private citizen, speaking carelessly and crassly as we often do, and for my lack of better judgment, I am sorry," Dillard wrote.
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"While I've learned and matured over the past decade, I am still evolving. The language I used carelessly wasn't acceptable back then, and it isn't acceptable now. I acknowledge that my words were hurtful, and for that I am deeply sorry," she added.
I want to address tweets that resurfaced from nearly 10 years ago that may have offended people I love dearly and those who have supported me as a Potomac Housewife. pic.twitter.com/t5N4s4SoiW— Candiace Dillard Bassett (@candeegal) August 12, 2020
On WWHL, Huger also discussed her relationship with her co-star Ashley Darby's husband, Michael Darby. The Darbys welcomed their first child together, son Dean, in July 2019.
"To be honest, I think this fatherhood thing looks really good on Michael," Huger said.


upi--2020-08-17--'Gray Man': Chris Evans, Ryan Gosling film gets $20 million tax credit

Aug. 17 ( UPI ) -- Netflix 's espionage thriller The Gray Man starring Chris Evans and Ryan Gosling , has received a $ 20 million production tax credit to film in California .
The California Film Commission selected nine films in total , including The Gray Man , to receive $ 50 million collectively .
The Gray Man leads the pack with $ 20 million .
An untitled Jordan Peele project received $ 8.4 million , sci-fi thriller Invasion starring Octavia Spencer received $ 2.5 million , drama Losing Clementine starring Jessica Chastain received $ 2.3 million and NBA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among other film projects .
The nine films are expected to generate $ 284 million in qualified in-state expenditures .
The projects are estimated to employ 1,340 crew members , 342 cast members and 14,397 background actors and stand-ins over a combined 374 production days .
All nine films are expected to start production by early next year .
Film productions worldwide have been affected this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
The Gray Man , based on author Mark Greaney 's series of novels , is being helmed by Avengers : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gosling will star as a former CIA operative who becomes a killer for hire .
Evans stars as Gosling 's former colleague who is tracking him down .

1/2
"The Gray Man" star Chris Evans arrives for the Vanity Fair Oscar Party on February 2019. The film, which also stars Ryan Gosling, has received a $20 million California tax credit. File Photo by Christine Chew/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 17 (UPI) -- Netflix's espionage thriller The Gray Man starring Chris Evans and Ryan Gosling, has received a $20 million production tax credit to film in California. The California Film Commission selected nine films in total, including The Gray Man, to receive $50 million collectively. Advertisement
The Gray Man leads the pack with $20 million. An untitled Jordan Peele project received $8.4 million, sci-fi thriller Invasion starring Octavia Spencer received $2.5 million, drama Losing Clementine starring Jessica Chastain received $2.3 million and NBA drama Sweetwater received $1.4 million, among other film projects.
The nine films are expected to generate $284 million in qualified in-state expenditures. The projects are estimated to employ 1,340 crew members, 342 cast members and 14,397 background actors and stand-ins over a combined 374 production days.
All nine films are expected to start production by early next year. Film productions worldwide have been affected this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Gray Man, based on author Mark Greaney's series of novels, is being helmed by Avengers: Endgame directors Joe and Anthony Russo. The Russo's company AGBO is producing The Gray Man.
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Gosling will star as a former CIA operative who becomes a killer for hire. Evans stars as Gosling's former colleague who is tracking him down.


upi--2020-08-17--North Korea quiet as U.S., South Korea exercises to resume

Aug. 17 ( UPI ) -- North Korea is keeping silent ahead of U.S.-South Korea military exercises this week .
On Monday , North Korea 's Workers ' Party newspaper Rodong Sinmun highlighted instead state-led efforts in flood cleanup and recovery in North Hwanghae Province , in a village Kim Jong Un visited earlier in the month .
`` Dear Supreme Leader Comrade Kim Jong Un has once again given his enormous love to the people of Taechongri , Unpa County , so that they may overcome the natural disasters , '' the Rodong stated .
Kim has sent medicines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minor inconveniences '' of North Korean villagers affected by floods , state media said .
Last week , North Korea said soldiers were deployed to assist the villagers with cleanup efforts .
Ri Il Hwan , identified as a vice chairman of the Workers ' Party 's central committee , said authorities expect to `` provide a stable life for residents of the affected areas '' by Oct. 10 , the 75th anniversary of the founding of the ruling party .
The Rodong also said authorities in Pyongyang continue to enforce emergency measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , North Korea claimed a defector who fled the South was a suspected COVID-19 patient , and authorities reportedly locked down the city of Kaesong .
North Korea never confirmed the suspected case of COVID-19 and on Friday Kim lifted the lockdown measures for Kaesong .
North Korea has yet to respond to a speech delivered by South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Saturday on Korea 's Liberation Day .
Moon had stressed the importance of humanitarian cooperation and suggested the resumption of inter-Korea family reunions , News 1 reported .
The joint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week are to be reduced in scale due to the coronavirus pandemic .
The drills are to focus mostly on computerized simulations , according to Seoul 's military .

Kim Jong Un has ordered the delivery of medicines to North Korean villagers in the country's North Hwanghae Province, according to state media on Monday. File Photo by KCNA/EPA-EFE
Aug. 17 (UPI) -- North Korea is keeping silent ahead of U.S.-South Korea military exercises this week. On Monday, North Korea's Workers' Party newspaper Rodong Sinmun highlighted instead state-led efforts in flood cleanup and recovery in North Hwanghae Province, in a village Kim Jong Un visited earlier in the month. Advertisement
"Dear Supreme Leader Comrade Kim Jong Un has once again given his enormous love to the people of Taechongri, Unpa County, so that they may overcome the natural disasters," the Rodong stated.
Kim has sent medicines and "remain concerned of even the minor inconveniences" of North Korean villagers affected by floods, state media said.
Last week, North Korea said soldiers were deployed to assist the villagers with cleanup efforts.
Ri Il Hwan, identified as a vice chairman of the Workers' Party's central committee, said authorities expect to "provide a stable life for residents of the affected areas" by Oct. 10, the 75th anniversary of the founding of the ruling party.
The Rodong also said authorities in Pyongyang continue to enforce emergency measures to combat the coronavirus. In July, North Korea claimed a defector who fled the South was a suspected COVID-19 patient, and authorities reportedly locked down the city of Kaesong. North Korea never confirmed the suspected case of COVID-19 and on Friday Kim lifted the lockdown measures for Kaesong.
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North Korea has yet to respond to a speech delivered by South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Saturday on Korea's Liberation Day.
Moon had stressed the importance of humanitarian cooperation and suggested the resumption of inter-Korea family reunions, News 1 reported.
The joint U.S.-South Korea exercises to be held this week are to be reduced in scale due to the coronavirus pandemic. The drills are to focus mostly on computerized simulations, according to Seoul's military.


upi--2020-08-17--German regulators investigate Amazon pricing policies

Aug. 17 ( UPI ) -- Antitrust regulators in Germany are investigating complaints that Amazon is unfairly leveraging its dominant position in the e-commerce market to affect pricing during the coronavirus pandemic .
Andreas Mundt , president of Germany 's Federal Cartel Office , said in a newspaper interview Sunday he 's looking into accusations that Amazon is using its powerful position to manipulate how third-party merchants price their merchandise on its digital platform and blocking those deemed to be price gouging during the health crisis .
`` We are currently investigating whether and how Amazon influences retailers ' pricing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung .
`` Amazon must not be a controller of prices . ''
The U.S. tech giant responded to the concerns with written responses , the German regulator told CNBC .
Amazon said Sunday that vendors are free to set their own product prices , but that it has policies to `` help ensure selling partners are pricing their products competitively . ''
The platform is the largest online marketplace in Germany .
In 2018 , more than 300,000 third-party sellers were active on the marketplace -- about 60 % were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year conducted separate , months-long investigations of complaints that Amazon was preventing third-party sellers from charging more on its platform than elsewhere online .
That investigation resulted in an agreement calling for Amazon to change its terms of service for third-party merchants .

