upi--2020-09-01--Watchdog: Congress misled about Bureau of Land Management's relocation

Sept. 1 ( UPI ) -- U.S .
Interior officials misled Congress when they said cost was behind the department 's decision to relocate the Bureau of Land Management 's headquarters from Washington , D.C. , to Colorado , a watchdog report said Tuesday .
The Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of the Interior said two officials -- Joseph Balash , former assistant secretary for land and minerals management , and William `` Perry '' Pendley , acting director of the BLM -- made the misleading statements in letters sent to congressional committees about the move .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ at its current M Street location in Washington , D.C. , after the end of 2020 because the cost of the lease was expected to exceed the U.S. government 's limit -- $ 50 per square foot .
The inspector general said that while it 's true the rent was going up on the location , the BLM already had `` longstanding plans '' in place to move into a federal building -- the Stewart Lee Udal DOI Building , better known as the Main Interior Building .
In fact , the inspector @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't engaged with the U.S. General Services Administration to enter into lease negotiations with the landlord at the M Street building beyond 2020 .
The report said Balash and Pendley were n't personally involved in drafting the letters they sent to Congress and that the misleading statements came from misinterpretations by Interior Department and BLM staff about the market rates for commercial leases in the capital .
`` Simply stated , the evidence established that the department never seriously contemplated renewing that lease or moving BLM staff into a new commercial location in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' the report says .
In response to the inspector general report , Todd Willens , chief of staff for Interior Secretary David Bernhardt , said politicians have `` weaponized '' the relocation efforts .
`` Their conduct is intimately tied to the creation of this report , '' he said .
`` Members of Congress are indeed entitled to their opinion and their motive , but they are not entitled to have merit when the facts do not support it .
I respect and appreciate the mission of the OIG and trust @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your operations to ensure that taxpayer resources are focused on matters firmly outside the arena of policy-based interbranch disputes ...
I consider this matter closed . ''
The Interior Department announced plans to move BLM headquarters to Grand Junction , Colo. , in July 2019 and finalized the relocation Aug. 10 .
The BLM manages nearly 245 million acres of lands in the West -- in Colorado , Wyoming , Utah , Nevada , Idaho and Oregon .
That represents more than 99 percent of the country 's surface lands , but does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subsurface mineral estate .
About 9,200 total BLM employees are stationed across the country , with about 260 in the capital .
The agency said more than 200 positions would relocate from Washington , D.C. , to western states .

The Bureau of Land Management moved its headquarters to Grand Junction, Colo., last month. File Photo by Bob Wick/Bureau of Land Management
Sept. 1 (UPI) -- U.S. Interior officials misled Congress when they said cost was behind the department's decision to relocate the Bureau of Land Management's headquarters from Washington, D.C., to Colorado, a watchdog report said Tuesday. The Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of the Interior said two officials -- Joseph Balash, former assistant secretary for land and minerals management, and William "Perry" Pendley, acting director of the BLM -- made the misleading statements in letters sent to congressional committees about the move. Advertisement
The officials said it couldn't remain at its current M Street location in Washington, D.C., after the end of 2020 because the cost of the lease was expected to exceed the U.S. government's limit -- $50 per square foot.
The inspector general said that while it's true the rent was going up on the location, the BLM already had "longstanding plans" in place to move into a federal building -- the Stewart Lee Udal DOI Building, better known as the Main Interior Building.
In fact, the inspector general said, the Interior Department hadn't engaged with the U.S. General Services Administration to enter into lease negotiations with the landlord at the M Street building beyond 2020.
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The report said Balash and Pendley weren't personally involved in drafting the letters they sent to Congress and that the misleading statements came from misinterpretations by Interior Department and BLM staff about the market rates for commercial leases in the capital.
"Simply stated, the evidence established that the department never seriously contemplated renewing that lease or moving BLM staff into a new commercial location in the Washington, D.C., area," the report says.
In response to the inspector general report, Todd Willens, chief of staff for Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, said politicians have "weaponized" the relocation efforts.
"Their conduct is intimately tied to the creation of this report," he said. "Members of Congress are indeed entitled to their opinion and their motive, but they are not entitled to have merit when the facts do not support it. I respect and appreciate the mission of the OIG and trust that you will continue to look at your operations to ensure that taxpayer resources are focused on matters firmly outside the arena of policy-based interbranch disputes...I consider this matter closed."
The Interior Department announced plans to move BLM headquarters to Grand Junction, Colo., in July 2019 and finalized the relocation Aug. 10.
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The BLM manages nearly 245 million acres of lands in the West -- in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, Idaho and Oregon. That represents more than 99 percent of the country's surface lands, but doesn't include the 700 million acres of subsurface mineral estate.
About 9,200 total BLM employees are stationed across the country, with about 260 in the capital. The agency said more than 200 positions would relocate from Washington, D.C., to western states.


upi--2020-09-01--Watch: Bears make repeated visits to California convenience store

Sept. 1 ( UPI ) -- Security cameras at a California convenience store captured video of repeated visits from a group of unusual shoplifters -- bears .
Footage recorded Sunday by the security cameras at the Chevron gas station convenience store in Kings Beach shows a bear lying on the floor eating merchandise , including candy and crackers .
Employee Paul Heigh said local bears have repeatedly visited the store in recent weeks .
A video recorded Saturday shows a bear lunging at Heigh as he attempted to block its path into the store .
`` It was kinda scary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to lie , '' Heigh told CBS Sacramento .
`` It 's not in the job description no , not at all .
Fighting off bears was not in the job description . ''
A video dated Aug. 12 shows a bear wandering into the store and being swatted on the backside by a customer .
Wildlife officials said a bear that was seen inside a Safeway grocery store in Kings Beach recently is one of the same bears that has been visiting the Chevron store .
Ann Bryant with the BEAR League @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both stores to advise them on how to keep the bears out .
She said the stores should disable their automatic doors and use the smell of Pine-Sol cleaner to ward off the animals .
`` The bear should not be going into buildings where someone could shoot him or kill him or the Department of Wildlife could kill him , '' Bryant said .

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Sept. 1 (UPI) -- Security cameras at a California convenience store captured video of repeated visits from a group of unusual shoplifters -- bears.
Footage recorded Sunday by the security cameras at the Chevron gas station convenience store in Kings Beach shows a bear lying on the floor eating merchandise, including candy and crackers.
Advertisement
Employee Paul Heigh said local bears have repeatedly visited the store in recent weeks. A video recorded Saturday shows a bear lunging at Heigh as he attempted to block its path into the store.
"It was kinda scary, yeah, I'm not going to lie," Heigh told CBS Sacramento. "It's not in the job description no, not at all. Fighting off bears was not in the job description."
A video dated Aug. 12 shows a bear wandering into the store and being swatted on the backside by a customer.
Wildlife officials said a bear that was seen inside a Safeway grocery store in Kings Beach recently is one of the same bears that has been visiting the Chevron store.
Ann Bryant with the BEAR League said she has been in contact with both stores to advise them on how to keep the bears out. She said the stores should disable their automatic doors and use the smell of Pine-Sol cleaner to ward off the animals.
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"The bear should not be going into buildings where someone could shoot him or kill him or the Department of Wildlife could kill him," Bryant said.


upi--2020-09-02--FBI, CISA refute report claiming Russian hack of Michigan voter data

Sept. 2 ( UPI ) -- U.S. cybersecurity officials have refuted a report that personal voter information from Michigan that appeared on a Russian hackers platform had been illegally leaked in a data breach .
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Cybersecurty and Infrastructure Security Agency on Tuesday clarified that there have been no successful attacks this year on voter registration databases anywhere in the United States .
`` Information on U.S. elections is going to grab headlines , particularly if it as cast as foreign interference , '' the agencies said in a joint statement .
`` Early , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ healthy dose of skepticism . ''
Earlier Tuesday , the Michigan Department of State also denied there had been a data breach .
The type of voter information found on the hackers platform , they said , is publicly available with a Freedom of Information Act request .
The confusion resulted from a report from the Russian newspaper Kommersant , which was subsequently acknowledged by U.S. journalist Julia Ioffe .
`` Russian journalists have discovered data from Michigan voter data rolls -- including the personal info of 7.6 million Michigan voters -- on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she wrote in the her widely-viewed tweet .
`` It also includes voter info from other swing states , including Florida and [ North Carolina ] . ''
Kommersant reported that the information -- including voter names , dates of birth , gender and addresses -- was being offered for sale on the dark web .
CISA and the FBI clarified that all the information , however , can be legally obtained .
CISA Director Chris Krebs tweeted that the episode shows that `` it 's going to be critical over the next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not spin up over every claim . ''
`` The last measure of resilience is the American Voter , '' he added .

