upi--2020-07-08--Los Angeles Clippers traveling to Orlando without star Kawhi Leonard

July 8 ( UPI ) -- Superstar forward Kawhi Leonard did n't fly with the Los Angeles Clippers to Orlando , Fla. , on Wednesday because of a family matter .
League sources told ESPN and Yahoo Sports that Leonard was granted permission by the organization to tend to the family matter .
According to the outlets , the two-time Defensive Player of the Year and two-time NBA Finals MVP is expected to join the Clippers in a few days .
The team is scheduled to arrive in Orlando for the NBA 's 22-team restart Wednesday night .
The Clippers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the NBA title -- enter the league 's restart 5 1/2 games behind the Western Conference-leading Los Angeles Lakers .
The Clips posted a 44-20 record before the NBA suspended play in mid-March because of the coronavirus pandemic .
In 51 games this season , Leonard has averaged career highs in points ( 26.9 ) and assists ( five ) and matched his career-best mark in rebounds ( 7.3 ) .
Leonard is in his first season with the Clippers after signing a three-year , $ 103 million contract with the franchise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ points , 6.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 518 career games ( 491 starts ) with the San Antonio Spurs , Toronto Raptors and Clippers .
Leonard -- a four-time All-Star selection -- has won two NBA championships in his career .

Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard (2), a two-time Defensive Player of the Year and two-time NBA Finals MVP, is expected to join the team in a few days. File Photo by Jon SooHoo/UPI | License Photo
July 8 (UPI) -- Superstar forward Kawhi Leonard didn't fly with the Los Angeles Clippers to Orlando, Fla., on Wednesday because of a family matter. League sources told ESPN and Yahoo Sports that Leonard was granted permission by the organization to tend to the family matter. According to the outlets, the two-time Defensive Player of the Year and two-time NBA Finals MVP is expected to join the Clippers in a few days. Advertisement
The team is scheduled to arrive in Orlando for the NBA's 22-team restart Wednesday night.
The Clippers -- considered one of the top contenders for the NBA title -- enter the league's restart 5 1/2 games behind the Western Conference-leading Los Angeles Lakers. The Clips posted a 44-20 record before the NBA suspended play in mid-March because of the coronavirus pandemic.
In 51 games this season, Leonard has averaged career highs in points (26.9) and assists (five) and matched his career-best mark in rebounds (7.3).
Leonard is in his first season with the Clippers after signing a three-year, $103 million contract with the franchise last July. He has averaged 18.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 518 career games (491 starts) with the San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors and Clippers.
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Leonard -- a four-time All-Star selection -- has won two NBA championships in his career.


upi--2020-07-08--San Francisco 49ers RB Raheem Mostert demanding trade

July 8 ( UPI ) -- San Francisco 49ers running back Raheem Mostert has requested a trade from the team , his agent announced Wednesday on social media .
Mostert 's agent , Brett Tessler , wrote on Twitter that his client 's demand comes after `` months of unproductive talks '' with the 49ers on adjusting his current contract .
`` After months of unproductive talks with the 49ers about fairly adjusting Raheem Mostert 's contract ( which paid him for special teams ) we have requested a trade , '' Tessler wrote .
`` Disappointing that it would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ led all NFL RBs in YPC & helped lead them to the Super Bowl . ''
Mostert is scheduled to earn a base salary of about $ 2.6 million this season and is due about $ 2.9 million in 2021 as part of a three-year deal he signed with the 49ers last year , according to Spotrac .
Based on average annual value , Mostert is the team 's fourth-highest-paid tailback .
Earlier this off-season , the 49ers traded running back Matt Breida to the Miami Dolphins .
The other options in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jeff Wilson , Kyle Juszczyk and Jerick McKinnon , who has n't played in two seasons due to knee injuries .
Mostert led the 49ers with 772 rushing yards on 137 carries last season and scored 10 total touchdowns ( eight rushing , two receiving ) .
In three postseason games , he recorded 336 rushing yards -- including a franchise-record 220 yards in the 49ers ' NFC Championship Game win over the Green Bay Packers -- and five touchdowns .

San Francisco 49ers running back Raheem Mostert led the team with 772 rushing yards on 137 carries last season and scored 10 total touchdowns. File Photo by Bruce Gordon/UPI | License Photo
July 8 (UPI) -- San Francisco 49ers running back Raheem Mostert has requested a trade from the team, his agent announced Wednesday on social media. Mostert's agent, Brett Tessler, wrote on Twitter that his client's demand comes after "months of unproductive talks" with the 49ers on adjusting his current contract. Advertisement
"After months of unproductive talks with the 49ers about fairly adjusting Raheem Mostert's contract (which paid him for special teams) we have requested a trade," Tessler wrote. "Disappointing that it would come to this for a guy who led all NFL RBs in YPC & helped lead them to the Super Bowl."
Mostert is scheduled to earn a base salary of about $2.6 million this season and is due about $2.9 million in 2021 as part of a three-year deal he signed with the 49ers last year, according to Spotrac. Based on average annual value, Mostert is the team's fourth-highest-paid tailback.
Earlier this off-season, the 49ers traded running back Matt Breida to the Miami Dolphins. The other options in the team's backfield include Tevin Coleman, Jeff Wilson, Kyle Juszczyk and Jerick McKinnon, who hasn't played in two seasons due to knee injuries.
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Mostert led the 49ers with 772 rushing yards on 137 carries last season and scored 10 total touchdowns (eight rushing, two receiving). In three postseason games, he recorded 336 rushing yards -- including a franchise-record 220 yards in the 49ers' NFC Championship Game win over the Green Bay Packers -- and five touchdowns.


upi--2020-07-08--Biden, Sanders task forces unveil policy recommendations for general election

July 8 ( UPI ) -- Joe Biden 's presidential campaign on Wednesday released series of policy recommendations drafted in joint task forces with his closest rival Sen. Bernie Sanders .
The 110-page document includes recommendations for policies from six eight-member task forces on issues such as health care , climate change , criminal justice reform , the economy , education and immigration .
While the task force offered some progressive policy proposals closer to those championed by Sanders during his campaign , the health task force focused on Biden 's signature promise to expand the Affordable Care Act , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ implemented under his tenure in the as vice president rather than Sanders ' single-payer Medicare For All system .
The climate change task force provided more drastic proposals such as eliminating carbon pollution from power plants and working to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions for new buildings .
It still stopped short of provisions included in the Green New Deal , proposed by New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , who was on the task force .
In the wake of worldwide protests sparked by the police-involved killing of Geroge Floyd , the task @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to break the so-called school-to-prison pipeline as well as demilitarizing police forces and increased diversity in courts and police forces .
Biden 's campaign said the document has been submitted to the Democratic National Committee 's Platform Committee and added that the former vice president will review it personally .
`` I commend the task forces for their service and for helping build a bold , transformative platform for our party and for our country , '' Biden wrote on Twitter .
`` And I am deeply grateful to Bernie Sanders for working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deliver real , lasting change for generations to come . ''
Sanders also expressed the importance of uniting the party to defeat Trump despite `` strong disagreements about some of the most important issues facing our country '' among the pair and their supporters .
`` Though the end result is n't what I or my supporters would 've written alone , the task forces have created a good policy blueprint that will move this country in a much-needed progressive direction and substantially improve the lives of working families throughout our country , @ @ @ @

A group of six task forces including supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders presented presidential policy proposals on issues including health care, climate change, criminal justice reform, the economy, education and immigration to Joe Biden on Wednesday. Photo by CNN/UPI | License Photo
July 8 (UPI) -- Joe Biden's presidential campaign on Wednesday released series of policy recommendations drafted in joint task forces with his closest rival Sen. Bernie Sanders. The 110-page document includes recommendations for policies from six eight-member task forces on issues such as health care, climate change, criminal justice reform, the economy, education and immigration. Advertisement
While the task force offered some progressive policy proposals closer to those championed by Sanders during his campaign, the health task force focused on Biden's signature promise to expand the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, which was implemented under his tenure in the as vice president rather than Sanders' single-payer Medicare For All system.
The climate change task force provided more drastic proposals such as eliminating carbon pollution from power plants and working to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions for new buildings. It still stopped short of provisions included in the Green New Deal, proposed by New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who was on the task force.
In the wake of worldwide protests sparked by the police-involved killing of Geroge Floyd, the task force on criminal justice called for measures to break the so-called school-to-prison pipeline as well as demilitarizing police forces and increased diversity in courts and police forces.
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Biden's campaign said the document has been submitted to the Democratic National Committee's Platform Committee and added that the former vice president will review it personally.
"I commend the task forces for their service and for helping build a bold, transformative platform for our party and for our country," Biden wrote on Twitter. "And I am deeply grateful to Bernie Sanders for working with us to unite our party and deliver real, lasting change for generations to come."
Sanders also expressed the importance of uniting the party to defeat Trump despite "strong disagreements about some of the most important issues facing our country" among the pair and their supporters.
"Though the end result isn't what I or my supporters would've written alone, the task forces have created a good policy blueprint that will move this country in a much-needed progressive direction and substantially improve the lives of working families throughout our country," wrote Sanders.


