upi--2020-02-03--Iowa Democrats head to caucuses to start 2020 primary season

Feb. 3 ( UPI ) -- Iowa Democrats will head to their precinct caucuses Monday to vote for their choice for the 2020 U.S. presidential race among a historical large field of candidates and no clear front-runner .
The caucuses officially begin the 2020 primary season , which will ultimately lead to party presidential nominations this summer .
Under Iowa 's Democratic Party caucus system , members will gather at 1,678 neighborhood locations across the state , or at one of 87 `` satellite caucus '' locations around the world , to cast a ballot for their choice for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will vote for delegates for the Iowa state party convention who will support the various candidates , which in turn will correlate to the number of delegates for each candidate sent on to the Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee July 13-16 .
The winner of the Iowa caucuses has traditionally been declared based on the number of `` state delegate equivalents '' they receive .
That will also be the case this year , but crucially in such a crowded field with no clear favorite , there is also something new that could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delegates to declare continuing momentum .
During each caucus meeting , attendees are first asked to physically group themselves by presidential choice -- this is called the `` first alignment . ''
Candidates not garnering at least 15 percent in this initial round are declared non-viable , and their supporters can either join other groups or try to persuade others to join them .
Then , a second vote is called , the `` final alignment , '' on which the delegate awards are based .
While the number of delegates won has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ achieved by candidates in the first and second alignments have never been released -- but starting this year they will be .
This will produce three levels of results and could allow candidates who do n't `` win the caucus '' by the traditional measure of pledged delegates a chance to claim strength based on good showings in the raw vote totals .
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders topped an Emerson College poll Sunday that showed him with 28 percent support , followed by former Vice President Joe Biden with 21 percent -- followed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mayor Pete Buttigieg ( 15 percent ) , Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( 14 percent ) and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar ( 11 percent ) .
However , 34 percent said there is still a chance they could change their vote .
After Iowa , the New Hampshire primary will occur Feb. 11 , followed by the Nevada caucuses on February 22 .
Early primary voting will begin in California on Monday .
Incidentally , Monday marked the 150th anniversary of the ratification of the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to vote based on race , color or `` previous condition of servitude . ''
`` Following the Civil War and the abolition of slavery , the Congress worked to ensure that 'race , color , or previous condition of servitude ' could no longer be used as grounds to deny an American citizen the right to participate in our democracy , '' President Donald Trump said Monday .
`` This historic amendment granted African-American men the right to vote and allowed them a voice in our great American Experiment .
`` Today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have made as a nation in forming a more perfect union , we acknowledge the challenges that minorities and women have overcome and the significant contributions they continue to make in advancing liberty and building a stronger America . ''

