upi--2020-05-20--Primary care doctor visits down 60% since start of COVID-19 pandemic, analysis finds

May 20 ( UPI ) -- Visits to primary care doctors declined by as much as 60 percent as the COVID-19 outbreak took hold in the United States in early April , an analysis released Wednesday has found .
The impact on health , even as practices begin to reopen for non-coronavirus patients , has been significant , experts say .
In research conducted by The Commonwealth Fund , a non-profit focused on healthcare access and affordability , researchers found that although patients starting to see primary care doctors again in late April , overall visits are down by roughly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the year .
A separate analysis published this week by the New England Journal of Medicine found the number of people hospitalized after having a heart attack in northern California dropped by 48 percent since the start of the year compared to the same period in 2019 .
The authors , from Kaiser Permanente , which oversees 21 hospitals and 255 health clinics in the region , said the decline is n't due to fewer heart attacks , but rather the reluctance of some people to seek non-coronavirus care during the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worried about untreated chronic diseases , '' Dr. Farzad Mostashari , co-author of the Commonwealth Fund analysis , said during a call with reporters Wednesday .
Mostashari also is co-founder and CEO of Aledad , a network of primary care practices in 27 states .
If people are unable to see primary care doctors during the pandemic -- either because the practices are closed or they are concerned about being exposed to the virus -- the United States will `` pay the price with more heart attacks and strokes , '' among other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mostashari said .
In addition to treating existing health conditions , the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has advised that people who exhibit symptoms of COVID-19 , or who are concerned about exposure to the novel coronavirus that causes it , to call their primary care doctors before going to a hospital .
The Commonwealth Fund analysis was focused on assessing the overall business climate for primary care practices across the country in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak .
The analysis revealed that primary care doctors were among the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreak started .
Pediatricians and eye doctors , as well as other specialists , have seen the most significant decline in traffic , noted Ateev Mehrotra , associate professor of Health Care Policy and Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center .
The concern , Mehrotra said , is that many of these practices could close as a result of the downturn , which then could impact access to care , particularly in rural areas where hospitals are lacking .
Many primary care practices across the country have faced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well , including lack of sufficient access to supplies of personal protective equipment , or PPE .
As a result , many practices have been forced to close if staff members test positive for COVID-19 .
`` Believe it or not , the supply chain for PPE is even more broken '' for private practices than it is for hospitals , said Mostashari , whose company has outfitted partner practices with $ 1.2 million in PPE and assisted them in starting telehealth services since the start of the outbreak .
`` If the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you have symptoms , someone has to pick up the phone on the other end , '' he said .
`` These practices are on the front lines , and they are trying to deal with keeping staff safe and patients safe . ''

Eight year-old Kayden Tree grimaces as a swab is inserted into his nose by nurse Nellie Smith (L) and Ebonie Hearn during a COVID-19 test at a CareSTL Health testing Site in St. Louis on May 11. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo
May 20 (UPI) -- Visits to primary care doctors declined by as much as 60 percent as the COVID-19 outbreak took hold in the United States in early April, an analysis released Wednesday has found. The impact on health, even as practices begin to reopen for non-coronavirus patients, has been significant, experts say. Advertisement
In research conducted by The Commonwealth Fund, a non-profit focused on healthcare access and affordability, researchers found that although patients starting to see primary care doctors again in late April, overall visits are down by roughly one-third from normal levels since the start of the year.
A separate analysis published this week by the New England Journal of Medicine found the number of people hospitalized after having a heart attack in northern California dropped by 48 percent since the start of the year compared to the same period in 2019.
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The authors, from Kaiser Permanente, which oversees 21 hospitals and 255 health clinics in the region, said the decline isn't due to fewer heart attacks, but rather the reluctance of some people to seek non-coronavirus care during the pandemic.
"We should all be very worried about untreated chronic diseases," Dr. Farzad Mostashari, co-author of the Commonwealth Fund analysis, said during a call with reporters Wednesday. Mostashari also is co-founder and CEO of Aledad, a network of primary care practices in 27 states.
If people are unable to see primary care doctors during the pandemic -- either because the practices are closed or they are concerned about being exposed to the virus -- the United States will "pay the price with more heart attacks and strokes," among other health issues over the long term, Mostashari said.
In addition to treating existing health conditions, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has advised that people who exhibit symptoms of COVID-19, or who are concerned about exposure to the novel coronavirus that causes it, to call their primary care doctors before going to a hospital.
The Commonwealth Fund analysis was focused on assessing the overall business climate for primary care practices across the country in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak.
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The analysis revealed that primary care doctors were among the most affected by the drop in visits since outbreak started.
Pediatricians and eye doctors, as well as other specialists, have seen the most significant decline in traffic, noted Ateev Mehrotra, associate professor of Health Care Policy and Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
The concern, Mehrotra said, is that many of these practices could close as a result of the downturn, which then could impact access to care, particularly in rural areas where hospitals are lacking.
Many primary care practices across the country have faced other challenges during the pandemic, as well, including lack of sufficient access to supplies of personal protective equipment, or PPE. As a result, many practices have been forced to close if staff members test positive for COVID-19.
"Believe it or not, the supply chain for PPE is even more broken" for private practices than it is for hospitals, said Mostashari, whose company has outfitted partner practices with $1.2 million in PPE and assisted them in starting telehealth services since the start of the outbreak.
"If the CDC says to call your doctor if you have symptoms, someone has to pick up the phone on the other end," he said. "These practices are on the front lines, and they are trying to deal with keeping staff safe and patients safe."


upi--2020-05-20--Morocco to purchase missiles, missile defense system from France

May 20 ( UPI ) -- Morocco will acquire missiles and missile defense systems from the defense industry consortium MBDA France , the Moroccan defense ministry said on Wednesday .
Government approval of the contract came after Morocco received a $ 211 million loan in February from the French banking group BNP Paribas .
France supplies about 44 percent of Morocco 's weapons needs -- the United States supplies most of the rest -- and relations between France and Morocco , a French colony until 1956 , have long been cordial .
The purchase from MDBA France is part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2017 , to establish regional military supremacy by modernizing its military forces .
It has devoted $ 20 billion to the objective .
Since 2008 the country has acquired a naval frigate , two spy satellites and assorted ground armaments .
The announcement of the deal Tuesday comes after an April approval of the sale of 10 Harpoon air-launched missiles , at $ 62 million , by the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency .
The missiles , to be manufactured by Boeing Co. , will be used on Morocco 's F-16 fighter planes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defense of critical sea lanes , '' a DSCA statement said .

A Moroccan air force F-16 fighter moves into position for refueling. The country's government announced the purchase of missiles and missile defense systems from France on Wednesday. Photo courtesy of U.S. Air Force
May 20 (UPI) -- Morocco will acquire missiles and missile defense systems from the defense industry consortium MBDA France, the Moroccan defense ministry said on Wednesday. Government approval of the contract came after Morocco received a $211 million loan in February from the French banking group BNP Paribas. Advertisement
France supplies about 44 percent of Morocco's weapons needs -- the United States supplies most of the rest -- and relations between France and Morocco, a French colony until 1956, have long been cordial.
The purchase from MDBA France is part of Morocco's five-year plan, begun in 2017, to establish regional military supremacy by modernizing its military forces. It has devoted $20 billion to the objective. Since 2008 the country has acquired a naval frigate, two spy satellites and assorted ground armaments.
A 2019 survey named Morocco the seventh-largest military power in Africa.
The announcement of the deal Tuesday comes after an April approval of the sale of 10 Harpoon air-launched missiles, at $62 million, by the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency.
The missiles, to be manufactured by Boeing Co., will be used on Morocco's F-16 fighter planes "to enhance its capabilities in effective defense of critical sea lanes," a DSCA statement said.


upi--2020-05-20--Taking hops for menopause won't interfere with other drugs, study shows

Women who take hop-based supplements to relieve symptoms of menopause need n't fear that they will interact with other drugs , a new study suggests .
Hops are the flowers of hop plants and they give beer its bitter taste .
They also contain phytoestrogens and act like female sex hormones .
Some women who ca n't use hormone replacement therapy find that hop supplements alleviate change-of-life complaints such as night sweats and hot flashes .
However , there 's been concern about drug interactions .
`` There are reports from other lab studies that compounds from hops may inhibit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said study researcher Richard van Breemen , director of Oregon State University 's Linus Pauling Institute .
`` There is additional concern because we know the compounds in hops have a long half-life in humans , possibly more than 20 hours after taking them , '' he said in a university news release .
This means these supplements remain in the bloodstream when other drugs are taken .
To see if hops interacted with other drugs , researchers worked with 16 female participants at menopausal age .
They were given a cocktail of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( Xanax ) , dextromethorphan ( an over-the-counter cough medicine ) and tolbutamide , used to treat type 2 diabetes .
`` We did each drug trial twice .
Once to see how these women metabolized the drugs normally , '' van Breemen said .
`` Then we repeated the trial with hops after the participants took a hops extract twice daily for two weeks .
Thankfully , no enzyme inhibition was detected . ''
Using U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidelines , the researchers found the hop supplement `` caused no clinically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ co-author Luying Chen , a Ph.D. student in van Breemen 's lab .
`` So we can say that hop dietary supplements are not expected to produce any harmful drug interactions , at least with respect to the enzymes probed during this investigation , '' Chen said in the release .
`` More research is needed , but these findings are good news for women who take hops for relief of menopause symptoms . ''
The report was recently published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry .
For more on menopause @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Aging .