An employee is seen at the Amazon logistic and distribution center in Moenchengladbach, Germany, on December 17, 2019. File Photo by Friedemann Vogel/EPA-EFE
Aug. 17 (UPI) -- Antitrust regulators in Germany are investigating complaints that Amazon is unfairly leveraging its dominant position in the e-commerce market to affect pricing during the coronavirus pandemic. Andreas Mundt, president of Germany's Federal Cartel Office, said in a newspaper interview Sunday he's looking into accusations that Amazon is using its powerful position to manipulate how third-party merchants price their merchandise on its digital platform and blocking those deemed to be price gouging during the health crisis. Advertisement
"We are currently investigating whether and how Amazon influences retailers' pricing on the marketplace," Mundt told Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. "Amazon must not be a controller of prices."
The U.S. tech giant responded to the concerns with written responses, the German regulator told CNBC.
Amazon said Sunday that vendors are free to set their own product prices, but that it has policies to "help ensure selling partners are pricing their products competitively."
The platform is the largest online marketplace in Germany. In 2018, more than 300,000 third-party sellers were active on the marketplace -- about 60% were German sellers.
The Cartel Office last year conducted separate, months-long investigations of complaints that Amazon was preventing third-party sellers from charging more on its platform than elsewhere online.
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That investigation resulted in an agreement calling for Amazon to change its terms of service for third-party merchants.


upi--2020-08-17--In photos: Moments from Major League Baseball for the week of Aug. 16, 2020

Nationals manager Dave Martinez ( L ) argues with umpire Will Little as starting pitcher Anibal Sanchez is ejected from @ @ @ @ @ the players overflow area without a uniform .
Photo by David Tulis/UPI

JT Riddle (L) of the Pittsburgh Pirates greets teammate Jacob Stallings after Stallings' home run against the Milwaukee Brewers in Pittsburgh on Saturday. The Pirates defeated the Brewers 12-5. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI


upi--2020-08-17--In photos: Moments from Major League Baseball for the week of Aug. 9, 2020

The Los Angeles Dodgers ' Mookie Betts ( L ) celebrates with teammate Cody Bellinger after hitting a two-run homer @ @ @ @ @ in Los Angeles on Thursday .
The Dodgers defeated the Padres 11-2 .
Photo by @ @

New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole pitches against the Boston Red Sox in New York City on Friday. Photo by Corey Sipkin/UPI


upi--2020-08-17--Most knee cracking is normal unless it hurts, expert says

If your knees crack when you walk or run , do n't be too worried , an expert says .
`` Knee cracking could mean lots of things , '' said Harshvardhan Singh , assistant professor in the department of physical therapy at the University of Alabama at Birmingham .
`` If it is painful , then you should see a health care provider . ''
The cause can be a large kneecap that does n't fit well into the groove , producing cracking during activities such as running and jogging .
And if the thigh muscle is too tight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ causing an audible crack .
Degeneration of knee cartilage can , too .
`` The degenerative changes can also lead to pain and/or locking of the knee joint , '' Singh said in a university news release .
`` Typically , degenerative changes are common in older people . ''
Scans have shown that the displacement of joint surfaces forming the knee can cause a chain reaction in which natural gas bubbles collapse .
The result : knee cracking .
`` You should not be worried if your knees crack often as long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Singh said .
If you have had a recent trauma to the knee and it starts to crack , you should see a doctor even in there 's no pain , he said .
`` Do not allow these sounds to make you feel abnormal or mentally stressed , or limit your functional activities , '' Singh said .
`` A knee crack by itself does not indicate presence of any disease . ''
It 's normal for knees to crack when you are active and it does not mean you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Interestingly , in knee arthritis , knee joint becomes hypomobile and loses its movement to a certain degree , which may lead to no knee crack , '' he said .
`` A knee crack may mean your joint is mobile and lubricated . ''
A professional may be able to help quell the cracking , Singh said .
`` A physical therapist may be able to help you determine if there are specific movement patterns or any biomechanical alignment which may be leading to knee crack and prescribe you certain exercises to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
For more about cracking knees , visit Johns Hopkins University .

Unless it starts after recent trauma, an expert says that most knee cracking -- without pain -- is normal. Photo by Esther Max/Flickr
If your knees crack when you walk or run, don't be too worried, an expert says. "Knee cracking could mean lots of things," said Harshvardhan Singh, assistant professor in the department of physical therapy at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. "If it is painful, then you should see a health care provider." Advertisement
The cause can be a large kneecap that doesn't fit well into the groove, producing cracking during activities such as running and jogging.
And if the thigh muscle is too tight, it can pull the kneecap, causing an audible crack. Degeneration of knee cartilage can, too.
"The degenerative changes can also lead to pain and/or locking of the knee joint," Singh said in a university news release. "Typically, degenerative changes are common in older people."
Scans have shown that the displacement of joint surfaces forming the knee can cause a chain reaction in which natural gas bubbles collapse. The result: knee cracking.
"You should not be worried if your knees crack often as long as it is not associated with pain," Singh said.
If you have had a recent trauma to the knee and it starts to crack, you should see a doctor even in there's no pain, he said.
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"Do not allow these sounds to make you feel abnormal or mentally stressed, or limit your functional activities," Singh said. "A knee crack by itself does not indicate presence of any disease."
It's normal for knees to crack when you are active and it does not mean you have arthritis, he explained.
"Interestingly, in knee arthritis, knee joint becomes hypomobile and loses its movement to a certain degree, which may lead to no knee crack," he said. "A knee crack may mean your joint is mobile and lubricated."
A professional may be able to help quell the cracking, Singh said.
"A physical therapist may be able to help you determine if there are specific movement patterns or any biomechanical alignment which may be leading to knee crack and prescribe you certain exercises to help improve it," he said.
More information
For more about cracking knees, visit Johns Hopkins University.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-08-17--Iran's stranglehold on Iraq may be starting to falter

Aug. 17 ( UPI ) -- Is the tide beginning to turn in Iraq ?
After almost three decades of conflict , insurgency , genocide and foreign meddling , there may be a glimmer of light beginning to appear at the end of the long , dark tunnel .
Iraqis must hope that it is n't an oncoming train .
Iraq 's new prime minister , the former spy chief , 53-year-old Mustafa al-Kadhimi , is unique .
He appears to be the first Iraqi to hold the top job who can not be accused of being an Iranian puppet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be his Achilles heel .
As a lawyer and journalist who opposed Saddam Hussein , al-Kadhimi fled from Iraq in 1985 and continued to pen articles attacking the Iraqi dictator from his exile , first in Iran , then in Germany and the United Kingdom .
He returned to Iraq after the U.S. invasion in 2003 and was appointed head of the National Intelligence Service in 2016 .
He is resolutely pro-Western , shrewd and secular and his appointment as prime minister reflected the growing public contempt for the Iranian mullahs ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mismanagement and corruption , Iraq is a basket case .
It was a soft target for Tehran , which quickly took control of the plethora of Shi'ia militias , training , arming and molding over 150,000 of them into the so-called Popular Mobilization Forces .
Commanded by Gen. Qassem Soleimani , the Iranian chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps ' Quds Force , a listed terrorist organization , the PMF began a systematic campaign of genocide against Iraq 's Sunni population .
Under the guise of helping the West to fight the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the ancient Iraqi cities of Fallujah , Ramadi and Mosul , murdering thousands of innocent Sunni civilians and leaving smoking ruins in his wake .
Answerable directly to Iran 's supreme leader , Ayatollah Ali Khamenei , Soleimani 's objective was to turn Iraq into an Iranian province , as a perfect conduit for the supply of Iranian military personnel and arms to Bashar al-Assad in Syria and Hezbollah in Lebanon .
Soleimani 's death in January this year , following an American drone attack on his car as he left Baghdad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign to a shuddering halt .
Soleimani had arrived in Iraq to supervise the ongoing crackdown on nationwide protests that had been raging for months .
Tens of thousands of young , unarmed protesters were demanding an end to government corruption and the ousting of Iranian gangsters from Iraq .
Boasting that `` we know how to deal with protests in Iran , '' Soleimani had instructed black-clad and masked PMF snipers to fire from the roofs of government buildings , killing 500 and injuring more than 15,000 .
The PMF leader , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Soleimani in the drone attack .
The mullahs swore revenge and , in their hysteria , shot down a Ukrainian airliner , killing all 176 passengers and crew , after it was mistaken for an American military aircraft .
Soleimani 's role as Quds Force chief has been filled by 62-year-old Brig .
Gen. Ismail Ghaani .
While the Arabic-speaking Soleimani was revered and feared by his troops for his vicious ruthlessness , his dull and uninspiring successor , Ghaani , who has to rely on a translator each time he visits Baghdad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ undermining Iran 's authority in Iraq .
Having pledged to identify and hold to account those responsible for shooting the unarmed protesters , Kadhimi is watching Ghaani closely .
He has even forced Ghaani to apply for a visa each time he visits Iraq , which Soleimani never had to do .
The theocratic regime in Iran now regards Kadhimi with great suspicion .
Some even believe he may have tipped off the Americans about Soleimani 's travel arrangements , triggering the drone attack .
Kadhimi denies this and claims that he is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their constant meddling in Iraq .
But demonstrating his determination to hold Iran to account , he ordered the arrest in July of 14 members of Kataib Hezbollah , one of the most ardently pro-Iranian militia factions of the PMF .
Although all of those arrested were subsequently released , it served as a useful warning shot across the mullahs ' bows .
Kadhimi is going to play hardball .
He has promised to root out those responsible for shooting the protesters and he has pledged to set up an anti-government-corruption inquiry .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iraqi masses , but less so with the Iraqi political elite and their Iranian paymasters .
Presiding over an economy that has been destroyed by years of conflict and corruption and a security system that has been hijacked by pro-Iranian warlords will be no easy task .
The collapse in oil prices , coupled with the coronavirus pandemic have crippled the nation .
Unlike previous Iraqi leaders , Khadhimi has no political party he can call on for support in times of trouble .
However , Iraq 's dire financial position means that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic support , warning his MPs that if they fail to back his reform package , U.S. President Donald Trump may pull the plug on future funding .
So far this seems to be his sole ace card and with his popularity ratings rising , even the mullahs have been forced to hold their tongues .
But the easing of the COVID-19 lockdown measures , combined with the soaring summer temperatures , have brought a handful of demonstrators back onto the streets of Baghdad .
Violence erupted as Iraqi police tried to clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had gathered and two people were killed in the ensuing confrontation .
The deaths have once more ignited calls for Kadhimi to resign .
He is walking a tightrope , trying to balance the interests of Iran and the United States , in a country plagued by foreign meddling .
He knows that a single vote of confidence in Iraq 's Majilis could end his career and there are dozens of Iraqi MPs who owe their allegiance to Tehran and may yet be ordered to vote that way .
Struan Stevenson is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He was a member of the European Parliament representing Scotland ( 1999-2014 ) , president of the Parliament 's Delegation for Relations with Iraq ( 2009-14 ) and chairman of the Friends of a Free Iran Intergroup ( 2004-14 ) .
He is an international lecturer on the Middle East and is also president of the European Iraqi Freedom Association .

