upi--2020-11-12--Tropical Storm Eta moves offshore near Florida-Georgia border

Nov. 11 ( UPI ) -- After making its second landfall in Florida overnight , Tropical Storm Eta began moving offshore , where it 's expected to skirt along the East Coast before heading out to sea .
In its 10 p.m. EST advisory , the National Hurricane Center said the center of the storm was located about 65 miles east-southeast of Charleston , S.C. , and was moving northeast at 17 mph .
It had maximum sustained winds of 45 .
Eta is likely to remain a tropical storm over the next few days as it picks up speed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cyclone over the weekend .
`` On the forecast track , Eta is expected to accelerate over the western Atlantic and move parallel to , but offshore of the Carolinas tonight and early Friday before heading well east of the Mid-Atlantic coast by late Friday , '' the NHC said in an earlier update .
There were no coastal watches or warnings in place throughout the region .
Eta was expected to bring an additional 1 inch to 3 inches of rain to the Florida peninsula Thursday , with localized flooding in some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to bring swells along the southeastern coast , including life-threatening surf and rip current conditions .

Tropical Storm Eta was expected to remain offshore over the next few days but bring life-threatening surf and rip currents to the southeastern coast of the United States. Photo courtesy of NOAA
Nov. 11 (UPI) -- After making its second landfall in Florida overnight, Tropical Storm Eta began moving offshore, where it's expected to skirt along the East Coast before heading out to sea. In its 10 p.m. EST advisory, the National Hurricane Center said the center of the storm was located about 65 miles east-southeast of Charleston, S.C., and was moving northeast at 17 mph. It had maximum sustained winds of 45. Advertisement
Eta is likely to remain a tropical storm over the next few days as it picks up speed, but could intensify into a non-tropical cyclone over the weekend.
"On the forecast track, Eta is expected to accelerate over the western Atlantic and move parallel to, but offshore of the Carolinas tonight and early Friday before heading well east of the Mid-Atlantic coast by late Friday," the NHC said in an earlier update.
There were no coastal watches or warnings in place throughout the region.
Eta was expected to bring an additional 1 inch to 3 inches of rain to the Florida peninsula Thursday, with localized flooding in some areas. The storm was also forecast to bring swells along the southeastern coast, including life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.


upi--2020-11-12--Security officials: 2020 election 'most secure' in U.S. history

Nov. 12 ( UPI ) -- A coalition of government security and elections officials said Thursday that the 2020 general election was `` the most secure in American history '' and that there is no evidence it was compromised in anyway , refuting claims of widespread voter fraud and tabulation irregularities by President Donald Trump , his campaign and his supporters .
The statement from the Department of Homeland Security 's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency and several other top elections expert groups stands in contrast with the president who has yet to conceded defeat in the election to his democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maintains he will still win .
The elections experts said in the the statement that they can assure the public in the security and integrity of the election .
`` The November 3rd election was the most secure in American history , '' the statement said , adding in bold type , `` There is no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes , changed votes or was in any way compromised . ''
`` While we know there are many unfounded claims and opportunities for misinformation about the process of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have the utmost confidence in the security and integrity of our elections , and you should too , '' the statement said .
`` When you have questions , turn to elections officials as trusted voices as they administer elections . ''
The elections experts said officials were currently reviewing and double checking the entire election process prior to finalizing its results and that when states are close , many will recount ballots .
They said all states have paper records of each vote , which allows them to check and recount @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and correct mistakes or errors if any should have occurred .
The statement was published while Trump and his campaign continue to make widely panned and unsupported claims of voter fraud .
The Trump re-election campaign has filed several lawsuits against states and counties as part of an effort to discredit results that show Biden has been awarded more than the required 270 electoral votes to be named president-elect .
Some of the lawsuits have already been rejected .
It also comes amid mounting national security concerns over Trump 's refusal to cooperate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continues to insists he will win a second term in office .
On Thursday , Trump claimed the election was `` rigged '' in a tweet that was flagged by Twitter for being disputed .
Ballots are still being counted following last week 's Election Day with three states still too close to call with Arizona and Georgia leaning toward Biden and North Carolina toward Trump , though all on slim margins , CNN and NBC reported .
If Trump were to secure all three , Biden would still win the presidency .

Top security and election officials said Thursday the 2020 presidential election was the most secure in U.S. history, refuting claims by President Donald Trump, his campaign and supporters who claim widespread voter fraud. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 12 (UPI) -- A coalition of government security and elections officials said Thursday the 2020 general election was "the most secure in American history" and that there is no evidence it was compromised in anyway, refuting claims of widespread voter fraud and tabulation irregularities by President Donald Trump, his campaign and supporters. The statement from the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency and several other top elections expert groups stands in contrast with the president, who has yet to concede defeat in the election to his democratic challenger, President-elect Joe Biden, and maintains he will still win. Advertisement
The elections experts said in the the statement they can assure the public of the security and integrity of the election.
"The Nov. 3 election was the most secure in American history," the statement said, adding in bold type, "There is no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes, changed votes or was in any way compromised."
"While we know there are many unfounded claims and opportunities for misinformation about the process of our elections, we can assure you we have the utmost confidence in the security and integrity of our elections, and you should, too," the statement said. "When you have questions, turn to elections officials as trusted voices, as they administer elections."
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The elections experts said officials were reviewing and double-checking the entire election process prior to finalizing its results and that when states are close, many will recount ballots.
They said all states have paper records of each vote, which allows them to check and recount every ballot if necessary and to identify and correct mistakes or errors if any have occurred.
The statement was published while Trump and his campaign continue to make widely panned and unsupported claims of voter fraud. The Trump re-election campaign has filed several lawsuits against states and counties as part of an effort to discredit results that show Biden has been awarded more than the required 270 electoral votes to be named president-elect. Some of the lawsuits have been rejected.
It also comes amid mounting national security concerns over Trump's refusal to cooperate with Biden's transition team as he continues to insists he will win a second term in office.
On Thursday, Trump claimed the election was "rigged" in a tweet that was flagged by Twitter for being disputed.
Ballots are still being counted following last week's Election Day with two states still too close to call: Georgia is leaning toward Biden and North Carolina toward Trump, though both on slim margins, CNN and NBC reported. If Trump were to secure both, Biden would still win the presidency.


upi--2020-11-12--Ivy League cancels winter sports, delays spring play due to COVID-19

Nov. 12 ( UPI ) -- The Ivy League has canceled winter sports for the 2020-21 season because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic , officials said Thursday night .
The conference also said it has postponed spring sports until at least the end of February and wo n't move competition for fall sports to the spring semester .
`` Regrettably , the current trends regarding transmission of the COVID-19 virus and subsequent protocols that must be put in place are impeding our strong desire to return to intercollegiate athletics competition in a safe manner , '' the Ivy League Council @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Student-athletes , their families and coaches are again being asked to make enormous sacrifices for the good of public health -- and we do not make this decision lightly .
While these decisions come with great disappointment and frustration , our commitment to the safety and lasting health of our student-athletes and wider communities must remain our highest priority . ''
Earlier this year , the Ivy League became the first conference to cancel its men 's and women 's conference tournaments .
The league also was the first to announce it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic .
Now , the Ivy League becomes the first conference to call off winter sports , including men 's and women 's basketball .
Other sports impacted include wrestling , swimming , indoor track and field and fencing .

The Ivy League calling off winter sports affects men's and women's basketball, wrestling, swimming, indoor track, and field and fencing. Photo by Kenneth C. Zirkel/Wikimedia Commons
Nov. 12 (UPI) -- The Ivy League has canceled winter sports for the 2020-21 season because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, officials said Thursday night. The conference also said it has postponed spring sports until at least the end of February and won't move competition for fall sports to the spring semester. Advertisement
"Regrettably, the current trends regarding transmission of the COVID-19 virus and subsequent protocols that must be put in place are impeding our strong desire to return to intercollegiate athletics competition in a safe manner," the Ivy League Council of Presidents said in a statement.
"Student-athletes, their families and coaches are again being asked to make enormous sacrifices for the good of public health -- and we do not make this decision lightly. While these decisions come with great disappointment and frustration, our commitment to the safety and lasting health of our student-athletes and wider communities must remain our highest priority."
Earlier this year, the Ivy League became the first conference to cancel its men's and women's conference tournaments. The league also was the first to announce it wouldn't conduct fall sports because of the pandemic.
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Now, the Ivy League becomes the first conference to call off winter sports, including men's and women's basketball. Other sports impacted include wrestling, swimming, indoor track and field and fencing.


upi--2020-11-12--Trump signs order banning investments he says benefit Chinese military

Nov. 12 ( UPI ) -- President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order preventing Americans from investing in Chinese companies the administration believes are benefiting the country 's military .
In addition to banning American individuals and companies from directly owning shares in the Chinese companies , it also prohibits them from participating in investment funds .
`` Many of these companies are publicly traded on stock exchanges around the world , and individual investors in the United States can unknowingly provide funds to them through passive institutional investment vehicles such as mutual funds and retirement plans , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The order , which goes into effect Jan. 11 , lists a number of Chinese companies it accuses of being connected to the Chinese military , including technology company Huawei .
`` The People 's Republic of China is increasingly exploiting United States capital to resource and to enable the development and modernization of its military , intelligence and other security apparatuses , '' the executive order said .
The Trump administration has accused Huawei of operating as the surveillance arm of the Chinese Communist Party .
The company , founded by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second-largest smartphone manufacturer in the world behind Samsung .
The U.S. Commerce Department in August expanded its restrictions on Huawei in an effort to prevent the company from obtaining semiconductor chips from U.S. companies to circumvent U.S. export controls .