Pixabay Hop supplements, which contain phytoestrogens and act like female sex hormones, don't interact with other drugs, a new study found. Photo by klickblick
Women who take hop-based supplements to relieve symptoms of menopause needn't fear that they will interact with other drugs, a new study suggests. Hops are the flowers of hop plants and they give beer its bitter taste. They also contain phytoestrogens and act like female sex hormones. Some women who can't use hormone replacement therapy find that hop supplements alleviate change-of-life complaints such as night sweats and hot flashes. Advertisement
However, there's been concern about drug interactions. "There are reports from other lab studies that compounds from hops may inhibit or deactivate certain drug-metabolizing enzymes," said study researcher Richard van Breemen, director of Oregon State University's Linus Pauling Institute.
"There is additional concern because we know the compounds in hops have a long half-life in humans, possibly more than 20 hours after taking them," he said in a university news release. This means these supplements remain in the bloodstream when other drugs are taken.
To see if hops interacted with other drugs, researchers worked with 16 female participants at menopausal age. They were given a cocktail of four drugs, including caffeine, alprazolam (Xanax), dextromethorphan (an over-the-counter cough medicine) and tolbutamide, used to treat type 2 diabetes.
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"We did each drug trial twice. Once to see how these women metabolized the drugs normally," van Breemen said. "Then we repeated the trial with hops after the participants took a hops extract twice daily for two weeks. Thankfully, no enzyme inhibition was detected."
Using U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidelines, the researchers found the hop supplement "caused no clinically relevant pharmacokinetic interactions," said study co-author Luying Chen, a Ph.D. student in van Breemen's lab.
"So we can say that hop dietary supplements are not expected to produce any harmful drug interactions, at least with respect to the enzymes probed during this investigation," Chen said in the release. "More research is needed, but these findings are good news for women who take hops for relief of menopause symptoms."
The report was recently published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
More information
For more on menopause, see the U.S. National Institute on Aging.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-05-20--Cyclone Amphan makes landfall, killing at least a dozen

May 20 ( UPI ) -- Cyclone Amphan made landfall in northeast India on Wednesday , killing at least a dozen people , and bringing torrential rain and damaging winds , local officials said .
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the storm killed between 10 to 12 people in the state of West Bengal and another three in neighboring Odisha state .
Authorities on Monday ordered the evacuation of about 1 million people in the region , which includes West Bengal 's capital of Kolkata .
Banerjee said there are about 500,000 people in shelters .
`` Several areas are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reached yet , '' she said during a news conference .
We have no information yet -- it will take at least three to four days to assess the damage . ''
The cyclone made landfall around 3 p.m. between Digha , West Bengal , and Bangladesh 's Hatia islands .
It had speeds between 95 mph and 102 mph , with gusts up to 114 mph , making it the equivalent of a Category 3 hurricane .
India 's Meteorological Department classified Amphan as an extremely severe cyclonic storm as it made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threaten the Bay of Bengal region with torrential rain , widespread damaging winds and extreme storm surge , with Kolkata taking a direct hit .
The city had 2.65 inches of rain as of Wednesday evening and widespread power outages .
The Hindustan Times reported that thousands of mud houses collapsed from the deluge and high winds uprooted trees and power poles .
Sea water breached embankments and rushed into villages in the Sundarbans , a a mangrove region spanning the India-Bangladesh border .
Among those killed in Odisha state was a 2-month-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the rain .
A woman in the state drowned while fishing , while a third died when an electric pole fell on her .
Banerjee said Cyclone Amphan is a bigger disaster than the coronavirus pandemic , which has sickened 112,000 people and killed 3,400 in India .
`` We are shocked , '' she said .
`` The cyclone has affected the electricity supply and destroyed many houses , bridges and embarkments . ''

Heavy rain and wind lash India as Cyclone Amphan approaches the Odisha coast on Wednesday. Photo by Stringer/EPA-EFE
May 20 (UPI) -- Cyclone Amphan made landfall in northeast India on Wednesday, killing at least a dozen people, and bringing torrential rain and damaging winds, local officials said. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the storm killed between 10 to 12 people in the state of West Bengal and another three in neighboring Odisha state. Advertisement
Authorities on Monday ordered the evacuation of about 1 million people in the region, which includes West Bengal's capital of Kolkata. Banerjee said there are about 500,000 people in shelters.
"Several areas are totally cut off and cannot be reached yet," she said during a news conference. We have no information yet -- it will take at least three to four days to assess the damage."
The cyclone made landfall around 3 p.m. between Digha, West Bengal, and Bangladesh's Hatia islands. It had speeds between 95 mph and 102 mph, with gusts up to 114 mph, making it the equivalent of a Category 3 hurricane.
India's Meteorological Department classified Amphan as an extremely severe cyclonic storm as it made landfall.
AccuWeather said the cyclone will threaten the Bay of Bengal region with torrential rain, widespread damaging winds and extreme storm surge, with Kolkata taking a direct hit. The city had 2.65 inches of rain as of Wednesday evening and widespread power outages.
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Paradip, Odisha state, reported 3.5 inches of rain.
The Hindustan Times reported that thousands of mud houses collapsed from the deluge and high winds uprooted trees and power poles. Sea water breached embankments and rushed into villages in the Sundarbans, a a mangrove region spanning the India-Bangladesh border.
Among those killed in Odisha state was a 2-month-old baby whose family's mud house collapsed in the rain. A woman in the state drowned while fishing, while a third died when an electric pole fell on her.
Banerjee said Cyclone Amphan is a bigger disaster than the coronavirus pandemic, which has sickened 112,000 people and killed 3,400 in India.
"We are shocked," she said. "The cyclone has affected the electricity supply and destroyed many houses, bridges and embarkments."


upi--2020-05-20--Man lets family members pick his lottery numbers, wins $1M

May 20 ( UPI ) -- A North Carolina man who had family members choose his Powerball numbers for him @ @ @ @ @ 1 million jackpot .
Jonathan Gonzalez , of Salisbury , told North Carolina Education Lottery @ @ @ @ @ , father , sister and an uncle for help when he decided to buy a @ @ @ @ @ gas station in Salisbury .
`` I had them each pick a number from one @ @ @ @ @ recalled .
`` And those were the numbers I played . ''
The five numbers @ @ @ @ @ all came up in the drawing , earning him a $ 1 million prize .
@ @ @ @ @ number and that was the only one I did n't match , '' he said @ @ @ @ @ his prize Monday , said he plans to use his winnings to pay off his @ @ @ @ @ who assisted him with number suggestions .

A North Carolina man discovered his family members have good lottery instincts when he let them choose the Powerball numbers that won him $1 million. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe May 20 (UPI) -- A North Carolina man who had family members choose his Powerball numbers for him ended up winning a $1 million jackpot. Jonathan Gonzalez, of Salisbury, told North Carolina Education Lottery officials he asked his grandparents, father, sister and an uncle for help when he decided to buy a Powerball ticket at the Speedway gas station in Salisbury. Advertisement
"I had them each pick a number from one to 69," Gonzalez recalled. "And those were the numbers I played."
The five numbers selected by his family members all came up in the drawing, earning him a $1 million prize.
"I picked the Powerball number and that was the only one I didn't match," he said.
Gonzalez, who claimed his prize Monday, said he plans to use his winnings to pay off his mortgage and help family members who assisted him with number suggestions.


upi--2020-05-20--GAO report: Women leave the military sooner than men

May 20 ( UPI ) -- Women make up an increasing percentage of the U.S. military but remain more likely to leave the service , a Government Accountability Office report indicates .
The 80-page report , released Tuesday , largely compares active-duty female service member retention and promotion from fiscal year 2004 to fiscal year 2018 .
The number of women in the military increased slightly , from 15.1 percent of the total personnel force to 16.1 percent , but in 2018 , 8.6 percent of women left the military , compared to 6.1 percent of men .
The likelihood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to men , is 28 percent higher .
The attrition gap between men and women has narrowed , and the overall attrition rates in 2018 compare favorably with those of 2004 , when 33.1 percent of women and 22.7 percent of men separated from the military .
The GAO report noted that the Defense Department has no cohesive plan to recruit or retain women , and identified family planning , sexual assault and dependent care as issues that influence women to leave the military .
It made five recommendations -- one to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Army , Navy , Air Force and Marines secretaries -- calling for inclusion of measures to recruit and retain women in the military as part of the diversity and inclusion strategic plans .
It recommended `` plans with clearly defined goals , performance measures and timeframes '' to analyze the efforts .

MSgt. Hope L. Skibitsky, C, leads a female military training instructor mass during a graduation ceremony at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. A General Accountability Office report on Tuesday noted that women leave the military at higher rates than their male counterparts. File Photo by Ismael Ortega/U.S. Air Force
May 20 (UPI) -- Women make up an increasing percentage of the U.S. military but remain more likely to leave the service, a Government Accountability Office report indicates. The 80-page report, released Tuesday, largely compares active-duty female service member retention and promotion from fiscal year 2004 to fiscal year 2018. Advertisement
The number of women in the military increased slightly, from 15.1 percent of the total personnel force to 16.1 percent, but in 2018, 8.6 percent of women left the military, compared to 6.1 percent of men. The likelihood of women leaving the service, compared to men, is 28 percent higher.
The attrition gap between men and women has narrowed, and the overall attrition rates in 2018 compare favorably with those of 2004, when 33.1 percent of women and 22.7 percent of men separated from the military.
The GAO report noted that the Defense Department has no cohesive plan to recruit or retain women, and identified family planning, sexual assault and dependent care as issues that influence women to leave the military.
It made five recommendations -- one to the secretary of defense and one each to the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines secretaries -- calling for inclusion of measures to recruit and retain women in the military as part of the diversity and inclusion strategic plans. It recommended "plans with clearly defined goals, performance measures and timeframes" to analyze the efforts.


upi--2020-05-21--Browns' Jarvis Landry targets August return from hip injury

May 21 ( UPI ) -- Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jarvis Landry says he is ahead of schedule in his rehab from a hip injury and targets an August return .
The five-time Pro Bowl selection spoke about his recovery from the injury on Wednesday .
He said the NFL 's decision to close team facilities has made the recovery more of a challenge than he expected .
`` The rehab process is going great , '' Landry told reporters .
`` It 's just a little difficult , obviously , with some of the modality type of things that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarantine and everything I had n't been able to have access to .
So that that 's kind of been the toughest part of it .
`` Right now , I 'm a little bit ahead of schedule .
But the most important thing right now is just taking it day by day .
You know , I ca n't predict when exactly I 'll be on the field , whether that 's July , August or September .
But obviously my [ anticipated ] return date is sometime in August . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ left on his contract with the Browns .
The six-year veteran had 83 catches for a career-high 1,174 yards and six touchdowns in 16 starts last season .
Landry has never missed a game during his NFL career .
Landry battled through the hip issue for much of the 2019 season until he had surgery Feb. 4 .
He has been working out in Deerfield Beach , Fla. , this off-season .
He has also remained in contact with the Browns ' training staff .
The Browns start the 2020 regular season with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ravens at 1 p.m. EDT Sept. 13 , at M & T Bank Stadium in Baltimore .