The confusion resulted from a Russian news report that said hackers were selling sensitive voter information on the dark web. File Photo courtesy Federal Bureau of Investigation
Sept. 2 (UPI) -- U.S. cybersecurity officials have refuted a report that personal voter information from Michigan that appeared on a Russian hackers platform had been illegally leaked in a data breach. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Cybersecurty and Infrastructure Security Agency on Tuesday clarified that there have been no successful attacks this year on voter registration databases anywhere in the United States. Advertisement
"Information on U.S. elections is going to grab headlines, particularly if it as cast as foreign interference," the agencies said in a joint statement. "Early, unverified claims should be viewed with a healthy dose of skepticism."
Earlier Tuesday, the Michigan Department of State also denied there had been a data breach. The type of voter information found on the hackers platform, they said, is publicly available with a Freedom of Information Act request.
The confusion resulted from a report from the Russian newspaper Kommersant, which was subsequently acknowledged by U.S. journalist Julia Ioffe.
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"Russian journalists have discovered data from Michigan voter data rolls -- including the personal info of 7.6 million Michigan voters -- on a Russian hackers' platform," she wrote in the her widely-viewed tweet. "It also includes voter info from other swing states, including Florida and [North Carolina]."
Kommersant reported that the information -- including voter names, dates of birth, gender and addresses -- was being offered for sale on the dark web. CISA and the FBI clarified that all the information, however, can be legally obtained.
CISA Director Chris Krebs tweeted that the episode shows that "it's going to be critical over the next few months to maintain our cool and not spin up over every claim."
"The last measure of resilience is the American Voter," he added.


upi--2020-09-02--Watch: Keke Palmer covers 'Respect' in new 'Bachelorette' promo

Sept. 2 ( UPI ) -- Keke Palmer covers the late Aretha Franklin 's `` Respect '' in a new promo for The Bachelorette Season 16 featuring Clare Crawley .
Palmer sings the iconic song inside of a recording studio alongside clips of Crawley from the new season of The Bachelorette .
The use of the song is inspired by a clip of Crawley telling off former Bachelor Juan Pablo Galavis from The Bachelor Season 18 .
`` I would never want my children having a father like you .
I want respect , '' Crawley , 39 , says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new contestants .
Palmer released her debut album titled So Uncool in 2007 .
The 27-year-old recently hosted the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards and performed onstage her latest song , `` Snack . ''
The Bachelorette Season 16 will premiere Oct. 13 at 8 p.m. EDT on ABC .
The Bachelor Season 23 contestant Tayshia Adams will replace Crawley on The Bachelorette in the middle of the season , according to multiple reports .
The reports state that Adams will step in after Crawley falls in love with one of Season 16 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic .

Sept. 2 (UPI) -- Keke Palmer covers the late Aretha Franklin's "Respect" in a new promo for The Bachelorette Season 16 featuring Clare Crawley.
Palmer sings the iconic song inside of a recording studio alongside clips of Crawley from the new season of The Bachelorette.
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The use of the song is inspired by a clip of Crawley telling off former Bachelor Juan Pablo Galavis from The Bachelor Season 18.
"I would never want my children having a father like you. I want respect," Crawley, 39, says to Pablo before she is featured meeting new contestants.
Palmer released her debut album titled So Uncool in 2007. The 27-year-old recently hosted the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards and performed onstage her latest song, "Snack."
The Bachelorette Season 16 will premiere Oct. 13 at 8 p.m. EDT on ABC.
The Bachelor Season 23 contestant Tayshia Adams will replace Crawley on The Bachelorette in the middle of the season, according to multiple reports.
The reports state that Adams will step in after Crawley falls in love with one of Season 16's original contestants after production was delayed in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.


upi--2020-09-02--U.S. Open tennis: Kenin, Thiem advance, Venus out in straight sets

Sept. 2 ( UPI ) -- Australian Open champ Sofia Kenin and Dominic Thiem were the top respective women 's and men 's seeds to advance , while Venus Williams lost her first-round match at the 2020 U.S. Open on Tuesday in Queens , N.Y. Kenin beat Belgian Yanina Wickmayer 6-2 , 6-2 at Louis Armstrong Stadium at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center .
She is on a quest to win her second career Grand Slam and first U.S. Open title after she advanced to the third round in Queens in each of the last three seasons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a match that lasted just over an hour .
Kenin won four of four break points and had 33 winners in the victory .
She will face Canada 's Leylah Fernandez in the second round Thursday in Queens .
`` Honestly everything was good , '' Kenin told reporters .
`` I could n't miss .
I wanted to dominate her and play strong tennis against her . ''
Six-time U.S. Open champ Serena Williams will face Russian Margarita Gasparyan in the second round after she beat fellow American Kristie Ann in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sister Venus fell in straight sets Tuesday to Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic .
Americans Amanda Anisimova , Karina Scott , Caty McNally , Sachia Vickery , Bernarda Pera , Sloane Stephens , and Madison Keys joined Williams and Kenin with first-round triumphs on Tuesday in Queens .
Garbine Muguruza , Johanna Konta and Maria Sakkari also were among the top players to advance in the women 's circuit .
Thiem will face India 's Sumit Nagal in the second round of the men 's singles circuit after Spain 's Jaume Munar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against the second-seeded Austrian .
Thiem led 7-6 , 6-3 when the match was called off .
Thiem had nine aces and 33 winners in the match .
`` Every single player in this draw is amazing , '' Thiem said .
`` My next match will depend on if I play 100 percent .
That 's what I 'll try to do again . ''
Third-seeded Daniil Medvedev also advanced to the second round after a win over Argentine Federico Delbonis .
Americans Frances Tiafoe , Ernesto Escobedo and J.J. Wolf also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Andy Murray , Marin Cilic , Andrey Rublev , Roberto Bautista Agut , Milos Raonic , Grigor Dimitrov , Matteo Berrettini and John Millman were among the other men 's players to advance from Tuesday 's singles clashes .
Novak Djokovic , Stefanos Tsitsipas , Alexander Zverev and David Goffin will be the top men 's players on the court for second-round matches Wednesday in Queens .
Karolina Pliskova , Naomi Osaka and Petra Kvitova will be among the top women 's players in action .

Sofia Kenin (pictured) beat Belgian Yanina Wickmayer in straight sets to advance to the second round of the 2020 U.S. Open Tuesday in Queens, N.Y. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 2 (UPI) -- Australian Open champ Sofia Kenin and Dominic Thiem were the top respective women's and men's seeds to advance, while Venus Williams lost her first-round match at the 2020 U.S. Open on Tuesday in Queens, N.Y. Kenin beat Belgian Yanina Wickmayer 6-2, 6-2 at Louis Armstrong Stadium at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. She is on a quest to win her second career Grand Slam and first U.S. Open title after she advanced to the third round in Queens in each of the last three seasons. Advertisement
The 21-year-old American dispatched of Wickmayer in a match that lasted just over an hour. Kenin won four of four break points and had 33 winners in the victory. She will face Canada's Leylah Fernandez in the second round Thursday in Queens.
"Honestly everything was good," Kenin told reporters. "I couldn't miss. I wanted to dominate her and play strong tennis against her."
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Six-time U.S. Open champ Serena Williams will face Russian Margarita Gasparyan in the second round after she beat fellow American Kristie Ann in straight sets Tuesday in Queens. Her sister Venus fell in straight sets Tuesday to Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic.
Americans Amanda Anisimova, Karina Scott, Caty McNally, Sachia Vickery, Bernarda Pera, Sloane Stephens, and Madison Keys joined Williams and Kenin with first-round triumphs on Tuesday in Queens. Garbine Muguruza, Johanna Konta and Maria Sakkari also were among the top players to advance in the women's circuit.
Thiem will face India's Sumit Nagal in the second round of the men's singles circuit after Spain's Jaume Munar retired two hours into his first-round clash against the second-seeded Austrian. Thiem led 7-6, 6-3 when the match was called off. Thiem had nine aces and 33 winners in the match.
"Every single player in this draw is amazing," Thiem said. "My next match will depend on if I play 100 percent. That's what I'll try to do again."
Third-seeded Daniil Medvedev also advanced to the second round after a win over Argentine Federico Delbonis. Americans Frances Tiafoe, Ernesto Escobedo and J.J. Wolf also pulled off first-round wins on Tuesday.
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Andy Murray, Marin Cilic, Andrey Rublev, Roberto Bautista Agut, Milos Raonic, Grigor Dimitrov, Matteo Berrettini and John Millman were among the other men's players to advance from Tuesday's singles clashes.
Novak Djokovic, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Alexander Zverev and David Goffin will be the top men's players on the court for second-round matches Wednesday in Queens. Karolina Pliskova, Naomi Osaka and Petra Kvitova will be among the top women's players in action.
Serena Williams' tennis career: a look back


upi--2020-09-02--Lala Kent expecting first child with Randall Emmett

Sept. 2 ( UPI ) -- Vanderpump Rules star Lala Kent is going to be a mom .
The 30-year-old television personality is expecting her first child with her fiancé , film producer Randall Emmett .
Kent and Emmett shared the news during Wednesday 's episode of their Give Them Lala ... with Randall podcast .
`` I 'm , like , shaking right now , because I ca n't believe that it 's a real life thing , '' Kent said .
`` I 'm really emotional ...
I cry about everything , but today it 's very much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 30th birthday I have the best gift given to me ; my body also helped out too .
I am pregnant , '' she said .
`` I am and I 'm , like , so excited .
I feel very maternal and motherly . ''
Emmett already has two daughters , London , 10 , and Rylee , 6 , with his ex-wife , actress Ambyr Childers .
He shared a photo with Kent and his daughters on Instagram during an outing in July .
`` Boat day is the best day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kent and Emmett started dating in 2017 and got engaged in September 2018 .
Kent celebrated one year of sobriety in October .
`` This is the biggest accomplishment I 've ever had in my life and the one I am most proud of , '' she said on Instagram .
`` The moments I have had in the past year have been a blessing that I have been present for .
I did n't have that before . ''
Kent joined Vanderpump Rules in Season 4 and was made a series regular @ @ @ @ @ @ @ series completed its eighth season in June .