President Donald Trump's order banning Americans from investing in certain Chinese companies goes into effect January 11. Photo by Chris Kleponis/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 12 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order preventing Americans from investing in Chinese companies the administration believes are benefiting the country's military. In addition to banning American individuals and companies from directly owning shares in the Chinese companies, it also prohibits them from participating in investment funds. Advertisement
"Many of these companies are publicly traded on stock exchanges around the world, and individual investors in the United States can unknowingly provide funds to them through passive institutional investment vehicles such as mutual funds and retirement plans," national security adviser Robert O'Brien said.
The order, which goes into effect Jan. 11, lists a number of Chinese companies it accuses of being connected to the Chinese military, including technology company Huawei.
"The People's Republic of China is increasingly exploiting United States capital to resource and to enable the development and modernization of its military, intelligence and other security apparatuses," the executive order said.
The Trump administration has accused Huawei of operating as the surveillance arm of the Chinese Communist Party. The company, founded by a former military official, is the second-largest smartphone manufacturer in the world behind Samsung.
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The U.S. Commerce Department in August expanded its restrictions on Huawei in an effort to prevent the company from obtaining semiconductor chips from U.S. companies to circumvent U.S. export controls.


upi--2020-11-12--Braves' Freddie Freeman wins NL MVP, White Sox's Jose Abreu earns AL MVP

Nov. 12 ( UPI ) -- Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman and Chicago White Sox slugger Jose Abreu won the 2020 Most Valuable Player awards Thursday night .
Freeman captured the National League MVP Award after receiving 28 of the 30 first-place ballots in voting by members of the Baseball Writers ' Association of America .
He beat out Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts , who received the remaining two first-place votes , and San Diego Padres infielder Manny Machado for the award .
Freeman , who battled COVID-19 about three weeks before the delayed Opening Day in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recorded a .341 batting average with 13 home runs and 53 RBIs in all 60 games .
He led MLB in doubles ( 23 ) and scored 51 runs .
Behind the 31-year-old Freeman , the Braves won the NL East and came within one win of reaching the World Series for the first time since 1999 .
Freeman , a four-time All-Star , is the sixth different player in franchise history to win the NL MVP Award .
Baseball Hall of Famer Chipper Jones most recently earned the honor in 1999 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ League MVP after helping guide the White Sox to their first postseason berth in 12 years .
The 33-year-old first baseman received 21 of the 30 first-place votes and 374 points from the BBWAA , edging Cleveland Indians third baseman Jose Ramirez and New York Yankees second baseman D.J .
LeMahieu for the award .
Ramirez was second with eight first-place votes and 303 points , while LeMahieu -- who won the AL batting crown -- came in third with one first-place vote and 230 points .
Abreu led the major leagues with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic-shortened 2020 season .
He batted .317 with 19 home runs and led the AL with 76 hits .
Abreu , a three-time All-Star selection , became the fourth player in White Sox history to win the AL MVP .
He joined Frank Thomas ( 1993-94 ) , Dick Allen ( 1972 ) and Nellie Fox ( 1959 ) .

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Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman (pictured) beat out Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts and San Diego Padres infielder Manny Machado for the NL MVP Award. File Photo by Tami Chappell/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 12 (UPI) -- Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman and Chicago White Sox slugger Jose Abreu won the 2020 Most Valuable Player awards Thursday night. Freeman captured the National League MVP Award after receiving 28 of the 30 first-place ballots in voting by members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America. He beat out Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts, who received the remaining two first-place votes, and San Diego Padres infielder Manny Machado for the award. Advertisement
Freeman, who battled COVID-19 about three weeks before the delayed Opening Day in late July, overcame the virus and recorded a .341 batting average with 13 home runs and 53 RBIs in all 60 games. He led MLB in doubles (23) and scored 51 runs.
Behind the 31-year-old Freeman, the Braves won the NL East and came within one win of reaching the World Series for the first time since 1999.
Freeman, a four-time All-Star, is the sixth different player in franchise history to win the NL MVP Award. Baseball Hall of Famer Chipper Jones most recently earned the honor in 1999.
Meanwhile, Abreu was named the American League MVP after helping guide the White Sox to their first postseason berth in 12 years.
The 33-year-old first baseman received 21 of the 30 first-place votes and 374 points from the BBWAA, edging Cleveland Indians third baseman Jose Ramirez and New York Yankees second baseman D.J. LeMahieu for the award.
Ramirez was second with eight first-place votes and 303 points, while LeMahieu -- who won the AL batting crown -- came in third with one first-place vote and 230 points.
The American League's best in 2020. José Abreu is the AL MVP. pic.twitter.com/eWMVJpr74T— MLB (@MLB) November 12, 2020
Abreu led the major leagues with 60 RBIs and 148 total bases in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. He batted .317 with 19 home runs and led the AL with 76 hits.
Abreu, a three-time All-Star selection, became the fourth player in White Sox history to win the AL MVP. He joined Frank Thomas (1993-94), Dick Allen (1972) and Nellie Fox (1959).


upi--2020-11-12--NATO receives final Alliance Ground Surveillance aircraft in Italy

Nov. 12 ( UPI ) -- NATO received the fifth and last NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance aircraft in its fleet at the Main Operating Base in Sigonella , Italy , this week .
According to NATO , the RQ-4D aircraft took off from Palmdale Air Force base in California Wednesday night and landed at Sigonella Thursday afternoon .
`` I am proud of the NATO AGS Force and of the entire AGS team .
The arrival of the fifth and final Phoenix Aircraft here in Sigonella is a landmark achievement for everyone .
We have accomplished a tremendous amount of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looking forward to continue our hard work with the new and final aircraft .
Along with our Italian hosts , SHAPE , NATO nations and industry we will continue expanding our infrastructure and capabilities in the coming months .
We remain committed to advancing this important capability to the benefit of the entire Alliance '' , said NATO AGS Force Commander Brigadier General Houston Cantwell .
NATO '' S AGS capability is a custom-made system designed to be shared with the entire alliance of 30 member nations .
The NATO AGS Management Agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrap up the required documentation and hand-over the system to the NATO AGS Force over the course of the next few months .
The first of the five aircraft in the fleet landed in Sigonella in November 2019 .
`` Roughly speaking one year after the first ferry flight , the landing of the fifth NATO AGS RQ-4D aircraft completes the Ferry Flight of AGS air segment .
No doubt , there is significant work ahead of us , but all of us here at NAGSMA are now focused on moving the Programme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the NATO AGS Force .
I am proud to be the General Manager of such a highly motivated , international team here at NAGSMA - it 's all about their teamwork and their commitment beyond expectations '' , said Brigadier General Volker Samanns , the General Manager of the Agency .

NATO has received the fifth and last NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance aircraft in Sigonella, Italy. Photo courtesy of NATO AGS Force
Nov. 12 (UPI) -- NATO received the fifth and last NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance aircraft in its fleet at the Main Operating Base in Sigonella, Italy, this week. According to NATO, the RQ-4D aircraft took off from Palmdale Air Force base in California Wednesday night and landed at Sigonella Thursday afternoon. Advertisement
"I am proud of the NATO AGS Force and of the entire AGS team. The arrival of the fifth and final Phoenix Aircraft here in Sigonella is a landmark achievement for everyone. We have accomplished a tremendous amount of training and preparation already and we are looking forward to continue our hard work with the new and final aircraft. Along with our Italian hosts, SHAPE, NATO nations and industry we will continue expanding our infrastructure and capabilities in the coming months. We remain committed to advancing this important capability to the benefit of the entire Alliance", said NATO AGS Force Commander Brigadier General Houston Cantwell.
NATO"S AGS capability is a custom-made system designed to be shared with the entire alliance of 30 member nations.
The NATO AGS Management Agency and the Italian Airworthiness Authorities will now wrap up the required documentation and hand-over the system to the NATO AGS Force over the course of the next few months.
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The first of the five aircraft in the fleet landed in Sigonella in November 2019.
"Roughly speaking one year after the first ferry flight, the landing of the fifth NATO AGS RQ-4D aircraft completes the Ferry Flight of AGS air segment. No doubt, there is significant work ahead of us, but all of us here at NAGSMA are now focused on moving the Programme forward and handing over the AGS system to the NATO AGS Force. I am proud to be the General Manager of such a highly motivated, international team here at NAGSMA - it's all about their teamwork and their commitment beyond expectations", said Brigadier General Volker Samanns, the General Manager of the Agency.


upi--2020-11-12--Paul Casey leads Masters in rain-shortened first day; Tiger starts strong

Nov. 12 ( UPI ) -- Paul Casey grabbed a two-shot lead before Thursday 's first round of the 2020 Masters was suspended in an unusual autumn edition of the tournament at Augusta National Golf Club .
This year 's opening round of the Masters , which was moved from its traditional April date because of the COVID-19 pandemic , had an early-morning rain delay that lasted about three hours .
Play resumed around 10:30 a.m. EST , but the delay prevented almost half of the field from finishing the first round .
Casey managed to finish , and did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 65 .
It matched his lowest score at Augusta and gave him a two-stroke advantage among those who were able to complete all 18 holes before it was too dark to continue .
`` So many people like myself are just excited to play this , '' said Casey , who carded his first-round 65 without any spectators in attendance .
`` This is a treat .
It always has been and always will be a real treat .
`` ...
I was vocal earlier in the year about not enjoying golf in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how the fan-less experience would be , and so far , I 've not enjoyed it .
I 've had nothing , or very little , to draw on from being out playing tournament golf .
The Masters , though , this week it still has a buzz to it .
There 's an energy and a little bit of vibe . ''
Webb Simpson , Xander Schauffele and Justin Thomas sat behind Casey at 5-under par .
Simpson and Schauffele were done for the day , but Thomas only reached hole No @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Defending champion Tiger Woods , Lee Westwood and Patrick Reed were among those who were at 4-under par and tied for fifth after the opening day .
Woods ' 4-under 68 marked his first bogey-free round in a major championship in more than a decade .
It was the first time in 23 Masters appearances that Woods began the tournament without a bogey .
`` I did everything well , '' Woods said .
`` I drove it well , hit my irons well , putted well .
The only real bad shot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was on [ hole No .
8 ] .
I had a perfect number [ 68 yards ] with a 60-degree sand wedge and hit it on the wrong shelf .
`` Other than that , I just did everything well .
The only thing I could say is that I wish I could have made a couple more putts .
Missed everything on the high side .
Putts just are n't moving , so it 's just different with as slow as they are , then with the weather delay , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Dustin Johnson , the world 's top-ranked player , was among the group who played in the afternoon and failed to finish before sundown .
He opened with an eagle on No .
2 and was 3-under par at the turn .
Rickie Fowler and Justin Rose also were 3-under about midway through the first round prior to the suspension of play .
Bryson DeChambeau opened with a 2-under 70 after 18 holes .
Rory McIlroy was at even-par at the turn , while Brooks Koepka was 2-over par after 10 holes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2-over par .
In total , 44 golfers remained on the course before Masters officials halted play at 5:30 p.m. EST .
The players who were still competing will now finish their opening round early Friday , pushing back the start of the second round until later in the morning .
Masters officials said the first round will resume at 7:30 a.m. EST Friday .
If no further delays occur , the second round will begin at about 9:35 a.m .