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jarvis Landry (80) had hip surgery in February and hopes to return in August. File Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI | License Photo
May 21 (UPI) -- Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jarvis Landry says he is ahead of schedule in his rehab from a hip injury and targets an August return. The five-time Pro Bowl selection spoke about his recovery from the injury on Wednesday. He said the NFL's decision to close team facilities has made the recovery more of a challenge than he expected. Advertisement
"The rehab process is going great," Landry told reporters. "It's just a little difficult, obviously, with some of the modality type of things that I've been doing that obviously with quarantine and everything I hadn't been able to have access to. So that that's kind of been the toughest part of it.
"Right now, I'm a little bit ahead of schedule. But the most important thing right now is just taking it day by day. You know, I can't predict when exactly I'll be on the field, whether that's July, August or September. But obviously my [anticipated] return date is sometime in August."
Landry, 27, has three years left on his contract with the Browns. The six-year veteran had 83 catches for a career-high 1,174 yards and six touchdowns in 16 starts last season. Landry has never missed a game during his NFL career.
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Landry battled through the hip issue for much of the 2019 season until he had surgery Feb. 4. He has been working out in Deerfield Beach, Fla., this off-season. He has also remained in contact with the Browns' training staff.
The Browns start the 2020 regular season with an AFC North clash against the Baltimore Ravens at 1 p.m. EDT Sept. 13, at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.


upi--2020-05-21--U.S. seeks to change the rules for mining the moon

May 21 ( UPI ) -- Private industries have helped drop the cost of launching rockets , satellites and other equipment into space to historic lows .
That has boosted interest in developing space -- both for mining raw materials such as silicon for solar panels and oxygen for rocket fuel , as well as potentially relocating polluting industries off the Earth .
But the rules are not clear about who would profit if , for instance , a U.S. company like SpaceX colonized Mars or established a moon base .
At the moment , no company -- or nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advantage of private property in space .
But the $ 350 billion space industry could change quickly .
Several companies are planning to explore the moon to find raw materials like water ; Helium-3 , which is potentially useful in fusion nuclear reactors ; and rare earth elements , which are invaluable for manufacturing electronics .
What they might find , and how easy the material is to bring back to Earth , remains to be seen .
Anticipating additional commercial interest , the Trump administration has created new rules through an executive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how those companies might profit from operations on the moon , asteroids and other planets .
Those rules conflict with a longstanding international treaty the United States has generally followed but never formally joined .
The administration also is planning to encourage other nations to adopt this new U.S. perspective on space mining .
As a scholar of space law and policy -- and a proud sci-fi nerd -- I believe the international community could find new ways to peacefully govern space from examples here on our planet , including deep seabed mining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Earth beyond any one nation 's control -- like the high seas , the atmosphere and Antarctica -- have been viewed by the international community as globally shared resources .
That principle applied to space , too , until President Donald Trump 's executive order specifically rejected the idea that space was any sort of `` global commons '' shared among all nations and peoples of the Earth .
This step is the latest in a series of decisions by U.S. presidents over the last 40 years that have signaled the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of resources , especially through an international body like the United Nations .
That is one reason why the United States has not ratified the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea , for example , which was agreed to in 1982 and took effect in 1994 .
A similar story played out regarding the moon .
Over the decades , the United States has sought to use its space policy in various ways .
President John F. Kennedy , for example , considered turning the Apollo moon-landing program into a joint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ superpowers .
Lyndon Johnson 's administration similarly saw space as a shared region , and in 1967 signed the Outer Space Treaty , which proclaimed that space was the `` province of all mankind . ''
However , that treaty did n't say anything about mining on the moon -- so when the United States landed there in 1969 , the international community called for regulations .
The U.N. 's eventual Moon Treaty declared the moon the `` common heritage of mankind , '' and sought shared international control over resources found there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very popular among advocates for a more commercial final frontier .
In the United States , a nonprofit group in favor of space colonization opposed the treaty , fearing it would discourage private investment .
The treaty failed ratification in the U.S. Senate .
Only 18 nations have , in fact , ratified the Moon Treaty -- among them Mexico and Australia -- none of them major space-faring powers .
But even though many countries seem to agree that the Moon Treaty is n't the right way to handle lunar property rights , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what they actually should do .
As space launches got cheaper , the U.S. SPACE Act , passed in 2015 , gave U.S. companies the right to mine materials from asteroids for profit .
That conflicts with the shared-resources view of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty .
Since then , there have been further political efforts to remove perceived legal hurtles to space mining .
In 2017 , a Republican congressman sought to formalize the U.S. rejection of space as any sort of common property , proposing a bill that said , `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ global commons . ''
That bill died , but it was reintroduced in 2019 and is awaiting action in the House .
Allowing private control of space resources could launch a new space race , in which wealthy companies , likely from developed countries , could take control of crucial resources -- like ice on the moon , which could supply water for people or to fuel rockets -- and profit handsomely .
That , in turn , would increase the likelihood of a military arms race , with the United States , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their citizens ' space assets .
In finding common ground , and charting a path forward , it is useful to consider lessons from other frontiers .
The Moon Treaty tried to set up a system for sharing the benefits of moon mining similar to how an existing system handled mining the deep sea .
The International Seabed Authority is a U.N. body that lets nations and private firms develop resources from the deep seabed so long as they share the proceeds , particularly with landlocked developing nations .
It is recognized by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States is a notable holdout .
Environmental groups have criticized the authority for not doing enough to safeguard fragile marine environments , but the overall model of sharing the wealth from a collective resource could still be useful .
For instance , the authority 's participants are working on a new code of ethics for deep-sea mining that would emphasize environmental sustainability .
Those provisions could be mirrored on other worlds .
Similarly , the global management of Antarctica has useful parallels with the moon .
The entire continent is governed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1959 by freezing national territorial claims and barring military and commercial activities .
Instead , the continent is reserved for `` peaceful purposes '' and `` scientific investigation . ''
A similar approach could become the core of a second attempt at a Moon Treaty , and could even accommodate a provision for commercial activity along the lines of the deep-sea mining rules .
In so doing , we must also learn what has not worked in the past , such as ignoring the interests of the private sector and the developing world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rights is an important precursor , but it is not a binary choice between a `` global commons '' or private property , rather there are a universe of rights that deserve consideration and that could provide a proper foundation for sustainable development .
But coming to an international agreement would take time , energy and a widespread willingness to view resources as common assets that should be collectively governed .
All those ingredients are in short supply in a world where many countries are becoming more isolationist .
For the immediate future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ follow the U.S. lead , and its influence , toward privatizing space .
Japan seems interested , as does Luxembourg , but China and Russia are concerned about their national security , and the European Space Agency is more inclined toward working collectively .
Without better coordination , it seems likely that eventually peaceful , sustainable development of off-world resources will give way to competing claims , despite readily available examples of how to avoid conflict .
Scott Shackelford is an associate professor of business law and ethics , executive director of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Indiana University .
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license .
Read the original article .