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Lala Kent (R) is "so excited" to be expecting her first child with her fiancé, Randall Emmett. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 2 (UPI) -- Vanderpump Rules star Lala Kent is going to be a mom. The 30-year-old television personality is expecting her first child with her fiancé, film producer Randall Emmett. Advertisement
Kent and Emmett shared the news during Wednesday's episode of their Give Them Lala... with Randall podcast.
"I'm, like, shaking right now, because I can't believe that it's a real life thing," Kent said. "I'm really emotional ... I cry about everything, but today it's very much happy tears."
Wednesday marked Kent's 30th birthday.
"For my 30th birthday I have the best gift given to me; my body also helped out too. I am pregnant," she said. "I am and I'm, like, so excited. I feel very maternal and motherly."
Emmett already has two daughters, London, 10, and Rylee, 6, with his ex-wife, actress Ambyr Childers. He shared a photo with Kent and his daughters on Instagram during an outing in July.
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"Boat day is the best day," Emmett captioned the post.
Kent and Emmett started dating in 2017 and got engaged in September 2018.
Kent celebrated one year of sobriety in October.
"This is the biggest accomplishment I've ever had in my life and the one I am most proud of," she said on Instagram. "The moments I have had in the past year have been a blessing that I have been present for. I didn't have that before."
Kent joined Vanderpump Rules in Season 4 and was made a series regular in Season 6. The E! series completed its eighth season in June.


upi--2020-09-02--Japan’s Yoshihide Suga says he’ll meet Kim Jong Un without preconditions

Sept. 2 ( UPI ) -- Japanese politician Yoshihide Suga says he would meet North Korea 's Kim Jong Un without preconditions in the event he is elected prime minister by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party .
Suga , Tokyo 's chief cabinet secretary and spokesman for former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe , is running for office , which will be determined among ruling party lawmakers , NHK and the Nikkei reported Wednesday .
During a press conference Suga said a `` political void should never be allowed to happen at a time of national crisis . ''
Japan continues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the future of the Tokyo Olympics remains uncertain .
Relations with South Korea have soured , and China continues to threaten Japanese claims in the East China Sea .
Tokyo has also remained wary of an uncooperative North Korea , but Suga suggested Wednesday he will follow in Abe 's footsteps .
`` We must do everything to solve the problem , '' Suga said , referring to the issue of Japanese citizens abducted to North Korea .
Suga also said he will open the way to `` meet Kim Jong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will cultivate relations with neighboring countries based on the foundation of the U.S.-Japan alliance . ''
Suga so far is the party 's favorite for prime minister .
Among the seven major factions of the LDP , Suga has the support of five out of the seven groups .
With roughly 70 percent of support from ruling party lawmakers , Suga 's election as prime minister is guaranteed , Jiji Press reported .
If Suga is elected on Sept. 14 , he will serve the remainder of Abe 's term , or until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ longest serving prime minister after World War II .
He also received significant criticism for his handling of the coronavirus and political scandals that involved the illicit sale of public land .

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Wednesday he will follow in former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's footsteps on North Korea policy. File Photo by Franck Robichon/EPA-EFE
Sept. 2 (UPI) -- Japanese politician Yoshihide Suga says he would meet North Korea's Kim Jong Un without preconditions in the event he is elected prime minister by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. Suga, Tokyo's chief cabinet secretary and spokesman for former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, is running for office, which will be determined among ruling party lawmakers, NHK and the Nikkei reported Wednesday. Advertisement
During a press conference Suga said a "political void should never be allowed to happen at a time of national crisis."
Japan continues to struggle with the spread of COVID-19, and the future of the Tokyo Olympics remains uncertain. Relations with South Korea have soured, and China continues to threaten Japanese claims in the East China Sea.
Tokyo has also remained wary of an uncooperative North Korea, but Suga suggested Wednesday he will follow in Abe's footsteps.
"We must do everything to solve the problem," Suga said, referring to the issue of Japanese citizens abducted to North Korea.
Suga also said he will open the way to "meet Kim Jong Un without preconditions."
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"We will cultivate relations with neighboring countries based on the foundation of the U.S.-Japan alliance."
Suga so far is the party's favorite for prime minister. Among the seven major factions of the LDP, Suga has the support of five out of the seven groups. With roughly 70 percent of support from ruling party lawmakers, Suga's election as prime minister is guaranteed, Jiji Press reported.
If Suga is elected on Sept. 14, he will serve the remainder of Abe's term, or until September 2021. Abe was Japan's longest serving prime minister after World War II. He also received significant criticism for his handling of the coronavirus and political scandals that involved the illicit sale of public land.
Abe resigned last month, citing health reasons.


upi--2020-09-02--Common, rare species equally vulnerable to climate change

Sept. 2 ( UPI ) -- Conservationists often assume that rarer species are more susceptible to the effects of climate change than more common species , but new research suggests populations of common animals are just as likely to rise or fall in response to climate change .
For the study , published Wednesday in the journal Nature Communications , researchers analyzed the population trajectories of more than 2,000 species across a variety of land , sea and freshwater ecosystems .
The data showed populations of rare animals are not more sensitive to climate change , and that rare and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ecologies , respond similarly to climate change .
In the new paper , authors call for conservationists to look beyond rare species when assessing how an ecosystem will be impacted by climate change .
Researchers relied on data from the newly compiled Living Planet Database , which features information on 10,000 animal populations , including mammals , reptiles , sharks , fish , birds and amphibians , between 1970 and 2014 .
`` Only as we bring together data from around the world , can we begin to really understand how global change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' study co-author Isla Myers-Smith , geoscientist with the University of Edinburgh , said in a news release .
Across the nearly 50-year timeline , researchers found 15 % of the animal populations declined , while 18 % increased .
More than two-thirds of animal populations experienced no significant change .
While the overall populations of birds , mammals and reptiles increased between 1970 and 2014 , amphibian numbers declined , making them a conservation priority , according to researchers .
`` We often assume that declines in animal numbers are prevalent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Daskalova , lead author of the study .
`` But we found that there are also many species which have increased over the last half of a century , such as those that do well in human-modified landscapes or those that are the focus of conservation actions . ''

Researchers say that the overall population of amphibians -- which includes frogs -- has experienced declines in the last 50 years. Photo by Couleur /Pixabay
Sept. 2 (UPI) -- Conservationists often assume that rarer species are more susceptible to the effects of climate change than more common species, but new research suggests populations of common animals are just as likely to rise or fall in response to climate change. For the study, published Wednesday in the journal Nature Communications, researchers analyzed the population trajectories of more than 2,000 species across a variety of land, sea and freshwater ecosystems. Advertisement
The data showed populations of rare animals are not more sensitive to climate change, and that rare and common species, with comparable physiologies and ecologies, respond similarly to climate change.
In the new paper, authors call for conservationists to look beyond rare species when assessing how an ecosystem will be impacted by climate change.
Researchers relied on data from the newly compiled Living Planet Database, which features information on 10,000 animal populations, including mammals, reptiles, sharks, fish, birds and amphibians, between 1970 and 2014.
"Only as we bring together data from around the world, can we begin to really understand how global change is influencing the biodiversity of our planet," study co-author Isla Myers-Smith, geoscientist with the University of Edinburgh, said in a news release.
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Across the nearly 50-year timeline, researchers found 15% of the animal populations declined, while 18% increased. More than two-thirds of animal populations experienced no significant change.
While the overall populations of birds, mammals and reptiles increased between 1970 and 2014, amphibian numbers declined, making them a conservation priority, according to researchers.
"We often assume that declines in animal numbers are prevalent everywhere," said Edinburgh geoscientist Gergana Daskalova, lead author of the study. "But we found that there are also many species which have increased over the last half of a century, such as those that do well in human-modified landscapes or those that are the focus of conservation actions."


upi--2020-09-02--Gallup poll: Far fewer Americans now satisfied with workplace safety

Sept. 2 ( UPI ) -- A result of the COVID-19 pandemic , far fewer U.S. workers feel satisfied with their personal health and safety at work , a new Gallup survey showed Wednesday .
According to the poll , 65 % of respondents said they 're satisfied with safety at their workplace -- a 9 point decline from last year and the lowest recorded by Gallup since 2001 ( also 65 % ) .
The last time it was lower was 1999 ( 63 % ) .
`` The coronavirus has temporarily , if not permanently , transformed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote .
`` In general , the changes have not significantly altered the way employed Americans view their jobs , with the exception of a decline in satisfaction with their physical safety at work .
`` This decline was perhaps unavoidable given how contagious the coronavirus is , and is the case even though many employers are taking precautions to keep their employers safe . ''
The greatest year-to-year decline in satisfaction was seen among workers who earn less than $ 75,000 ( down 17 points ) , non-college graduates ( -16 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was no change among college graduates ( 71 % ) .
`` Many white-collar workers have shifted to full-time remote work during the pandemic , '' Gallup noted .
`` As might be expected , workers who are now working primarily or entirely from home are generally satisfied with their physical safety conditions -- 74 % say they are .
`` In contrast , 61 % of those who indicate they are working mostly or completely outside their home are satisfied . ''
The survey found that satisfaction was mostly steady in other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( +5 points ) said they 're satisfied with the recognition they receive at work and their employers ' retirement plans .
Gallup polled more than 500 U.S. adults in all 50 states and Washington , D.C. , for the survey , which has a margin of error of 5 points .

Women wearing face shields and masks are seen Monday as they walk along Wall Street in New York City. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 2 (UPI) -- A result of the COVID-19 pandemic, far fewer U.S. workers feel satisfied with their personal health and safety at work, a new Gallup survey showed Wednesday. According to the poll, 65% of respondents said they're satisfied with safety at their workplace -- a 9 point decline from last year and the lowest recorded by Gallup since 2001 (also 65%). The last time it was lower was 1999 (63%). Advertisement
"The coronavirus has temporarily, if not permanently, transformed the way most Americans work," Gallup wrote. "In general, the changes have not significantly altered the way employed Americans view their jobs, with the exception of a decline in satisfaction with their physical safety at work.
"This decline was perhaps unavoidable given how contagious the coronavirus is, and is the case even though many employers are taking precautions to keep their employers safe."
The greatest year-to-year decline in satisfaction was seen among workers who earn less than $75,000 (down 17 points), non-college graduates (-16) and men (-14). There was no change among college graduates (71%).
"Many white-collar workers have shifted to full-time remote work during the pandemic," Gallup noted. "As might be expected, workers who are now working primarily or entirely from home are generally satisfied with their physical safety conditions -- 74% say they are.
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"In contrast, 61% of those who indicate they are working mostly or completely outside their home are satisfied."
The survey found that satisfaction was mostly steady in other aspects of the workplace. More Americans (+5 points) said they're satisfied with the recognition they receive at work and their employers' retirement plans.
Gallup polled more than 500 U.S. adults in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., for the survey, which has a margin of error of 5 points.


upi--2020-09-02--Nelly, Carole Baskin, Johnny Weir set for 'Dancing With The Stars' Season 29

Sept. 2 ( UPI ) -- Tiger King star Carole Baskin , ice skater Johnny Weir , rapper Nelly and more will be competing on Season 29 of Dancing with the Stars , Good Morning America announced on Wednesday .
Desperate Housewives star Jesse Metcalfe , Cheer coach Monica Aldama , NFL star Vernon Davis , Disney Channel star Skai Jackson , Catfish host Nev Schulman , actress Anne Heche , One Day at a Time star Justina Machado , NBA star Charles Oakley , The Real co-host Jennie Mai , and Selling Sunset star Chrishell , will also appear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sept. 14 on ABC .
Backstreet Boy member AJ McLean and Bachelorette star Kaitlyn Bristowe were previously announced for Season 29 .
`` Get ready , you cool cats and kittens , '' Baskin said on GMA while dancing with a plush tiger .
Dancing with the Stars Season 29 will be hosted by Tyra Banks , who is replacing Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews .
Bergeron has hosted more than 400 episodes of the dancing series since 2005. while Andrews joined him in 2014 .
Artem Chigvintsev , Val Chmerkovskiy , Jenna @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will appear as the dancing pros .