upi--2020-07-08--Texas executes Billy Wardlow for 1993 murder

July 8 ( UPI ) -- Texas carried out the execution of Billy Joe Wardlow on Wednesday after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to issue a stay of execution .
Prison officials declared Wardlow , 45 , dead at 6:52 p.m. at the Texas State Penitentiary at Huntsville , according to The Marshall Project , a criminal justice non-profit organization .
He was given the death penalty for the 1993 murder of 82-year-old Carl Cole .
The execution by lethal injection came shortly after the Supreme Court declined to issue a stay of execution in response to three petitions in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ petitions , Wardlow asked justices to review his case in light of a 2005 ruling in which the high court outlawed the death penalty for those who committed murder when they were 17 years old or younger .
The decision cited research that said that juveniles lacked the maturity and responsibility of an adult , and thus should n't be subject to the death penalty .
Wardlow , who was 18 at the time of Cole 's death , argued that scientific research suggests that killers under the age of 21 should be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ research has established with scientific certainty that because of continuing brain development until sometime in our early 20s , the neurological basis for a person 's character , and hence his or her character , is not fully formed prior to the age of 21 , '' stated a filing Monday seeking a stay .
`` Because of this , it is now clear that there can be no reliable prediction concerning future dangerousness for a person who has committed capital murder prior to the age of 21 . ''
Wardlow 's lawyers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely to succeed in his appeal , the Supreme Court should stay his pending execution .
Robert Dunham , executive director for the Death Penalty Information Center , said Wardlow 's case `` epitomizes some of the worst aspects of the death penalty in the United States . ''
`` While there is no question that Mr. Wardlow committed the murder , his death sentence was obtained through the use of junk-science predictions of future dangerousness -- the type of false and misleading evidence that should play no role in decisions whether a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
`` A process in which the prosecutor is the ventriloquist , the state court is the dummy , and the federal courts are the audience pretending not to see the ventriloquist 's lips move can hardly be considered fair , decent , or reliable .
Yet that is what currently passes for judicial review in the Texas state and federal courts in death-penalty cases . ''
The Texas parole board voted 6-1 Monday not to lower Wardlow 's sentence or recommend a commutation , according to The Texas Tribune .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the United States and the third in Texas this year .

Billy Wardlow died by lethal injection Wednesday for killing an elderly Texas man in 1993. Photo courtesy Texas Department of Criminal Justice
July 8 (UPI) -- Texas carried out the execution of Billy Joe Wardlow on Wednesday after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to issue a stay of execution. Prison officials declared Wardlow, 45, dead at 6:52 p.m. at the Texas State Penitentiary at Huntsville, according to The Marshall Project, a criminal justice non-profit organization. Advertisement
He was given the death penalty for the 1993 murder of 82-year-old Carl Cole.
The execution by lethal injection came shortly after the Supreme Court declined to issue a stay of execution in response to three petitions in recent weeks.
In one of the petitions, Wardlow asked justices to review his case in light of a 2005 ruling in which the high court outlawed the death penalty for those who committed murder when they were 17 years old or younger. The decision cited research that said that juveniles lacked the maturity and responsibility of an adult, and thus shouldn't be subject to the death penalty.
Wardlow, who was 18 at the time of Cole's death, argued that scientific research suggests that killers under the age of 21 should be given the same consideration.
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"Neuroscientific research has established with scientific certainty that because of continuing brain development until sometime in our early 20s, the neurological basis for a person's character, and hence his or her character, is not fully formed prior to the age of 21," stated a filing Monday seeking a stay.
"Because of this, it is now clear that there can be no reliable prediction concerning future dangerousness for a person who has committed capital murder prior to the age of 21."
Wardlow's lawyers argued that because they believe he's likely to succeed in his appeal, the Supreme Court should stay his pending execution.
Robert Dunham, executive director for the Death Penalty Information Center, said Wardlow's case "epitomizes some of the worst aspects of the death penalty in the United States."
"While there is no question that Mr. Wardlow committed the murder, his death sentence was obtained through the use of junk-science predictions of future dangerousness -- the type of false and misleading evidence that should play no role in decisions whether a person should live or die," he said.
"A process in which the prosecutor is the ventriloquist, the state court is the dummy, and the federal courts are the audience pretending not to see the ventriloquist's lips move can hardly be considered fair, decent, or reliable. Yet that is what currently passes for judicial review in the Texas state and federal courts in death-penalty cases."
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The Texas parole board voted 6-1 Monday not to lower Wardlow's sentence or recommend a commutation, according to The Texas Tribune.
Wardlow's death was the seventh execution in the United States and the third in Texas this year.


upi--2020-07-08--Stanford to cut 11 varsity teams, Ivy League cancels fall sports due to pandemic

July 8 ( UPI ) -- As coronavirus cases continue to spike around the country , Stanford University is cutting 11 of its varsity programs and the Ivy League has ruled out playing sports this fall .
Stanford is discontinuing men 's and women 's fencing , field hockey , lightweight rowing , men 's rowing , co-ed and women 's sailing , squash , synchronized swimming , men 's volleyball and wrestling , according to the school .
The programs will end at the conclusion of the 2020-21 academic year .
`` As you can imagine , this has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us , especially those student-athletes and coaches involved , '' Stanford athletic director Bernard Muir said Wednesday .
`` We came to this decision only [ after ] exhausting all other viable alternatives .
`` It recently became painfully clear we would not remain financially stable and support 36 varsity sports at a nationally competitive level , which is what we desire . ''
The school announced the decision and the reasoning behind it in an open letter to the Stanford community on behalf of Muir , president Marc Tessier-Lavigne and provost Persis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the school 's 36 athletic programs was `` not sustainable '' and that alternatives such as budget cuts and fundraising were `` insufficient . ''
`` These 11 programs consist of more than 240 incredible student-athletes and 22 dedicated coaches , '' the letter read .
`` They were built by more than 4,000 alumni whose contributions led to 20 national championships , 27 Olympic medals , and an untold number of academic and professional achievements .
`` Each of the individuals associated with these programs will forever have a place in Stanford @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all of its scholarship commitments and provide assistance to any athletes who attempt to continue their careers elsewhere .
Coaches ' contracts also will be honored .
Meanwhile , the Ivy League became the first Division I conference to cancel fall sports because of the COVID-19 pandemic .
No decision has been reached about winter or spring Ivy League sports or whether fall sports could be pushed back to spring 2021 .
`` As a leadership group , we have a responsibility to make decisions that are in the best interest of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well as the faculty and staff who work at our schools , '' the Ivy League Council of Presidents said in a joint statement Wednesday .
`` These decisions are extremely difficult , particularly when they impact meaningful student-athlete experiences that so many value and cherish .
`` With the information available to us today regarding the continued spread of the virus , we simply do not believe we can create and maintain an environment for intercollegiate athletic competition that meets our requirements for safety and acceptable levels of risk , consistent with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is adopting as part of its reopening plans this fall . ''
Student-athletes in fall sports within the conference will be allowed to practice -- in modified form -- on campuses .

July 8 (UPI) -- As coronavirus cases continue to spike around the country, Stanford University is cutting 11 of its varsity programs and the Ivy League has ruled out playing sports this fall.
Stanford is discontinuing men's and women's fencing, field hockey, lightweight rowing, men's rowing, co-ed and women's sailing, squash, synchronized swimming, men's volleyball and wrestling, according to the school. The programs will end at the conclusion of the 2020-21 academic year.
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"As you can imagine, this has been a heartbreaking day for all of us, especially those student-athletes and coaches involved," Stanford athletic director Bernard Muir said Wednesday. "We came to this decision only [after] exhausting all other viable alternatives.
"It recently became painfully clear we would not remain financially stable and support 36 varsity sports at a nationally competitive level, which is what we desire."
The school announced the decision and the reasoning behind it in an open letter to the Stanford community on behalf of Muir, president Marc Tessier-Lavigne and provost Persis Drell. The letter said that funding the school's 36 athletic programs was "not sustainable" and that alternatives such as budget cuts and fundraising were "insufficient."
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"These 11 programs consist of more than 240 incredible student-athletes and 22 dedicated coaches," the letter read. "They were built by more than 4,000 alumni whose contributions led to 20 national championships, 27 Olympic medals, and an untold number of academic and professional achievements.
"Each of the individuals associated with these programs will forever have a place in Stanford's history."
Stanford will honor all of its scholarship commitments and provide assistance to any athletes who attempt to continue their careers elsewhere. Coaches' contracts also will be honored.
Meanwhile, the Ivy League became the first Division I conference to cancel fall sports because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
No decision has been reached about winter or spring Ivy League sports or whether fall sports could be pushed back to spring 2021.
"As a leadership group, we have a responsibility to make decisions that are in the best interest of the students who attend our institutions, as well as the faculty and staff who work at our schools," the Ivy League Council of Presidents said in a joint statement Wednesday. "These decisions are extremely difficult, particularly when they impact meaningful student-athlete experiences that so many value and cherish.
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"With the information available to us today regarding the continued spread of the virus, we simply do not believe we can create and maintain an environment for intercollegiate athletic competition that meets our requirements for safety and acceptable levels of risk, consistent with the policies that each of our schools is adopting as part of its reopening plans this fall."
Student-athletes in fall sports within the conference will be allowed to practice -- in modified form -- on campuses.


upi--2020-07-08--Bodies of 180 suspected extrajudicial execution victims found in Burkina Faso

July 8 ( UPI ) -- The bodies of 180 bodies of men believed to have been killed in mass extrajudicial executions were found in Burkina Faso , Human Rights Watch announced Wednesday .
Residents of the town in Djibo in northern Burkina Faso said that the bodies had been left of groups of three to 20 `` along major roadways , under bridges and in fields and vacant lots '' between November and June , a report by HRW said .
Based on their clothing and physical features , residents believe the majority of the victims were ethnic Fulani @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other people known within the city .
Many were found blindfolded with bound hands and had been shot .
Most of the bodies were buried between March and April .
HRW Sahel Director Corinne Dufka urged Burkina Faso 's government to `` uncover who turned Djibo into a 'killing field . '
'' `` Existing information points toward government security forces , so it 's critical to have impartial investigations , evidence properly gathered and families informed about what happened to their loved ones , '' Dufka said .
HRW interviewed 23 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the men were detained by security forces as suspected supporters of Islamist armed groups .
The organization recommended that the Burkina Faso government investigate the killings and prosecute those responsible , place the commanders of the two security force bases on administrative leave , and invite international forensic experts from the United Nations or elsewhere to analyze evidence from the graves .