The U.N.‘s Moon Treaty declares the moon the "common heritage of mankind." Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
May 21 (UPI) -- Private industries have helped drop the cost of launching rockets, satellites and other equipment into space to historic lows. That has boosted interest in developing space -- both for mining raw materials such as silicon for solar panels and oxygen for rocket fuel, as well as potentially relocating polluting industries off the Earth. But the rules are not clear about who would profit if, for instance, a U.S. company like SpaceX colonized Mars or established a moon base. At the moment, no company -- or nation -- is ready to claim or take advantage of private property in space. But the $350 billion space industry could change quickly. Several companies are planning to explore the moon to find raw materials like water; Helium-3, which is potentially useful in fusion nuclear reactors; and rare earth elements, which are invaluable for manufacturing electronics. What they might find, and how easy the material is to bring back to Earth, remains to be seen. Advertisement Advertisement
Anticipating additional commercial interest, the Trump administration has created new rules through an executive order following a 2015 law change for how those companies might profit from operations on the moon, asteroids and other planets. Those rules conflict with a longstanding international treaty the United States has generally followed but never formally joined. The administration also is planning to encourage other nations to adopt this new U.S. perspective on space mining.
As a scholar of space law and policy -- and a proud sci-fi nerd -- I believe the international community could find new ways to peacefully govern space from examples here on our planet, including deep seabed mining and Antarctica.
Who owns space?
In general, regions of Earth beyond any one nation's control -- like the high seas, the atmosphere and Antarctica -- have been viewed by the international community as globally shared resources. That principle applied to space, too, until President Donald Trump's executive order specifically rejected the idea that space was any sort of "global commons" shared among all nations and peoples of the Earth.
This step is the latest in a series of decisions by U.S. presidents over the last 40 years that have signaled the country's decreasing willingness to share these types of resources, especially through an international body like the United Nations.
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That is one reason why the United States has not ratified the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, for example, which was agreed to in 1982 and took effect in 1994.
A similar story played out regarding the moon.
Moon treaty
Over the decades, the United States has sought to use its space policy in various ways. President John F. Kennedy, for example, considered turning the Apollo moon-landing program into a joint U.S.-Soviet mission to promote peace between the superpowers.
Lyndon Johnson's administration similarly saw space as a shared region, and in 1967 signed the Outer Space Treaty, which proclaimed that space was the "province of all mankind." However, that treaty didn't say anything about mining on the moon -- so when the United States landed there in 1969, the international community called for regulations.
The U.N.'s eventual Moon Treaty declared the moon the "common heritage of mankind," and sought shared international control over resources found there.
However, that plan wasn't very popular among advocates for a more commercial final frontier. In the United States, a nonprofit group in favor of space colonization opposed the treaty, fearing it would discourage private investment. The treaty failed ratification in the U.S. Senate. Only 18 nations have, in fact, ratified the Moon Treaty -- among them Mexico and Australia -- none of them major space-faring powers. But even though many countries seem to agree that the Moon Treaty isn't the right way to handle lunar property rights, that doesn't mean they agree on what they actually should do.
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Finding profit in space
As space launches got cheaper, the U.S. SPACE Act, passed in 2015, gave U.S. companies the right to mine materials from asteroids for profit. That conflicts with the shared-resources view of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty.
Since then, there have been further political efforts to remove perceived legal hurtles to space mining. In 2017, a Republican congressman sought to formalize the U.S. rejection of space as any sort of common property, proposing a bill that said, "outer space shall not be considered a global commons." That bill died, but it was reintroduced in 2019 and is awaiting action in the House.
A new space race?
Allowing private control of space resources could launch a new space race, in which wealthy companies, likely from developed countries, could take control of crucial resources -- like ice on the moon, which could supply water for people or to fuel rockets -- and profit handsomely.
That, in turn, would increase the likelihood of a military arms race, with the United States, Russia and China developing weapons to defend their citizens' space assets.
Lessons from Antarctica
In finding common ground, and charting a path forward, it is useful to consider lessons from other frontiers. The Moon Treaty tried to set up a system for sharing the benefits of moon mining similar to how an existing system handled mining the deep sea.
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The International Seabed Authority is a U.N. body that lets nations and private firms develop resources from the deep seabed so long as they share the proceeds, particularly with landlocked developing nations. It is recognized by more than 160 nations, though the United States is a notable holdout.
Environmental groups have criticized the authority for not doing enough to safeguard fragile marine environments, but the overall model of sharing the wealth from a collective resource could still be useful. For instance, the authority's participants are working on a new code of ethics for deep-sea mining that would emphasize environmental sustainability. Those provisions could be mirrored on other worlds.
Similarly, the global management of Antarctica has useful parallels with the moon. The entire continent is governed by a treaty that has avoided conflict since 1959 by freezing national territorial claims and barring military and commercial activities. Instead, the continent is reserved for "peaceful purposes" and "scientific investigation."
A similar approach could become the core of a second attempt at a Moon Treaty, and could even accommodate a provision for commercial activity along the lines of the deep-sea mining rules. In so doing, we must also learn what has not worked in the past, such as ignoring the interests of the private sector and the developing world. Advocates are correct that defining property rights is an important precursor, but it is not a binary choice between a "global commons" or private property, rather there are a universe of rights that deserve consideration and that could provide a proper foundation for sustainable development.
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But coming to an international agreement would take time, energy and a widespread willingness to view resources as common assets that should be collectively governed. All those ingredients are in short supply in a world where many countries are becoming more isolationist.
For the immediate future, other countries may or may not follow the U.S. lead, and its influence, toward privatizing space. Japan seems interested, as does Luxembourg, but China and Russia are concerned about their national security, and the European Space Agency is more inclined toward working collectively. Without better coordination, it seems likely that eventually peaceful, sustainable development of off-world resources will give way to competing claims, despite readily available examples of how to avoid conflict.
Scott Shackelford is an associate professor of business law and ethics, executive director of the Ostrom Workshop and cybersecurity program chair at Indiana University. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Astronauts make round trip to space station from U.S. soil


upi--2020-05-21--AEW Dynamite: Adam Page and The Young Bucks return, The Elite brawls with The Inner Circle

May 21 ( UPI ) -- Hangman Adam Page and The Young Bucks returned to AEW Dynamite after being absent from AEW programming for weeks .
Page and The Young Bucks reunited as teammates of The Elite on Wednesday as Chris Jericho 's Inner Circle brutally assaulted Elite member Kenny Omega with a baseball bat .
Omega was tied to a field goal post at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville , Fla. Jericho started broadcasting the beatdown after Broken Matt Hardy -- who has aligned himself with The Elite -- and The Inner Circle 's Sammy Guevara had a match @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scene and leaped from the stadium wall to crash land onto Santana and Ortiz .
Page then ran across the football field in his cowboy boots to take part in the massive brawl .
The Inner Circle quickly retreated as The Elite regrouped .
Page , who has had issues with The Elite in the past , also walked away as Dynamite went off the air .
The Elite with Hardy will be taking on The Inner Circle in a Stadium Stampede match at the Double or Nothing pay-per-view event on Saturday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , was able to impressively avoid Hardy 's Twist of Fate by landing on his feel and responding back with a Superkick .
Hardy , who is looking for revenge after The Inner Circle destroyed his drone Vanguard 1 last week , took off Guevara 's boot at one point and bit down on his foot .
Hardy won the match after he avoided Guevara 's Shooting Star Press and landed the Twist of Fate for the three count .
Also on Dynamite , AEW World Champion Jon Moxley took on 10 of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brodie Lee , who leads The Dark Order , is still holding onto the AEW World Championship belt which he stole from Moxley .
Lee had 10 battle Moxley alone and left the ringside area .
Moxley quickly dispatched of his opponent , ending the bout with a Paradigm Shift .
Moxley then threatened to break 10 's arm using a steel chair unless Lee returned his championship belt .
Lee responded by saying that everyone needs to make sacrifices and left the arena .
Moxley proceeded to smash a steel chair against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be battling for the AEW World Championship at Double or Nothing .
Professional wrestling legends Jake 'The Snake ' Roberts and Arn Anderson held a face-to-face discussion about the upcoming TNT Championship tournament final between Cody and Lance Archer .
Anderson is the coach of Cody while Roberts is the manager of Archer .
The tournament final will take place at Double or Nothing .
Boxing great Mike Tyson will be presenting the TNT Championship to the winner .
Roberts and Anderson had a war of words that nearly turned into a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials .
Other moments from Dynamite included MJF defeating Marko Stunt ; Rey Fenix defeating Orange Cassidy before a fight broke out between Double or Nothing 's Casino Ladder Match participants ; and AEW Women 's World Champion Nyla Rose and Dr. Britt Baker defeating Kris Statlander and Hikaru Shida in a Tag Team match .
Baker appeared to suffer from a knee injury during the match but Rose still won by using the Beast Bomb .
Rose then set up a table to put Shida through but Statlander came to the rescue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top rope into the table .
Rose will defend her AEW Women 's World Championship against Shida at Double or Nothing .

May 21 (UPI) -- Hangman Adam Page and The Young Bucks returned to AEW Dynamite after being absent from AEW programming for weeks.
Page and The Young Bucks reunited as teammates of The Elite on Wednesday as Chris Jericho's Inner Circle brutally assaulted Elite member Kenny Omega with a baseball bat.
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Omega was tied to a field goal post at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Fla. Jericho started broadcasting the beatdown after Broken Matt Hardy -- who has aligned himself with The Elite -- and The Inner Circle's Sammy Guevara had a match.
The Young Bucks arrived onto the scene and leaped from the stadium wall to crash land onto Santana and Ortiz.
Page then ran across the football field in his cowboy boots to take part in the massive brawl. The Inner Circle quickly retreated as The Elite regrouped. Page, who has had issues with The Elite in the past, also walked away as Dynamite went off the air.
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The Elite with Hardy will be taking on The Inner Circle in a Stadium Stampede match at the Double or Nothing pay-per-view event on Saturday.
Guevara, in his match against Hardy, was able to impressively avoid Hardy's Twist of Fate by landing on his feel and responding back with a Superkick.
Hardy, who is looking for revenge after The Inner Circle destroyed his drone Vanguard 1 last week, took off Guevara's boot at one point and bit down on his foot.
Hardy won the match after he avoided Guevara's Shooting Star Press and landed the Twist of Fate for the three count.
Also on Dynamite, AEW World Champion Jon Moxley took on 10 of The Dark Order. The Exalted One Brodie Lee, who leads The Dark Order, is still holding onto the AEW World Championship belt which he stole from Moxley.
Lee had 10 battle Moxley alone and left the ringside area. Moxley quickly dispatched of his opponent, ending the bout with a Paradigm Shift.
Moxley then threatened to break 10's arm using a steel chair unless Lee returned his championship belt. Lee responded by saying that everyone needs to make sacrifices and left the arena. Moxley proceeded to smash a steel chair against 10's arm.
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Moxley and Lee will be battling for the AEW World Championship at Double or Nothing.
Professional wrestling legends Jake 'The Snake' Roberts and Arn Anderson held a face-to-face discussion about the upcoming TNT Championship tournament final between Cody and Lance Archer.
Anderson is the coach of Cody while Roberts is the manager of Archer. The tournament final will take place at Double or Nothing. Boxing great Mike Tyson will be presenting the TNT Championship to the winner.
Roberts and Anderson had a war of words that nearly turned into a fight that was broken up by AEW officials.
Other moments from Dynamite included MJF defeating Marko Stunt; Rey Fenix defeating Orange Cassidy before a fight broke out between Double or Nothing's Casino Ladder Match participants; and AEW Women's World Champion Nyla Rose and Dr. Britt Baker defeating Kris Statlander and Hikaru Shida in a Tag Team match.
Baker appeared to suffer from a knee injury during the match but Rose still won by using the Beast Bomb. Rose then set up a table to put Shida through but Statlander came to the rescue. Shida then Suplexed Rose from the top rope into the table.
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Rose will defend her AEW Women's World Championship against Shida at Double or Nothing.


upi--2020-05-21--NASCAR: Denny Hamlin wins, Kyle Busch takes out Chase Elliott at Darlington