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Paul Casey of the United Kingdom gives a thumbs up as he walks off the ninth green during the first round of the 2020 Masters Tournament on Thursday at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 12 (UPI) -- Paul Casey grabbed a two-shot lead before Thursday's first round of the 2020 Masters was suspended in an unusual autumn edition of the tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. This year's opening round of the Masters, which was moved from its traditional April date because of the COVID-19 pandemic, had an early-morning rain delay that lasted about three hours. Play resumed around 10:30 a.m. EST, but the delay prevented almost half of the field from finishing the first round. Advertisement
Casey managed to finish, and did so in impressive fashion with a 7-under 65. It matched his lowest score at Augusta and gave him a two-stroke advantage among those who were able to complete all 18 holes before it was too dark to continue.
"So many people like myself are just excited to play this," said Casey, who carded his first-round 65 without any spectators in attendance. "This is a treat. It always has been and always will be a real treat.
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"... I was vocal earlier in the year about not enjoying golf in a pandemic. I didn't know how the fan-less experience would be, and so far, I've not enjoyed it. I've had nothing, or very little, to draw on from being out playing tournament golf. The Masters, though, this week it still has a buzz to it. There's an energy and a little bit of vibe."
With a birdie on No. 6 Casey reaches -7 with three holes to play. #themasters pic.twitter.com/yYQXbgatWe— The Masters (@TheMasters) November 12, 2020
Webb Simpson, Xander Schauffele and Justin Thomas sat behind Casey at 5-under par. Simpson and Schauffele were done for the day, but Thomas only reached hole No. 11 before play was suspended.
Defending champion Tiger Woods, Lee Westwood and Patrick Reed were among those who were at 4-under par and tied for fifth after the opening day. Woods' 4-under 68 marked his first bogey-free round in a major championship in more than a decade.
It was the first time in 23 Masters appearances that Woods began the tournament without a bogey.
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"I did everything well," Woods said. "I drove it well, hit my irons well, putted well. The only real bad shot I hit today, I think, was on [hole No. 8]. I had a perfect number [68 yards] with a 60-degree sand wedge and hit it on the wrong shelf.
"Other than that, I just did everything well. The only thing I could say is that I wish I could have made a couple more putts. Missed everything on the high side. Putts just aren't moving, so it's just different with as slow as they are, then with the weather delay, the amount of rain they've had."
Fist pump from Tiger following a birdie on No. 1. #themasters pic.twitter.com/W8VpXee3HP— The Masters (@TheMasters) November 12, 2020
Dustin Johnson, the world's top-ranked player, was among the group who played in the afternoon and failed to finish before sundown. He opened with an eagle on No. 2 and was 3-under par at the turn. Rickie Fowler and Justin Rose also were 3-under about midway through the first round prior to the suspension of play.
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Bryson DeChambeau opened with a 2-under 70 after 18 holes. Rory McIlroy was at even-par at the turn, while Brooks Koepka was 2-over par after 10 holes. Jordan Spieth finished his first round 2-over par.
In total, 44 golfers remained on the course before Masters officials halted play at 5:30 p.m. EST. The players who were still competing will now finish their opening round early Friday, pushing back the start of the second round until later in the morning.
Masters officials said the first round will resume at 7:30 a.m. EST Friday. If no further delays occur, the second round will begin at about 9:35 a.m.
Moments from the 2020 Masters Tournament


upi--2020-11-12--Justice Department: Prosecutors showed 'poor judgment' with Epstein deal

Nov. 12 ( UPI ) -- A Justice Department investigation into a deal that shaved off jail time for convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein found that federal prosecutors `` exercised poor judgment '' when negotiating the agreement , a report released Thursday indicated .
The internal probe said prosecutors should have ensured that Epstein 's victims were made aware of the 2007 plea hearing that resulted in Epstein serving 13 months in jail in Palm Beach County , Fla. During his sentence , the billionaire was allowed to continue working from his office during the day .
Despite this , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did n't break the law or engage in professional misconduct , and made no recommendations for action .
`` While [ the Office of Professional Responsibility ] did not find that department attorneys engaged in professional misconduct , OPR concluded that the victims were not treated with the forthrightness and sensitivity expected by the department , '' the report said .
Sen. Ben Sasse , R-Neb.
, who requested the internal probe into what he described as a `` sweetheart deal '' for Epstein , slammed investigators ' findings .
`` Letting a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and international sex trafficking is n't 'poor judgment ' -- it is a disgusting failure .
Americans ought to be enraged , '' Sasse said .
`` Jeffrey Epstein should be rotting behind bars today , but the Justice Department failed Epstein 's victims at every turn .
The DOJ 's crooked deal with Epstein effectively shut down investigations into his child sex trafficking ring and protected his co-conspirators in other states . ''
He called on the full OPR report to be made public .
Under the 2007 deal , prosecutors reduced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state prostitution charges , shaving off jail time .
Alex Acosta was the lead federal prosecutor in Miami at the time of the deal and took part in the negotiations .
He resigned as labor secretary in 2019 amid scrutiny of his involvement .
Acosta said federal prosecutors got involved in the case when it appeared as though state prosecutors did n't charge Epstein with the proper crimes .
He said the case originated with the state .
Acosta said prosecutors were worried they would not be able to convict Epstein had he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the time that his and other prosecutors ' actions on the case were n't as scrutinized as they are now .
Epstein died by suicide in August 2019 while he was in a Manhattan jail on new sex trafficking charges .

Jeffrey Epstein served 13 months on sex misconduct charges more than a decade ago and was in jail facing new charges in 2019 when he killed himself. File Photo courtesy of the New York State Division of Criminal Justice
Nov. 12 (UPI) -- A Justice Department investigation into a deal that shaved off jail time for convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein found that federal prosecutors "exercised poor judgment" when negotiating the agreement, a report released Thursday indicated. The internal probe said prosecutors should have ensured that Epstein's victims were made aware of the 2007 plea hearing that resulted in Epstein serving 13 months in jail in Palm Beach County, Fla. During his sentence, the billionaire was allowed to continue working from his office during the day. Advertisement
Despite this, though, the internal probe determined prosecutors didn't break the law or engage in professional misconduct, and made no recommendations for action.
"While [the Office of Professional Responsibility] did not find that department attorneys engaged in professional misconduct, OPR concluded that the victims were not treated with the forthrightness and sensitivity expected by the department," the report said.
Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., who requested the internal probe into what he described as a "sweetheart deal" for Epstein, slammed investigators' findings.
"Letting a well-connected billionaire get away with child rape and international sex trafficking isn't 'poor judgment' -- it is a disgusting failure. Americans ought to be enraged," Sasse said.
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"Jeffrey Epstein should be rotting behind bars today, but the Justice Department failed Epstein's victims at every turn. The DOJ's crooked deal with Epstein effectively shut down investigations into his child sex trafficking ring and protected his co-conspirators in other states."
He called on the full OPR report to be made public.
Under the 2007 deal, prosecutors reduced Epstein's federal sex trafficking charges to state prostitution charges, shaving off jail time.
Alex Acosta was the lead federal prosecutor in Miami at the time of the deal and took part in the negotiations. He resigned as labor secretary in 2019 amid scrutiny of his involvement.
Acosta said federal prosecutors got involved in the case when it appeared as though state prosecutors didn't charge Epstein with the proper crimes. He said the case originated with the state.
Acosta said prosecutors were worried they would not be able to convict Epstein had he gone to trial. He said at the time that his and other prosecutors' actions on the case weren't as scrutinized as they are now.
Epstein died by suicide in August 2019 while he was in a Manhattan jail on new sex trafficking charges.


upi--2020-11-12--U.S., allied countries begin NATO Missile Firing Installation 2020 in Greece

Nov. 12 ( UPI ) -- Troops from Germany , Greece , the Netherlands and the United States started NATO @ @ @ @ @ Greece Thursday .
The German-led multinational air defense live fire exercise began Thursday and will @ @ @ @ @ according to a press release from U.S. European Command .
More than 250 personnel are @ @ @ @ @ during which they will conduct a live fire exercise , establish a multinational surface-based air @ @ @ @ @ threat locations .
`` The exercise will enhance the combined U.S. and European ability to @ @ @ @ @ Europe while refining tactics , techniques and procedures , '' the press release said .
@ @ @ @ @ exercise is to improve interoperability with allied and partner forces , and increase readiness through @ @ @ @ @ air and missile defense capabilities . ''
U.S. Army Command also said NAMFI 2020 is @ @ @ @ @ not tied to any current events in the region .
Participating units from the United @ @ @ @ @ Air and Missile Command and the 678th Air Defense Artillery Brigade .