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kahdimi gestures as he addresses locals in the town of Tarmiyah, north of Baghdad on July 20. Pool Photo by Khalid Mohammed/EPA-EFE
Aug. 17 (UPI) -- Is the tide beginning to turn in Iraq? After almost three decades of conflict, insurgency, genocide and foreign meddling, there may be a glimmer of light beginning to appear at the end of the long, dark tunnel. Iraqis must hope that it isn't an oncoming train. Advertisement
Iraq's new prime minister, the former spy chief, 53-year-old Mustafa al-Kadhimi, is unique. He appears to be the first Iraqi to hold the top job who cannot be accused of being an Iranian puppet. But this may yet turn out to be his Achilles heel.
As a lawyer and journalist who opposed Saddam Hussein, al-Kadhimi fled from Iraq in 1985 and continued to pen articles attacking the Iraqi dictator from his exile, first in Iran, then in Germany and the United Kingdom. He returned to Iraq after the U.S. invasion in 2003 and was appointed head of the National Intelligence Service in 2016. He is resolutely pro-Western, shrewd and secular and his appointment as prime minister reflected the growing public contempt for the Iranian mullahs' meddling in Iraq.
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After years of mismanagement and corruption, Iraq is a basket case. It was a soft target for Tehran, which quickly took control of the plethora of Shi'ia militias, training, arming and molding over 150,000 of them into the so-called Popular Mobilization Forces. Commanded by Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the Iranian chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps' Quds Force, a listed terrorist organization, the PMF began a systematic campaign of genocide against Iraq's Sunni population.
Under the guise of helping the West to fight the Islamic State, Soleimani supervised the destruction of the ancient Iraqi cities of Fallujah, Ramadi and Mosul, murdering thousands of innocent Sunni civilians and leaving smoking ruins in his wake. Answerable directly to Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Soleimani's objective was to turn Iraq into an Iranian province, as a perfect conduit for the supply of Iranian military personnel and arms to Bashar al-Assad in Syria and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Soleimani's death in January this year, following an American drone attack on his car as he left Baghdad Airport, has brought the mullahs' campaign to a shuddering halt. Soleimani had arrived in Iraq to supervise the ongoing crackdown on nationwide protests that had been raging for months. Tens of thousands of young, unarmed protesters were demanding an end to government corruption and the ousting of Iranian gangsters from Iraq.
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Boasting that "we know how to deal with protests in Iran," Soleimani had instructed black-clad and masked PMF snipers to fire from the roofs of government buildings, killing 500 and injuring more than 15,000. The PMF leader, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, was killed alongside Soleimani in the drone attack. The mullahs swore revenge and, in their hysteria, shot down a Ukrainian airliner, killing all 176 passengers and crew, after it was mistaken for an American military aircraft.
Soleimani's role as Quds Force chief has been filled by 62-year-old Brig. Gen. Ismail Ghaani. While the Arabic-speaking Soleimani was revered and feared by his troops for his vicious ruthlessness, his dull and uninspiring successor, Ghaani, who has to rely on a translator each time he visits Baghdad, has no such rapport, further undermining Iran's authority in Iraq. Having pledged to identify and hold to account those responsible for shooting the unarmed protesters, Kadhimi is watching Ghaani closely. He has even forced Ghaani to apply for a visa each time he visits Iraq, which Soleimani never had to do.
The theocratic regime in Iran now regards Kadhimi with great suspicion. Some even believe he may have tipped off the Americans about Soleimani's travel arrangements, triggering the drone attack. Kadhimi denies this and claims that he is not anti-Iranian, simply fed up with their constant meddling in Iraq.
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But demonstrating his determination to hold Iran to account, he ordered the arrest in July of 14 members of Kataib Hezbollah, one of the most ardently pro-Iranian militia factions of the PMF. Although all of those arrested were subsequently released, it served as a useful warning shot across the mullahs' bows. Kadhimi is going to play hardball. He has promised to root out those responsible for shooting the protesters and he has pledged to set up an anti-government-corruption inquiry. These steps are widely popular with the Iraqi masses, but less so with the Iraqi political elite and their Iranian paymasters.
Presiding over an economy that has been destroyed by years of conflict and corruption and a security system that has been hijacked by pro-Iranian warlords will be no easy task. The collapse in oil prices, coupled with the coronavirus pandemic have crippled the nation.
Unlike previous Iraqi leaders, Khadhimi has no political party he can call on for support in times of trouble. However, Iraq's dire financial position means that he has to rely on Washington for economic support, warning his MPs that if they fail to back his reform package, U.S. President Donald Trump may pull the plug on future funding. So far this seems to be his sole ace card and with his popularity ratings rising, even the mullahs have been forced to hold their tongues.
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But the easing of the COVID-19 lockdown measures, combined with the soaring summer temperatures, have brought a handful of demonstrators back onto the streets of Baghdad. Violence erupted as Iraqi police tried to clear Tahrir Square, where over 20 protesters had gathered and two people were killed in the ensuing confrontation. The deaths have once more ignited calls for Kadhimi to resign.
He is walking a tightrope, trying to balance the interests of Iran and the United States, in a country plagued by foreign meddling. He knows that a single vote of confidence in Iraq's Majilis could end his career and there are dozens of Iraqi MPs who owe their allegiance to Tehran and may yet be ordered to vote that way.
Struan Stevenson is the Coordinator of the Campaign for Iran Change. He was a member of the European Parliament representing Scotland (1999-2014), president of the Parliament's Delegation for Relations with Iraq (2009-14) and chairman of the Friends of a Free Iran Intergroup (2004-14). He is an international lecturer on the Middle East and is also president of the European Iraqi Freedom Association.


upi--2020-08-17--'This Is Us' creator says show will tackle COVID-19 'head on'

Aug. 17 ( UPI ) -- This Is Us creator Dan Fogelman said on Twitter that the family drama will @ @ @ @ @ Season 5 .
Fogelman made the comments on Sunday in response to a fan 's @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Yes on COVID .
We 've decided to attack things head on .
@ @ @ @ @ , '' Fogelman tweeted .
The creator also noted that he is not sure when @ @ @ @ @ start or when new episodes will air .
`` Same planned ending .
Same route @ @ @ @ @ he continued in response to the fan asking if the show 's planned ending will @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .
This Is Us ended its fourth season in March .
Production on Season @ @ @ @ @ the COVID-19 pandemic .
NBC has renewed the show through Season 6 .
Sterling K. @ @ @ @ @ Mandy Moore , Justin Hartley and Chrissy Metz star in the series which follows the @ @ @ @ @ and present .

"This Is Us" creator Dan Fogelman said the show will address the COVID-19 pandemic in Season 5. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 17 (UPI) -- This Is Us creator Dan Fogelman said on Twitter that the family drama will address the COVID-19 pandemic in Season 5. Fogelman made the comments on Sunday in response to a fan's question about the fifth season. Advertisement
"Yes on COVID. We've decided to attack things head on. Very proud of @ThisIsUsWriters," Fogelman tweeted.
The creator also noted that he is not sure when production on Season 5 will start or when new episodes will air.
"Same planned ending. Same route to get there," he continued in response to the fan asking if the show's planned ending will remain in light of the pandemic.
This Is Us ended its fourth season in March. Production on Season 5 was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. NBC has renewed the show through Season 6.
Sterling K. Brown, Milo Ventimiglia, Mandy Moore, Justin Hartley and Chrissy Metz star in the series which follows the Pearson family in the past and present.


upi--2020-08-17--U.S. tops 170K COVID-19 deaths, sees 7-week low in new cases

Aug. 17 ( UPI ) -- More than 170,000 people in the United States have died of COVID-19 , according to updated figures Monday from researchers at Johns Hopkins University .
There have been 5.404 million U.S. cases since the start of the pandemic , according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at the university .
On Sunday , there were slightly more than 42,000 new cases , the lowest figure in seven weeks .
The last time the daily total was lower was June 29 , Johns Hopkins figures show .
There were fewer than 600 deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least 1,000 .
With the exception of Friday ( 64,000 ) , U.S. cases have shown a gradual decline since a one-day peak of 77,000 cases in mid-July .
In California , public schools in Los Angeles announced an `` unprecedented '' testing and contact tracing program for students and staff on Sunday .
Austin Beutner , superintendent of the the Los Angeles County Unified School District , said it 's is partnering with the University California Los Angeles , Stanford University , Johns Hopkins University and Microsoft in the effort , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hundreds of thousands of students and employees during the new school year , which begins Tuesday with online classes .
`` Extraordinary circumstances call for extraordinary actions , and while this testing and contact tracing effort is unprecedented , it is necessary and appropriate , '' Beutner said in a statement .
`` This will provide a public health benefit to the school community , as well as the greater Los Angeles area . ''
The scale of the program , he said , will allow students to get back to school `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for other U.S. school systems .
Los Angeles County has seen almost 222,000 cases and 5,250 deaths .
In Florida , health officials reported the lowest daily case figure since late June , with fewer than 3,800 .
Miami-Dade County , which has seen more cases than any other in Florida , surpassed 2,000 deaths over the weekend .
The city 's positivity rate fell to 10.3 % , the lowest mark in two weeks .
In Texas , Dallas County reported more than 5,300 new cases after clearing a backlog caused by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recently saw similar problems .
The backlog accounted for 5,200 of the new cases , most of which were from July .
`` It is expected that there will be more batches of cases missed by the state 's system being reported in the coming days , '' Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said .
`` All this reinforces the importance of self-isolating and following CDC guidance if you were tested and awaiting results . ''