May 21 ( UPI ) -- Denny Hamlin took the checkered flag and Kyle Busch spun out fellow driver Chase Elliott late in the rain-shortened Cup Series Toyota 500 Wednesday at Darlington Raceway in Darlington , S.C. Hamlin became season 's second multi-time winner after he edged the field .
He also won the Feb. 16 Daytona 500 before the NASCAR season was suspended the following month due to the coronavirus pandemic .
Wednesday 's race was the second since NASCAR returned from hiatus after Sunday 's The Real Heroes 400 , also at Darlington .
NASCAR has hosted the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The competition is real , '' Hamlin told reporters .
`` You see we 're able to put on a great show .
I think it 's a good time for us right now .
We 're on a big stage .
`` I think everyone is stepping up to the plate and really doing a good job to make sure we 're giving a good product , a real product , not just putting things together just to get on TV . ''
The driver of the No .
11 Toyota started @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He took a late lead during a race caution .
Hamlin kept his car on the track as others replaced tires .
He held off the field for the restart with 29 laps to go .
Elliott and Busch battled for position behind Hamlin until Busch gave Elliott 's No .
9 Chevrolet a heavy tap , sending the car into the wall in Turn 1 .
Elliott did not finish the race .
He showed his frustration after the run-in with an angry gesture directed at Busch .
Elliott led a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Busch said he would `` reach out '' to Elliott after the crash .
`` Obviously I just made a mistake , misjudged the gap , sent him into the wall , '' Busch said .
`` That was entirely unintentional .
Yeah , I mean , I 'll definitely reach out to him and tell him I 'm sorry , tell him I hate it that it happened .
All I can do .
That does n't change the outcome of the night .
`` I hate it for him and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chief , Alan Gustafson , told NASCAR after the race that Busch 's explanation did n't `` calm the waters '' for his squad .
Gustafson also said he believed Elliott could have won the race had he not been wrecked .
`` He made a mistake and I get it , '' Gustafson said .
`` I do n't think [ Busch ] intentionally wrecked us but you just get tired of coming out on the wrong end of those [ wrecks ] . ''
Busch climbed into second position before race @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laps left , due to rain .
Cup Series standings leader Kevin Harvick finished third .
Brad Keselowski and Erik Jones rounded out the top-5 .
Jones 26 laps .
Joey Logano -- No .
2 in the Cup Series -- finished sixth .
The next Cup Series race is the Coca-Cola 600 at 6 p.m. EDT Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Charlotte , N.C. Xfinity Series Drivers will return to Darlington for one final race with the Toyota 200 at noon EDT Thursday .
It will air on FS1 .

Denny Hamlin won his second Cup Series race of the season after he took home the Toyota 500 Wednesday at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, S.C. File Photo by Edwin Locke/UPI | License Photo
May 21 (UPI) -- Denny Hamlin took the checkered flag and Kyle Busch spun out fellow driver Chase Elliott late in the rain-shortened Cup Series Toyota 500 Wednesday at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, S.C. Hamlin became season's second multi-time winner after he edged the field. He also won the Feb. 16 Daytona 500 before the NASCAR season was suspended the following month due to the coronavirus pandemic. Advertisement
Wednesday's race was the second since NASCAR returned from hiatus after Sunday's The Real Heroes 400, also at Darlington. NASCAR has hosted the races without fans in attendance.
"The competition is real," Hamlin told reporters. "You see we're able to put on a great show. I think it's a good time for us right now. We're on a big stage.
"I think everyone is stepping up to the plate and really doing a good job to make sure we're giving a good product, a real product, not just putting things together just to get on TV."
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The driver of the No. 11 Toyota started 16th and led 12 of 208 laps. He took a late lead during a race caution. Hamlin kept his car on the track as others replaced tires. He held off the field for the restart with 29 laps to go.
Elliott and Busch battled for position behind Hamlin until Busch gave Elliott's No. 9 Chevrolet a heavy tap, sending the car into the wall in Turn 1. Elliott did not finish the race. He showed his frustration after the run-in with an angry gesture directed at Busch. Elliott led a race-high 28 laps after he started 17th.
Busch said he would "reach out" to Elliott after the crash.
"Obviously I just made a mistake, misjudged the gap, sent him into the wall," Busch said. "That was entirely unintentional. Yeah, I mean, I'll definitely reach out to him and tell him I'm sorry, tell him I hate it that it happened. All I can do. That doesn't change the outcome of the night.
"I hate it for him and his guys."
Elliott's crew chief, Alan Gustafson, told NASCAR after the race that Busch's explanation didn't "calm the waters" for his squad. Gustafson also said he believed Elliott could have won the race had he not been wrecked.
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"He made a mistake and I get it," Gustafson said. "I don't think [Busch] intentionally wrecked us but you just get tired of coming out on the wrong end of those [wrecks]."
Busch climbed into second position before race officials ended the event, with 22 laps left, due to rain. Cup Series standings leader Kevin Harvick finished third. Brad Keselowski and Erik Jones rounded out the top-5. Jones 26 laps.
Joey Logano -- No. 2 in the Cup Series -- finished sixth.
The next Cup Series race is the Coca-Cola 600 at 6 p.m. EDT Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C. Xfinity Series Drivers will return to Darlington for one final race with the Toyota 200 at noon EDT Thursday. It will air on FS1.


upi--2020-05-21--Reports: Michael Cohen to leave prison Thursday for home confinement

May 21 ( UPI ) -- Michael Cohen , President Donald Trump 's former personal attorney , will be released from prison Thursday to serve the remainder of his sentence at home due to risks associated with the coronavirus outbreak , according to news reports .
His impending release was reported by The New York Times , The Wall Street Journal and CNN .
Cohen will be placed on furlough while he completes the transfer process , CNN 's report said .
Cohen has been in a New York prison since he was sentenced 12 months ago to three years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tax charges and campaign finance charges .
Defense attorney Roger Adler said last month Cohen would be released May 1 .
Cohen pleaded guilty to arranging a hush money scheme in the final days of the 2016 presidential campaign to pay two women who said they had affairs with Trump .
It was decided late Wednesday that Cohen would serve the rest of his time at home due to the pandemic .
His attorneys had argued the coronavirus disease posed a threat to Cohen due to its spread in the prison system .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ has already released a number of non-violent and at-risk inmates early , including former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort , who was transferred last week .
A federal judge initially rejected Cohen 's request to be released in March after Adler said he 'd been hospitalized twice and has a pre-existing pulmonary condition , which health experts say can make the coronavirus much more serious .
Adler said Wednesday Cohen 's compassion release application had now been `` viewed favorably . ''

Attorney Michael D. Cohen is sworn in before testifying in front of the House oversight committee on February 27, 2019, in Washington D.C. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
May 21 (UPI) -- Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's former personal attorney, left prison Thursday to serve the remainder of his sentence at home due to risks associated with the coronavirus outbreak. Cohen left the minimum-security prison in Otisville, N.Y., on Thursday morning. Advertisement
Attorney Jeffrey Levine said he expects a statement later from Cohen that will address his release.
Cohen had been at the New York prison since he was sentenced 12 months ago to three years in prison for lying to Congress, tax charges and campaign finance charges. Defense attorney Roger Adler said last month he'd hoped Cohen would be released in early May.
Cohen pleaded guilty to arranging a hush money scheme in the final days of the 2016 presidential campaign to pay two women who said they had affairs with Trump.
It was decided late Wednesday that Cohen would serve the rest of his time at home due to the pandemic. His attorneys had argued the coronavirus disease posed a threat to Cohen due to its spread in the prison system.
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The Justice Department and Bureau of Prisons has already released a number of non-violent and at-risk inmates early, including former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort, who was transferred last week.
A federal judge initially rejected Cohen's request to be released in March after Adler said he'd been hospitalized twice and has a pre-existing pulmonary condition, which health experts say can make the coronavirus much more serious. Adler said Wednesday Cohen's compassion release application had now been "viewed favorably."


upi--2020-05-21--Moon Jae-in to move forward on North Korea, former aide says

May 21 ( UPI ) -- South Korea 's former presidential secretary says President Moon Jae-in will push ahead with new North Korea-related initiatives if there is no progress in U.S.-North Korea relations this year .
Im Jong-seok , a former aide to Moon who resigned in January 2019 , said in an interview with The Quarterly Changbi published Thursday inter-Korea cooperation is incomplete and must be pursued amid stalled talks , Yonhap reported .
`` If the initiatives the North and South wish to pursue receive international consensus ... even the United Stats can not deny them , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If there is no progress between the United States and North Korea by the end of the year , even if there are negative opinions after President Moon consults with the United States , [ Moon ] will try to push ahead with new initiatives . ''
Im also criticized the U.S. approach to North Korea sanctions .
`` The United States tries to regulate any goods that cross national borders , '' Lim said .
`` That makes no sense . ''
The former presidential aide also spoke positively of Kim Jong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as `` honest and confident , '' according to local news service Seoul Pyongyang News .
Kim `` expressed his willingness to resolve issues between the United States and North Korea , but the U.S. political environment yielded a 'no deal ' , '' Im said .
Im also said the North Koreans offered to dismantle the nuclear facility in Yongbyon , but the United States did not accept the proposal .
In 2019 , U.S. analysts said the dismantlement of Yongbyon would not affect nuclear weapons production in North Korea .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sanctions , they said .
Im was a leading student activist in the '80s who served a prison sentence for helping another South Korean student , Lim Su-kyung , visit North Korea without authorization in 1989 , when Seoul was enforcing strict anticommunist laws .