Brig. Gen. Gregory Brady, 10th Army Air and Missile Commanding General, walks with Lt. Col Justin Logan, commander 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, in Germany in May. Photo by Jason Epperson/U.S. Army
Nov. 12 (UPI) -- Troops from Germany, Greece, the Netherlands and the United States started NATO Missile Firing Installation 2020 in Greece Thursday. The German-led multinational air defense live fire exercise began Thursday and will continue through Nov. 27, according to a press release from U.S. European Command. Advertisement
More than 250 personnel are participating in the exercise, during which they will conduct a live fire exercise, establish a multinational surface-based air defense and display all aerial threat locations.
"The exercise will enhance the combined U.S. and European ability to control defensive fires in Eastern Europe while refining tactics, techniques and procedures," the press release said. "The purpose of this exercise is to improve interoperability with allied and partner forces, and increase readiness through the integration of land component air and missile defense capabilities."
U.S. Army Command also said NAMFI 2020 is a long-planned exercise that's not tied to any current events in the region.
Participating units from the United States include the 10th Army Air and Missile Command and the 678th Air Defense Artillery Brigade.


upi--2020-11-12--Pelosi, Schumer call on Republicans to accept Biden, focus on COVID-19 relief

Nov. 12 ( UPI ) -- Democratic leaders Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer on Thursday called on Republicans to accept the outcome of the presidential election so Congress can focus on passing a new coronavirus stimulus package .
The leaders said Republicans ' refusal to acknowledge President-elect Joe Biden 's win is holding up an already-lame duck session of Congress .
`` They 're engaged in an absurd circus right now , refusing to accept reality , '' House Speaker Pelosi said during a news conference .
`` Stop the circus and get to work on what really matters to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their economic security . ''
Senate Democratic leader Schumer accused congressional Republicans of pandering to President Donald Trump , who has refused to concede the election and leveled accusations of widespread election fraud without offering proof .
`` Senate Republicans : Stop denying reality .
Stop deliberately and recklessly sowing doubt about our democratic process .
And start focusing on COVID , '' Schumer said .
White House negotiators and House Democrats have been locked in a battle for months on a new round of aid in response to the COVID-19 pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ stimulus package in May , but the Republican-led Senate has refused to accept that large of a price tag .
The House offered up a $ 2 trillion revision in recent weeks , but Republicans said they wanted to get the funding down to about $ 500 billion .
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell again shot down Democrats ' call for a large stimulus Thursday , saying it 's `` not a place I think we 're willing to go . ''
`` I gather she and the Democratic leader in the Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' McConnell said in reference to Pelosi and Schumer .
Not all Republicans in Congress , though , are refusing to accept the outcome of the Nov. 3 election .
Both Sens .
James Lankford of Oklahoma and Chuck Grassley of Iowa have called on the Trump administration to give Biden access to daily intelligence briefs .
Traditionally , the president-elect begins receiving daily intelligence briefings after Election Day so they 're prepared to handle national security threats the day they take office .
Biden so far has been denied those briefings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Services Administration to pay for the transition -- offices in each government agency , computers and about $ 9.9 million to begin hiring new personnel .
Biden 's intelligence briefings need `` to occur so that regardless of the outcome of the election , whichever way that it goes , people can be ready for that actual task , '' Lankford told KRMG radio Wednesday .
`` If that 's not occurring by Friday , I will step in , '' he added .
Lankford is a member of the Senate homeland security @ @ @ @ @

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Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Democratic leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., speak at a news conference on Capitol Hill on Thursday. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 12 (UPI) -- Democratic leaders Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer on Thursday called on Republicans to accept the outcome of the presidential election so Congress can focus on passing a new coronavirus stimulus package. The leaders said Republicans' refusal to acknowledge President-elect Joe Biden's win is holding up an already-lame duck session of Congress. Advertisement
"They're engaged in an absurd circus right now, refusing to accept reality," House Speaker Pelosi said during a news conference. "Stop the circus and get to work on what really matters to the American people -- their health and their economic security."
Senate Democratic leader Schumer accused congressional Republicans of pandering to President Donald Trump, who has refused to concede the election and leveled accusations of widespread election fraud without offering proof.
"Senate Republicans: Stop denying reality. Stop deliberately and recklessly sowing doubt about our democratic process. And start focusing on COVID," Schumer said.
White House negotiators and House Democrats have been locked in a battle for months on a new round of aid in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The House passed a $3 trillion stimulus package in May, but the Republican-led Senate has refused to accept that large of a price tag.
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The House offered up a $2 trillion revision in recent weeks, but Republicans said they wanted to get the funding down to about $500 billion.
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell again shot down Democrats' call for a large stimulus Thursday, saying it's "not a place I think we're willing to go."
"I gather she and the Democratic leader in the Senate still are looking at something dramatically larger," McConnell said in reference to Pelosi and Schumer.
Not all Republicans in Congress, though, are refusing to accept the outcome of the Nov. 3 election. Both Sens. James Lankford of Oklahoma and Chuck Grassley of Iowa have called on the Trump administration to give Biden access to daily intelligence briefs.
Traditionally, the president-elect begins receiving daily intelligence briefings after Election Day so they're prepared to handle national security threats the day they take office.
Biden so far has been denied those briefings as well as funding from the General Services Administration to pay for the transition -- offices in each government agency, computers and about $9.9 million to begin hiring new personnel.
Biden's intelligence briefings need "to occur so that regardless of the outcome of the election, whichever way that it goes, people can be ready for that actual task," Lankford told KRMG radio Wednesday.
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"If that's not occurring by Friday, I will step in," he added.
Lankford is a member of the Senate homeland security and governmental affairs committee.


upi--2020-11-12--Australia to prosecute war crimes alleged in upcoming report

Nov. 12 ( UPI ) -- Australia 's government is preparing to release a report on the conduct of special forces during the conflict in Afghanistan -- and will appoint a special investigator to prosecute allegations of war crimes by Australian soldiers .
Prime minister Scott Morrison said the report would likely force Australians to `` deal with honest and brutal truths where expectations and standards may not have been met . ''
`` This will be difficult and hard news for Australians , I can assure you , '' Morrison said .
`` It is going to very difficult @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community .
It is going to be difficult for all of us , but what we are seeking to do as a government , I think what we have to do as a country , is to absorb this in a way that enables us to uphold the integrity of our justice system , uphold the integrity of our defence forces . ''
The report is due to be released next week .
The majority of allegations remain unknown , but some allegations -- including unlawful killings of Afghan civilians and mistreatment of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported by Australian media .
`` Given the likely allegations of serious and possibly criminal misconduct , the matters raised in the inquiry must be assessed , investigated and , where allegations are substantiated , prosecuted in court , '' Morrison said .
The Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force has been investigating allegations of unlawful killings and other possible breaches of international law since 2016 .

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks to the media during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, in March. Photo by Lukas Coch/EPA-EFE
Nov. 12 (UPI) -- Australia's government is preparing to release a report on the conduct of special forces during the conflict in Afghanistan -- and will appoint a special investigator to prosecute allegations of war crimes by Australian soldiers. Prime minister Scott Morrison said the report would likely force Australians to "deal with honest and brutal truths where expectations and standards may not have been met." Advertisement
"This will be difficult and hard news for Australians, I can assure you," Morrison said. "It is going to very difficult for our serving community and our veteran community. It is going to be difficult for all of us, but what we are seeking to do as a government, I think what we have to do as a country, is to absorb this in a way that enables us to uphold the integrity of our justice system, uphold the integrity of our defence forces."
The report is due to be released next week.
The majority of allegations remain unknown, but some allegations -- including unlawful killings of Afghan civilians and mistreatment of prisoners of war -- have been previously reported by Australian media.
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"Given the likely allegations of serious and possibly criminal misconduct, the matters raised in the inquiry must be assessed, investigated and, where allegations are substantiated, prosecuted in court," Morrison said.
The Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force has been investigating allegations of unlawful killings and other possible breaches of international law since 2016.


upi--2020-11-12--Eliminating greenhouse gas emissions may not be enough to stop global warming

Nov. 12 ( UPI ) -- Even if global greenhouse gas emissions are reduced to zero by the end of the year , new research out of Norway suggests Earth 's climate will , after a brief decline in global temperatures , continue to warm through at least 2500 .
By 2500 , simulations suggest Earth 's climate will be 3 degrees Celsius warmer , on average , than it was in 1850 -- even with rapid elimination of human greenhouse gas emissions .
Sea levels will be at least eight feet higher , according to the model .
Using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the BI Norwegian Business School analyzed the relationship between greenhouse gas emission reductions and changes in the global climate between 1850 and the present .
`` We then used the resulting set of estimated causal relations -- the causal structure of the model -- to calculate future developments , '' lead author Jorgen Randers told UPI in an email .
`` Each run , or each future scenario , is driven by an exogenously determined rate of man-made greenhouse gas emissions , '' said Randers , a professor of climate strategy at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ climate models , which are exceedingly complex , requiring lots of time and computing power , the model developed by Randers and his research partners is rather lean .
`` Ours is a relatively simple model compared to the big general circulation models that are commonly used , '' Randers said .
`` It runs in seconds on a laptop computer . ''
The model showed that if greenhouse gas emissions peak during the 2030s and are reduced to zero by the end of the century , global temperatures will be 3 degrees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 1850 .
Sea levels will rise nearly 10 feet .
The findings , published Thursday in the journal Scientific Reports , echo those of previous studies , which have shown some insignificant level of warming and sea level rise has already been baked into Earth 's climate systems .
The authors of the new paper suspect Earth will continue to warm , even after human-caused greenhouse gas emissions are eliminated , because Earth 's permafrost will continue to melt in the coming centuries , releasing water vapor , methane and CO2 -- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ atmosphere .
Additionally , the new simulations suggest the loss of polar ice will result in less of the sun 's energy being reflected back into space .
The authors say their findings are n't permission to give up .
`` We keep stressing that humanity can improve the situation dramatically by phasing out the use of fossil fuels as soon as possible -- to limit the temperature rise before self-sustained melting accelerates -- and by preparing for the large scale removal of CO2 from the atmosphere , '' Randers said .
Randers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in their climate model , as there are in most climate models .
That 's one of the reasons he and his colleagues tried to keep their model as simple as possible , so that other scientists could easily use it for their own research .
`` We published in order to get the big model builders to check whether the phenomenon of self-sustained melting of the permafrost also can be observed in their models when they run them far enough into the future , '' Randers said .