U.S. cases of COVID-19 have shown a gradual decline since a one-day peak of 77,000 cases in mid-July. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 17 (UPI) -- More than 170,000 people in the United States have died of COVID-19, according to updated figures Monday from researchers at Johns Hopkins University. There have been 5.404 million U.S. cases since the start of the pandemic, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at the university. Advertisement
On Sunday, there were slightly more than 42,000 new cases, the lowest figure in seven weeks. The last time the daily total was lower was June 29, Johns Hopkins figures show. There were fewer than 600 deaths Sunday, ending five straight days with at least 1,000.
With the exception of Friday (64,000), U.S. cases have shown a gradual decline since a one-day peak of 77,000 cases in mid-July.
In California, public schools in Los Angeles announced an "unprecedented" testing and contact tracing program for students and staff on Sunday.
Austin Beutner, superintendent of the the Los Angeles County Unified School District, said it's is partnering with the University California Los Angeles, Stanford University, Johns Hopkins University and Microsoft in the effort, which aims to provide periodic testing to hundreds of thousands of students and employees during the new school year, which begins Tuesday with online classes.
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"Extraordinary circumstances call for extraordinary actions, and while this testing and contact tracing effort is unprecedented, it is necessary and appropriate," Beutner said in a statement. "This will provide a public health benefit to the school community, as well as the greater Los Angeles area."
The scale of the program, he said, will allow students to get back to school "sooner and safer" while providing lessons for other U.S. school systems.
Los Angeles County has seen almost 222,000 cases and 5,250 deaths.
In Florida, health officials reported the lowest daily case figure since late June, with fewer than 3,800.
Miami-Dade County, which has seen more cases than any other in Florida, surpassed 2,000 deaths over the weekend. The city's positivity rate fell to 10.3%, the lowest mark in two weeks.
In Texas, Dallas County reported more than 5,300 new cases after clearing a backlog caused by issues with the reporting system. California recently saw similar problems.
The backlog accounted for 5,200 of the new cases, most of which were from July.
"It is expected that there will be more batches of cases missed by the state's system being reported in the coming days," Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said. "All this reinforces the importance of self-isolating and following CDC guidance if you were tested and awaiting results."


upi--2020-08-17--Jaguars' Rodney Gunter, 28, retires due to enlarged aorta

Aug. 17 ( UPI ) -- Jacksonville Jaguars defensive lineman Rodney Gunter has retired from the NFL after he discovered he has an enlarged aorta .
The Jaguars placed Gunter on the reserve/retired list on Monday morning .
Gunter , 28 , announced his retirement Sunday on social media .
The aorta is the largest artery and is responsible for carrying blood away from the heart to other parts of the body .
An enlarged aorta is more prone to a rupture , which could cause life-threatening bleeding and other serious health issues .
`` After seeing several heart specialists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ play ball with my condition , I could possibly rupture or tear my aorta which is enlarged , '' Gunter wrote on Instagram and Twitter .
`` This can cause sudden death or a severe stroke . ''
Gunter said there is a 50 percent chance that surgery will `` fix '' his condition , but he does not meet the criteria to undergo the operation because his aorta is five centimeters enlarged and needs to be 5.5 centimeters enlarged in order to qualify for the operation .
`` At this time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surgery so I must wait , '' Gunter said .
`` So at this moment I have no other choice but to walk away from this game . ''
Gunter entered the league as a fourth-round pick by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2015 NFL Draft .
The 6-foot-5 , 305-pound defensive tackle had 31 total tackles , 10 quarterback hits , nine tackles for a loss and three sacks in 13 starts last season .
Gunter had a career-high 44 total tackles , 11 tackles for a loss , nine quarterback hits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a pass defensed in 16 games in 2018 .
The Delaware State product had 11 sacks and 126 total tackles in 77 career appearances .
Gunter signed a three-year , $ 18 million contract with the Jaguars in March .

Defensive tackle Rodney Gunter (97) signed a three-year contract in March with the Jacksonville Jaguars before he announced his retirement Sunday. File Photo by Art Foxall/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 17 (UPI) -- Jacksonville Jaguars defensive lineman Rodney Gunter has retired from the NFL after he discovered he has an enlarged aorta. The Jaguars placed Gunter on the reserve/retired list on Monday morning. Gunter, 28, announced his retirement Sunday on social media. The aorta is the largest artery and is responsible for carrying blood away from the heart to other parts of the body. Advertisement
An enlarged aorta is more prone to a rupture, which could cause life-threatening bleeding and other serious health issues.
"After seeing several heart specialists I was told if I continue to play ball with my condition, I could possibly rupture or tear my aorta which is enlarged," Gunter wrote on Instagram and Twitter. "This can cause sudden death or a severe stroke."
Gunter said there is a 50 percent chance that surgery will "fix" his condition, but he does not meet the criteria to undergo the operation because his aorta is five centimeters enlarged and needs to be 5.5 centimeters enlarged in order to qualify for the operation.
"At this time, I cannot play or have the surgery so I must wait," Gunter said. "So at this moment I have no other choice but to walk away from this game."
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Gunter entered the league as a fourth-round pick by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2015 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-5, 305-pound defensive tackle had 31 total tackles, 10 quarterback hits, nine tackles for a loss and three sacks in 13 starts last season.
Gunter had a career-high 44 total tackles, 11 tackles for a loss, nine quarterback hits, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a pass defensed in 16 games in 2018.
The Delaware State product had 11 sacks and 126 total tackles in 77 career appearances. Gunter signed a three-year, $18 million contract with the Jaguars in March.


upi--2020-08-17--Lebanon judge to open inquiry into deadly Beirut explosions

Aug. 17 ( UPI ) -- A Lebanese judge is expected to start an investigation Monday to the explosions this month that leveled a port in Beirut and killed at least 200 people .
judge Fadi Sawan will lead the domestic inquiry amid skepticism among Lebanese who blame local politicians for the blasts .
Authorities have said the explosions were likely set off by 2,700 tons of ammonium nitrate that had been stored at the port .
The explosions left more than 600,000 Beirut residents homeless .
U.S. officials said over the weekend a team from the Federal Bureau of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the investigation .
Lebanese authorities have so far arrested more than a dozen people in connection to the disaster .
Lebanon President Michel Aoun has rejected calls for an international investigation , saying it would distort `` the truth '' and slow the process .
International victim 's attorney Nada Abdelsater Abou Samra said an international investigation is the only way to find an unbiased answer .
`` We are demanding the United Nations Security Council to send an international fact-finding mission , '' Samra said , calling the explosions a `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ massacre . ''
Samra said many Lebanese feel local politicians will be more concerned with protecting each other than holding officials accountable .
`` We 've lost trust in all of them , '' Samra said .
`` They are protecting each other . ''

Damaged buildings are seen last Wednesday near the harbor port that was leveled by a pair of explosions in Beirut, Lebanon. Photo by Mustafa Jamaleddine/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 17 (UPI) -- A Lebanese judge is expected to start an investigation Monday to the explosions this month that leveled a port in Beirut and killed at least 200 people. judge Fadi Sawan will lead the domestic inquiry amid skepticism among Lebanese who blame local politicians for the blasts. Advertisement
Authorities have said the explosions were likely set off by 2,700 tons of ammonium nitrate that had been stored at the port. The explosions left more than 600,000 Beirut residents homeless.
U.S. officials said over the weekend a team from the Federal Bureau of Investigation was headed to Lebanon to aid in the investigation.
Lebanese authorities have so far arrested more than a dozen people in connection to the disaster.
Lebanon President Michel Aoun has rejected calls for an international investigation, saying it would distort "the truth" and slow the process.
International victim's attorney Nada Abdelsater Abou Samra said an international investigation is the only way to find an unbiased answer.
"We are demanding the United Nations Security Council to send an international fact-finding mission," Samra said, calling the explosions a "crime against humanity" and a "massacre."
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Samra said many Lebanese feel local politicians will be more concerned with protecting each other than holding officials accountable.
"We've lost trust in all of them," Samra said. "They are protecting each other."


upi--2020-08-17--Look: Demi Moore celebrates Rumer Willis' birthday with throwback photos

Aug. 17 ( UPI ) -- Demi Moore marked daughter Rumer Willis ' 32nd birthday by releasing a number of throwback family photos on Instagram .
The photos , uploaded on Sunday , include a black and white image of Moore holding an infant Rumer Willis and an image of Rumer Willis hugging her mother on the set of 1996 film Striptease .
`` Words can not do justice to the love , gratitude and joy I have for you .
You are a magnificent woman but you will always be my baby , '' Moore said .
`` You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beyond anything I had ever known .
Happy Birthday , Rumer Glenn !
I love you forever and a day , '' the actress continued .
Rumer Willis commemorated her birthday by posting on Instagram how she was spending her day outdoors .
`` I am so excited for this year , my own personal New Years .
This year I set the intention to let go of anything and everything that no longer serves me and trust that the universe is setting me up to have the life I have always dreamed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moore shares Rumer Willis , 29-year-old Scout Willis and 26-year-old Tallulah Willis with ex-husband Bruce Willis .
Moore and Bruce Willis spent time together with their daughters in April amid the COVID-19 pandemic .