July 8 (UPI) -- The bodies of 180 bodies of men believed to have been killed in mass extrajudicial executions were found in Burkina Faso, Human Rights Watch announced Wednesday.
Residents of the town in Djibo in northern Burkina Faso said that the bodies had been left of groups of three to 20 "along major roadways, under bridges and in fields and vacant lots" between November and June, a report by HRW said.
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Based on their clothing and physical features, residents believe the majority of the victims were ethnic Fulani or Peuhl men, including relatives and other people known within the city. Many were found blindfolded with bound hands and had been shot.
Most of the bodies were buried between March and April.
HRW Sahel Director Corinne Dufka urged Burkina Faso's government to "uncover who turned Djibo into a 'killing field.'"
"Existing information points toward government security forces, so it's critical to have impartial investigations, evidence properly gathered and families informed about what happened to their loved ones," Dufka said.
HRW interviewed 23 people in the community who said they believed the men were detained by security forces as suspected supporters of Islamist armed groups.
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The organization recommended that the Burkina Faso government investigate the killings and prosecute those responsible, place the commanders of the two security force bases on administrative leave, and invite international forensic experts from the United Nations or elsewhere to analyze evidence from the graves.


upi--2020-07-08--Lee Daniels, Fred Savage working on new 'Wonder Years' pilot

July 8 ( UPI ) -- Empire creator and Precious filmmaker Lee Daniels is working with actor-director Fred Savage on @ @ @ @ @ version of The Wonder Years .
20th Century Fox Television is producing the half-hour , @ @ @ @ @ focus on a black , middle-class family living in 1960s Alabama .
The show would @ @ @ @ @ green-lit .
Saladin Patterson is writing and executive producing the pilot .
No casting has @ @ @ @ @ Marc Velez will serve as executive producers on the project alongside Savage , who starred @ @ @ @ @ original The Wonder Years , which ran 1988-93 and followed a white , suburban family @ @ @ @ @ will also direct the pilot for the reboot .

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Lee Daniels is working on a new version of "The Wonder Years" for ABC. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
July 8 (UPI) -- Empire creator and Precious filmmaker Lee Daniels is working with actor-director Fred Savage on a pilot for a new version of The Wonder Years. 20th Century Fox Television is producing the half-hour, coming-of-age comedy, which will focus on a black, middle-class family living in 1960s Alabama. Advertisement
The show would air on ABC if officially green-lit.
Saladin Patterson is writing and executive producing the pilot.
No casting has been announced.
Daniels and Marc Velez will serve as executive producers on the project alongside Savage, who starred as a child in the original The Wonder Years, which ran 1988-93 and followed a white, suburban family during the 1960s.
Savage will also direct the pilot for the reboot.


upi--2020-07-08--Javicia Leslie lands lead in 'Batwoman' Season 2

July 8 ( UPI ) -- God Friended Me and The Family Business alum Javicia Leslie will play the titular heroine in Batwoman when the show returns to The CW for Season 2 in January .
The cable TV network , Warner Bros. Television and Berlanti Productions made the announcement Wednesday .
`` I am extremely proud to be the first Black actress to play the iconic role of Batwoman on television , and as a bisexual woman , I am honored to join this groundbreaking show which has been such a trailblazer for the LGBTQ+ community , '' Leslie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ play Ryan Wilder , who takes over the persona of Gotham crime-fighter Batwoman from Kate Kane , played by Ruby Rose in Season 1 of the DC Comics adaptation .
`` She 's likable , messy , a little goofy and untamed , '' a description of Wilder said .
`` With no one in her life to keep her on track , Ryan spent years as a drug-runner , dodging the GCPD and masking her pain with bad habits .
Today , Ryan lives in her van with her plant .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alley cat and could also kill you with her bare hands , Ryan is the most dangerous type of fighter : highly skilled and wildly undisciplined .
An out lesbian .
Athletic .
Raw .
Passionate .
Fallible .
And very much not your stereotypical all-American hero . ''
Rose announced in May that she would not return for a second season of the action-drama .
`` This was not a decision I made lightly as I have the utmost respect for the cast , crew and everyone involved with the show in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' she said at the time .
`` I am beyond appreciative to Greg Berlanti , Sarah Schechter and Caroline Dries for not only giving me this incredible opportunity , but for welcoming me into the DC universe they have so beautifully created .
Thank you Peter Roth and Mark Pedowitz and the teams at Warner Bros. and The CW who put so much into the show and always believed in me .
Thank you to everyone who made Season 1 a success -- I am truly grateful . ''

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Javicia Leslie has signed on to star in Season 2 of "Batwoman." Photo courtesy of The CW
July 8 (UPI) -- God Friended Me and The Family Business alum Javicia Leslie will play the titular heroine in Batwoman when the show returns to The CW for Season 2 in January. The cable TV network, Warner Bros. Television and Berlanti Productions made the announcement Wednesday. Advertisement
"I am extremely proud to be the first Black actress to play the iconic role of Batwoman on television, and as a bisexual woman, I am honored to join this groundbreaking show which has been such a trailblazer for the LGBTQ+ community," Leslie said in a statement.
Leslie will play Ryan Wilder, who takes over the persona of Gotham crime-fighter Batwoman from Kate Kane, played by Ruby Rose in Season 1 of the DC Comics adaptation.
"She's likable, messy, a little goofy and untamed," a description of Wilder said.
"With no one in her life to keep her on track, Ryan spent years as a drug-runner, dodging the GCPD and masking her pain with bad habits. Today, Ryan lives in her van with her plant. A girl who would steal milk for an alley cat and could also kill you with her bare hands, Ryan is the most dangerous type of fighter: highly skilled and wildly undisciplined. An out lesbian. Athletic. Raw. Passionate. Fallible. And very much not your stereotypical all-American hero."
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Rose announced in May that she would not return for a second season of the action-drama.
"This was not a decision I made lightly as I have the utmost respect for the cast, crew and everyone involved with the show in both Vancouver and in Los Angeles," she said at the time.
"I am beyond appreciative to Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter and Caroline Dries for not only giving me this incredible opportunity, but for welcoming me into the DC universe they have so beautifully created. Thank you Peter Roth and Mark Pedowitz and the teams at Warner Bros. and The CW who put so much into the show and always believed in me. Thank you to everyone who made Season 1 a success -- I am truly grateful."


upi--2020-07-08--Kansas man receives 12 years in prison for killing girlfriend on cruise ship

July 8 ( UPI ) -- A federal judge in Kansas sentenced a man to 12 years in prison for @ @ @ @ @ were on board a cruise ship in 2018 , the Department of Justice announced Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ years behind bars , Eric Newmann , 55 , of Topeka , was sentenced to @ @ @ @ @ .
District Judge Julie Robinson also ordered him to pay a $ 8,496 fine .
@ @ @ @ @ to second-degree murder with malice aforethought for the death of Tamara Tucker .
In his @ @ @ @ @ he and Tucker got into a verbal argument on the night of Jan. 18 .
@ @ @ @ @ Jan. 19 , he said he then attacked her and strangled her before pushing her @ @ @ @ @ and onto the 11th deck below .
She died from blunt force trauma caused by @ @ @ @ @ aboard the Carnival Elation cruise ship at the time in international waters , about 30 @ @ @ @ @ Beach , Fla .