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden makes a fist as he arrives Monday night with his wife Dr. Jill Biden to address supporters at a caucus night event, at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 3 (UPI) -- Results of the Iowa caucuses were delayed on Tuesday night after the Iowa Democratic Party reported "inconsistencies" in the reporting of results. The state planned to report results from each portion of the caucus process for the first time and was using a new app to tally these results, but Iowa Democratic Party Communications Director Mand McClure told CNN the app was not shut down or tampered with and that there is a physical paper trail to check the results against. Advertisement
"We found inconsistencies in the reporting of three sets of results. In addition to the tech systems being used to tabulate results, we are also using photos of results and a paper trail to validate that all results match and ensure that we have confidence and accuracy in the numbers we report," McClure said. "This is simply a reporting issue. The app did not go down and this is not a hack or an intrusion. The underlying data and paper trail is sound and will simply take time to further report the results."
Advertisement
Troy Price, the chairman of the Iowa Democratic Party, told reporters early Tuesday in a brief phone call that he expects the tally to be in by "later today," emphasizing that the delay is the result of a reporting issue and not a hack or intrusion.
"They're validating every piece of data we have against our paper trial," he said. "The system is taking longer than expected, but it's in place to ensure we are eventually able to report results with full confidence. We have said all along, we have backups in place for exactly this reason."
In the absence of results, the candidates spoke to their supporters following the event with confidence about the forthcoming outcome.
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders joked that he has "a strong feeling at some point the results will be announced" and that he has "a good feeling we're going to be doing very, very well here in Iowa."
"The message that Iowa has sent to the nation, a message shared by the American people is that we want a government that represents all of us, not just wealthy campaign contributors and the 1 percent," he said.
Meanwhile, Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Ind., told his cheering crowd of supporters that they had "shocked the nation."
Advertisement
"What a night!" he said. "Because tonight, an improbable hope became an undeniable reality."
"So, we don't know all of the results, but we know by the time it's all said and done, Iowa, you have shocked the nation," he said. "Because, by all indications, we are going on to New Hampshire victorious."
And Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts told her supporters that the union was stronger than President Donald Trump.
"In less than a year, our union will be stronger than ever when that one man is replaced by one very persistent woman," she said.
Iowa Democrats went to their precinct caucuses Monday to vote for their choice for the 2020 U.S. presidential race among a historically large field of candidates and no clear front-runner.
The caucuses officially begin the 2020 primary season, which will ultimately lead to party presidential nominations this summer.
Under Iowa's Democratic Party caucus system, members gathered at 1,678 neighborhood locations across the state, or at one of 87 "satellite caucus" locations around the world, to cast a ballot for their choice for the Democratic nominee among 11 candidates.
They voted for delegates for the Iowa state party convention who will support the various candidates, which in turn will correlate to the number of delegates for each candidate sent on to the Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee July 13-16.
Advertisement
The winner of the Iowa caucuses has traditionally been declared based on the number of "state delegate equivalents" they receive. That will also be the case this year, but crucially in such a crowded field with no clear favorite, there is also something new that could allow those not emerging with the most delegates to declare continuing momentum.
During each caucus meeting, attendees are first asked to physically group themselves by presidential choice -- this is called the "first alignment." Candidates not garnering at least 15 percent in this initial round are declared non-viable, and their supporters can either join other groups or try to persuade others to join them.
Then, a second vote is called, the "final alignment," on which the delegate awards are based. While the number of delegates won has always been reported, the raw numbers achieved by candidates in the first and second alignments have never been released -- but starting this year they will be.
Democrats campaign in Iowa ahead of caucus
2020 Democratic presidential candidates, from left to right, Tom Steyer, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, former Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Bernie Sanders, former Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Amy Klobuchar gather onstage for a debate in Des Moines, Iowa, on January 14. Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI | License Photo
This will produce three levels of results and could allow candidates who don't "win the caucus" by the traditional measure of pledged delegates a chance to claim strength based on good showings in the raw vote totals.
Advertisement
Sanders
topped anSunday that showed him with 28 percent support, followed by former Vice Presidentwith 21 percent -- followed by former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg (15 percent), Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren (14 percent) and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar (11 percent).
However, 34 percent said there is still a chance they could change their vote.
After Iowa, the New Hampshire primary will occur Feb. 11, followed by the Nevada caucuses on February 22. Early primary voting will begin in California on Monday.
Incidentally, Monday marked the 150th anniversary of the ratification of the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which barred governments from denying persons the right to vote based on race, color or "previous condition of servitude."
"Following the Civil War and the abolition of slavery, the Congress worked to ensure that 'race, color, or previous condition of servitude' could no longer be used as grounds to deny an American citizen the right to participate in our democracy," President Donald Trump said Monday. "This historic amendment granted African-American men the right to vote and allowed them a voice in our great American Experiment.
Advertisement
"Today, as we recognize the remarkable progress we have made as a nation in forming a more perfect union, we acknowledge the challenges that minorities and women have overcome and the significant contributions they continue to make in advancing liberty and building a stronger America."
Trump won 37 delegates in the Republican caucus, earning 97 percent of the vote, while opponents Joe Walsh and Bill Weld each earned just above 1 percent.
"Big WIN for us in Iowa tonight," Trump celebrated on Twitter. "Thank you!"


upi--2020-02-03--Patriots' Tom Brady explains cryptic social post: 'Not going anywhere'