South Korean President Moon Jae-in (R) could push forward with North Korea initiatives this year, a former presidential aide to Moon said in an article published Thursday. Photo by Inter-Korean Summit Press Corps/UPI | License Photo
May 21 (UPI) -- South Korea's former presidential secretary says President Moon Jae-in will push ahead with new North Korea-related initiatives if there is no progress in U.S.-North Korea relations this year. Im Jong-seok, a former aide to Moon who resigned in January 2019, said in an interview with The Quarterly Changbi published Thursday inter-Korea cooperation is incomplete and must be pursued amid stalled talks, Yonhap reported. Advertisement
"If the initiatives the North and South wish to pursue receive international consensus...even the United Stats cannot deny them," Im said.
Im added, "If there is no progress between the United States and North Korea by the end of the year, even if there are negative opinions after President Moon consults with the United States, [Moon] will try to push ahead with new initiatives."
Im also criticized the U.S. approach to North Korea sanctions.
"The United States tries to regulate any goods that cross national borders," Lim said. "That makes no sense."
The former presidential aide also spoke positively of Kim Jong Un, describing the North Korean leader as "honest and confident," according to local news service Seoul Pyongyang News.
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Kim "expressed his willingness to resolve issues between the United States and North Korea, but the U.S. political environment yielded a 'no deal'," Im said.
Im also said the North Koreans offered to dismantle the nuclear facility in Yongbyon, but the United States did not accept the proposal.
In 2019, U.S. analysts said the dismantlement of Yongbyon would not affect nuclear weapons production in North Korea. The proposal should not persuade Washington to lift sanctions, they said.
Im was a leading student activist in the '80s who served a prison sentence for helping another South Korean student, Lim Su-kyung, visit North Korea without authorization in 1989, when Seoul was enforcing strict anticommunist laws.


upi--2020-05-21--U.S. mortgage delinquencies saw record increase in April

May 21 ( UPI ) -- U.S. mortgage delinquencies jumped by 1.6 million in April , the largest increase ever recorded in a single month , according to new data Thursday .
The report from Black Knight also showed the increase and indicated the mortgage delinquency rate nearly doubled from 3.4 percent in February to 6.5 percent in March , also a record .
The April delinquency numbers include past due payments and homeowners who have entered forbearance plans .
Black Knight reported last week that about 8.8 percent of U.S. mortgages are in forbearance .
`` The impact of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has already been substantial , '' said Black Knight economist Andy Walden .
`` It will be some months before we can gauge the full extent of that impact .
Whatever the ultimate scope , it is almost certain the effects will resonate for many months to come . ''
British analytics firm Oxford Economics said last week job losses will make it difficult for many U.S. households to continue making their monthly mortgage payments .
`` We currently estimate about 15 percent of homeowners will fall behind on their payments , compared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent during the Great Recession , '' it said .

Also Thursday, data showed U.S. mortgage delinquencies increased by 1.6 million in April, the largest ever recorded in a single month. File Photo by Alexis C. Glenn/UPI | License Photo
May 21 (UPI) -- Sales of existing U.S. homes declined by nearly 18 percent last month due partly to COVID-19 restrictions in most areas of the United States, an industry report said Thursday. The National Association of Realtors said sales were down 17.8 percent in April, the largest month-to-month decline since 2010, and were down 17.2 percent year-to-year. Advertisement
Sales volume fell to its lowest level since 2011 at a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 4.33 million units, the NAR said. The homes that did sell, however, fetched higher prices. The median price in April was $286,800, up 7.4 percent year-to-year.
"The economic lockdowns -- occurring from mid-March through April in most states -- have temporarily disrupted home sales," said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. "But the listings that are on the market are still attracting buyers and boosting home prices."
Earlier Thursday, data showed U.S. mortgage delinquencies increased by 1.6 million in April, the largest ever recorded in a single month.
Data from Black Knight also showed the delinquency rate nearly doubled from 3.4 percent in February to 6.5 percent in March, also a record.
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The April delinquency numbers include past due payments and homeowners who have entered forbearance plans.
Black Knight reported last week that about 8.8 percent of U.S. mortgages are in forbearance due to the health crisis.
British analytics firm Oxford Economics said last week job losses will make it difficult for many U.S. households to continue making their monthly mortgage payments.
"We currently estimate about 15 percent of homeowners will fall behind on their payments, compared to a peak delinquency rate of 10 percent during the Great Recession," it said.


upi--2020-05-21--Google celebrates Zimbabwe's national instrument, the mbira, with interactive Doodle

May 21 ( UPI ) -- Google is celebrating Zimbabwe 's national instrument , the mbira , with a new Doodle as Zimbabwe 's Culture Week begins .
The mbira originated in Southern Africa and serves as the cultural identity of Zimbabwe 's Shona people .
The instrument is made of a hardwood soundboard known as a gwariva and a series of thin , metal keys .
Bootle caps or beads can be added to the soundboard to create a buzzing sound .
The mbira is used in a number of Shona ceremonies and has helped to pass down songs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homepage features an illustration of the instrument alongside the company 's logo and a play button .
Pressing the button will allow users to play a music game using the mbira .
Players are challenged to use their mouse and hover over the right metal key at the right time .
The game also tells the story of a young girl in Zimbabwe who grows up fascinated by the mbira and grows up to perform the instrument onstage during a concert .
Google also released a behind-the-scenes video showcasing the creation of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Zimbabwe .
`` I think anyone who has had more than five minutes with Zimbabwean mbira can not forget the sound .
To me , it 's a cross between water and air , '' Albert Chimedza , musician and founder of The Mbira Centre said in the clip .

Google is paying homage to Zimbabwe's national instrument, the mbira, with a new Doodle. Image courtesy of Google
May 21 (UPI) -- Google is celebrating Zimbabwe's national instrument, the mbira, with a new Doodle as Zimbabwe's Culture Week begins. The mbira originated in Southern Africa and serves as the cultural identity of Zimbabwe's Shona people. Advertisement
The instrument is made of a hardwood soundboard known as a gwariva and a series of thin, metal keys. Bootle caps or beads can be added to the soundboard to create a buzzing sound.
The mbira is used in a number of Shona ceremonies and has helped to pass down songs for hundreds of years.
Google's homepage features an illustration of the instrument alongside the company's logo and a play button.
Pressing the button will allow users to play a music game using the mbira. Players are challenged to use their mouse and hover over the right metal key at the right time.
The game also tells the story of a young girl in Zimbabwe who grows up fascinated by the mbira and grows up to perform the instrument onstage during a concert.
Google also released a behind-the-scenes video showcasing the creation of the Doodle and the research that went on in Zimbabwe.
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"I think anyone who has had more than five minutes with Zimbabwean mbira cannot forget the sound. To me, it's a cross between water and air," Albert Chimedza, musician and founder of The Mbira Centre said in the clip.


upi--2020-05-21--Netflix: What's coming and going in June 2020

May 21 ( UPI ) -- Netflix subscribers can watch Spike Lee 's film Da 5 Bloods and new seasons of The Politician and Queer Eye in June .
The streaming service released a list of the movies , TV shows , comedy specials and documentaries coming and going next month .
Here 's the full list of what 's being added to Netflix in June : All Dogs Go to Heaven The Silence of the Lambs You Do n't Mess with the Zohan Can You Hear Me ?
( M'etends-tu ? )
( Netflix Original ) The Last Days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kipo and the Age of the Wonderbeasts Season 2 ( Netflix Original ) One Piece : Enter Chopper at the Winter Island One Piece : Entering into the Grand Line How to Get Away with Murder Season 6 Nobody Knows I 'm Here ( Nadie sabe que estoy aquí ) ( Netflix Original ) George Lopez : We 'll Do it for Half ( Netflix Original ) It 's Okay to Not Be Okay ( Netflix Original ) The Show Must Go On : The Queen + Adam Lambert Story Here 's the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in June : The Day My Butt Went Psycho !
Seasons 1-2 The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

Penélope Cruz stars in "Wasp Network," a new political thriller premiering June 19 on Netflix. Photo courtesy of Netflix
May 21 (UPI) -- Netflix subscribers can watch Spike Lee's film Da 5 Bloods and new seasons of The Politician and Queer Eye in June. The streaming service released a list of the movies, TV shows, comedy specials and documentaries coming and going next month. Advertisement
Here's the full list of what's being added to Netflix in June:
June 1
Act of Valor
All Dogs Go to Heaven
Bad News Bears
Cape Fear
Casper
Cardcaptor Sakura: Clow Card
Cardcaptor Sakura: Sakura Card
Clueless
Cocomelon Season 1
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
The Healer
Inside Man
Lust, Caution
Observe and Report
Priest
The Silence of the Lambs
Starship Troopers
The Boy
The Car
The Disaster Artist
The Help
The Lake House
The Queen
Twister
V for Vendetta
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
West Side Story
You Don't Mess with the Zohan
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Zodiac
June 2
Alone Season 6
Fuller House The Farewell Season (Netflix Original)
Garth Brooks: The Road I'm On Season 1
True: Rainbow Rescue (Netflix Original)
June 3
Killing Gunther
Lady Bird
Spelling the Dream (Netflix Original)
June 4
Baki: The Great Raitai Tournament Saga (Netflix Original)
Can You Hear Me? (M'etends-tu?) (Netflix Original)
June 5
13 Reasons Why Season 4 (Netflix Original)
Choked: Paisa Bolta Hai (Netflix Original)
Hannibal Seasons 1-3
The Last Days of American Crime (Netflix Original)
Queer Eye Season 5
June 6
Queen of the South Season 4
June 7
Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj Volume 6 (New episodes weekly) (Netflix Original)
June 8
Before I Fall
June 10
Curon (Netflix Original)
DC's Legends of Tomorrow Season 5
Lenox Hill (Netflix Original)
Middle Men
My Mister Season 1
Reality Z (Netflix Original)
June 11
Pose Season 2
June 12
Da 5 Bloods (Netflix Original)
Dating Around Season 2 (Netflix Original)
F is for Family Season 4 (Netflix Original)
Jo Koy: In His Elements (Netflix Original)
Kipo and the Age of the Wonderbeasts Season 2 (Netflix Original)
One Piece: Alabasta
One Piece: East Blue
One Piece: Enter Chopper at the Winter Island
One Piece: Entering into the Grand Line
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Pokémon Journeys: The Series (Netflix Original)
The Search (Netflix Original)
The Woods (Netflix Original)
June 13
Alexa & Katie Part 4 (Netflix Original)
How to Get Away with Murder Season 6
Milea
June 14
Marcella Season 3 (Netflix Original)
June 15
Underdogs
June 16
Baby Mama
Charlie St. Cloud
The Darkness
Frost/Nixon
June 17
An Evening with Beverly Luff Linn
Mr. Iglesias Part 2 (Netflix Original)
June 18
A Whisker Away (Netflix Original)
The Order Season 2 (Netflix Original)
June 19
Babies Part 2 (Netflix Original)
Father Soldier Son (Netflix Original)
Feel the Beat (Netflix Original)
Floor is Lava (Netflix Original)
Lost Bullet (Netflix Original)
Girls from Ipanema Season 2 (Netflix Original)
One-Way to Tomorrow (Netflix Original)
The Politician Season 2 (Netflix Original)
Rhyme Time Town (Netflix Original)
Wasp Network (Netflix Original)
June 21
Goldie
June 22
Dark Skies
June 23
Eric Andre: Legalize Everything (Netflix Original)
June 24
Athlete A (Netflix Original)
Crazy Delicious (Netflix Original)
Nobody Knows I'm Here (Nadie sabe que estoy aquí) (Netflix Original)
June 26
Amar y vivir (Netflix Original)
Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (Netflix Original)
Home Game (Netflix Original)
Straight Up
June 29
Bratz: The Movie
June 30
Adú (Netflix Original)
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BNA (Netflix Original)
George Lopez: We'll Do it for Half (Netflix Original)
Coming soon:
It's Okay to Not Be Okay (Netflix Original)
One Take (Netflix Original)
Roswell, New Mexico Season 2
The Show Must Go On: The Queen + Adam Lambert Story
Podcasts coming to Netflix:
Inside Joke: Space Force Launches May 29
Here's the full list of what's leaving Netflix in June:
June 1
The King's Speech
June 3
God's Not Dead: A Light in Darkness
June 4
A Perfect Man
June 7
Equilibrium
From Paris with Love
June 9
Mad Men Seasons 1-7
June 10
Standoff
June 11
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell Series 1
June 12
Dragonheart
Dragonheart 3: The Sorcerer
Dragonheart: A New Beginning
Dragonheart: Battle for the Heartfire
June 13
Cutie and the Boxer
June 16
The Stanford Prison Experiment
June 22
Tarzan
Tarzan 2
June 24
Avengers: Infinity War
June 27
Jeopardy! Celebrate Alex Collection
Jeopardy! Cindy Stowell Collection
Jeopardy! Seth Wilson Collection
June 29
The Day My Butt Went Psycho! Seasons 1-2
June 30
21
The Amityville Horror
The Andy Griffith Show Seasons 1-8
Blow
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
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Brooklyn's Finest
Center Stage
Chasing Amy
Cheers Seasons 1-11
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Chloe
Click
Cloverfield
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Duchess
Elizabeth
Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Ghost Rhider
Happyish Season 1
Here Alone
Inception
Instructions Not Included
The Invention of Lying
Julie & Julia
Kate & Leopold
Kiss the Girls
The Last Samurai
Limitless Season 1
Little Monsters
Mansfield Park
The Mask of Zorro
The Matrix
The Matrix Reloaded
The Matrix Revolutions
Minority Report
Patriot Games
Philadelphia
The Polar Express
Race to Witch Mountain
The Ring
Scary Movie
Sliver
Stuart Little 2
Tremors
Tremors 2: Aftershocks
Tremors 3: Back to Perfection
Tremors 4: The Legend Begins
Tremors 5: Bloodline
What Lies Beneath
Yes Man