July 8 (UPI) -- A federal judge in Kansas sentenced a man to 12 years in prison for killing his girlfriend while they were on board a cruise ship in 2018, the Department of Justice announced Wednesday.
In addition to 12 years behind bars, Eric Newmann, 55, of Topeka, was sentenced to five years of supervised release. District Judge Julie Robinson also ordered him to pay a $8,496 fine.
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Newmann pleaded guilty in December to second-degree murder with malice aforethought for the death of Tamara Tucker.
In his plea, Newmann told investigators he and Tucker got into a verbal argument on the night of Jan. 18. In the early hours of Jan. 19, he said he then attacked her and strangled her before pushing her over their cabin room balcony and onto the 11th deck below.
She died from blunt force trauma caused by the fall.
They were aboard the Carnival Elation cruise ship at the time in international waters, about 30 nautical miles from New Smyrna Beach, Fla.


upi--2020-07-08--Trump, Lopez Obrador celebrate USMCA with joint declaration

July 8 ( UPI ) -- President Donald Trump and Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador signed a joint declaration on Wednesday in celebration of the new North American trade deal .
For his first trip outside Mexico since his 2018 election , Lopez Obrador visited Trump to mark the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement , which formally replaced the Clinton-era North American Free Trade Agreement on July 1 .
`` The USMCA reaffirms our shared understanding that North America is a region that generates prosperity for all of its citizens and it strengthens our cooperation in fighting corruption through the strongest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any international agreement , '' the declaration stated .
The two leaders , who have often been critical of each other in the past , praised each other , with Trump saying that the relationship between the two countries is `` all very positive . ''
`` With everything that we have accomplished , the potential for the future of the United States and Mexico is unlimited , '' Trump said .
Obrador lauded the USMCA for integrating the three countries , as they will all contribute productive capacity , technology , experience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instance , Mexico has something which is extremely valuable to make this economic integration effective and to boost this integration -- economic and commercial integration -- in the region .
I 'm talking about this very young , creative and responsible labor force , '' he said .
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was invited to the summit , but did not attend .
A spokesperson said scheduling conflicts and coronavirus restrictions interfered with plans to travel to Washington , D.C. '' We want to thank Canada , also , '' Trump said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be speaking to the prime minister in a little while . ''
Lopez Obrador will attend a working dinner Wednesday evening in the East Room , where he and Trump will speak to the press .
The Mexican leader 's U.S. visit has been criticized in Mexico as possibly politically beneficial for Trump .
In an open letter last month , former foreign minister Bernardo Sepulveda argued there 's no justification for Wednesday 's `` irrelevant ceremony , '' which he said could help Trump 's campaign .
He attacked Trump for `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stigmatizing , offending and humiliating '' Mexican migrants by calling them `` criminals and rapists . ''
Lopez Obrador has in the past expressed a personal friendship with Trump , who tweeted in December that the Mexican leader is someone he `` likes '' and `` respects . ''

President Donald Trump (L) welcomes President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to the White House in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. Photo by Al Drago/UPI | License Photo
July 8 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump and Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador signed a joint declaration on Wednesday in celebration of the new North American trade deal. For his first trip outside Mexico since his 2018 election, Lopez Obrador visited Trump to mark the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which formally replaced the Clinton-era North American Free Trade Agreement on July 1. Advertisement
"The USMCA reaffirms our shared understanding that North America is a region that generates prosperity for all of its citizens and it strengthens our cooperation in fighting corruption through the strongest disciplines on corruption in international trade of any international agreement," the declaration stated.
The two leaders, who have often been critical of each other in the past, praised each other, with Trump saying that the relationship between the two countries is "all very positive."
"With everything that we have accomplished, the potential for the future of the United States and Mexico is unlimited," Trump said.
Obrador lauded the USMCA for integrating the three countries, as they will all contribute productive capacity, technology, experience, expertise and labor.
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"For instance, Mexico has something which is extremely valuable to make this economic integration effective and to boost this integration -- economic and commercial integration -- in the region. I'm talking about this very young, creative and responsible labor force," he said.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was invited to the summit, but did not attend. A spokesperson said scheduling conflicts and coronavirus restrictions interfered with plans to travel to Washington, D.C.
"We want to thank Canada, also," Trump said. "I spoke with and will be speaking to the prime minister in a little while."
Lopez Obrador will attend a working dinner Wednesday evening in the East Room, where he and Trump will speak to the press.
The Mexican leader's U.S. visit has been criticized in Mexico as possibly politically beneficial for Trump.
In an open letter last month, former foreign minister Bernardo Sepulveda argued there's no justification for Wednesday's "irrelevant ceremony," which he said could help Trump's campaign. He attacked Trump for "vilifying" Mexicans and "attacking, stigmatizing, offending and humiliating" Mexican migrants by calling them "criminals and rapists."
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Lopez Obrador has in the past expressed a personal friendship with Trump, who tweeted in December that the Mexican leader is someone he "likes" and "respects."


upi--2020-07-08--Nearly 60 killed in severe flooding in Japan

July 8 ( UPI ) -- The death toll continued to rise Wednesday on the island of Kyushu in southwestern Japan as tens of thousands of workers continued rescue and recovery efforts after flooding downpours inundated the region .
As of Wednesday afternoon , local time , The New York Times reported that at least 58 people had been confirmed dead across the country , many of whom perished on Kyushu Island .
Videos and photos of the flood-ravaged region showed widespread devastation .
Kyushu Island is Japan 's third-largest and home to more than 12 million people .
Approximately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to evacuate .
Space is limited in evacuation centers due to COVID-19 social distancing regulations .
While some residents were forced to seek shelter in alternate locations , others opted to register with a shelter but remained in their vehicles awaiting rescue , according to The Japan Times .
River levels have been rising across the Kumamoto region , and numerous reporting stations have measured rivers at `` flood risk levels . ''
Officials are urging residents to remain vigilant as the risk for flooding remains high , according to NHK .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kumamoto prefecture and Kuma Village , rose well above its banks on Saturday , washing away at least one bridge and cutting off citizens from rescue crews and causing widespread power outages .
The river also flooded the Senja Nursing Home located near its edge , killing a total of 14 residents who were stranded on the lowest level .
The Chikugo River in Fukuoka prefecture has also flooded a large residential area .
The mayor of Kumamoto urged residents on Twitter Tuesday to heed evacuation orders and to be prepared with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A front is forecast to remain over Japan through at least the start of the weekend .
As several storms move along a front , more heavy rain will soak the flood-stricken country .
With rainfall totals of up to 12 inches expected in parts of southwestern Japan , the risk for additional flooding , mudslides and evacuation orders will be likely through Saturday .
The stagnant weather pattern that has led to the devastation in western Japan has been in place since the end of June .
The largely stationary front that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of eastern China during the wet season has moved to the north in recent weeks .

A 4-year-old girl looks on as her father retrieves belongings from their car devastated by flood waters in Hitoyoshi, Kumamoto prefecture on Japan's southwestern island of Kyusu, on Wednesday. Photo by Kimimasa Mayama/EPA-EFE
July 8 (UPI) -- The death toll continued to rise Wednesday on the island of Kyushu in southwestern Japan as tens of thousands of workers continued rescue and recovery efforts after flooding downpours inundated the region. As of Wednesday afternoon, local time, The New York Times reported that at least 58 people had been confirmed dead across the country, many of whom perished on Kyushu Island. Videos and photos of the flood-ravaged region showed widespread devastation. Advertisement
Kyushu Island is Japan's third-largest and home to more than 12 million people. Approximately 3 million of those residents were advised to evacuate.
Space is limited in evacuation centers due to COVID-19 social distancing regulations. While some residents were forced to seek shelter in alternate locations, others opted to register with a shelter but remained in their vehicles awaiting rescue, according to The Japan Times.
River levels have been rising across the Kumamoto region, and numerous reporting stations have measured rivers at "flood risk levels." Officials are urging residents to remain vigilant as the risk for flooding remains high, according to NHK.
The Kuma River, which flows through the Kumamoto prefecture and Kuma Village, rose well above its banks on Saturday, washing away at least one bridge and cutting off citizens from rescue crews and causing widespread power outages.
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The river also flooded the Senja Nursing Home located near its edge, killing a total of 14 residents who were stranded on the lowest level.
The Chikugo River in Fukuoka prefecture has also flooded a large residential area.
The mayor of Kumamoto urged residents on Twitter Tuesday to heed evacuation orders and to be prepared with the risk of flooding likely to continue.
A front is forecast to remain over Japan through at least the start of the weekend. As several storms move along a front, more heavy rain will soak the flood-stricken country.
With rainfall totals of up to 12 inches expected in parts of southwestern Japan, the risk for additional flooding, mudslides and evacuation orders will be likely through Saturday.
The stagnant weather pattern that has led to the devastation in western Japan has been in place since the end of June. The largely stationary front that brings rounds of heavy rain to parts of eastern China during the wet season has moved to the north in recent weeks.


upi--2020-07-08--NASCAR star Jimmie Johnson cleared to race after two negative coronavirus tests

July 8 ( UPI ) -- Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson has been cleared to compete Sunday at Kentucky Speedway after testing negative for the coronavirus twice .
Hendrick Motorsports announced Wednesday that Johnson tested negative Monday and Tuesday and will drive his No .
48 Chevrolet in Sunday 's Quaker State 400 in Sparta , Ky. '' My family is so grateful for the incredible love and support we 've received over the last several days , '' Johnson said in a statement .
`` I especially want to thank Justin Allgaier for stepping in for me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I 'm excited about getting back to business with my team this weekend . ''
Johnson , 44 , was forced to miss the first race of his Cup Series career when he tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday .
He was tested after his wife received a positive result .
Johnson 's streak of 663 consecutive starts -- which was most among active drivers and dated back to his rookie season in 2002 -- was snapped when he missed Sunday 's event at Indianapolis Motor Speedway .
Justin Allgaier filled in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who was asymptomatic , was the first NASCAR driver to reveal a positive coronavirus test since the series resumed racing May 17 .
After missing the Brickyard 400 last weekend , Johnson dropped to 15th in the Cup Series standings and is 46 points above the cutoff for playoffs .