Sept. 2 (UPI) -- Tiger King star Carole Baskin, ice skater Johnny Weir, rapper Nelly and more will be competing on Season 29 of Dancing with the Stars, Good Morning America announced on Wednesday.
Desperate Housewives star Jesse Metcalfe, Cheer coach Monica Aldama, NFL star Vernon Davis, Disney Channel star Skai Jackson, Catfish host Nev Schulman, actress Anne Heche, One Day at a Time star Justina Machado, NBA star Charles Oakley, The Real co-host Jennie Mai, and Selling Sunset star Chrishell, will also appear on the new season when it premieres Sept. 14 on ABC.
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Backstreet Boy member AJ McLean and Bachelorette star Kaitlyn Bristowe were previously announced for Season 29.
"Get ready, you cool cats and kittens," Baskin said on GMA while dancing with a plush tiger.
Dancing with the Stars Season 29 will be hosted by Tyra Banks, who is replacing Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews. Bergeron has hosted more than 400 episodes of the dancing series since 2005. while Andrews joined him in 2014.
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Artem Chigvintsev, Val Chmerkovskiy, Jenna Johnson, Peta Murgatroyd, Gleb Savchenko will appear as the dancing pros.


upi--2020-09-02--U.S. COVID-19 cases, deaths rise; Dr. Anthony Fauci says vaccine could come early

Sept. 2 ( UPI ) -- There was an increase in both COVID-19 cases and deaths in the United States on Tuesday , according to updated data from researchers at Johns Hopkins University .
Data compiled by the university 's Center for Systems Science and Engineering showed September started with 43,200 new cases nationwide , an increase of nearly 10,000 over Monday 's figure , and almost 1,100 new deaths .
While the new case figure was higher , it was still below the August average of 47,300 cases per day .
Tuesday 's death count was the first to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the start of the pandemic , there have been 6.075 million cases and 184,700 deaths in the United States , according to Johns Hopkins data .
Tuesday , the nation 's top infectious diseases expert said a COVID-19 vaccine could be available earlier than expected if clinical trials produce significantly positive results .
Dr. Anthony Fauci told Kaiser Health News that an independent board could end a trial weeks early if the cumulative results are overwhelmingly positive or negative .
Fauci said the board would have a `` moral obligation '' to end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good that `` you can [ conclude ] it 's safe and effective . ''
A number of potential vaccines are in development worldwide , including at Pfizer , Novavax , Moderna and AstraZenica .
( Click here for our vaccine tracker ) In Florida , Gov .
Ron DeSantis on Tuesday ordered long-term care facilities to reopen to visitors after nearly six months of lockdown .
`` It 's a tragedy that [ the lockdown ] happened , but we had to do it , '' DeSantis said in an emotional press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to think of the people who passed away ... without being able to say a final goodbye . ''
Protocols still require all nursing home visitors to wear protective equipment and pass a temperature check and screening for COVID-19 symptoms .
However , they do not require visitors to test negative for entry .
AARP Florida voiced alarm at DeSantis ' decision to not require negative tests for visitors .
`` AARP recognizes this step will be welcomed by those who have seen spouses and parents suffer significantly from the isolation of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jeff Johnson said in a statement .
`` We all hope that this approach works .
But we continue to ask : Should we be trusting our older residents ' safety to hope ? ''
In Iowa , the state 's seven-day average of new cases set a new record Tuesday ( about 1,200 ) -- more than doubling over the past 10 days .
The state has the fastest-growing outbreak in the nation , according to the Harvard Global Health Institute , at nearly 37 new cases per 100,000 residents .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ West , however , with seven of nine Sun Belt states seeing decreases in the number deaths attributed to COVID-19 , new cases and the percentage of tests coming back positive , USA Today reported .

A masked woman walks through a public sculpture park at Rockefeller Center in New York City on Tuesday. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 2 (UPI) -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notified states to be ready to possibly distribute a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as late October. The agency sent letters to state officials last week, reported The New York Times, which viewed the documents. The CDC confirmed the advisory to CNN on Wednesday. Advertisement
The CDC warned states that initial supplies of the vaccine "may be constrained." The documents spell out that certain groups should be prioritized to receive a vaccine, including healthcare and essential workers, long-term care facility residents and staffers, and national security populations.
News of the letters came one day after Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said a vaccine could be available earlier than expected if current clinical trials produce significantly positive results.
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He told Kaiser Health News that an independent board could end a trial weeks early if the cumulative results are overwhelmingly positive or negative. He added that the board would have a "moral obligation" to end the trial early if data is so good that "you can [conclude] it's safe and effective."
Several vaccines are in development worldwide, including at Pfizer, Novavax, Moderna and AstraZenica.
Data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University showed September started with 43,200 new cases nationwide on Tuesday -- an increase of nearly 10,000 over Monday's figure -- and almost 1,100 new deaths.
While the new case figure was higher, it was still below the August average of 47,300 cases per day. Tuesday's deaths topped 1,000 for the first time in several days.
Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 6.09 million cases and 185,100 deaths in the United States, according to Johns Hopkins data.
Meanwhile, Minnesota reported the first death associated with the Sturgis Motorcycle rally, an annual event that brought more than 400,000 people to South Dakota.
Kris Ehresmman, infectious disease director at the Minnesota Department of Health, told The Washington Post the man in his 60s was hospitalized in intensive care after his return from the rally. He had underlying health conditions.
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More than 260 cases in 11 states have been tied to the event.
Minnesota officials reported 761 new cases and seven new deaths Tuesday, bringing its total case count to more than 77,000 and deaths to 1,830.
According to The New York Times' coronavirus tracker, Minnesota is one of several states where daily cases per capita are on the rise.
In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday ordered long-term care facilities to reopen to visitors after nearly six months of lockdown.
"It's a tragedy that [the lockdown] happened, but we had to do it," DeSantis said in an emotional press briefing. "It weighs on me to think of the people who passed away...without being able to say a final goodbye."
Protocols still require all nursing home visitors to wear protective equipment and pass a temperature check and screening for COVID-19 symptoms. However, they do not require visitors to test negative for entry.
AARP Florida voiced alarm at DeSantis' decision to not require negative tests for visitors.
"AARP recognizes this step will be welcomed by those who have seen spouses and parents suffer significantly from the isolation of the last five months," state director Jeff Johnson said in a statement. "We all hope that this approach works. But we continue to ask: Should we be trusting our older residents' safety to hope?"
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Miami-Dade Public Schools, meanwhile, said a cyberattack Tuesday made it difficult for students and teachers to access remote learning platforms. It was the second day in the row the school district had technological problems. The district opened the school year with online classes on Monday.
"There was a malicious attempt, malicious well-orchestrated complex attempt at derailing the connection which is essential for our students and teachers," Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said.
The Florida Department of Health reported about 2,600 new cases Tuesday, pushing the state total past 633,000. Only California and Texas have had more. Daily cases in Florida have been on the decline since mid-July.
In Iowa, the state's seven-day average of new cases set a new record Tuesday (about 1,200) -- more than doubling over the past 10 days.
The state has the fastest-growing outbreak in the nation, according to the Harvard Global Health Institute, at nearly 37 new cases per 100,000 residents.
The pandemic is easing in the South and West, however, with seven of nine Sun Belt states seeing decreases in the number of deaths attributed to COVID-19, new cases and the percentage of tests coming back positive, USA Today reported.
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COVID-19 pandemic alters life in New York City


upi--2020-09-02--Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes engaged to longtime girlfriend

Sept. 2 ( UPI ) -- Patrick Mahomes got a Super Bowl ring and a fiancee on the same day as he proposed to longtime girlfriend Brittany Matthews at the Kansas City Chiefs ' ring ceremony at Arrowhead Stadium .
Mahomes posted Instagram photos of the proposal , which occurred Tuesday at the Chiefs ' home field in Kansas City , Mo .
Matthews also posted photos from the couple 's big day on social media .
Mahomes began his night by posting photos to his Instagram story from the field level while Matthews posted from the stands at Arrowhead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the inside of one of the luxury suites at the facility .
The room was covered and flowers and featured a sign , which read `` Will you marry me ? ''
Matthews and Mahomes also posted photos of her large diamond ring and a photo of a candlelit table they used to celebrate the occasion .
`` My heart is so full , '' Matthews wrote .
`` I love this man so incredibly much and [ Tuesday ] was so special .
I could n't imagine this day being any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Matthews , 25 , met while attending high school in Whitehouse , Texas .
Mahomes then went on to star at Texas Tech before he entered the league in the 2017 NFL Draft .
He won NFL MVP in his first season as a starter in 2018 before he led the Chiefs to their first Super Bowl in 50 years in February .
While the details of Matthews ' ring have not been disclosed , Mahomes ' jewelry from Super Bowl LIV features 234 diamonds and 20 rubies .
Mahomes and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against the Houston Texans on Sept. 10 at Arrowhead Stadium .