upi--2020-05-21--Las Vegas casinos begin testing workers in key step to reopen

May 21 ( UPI ) -- In a key step toward reopening the heart of Las Vegas ' ailing economy , medical officials on Thursday will begin testing tens of thousands of city casino workers for the coronavirus disease .
MGM Resorts International , Caesars Entertainment and Boyd Gaming said they will participate in the employee testing plan coordinated by University Medical Center and the Culinary Health Fund to collect up to 4,000 samples for testing per day , the groups announced in a joint statement .
Casino workers who have been recalled will be tested at scheduled appointment times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday .
Caesars CEO Tony Rodio said the workers will complete a pre-screening questionnaire to determine if they need to be tested before returning to work .
Test results are expected within 48 hours and positive diagnoses will be passed on to the Southern Nevada Health District for contact tracing , officials said .
`` The ability to safely reopen our properties has been our singular focus over the past several weeks , '' said Bill Hornbuckle , acting president and CEO of MGM Resorts International .
`` This testing partnership will allow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peace of mind that we are taking the greatest possible precautions to keep them safe . ''
MGM employs about 50,000 people in Las Vegas , while Caesars has about 30,000 and Boyd about 10,000 .
Casinos in Las Vegas have been shuttered since Nevada Gov .
Steve Sisolak ordered all non-essential businesses to close in March to curb the spread of COVID-19 .
The state , however , has since loosened restrictions for businesses such as dine-in restaurants , hair salons and retail stores as long as they follow guidelines .
No @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' many casinos to reopen , but Las Vegas Sands Corp. announced this week it expects its Venetian Resort to reopen on June 1 , followed by a phased reopening of the Venetian tower and Palazzo tower .
`` Upon opening , our guests can expect the amenities of a luxury Las Vegas resort including : a full service casino , more than a dozen restaurants , our fully renovated Venetian pool deck and multiple retail outlets , '' Venitian Vice President of Public Relations Alyssa Anderson said .
Anderson said the company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employees .
Despite plans to reopen casinos and resorts , Sisolak has left open the possibility of reinstating restrictions to prevent the spread of the virus if Nevada sees a resurgence of cases in the future .
Among those to be tested are employees in the Culinary Union , which represents 60,000 resort workers in Las Vegas and Reno .
`` COVID-19 testing ensures that Culinary Union members are safe when they return to work , '' said Geoconda Arguello-Kline , the union 's secretary-treasurer .
`` The health and safety of both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ priority . ''

1/16
Metal barricades block the entrance to Caesars Palace on Las Vegas Boulevard on March 26. File Photo by James Atoa/UPI | License Photo
May 21 (UPI) -- In a key step toward reopening the heart of Las Vegas' ailing economy, medical officials on Thursday will begin testing tens of thousands of city casino workers for the coronavirus disease. MGM Resorts International, Caesars Entertainment and Boyd Gaming said they will participate in the employee testing plan coordinated by University Medical Center and the Culinary Health Fund to collect up to 4,000 samples for testing per day, the groups announced in a joint statement. Advertisement
Casino workers who have been recalled will be tested at scheduled appointment times at the Las Vegas Convention Center beginning Thursday.
Caesars CEO Tony Rodio said the workers will complete a pre-screening questionnaire to determine if they need to be tested before returning to work.
Test results are expected within 48 hours and positive diagnoses will be passed on to the Southern Nevada Health District for contact tracing, officials said.
"The ability to safely reopen our properties has been our singular focus over the past several weeks," said Bill Hornbuckle, acting president and CEO of MGM Resorts International. "This testing partnership will allow us to provide our employees and guests peace of mind that we are taking the greatest possible precautions to keep them safe."
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MGM employs about 50,000 people in Las Vegas, while Caesars has about 30,000 and Boyd about 10,000.
Casinos in Las Vegas have been shuttered since Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak ordered all non-essential businesses to close in March to curb the spread of COVID-19. The state, however, has since loosened restrictions for businesses such as dine-in restaurants, hair salons and retail stores as long as they follow guidelines.
No date has been set for Las Vegas' many casinos to reopen, but Las Vegas Sands Corp. announced this week it expects its Venetian Resort to reopen on June 1, followed by a phased reopening of the Venetian tower and Palazzo tower.
"Upon opening, our guests can expect the amenities of a luxury Las Vegas resort including: a full service casino, more than a dozen restaurants, our fully renovated Venetian pool deck and multiple retail outlets," Venetian Vice President of Public Relations Alyssa Anderson said.
Anderson said the company has also required COVID-19 testing for all employees.
Despite plans to reopen casinos and resorts, Sisolak has left open the possibility of reinstating restrictions to prevent the spread of the virus if Nevada sees a resurgence of cases.
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Among those to be tested are employees in the Culinary Union, which represents 60,000 resort workers in Las Vegas and Reno.
"COVID-19 testing ensures that Culinary Union members are safe when they return to work," said Geoconda Arguello-Kline, the union's secretary-treasurer. "The health and safety of both workers and casino guests is our top priority."
World moves to reopen amid COVID-19 pandemic


upi--2020-05-21--China’s political advisory body meets ahead of National People’s Congress

May 21 ( UPI ) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and senior Chinese Communist Party leaders attended the meeting of Beijing 's top political advisory body on Thursday , ahead of the opening of the National People 's Congress .
During the third session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People 's Political Consultative Conference , held at the Great Hall of the People , delegates observed a moment of silence for `` martyrs '' who died while battling against the novel coronavirus , Chinese state-owned news agency Xinhua reported .
In photos published by state media most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Xi was seen not wearing antiviral gear .
Wang Yang , chairman of the CPPCC National Committee , delivered a work report of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee to the session , according to Xinhua .
The gathering comes a day ahead of the annual meeting of China 's parliament , which was postponed due to the outbreak of the coronavirus that began last year in the central Chinese city of Wuhan .
On Monday Xi applauded his country 's response to COVID-19 , despite a delayed response to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the virus across China and the world in January .
`` In China , after making painstaking efforts and enormous sacrifice , we have turned the tide on the virus and protected the life and health of our people , '' Xi had said in his speech at the opening of the 73rd World Health Assembly .
`` All along , we have acted with openness , transparency and responsibility . ''
Tensions have spiked between Beijing and Washington over COVID-19 .
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has accused China of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the public health crisis .
The epidemic began to make headlines in January , after Chinese citizens like Li Wenliang , a physician , took to social media to issue warnings of a virus that resembled SARS , a pathogen that swept across China and Hong Kong in 2003 .
Li died in February , after being accused by Chinese police of `` spreading rumors . ''

Delegates wearing face masks applaud as Chinese President Xi Jinping (C, bottom) arrives for the opening of the third plenary session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference in Beijing on Thursday. File Photo by Andy Wong/EPA-EFE
May 21 (UPI) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and senior Chinese Communist Party leaders attended the meeting of Beijing's top political advisory body on Thursday, ahead of the opening of the National People's Congress. During the third session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, held at the Great Hall of the People, delegates observed a moment of silence for "martyrs" who died while battling against the novel coronavirus, Chinese state-owned news agency Xinhua reported. Advertisement
In photos published by state media most delegates appeared to be wearing masks. Xi was seen not wearing antiviral gear.
Wang Yang, chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, delivered a work report of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee to the session, according to Xinhua.
The gathering comes a day ahead of the annual meeting of China's parliament, which was postponed due to the outbreak of the coronavirus that began last year in the central Chinese city of Wuhan.
On Monday Xi applauded his country's response to COVID-19, despite a delayed response to the epidemic in Wuhan that facilitated the spread of the virus across China and the world in January.
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"In China, after making painstaking efforts and enormous sacrifice, we have turned the tide on the virus and protected the life and health of our people," Xi had said in his speech at the opening of the 73rd World Health Assembly.
"All along, we have acted with openness, transparency and responsibility."
Tensions have spiked between Beijing and Washington over COVID-19. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has accused China of destroying virus samples and not being transparent during the public health crisis.
The epidemic began to make headlines in January, after Chinese citizens like Li Wenliang, a physician, took to social media to issue warnings of a virus that resembled SARS, a pathogen that swept across China and Hong Kong in 2003.
Li died in February, after being accused by Chinese police of "spreading rumors."