Jimmie Johnson was forced to miss the first race of his Cup Series career when he tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday. File Photo by Mike Gentry/UPI | License Photo
July 8 (UPI) -- Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson has been cleared to compete Sunday at Kentucky Speedway after testing negative for the coronavirus twice. Hendrick Motorsports announced Wednesday that Johnson tested negative Monday and Tuesday and will drive his No. 48 Chevrolet in Sunday's Quaker State 400 in Sparta, Ky. Advertisement
"My family is so grateful for the incredible love and support we've received over the last several days," Johnson said in a statement. "I especially want to thank Justin Allgaier for stepping in for me at Indy and being a true pro. I'm excited about getting back to business with my team this weekend."
Johnson, 44, was forced to miss the first race of his Cup Series career when he tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday. He was tested after his wife received a positive result.
Johnson's streak of 663 consecutive starts -- which was most among active drivers and dated back to his rookie season in 2002 -- was snapped when he missed Sunday's event at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Justin Allgaier filled in for Johnson and finished 37th.
Johnson, who was asymptomatic, was the first NASCAR driver to reveal a positive coronavirus test since the series resumed racing May 17.
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After missing the Brickyard 400 last weekend, Johnson dropped to 15th in the Cup Series standings and is 46 points above the cutoff for playoffs.


upi--2020-07-08--Harvard, MIT sue to block ICE from removing student visas for online instruction

July 8 ( UPI ) -- Havard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on Wednesday sued to block new immigration restrictions that would prevent students in the United States on visas from taking classes at institutions that offer fully online courses .
The lawsuit seeks a temporary restraining order and permanent injunction against the policy decision by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that would require international students whose universities move to fully online instruction amid the COVID-19 pandemic to transfer or face deportation .
On Monday , ICE announced that students on non-immigrant F-1 and M-1 visas who attend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not take a full online course load and remain in the United States '' and that the State Department will not issue visas to students enrolled in schools that are fully online for the fall semester .
The lawsuit alleges that ICE 's decision seems to be intended to `` force universities to reopen in-person classes '' which would ultimately lead to increased risk of exposure to the coronavirus .
`` By threatening to force many F-1 students to withdraw from Harvard and MIT , defendants have put both schools to an impossible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immense benefits to the school or take steps to retain those students through in-person classes , even when those steps contradict each school 's judgment about how best to protect the health of the students , faculty , staff and the entire university community , '' the suit states .
President Donald Trump on Tuesday said the White House will seek to `` pressure '' governors to reopen schools in the fall during a roundtable discussion at the White House on opening schools amid the pandemic .

Harvard and MIT filed a lawsuit seeking to block a Trump administration policy that would strip international students of visas if the university they attend moves to online-only instruction. File Photo by Matthew Healey/UPI | License Photo
July 8 (UPI) -- Havard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on Wednesday sued to block new immigration restrictions that would prevent students in the United States on visas from taking classes at institutions that offer fully online courses. The lawsuit seeks a temporary restraining order and permanent injunction against the policy decision by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that would require international students whose universities move to fully online instruction amid the COVID-19 pandemic to transfer or face deportation. Advertisement
On Monday, ICE announced that students on non-immigrant F-1 and M-1 visas who attend universities that operate entirely online "may not take a full online course load and remain in the United States" and that the State Department will not issue visas to students enrolled in schools that are fully online for the fall semester.
The lawsuit alleges that ICE's decision seems to be intended to "force universities to reopen in-person classes" which would ultimately lead to increased risk of exposure to the coronavirus.
"By threatening to force many F-1 students to withdraw from Harvard and MIT, defendants have put both schools to an impossible choice: lose numerous students who bring immense benefits to the school or take steps to retain those students through in-person classes, even when those steps contradict each school's judgment about how best to protect the health of the students, faculty, staff and the entire university community," the suit states.
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President Donald Trump on Tuesday said the White House will seek to "pressure" governors to reopen schools in the fall during a roundtable discussion at the White House on opening schools amid the pandemic.


upi--2020-07-08--U.S. COVID-19 cases surpass 3M after new single-day record of 60K

Volunteers distribute food during a Virtual Drive-Thru and Walk-Up Giveaway sponsored by United Hands Multi-Purpose Center to help feed thousands @ @ @ @ @ the COVID-19 pandemic in Compton , California on Saturday , May 2 , 2020 .
@ @ @ @ @ has announced a plan to purchase more food from struggling farmers and distribute it to @ @ @ @ @ 470 million this time .
The purchases , announced this week , will come in @ @ @ @ @ billion the USDA pledged to buy farm products as part of the Coronavirus Food Assistance @ @ @ @ @ 17 .
File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | Hundreds of passengers form a line to @ @ @ @ @ China Southern Airlines flight to China on April 19 in Los Angeles .
Passengers at @ @ @ @ @ arrived at 5:30 a.m. , with many others standing in line since 8 a.m. to @ @ @ @ @ seat before the plane was full .
Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI |

Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., (R) and singer Janelle Monae distribute more than 2,000 prepared meals on Tuesday at Ted Watkins Park in the Watts area of Los Angeles, Calif., to aid residents struggling with the coronavirus crisis. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
July 8 (UPI) -- The United States has set a one-day record for new COVID-19 cases -- more than 60,000, surpassing the previous mark by several thousand. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University said 60,021 new cases were recorded Tuesday, just days after the previous national record of 54,500. Advertisement
Updated figures by the university on Wednesday afternoon placed total U.S. cases at 3.04 million and the death toll at about 132,000.
More than three dozen states have shown increases over the past week and health officials say hospitalizations and patients in intensive care have also risen significantly.
In Florida, health officials reported Wednesday that hospitals in 14 of the state's 44 counties were operating at at least 90 percent capacity.
Hillsborough County, which includes Tampa, said it had 38 ICU beds available and Miami-Dade County reported 155.
Gov. Ron DeSantis, however, told reporters Tuesday state hospitals had "abundant capacity" to treat coronavirus patients.
Florida on Tuesday reported at least 5,000 new cases for the 14th straight day.
In California, San Francisco has indefinitely delayed reopening plans for outdoor bars and indoor restaurants.
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Public Health Chief Grant Colfax warned that the surge of cases may eventually be too much for the city's health system to handle.
"At this rate it could overwhelm the healthcare system and cause many deaths if we don't get a handle on this right away," Colfax told reporters. "I need San Franciscans to understand how serious and precarious this situation is."
Although ICU capacity in California is about 30 percent, Colfax warned the situation "could change at any time.
"We know when this virus takes off, it takes off fast."
Los Angeles County reported more than 4,000 new cases Tuesday, the highest daily figure in the Los Angeles metro area to date. Health officials said 46 people died and the county's daily positivity rate rose to nearly 12 percent.
In Oklahoma, public health officials reported a surge in cases for Tulsa, two and a half weeks after President Donald Trump held a campaign rally there. The event drew more than 6,000 people to the BOK Center, where organizers took everyone's temperature and provided hand sanitizer, but didn't require facial coverings or social distancing.
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Dr. Bruce Dart, executive director of the Tulsa Health Department, said the city reported 266 new cases Wednesday. He declined to explicitly blame the surge solely on the Trump rally, saying there were multiple large events in the city around that time.
"I guess we just connect the dots," he said.
Those events and the subsequent rise in cases prompted Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum to sign an executive order requiring organizers of events with more than 500 people to work with the health department on a safety plan.
California life in the COVID-19 pandemic


upi--2020-07-08--Species that use sound to 'fake' their body size are usually skilled vocal learners

July 8 ( UPI ) -- Animals that use their voice to sound bigger than they are tend to also be skilled vocal learners , according to new scientific paper , published Wednesday in the journal Biology Letters .
Previously , researchers approached acoustic allometry , the relationship between voice and body size , and vocal learning as two distinct fields of study .
But over time , scientists have started to see the overlap between the two areas of research .
`` We decided to bring our expertise together under an evolutionary framework , '' study co-author Maxime Garcia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In particular , we wondered : For species that are vocal learners , and which can flexibly modify their vocalizations , then how do allometric principles apply ? ''
said Garcia , an evolutionary biologist at the University of Zurich in Switzerland .
Usually , an animal 's size dictates the frequency of the animal 's vocalizations .
Bigger animals tend to produce bigger , deeper sounds .
Scientists refer to vocalizations that accurately reflect an animal 's size as `` honest signalling . ''
Animals that are on the receiving end of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decisions related to finding prey , hunting a predator or choosing a mate .
`` However , there are also various cases where individuals will try to fake the impression of body size that they convey ... by modifying the acoustic structure of their vocalizations , '' Garcia said .
`` Many examples in the animal kingdom can thus be found where vocalization features do not match the expected body size of the emitter . ''
In order to better understand and contextualize the phenomenon of `` dishonest signalling , '' as it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sounds and body size of 164 different mammals .
Garcia and his colleague Andrea Ravignani hypothesized that for some species , dishonest signalling might serve as an evolutionary origin for the development of vocal learning abilities in mammals .
The preliminary analysis , which combined methods from acoustics , anatomy and evolutionary biology , revealed a strong correlation between the dishonest signalling and vocal learning -- corroborating what scientists hypothesized .
Garcia suggests their work offers just one evolutionary source of vocal learning within mammals .
`` By no means this discards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
In future studies , Garcia and Ravignani plan to perform analysis that will more precisely quantify the relationship between dishonest signalling -- or `` deviations from allometric scaling '' -- and vocal learning .