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes received a diamond ring for winning the Super Bowl and gave a diamond ring to his longtime girlfriend as part of a proposal on Tuesday at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 2 (UPI) -- Patrick Mahomes got a Super Bowl ring and a fiancee on the same day as he proposed to longtime girlfriend Brittany Matthews at the Kansas City Chiefs' ring ceremony at Arrowhead Stadium. Mahomes posted Instagram photos of the proposal, which occurred Tuesday at the Chiefs' home field in Kansas City, Mo. Matthews also posted photos from the couple's big day on social media. Advertisement
Mahomes began his night by posting photos to his Instagram story from the field level while Matthews posted from the stands at Arrowhead Stadium. Matthews later posted a photo from the inside of one of the luxury suites at the facility. The room was covered and flowers and featured a sign, which read "Will you marry me?"
"This happened today [Tuesday]," Matthews wrote.
Matthews and Mahomes also posted photos of her large diamond ring and a photo of a candlelit table they used to celebrate the occasion.
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"My heart is so full," Matthews wrote. "I love this man so incredibly much and [Tuesday] was so special. I couldn't imagine this day being any more perfect."
Mahomes, 24, and Matthews, 25, met while attending high school in Whitehouse, Texas. Mahomes then went on to star at Texas Tech before he entered the league in the 2017 NFL Draft. He won NFL MVP in his first season as a starter in 2018 before he led the Chiefs to their first Super Bowl in 50 years in February.
While the details of Matthews' ring have not been disclosed, Mahomes' jewelry from Super Bowl LIV features 234 diamonds and 20 rubies.
Mahomes and the Chiefs open the 2020 NFL season against the Houston Texans on Sept. 10 at Arrowhead Stadium.


upi--2020-09-02--In photos: Moments from Major League Baseball for the week of Aug. 30, 2020

New York Yankees ' Aroldis Chapman ( R ) has to be restrained from approaching the the Tampa Bay Rays @ @ @ @ @ 5-3 victory in New York City on Tuesday .
Chapman in the ninth inning threw @ @ @ @ @ to Mike Brosseau 's head , which caused the benches to clear once the final @ @ @ @ @ by John Angelillo/UPI

New York Yankees' Aroldis Chapman (R) has to be restrained from approaching the the Tampa Bay Rays players after the Yankees' 5-3 victory in New York City on Tuesday. Chapman in the ninth inning threw a fastball that came close to Mike Brosseau's head, which caused the benches to clear once the final out was recorded. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI


upi--2020-09-02--Tyler Perry reaches billionaire status

Tyler Perry reaches billionaire status

Sept. 2 ( UPI ) -- Tyler Perry has become the newest billionaire in the entertainment industry , according to a new report from Forbes .
Forbes published a cover story on Perry and his Hollywood empire on Monday which gives an inside look into the actor and filmmaker 's various business ventures .
The publication estimates that Perry has earned $ 1.4 billion in pretax income since 2005 , with his estimated net worth at $ 1 billion .
Perry , 51 , owns everything he has released , including 1,200 episodes of television , 22 feature films and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ production deal with ViacomCBS and has an equity stake in streaming service BET+ .
Perry also owns Tyler Perry Studios , a 330-acre studio in Atlanta .
The lot contains 12 sound stages named after famous Black entertainers such as Oprah Winfrey and Will Smith .
Perry , who first started his career touring small theaters around the country to perform plays that he wrote , produced and starred in , received the 2,675th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in October .
`` I love when people say you come from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poor as hell , '' Perry told Forbes .
`` Ownership changes everything , '' he continued .
Perry is set to receive the Governors Award at the 72nd annual Emmy Awards on Sept. 20 .

Tyler Perry has reached billionaire status, according to a new cover story by Forbes. File Photo by Chris Chew/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 2 (UPI) -- Tyler Perry has become the newest billionaire in the entertainment industry, according to a new report from Forbes. Forbes published a cover story on Perry and his Hollywood empire on Monday which gives an inside look into the actor and filmmaker's various business ventures. Advertisement
The publication estimates that Perry has earned $1.4 billion in pretax income since 2005, with his estimated net worth at $1 billion.
Perry, 51, owns everything he has released, including 1,200 episodes of television, 22 feature films and multiple stage plays. He has a production deal with ViacomCBS and has an equity stake in streaming service BET+.
Perry also owns Tyler Perry Studios, a 330-acre studio in Atlanta. The lot contains 12 sound stages named after famous Black entertainers such as Oprah Winfrey and Will Smith.
Perry, who first started his career touring small theaters around the country to perform plays that he wrote, produced and starred in, received the 2,675th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in October.
"I love when people say you come from humble beginnings. It means you were poor as hell," Perry told Forbes.
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"Ownership changes everything," he continued.
Perry is set to receive the Governors Award at the 72nd annual Emmy Awards on Sept. 20.
Tyler Perry turns 53: a look back


upi--2020-09-02--Denver Nuggets complete comeback vs. Utah Jazz, advance to West semifinals

Sept. 2 ( UPI ) -- The Denver Nuggets became just the 12th team in NBA history Tuesday night to overcome a 3-1 playoff series deficit with three consecutive wins over the Utah Jazz to advance to the Western Conference semifinals .
Big man Nikola Jokic scored 30 points and had 14 rebounds in the Nuggets ' 80-78 Game 7 series finale in Orlando , Fla .
The Nuggets won Game 1 in overtime before losing three straight games .
Denver rallied to win Game 5 and took Game 6 on Sunday to tie the series .
`` It was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jokic told reporters .
`` Before the series started , I thought it was going to be interesting , but I did n't think it would be this interesting . ''
Jokic scored nine points in the first 12 minutes to help the Nuggets earn a 26-21 lead entering the second quarter on Tuesday at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex inside Walt Disney World Resort .
Denver used an 8-2 run to push their lead to 37-23 at the start of the second quarter and went on another 7-0 run later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many as 19 points .
Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell had just seven points in the first half , but responded with 13 points in the third quarter to help Utah close the gap to just five points as the game entered the fourth quarter .
Mitchell 's barrage sparked a 14-3 Jazz run .
The Jazz put together a 13-0 run from the end of the third quarter through the fourth quarter to take a 68-65 edge with 8:06 remaining .
The game was tied five times down the stretch before Jokic hit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to give the Nuggets their final lead .
A wild sequence in the final seconds -- which included a Utah turnover and a missed layup by Denver -- ended with Jazz guard Mike Conley narrowly missing what would 've been a series-winning 3-pointer at the final buzzer .
Mitchell finished with 22 points and nine rebounds , but nine turnovers , in the loss .
Gobert had 19 points and 18 rebounds for Utah .
Jamal Murray had 17 points and four assists in the win .
`` Sometimes that 's just the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Credit to them .
They made a play .
Credit to Jokic for making the hook shot .
`` We fought hard and came back . ''
The Nuggets next face the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal series at 9 p.m. EDT Thursday in Orlando .
The winner of that series will face the Los Angeles Lakers or the winner of the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder series in the Western Conference finals .

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic scored a game-high 30 points in a playoff win over the Utah Jazz Tuesday in Orlando, Fla. Photo by Erik S. Lesser/EPA-EFE
Sept. 2 (UPI) -- The Denver Nuggets became just the 12th team in NBA history Tuesday night to overcome a 3-1 playoff series deficit with three consecutive wins over the Utah Jazz to advance to the Western Conference semifinals. Big man Nikola Jokic scored 30 points and had 14 rebounds in the Nuggets' 80-78 Game 7 series finale in Orlando, Fla. Advertisement
The Nuggets won Game 1 in overtime before losing three straight games. Denver rallied to win Game 5 and took Game 6 on Sunday to tie the series.
"It was kind of back and forth," Jokic told reporters. "Before the series started, I thought it was going to be interesting, but I didn't think it would be this interesting."
Jokic scored nine points in the first 12 minutes to help the Nuggets earn a 26-21 lead entering the second quarter on Tuesday at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex inside Walt Disney World Resort.
Denver used an 8-2 run to push their lead to 37-23 at the start of the second quarter and went on another 7-0 run later in the frame to lead by as many as 19 points.
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Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell had just seven points in the first half, but responded with 13 points in the third quarter to help Utah close the gap to just five points as the game entered the fourth quarter. Mitchell's barrage sparked a 14-3 Jazz run.
The Jazz put together a 13-0 run from the end of the third quarter through the fourth quarter to take a 68-65 edge with 8:06 remaining.
The game was tied five times down the stretch before Jokic hit a hook shot with 27.8 seconds remaining to give the Nuggets their final lead. A wild sequence in the final seconds -- which included a Utah turnover and a missed layup by Denver -- ended with Jazz guard Mike Conley narrowly missing what would've been a series-winning 3-pointer at the final buzzer.
Mitchell finished with 22 points and nine rebounds, but nine turnovers, in the loss. Gobert had 19 points and 18 rebounds for Utah. Jamal Murray had 17 points and four assists in the win.
"Sometimes that's just the way it works," Mitchell said. "Credit to them. They made a play. Credit to Jokic for making the hook shot.
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"We fought hard and came back."
The Nuggets next face the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal series at 9 p.m. EDT Thursday in Orlando. The winner of that series will face the Los Angeles Lakers or the winner of the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder series in the Western Conference finals.


upi--2020-09-02--Amnesty International: Iran activists tortured, sentenced to die for 2019 protests