With permafrost continuing to melt, researchers say that even the elimination of human caused greenhouse gas emissions is unlikely to stop the Earth from warming. Photo by FlorenceD-pix /Pixabay
Nov. 12 (UPI) -- Even if global greenhouse gas emissions are reduced to zero by the end of the year, new research out of Norway suggests Earth's climate will, after a brief decline in global temperatures, continue to warm through at least 2500. By 2500, simulations suggest Earth's climate will be 3 degrees Celsius warmer, on average, than it was in 1850 -- even with rapid elimination of human greenhouse gas emissions. Sea levels will be at least eight feet higher, according to the model. Advertisement
Using data from various IPCC reports, researchers at the BI Norwegian Business School analyzed the relationship between greenhouse gas emission reductions and changes in the global climate between 1850 and the present.
"We then used the resulting set of estimated causal relations -- the causal structure of the model -- to calculate future developments," lead author Jorgen Randers told UPI in an email.
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"Each run, or each future scenario, is driven by an exogenously determined rate of man-made greenhouse gas emissions," said Randers, a professor of climate strategy at BI.
Unlike many of the leading climate models, which are exceedingly complex, requiring lots of time and computing power, the model developed by Randers and his research partners is rather lean.
"Ours is a relatively simple model compared to the big general circulation models that are commonly used," Randers said. "It runs in seconds on a laptop computer."
The model showed that if greenhouse gas emissions peak during the 2030s and are reduced to zero by the end of the century, global temperatures will be 3 degrees Celsius warmer by 2500 than they were in 1850. Sea levels will rise nearly 10 feet.
The findings, published Thursday in the journal Scientific Reports, echo those of previous studies, which have shown some insignificant level of warming and sea level rise has already been baked into Earth's climate systems.
The authors of the new paper suspect Earth will continue to warm, even after human-caused greenhouse gas emissions are eliminated, because Earth's permafrost will continue to melt in the coming centuries, releasing water vapor, methane and CO2 -- all planet-warming gases -- into Earth's atmosphere.
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Additionally, the new simulations suggest the loss of polar ice will result in less of the sun's energy being reflected back into space.
The authors say their findings aren't permission to give up.
"We keep stressing that humanity can improve the situation dramatically by phasing out the use of fossil fuels as soon as possible -- to limit the temperature rise before self-sustained melting accelerates -- and by preparing for the large scale removal of CO2 from the atmosphere," Randers said.
Randers acknowledged that there are plenty of uncertainties in their climate model, as there are in most climate models. That's one of the reasons he and his colleagues tried to keep their model as simple as possible, so that other scientists could easily use it for their own research.
"We published in order to get the big model builders to check whether the phenomenon of self-sustained melting of the permafrost also can be observed in their models when they run them far enough into the future," Randers said.


upi--2020-11-12--Man takes plane home with $1M lottery ticket in his pocket

Nov. 12 ( UPI ) -- A North Carolina man said he forgot about the scratch-off lottery tickets he bought before a trip to Colorado and ended up flying home with a $ 1 million winner in his pocket .
Yaheem Jones , of Creswell , told North Carolina Education Lottery officials he bought some scratch-offs from Marks Supermarket in Creswell just before departing on a trip to Denver .
`` I bought the tickets before I left for Denver and just threw them in my book bag , '' Jones said .
`` I flew all the way to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did n't even know I was a winner until a couple of days later . ''
Jones said he was cleaning out his bag before flying home when he rediscovered the forgotten tickets .
`` I had the flight pass , my itinerary , my checked bag passes and I see the tickets , '' he recalled .
Jones scratched the tickets off and discovered one of them , a $ 10 Red Hot Riches ticket , was a $ 1 million top prize winner .
The winner said he ended up flying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ticket in his pocket .
`` I did n't take my hand out of my pocket , '' he said .
`` Not one whole time ! ''
Jones said the prize money will `` help a lot '' and the majority will go into savings .

Yaheem Jones of Creswell, N.C., said he had forgotten about a stack of scratch-off tickets he had purchased before a trip to Colorado until he rediscovered them while preparing to fly home and scratched off a $1 million prize. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Nov. 12 (UPI) -- A North Carolina man said he forgot about the scratch-off lottery tickets he bought before a trip to Colorado and ended up flying home with a $1 million winner in his pocket. Yaheem Jones, of Creswell, told North Carolina Education Lottery officials he bought some scratch-offs from Marks Supermarket in Creswell just before departing on a trip to Denver. Advertisement
"I bought the tickets before I left for Denver and just threw them in my book bag," Jones said. "I flew all the way to Denver with them and everything and I didn't even know I was a winner until a couple of days later."
Jones said he was cleaning out his bag before flying home when he rediscovered the forgotten tickets.
"I had the flight pass, my itinerary, my checked bag passes and I see the tickets," he recalled.
Jones scratched the tickets off and discovered one of them, a $10 Red Hot Riches ticket, was a $1 million top prize winner.
The winner said he ended up flying home to North Carolina with the winning ticket in his pocket.
"I didn't take my hand out of my pocket," he said. "Not one whole time!"
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Jones said the prize money will "help a lot" and the majority will go into savings.


upi--2020-11-12--Watch: Turkmenistan president erects golden statue of favorite dog breed

Nov. 12 ( UPI ) -- The president of Turkmenistan honored his favorite breed of dog by erecting a golden @ @ @ @ @ in the country 's capital .
President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov , whose affection for the Alabai @ @ @ @ @ to release a book about the breed , unveiled the golden statue in the center @ @ @ @ @ .
Turkmenistan 's state-run news agency said the statue captures the `` dignity and self-assuredness @ @ @ @ @ which is also known as a central Asian shepherd .
Officially released footage from the @ @ @ @ @ a wraparound screen installed on the monument 's base playing videos of Alabais in action @ @ @ @ @ as part of an infrastructure initiative in Ashgabat that includes several new high-rise residential buildings @ @ @ @ @ .

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Nov. 12 (UPI) -- The president of Turkmenistan honored his favorite breed of dog by erecting a golden canine statue on a pedestal in the country's capital.
President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, whose affection for the Alabai dog breed previously led him to release a book about the breed, unveiled the golden statue in the center of a roundabout in Ashbagat.
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Turkmenistan's state-run news agency said the statue captures the "dignity and self-assuredness" of the Alabai, which is also known as a central Asian shepherd.
Officially released footage from the unveiling of the statue shows a wraparound screen installed on the monument's base playing videos of Alabais in action.
The statue was installed as part of an infrastructure initiative in Ashgabat that includes several new high-rise residential buildings and a new shopping center.


upi--2020-11-12--Markets slide as coronavirus fears escalate

Nov. 12 ( UPI ) -- Stocks slid Thursday as more states and cities announced new lockdowns and restrictions amid growing coronavirus numbers , raising concerns about the economy .
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 319 points , or 1.1 % .
The S & P 500 dropped 1 % and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 0.7 % .
The slide erased much of the gains from earlier in the week in response to positive COVID-19 vaccine trial news .
The United States confirmed another record-breaking 143,200 new COVID-19 cases Wednesday , with a spike in deaths of about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prompted several states and cities , including New York , Ohio and Chicago , to implement new restrictions on gatherings and encourage residents to stay home .
The new restrictions are increasing fears of another hit to the U.S. economy after nearly nationwide lockdowns in the spring prompted a sharp rise in unemployment levels .
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell on Thursday warned that though the economy is recovering from the hits taken earlier in the year , it 'll likely never look like it did before the pandemic .
`` We 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he said during a virtual panel with the European Central Bank 's Forum on Central Banking .
Powell said Americans ' growing reliance on technology for remote working will likely have lasting effects on how people work in the future .
He said there also will be gaps on regrowing economic stability of certain Americans .
`` Even after the unemployment rate goes down and there 's a vaccine , there 's going to be a probably substantial group of workers who are going to need support as they 're finding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because it 's going to be different in some fundamental ways .