Some animals have learned to modulate their voices to sound bigger than they are. New research suggests sexual pressures and the motivation to practice "dishonest signalling" could serve as an evolutionary origin of vocal learning in some mammals. Photo by Thomas Breuer/UPI | License Photo
July 8 (UPI) -- Animals that use their voice to sound bigger than they are tend to also be skilled vocal learners, according to new scientific paper, published Wednesday in the journal Biology Letters. Previously, researchers approached acoustic allometry, the relationship between voice and body size, and vocal learning as two distinct fields of study. But over time, scientists have started to see the overlap between the two areas of research. Advertisement
"We decided to bring our expertise together under an evolutionary framework," study co-author Maxime Garcia told UPI in an email.
"In particular, we wondered: For species that are vocal learners, and which can flexibly modify their vocalizations, then how do allometric principles apply?" said Garcia, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Zurich in Switzerland.
Usually, an animal's size dictates the frequency of the animal's vocalizations. Bigger animals tend to produce bigger, deeper sounds. Scientists refer to vocalizations that accurately reflect an animal's size as "honest signalling."
Animals that are on the receiving end of vocalizations rely on honest signalling to make decisions related to finding prey, hunting a predator or choosing a mate.
"However, there are also various cases where individuals will try to fake the impression of body size that they convey ... by modifying the acoustic structure of their vocalizations," Garcia said. "Many examples in the animal kingdom can thus be found where vocalization features do not match the expected body size of the emitter."
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In order to better understand and contextualize the phenomenon of "dishonest signalling," as it relates to vocal learning, researchers analyzed the sounds and body size of 164 different mammals.
Garcia and his colleague Andrea Ravignani hypothesized that for some species, dishonest signalling might serve as an evolutionary origin for the development of vocal learning abilities in mammals.
The preliminary analysis, which combined methods from acoustics, anatomy and evolutionary biology, revealed a strong correlation between the dishonest signalling and vocal learning -- corroborating what scientists hypothesized.
Garcia suggests their work offers just one evolutionary source of vocal learning within mammals.
"By no means this discards other alternative scenarios already existing," he said.
In future studies, Garcia and Ravignani plan to perform analysis that will more precisely quantify the relationship between dishonest signalling -- or "deviations from allometric scaling" -- and vocal learning.


upi--2020-07-08--Many COVID-19 hot spots affect areas around state borders, experts say

July 8 ( UPI ) -- Many current COVID-19 hotspots across the country are in areas along state borders because different governments have taken different approaches to contain spread of the new coronavirus , the experts behind the U.S. COVID Atlas said Wednesday .
This includes regions in Arkansas and Tennessee , as well as Louisiana and Mississippi , which are effectively separated by the Mississippi River , they said .
Parts of southern Arizona and California have also been similarly impacted , according to the researchers .
`` With a patchwork of policies across the country , it 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state borders , '' Marynia Kolak , a member of the team that developed the atlas , said during a conference call with reporters Wednesday that was hosted by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation .
In some states , `` there have been a lot of mixed messages '' from officials , said Kolak , who is assistant director for health informatics at the University of Chicago 's Center for Spatial Data Science .
As a result , the new coronavirus has spread even in areas of states with strict social distancing and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that have taken a less stringent approach , Kolak said .
Kolak and her colleagues developed the U.S. COVID Atlas in March , and the tool has been tracking confirmed cases of the virus across the country since .
This week , they added new `` county-level data '' for the pandemic that developed out of a partnership with County Health Rankings and Roadmaps , which tracks health and socioeconomic trends for all U.S. counties , she said .
With the new data , the atlas does n't necessarily identify counties at risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that might be particularly vulnerable should one occur .
This could be due to high levels of poverty , poor overall health and lack of healthcare infrastructure , said Marjory Givens , deputy director of County Health Rankings and Roadmaps .
That includes differences in life expectancy and prevalence of conditions such as diabetes , heart disease and excessive drug and alcohol use , all of which have been linked with increase risk for severe illness and death from COVID-19 , Givens said .
Even before the coronavirus pandemic , life expectancy varied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 40 years because of differences in overall health and access to healthcare services , said Givens , who also is associate director of the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute .
The pandemic has served to underscore many of these differences in `` Native American and segregated urban communities , '' as well as in the so-called `` Black Belt , '' or poor , rural communities in the south with populations that have a majority of black people , Givens said .
The U.S. COVID Atlas is a free , open-source tool @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to historical data on the pandemic , it includes resources for local governments as they plan outbreak responses or take steps to improve overall health in the local communities , Kolak said .
With the new data from County Health Rankings & Roadmaps , the atlas `` provides a more detailed landscape of the disease , '' with information `` previously hidden '' by the focus on the national impact of the pandemic and its effects in large metropolitan areas , said Kolak , who worked on a similar tool for opioid epidemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a local experience and each hot spot has its own story , '' she said .

The U.S. COVID Atlas offers local snapshot of the potential impact of outbreaks, particularly in poor communities, experts said Wednesday.
July 8 (UPI) -- Many current COVID-19 hotspots across the country are in areas along state borders because different governments have taken different approaches to contain spread of the new coronavirus, the experts behind the U.S. COVID Atlas said Wednesday. This includes regions in Arkansas and Tennessee, as well as Louisiana and Mississippi, which are effectively separated by the Mississippi River, they said. Advertisement
Parts of southern Arizona and California have also been similarly impacted, according to the researchers.
"With a patchwork of policies across the country, it's not surprising to see hot spots along state borders," Marynia Kolak, a member of the team that developed the atlas, said during a conference call with reporters Wednesday that was hosted by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
In some states, "there have been a lot of mixed messages" from officials, said Kolak, who is assistant director for health informatics at the University of Chicago's Center for Spatial Data Science.
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As a result, the new coronavirus has spread even in areas of states with strict social distancing and mask-wearing measures because they border on states that have taken a less stringent approach, Kolak said.
Kolak and her colleagues developed the U.S. COVID Atlas in March, and the tool has been tracking confirmed cases of the virus across the country since.
This week, they added new "county-level data" for the pandemic that developed out of a partnership with County Health Rankings and Roadmaps, which tracks health and socioeconomic trends for all U.S. counties, she said.
With the new data, the atlas doesn't necessarily identify counties at risk of an outbreak, but rather those that might be particularly vulnerable should one occur.
This could be due to high levels of poverty, poor overall health and lack of healthcare infrastructure, said Marjory Givens, deputy director of County Health Rankings and Roadmaps.
The county-level data highlights "underlying health inequities," Givens said.
That includes differences in life expectancy and prevalence of conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and excessive drug and alcohol use, all of which have been linked with increase risk for severe illness and death from COVID-19, Givens said.
Even before the coronavirus pandemic, life expectancy varied across the United States by up to 40 years because of differences in overall health and access to healthcare services, said Givens, who also is associate director of the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.
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The pandemic has served to underscore many of these differences in "Native American and segregated urban communities," as well as in the so-called "Black Belt," or poor, rural communities in the south with populations that have a majority of black people, Givens said.
The U.S. COVID Atlas is a free, open-source tool that is updated daily. In addition to historical data on the pandemic, it includes resources for local governments as they plan outbreak responses or take steps to improve overall health in the local communities, Kolak said.
With the new data from County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, the atlas "provides a more detailed landscape of the disease," with information "previously hidden" by the focus on the national impact of the pandemic and its effects in large metropolitan areas, said Kolak, who worked on a similar tool for opioid epidemic.
"COVID-19 is a national story with a local experience and each hot spot has its own story," she said.


upi--2020-07-08--Ancient Polynesians, Native Americans made contact before Europeans arrived

July 8 ( UPI ) -- Ancient Polynesians and Native Americans hailing from what 's now Colombia were in contact prior to the arrival of Europeans , according to a new genomic survey .
The topic of precolonial interaction between Polynesians and Native Americans has been debated for several decades .
Proponents of precolonial contact point to a word for a staple crop , the sweet potato , shared by the two groups -- one of several cultural commonalities between Ancient Polynesians and Native Americans .
But critics have argued the two groups were n't capable of navigating the thousands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Polynesian islands from South America .
Now , new genetic analysis -- detailed Wednesday in the journal Nature -- suggests the DNA evidence supports those in favor of precolonial contact .
`` Genomics is at a stage where it can really make useful contributions to answering some of these open questions , '' lead study author Alexander Ioannidis said in a news release .
`` I think it 's really exciting that we , as data scientists and geneticists , are able to contribute in a meaningful way to our understanding of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a postdoctoral scholar at Stanford University .
After collecting DNA samples from 800 living indigenous inhabitants of Colombia and French Polynesia , researchers surveyed the genomes for evidence of shared ancestry .
Scientists were able to trace common genetic signatures -- shared lineage -- between the two groups back several hundred years .
`` Our laboratory in Mexico has been very interested in understanding the genetic diversity of populations throughout Latin America and , more generally , of underrepresented populations in genomic research , '' said Andrés Moreno-Estrada , professor and head of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Genomics for Biodiversity in Mexico .
`` Through this research , we wanted to reconstruct the ancestral roots that have shaped the diversity of these populations and answer deep , long-standing questions about the potential contact between Native Americans and Pacific Islanders , connecting two of the most understudied regions of the world . ''
Before scientists confirmed genetic links between the two indigenous groups , researchers knew that sweet potatoes , first cultivated in South and Central America , also grew in Oceania , which includes the islands of Polynesia .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americas , yet it 's also found on islands thousands of miles away , '' Ioannidis said .
`` On top of that , the word for sweet potato in Polynesian languages appears to be related to the word used in Indigenous American languages in the Andes . ''
Although it 's possible ships carrying Native Americans might have been blown off course and landed among the Polynesian islands , researchers suspect it 's more likely Polynesian ships visited what 's now Colombia and carried sweet potatoes back across the Pacific .
However @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between the sweet potatoes of the Americas and Oceania have yielded inconclusive results .
Analysis of ancient DNA from excavated bones have also failed to provide irrefutable evidence of precolonial contact between the two groups .
Now , thanks to modern genomic analysis techniques , researchers were able to trace identical snippets of DNA back to ancestors shared by the two groups .
The new analysis suggests the two groups interacted around 1200 A.D. , and produced children with both Native American and Polynesian DNA .
`` If you think about how history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it 's almost always a story of European conquest , and you never really hear about everybody else , '' Ioannidis said .
`` I think this work helps piece together those untold stories -- and the fact that it can be brought to light through genetics is very exciting to me . ''