Aug. 17 (UPI) -- Demi Moore marked daughter Rumer Willis' 32nd birthday by releasing a number of throwback family photos on Instagram.
The photos, uploaded on Sunday, include a black and white image of Moore holding an infant Rumer Willis and an image of Rumer Willis hugging her mother on the set of 1996 film Striptease.
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"Words can not do justice to the love, gratitude and joy I have for you. You are a magnificent woman but you will always be my baby," Moore said.
"You changed my life and gave it meaning beyond anything I had ever known. Happy Birthday, Rumer Glenn! I love you forever and a day," the actress continued.
Rumer Willis commemorated her birthday by posting on Instagram how she was spending her day outdoors.
"I am so excited for this year, my own personal New Years. This year I set the intention to let go of anything and everything that no longer serves me and trust that the universe is setting me up to have the life I have always dreamed of," Rumer Willis said.
Moore shares Rumer Willis, 29-year-old Scout Willis and 26-year-old Tallulah Willis with ex-husband Bruce Willis. Moore and Bruce Willis spent time together with their daughters in April amid the COVID-19 pandemic.


upi--2020-08-17--NASCAR's Chase Elliott wins first Daytona road course race

Aug. 17 ( UPI ) -- Chase Elliott held off Denny Hamlin for a historic win in the debut of the Daytona International Speedway Road Course .
`` I just had a really good car more than anything , not sure I did anything special , '' Elliott said after the GoBowling 235 triumph Sunday in Daytona Beach , Fla. Elliott earned a 10-second advantage on the field just before a caution flag came out with five laps remaining .
He got off the a good jump on the restart and held on for the final three laps to beat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was n't my day , '' Hamlin said .
`` It was my day to finish second .
It was fun .
I kept him honest , but he had such a good drive off I could n't do anything with it . ''
Elliott started seventh and led a race-high 34 laps to claim a victory in his second Cup Series race of the season .
His last Cup Series win came at the Alsco Uniforms 500 on May 28 at Charlotte Motor Speedway .
Elliott also won the All-Star Race on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Truex Jr. , Jimmie Johnson and Chris Buescher also finished in the top-five .
Cup Series leader Kevin Harvick finished 17th , which ended his streak of nine-consecutive races with a top-five finish .
`` I think when you have things going like we do , you can run with whoever , '' Elliott said .
`` I think we have proven that in the past and it is n't something I have to sell myself on believing . ''
The Cup Series schedule continues with the Drydene 311 at 4 p.m. EDT @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Del .

Chase Elliott has two Cup Series wins this season after he led the field at the GoBowling 235 Sunday at the Daytona International Speedway Road Course in Daytona Beach, Fla. File Photo by Edwin Locke/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 17 (UPI) -- Chase Elliott held off Denny Hamlin for a historic win in the debut of the Daytona International Speedway Road Course. "I just had a really good car more than anything, not sure I did anything special," Elliott said after the GoBowling 235 triumph Sunday in Daytona Beach, Fla. Advertisement
Elliott earned a 10-second advantage on the field just before a caution flag came out with five laps remaining. He got off the a good jump on the restart and held on for the final three laps to beat Hamlin by .202 seconds.
"It wasn't my day," Hamlin said. "It was my day to finish second. It was fun. I kept him honest, but he had such a good drive off I couldn't do anything with it."
Elliott started seventh and led a race-high 34 laps to claim a victory in his second Cup Series race of the season. His last Cup Series win came at the Alsco Uniforms 500 on May 28 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Elliott also won the All-Star Race on July 15 in Bristol, Conn.
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Martin Truex Jr., Jimmie Johnson and Chris Buescher also finished in the top-five. Cup Series leader Kevin Harvick finished 17th, which ended his streak of nine-consecutive races with a top-five finish.
"I think when you have things going like we do, you can run with whoever," Elliott said. "I think we have proven that in the past and it isn't something I have to sell myself on believing."
The Cup Series schedule continues with the Drydene 311 at 4 p.m. EDT Saturday at Dover International Speedway in Dover, Del.


upi--2020-08-17--Max Scherzer strikes out 10, Nationals hold off Orioles

Aug. 17 ( UPI ) -- Max Scherzer had 10 strikeouts and the Washington Nationals held off a late rally from the Baltimore Orioles to earn a road victory Sunday at Oriole Park at Camden Yards .
Scherzer picked up the win despite allowing eight hits and five runs in seven innings in the 6-5 triumph in Baltimore .
Nationals star Juan Soto came around to score on a throwing error for the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth inning .
The Nationals ( 8-11 ) got off to a quick start with a Trea Turner walk in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Soto then pushed Turner to second base with a single before Asdrubal Cabrera smacked an RBI single to left field .
Suzuki hit the Nationals ' third-consecutive single before Carter Kieboom plated Soto with a sacrifice fly .
The Nationals took a 3-0 lead with a Victor Robles single two at-bats later .
Orioles right fielder Anthony Santander hit a solo homer in the bottom of the inning to close the gap to two runs .
The Nationals responded with two runs in the top of the fifth inning to push their lead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two-run homer for the Orioles in the bottom of the sixth inning .
Santander then hit his second home run of the game in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie the score at 5-5 .
Orioles relief pitcher Travis Lakins forced a ground out in the top of the eighth inning before he walked Soto .
Lakins then got the second out of the inning with a Cabrera ground out before Suzuki stepped into the box .
The Nationals catcher chopped a Lakins cutter toward third base .
Orioles third baseman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toward first base , but the throw went wide and allowed Soto to score .
Nationals relief pitcher Tanner Rainey replaced Scherzer in the bottom of the inning .
He hit Renato Nunez with a pitch in the first at-bat of the half inning .
He then struck out the next three hitters to end the inning .
Daniel Hudson replaced Rainey in the next inning and retired three consecutive hitters to earn his fourth save of the season .
Orioles starter John Means allowed four hits and three runs in 2/3 of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the record for a decision .
Severino went 3 for 4 with three RBIs and a run scored in the loss .
Soto went 2 for 3 with three runs scored and two walks for the Nationals .
Kieboom went 1 for 3 with two RBIs and a run scored in the win .
The Nationals face the Atlanta Braves at 7:10 p.m. EDT Monday at Truist Park in Atlanta .
The Orioles ( 12-9 ) host the Toronto Blue Jays at 7:35 p.m. EDT Monday in Baltimore .

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Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer allowed eight hits and five runs, but still picked up his second win of the season Sunday in Baltimore. Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 17 (UPI) -- Max Scherzer had 10 strikeouts and the Washington Nationals held off a late rally from the Baltimore Orioles to earn a road victory Sunday at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Scherzer picked up the win despite allowing eight hits and five runs in seven innings in the 6-5 triumph in Baltimore. Nationals star Juan Soto came around to score on a throwing error for the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth inning. Advertisement
The Nationals (8-11) got off to a quick start with a Trea Turner walk in the first at-bat of the game. Soto then pushed Turner to second base with a single before Asdrubal Cabrera smacked an RBI single to left field.
Suzuki hit the Nationals' third-consecutive single before Carter Kieboom plated Soto with a sacrifice fly. The Nationals took a 3-0 lead with a Victor Robles single two at-bats later.
Orioles right fielder Anthony Santander hit a solo homer in the bottom of the inning to close the gap to two runs. The Nationals responded with two runs in the top of the fifth inning to push their lead to 5-1.
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Pedro Severino hit a two-run homer for the Orioles in the bottom of the sixth inning. Santander then hit his second home run of the game in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie the score at 5-5.
Orioles relief pitcher Travis Lakins forced a ground out in the top of the eighth inning before he walked Soto. Lakins then got the second out of the inning with a Cabrera ground out before Suzuki stepped into the box.
The Nationals catcher chopped a Lakins cutter toward third base. Orioles third baseman Rio Ruiz fielded the hit and threw toward first base, but the throw went wide and allowed Soto to score.
Nationals relief pitcher Tanner Rainey replaced Scherzer in the bottom of the inning. He hit Renato Nunez with a pitch in the first at-bat of the half inning. He then struck out the next three hitters to end the inning. Daniel Hudson replaced Rainey in the next inning and retired three consecutive hitters to earn his fourth save of the season.
Orioles starter John Means allowed four hits and three runs in 2/3 of an inning, but was not on the record for a decision. Severino went 3 for 4 with three RBIs and a run scored in the loss. Soto went 2 for 3 with three runs scored and two walks for the Nationals. Kieboom went 1 for 3 with two RBIs and a run scored in the win.
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The Nationals face the Atlanta Braves at 7:10 p.m. EDT Monday at Truist Park in Atlanta. The Orioles (12-9) host the Toronto Blue Jays at 7:35 p.m. EDT Monday in Baltimore.
This week in Major League Baseball


upi--2020-08-17--'Dragon Ball FighterZ': Master Roshi joins the fight in new trailer