Stocks lost much of the gains they made earlier in the week after positive vaccine trial news. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 12 (UPI) -- Stocks slid Thursday as more states and cities announced new lockdowns and restrictions amid growing coronavirus numbers, raising concerns about the economy. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 319 points, or 1.1%. The S&P 500 dropped 1% and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 0.7%. Advertisement
The slide erased much of the gains from earlier in the week in response to positive COVID-19 vaccine trial news.
The United States confirmed another record-breaking 143,200 new COVID-19 cases Wednesday, with a spike in deaths of about 2,000. The surge in cases has prompted several states and cities, including New York, Ohio and Chicago, to implement new restrictions on gatherings and encourage residents to stay home.
The new restrictions are increasing fears of another hit to the U.S. economy after nearly nationwide lockdowns in the spring prompted a sharp rise in unemployment levels.
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell on Thursday warned that though the economy is recovering from the hits taken earlier in the year, it'll likely never look like it did before the pandemic.
"We're recovering, but to a different economy," he said during a virtual panel with the European Central Bank's Forum on Central Banking.
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Powell said Americans' growing reliance on technology for remote working will likely have lasting effects on how people work in the future. He said there also will be gaps on regrowing economic stability of certain Americans.
"Even after the unemployment rate goes down and there's a vaccine, there's going to be a probably substantial group of workers who are going to need support as they're finding their way in the post-pandemic economy, because it's going to be different in some fundamental ways.


upi--2020-11-12--Survey: 40% in U.S. planning large gatherings for holidays despite COVID-19 warnings

Nov. 12 ( UPI ) -- Nearly 40 % of U.S. residents plan to participate in gatherings of 10 or more people this holiday season despite concerns over the spread of COVID-19 , according to the findings of a survey released Thursday by Ohio State University .
In addition , one-third of respondents said they would n't ask attendees at holiday parties with family or friends to wear masks , and just over 25 % indicated that they would n't practice social distancing , the data showed .
`` We 're going to look back at what happened during this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we part of the solution or were we part of the problem ? '
'' Dr. Iahn Gonsenhauser , part of the team that conducted the survey , said in a statement .
`` When you 're gathered together around the table , engaged in conversation , sitting less than 6 feet apart with your masks down , even in a small group , that 's when the spread of this virus can really happen , '' said Gonsenhauser , chief quality and patient safety officer at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 2,000 U.S. residents on their holiday plans in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic .
As of Thursday afternoon , nearly 10.5 million people nationally have been sickened by the virus , and more than 240,000 have died , according to figures from Johns Hopkins University .
In recent weeks , federal , state and local public health officials have advised against traveling or partaking in large social gatherings as the holiday season approaches to limit the risk of spreading the new coronavirus to vulnerable loved ones .
At the very least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happen without wearing a mask and practicing social distancing , or staying 6 feet apart .
Those at risk for severe COVID-19 include the elderly , as well as those with diabetes , heart disease and high blood pressure , all of which are common across the United States , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
Still , 38 % of respondents to the Ohio State survey indicated they would host or attend a gathering with 10 or more people during the holidays and 33 % would not ask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
However , 73 % of respondents said they would practice social distancing during the holidays and 79 % suggested that they would celebrate or gather only with people with whom they live , the data showed .
Just over 80 % indicated that they would ask family and friends invited to events not to come if they had symptoms of COVID-19 .
`` If you have someone in your household who 's high risk and you 're in a low incidence area , you 're going to want to think twice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coming from an area where there 's a lot of virus in the community , '' Gonsenhauser said .

Many Americans plan to ignore COVID-19 guidelines for holiday gatherings, a new survey has found. Photo by roxanabowgen/Pixabay
Nov. 12 (UPI) -- Nearly 40% of U.S. residents plan to participate in gatherings of 10 or more people this holiday season despite concerns over the spread of COVID-19, according to the findings of a survey released Thursday by Ohio State University. In addition, one-third of respondents said they wouldn't ask attendees at holiday parties with family or friends to wear masks, and just over 25% indicated that they wouldn't practice social distancing, the data showed. Advertisement
"We're going to look back at what happened during this holiday season and ask ourselves, 'Were we part of the solution or were we part of the problem?'" Dr. Iahn Gonsenhauser, part of the team that conducted the survey, said in a statement.
"When you're gathered together around the table, engaged in conversation, sitting less than 6 feet apart with your masks down, even in a small group, that's when the spread of this virus can really happen," said Gonsenhauser, chief quality and patient safety officer at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
Researchers at Ohio State surveyed more than 2,000 U.S. residents on their holiday plans in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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As of Thursday afternoon, nearly 10.5 million people nationally have been sickened by the virus, and more than 240,000 have died, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University.
In recent weeks, federal, state and local public health officials have advised against traveling or partaking in large social gatherings as the holiday season approaches to limit the risk of spreading the new coronavirus to vulnerable loved ones.
At the very least, they've asked that gatherings not happen without wearing a mask and practicing social distancing, or staying 6 feet apart.
Those at risk for severe COVID-19 include the elderly, as well as those with diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure, all of which are common across the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Still, 38% of respondents to the Ohio State survey indicated they would host or attend a gathering with 10 or more people during the holidays and 33% would not ask others to wear masks, the researchers said.
However, 73% of respondents said they would practice social distancing during the holidays and 79% suggested that they would celebrate or gather only with people with whom they live, the data showed.
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Just over 80% indicated that they would ask family and friends invited to events not to come if they had symptoms of COVID-19.
"If you have someone in your household who's high risk and you're in a low incidence area, you're going to want to think twice about having a celebration where people are coming from an area where there's a lot of virus in the community," Gonsenhauser said.


upi--2020-11-12--Lawyers for Lisa Montgomery catch COVID-19, ask for stay of execution

Nov. 12 ( UPI ) -- The attorneys for a woman on death row for killing a pregnant Missouri woman and stealing her baby sued for a stay of execution Thursday after they say they caught COVID-19 while traveling to meet with their client .
Lisa Montgomery , 52 , of Kansas , is set to be executed Dec. 8 at the U.S. Penitentiary Terre Haute , Ind .
She 's one of several death row inmates set to be put to death this year after the U.S. Justice Department resumed federal executions this summer .
Montgomery was sentenced to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Bobbie Jo Stinnett .
Prosecutors said Montgomery visited Stinnett 's home under the guise of purchasing a puppy .
Once there , though , she strangled the woman , who was eight months pregnant , then cut the baby from her body .
Montgomery tried to pass the newborn off as her own .
Police later recovered the baby and returned her safe to her father .
Montgomery 's lawyers have visited her multiple times since the federal government scheduled her execution in October , traveling from Nashville to Fort Worth , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of rental cars and hotels .
Montgomery is housed at Federal Medical Center Carswell , but would be transferred to the facility at Terre Haute if her execution proceeds .
Three days after their Nov. 2 visit , attorney Amy Harwell became ill with COVID-19 symptoms and fellow attorney Kelley Henry lost her sense of smell .
`` Both have since tested positive for the virus and are experiencing debilitating symptoms , including overwhelming fatigue , headaches , chills , sweats , gastro-intestinal distress , inability to focus , and impaired thinking and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their doctors to strictly quarantine , '' a release announcing the lawsuit said .
They 've sued , asking for a preliminary injunction staying Montgomery 's execution as they recover from their illnesses .
Cornell Law School 's International Human Rights Clinic , which is representing Montgomery , said the pandemic has made it difficult for her attorneys to do the investigations necessary to give her effective counsel in the last weeks before her scheduled execution .
`` Mrs. Montgomery 's lawyers can not represent her because they are seriously ill , through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the contrary , they are sick because Defendant [ Attorney General William ] Barr recklessly scheduled Mrs. Montgomery 's execution in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic .
But for Barr 's action , counsel would not have been stricken with the disease that is ravaging the country .
But the pandemic affects more than counsel .
Because of COVID-19 , the experts familiar with her case can not assess her mental state and therefore can not participate in the clemency process , '' the lawsuit says .
Barr resumed federal executions in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lewis Lee , Wesley Purkey and Dustin Honken were executed in July ; Lezmond Mitchell and Keith Dwayne Nelson in August ; and William LeCroy and Vialva in September .
Several of the inmates attempted to have their executions delayed because of the pandemic , but were unsuccessful .
On Wednesday , hundreds of supporters , anti-domestic violence groups and prosecutors sent letters to President Donald Trump asking him to commute Montgomery 's death sentence .
They said she should be spared the death penalty because she has severe mental illness after experiencing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a child .
They said her mother trafficked her as a teenager .

Nov. 12 (UPI) -- The attorneys for a woman on death row for killing a pregnant Missouri woman and stealing her baby sued for a stay of execution Thursday after they say they caught COVID-19 while traveling to meet with their client.
Lisa Montgomery, 52, of Kansas, is set to be executed Dec. 8 at the U.S. Penitentiary Terre Haute, Ind. She's one of several death row inmates set to be put to death this year after the U.S. Justice Department resumed federal executions this summer.
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Montgomery was sentenced to death in 2007 for the 2004 death of Bobbie Jo Stinnett. Prosecutors said Montgomery visited Stinnett's home under the guise of purchasing a puppy. Once there, though, she strangled the woman, who was eight months pregnant, then cut the baby from her body. Montgomery tried to pass the newborn off as her own.
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Police later recovered the baby and returned her safe to her father.
Montgomery's lawyers have visited her multiple times since the federal government scheduled her execution in October, traveling from Nashville to Fort Worth, Texas, by air and making use of rental cars and hotels.
Montgomery is housed at Federal Medical Center Carswell, but would be transferred to the facility at Terre Haute if her execution proceeds.
Three days after their Nov. 2 visit, attorney Amy Harwell became ill with COVID-19 symptoms and fellow attorney Kelley Henry lost her sense of smell.
"Both have since tested positive for the virus and are experiencing debilitating symptoms, including overwhelming fatigue, headaches, chills, sweats, gastro-intestinal distress, inability to focus, and impaired thinking and judgment. They have been ordered by their doctors to strictly quarantine," a release announcing the lawsuit said.
They've sued, asking for a preliminary injunction staying Montgomery's execution as they recover from their illnesses.
Cornell Law School's International Human Rights Clinic, which is representing Montgomery, said the pandemic has made it difficult for her attorneys to do the investigations necessary to give her effective counsel in the last weeks before her scheduled execution.
"Mrs. Montgomery's lawyers cannot represent her because they are seriously ill, through no fault of their own. On the contrary, they are sick because Defendant [Attorney General William] Barr recklessly scheduled Mrs. Montgomery's execution in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. But for Barr's action, counsel would not have been stricken with the disease that is ravaging the country. But the pandemic affects more than counsel. Because of COVID-19, the experts familiar with her case cannot assess her mental state and therefore cannot participate in the clemency process," the lawsuit says.
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Barr resumed federal executions in July after a 17-year hiatus. Daniel Lewis Lee, Wesley Purkey and Dustin Honken were executed in July; Lezmond Mitchell and Keith Dwayne Nelson in August; and William LeCroy and Vialva in September.
Several of the inmates attempted to have their executions delayed because of the pandemic, but were unsuccessful.
On Wednesday, hundreds of supporters, anti-domestic violence groups and prosecutors sent letters to President Donald Trump asking him to commute Montgomery's death sentence. They said she should be spared the death penalty because she has severe mental illness after experiencing physical, emotional and sexual abuse as a child. They said her mother trafficked her as a teenager.