Feb. 3 ( UPI ) -- New England Patriots star quarterback Tom Brady explained his cryptic social media post by saying he is n't `` going anywhere '' during a Super Bowl commercial .
Brady , 42 , made the cryptic post Thursday on Instagram , Twitter and Facebook .
It included a black and white photo of the veteran quarterback walking away from the field at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough , Mass .
Fans and fellow NFL players had an explosive reaction on social media , assuming the picture was a metaphor for Brady leaving the Patriots or retiring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to become a free agent in March .
He has played his entire 20-year career with the Patriots .
His picture proved to be part of a commercial for Hulu .
Brady spoke about the streaming service , before making his football intentions clear , during a break from Super Bowl LIV Sunday .
`` It 's time to say goodbye to TV as you know it , but me ?
I 'm not going anywhere , '' Brady said .
The commercial comes after Brady quieted retirement rumors in early January by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has `` more to prove . ''
The six-time Super Bowl champion completed 60.8 percent of his throws for 4,057 yards , 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 16 starts in 2019 .
Brady earned a $ 14 million salary this season .
Brady ranks second in NFL history in passing yards and passing touchdowns , trailing only New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees .
He ranks No .
1 all-time in regular season wins , playoff appearances , starts and postseason victories .

Longtime New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is a free agent this off-season. Photo by Matthew Healey/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 3 (UPI) -- New England Patriots star quarterback Tom Brady explained his cryptic social media post by saying he isn't "going anywhere" during a Super Bowl commercial. Brady, 42, made the cryptic post Thursday on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. It included a black and white photo of the veteran quarterback walking away from the field at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Fans and fellow NFL players had an explosive reaction on social media, assuming the picture was a metaphor for Brady leaving the Patriots or retiring from the NFL. Advertisement
Brady is set to become a free agent in March. He has played his entire 20-year career with the Patriots.
His picture proved to be part of a commercial for Hulu. Brady spoke about the streaming service, before making his football intentions clear, during a break from Super Bowl LIV Sunday.
"It's time to say goodbye to TV as you know it, but me? I'm not going anywhere," Brady said.
The commercial comes after Brady quieted retirement rumors in early January by saying on Instagram he knows he still has "more to prove."
Advertisement
The six-time Super Bowl champion completed 60.8 percent of his throws for 4,057 yards, 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 16 starts in 2019. Brady earned a $14 million salary this season.
Brady ranks second in NFL history in passing yards and passing touchdowns, trailing only New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees. He ranks No. 1 all-time in regular season wins, playoff appearances, starts and postseason victories.


upi--2020-02-03--Watch: Marvel teases 'WandaVision,' 'Loki' in new Disney+ trailer

Feb. 3 ( UPI ) -- Marvel showcased the first footage from its upcoming slate of television shows , including WandaVision , during Super Bowl LIV .
The 30-second clip , released on Sunday , also included the first looks at The Falcon and the Winter Solider and Loki .
WandaVision , which stars Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff and Paul Bettany as Vision , features the Marvel duo attempting to live a normal life together .
Wanda and Vision are seen in the trailer moving between different time periods with Wanda even donning her Scarlet Witch costume .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ features Anthony Mackie 's Falcon training with Captain America 's shield following the events of Avengers : Endgame .
Sebastian Stan 's Winter Solider also makes an apperance .
The Loki segment features Tom Hiddleston once again as the title character following Avengers : Endgame .
`` I 'm gon na burn this place to the ground , '' he says while being seemingly held captive .
WandaVision and The Falcon and the Winter Solider are expected to arrive for Disney+ in 2020 with Loki arriving in 2021 .
Owen Wilson recently joined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ role .