Aug. 17 ( UPI ) -- Master Roshi is the latest playable character announced for publisher Bandai Namco 's fighting @ @ @ @ @ .
Master Roshi is a part of the game 's third season of new DLC @ @ @ @ @ Goku and Kefla .
Master Roshi will arrive for the game in September with two @ @ @ @ @ be announced at a later date .
The martial arts master uses his signature Evil @ @ @ @ @ opponent in a gameplay trailer released on Sunday .
`` It 's time for the @ @ @ @ @ you how martial art battles are won , '' Bandai Namco said .
Dragon Ball @ @ @ @ @ 2018 , is available on the PlayStation 4 , Xbox One , Nintendo Switch and @ @

Aug. 17 (UPI) -- Master Roshi is the latest playable character announced for publisher Bandai Namco's fighting game, Dragon Ball FighterZ.
Master Roshi is a part of the game's third season of new DLC characters along with Ultra Instinct Goku and Kefla.
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Master Roshi will arrive for the game in September with two other new characters set to be announced at a later date.
The martial arts master uses his signature Evil Containment Wave to defeat an opponent in a gameplay trailer released on Sunday.
"It's time for the old turtle hermit to show you how martial art battles are won," Bandai Namco said.
Dragon Ball FighterZ, first released in 2018, is available on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC.


upi--2020-08-17--Democrats set to begin mostly virtual convention Monday

Aug. 17 ( UPI ) -- The Democratic Party will begin its national convention Monday to formally nominate Joe Biden for president .
Instead of flooding Milwaukee with thousands of donkey-clad supporters , however , the Democratic National Convention is taking most events online due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
The four-day convention , beginning Monday , will feature a host of council and caucus meetings and speeches besides the official nomination of the party 's candidate to challenge GOP President Donald Trump on Nov. 3 .
Democrats say they enter the convention perhaps more united than they have ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as of Monday , the former vice president is well past the 1,991 needed to lock up the nomination .
Biden said earlier this month he 'll accept the nomination from his home state of Delaware .
Most Democrats wo n't attend the convention in person due to Wisconsin 's restrictions on large gatherings amid the pandemic .
The city 's Fiserv Forum was supposed to host thousands of Democrats , delegates and political leaders , but now only those absolutely necessary will be physically present -- including a handful of locals who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The new downsized event will be held at the Wisconsin Center .
`` Unfortunately , downtown Milwaukee will look pretty similar next week to what it does today , '' Alex Lasry , senior vice president of the NBA 's Milwaukee Bucks , told WISN-TV .
The Bucks play at the Fiserv Forum .
`` While the decision was difficult and I said it sucks for Milwaukee and for Wisconsin it was the right one . ''
Here is a glimpse at the schedule for the 2020 Democratic National Convention : The opening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Hispanic , Black and women 's caucuses , and the youth , ethnic and interfaith councils .
The prime-time segments of the convention , which feature keynote speeches , will begin at 9 p.m. EDT on each night and last until 11 p.m .
Leading off Monday night will be former presidential candidate and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar .
She will be followed by speakers including New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo , Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders .
The night will conclude with an address @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The second day of the event includes meetings of the LGBT , rural and Native American caucuses and the veterans and military families , climate crisis and Jewish councils .
Tuesday night 's featured speakers will include Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York , New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , former presidental nominee and former Secretary of State John Kerry , former President Bill Clinton and Biden 's wife , Jill Biden .
Also part of the program Tuesday will be a program called `` Roll Call Across America . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ feature meetings of the Asian American Caucus and Pacific Islander Caucus and the interfaith and labor councils .
Wednesday night , speakers will include former presidential candidate and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California , 2016 nominee and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton , vice presidential nominee and California Sen. Kamala Harris and former President Barack Obama .
Wednesday will also feature performances by entertainers Jennifer Hudson and Billie Eilish .
The final day of the convention will include a meeting of the small business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ final day will include former presidential candidate and New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker , former candidate Pete Buttigieg , California Gov .
Gavin Newsom , Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms , Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin , Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth and former candidate Andrew Yang .
The event will then culminate with an address by Joe Biden to accept the nomination .
The final night will also feature a performance by The Chicks .
`` Here 's my promise to you : If I 'm elected president , I will always choose to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a tweet Sunday .
`` I 'll take responsibility instead of blaming others .
I 'll never forget that the job is n't about me -- it 's about you . ''
The convention will be broadcast live and streamed online .
For a comprehensive list of events for each day , click here .

Former Vice President Joe Biden is seen before he speaks on the third day of the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. The 2020 convention, which will culminate with his nomination for president, begins Monday. File Photo by Ray Stubblebine/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 17 (UPI) -- The Democratic Party will begin its national convention Monday to formally nominate Joe Biden for president. Instead of flooding Milwaukee with thousands of donkey-clad supporters, however, the Democratic National Convention is taking most events online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Advertisement
The four-day convention, beginning Monday, will feature a host of council and caucus meetings and speeches besides the official nomination of the party's candidate to challenge GOP President Donald Trump on Nov. 3.
Democrats say they enter the convention perhaps more united than they have ever been. With almost 2,700 pledged delegates as of Monday, the former vice president is well past the 1,991 needed to lock up the nomination. Several Republicans are also scheduled to speak as part of the convention.
Biden said earlier this month he'll accept the nomination from his home state of Delaware. Most Democrats won't attend the convention in person due to Wisconsin's restrictions on large gatherings amid the pandemic.
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The city's Fiserv Forum was supposed to host thousands of Democrats, delegates and political leaders, but now only those absolutely necessary will be physically present -- including a handful of locals who might wish to speak in person. The new downsized event will be held at the Wisconsin Center.
"Unfortunately, downtown Milwaukee will look pretty similar next week to what it does today," Alex Lasry, senior vice president of the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks, told WISN-TV. The Bucks play at the Fiserv Forum.
"While the decision was difficult and I said it sucks for Milwaukee and for Wisconsin it was the right one."
Here is a glimpse at the schedule for the 2020 Democratic National Convention:
Day 1 -- Monday
The opening day of the convention will include meetings of the Hispanic, Black and women's caucuses, and the youth, ethnic and interfaith councils. The theme for Monday is "We the People," the party said.
"America is facing a series of monumental challenges -- as the COVID-19 pandemic continues its rampage, tens of millions of people are out of work, and our nation confronts a legacy of racial injustice that has marginalized too many," the party said in an email. "But as we have learned throughout our history, when we stand united, we can overcome anything.
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"Tonight the nation will hear from the many Americans who are rising up to take on these three crises, and who will join Joe Biden in building back better and moving this country forward. With Joe Biden as president, 'we the people' will mean all the people."
The prime-time segments of the convention, which feature keynote speeches, will begin at 9 p.m. EDT on each night and last until 11 p.m. Actress Eva Longoria will read an introduction to Monday night's program.
Leading off Monday night will be former presidential candidate and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar. She will be followed by speakers including New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. The night will conclude with an address by former first lady Michelle Obama.
Monday's appearances will also include multiple Republicans -- including former Ohio Gov. and 2016 GOP presidential candidate John Kasich, former New Jersey Gov. Christine Whitman, former Rep. Susan Molinari, R-N.Y., and former Hewlett Packard CEO Meg Whitman.
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Day 2 -- Tuesday
The second day of the event includes meetings of the LGBT, rural and Native American caucuses and the veterans and military families, climate crisis and Jewish councils.
Tuesday night's featured speakers will include Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York, New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, former presidental nominee and former Secretary of State John Kerry, former President Bill Clinton and Biden's wife, Jill Biden.
Also part of the program Tuesday will be a program called "Roll Call Across America."
Day 3 -- Wednesday
The third day of the event will feature meetings of the Asian American Caucus and Pacific Islander Caucus and the interfaith and labor councils.
Wednesday night, speakers will include former presidential candidate and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California, 2016 nominee and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, vice presidential nominee and California Sen. Kamala Harris and former President Barack Obama.
Wednesday will also feature performances by entertainers Jennifer Hudson and Billie Eilish.
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Day 4 -- Thursday
The final day of the convention will include a meeting of the small business and poverty councils.
Speakers on the final day will include former presidential candidate and New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, former candidate Pete Buttigieg, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin, Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth and former candidate Andrew Yang. The event will then culminate with an address by Joe Biden to accept the nomination.
The final night will also feature a performance by The Chicks.
"Here's my promise to you: If I'm elected president, I will always choose to unite rather than divide," Biden said in a tweet Sunday. "I'll take responsibility instead of blaming others. I'll never forget that the job isn't about me -- it's about you."
The convention will be broadcast live and streamed online. For a comprehensive list of events for each day, click here.


upi--2020-08-17--Britain rejects Belarus' 'fraudulent presidential election'

Aug. 17 ( UPI ) -- A day after protesters demonstrated against Belarus ' authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko , Britain on Monday said it rejected the results of his controversial re-election , warning to impose sanctions against those responsible .
`` The world watched with horror at the violence used by the Belarusian authorities to suppress the peaceful protests that followed this fraudulent presidential election , '' Foreign Secretary Dominic Raad said in a statement Monday .
`` The U.K. does not accept the results . ''
Belarus ' capital city of Minsk has been subsumed by protests since Aug. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in opposition to election results that said Lukashenko had won a sixth term with 80 percent of the vote .
Opponents accuse the Aug. 9 election of being rigged and opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya has rejected the results .
Thousands have been arrested in the subsequent crackdown on protesters in a police action rights organizations have condemned .
Late last week , Amnesty International with local human rights groups said they have documented protesters being tortured or subjected to other forms of ill-treatment .
`` It is now becoming increasingly clear that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are just the tip of the iceberg , '' said Amnesty International 's Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia Marie Struthers said Friday in a statement .
On Sunday , upwards of 200,000 people in Minsk demonstrated against Lukashenko with some demanding he resign , as a smaller crowd cheered him on .
In a speech to his supporters , Lukashenkov accused NATO troops of being `` at our gates '' while rejecting the idea of holding new elections .
`` Lithuania , Latvia , Poland and our native Ukraine are ordering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
`` I have never betrayed you and will never do so . ''
NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu rejected the notion , stating the alliance is n't a threat to any country as it is a defensive force .
`` There is no NATO buildup in the region , '' she said via Twitter , adding that they are closely watching the situation .
`` General Jens Stoltenberg has said fundamental freedoms must be respected , including freedom of speech and the right to peaceful protest . ''
Raad on Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe `` into the flaws that rendered the election unfair , as well as the grisly repression that followed . ''
`` The U.K. will work with our international partners to sanction those responsible , and hold the Belarusian authorities to account , '' he said .