upi--2020-11-12--In Photos: Moments from the 2020 Masters Tournament

Tiger Woods watches his tee shot in the first round of the Masters Tournament in Augusta on Thursday .
Photo @ @ @

Dustin Johnson, wearing the Green Jacket after winning the 54th Masters, embraces fiancee Paulina Gretzky at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga. on Sunday. Johnson shot a record 20-under par over four days, including a final-round 68. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI


upi--2020-11-12--Another record: U.S. adds 143,000 COVID-19 cases, deaths spike

Nov. 12 ( UPI ) -- The surge of COVID-19 cases in the United States is showing no signs of slowing , as the country set a case record for the second straight day .
Updated data from researchers at Johns Hopkins University showed 143,200 cases were added on Wednesday , topping the record set the day before by almost 3,000 cases .
Wednesday was the fifth single-day case record in nine days .
There was also a major spike in deaths on Wednesday , about 2,000 nationwide , according to the data .
It 's the first time since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were added in a single day .
In the last nine days , the United States has added over 1 million new coronavirus cases .
Since the start of the pandemic , there have been 10.4 million cases and 241,800 deaths nationally , according to Johns Hopkins .
The seven-day national average climbed to 125,000 new cases per day , a 40 % increase over last week .
There was a record number of hospitalizations Wednesday , as well -- 65,000 , including 12,500 in intensive care , according to the COVID Tracking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nation 's top infectious diseases expert , said Thursday that while vaccines may be capable of ending the current pandemic , he warned that COVID-19 may never by completely eradicated .
`` Certainly , it is not going to be a pandemic for a lot longer because I believe the vaccines are going to turn that around , '' he said during a webinar sponsored by the British think tank Chatham House .
His assessment came after pharma companies Pfizer and BioNTech reported that early results showed their vaccine candidate was more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But , he added , `` we have got to continue to double down on public health measures '' in the meantime and warned that the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 become a permanent presence .
`` I doubt we are going to eradicate this , '' Fauci said .
`` I think we need to plan that this is something we may need to maintain control over chronically .
It may be something that becomes endemic , that we have to just be careful about . ''
Hospital administrators , especially those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are warning that the surge is taxing their capabilities .
`` We have legitimate reason to be very , very concerned about our health system at a national level , '' Lauren Sauer , an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Johns Hopkins University , told NPR .
In Texas , Dallas County reported 100 patients hospitalized in a single day this week and almost 600 emergency room visits related to the pandemic .
`` We saw the second biggest jump in hospitalizations for COVID that we 've experienced , '' said Dallas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are at a very dangerous point in the fight .
... We are staring down the barrel of the largest spike that we have seen to date . ''
Jenkins urged residents to avoid crowds `` to the fullest extent possible '' and wear masks at all times when venturing outside the home .
In Illinois , health officials reported a record number of hospitalizations and some providers are reviving strategies they first laid out in the early days of the pandemic , including limited elective surgeries and more beds .
Chicago Mayor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr. Allison Arwady have advised all residents to stay at home starting next Monday in response to the surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations citywide .
They advised residents to only leave home to go to work or school or for other essential needs such as seeking medical care , going to the grocery store or pharmacy or picking up food or receiving deliveries .
The Stay at Home Advisory also strongly urged residents to cancel traditional Thanksgiving celebrations , avoid travel and not to have guests in their homes unless they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or childcare workers .
The advisory is set to remain in place for 30 days or until the time the Commissioner of Health determines a change to the guidance is appropriate .
In Wisconsin , space in intensive care units is dwindling , the state 's hospital association reported .
`` We 're very close to a tipping point , '' Wisconsin Chief Medical Officer for Communicable Diseases Dr. Ryan Westergaard said in a webinar Wednesday .
`` All of the hospitals are strained and it 's causing a lot of stress on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said death rates in Wisconsin are n't yet as high as they were in New York during the pandemic 's initial wave because medics have since learned how to better treat ICU patients .
He warned , however , that resources are becoming strained .
`` That tipping point is when we stop being able to save everyone who gets severely ill , '' he said .

A woman adjusts a face mask on a young child in New York City. The new wave of coronavirus cases nationwide is beginning to seriously strain some critical medical care providers, officials say. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 12 (UPI) -- The surge of COVID-19 cases in the United States is showing no signs of slowing, as the country set a case record for the second straight day. Updated data from researchers at Johns Hopkins University showed 143,200 cases were added on Wednesday, topping the record set the day before by almost 3,000 cases. Wednesday was the fifth single-day case record in nine days. Advertisement
There was also a major spike in deaths on Wednesday, about 2,000 nationwide, according to the data. It's the first time since early May that at least 2,000 deaths were added in a single day.
In the last nine days, the United States has added over 1 million new coronavirus cases. Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 10.4 million cases and 241,800 deaths nationally, according to Johns Hopkins.
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The seven-day national average climbed to 125,000 new cases per day, a 40% increase over last week.
There was a record number of hospitalizations Wednesday, as well -- 65,000, including 12,500 in intensive care, according to the COVID Tracking Project.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious diseases expert, said Thursday that while vaccines may be capable of ending the current pandemic, he warned that COVID-19 may never by completely eradicated.
"Certainly, it is not going to be a pandemic for a lot longer because I believe the vaccines are going to turn that around," he said during a webinar sponsored by the British think tank Chatham House.
His assessment came after pharma companies Pfizer and BioNTech reported that early results showed their vaccine candidate was more than 90% effective in preventing infections.
But, he added, "we have got to continue to double down on public health measures" in the meantime and warned that the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 become a permanent presence.
"I doubt we are going to eradicate this," Fauci said. "I think we need to plan that this is something we may need to maintain control over chronically. It may be something that becomes endemic, that we have to just be careful about."
Advertisement
Hospital administrators, especially those in the Midwest and Mountain West, are warning that the surge is taxing their capabilities.
"We have legitimate reason to be very, very concerned about our health system at a national level," Lauren Sauer, an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Johns Hopkins University, told NPR.
In Texas, Dallas County reported 100 patients hospitalized in a single day this week and almost 600 emergency room visits related to the pandemic.
"We saw the second biggest jump in hospitalizations for COVID that we've experienced," said Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins. "We are at a very dangerous point in the fight. ... We are staring down the barrel of the largest spike that we have seen to date."
Jenkins urged residents to avoid crowds "to the fullest extent possible" and wear masks at all times when venturing outside the home.
In Illinois, health officials reported a record number of hospitalizations and some providers are reviving strategies they first laid out in the early days of the pandemic, including limited elective surgeries and more beds.
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and City Commissioner of Health Dr. Allison Arwady have advised all residents to stay at home starting next Monday in response to the surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations citywide.
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They advised residents to only leave home to go to work or school or for other essential needs such as seeking medical care, going to the grocery store or pharmacy or picking up food or receiving deliveries.
The Stay at Home Advisory also strongly urged residents to cancel traditional Thanksgiving celebrations, avoid travel and not to have guests in their homes unless they are essential workers, such as healthcare providers or childcare workers.
The advisory is set to remain in place for 30 days or until the time the Commissioner of Health determines a change to the guidance is appropriate.
In Wisconsin, space in intensive care units is dwindling, the state's hospital association reported.
"We're very close to a tipping point," Wisconsin Chief Medical Officer for Communicable Diseases Dr. Ryan Westergaard said in a webinar Wednesday.
"All of the hospitals are strained and it's causing a lot of stress on healthcare workers and leaders."
Westergaard said death rates in Wisconsin aren't yet as high as they were in New York during the pandemic's initial wave because medics have since learned how to better treat ICU patients.
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He warned, however, that resources are becoming strained.
"That tipping point is when we stop being able to save everyone who gets severely ill," he said.


upi--2020-11-12--Army breaks ground on new soldier performance research facility

Nov. 12 ( UPI ) -- The Army broke ground Thursday on the Soldier and Squad Performance Research Institute , @ @ @ @ @ human research and engineering laboratory , situated at Natick Soldier Systems Center in Natick , @ @ @ @ @ project of Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center and the U.S. Army Research Institute of @ @ @ @ @ is planned to `` baseline , measure , predict and optimize individual soldier and small @ @ @ @ @ and resiliency across real-world , mission-essential tasks , '' the Army said in an August @ @ @ @ @ the site .
The new facility , which will be housed in an 80,600-square-foot building @ @ @ @ @ completed in the next three years .