upi--2020-05-21--Coronavirus cases surpass 5 million worldwide after single-day spike

May 21 ( UPI ) -- Global COVID-19 cases passed 5 million Thursday after the World Health Organization announced the largest single-day increase in infections .
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus , the director-general of the World Health Organization , said Wednesday health officials reported 106,000 cases of COVID-16 over the previous 24 hours , two-thirds of which came from the United States , Russia , Brazil and India .
A live tracker of the virus by Johns Hopkins University tallied 5,000,561 infections of the deadly and contagious coronavirus early Thursday -- roughly six months after the coronavirus emerged early December in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spreading the world over .
More than 328,000 have died from the virus , the university counted .
The United States is by far the worst-affected country with more than tripled the number of infections and deaths than any other nation with 1.5 million patients and 93,000 deaths to the virus .
Russia recently jumped into second after consistently recording quintuple-digit daily case increases through May and had more than 317,550 cases as of Thursday morning , according to Russian government data .
Earlier this week , Brazil climbed to third in cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to fourth-place Britain 's nearly 250,000 .
In fifth , Spain had more than 232,500 cases followed by Italy with more than 227,000 infections , rounding out the countries with more than 200,000 cases .
China , the former epicenter , has fallen to 13th with nearly 83,000 infections .
On Thursday , Chinese health officials reported two new cases and zero deaths .
Only two deaths have been recorded in the country since mid-April , according to data from China 's National Health Commission .
Twelve countries have reported more than 100,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long way to go in this pandemic , '' Ghebreyesus said .

A woman wears a protective face mask while carrying a child that is protected by a face shield in the Chinatown section of Manhattan during the COVID-19 Pandemic in New York City on Tuesday. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
May 21 (UPI) -- Global COVID-19 cases passed 5 million Thursday after the World Health Organization announced the largest single-day increase in infections. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of the World Health Organization, said Wednesday health officials reported 106,000 cases of COVID-16 over the previous 24 hours, two-thirds of which came from the United States, Russia, Brazil and India. Advertisement
A live tracker of the virus by Johns Hopkins University tallied 5,000,561 infections of the deadly and contagious coronavirus early Thursday -- roughly six months after the coronavirus emerged early December in the central Chinese city of Wuhan before spreading the world over.
More than 328,000 have died from the virus, the university counted.
The United States is by far the worst-affected country with more than tripled the number of infections and deaths than any other nation with 1.5 million patients and 93,000 deaths to the virus.
Russia recently jumped into second after consistently recording quintuple-digit daily case increases through May and had more than 317,550 cases as of Thursday morning, according to Russian government data.
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Earlier this week, Brazil climbed to third in cases and on Thursday had nearly 300,000 infections to fourth-place Britain's nearly 250,000. In fifth, Spain had more than 232,500 cases followed by Italy with more than 227,000 infections, rounding out the countries with more than 200,000 cases.
China, the former epicenter, has fallen to 13th with nearly 83,000 infections. On Thursday, Chinese health officials reported two new cases and zero deaths. Only two deaths have been recorded in the country since mid-April, according to data from China's National Health Commission.
Twelve countries have reported more than 100,000 infections.
"We still have a long way to go in this pandemic," Ghebreyesus said.


upi--2020-05-21--Heart attack cases fall by half at ERs since start of COVID-19 outbreak

U.S. emergency rooms are seeing about half as many heart attack patients as usual -- and researchers suspect the new coronavirus is the reason why .
It 's not that fewer people are having heart attacks , doctors say .
Rather , it 's fear of getting COVID-19 keeping people from hospitals .
And the consequences can be deadly .
`` I 'm certainly not convinced that the true rate of heart attacks going down explains even a large part of this finding , '' said lead researcher Dr. Matthew Solomon , a cardiologist at Kaiser Permanente in Oakland , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something to do with the public 's response and fear about coming to the hospital and getting infected , '' he said .
Solomon noted that after other major events , such as 9/11 and earthquakes , the rate of heart attacks went up .
`` We know there 's a lot of public anxiety and stress and fear , and those things themselves could potentially be causing a higher rate of heart attack , '' Solomon said .
`` There are also a lot of reports that the emergency medical services are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and we worry that a good portion of those could be patients having heart attacks and strokes who did not seek care , '' he added .
For the study , Solomon and his colleagues used data from Kaiser Permanente Northern California , a health care plan that includes more than 4.4 million patients .
They compared the weekly rates of ER treatment for heart attacks before and after March 4 , the date of the first death from COVID-19 in northern California .
Looking at records from Jan. 1 through April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate of hospitalization for heart attacks dropped 48 percent during the coronavirus period .
Moreover , fewer people with preexisting heart disease or prior heart attack went to the emergency room during the COVID weeks of March 4 through April 14 , compared to the pre-COVID time frame , the researchers found .
A similar decrease for the COVID period was seen when the researchers looked at the same weekly periods in 2019 .
People should not be afraid to go to hospitals , Solomon said .
`` Hospitals might be one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , compared to the grocery store and other places , '' said researcher Dr. Alan Go , director of comprehensive clinical research at Kaiser Permanente .
`` There are some reports that find that transmission of COVID within our hospitals is incredibly low , '' he said .
Solomon agreed .
`` In all of our hospitals across the country , people have been working incredibly hard , creating triage systems to keep patients safe and to treat respiratory patients in one area and non-respiratory patients in another area , '' he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attack or stroke should call 911 , just as they would in normal times , Solomon said .
Dr. Gregg Fonarow , director of the Ahmanson-University of California , Los Angeles Cardiomyopathy Center , said this phenomenon is occurring across the country .
`` There have been a number of recent reports suggesting that during the COVID-19 pandemic , there has been a significant decrease in the number of patients presenting to the hospital with acute cardiovascular conditions , including heart attacks and stroke , '' said Fonarow , who was n't part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raise concerns that people with serious cardiovascular conditions are not seeking necessary care , and this may be contributing to the increase in cardiac arrest and deaths at home , he said .
It appears some people are delaying calling 911 and suffering fatal consequences in their home , Fonarow said .
`` It is critical for any individual who thinks they may be having a heart attack or stroke to call 911 at the first signs or symptoms .
Doing this quickly can save one 's life , and emergency rooms and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The report was published May 18 in a letter in the New England Journal of Medicine .
For more on heart attack , see the American Heart Association .

A refrigerated truck is parked outside of Lenox Health Greenwich Village emergency room in New York City on May 11. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
U.S. emergency rooms are seeing about half as many heart attack patients as usual -- and researchers suspect the new coronavirus is the reason why. It's not that fewer people are having heart attacks, doctors say. Rather, it's fear of getting COVID-19 keeping people from hospitals. Advertisement
And the consequences can be deadly.
"I'm certainly not convinced that the true rate of heart attacks going down explains even a large part of this finding," said lead researcher Dr. Matthew Solomon, a cardiologist at Kaiser Permanente in Oakland, Calif.
"We definitely think it has something to do with the public's response and fear about coming to the hospital and getting infected," he said.
Solomon noted that after other major events, such as 9/11 and earthquakes, the rate of heart attacks went up.
"We know there's a lot of public anxiety and stress and fear, and those things themselves could potentially be causing a higher rate of heart attack," Solomon said.
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"There are also a lot of reports that the emergency medical services are finding higher rates of death at home, and we worry that a good portion of those could be patients having heart attacks and strokes who did not seek care," he added.
For the study, Solomon and his colleagues used data from Kaiser Permanente Northern California, a health care plan that includes more than 4.4 million patients. They compared the weekly rates of ER treatment for heart attacks before and after March 4, the date of the first death from COVID-19 in northern California.
Looking at records from Jan. 1 through April 14, they found that the weekly rate of hospitalization for heart attacks dropped 48 percent during the coronavirus period.
Moreover, fewer people with preexisting heart disease or prior heart attack went to the emergency room during the COVID weeks of March 4 through April 14, compared to the pre-COVID time frame, the researchers found.
A similar decrease for the COVID period was seen when the researchers looked at the same weekly periods in 2019.
People should not be afraid to go to hospitals, Solomon said.
"Hospitals might be one of the safest places in America right now, compared to the grocery store and other places," said researcher Dr. Alan Go, director of comprehensive clinical research at Kaiser Permanente.
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"There are some reports that find that transmission of COVID within our hospitals is incredibly low," he said.
Solomon agreed. "In all of our hospitals across the country, people have been working incredibly hard, creating triage systems to keep patients safe and to treat respiratory patients in one area and non-respiratory patients in another area," he said.
Anyone with symptoms of a heart attack or stroke should call 911, just as they would in normal times, Solomon said.
Dr. Gregg Fonarow, director of the Ahmanson-University of California, Los Angeles Cardiomyopathy Center, said this phenomenon is occurring across the country.
"There have been a number of recent reports suggesting that during the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a significant decrease in the number of patients presenting to the hospital with acute cardiovascular conditions, including heart attacks and stroke," said Fonarow, who wasn't part of the study.
The findings further raise concerns that people with serious cardiovascular conditions are not seeking necessary care, and this may be contributing to the increase in cardiac arrest and deaths at home, he said.
It appears some people are delaying calling 911 and suffering fatal consequences in their home, Fonarow said.
"It is critical for any individual who thinks they may be having a heart attack or stroke to call 911 at the first signs or symptoms. Doing this quickly can save one's life, and emergency rooms and hospitals are safe," he said.
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The report was published May 18 in a letter in the New England Journal of Medicine.
More information
For more on heart attack, see the American Heart Association.
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