Belarusians attend a rally in support of the Belarusian opposition, against police brutality and the results of the Belarusian presidential election in Minsk, Belarus, on Sunday. Photo by Yauhen Yerchak/EPA-EFE
Aug. 17 (UPI) -- A day after protesters demonstrated against Belarus' authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko, Britain on Monday said it rejected the results of his controversial re-election, warning to impose sanctions against those responsible. "The world watched with horror at the violence used by the Belarusian authorities to suppress the peaceful protests that followed this fraudulent presidential election," Foreign Secretary Dominic Raad said in a statement Monday. "The U.K. does not accept the results." Advertisement
Belarus' capital city of Minsk has been subsumed by protests since Aug. 10 when protestors took to the streets in opposition to election results that said Lukashenko had won a sixth term with 80 percent of the vote.
Opponents accuse the Aug. 9 election of being rigged and opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya has rejected the results.
Thousands have been arrested in the subsequent crackdown on protesters in a police action rights organizations have condemned.
Late last week, Amnesty International with local human rights groups said they have documented protesters being tortured or subjected to other forms of ill-treatment.
"It is now becoming increasingly clear that the bloody scenes on the streets of Belarus are just the tip of the iceberg," said Amnesty International's Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia Marie Struthers said Friday in a statement.
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On Sunday, upwards of 200,000 people in Minsk demonstrated against Lukashenko with some demanding he resign, as a smaller crowd cheered him on.
In a speech to his supporters, Lukashenkov accused NATO troops of being "at our gates" while rejecting the idea of holding new elections.
"Lithuania, Latvia, Poland and our native Ukraine are ordering us to hold new elections," he said. "I have never betrayed you and will never do so."
NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu rejected the notion, stating the alliance isn't a threat to any country as it is a defensive force.
"There is no NATO buildup in the region," she said via Twitter, adding that they are closely watching the situation. "General Jens Stoltenberg has said fundamental freedoms must be respected, including freedom of speech and the right to peaceful protest."
Raad on Monday called for an independent investigation by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe "into the flaws that rendered the election unfair, as well as the grisly repression that followed."
"The U.K. will work with our international partners to sanction those responsible, and hold the Belarusian authorities to account," he said.


upi--2020-08-17--Japan's GDP shrinks at record 27.8% in Q2 amid pandemic

Aug. 17 ( UPI ) -- Japan on Monday reported its greatest contraction on record , stating its gross domestic product shrank an annualised 27.8 % in the second quarter of 2020 as economic activity slowed amid the coronavirus pandemic .
Japan 's Cabinet Office released the data on Monday for the world 's third-largest economy , showing that it shrank by 7.8 percent between April and June compared the previous quarter .
It was the third consecutive quarter of negative growth .
Private consumption dropped by 8.2 % while exports of goods and services declined by 18.5 % .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ investment climbed by 1.2 % .
Local broadcaster NHK reported that it was the worst posting in 40 years .
The Asian nation has more than 54,000 confirmed coronavirus infections and 1,087 deaths , according to its Ministry of Health .
Japan published the data after countries the world over recorded declines in the second quarter , with the Eurozone reporting a 12.1 % drop and the United States registering a 32.9 % fall during the April to June period .
South Korea late last month also reported a 3.3 % fall over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in more than two decades , while the International Monetary Fund in late June forecast this year 's economy would decline by nearly 5 % while predicting a 5.4 % economic rebound for 2021 .

Visitors stand in line to enter Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, on June 4, after the amusement park announced it would gradually lift restrictions amid the coronavirus pandemic. Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 17 (UPI) -- Japan on Monday reported its greatest contraction on record, stating its gross domestic product shrank an annualised 27.8% in the second quarter of 2020 as economic activity slowed amid the coronavirus pandemic. Japan's Cabinet Office released the data on Monday for the world's third-largest economy, showing that it shrank by 7.8 percent between April and June compared the previous quarter. Advertisement
It was the third consecutive quarter of negative growth.
Private consumption dropped by 8.2% while exports of goods and services declined by 18.5%. Imports dropped by .5% while public investment climbed by 1.2%.
Local broadcaster NHK reported that it was the worst posting in 40 years.
The Asian nation has more than 54,000 confirmed coronavirus infections and 1,087 deaths, according to its Ministry of Health.
Japan published the data after countries the world over recorded declines in the second quarter, with the Eurozone reporting a 12.1% drop and the United States registering a 32.9% fall during the April to June period.
South Korea late last month also reported a 3.3% fall over the previous quarter, its largest drop in more than two decades, while the International Monetary Fund in late June forecast this year's economy would decline by nearly 5% while predicting a 5.4% economic rebound for 2021.


upi--2020-08-17--South Korea struggles to contain surging COVID-19 cases tied to churches

SEOUL , Aug. 17 ( UPI ) -- South Korea continues to face its most serious COVID-19 outbreak since March as health officials reported 197 new infections , with a large number of cases tied to a conservative Christian church in Seoul whose pastor is an outspoken anti-government figure .
Monday 's total marked the fourth day in a row of triple-digit cases , numbers South Korea has n't seen in over five months .
Most of the infections are concentrated in the capital city , Seoul , and neighboring Gyeonggi Province , home to roughly half of the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the country recorded 279 new infections .
The outbreak has been tied to clusters at several venues around the region , including churches , schools , restaurants and traditional markets .
In response , the government tightened social distancing guidelines in the Seoul metropolitan area on Saturday , moving to Level 2 on its three-tier scale .
Indoor gatherings of 50 or more people and outdoor gatherings of more than 100 people are prohibited under the rules .
The restrictions also mean that the public can no longer attend live sporting events @ @ @ @ @ @ @ venues such as nightclubs and karaoke rooms will be closed .
On Friday , Gyeonggi Province ordered churches to shut their doors for two weeks , while Seoul issued an order to churches restricting group events except for the main service .
At a briefing on Monday , Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Jung Eun-kyeong said health officials believe that the rising cases are `` the initial stage of a major outbreak . ''
She warned that unless the spread is brought under control quickly , `` it could lead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Vice Health Minister Kim Gang-lip said Monday the government has assembled an emergency response team to help slow the spread of the virus in the Seoul area and urged citizens to avoid any unnecessary social gatherings and to return home immediately after work .
He said that the government would continue to tighten restrictions if cases do not come under control .
`` If the upward trend of patients does not stabilize , we will further enhance our social distancing measures , '' Kim said at a press briefing .
Among the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a church in Yongin , south of Seoul , and 42 cases traced to a Starbucks in Paju , north of Seoul .
However , the largest number of infections is connected to the Sarang Jeil Presbyterian Church in Seoul , where 319 cases have been confirmed , up from 70 a day earlier .
The church 's right-wing pastor , the Rev .
Jun Kwang-hun , 63 , is a vocal critic of the administration of President Moon Jae-in , and health officials say he is obstructing their investigation into the outbreak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ list of [ Sarang Jeil ] church members has some inaccuracies and there are difficulties for us in identifying members of the church , '' said Kim , who urged churchgoers to come forward for testing .
More than 4,000 church members have been ordered to self-isolate and Kim said around 2,000 have been tested .
The government is pressing charges against Jun for failing to provide complete membership records , as well as for defying a self-isolation order by participating in a large rally in downtown Seoul on Saturday .
Despite a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of conservative protesters , many of them elderly , joined an anti-government rally accusing Moon of being a `` criminal '' and a `` communist '' with policies that are playing into North Korea 's hands .
Jun , who spoke at the rally , was indicted in March over allegations that he violated election law by urging his followers to vote for conservative candidates and for defaming Moon by calling him a spy for North Korea .
He is free on bail while awaiting trial .
On Sunday , Moon issued a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have flouted social distancing guidelines , saying that failing to follow public health rules is `` an unforgivable act that threatens the lives of the people . ''
Moon said the government will take `` very decisive and strong measures , '' including `` strictly restricting illegal activities that damage public welfare . ''
South Korea has been widely praised for its vigorous and effective response in containing COVID-19 after a major outbreak in February tied to a secretive Christian sect , the Shincheonji Church of Jesus , in and around the southeastern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that church , 89-year-old Lee Man-hee , was arrested earlier this month and indicted on Friday on charges of obstructing the government 's anti-virus response by submitting false records of church membership .
Vice Health Minister Kim said Monday the current surge is similar to the outbreak in Daegu but called it `` even more serious . ''
`` As for Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province , we had a large cluster infection but it was concentrated on a single group of people , '' he said .
`` Most of them were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relatively low . ''
Kim said the infections around Seoul are more difficult to trace and have the potential to spread more rapidly .
`` In the Seoul and Gyeonggi Province area , we are seeing cluster infections simultaneously and sporadically at various venues and we also have unidentified contacts through other venues and through demonstrations and rallies , '' he said .
`` It is a very grave situation . ''