Sept. 2 ( UPI ) -- Amnesty International said Wednesday Iran used torture to force confessions during a crackdown on protests against rising gas prices last year and condemned some activists to die for minor crimes .
The human rights organization said Iranian authorities arrested 7,000 in the sweep , some as young as 10 years old , and conducted a widespread Internet blackout during the protests .
The 80-page report said punishments for arrested protesters included beatings , floggings , electric shocks , stress positions , mock executions , waterboarding , sexual violence , forced administration of chemical substances @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report said Iranian authorities also conducted `` grossly unfair trials on baseless national security charges '' and gave death sentences based on confessions extracted by torture .
`` In the days following the mass protests ( in late 2019 ) , videos showing Iran 's security forces deliberately killing and injuring unarmed protesters and bystanders sent shock waves around the world , '' Diana Eltahawy , Amnesty International 's deputy regional director for the Middle East and North Africa , said in a statement .
`` Instead of investigating allegations of enforced disappearance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other crimes against detainees , Iranian prosecutors became complicit in the campaign of repression by bringing national security charges against hundreds of people solely for exercising their rights to freedom of expression , association and peaceful assembly , while judges doled out guilty verdicts on the basis of torture-tainted 'confessions . '
'' Amnesty International said at least three protesters -- Amirhossein Moradi , Mohammad Rajabi and Saeed Tamjidi -- were sentenced to death for vandalism .
`` The organization believes that the real number of individuals prosecuted and sentenced in connection with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , given the large number of arrests carried out and the patterns of prosecution and sentencing in the country in cases of arbitrary arrests and detention involving intelligence and security bodies . ''
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said last fall that authorities successfully suppressed the national fuel protests and called demonstrators well-organized `` hooligans . ''

Protesters are seen near a vehicle that was set on fire during clashes over the cost of fuel in Tehran on November 16, 2019. File Photo by EPA-EFE
Sept. 2 (UPI) -- Amnesty International said Wednesday Iran used torture to force confessions during a crackdown on protests against rising gas prices last year and condemned some activists to die for minor crimes. The human rights organization said Iranian authorities arrested 7,000 in the sweep, some as young as 10 years old, and conducted a widespread Internet blackout during the protests. Advertisement
The 80-page report said punishments for arrested protesters included beatings, floggings, electric shocks, stress positions, mock executions, waterboarding, sexual violence, forced administration of chemical substances and deprivation of medical care.
The report said Iranian authorities also conducted "grossly unfair trials on baseless national security charges" and gave death sentences based on confessions extracted by torture.
"In the days following the mass protests (in late 2019), videos showing Iran's security forces deliberately killing and injuring unarmed protesters and bystanders sent shock waves around the world," Diana Eltahawy, Amnesty International's deputy regional director for the Middle East and North Africa, said in a statement.
"Instead of investigating allegations of enforced disappearance, torture and other ill treatment and other crimes against detainees, Iranian prosecutors became complicit in the campaign of repression by bringing national security charges against hundreds of people solely for exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly, while judges doled out guilty verdicts on the basis of torture-tainted 'confessions.'"
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Amnesty International said at least three protesters -- Amirhossein Moradi, Mohammad Rajabi and Saeed Tamjidi -- were sentenced to death for vandalism.
"The organization believes that the real number of individuals prosecuted and sentenced in connection with the November 2019 protests is far higher, given the large number of arrests carried out and the patterns of prosecution and sentencing in the country in cases of arbitrary arrests and detention involving intelligence and security bodies."
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said last fall that authorities successfully suppressed the national fuel protests and called demonstrators well-organized "hooligans."


upi--2020-09-02--WWE NXT: Finn Balor, Adam Cole tie in Iron Man match

Sept. 2 ( UPI ) -- Finn Balor , Adam Cole , Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa competed in a 60 minute Iron Man match for the NXT Championship on a special Tuesday edition of WWE NXT .
The match was made by NXT general manager William Regal last week after Karrion Kross was forced to relinquish the NXT Championship due to injury .
The event was titled NXT Super Tuesday .
An Iron Man match is won by having the most pinfalls or submissions after the 60 minute time limit expires .
Balor , Cole , Gargano and Ciampa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ever compete on the black and gold brand and are all former NXT Champions .
Balor scored the first point after he nailed Cole with a Coup de Grace from the top rope .
Ciampa was later poised to earn his first point after he nailed Balor with the Willow 's Bell followed by the Fairytale Ending , however , his longtime rival Gargano threw him out of the ring and pinned Balor instead to get onto the board .
Cole scored his first point after performing the Panama Sunrise on Gargano .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ four-way tie after unleashing a Fairytale Ending on Cole .
Ciampa , as the clock started to wind down , was hobbled by his left knee which slowed him down .
Ciampa continued to fight through the pain and nailed Gargano with an Air Raid Crash , however , Balor immediately attacked Ciampa with a Coup de Grace after he landed to take a two point lead .
Balor sat in the ring during the bout 's final seconds as Cole quickly rushed back in .
Cole blasted Balor from behind with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and final point as time expired .
Regal came out and announced that Balor and Cole will have to face each other one-on-one next week to determine the NXT Champion at NXT Super Tuesday II .
Also on WWE NXT , Isaiah 'Swerve ' Scott and NXT Tag Team Champions Breezango teamed up to take on Legado del Fantasma in a Six-Man Street Fight .
Breezango consists of Tyler Breeze and Fandango while Legado del Fantasma includes NXT Cruiserweight Champion Santos Escobar , Raul Mendoza and Joaquin Wilde .
The violent match featured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ garbage cans and ladders .
Breeze even pulled out a fire extinguisher and used it on all three members of Legado del Fantasma .
Former NXT Tag Team Champions Marcel Barthel and Fabian Aichner of Imperium arrived onto the scene to get revenge on Breezango and helped Legado del Fantasma beat up Breeze .
Fandango and Scott used a forklift to get extra height while they leaped onto their opponents .
Scott then won the match after using the JML Driver on Escobar .
Other moments from WWE NXT included Candice LeRae defeating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reed ; and Rhea Ripley challenging Mercedes Martinez to a Steel Cage match next week .

Sept. 2 (UPI) -- Finn Balor, Adam Cole, Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa competed in a 60 minute Iron Man match for the NXT Championship on a special Tuesday edition of WWE NXT.
The match was made by NXT general manager William Regal last week after Karrion Kross was forced to relinquish the NXT Championship due to injury. The event was titled NXT Super Tuesday.
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An Iron Man match is won by having the most pinfalls or submissions after the 60 minute time limit expires. Balor, Cole, Gargano and Ciampa represent some of the best grapplers to ever compete on the black and gold brand and are all former NXT Champions.
Balor scored the first point after he nailed Cole with a Coup de Grace from the top rope. Ciampa was later poised to earn his first point after he nailed Balor with the Willow's Bell followed by the Fairytale Ending, however, his longtime rival Gargano threw him out of the ring and pinned Balor instead to get onto the board.
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Cole scored his first point after performing the Panama Sunrise on Gargano. Ciampa was then able to create a four-way tie after unleashing a Fairytale Ending on Cole. Ciampa, as the clock started to wind down, was hobbled by his left knee which slowed him down.
Ciampa continued to fight through the pain and nailed Gargano with an Air Raid Crash, however, Balor immediately attacked Ciampa with a Coup de Grace after he landed to take a two point lead. Balor sat in the ring during the bout's final seconds as Cole quickly rushed back in.
Cole blasted Balor from behind with the Last Shot and narrowly earned the second and final point as time expired. Regal came out and announced that Balor and Cole will have to face each other one-on-one next week to determine the NXT Champion at NXT Super Tuesday II.
Also on WWE NXT, Isaiah 'Swerve' Scott and NXT Tag Team Champions Breezango teamed up to take on Legado del Fantasma in a Six-Man Street Fight. Breezango consists of Tyler Breeze and Fandango while Legado del Fantasma includes NXT Cruiserweight Champion Santos Escobar, Raul Mendoza and Joaquin Wilde.
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The violent match featured the use of chairs, tables, garbage cans and ladders. Breeze even pulled out a fire extinguisher and used it on all three members of Legado del Fantasma.
Former NXT Tag Team Champions Marcel Barthel and Fabian Aichner of Imperium arrived onto the scene to get revenge on Breezango and helped Legado del Fantasma beat up Breeze. Fandango and Scott used a forklift to get extra height while they leaped onto their opponents. Scott then won the match after using the JML Driver on Escobar.
Other moments from WWE NXT included Candice LeRae defeating Kacy Catanzaro; Timothy Thatcher defeating Bronson Reed; and Rhea Ripley challenging Mercedes Martinez to a Steel Cage match next week.