Nov. 12 (UPI) -- The Army broke ground Thursday on the Soldier and Squad Performance Research Institute, or S2PRINT.
The new human research and engineering laboratory, situated at Natick Soldier Systems Center in Natick, Mass., is a joint project of Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center and the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine.
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The lab is planned to "baseline, measure, predict and optimize individual soldier and small unit readiness, performance, and resiliency across real-world, mission-essential tasks," the Army said in an August press release announcing plans for the site.
The new facility, which will be housed in an 80,600-square-foot building, is expected to be completed in the next three years.


upi--2020-11-12--Antidepressant might help prevent severe COVID-19

The antidepressant drug fluvoxamine -- best known by the brand name Luvox -- may help prevent serious illness in COVID-19 patients who are n't yet hospitalized , a new study finds .
The study included 152 patients infected with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 .
Of those , 80 took fluvoxamine and 72 took a placebo for 15 days .
By the end of that time , none of the patients who took the drug had seen their infection progress to serious illness , compared with six ( 8.3 % ) of the patients who took the placebo , according to researchers at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Louis .
`` The patients who took fluvoxamine did not develop serious breathing difficulties or require hospitalization for problems with lung function , '' said first author Dr. Eric Lenze , professor of psychiatry .
`` Most investigational treatments for COVID-19 have been aimed at the very sickest patients , but it 's also important to find therapies that prevent patients from getting sick enough to require supplemental oxygen or to have to go to the hospital .
Our study suggests fluvoxamine may help fill that niche , '' Lenze noted in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used to treat depression , obsessive-compulsive disorder and social anxiety disorder -- is a type of drug called a selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitor ( SSRI ) .
This class of drugs also includes medicines such as Prozac , Zoloft and Celexa .
But unlike other SSRIs , fluvoxamine has a strong interaction with a protein called the sigma-1 receptor , which helps regulate the body 's inflammatory response .
`` There are several ways this drug might work to help COVID-19 patients , but we think it most likely may be interacting with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inflammatory molecules , '' explained study senior author Dr. Angela Reiersen , associate professor of psychiatry .
`` Past research has demonstrated that fluvoxamine can reduce inflammation in animal models of sepsis , and it may be doing something similar in our patients , '' she said in the release .
By reducing inflammation , fluvoxamine may prevent a hyperactive immune response in COVID-19 patients .
That , in turn , may decrease their risk of serious illness and death , Reiersen said .
`` Our goal is to help patients who are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and to prevent them from getting sick enough to be hospitalized , '' Dr. Caline Mattar , assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases , said in the release .
`` What we 've seen so far suggests that fluvoxamine may be an important tool in achieving that goal . ''
Dr. Amesh Adalja is a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security in Baltimore .
He was n't involved in the study , but said the research is `` notable not only because of its positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that keeps COVID patients out of the hospital -- but also because of the manner in which it was conducted . ''
But Adalja stressed that a larger trial is needed `` to see if the promising findings hold up . ''
The researchers said they plan to begin such a study in the next few weeks and it will include patients from across the United States .
The preliminary study was published online Nov. 12 in the Journal of the American Medical Association .
For more on COVID-19 , go to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

The antidepressant drug fluvoxamine -- best known by the brand name Luvox -- may help prevent serious illness in COVID-19 patients who aren't yet hospitalized, a new study finds.
The study included 152 patients infected with mild-to-moderate COVID-19. Of those, 80 took fluvoxamine and 72 took a placebo for 15 days.
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By the end of that time, none of the patients who took the drug had seen their infection progress to serious illness, compared with six (8.3%) of the patients who took the placebo, according to researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
"The patients who took fluvoxamine did not develop serious breathing difficulties or require hospitalization for problems with lung function," said first author Dr. Eric Lenze, professor of psychiatry.
"Most investigational treatments for COVID-19 have been aimed at the very sickest patients, but it's also important to find therapies that prevent patients from getting sick enough to require supplemental oxygen or to have to go to the hospital. Our study suggests fluvoxamine may help fill that niche," Lenze noted in a university news release.
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Fluvoxamine -- widely used to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder and social anxiety disorder -- is a type of drug called a selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). This class of drugs also includes medicines such as Prozac, Zoloft and Celexa.
But unlike other SSRIs, fluvoxamine has a strong interaction with a protein called the sigma-1 receptor, which helps regulate the body's inflammatory response.
"There are several ways this drug might work to help COVID-19 patients, but we think it most likely may be interacting with the sigma-1 receptor to reduce the production of inflammatory molecules," explained study senior author Dr. Angela Reiersen, associate professor of psychiatry.
"Past research has demonstrated that fluvoxamine can reduce inflammation in animal models of sepsis, and it may be doing something similar in our patients," she said in the release.
By reducing inflammation, fluvoxamine may prevent a hyperactive immune response in COVID-19 patients. That, in turn, may decrease their risk of serious illness and death, Reiersen said.
"Our goal is to help patients who are initially well enough to be at home and to prevent them from getting sick enough to be hospitalized," Dr. Caline Mattar, assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases, said in the release. "What we've seen so far suggests that fluvoxamine may be an important tool in achieving that goal."
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Dr. Amesh Adalja is a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security in Baltimore. He wasn't involved in the study, but said the research is "notable not only because of its positive outcome -- we desperately need a medication that keeps COVID patients out of the hospital -- but also because of the manner in which it was conducted."
But Adalja stressed that a larger trial is needed "to see if the promising findings hold up."
The researchers said they plan to begin such a study in the next few weeks and it will include patients from across the United States.
The preliminary study was published online Nov. 12 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
For more on COVID-19, go to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
SOURCES: Amesh Adalja, M.D., senior scholar, Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, Baltimore; Washington University in St. Louis, news release, Nov. 12, 2020
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-11-12--Watch: 'World's fastest bourbon' to take flight in a Harrier jet during aging

Nov. 12 ( UPI ) -- A Maryland distillery and a California aviation company are teaming up to make the `` world 's fastest bourbon '' by aging the liquor in a Harrier jet traveling at 700 mph .
Scott Sanders , a retired U.S. Navy rear admiral and co-owner of Tobacco Barn Distillery , teamed up with Art Nalls , a retired Marine Corps lieutenant colonel and owner of a California aviation company , to devise the idea for the liquor they dubbed 700 MPH Bourbon .
The men concept was born when Sanders and Nalls were talking about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jet that Nalls bought and brought to the United States to fly in air shows .
Nalls said Sanders told him how his distillery is aging batches of rum below decks on a decommissioned warship .
`` I said , 'Hey , we ought to age some here in the Harrier .
Let 's put some in the drop tanks , and let 's go 700 miles an hour and see how the pressure affects the taste of the bourbon in the oak , ' '' Nalls told CNBC .
The 700 MPH @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least 51 % corn plus rye that is fermented , distilled and placed in new charred oak barrels to age .
The men said the bourbon needs to age for more than three years , and the plan is for the booze to spend at least some of that time flying in the Harrier .
The `` world 's fastest bourbon '' had initially been scheduled to take flight in October , but the plans were delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic .
The men said they now have their sights set on April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bottle of 700 MPH Bourbon for about $ 145 a bottle , with a portion of the proceeds going to Semper Fi & America 's Fund , a nonprofit wounded and ill service members and their families .

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Nov. 12 (UPI) -- A Maryland distillery and a California aviation company are teaming up to make the "world's fastest bourbon" by aging the liquor in a Harrier jet traveling at 700 mph.
Scott Sanders, a retired U.S. Navy rear admiral and co-owner of Tobacco Barn Distillery, teamed up with Art Nalls, a retired Marine Corps lieutenant colonel and owner of a California aviation company, to devise the idea for the liquor they dubbed 700 MPH Bourbon.
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The men concept was born when Sanders and Nalls were talking about the former British Royal Navy Sea Harrier jet that Nalls bought and brought to the United States to fly in air shows.
Nalls said Sanders told him how his distillery is aging batches of rum below decks on a decommissioned warship.
"I said, 'Hey, we ought to age some here in the Harrier. Let's put some in the drop tanks, and let's go 700 miles an hour and see how the pressure affects the taste of the bourbon in the oak,'" Nalls told CNBC.
The 700 MPH Bourbon begins with a mix of at least 51% corn plus rye that is fermented, distilled and placed in new charred oak barrels to age. The men said the bourbon needs to age for more than three years, and the plan is for the booze to spend at least some of that time flying in the Harrier.
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The "world's fastest bourbon" had initially been scheduled to take flight in October, but the plans were delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The men said they now have their sights set on April.
The plan is to sell each bottle of 700 MPH Bourbon for about $145 a bottle, with a portion of the proceeds going to Semper Fi & America's Fund, a nonprofit wounded and ill service members and their families.


upi--2020-11-12--BAE nabs $1.7B for 38 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft for Germany

Nov. 12 ( UPI ) -- BAE Systems was awarded a $ 1.7 billion deal for production of 38 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft for the German Air Force , the company announced Thursday .
Construction of the aircraft will start in 2021 at BAE Systems ' worksites in Lancashire , England , according to the company .
`` Germany 's decision to purchase additional Typhoons reinforces the aircraft 's position as one of the world 's most successful combat military aircraft , '' said Charles Woodburn , chief executive of BAE Systems .
`` The Typhoon program makes a significant contribution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of pounds through exports and supporting more than 15,000 jobs across [ Britain ] including thousands of highly skilled roles in the North of England . ''
BAE will deliver more than a third of the components for each new Typhoon to Germany , and Airbus will undertake final assembly of the planes in Manching , Germany .
The order was awarded to BAE by Eurofighter , the consortium which represents industrial partners in seven countries , including Britain and Germany .
Germany 's Air Force will begin incorporating the new planes into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next generation Typhoons is expected to be equipped with the latest technology , including advanced electronically-scanning radar and a 3D-printed environmental cooling system for the radar .

BAE Systems has received an order for $1.7 billion to deliver 38 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft to the German Air Force. Photo courtesy of BAE
Nov. 12 (UPI) -- BAE Systems was awarded a $1.7 billion deal for production of 38 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft for the German Air Force, the company announced Thursday. Construction of the aircraft will start in 2021 at BAE Systems' worksites in Lancashire, England, according to the company. Advertisement
"Germany's decision to purchase additional Typhoons reinforces the aircraft's position as one of the world's most successful combat military aircraft," said Charles Woodburn, chief executive of BAE Systems.
"The Typhoon program makes a significant contribution to the UK economy, generating billions of pounds through exports and supporting more than 15,000 jobs across [Britain] including thousands of highly skilled roles in the North of England."
BAE will deliver more than a third of the components for each new Typhoon to Germany, and Airbus will undertake final assembly of the planes in Manching, Germany.
The order was awarded to BAE by Eurofighter, the consortium which represents industrial partners in seven countries, including Britain and Germany.
Germany's Air Force will begin incorporating the new planes into its fleet in the mid-2020s.
The next generation Typhoons is expected to be equipped with the latest technology, including advanced electronically-scanning radar and a 3D-printed environmental cooling system for the radar.