South Korean health officials warned that the country could be on the verge of a "major outbreak" of COVID-19 Monday as cases continued to surge in the Seoul metropolitan area. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Photo
SEOUL, Aug. 17 (UPI) -- South Korea continues to face its most serious COVID-19 outbreak since March as health officials reported 197 new infections, with a large number of cases tied to a conservative Christian church in Seoul whose pastor is an outspoken anti-government figure. Monday's total marked the fourth day in a row of triple-digit cases, numbers South Korea hasn't seen in over five months. Most of the infections are concentrated in the capital city, Seoul, and neighboring Gyeonggi Province, home to roughly half of the country's 51 million people. On Sunday, the country recorded 279 new infections. Advertisement
The outbreak has been tied to clusters at several venues around the region, including churches, schools, restaurants and traditional markets.
In response, the government tightened social distancing guidelines in the Seoul metropolitan area on Saturday, moving to Level 2 on its three-tier scale. Indoor gatherings of 50 or more people and outdoor gatherings of more than 100 people are prohibited under the rules.
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The restrictions also mean that the public can no longer attend live sporting events, while public facilities and other high-risk venues such as nightclubs and karaoke rooms will be closed. On Friday, Gyeonggi Province ordered churches to shut their doors for two weeks, while Seoul issued an order to churches restricting group events except for the main service.
At a briefing on Monday, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Jung Eun-kyeong said health officials believe that the rising cases are "the initial stage of a major outbreak."
She warned that unless the spread is brought under control quickly, "it could lead to a collapse in medical capacity."
Vice Health Minister Kim Gang-lip said Monday the government has assembled an emergency response team to help slow the spread of the virus in the Seoul area and urged citizens to avoid any unnecessary social gatherings and to return home immediately after work.
He said that the government would continue to tighten restrictions if cases do not come under control.
"If the upward trend of patients does not stabilize, we will further enhance our social distancing measures," Kim said at a press briefing.
Among the new clusters are 131 cases tied to a church in Yongin, south of Seoul, and 42 cases traced to a Starbucks in Paju, north of Seoul.
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However, the largest number of infections is connected to the Sarang Jeil Presbyterian Church in Seoul, where 319 cases have been confirmed, up from 70 a day earlier.
The church's right-wing pastor, the Rev. Jun Kwang-hun, 63, is a vocal critic of the administration of President Moon Jae-in, and health officials say he is obstructing their investigation into the outbreak.
"We have discovered that the list of [Sarang Jeil] church members has some inaccuracies and there are difficulties for us in identifying members of the church," said Kim, who urged churchgoers to come forward for testing.
More than 4,000 church members have been ordered to self-isolate and Kim said around 2,000 have been tested.
The government is pressing charges against Jun for failing to provide complete membership records, as well as for defying a self-isolation order by participating in a large rally in downtown Seoul on Saturday.
Despite a city ban on large gatherings, thousands of conservative protesters, many of them elderly, joined an anti-government rally accusing Moon of being a "criminal" and a "communist" with policies that are playing into North Korea's hands.
Jun, who spoke at the rally, was indicted in March over allegations that he violated election law by urging his followers to vote for conservative candidates and for defaming Moon by calling him a spy for North Korea. He is free on bail while awaiting trial.
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On Sunday, Moon issued a statement on social media criticizing churches that have flouted social distancing guidelines, saying that failing to follow public health rules is "an unforgivable act that threatens the lives of the people."
Moon said the government will take "very decisive and strong measures," including "strictly restricting illegal activities that damage public welfare."
South Korea has been widely praised for its vigorous and effective response in containing COVID-19 after a major outbreak in February tied to a secretive Christian sect, the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, in and around the southeastern city of Daegu.
The leader of that church, 89-year-old Lee Man-hee, was arrested earlier this month and indicted on Friday on charges of obstructing the government's anti-virus response by submitting false records of church membership.
Vice Health Minister Kim said Monday the current surge is similar to the outbreak in Daegu but called it "even more serious."
"As for Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province, we had a large cluster infection but it was concentrated on a single group of people," he said. "Most of them were young and so the fatality rate was relatively low."
Kim said the infections around Seoul are more difficult to trace and have the potential to spread more rapidly.
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"In the Seoul and Gyeonggi Province area, we are seeing cluster infections simultaneously and sporadically at various venues and we also have unidentified contacts through other venues and through demonstrations and rallies," he said. "It is a very grave situation."


upi--2020-08-17--Australia reports most COVID deaths; New Zealand delays election

Aug. 17 ( UPI ) -- Australia on Monday reported its deadliest day of the coronavirus , with more than two dozen deaths , while neighboring New Zealand postponed its general election for a month .
The 25 deaths were all reported in Victoria state .
Premier Daniel Andrews announced the increase during a press conference Monday , stating all victims were at least 60 years old , and 22 were linked to outbreaks at aged care facilities .
Victoria 's figure pushed the country 's death toll to 421 , though the Ministry of Health had yet to release @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported 282 new cases of COVID-19 , its second consecutive day of fewer than 300 .
`` There 's good cause for people to be hopeful for the future but we just ca n't allow any sense of complacency to creep in , '' Andrews told reporters .
The new infections inched Australia 's cases toward the 25,000 mark , which placed it well ahead of New Zealand for first in Oceania in both cases and deaths .
An outbreak was reported in Auckland after more than 100 days without a local transmission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general election , scheduled for Sept. 19 , has been postponed to Oct. 17 .
She said the electoral commission told her the date in October should be safe and accessible , and added that she wo n't move the date again .
`` Moving the date by four weeks also gives all parties a fair shot to campaign and delivers New Zealanders certainty without unnecessarily long delays , '' she said .
Ardern said while the decision to move the date was hers , she spoke to other parties .
`` This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next nine weeks to campaign and the Electoral Commission enough time to ensure an election can go ahead , '' she said .
Judith Collins , leader of the opposition National Party , said it was Ardern 's decision .
`` Right now , the focus must be on finding out exactly what failed so catastrophically at the border so we can be sure it wo n't happen again , '' Collins tweeted .
The archipelago nation was one of the few to have seemingly sidestepped the worst of the pandemic and was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearby countries earlier this month when Ardern returned New Zealand to lockdown after a surge of cases in Auckland .
The country had gone 102 days without a locally transmitted infection until last week when health officials on Tuesday reported four cases .
On Monday , the Ministry of Health announced nine new cases , most from the Auckland cluster .
In Asia , India said its death toll passed 50,000 after nearly 1,000 patients died .
According to researchers at Johns Hopkins University , India was third in cases behind Brazil ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 5.4 million ) .

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Monday delayed the General Election scheduled for September a month due to the coronavirus pandemic. Photo by Monika Graff/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 17 (UPI) -- Australia on Monday reported its deadliest day of the coronavirus, with more than two dozen deaths, while neighboring New Zealand postponed its general election for a month. The 25 deaths were all reported in Victoria state. Premier Daniel Andrews announced the increase during a press conference Monday, stating all victims were at least 60 years old, and 22 were linked to outbreaks at aged care facilities. Advertisement
Australia's previous single-day record was 21 deaths.
Victoria's figure pushed the country's death toll to 421, though the Ministry of Health had yet to release its official updated figures.
Victoria also reported 282 new cases of COVID-19, its second consecutive day of fewer than 300.
"There's good cause for people to be hopeful for the future but we just can't allow any sense of complacency to creep in," Andrews told reporters.
The new infections inched Australia's cases toward the 25,000 mark, which placed it well ahead of New Zealand for first in Oceania in both cases and deaths.
An outbreak was reported in Auckland after more than 100 days without a local transmission.
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Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the general election, scheduled for Sept. 19, has been postponed to Oct. 17. She said the electoral commission told her the date in October should be safe and accessible, and added that she won't move the date again.
"Moving the date by four weeks also gives all parties a fair shot to campaign and delivers New Zealanders certainty without unnecessarily long delays," she said.
Ardern said while the decision to move the date was hers, she spoke to other parties.
"This decision gives all parties time over the next nine weeks to campaign and the Electoral Commission enough time to ensure an election can go ahead," she said.
Judith Collins, leader of the opposition National Party, said it was Ardern's decision.
"Right now, the focus must be on finding out exactly what failed so catastrophically at the border so we can be sure it won't happen again," Collins tweeted.
The archipelago nation was one of the few to have seemingly sidestepped the worst of the pandemic and was looking to reopen borders for tourism with nearby countries earlier this month when Ardern returned New Zealand to lockdown after a surge of cases in Auckland.
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The country had gone 102 days without a locally transmitted infection until last week when health officials on Tuesday reported four cases. On Monday, the Ministry of Health announced nine new cases, most from the Auckland cluster.
In Asia, India said its death toll passed 50,000 after nearly 1,000 patients died.
According to researchers at Johns Hopkins University, India was third in cases behind Brazil (3.34 million) and the United States (5.4 million).