upi--2020-09-02--Presidential campaign becoming America's most uncivil war

Over the past two weeks , the Democratic and Republican presidential nominating conventions became Fort Sumters , with both parties firing broadsides at the other , opening what could be America 's most uncivil political war in history .
Democrats called Donald Trump the most dangerous president in modern times , unfit for holding office and incapable of knowing or telling the truth .
Republicans , meaning the president , played the fear card , asserting that Americans would be unsafe under a Joe Biden presidency -- that the candidate was a Trojan horse for radical socialism that will destroy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , lead to nationwide anarchy and end America 's democracy .
Listening to both parties , this is the first presidential campaign in which the most dangerous president ever faces a rival co-opted by extremists to embrace an anti-American agenda bankrupting the country and ruining its economy .
That is a quite a choice .
The only certain prediction is that the campaign will become more vicious , angry and polarizing .
Looming over the election in what may be the ultimate determinant of who wins is the coronavirus pandemic .
Nearly 200,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no president could have done better , or at least that is what this president says .
The record speaks otherwise .
During the 1918-20 Spanish flu pandemic , President Woodrow Wilson refused even to acknowledge its existence and the federal government did virtually nothing to limit its spread .
Trump is in partial denial of COVID-19 and certainly was very slow in taking effective action .
The president was late in recognizing the seriousness of the pandemic , ignoring science and the advice of his expert medical team .
He was late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the wearing of masks and social distancing .
His rallies and his nominating acceptance speech in the Rose Garden ignored those basic measures , making these events `` super-spreaders . ''
And the president has returned to campaigning in front of large rallies , disregarding basic health safety precautions .
The president has prioritized reopening the economy over restricting it until the pandemic subsides .
While the administration used the Defense Production Act to manufacture ventilators and protective equipment , testing has become politicized .
Virtually all medical science agrees that massive testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tracing to limit the spread of COVID-19 .
That has not happened .
The president put in place Operation Warp Speed to develop vaccines and therapeutics .
Across the globe , many tens of thousands of researchers and scientists are working overtime to find cures .
Conceivably , one or more cures may be created before the election .
More likely , the pandemic will determine the timetable .
And large rallies along with school openings could fuel its spread .
These uncertainties will cause the respective campaigns to take even more extreme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president was negligent if not derelict in his handling of the coronavirus .
That will be a central message .
In response , the president will pursue a law-and-order platform claiming that the violence and rioting is being promoted by Democrats who support Antifa and other left wing radical groups .
Indeed , his senior adviser Kellyanne Conway explicitly confirmed that greater violence helped the president as the most affected cities were headed by Democratic mayors who would bear the blame .
Will there be any bottom to these campaigns ?
Here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Republicans will label Black Lives Matter a terrorist organization , inciting the far right to contain that threat with violence .
Democrats will urge the president to hold even more rallies , so that large numbers of his supporters contract COVID-19 , in essence voter suppression by pandemic .
Impossible ?
Because partisan politics have never been more polarized and angry , probably since the Civil War , anything is possible .
Rage and emotion are not compatible with a civilized debate and peaceful election .
In the battle over a woman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where abortion should be legal , anti-abortionists and right-to-lifers bombed clinics , killing staff .
The perverted message : Murder was justified to prevent the murder of the unborn .
A similar form of insanity , as the pandemic is infecting the nation , could too easily contaminate the political campaign .
In this poisonous environment , law , order and public safety are explosive issues that , if not contained , can provoke vigilantes of left and right to take up arms against the other .
That suggests a civil war .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ erupts in this information age , it will be uncivil .
If violence or the pandemic surge , the consequences will make the future dystopian view presented by both parties at their nominating conventions reality .
Hope is never a strategy .
But that may be the only way to avert uncivil war .
Harlan Ullman is UPI 's Arnaud de Borchgrave Distinguished Columnist , a senior adviser at the Atlantic Council and author of the upcoming book , `` The Fifth Horseman : To Be Feared , Friended or Fought in a @ @ @ @

1/3
President Donald Trump (C) stands with family members, from left to right, son Donald Trump Jr., daughter Tiffany Trump, first lady Melania Trump and son Barron Trump after speaking on the final night of the Republican National Convention. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
Over the past two weeks, the Democratic and Republican presidential nominating conventions became Fort Sumters, with both parties firing broadsides at the other, opening what could be America's most uncivil political war in history. Democrats called Donald Trump the most dangerous president in modern times, unfit for holding office and incapable of knowing or telling the truth. Advertisement
Republicans, meaning the president, played the fear card, asserting that Americans would be unsafe under a Joe Biden presidency -- that the candidate was a Trojan horse for radical socialism that will destroy jobs, defund police, escalate violence, lead to nationwide anarchy and end America's democracy.
Listening to both parties, this is the first presidential campaign in which the most dangerous president ever faces a rival co-opted by extremists to embrace an anti-American agenda bankrupting the country and ruining its economy. That is a quite a choice. The only certain prediction is that the campaign will become more vicious, angry and polarizing.
Advertisement
Looming over the election in what may be the ultimate determinant of who wins is the coronavirus pandemic. Nearly 200,000 Americans have died of COVID-19. Perhaps no president could have done better, or at least that is what this president says. The record speaks otherwise.
During the 1918-20 Spanish flu pandemic, President Woodrow Wilson refused even to acknowledge its existence and the federal government did virtually nothing to limit its spread. Trump is in partial denial of COVID-19 and certainly was very slow in taking effective action.
The president was late in recognizing the seriousness of the pandemic, ignoring science and the advice of his expert medical team. He was late in advising (and never mandating) the wearing of masks and social distancing. His rallies and his nominating acceptance speech in the Rose Garden ignored those basic measures, making these events "super-spreaders." And the president has returned to campaigning in front of large rallies, disregarding basic health safety precautions.
The president has prioritized reopening the economy over restricting it until the pandemic subsides. While the administration used the Defense Production Act to manufacture ventilators and protective equipment, testing has become politicized. Virtually all medical science agrees that massive testing is crucial to allow for enough contact tracing to limit the spread of COVID-19. That has not happened.
Advertisement
The president put in place Operation Warp Speed to develop vaccines and therapeutics. Across the globe, many tens of thousands of researchers and scientists are working overtime to find cures. Conceivably, one or more cures may be created before the election. More likely, the pandemic will determine the timetable. And large rallies along with school openings could fuel its spread. These uncertainties will cause the respective campaigns to take even more extreme positions.
The Biden team argues that the president was negligent if not derelict in his handling of the coronavirus. That will be a central message. In response, the president will pursue a law-and-order platform claiming that the violence and rioting is being promoted by Democrats who support Antifa and other left wing radical groups. Indeed, his senior adviser Kellyanne Conway explicitly confirmed that greater violence helped the president as the most affected cities were headed by Democratic mayors who would bear the blame.
Will there be any bottom to these campaigns? Here are two signs of a possible bottom. Republicans will label Black Lives Matter a terrorist organization, inciting the far right to contain that threat with violence. Democrats will urge the president to hold even more rallies, so that large numbers of his supporters contract COVID-19, in essence voter suppression by pandemic.
Advertisement
Impossible? Because partisan politics have never been more polarized and angry, probably since the Civil War, anything is possible. Rage and emotion are not compatible with a civilized debate and peaceful election.
In the battle over a woman's right to choose and when or where abortion should be legal, anti-abortionists and right-to-lifers bombed clinics, killing staff. The perverted message: Murder was justified to prevent the murder of the unborn. A similar form of insanity, as the pandemic is infecting the nation, could too easily contaminate the political campaign.
In this poisonous environment, law, order and public safety are explosive issues that, if not contained, can provoke vigilantes of left and right to take up arms against the other. That suggests a civil war. The difference is that, if war erupts in this information age, it will be uncivil.
If violence or the pandemic surge, the consequences will make the future dystopian view presented by both parties at their nominating conventions reality.
Hope is never a strategy. But that may be the only way to avert uncivil war.
Harlan Ullman is UPI's Arnaud de Borchgrave Distinguished Columnist, a senior adviser at the Atlantic Council and author of the upcoming book, "The Fifth Horseman: To Be Feared, Friended or Fought in a MAD-Driven Age."
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upi--2020-09-02--Khmer Rouge prison chief Comrade Duch dies

Sept. 2 ( UPI ) -- Comrade Duch , the Khmer Rouge prison chief found guilty of committing war crimes in 2010 , has died in prison at the age of 77 , officials said .
The jailer who oversaw Cambodia 's infamous Tuol Sleng prison died Wednesday at 12:52 a.m. at the Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital in Phnom Penh , Neth Pheaktra , a spokesperson for the Khmer Rouge Tribunal , said on Twitter .
The cause of death was not released .
Duch , whose real name was Kaing Guek Eav , was sentenced to life in prison by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He had been found guilty at a 2010 trial of committing crimes against humanity , grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions , torture and homicide , becoming the first senior Khmer Rouge leader to be held accountable for the atrocities committed by the tyrannical communist regime .
As chief of the Tuol Sleng prison , codenamed S-21 , Duch oversaw a `` factory of death '' where up to 15,000 inmates are believed to have been tortured and then executed in Cambodia 's Killing Fields .
His victims were among the estimated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reign of the Khmer Rouge and its leader Pol Pot from 1975 to 1979 .
In its guilty ruling , the tribunal said the `` particularly shocking and heinous character '' of Comrade Duch 's crimes over an extended period of time `` undoubtedly places this case among the gravest before international criminal tribunals . ''
During his trial , the former schoolteacher denied being a leader in the Khmer Rouge and argued he , too , would have been killed if he disobeyed orders .
Duch was initially sentenced to 35 years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to life upon appeal .

Kaing Guek Eav, known as Comrade Duch, was sentenced to life imprisonment on Feb. 3, 2012, for committing crimes against humanity. Photo courtesy of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia/ Website
Sept. 2 (UPI) -- Comrade Duch, the Khmer Rouge prison chief found guilty of committing war crimes in 2010, has died in prison at the age of 77, officials said. The jailer who oversaw Cambodia's infamous Tuol Sleng prison died Wednesday at 12:52 a.m. at the Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital in Phnom Penh, Neth Pheaktra, a spokesperson for the Khmer Rouge Tribunal, said on Twitter. Advertisement
The cause of death was not released.
Duch, whose real name was Kaing Guek Eav, was sentenced to life in prison by a joint Cambodian-U.N. genocide tribunal in 2012.
He had been found guilty at a 2010 trial of committing crimes against humanity, grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions, torture and homicide, becoming the first senior Khmer Rouge leader to be held accountable for the atrocities committed by the tyrannical communist regime.
As chief of the Tuol Sleng prison, codenamed S-21, Duch oversaw a "factory of death" where up to 15,000 inmates are believed to have been tortured and then executed in Cambodia's Killing Fields.
His victims were among the estimated 1.7 million people who died under the reign of the Khmer Rouge and its leader Pol Pot from 1975 to 1979.
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In its guilty ruling, the tribunal said the "particularly shocking and heinous character" of Comrade Duch's crimes over an extended period of time "undoubtedly places this case among the gravest before international criminal tribunals."
During his trial, the former schoolteacher denied being a leader in the Khmer Rouge and argued he, too, would have been killed if he disobeyed orders. Duch was initially sentenced to 35 years in prison but his term was increased to life upon appeal.