New research suggests ancient Polynesians and Native Americans from what's now Colombia interacted and produced children several hundred years ago. Illustration by Ruben Ramos-Mendoza
July 8 (UPI) -- Ancient Polynesians and Native Americans hailing from what's now Colombia were in contact prior to the arrival of Europeans, according to a new genomic survey. The topic of precolonial interaction between Polynesians and Native Americans has been debated for several decades. Advertisement
Proponents of precolonial contact point to a word for a staple crop, the sweet potato, shared by the two groups -- one of several cultural commonalities between Ancient Polynesians and Native Americans.
But critics have argued the two groups weren't capable of navigating the thousands of miles of open ocean that separate the Polynesian islands from South America.
Now, new genetic analysis -- detailed Wednesday in the journal Nature -- suggests the DNA evidence supports those in favor of precolonial contact.
"Genomics is at a stage where it can really make useful contributions to answering some of these open questions," lead study author Alexander Ioannidis said in a news release.
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"I think it's really exciting that we, as data scientists and geneticists, are able to contribute in a meaningful way to our understanding of human history," said Ioannidis, a postdoctoral scholar at Stanford University.
After collecting DNA samples from 800 living indigenous inhabitants of Colombia and French Polynesia, researchers surveyed the genomes for evidence of shared ancestry. Scientists were able to trace common genetic signatures -- shared lineage -- between the two groups back several hundred years.
"Our laboratory in Mexico has been very interested in understanding the genetic diversity of populations throughout Latin America and, more generally, of underrepresented populations in genomic research," said Andrés Moreno-Estrada, professor and head of genomic services at the National Laboratory of Genomics for Biodiversity in Mexico.
"Through this research, we wanted to reconstruct the ancestral roots that have shaped the diversity of these populations and answer deep, long-standing questions about the potential contact between Native Americans and Pacific Islanders, connecting two of the most understudied regions of the world."
Before scientists confirmed genetic links between the two indigenous groups, researchers knew that sweet potatoes, first cultivated in South and Central America, also grew in Oceania, which includes the islands of Polynesia.
"The sweet potato is native to the Americas, yet it's also found on islands thousands of miles away," Ioannidis said. "On top of that, the word for sweet potato in Polynesian languages appears to be related to the word used in Indigenous American languages in the Andes."
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Although it's possible ships carrying Native Americans might have been blown off course and landed among the Polynesian islands, researchers suspect it's more likely Polynesian ships visited what's now Colombia and carried sweet potatoes back across the Pacific.
However, attempts to investigate the genetic relationships between the sweet potatoes of the Americas and Oceania have yielded inconclusive results. Analysis of ancient DNA from excavated bones have also failed to provide irrefutable evidence of precolonial contact between the two groups.
Now, thanks to modern genomic analysis techniques, researchers were able to trace identical snippets of DNA back to ancestors shared by the two groups. The new analysis suggests the two groups interacted around 1200 A.D., and produced children with both Native American and Polynesian DNA.
"If you think about how history is told for this time period, it's almost always a story of European conquest, and you never really hear about everybody else," Ioannidis said. "I think this work helps piece together those untold stories -- and the fact that it can be brought to light through genetics is very exciting to me."


upi--2020-07-08--Facebook removes accounts linked to Roger Stone, foreign interference

July 8 ( UPI ) -- Facebook on Wednesday took down dozens of accounts linked to Republican operative Roger Stone , efforts at foreign interference and white nationalist groups .
Nathaniel Gleicher , Facebook 's head of security policy , said all the accounts , pages and Instagram accounts it removed violated the social media company 's policies against foreign interference and coordinated inauthentic behavior .
He said the company took down four separate networks based in Canada and Ecuador , Brazil , Ukraine and the United States .
`` The majority of the activity we removed today focused on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ linked to commercial entities and individuals associated with political campaigns and political offices , '' Gleicher wrote in a blog post .
`` Domestic campaigns like these raise a particularly complex challenge by blurring the line between healthy public debate and manipulation . ''
One network included accounts linked to the so-called Proud Boys , a group the Southern Poverty Law Center designated as a hate group because of its white nationalist beliefs and support for events such as the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville , Va. Facebook banned the group in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ return to the platform , uncovering more than 100 pages and accounts .
The accounts posted about Florida politics , Stone and his trial , WikiLeaks and the 2016 election .
`` Our investigation linked this network to Roger Stone and his associates , '' Gleicher wrote .
Facebook also removed a network of more than 100 accounts out of Ukraine , which posted about Crimea , NATO , Ukrainian politics and government leaders ; more than 100 accounts out of Brazil , which posted about politics , elections and media outlets ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Ecuador which focused on El Salvador , Argentina , Uruguay , Venezuela , Ecuador and Chile .
Meanwhile , an independent civil rights audit of Facebook criticized CEO Mark Zuckerberg 's power over the social network .
The investigation , which was led by civil rights leader Laura Murphy and civil rights law firm Relman Colfax , concluded that the company has n't done enough to prevent discrimination on the platform .
The report comes as a number of companies boycott advertising on Facebook because they believe the platform does n't do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speech .
`` Many in the civil rights community have become disheartened , frustrated and angry after years of engagement where they implored the company to do more to advance equality and fight discrimination , while also safeguarding free expression , '' the report said .
The auditors said they interviewed more than 100 civil rights organizations as part of their investigation .

Facebook said it took down four networks accounting for hundreds of accounts and pages. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
July 8 (UPI) -- Facebook on Wednesday took down dozens of accounts linked to Republican operative Roger Stone, efforts at foreign interference and white nationalist groups. Nathaniel Gleicher, Facebook's head of security policy, said all the accounts, pages and Instagram accounts it removed violated the social media company's policies against foreign interference and coordinated inauthentic behavior. Advertisement
He said the company took down four separate networks based in Canada and Ecuador, Brazil, Ukraine and the United States.
"The majority of the activity we removed today focused on domestic audiences in each country and was linked to commercial entities and individuals associated with political campaigns and political offices," Gleicher wrote in a blog post.
"Domestic campaigns like these raise a particularly complex challenge by blurring the line between healthy public debate and manipulation."
One network included accounts linked to the so-called Proud Boys, a group the Southern Poverty Law Center designated as a hate group because of its white nationalist beliefs and support for events such as the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Va.
Facebook banned the group in 2018 but began investigating its attempts to return to the platform, uncovering more than 100 pages and accounts. The accounts posted about Florida politics, Stone and his trial, WikiLeaks and the 2016 election.
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"Our investigation linked this network to Roger Stone and his associates," Gleicher wrote.
Facebook also removed a network of more than 100 accounts out of Ukraine, which posted about Crimea, NATO, Ukrainian politics and government leaders; more than 100 accounts out of Brazil, which posted about politics, elections and media outlets; and nearly 200 accounts out of Canada and Ecuador which focused on El Salvador, Argentina, Uruguay, Venezuela, Ecuador and Chile.
Meanwhile, an independent civil rights audit of Facebook criticized CEO Mark Zuckerberg's power over the social network. The investigation, which was led by civil rights leader Laura Murphy and civil rights law firm Relman Colfax, concluded that the company hasn't done enough to prevent discrimination on the platform.
The report comes as a number of companies boycott advertising on Facebook because they believe the platform doesn't do enough to stop the spread of hate speech.
"Many in the civil rights community have become disheartened, frustrated and angry after years of engagement where they implored the company to do more to advance equality and fight discrimination, while also safeguarding free expression," the report said.
The auditors said they interviewed more than 100 civil rights organizations as part of their investigation.


upi--2020-07-08--Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman retires from Army citing 'bullying,' 'retaliation' by Trump

July 8 ( UPI ) -- Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman plans to retire from the military citing `` bullying '' and `` retaliation '' by President Donald Trump , his attorney said Wednesday .
Vindman , who served as a national security aide at the White House and was a key witness in Trump 's impeachment inquiry , was set to receive a promotion to colonel after 21 years of military service but instead has decided to retire saying his future in the armed forces `` will forever be limited '' due to the president and his allies .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and retaliation , the president of the United States attempted to force LTC Vindman to choose : Between adhering to the law or pleasing a president .
Between honoring his oath or protecting his career .
Between protecting his promotion or the promotion of his fellow soldiers , '' Vindman 's attorney David Pressman said .
`` LTC Vindman 's patriotism has cost him his career . ''
Vindman , who worked as a Ukraine policy expert for the National Security Council , testified that he monitored the July 25 phone call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which prompted the whistle-blower complaint that sparked the impeachment inquiry .
He said Trump undermined national security in the call , adding that it was `` improper to demand that a foreign government investigate a U.S. citizen , '' referring to former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden .
Two days after Trump 's acquittal , Pressman said , Vindman was unceremoniously escorted out of the White House , months before he was scheduled to leave his post as a Ukraine expert on the NSC .
Vindman 's twin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and U.S .
Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland were also removed from their posts .
Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and other Pentagon leaders have stated that Vindman was not targeted for political reasons .
Sen. Tammy Duckworth , D-Ill. last week said she would block the promotion of more than 1,000 officers unless Esper ensured Vindman would not be subject to retaliation .
On Wednesday , Duckworth reiterated that she would not remove the hold on promotions unless Esper verified in writing that he did not block Vindman from @ @ @ @

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Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman said he will retire from the military following a campaign of bullying and retaliation in response to his testimony in President Donald Trump's impeachment inquiry. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
July 8 (UPI) -- Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman plans to retire from the military citing "bullying" and "retaliation" by President Donald Trump, his attorney said Wednesday. Vindman, who served as a national security aide at the White House and was a key witness in Trump's impeachment inquiry, was set to receive a promotion to colonel after 21 years of military service but instead has decided to retire saying his future in the armed forces "will forever be limited" due to the president and his allies. Advertisement
"Through a campaign of bullying, intimidation, and retaliation, the president of the United States attempted to force LTC Vindman to choose: Between adhering to the law or pleasing a president. Between honoring his oath or protecting his career. Between protecting his promotion or the promotion of his fellow soldiers," Vindman's attorney David Pressman said. "LTC Vindman's patriotism has cost him his career."
Vindman, who worked as a Ukraine policy expert for the National Security Council, testified that he monitored the July 25 phone call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which prompted the whistle-blower complaint that sparked the impeachment inquiry.
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He said Trump undermined national security in the call, adding that it was "improper to demand that a foreign government investigate a U.S. citizen," referring to former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden.
Two days after Trump's acquittal, Pressman said, Vindman was unceremoniously escorted out of the White House, months before he was scheduled to leave his post as a Ukraine expert on the NSC.
Vindman's twin brother, Yevgeny, an NSC lawyer, and U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland were also removed from their posts.
Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and other Pentagon leaders have stated that Vindman was not targeted for political reasons.
Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill. last week said she would block the promotion of more than 1,000 officers unless Esper ensured Vindman would not be subject to retaliation.
On Wednesday, Duckworth reiterated that she would not remove the hold on promotions unless Esper verified in writing that he did not block Vindman from ascending in rank.


upi--2020-07-08--Probiotics may help ease depression, study shows

Probiotic supplements might help ease depression symptoms in some people , a new research review suggests .
Researchers found that across seven small clinical trials , various probiotics seemed to improve symptoms in patients with clinical depression -- at least in the short term .
The studies build on a growing research interest in the role of gut health -- specifically , the balance of bacteria dwelling there -- and brain health .
But experts stressed that the probiotic trials had a number of limitations , and it 's too soon to draw any conclusions .
For one , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ruled out , according to Sanjay Noonan , the lead author on the research review .
And , he said , besides being small , the trials did not look at the longer term : All lasted about two to three months .
According to Noonan , `` no definitive statements can be made '' on whether people with depression stand to benefit from probiotics .
`` It would be conjecture to try and suggest anything about the long-term efficacy of probiotic therapy , '' he said .
Noonan and his colleagues at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported the findings July 6 in the journal BMJ Nutrition , Prevention & Health .
Probiotics are live bacteria and yeast that naturally dwell in the body .
Probiotic supplements are marketed as a way to restore a healthier balance of good bacteria .
The digestive system , in particular , hosts a vast array of bacteria and other microbes -- known as the `` gut microbiome . ''
And those organisms are believed to do more than just aid in digestion .
Research suggests the microbes are involved in everything from immune @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and even chemicals that influence the brain .
Meanwhile , a number of studies have linked the makeup of the gut microbiome to the risks of various health conditions .
These include brain-based conditions like Alzheimer 's and autoimmune diseases like type 1 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis .
In a 2019 study , researchers found that people with depression showed differences in specific gut bacteria , versus those without depression .
Levels of two types of bacteria -- Coprococcus and Dialister -- were reported to be `` consistently depleted '' in people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proves a lack of those bacteria , or any others , actually helps cause depression .
And for now , no one knows if any probiotics can help treat it .
`` It 's important to stress that this area of research is in an extremely early phase , '' Noonan said .
He said the point of this review was to look at the existing evidence on probiotics , and not to offer answers .
The trials in the review each contained fewer than 100 people .
And they most often tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acidophilus , L. casaei and B. bifidum .
One trial tested a probiotic combined with a `` prebiotic '' -- compounds that promote the growth of probiotics .
On average , the review found , study patients ' depression symptoms improved over two to three months .
Some trials , however , did not include a comparison group that took inactive supplements , to help account for the placebo effect .
( That 's the phenomenon in which people feel better simply because they are receiving treatment and believe it will work .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ no clues on which bacterial strains might be helpful , according to John Cryan , a professor at University College Cork in Ireland .
`` There is a tendency in the field to 'lump ' all commercially available strains into the same category independent of the level of evidence there is , '' Cryan told the nonprofit Science Media Centre .
But , he added , `` we know that strains really matter , and this review is not able to identify what it is about specific strains that render them with beneficial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ professor at King 's College London , made similar points .
`` Probiotics often contain different strains of bacteria , and we do not know if the supplements , sachets and fermented milks you find on supermarket shelves will work , '' he told SMC .
Whelan also stressed that most patients in the trials were taking antidepressants .
`` So it is crucial that probiotics are seen as complementary to standard treatments recommended by your doctor , '' he said , `` and not as an alternative . ''
The U.S. National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more on probiotics .

Probiotic supplements might help ease depression symptoms in some people, a new research review suggests.
Researchers found that across seven small clinical trials, various probiotics seemed to improve symptoms in patients with clinical depression -- at least in the short term.
Advertisement
The studies build on a growing research interest in the role of gut health -- specifically, the balance of bacteria dwelling there -- and brain health.
But experts stressed that the probiotic trials had a number of limitations, and it's too soon to draw any conclusions.
For one, a "placebo effect" cannot be ruled out, according to Sanjay Noonan, the lead author on the research review.
And, he said, besides being small, the trials did not look at the longer term: All lasted about two to three months.
According to Noonan, "no definitive statements can be made" on whether people with depression stand to benefit from probiotics.
Advertisement
"It would be conjecture to try and suggest anything about the long-term efficacy of probiotic therapy," he said.
Noonan and his colleagues at Brighton and Sussex Medical School in England reported the findings July 6 in the journal BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health.
Probiotics are live bacteria and yeast that naturally dwell in the body. Probiotic supplements are marketed as a way to restore a healthier balance of good bacteria.
The digestive system, in particular, hosts a vast array of bacteria and other microbes -- known as the "gut microbiome." And those organisms are believed to do more than just aid in digestion.
Research suggests the microbes are involved in everything from immune defenses to producing vitamins, anti-inflammatory compounds, and even chemicals that influence the brain.
Meanwhile, a number of studies have linked the makeup of the gut microbiome to the risks of various health conditions. These include brain-based conditions like Alzheimer's and autoimmune diseases like type 1 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis.
In a 2019 study, researchers found that people with depression showed differences in specific gut bacteria, versus those without depression. Levels of two types of bacteria -- Coprococcus and Dialister -- were reported to be "consistently depleted" in people with depression.
Advertisement
But none of that proves a lack of those bacteria, or any others, actually helps cause depression. And for now, no one knows if any probiotics can help treat it.
"It's important to stress that this area of research is in an extremely early phase," Noonan said.
He said the point of this review was to look at the existing evidence on probiotics, and not to offer answers.
The trials in the review each contained fewer than 100 people. And they most often tested any of three probiotic strains: L. acidophilus, L. casaei and B. bifidum. One trial tested a probiotic combined with a "prebiotic" -- compounds that promote the growth of probiotics.
On average, the review found, study patients' depression symptoms improved over two to three months. Some trials, however, did not include a comparison group that took inactive supplements, to help account for the placebo effect. (That's the phenomenon in which people feel better simply because they are receiving treatment and believe it will work.)
Another issue is the trials give no clues on which bacterial strains might be helpful, according to John Cryan, a professor at University College Cork in Ireland.
"There is a tendency in the field to 'lump' all commercially available strains into the same category independent of the level of evidence there is," Cryan told the nonprofit Science Media Centre.
Advertisement
But, he added, "we know that strains really matter, and this review is not able to identify what it is about specific strains that render them with beneficial effects."
Kevin Whelan, a professor at King's College London, made similar points. "Probiotics often contain different strains of bacteria, and we do not know if the supplements, sachets and fermented milks you find on supermarket shelves will work," he told SMC.
Whelan also stressed that most patients in the trials were taking antidepressants.
"So it is crucial that probiotics are seen as complementary to standard treatments recommended by your doctor," he said, "and not as an alternative."
More information
The U.S. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health has more on probiotics.
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