upi--2020-09-02--U.S. warns of North Korea missile plans, extends travel ban

SEOUL , Sept. 2 ( UPI ) -- A group of U.S. government agencies issued a joint advisory saying that North Korea continues to seek key items for its missile programs and warned that several industries run the risk of violating international sanctions against the communist state .
The advisory , released Tuesday by the State , Commerce and Treasury Departments , said the United States is `` committing to disrupting '' North Korea 's attempts to procure foreign-sourced materials for its ballistic missile program .
`` It is critical that private sector companies and individuals be aware of key @ @ @ @ @ @ @ programs , North Korean procurement tactics and techniques , the risks of involvement in North Korea 's ballistic missile-related procurements and the potential consequences they face , '' the advisory said .
The electronics , chemicals and metals industries are particularly at risk of violating sanctions , even inadvertently , the advisory cautioned .
Financial , transportation and logistics sectors are also potentially exposed .
Specific items that North Korea imports for its missile program range from heavy-duty trucks used for launchers to metals such as steel and aluminum to gyroscopes .
North @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of procurement agents , '' such as officials who operate from North Korean diplomatic missions and trade offices , the advisory said , and also collaborates with Chinese and Russian companies .
No new sanctions were introduced along with the advisory .
On Monday , the Justice Department announced that a British Virgin Islands-registered company pleaded guilty to money laundering in order to evade North Korea sanctions , while last week a North Korean firm contracted to exchange alcohol for South Korean sugar was found to be under U.S. and international sanctions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ D.C. , think tank in July found that 62 countries had violated sanctions against North Korea in 2019 .
The U.N. Security Council toughened sanctions in 2017 after Pyongyang tested long-range ballistic missiles and detonated a nuclear weapon at its Punggye-ri test site .
The sanctions have remained a sticking point in nuclear negotiations between North Korea and the United States , which have been stalled since a summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in February 2018 failed to produce an agreement .
After a 17-month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the latter half of 2019 and has continued to conduct missile launches throughout 2020 .
With just two months before the presidential election , Trump has been touting his accomplishments in dealing with North Korea .
`` We actually have a relationship with North Korea , which is something that was never established by the previous administration , '' Trump boasted in July , adding that he would make deals with North Korea `` very quickly '' if re-elected .
On Tuesday , the State Department also announced that it was extending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ North Korea for a third time .
The ban was initiated in September 2017 following the death of Otto Warmbier , a college student who was arrested in North Korea for allegedly stealing a propaganda poster in 2016 .
He was released by North Korea in June 2017 in a vegetative state and died six days after returning home .
`` The Department of State has determined that there continues to be serious risk to United States citizens and nationals of arrest and long-term detention representing imminent danger to their physical safety , @ @ @ @ @

North Korea is trying to evade international sanctions to acquire materials for its ballistic missile program, a group of U.S. agencies warned in an advisory. File Photo by KCNA/UPI | License Photo
SEOUL, Sept. 2 (UPI) -- A group of U.S. government agencies issued a joint advisory saying that North Korea continues to seek key items for its missile programs and warned that several industries run the risk of violating international sanctions against the communist state. The advisory, released Tuesday by the State, Commerce and Treasury Departments, said the United States is "committing to disrupting" North Korea's attempts to procure foreign-sourced materials for its ballistic missile program. Advertisement
"It is critical that private sector companies and individuals be aware of key items sought by the North Korean weapons programs, North Korean procurement tactics and techniques, the risks of involvement in North Korea's ballistic missile-related procurements and the potential consequences they face," the advisory said.
The electronics, chemicals and metals industries are particularly at risk of violating sanctions, even inadvertently, the advisory cautioned. Financial, transportation and logistics sectors are also potentially exposed.
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Specific items that North Korea imports for its missile program range from heavy-duty trucks used for launchers to metals such as steel and aluminum to gyroscopes.
North Korea utilizes an "extensive overseas network of procurement agents," such as officials who operate from North Korean diplomatic missions and trade offices, the advisory said, and also collaborates with Chinese and Russian companies.
No new sanctions were introduced along with the advisory.
On Monday, the Justice Department announced that a British Virgin Islands-registered company pleaded guilty to money laundering in order to evade North Korea sanctions, while last week a North Korean firm contracted to exchange alcohol for South Korean sugar was found to be under U.S. and international sanctions.
A report released by a Washington, D.C., think tank in July found that 62 countries had violated sanctions against North Korea in 2019.
The U.N. Security Council toughened sanctions in 2017 after Pyongyang tested long-range ballistic missiles and detonated a nuclear weapon at its Punggye-ri test site.
The sanctions have remained a sticking point in nuclear negotiations between North Korea and the United States, which have been stalled since a summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in February 2018 failed to produce an agreement.
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After a 17-month hiatus, Pyongyang began testing weapons again in the latter half of 2019 and has continued to conduct missile launches throughout 2020.
With just two months before the presidential election, Trump has been touting his accomplishments in dealing with North Korea.
"We actually have a relationship with North Korea, which is something that was never established by the previous administration," Trump boasted in July, adding that he would make deals with North Korea "very quickly" if re-elected.
On Tuesday, the State Department also announced that it was extending a travel ban for American citizens to North Korea for a third time. The ban was initiated in September 2017 following the death of Otto Warmbier, a college student who was arrested in North Korea for allegedly stealing a propaganda poster in 2016.
He was released by North Korea in June 2017 in a vegetative state and died six days after returning home.
"The Department of State has determined that there continues to be serious risk to United States citizens and nationals of arrest and long-term detention representing imminent danger to their physical safety," the notice said.


upi--2020-09-02--Judge bars University of California from using SAT, ACT in admissions

Sept. 2 ( UPI ) -- A judge has blocked the University of California school system from using the SAT and ACT tests as part of its admissions process , stating its `` test-optional '' policy discriminates against those with disabilities who ca n't access testing centers amid the coronavirus pandemic .
In May , the University of California 's Board of Regents unanimously voted to immediately suspend the use of the exams until 2024 as it develops its own that it says will be better aligned with what it expects students to know before they start post-secondary education .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Board of Regents allowed for campuses to choose whether to eliminate the exams ' use in admissions or employ a `` test-optional '' policy through the 2022 calendar with UCLA , UC San Diego and UC Riverside among the six campuses that adopted the new testing option .
Alameda County Superior Court Judge Brad Seligman placed an injunction against the so-called test-optional policy on Monday , ruling that it disadvantaged disabled students the `` second look '' that non-disabled students who were able to take the exams during the coronavirus pandemic were granted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote that the coronavirus pandemic has resulted in restrictions in the availability of test sites , and while this affects all students , it essential bars those with disabilities for participating in the test-option policy .
`` Unlike their non-disabled peers , they do not have the option to submit test scores ; even if they did , their chances of obtaining necessary test accommodation are virtually non-existent , '' he wrote .
`` They get no second look or 'plus factor ' that non-disabled students are afforded in the admissions process .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lawsuit filed in December by Public Counsel on behalf of a group of students , educators and advocates arguing the SAT and ACT tests discriminate against minority and low-income applicants .
They argued that due to the test-preparation industry those two exams have created , poor yet deserving students were disadvantaged in the admission process as they could n't access such test preparation services .
On Tuesday , Public Counsel called the decision `` historic , '' saying it puts an end to `` racists tests '' that have deprived minority , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to post-secondary education .
`` It 's a low point for the regents that a lawsuit had to be the vehicle to eliminate meaningless tests that they had publicly acknowledged as 'racist , ' serving no purpose other than to boost the chances for privileged students who could access expensive prep courses to be taught the 'tricks ' to answering biased questions , '' Mark Rosenbaum , director of Public Counsel 's Opportunity Under Law Project , said in a statement .
`` There 's never been such a thing as a level @ @ @ @ @ @ @ underrepresented students , but this ruling at least evened that field a significant bit , '' Rosenbaum said .

A judge has barred the University of California school system from using the SAT and ACT exam in its admissions process. Photo by brent/Wikimedia Commons https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/legalcode
Sept. 2 (UPI) -- A judge has blocked the University of California school system from using the SAT and ACT tests as part of its admissions process, stating its "test-optional" policy discriminates against those with disabilities who can't access testing centers amid the coronavirus pandemic. In May, the University of California's Board of Regents unanimously voted to immediately suspend the use of the exams until 2024 as it develops its own that it says will be better aligned with what it expects students to know before they start post-secondary education. Advertisement
However, in its decision, the Board of Regents allowed for campuses to choose whether to eliminate the exams' use in admissions or employ a "test-optional" policy through the 2022 calendar with UCLA, UC San Diego and UC Riverside among the six campuses that adopted the new testing option.
Alameda County Superior Court Judge Brad Seligman placed an injunction against the so-called test-optional policy on Monday, ruling that it disadvantaged disabled students the "second look" that non-disabled students who were able to take the exams during the coronavirus pandemic were granted.
In his 17-page decision, Seligman wrote that the coronavirus pandemic has resulted in restrictions in the availability of test sites, and while this affects all students, it essential bars those with disabilities for participating in the test-option policy.
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"Unlike their non-disabled peers, they do not have the option to submit test scores; even if they did, their chances of obtaining necessary test accommodation are virtually non-existent," he wrote. "They get no second look or 'plus factor' that non-disabled students are afforded in the admissions process."
The ruling comes in response to a lawsuit filed in December by Public Counsel on behalf of a group of students, educators and advocates arguing the SAT and ACT tests discriminate against minority and low-income applicants. They argued that due to the test-preparation industry those two exams have created, poor yet deserving students were disadvantaged in the admission process as they couldn't access such test preparation services.
On Tuesday, Public Counsel called the decision "historic," saying it puts an end to "racists tests" that have deprived minority, disabled and poorer students from gaining access to post-secondary education.
"It's a low point for the regents that a lawsuit had to be the vehicle to eliminate meaningless tests that they had publicly acknowledged as 'racist,' serving no purpose other than to boost the chances for privileged students who could access expensive prep courses to be taught the 'tricks' to answering biased questions," Mark Rosenbaum, director of Public Counsel's Opportunity Under Law Project, said in a statement.
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"There's never been such a thing as a level playing field to admissions for our most underrepresented students, but this ruling at least evened that field a significant bit," Rosenbaum said.