Feb. 3 (UPI) -- Marvel showcased the first footage from its upcoming slate of television shows, including WandaVision, during Super Bowl LIV.
The 30-second clip, released on Sunday, also included the first looks at The Falcon and the Winter Solider and Loki.
Advertisement
WandaVision, which stars Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff and Paul Bettany as Vision, features the Marvel duo attempting to live a normal life together.
Wanda and Vision are seen in the trailer moving between different time periods with Wanda even donning her Scarlet Witch costume.
The Falcon and the Winter Solider footage briefly features Anthony Mackie's Falcon training with Captain America's shield following the events of Avengers: Endgame. Sebastian Stan's Winter Solider also makes an apperance.
The Loki segment features Tom Hiddleston once again as the title character following Avengers: Endgame.
"I'm gonna burn this place to the ground," he says while being seemingly held captive.
WandaVision and The Falcon and the Winter Solider are expected to arrive for Disney+ in 2020 with Loki arriving in 2021.
Owen Wilson recently joined the cast of Loki in an undisclosed role.


upi--2020-02-03--Pompeo: U.S. to evacuate more Americans from China amid outbreak

Feb. 3 ( UPI ) -- The United States will evacuate more American citizens from China 's Hubei province that has been under lockdown amid a deadly outbreak of a mysterious new virus , U.S. Security of State Mike Pompeo said Monday .
`` We have a handful of more flights that will be heading to China to bring Americans back home from Hubei province , '' he told reporters in Uzbekistan while on a multi-country trip until Tuesday .
`` The exact timing of those we 're still coordinating with the Chinese government , but we anticipate that it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days and we will return those American citizens . ''
Nearly 200 Americans were flown to an airbase in California from Hubei last week after they had been trapped in the city of Wuhan , the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak that began in early December and which has been under lockdown since mid-January .
Pompeo said they might also bring back citizens from other countries in addition to transporting medical supplies to the coronavirus-stricken province .
`` We 're working closely and hand-in-hand with the Chinese government to try and resolve what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' he said , adding that he will have more details on the flights soon .
The comments come as the United States implemented restrictions barring non-citizens who have visited China within the past 14 days from entering the country .
The Department of Homeland Security also announced that U.S. citizens flying to the United States from China will be re-routed to one of 11 airports where the government has established enhanced screening procedures and quarantine capacity .
The restrictions were implemented as the death toll from the coronavirus , called 2019-nCoV , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recorded the first death from the virus outside of China .
However , China lashed back at the United States on Monday for implementing the measures , accusing it of fanning fears of the virus and failing to offer support .
`` Most countries appreciate and support China 's efforts to fight against the novel coronavirus , and we understand and respect them when they adopt or enhance quarantine measures at border entry , '' said China 's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying .
`` But in the meantime , some countries , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overreacted . ''
She said the United States has n't provided any `` substantial assistance '' to China while being the first to evacuate personnel from Wuhan and the first to impose a travel ban on Chinese travelers .
`` All it has done could only create and spread fear , which is a bad example , '' she said .
The comments run counter to those President Donald Trump made during an interview Sunday with Fox New 's Sean Hannity when he said the United States is offering the Asian nation `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We have a tremendous relationship with China , which is a very positive thing , '' he said , adding that the new restrictive measures have `` shut it down '' from further infestation of the virus .
The United States has confirmed 11 cases of the coronavirus .
On Saturday , the United States increased its travel advisory for China to Level 4 , warning its citizens not to travel to the country .
The advisory came days after the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of @ @ @

Passengers are taken off of the Kalitta Air Boeing 747-400 freighter and shuttled onto waiting busses (R) at the March Air Reserve Base carrying about 200 American evacuees in Riverside, Calif., on Jan. 29. Photo by Etienne Laurent/EPA-EFE
Feb. 3 (UPI) -- The United States will evacuate more American citizens from China's Hubei province that has been under lockdown amid a deadly outbreak of a mysterious new virus, U.S. Security of State Mike Pompeo said Monday. "We have a handful of more flights that will be heading to China to bring Americans back home from Hubei province," he told reporters in Uzbekistan while on a multi-country trip until Tuesday. "The exact timing of those we're still coordinating with the Chinese government, but we anticipate that it will happen in the next handful of days and we will return those American citizens." Advertisement
Nearly 200 Americans were flown to an airbase in California from Hubei last week after they had been trapped in the city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak that began in early December and which has been under lockdown since mid-January.
Advertisement
Pompeo said they might also bring back citizens from other countries in addition to transporting medical supplies to the coronavirus-stricken province.
"We're working closely and hand-in-hand with the Chinese government to try and resolve what is now this global epidemiological challenge," he said, adding that he will have more details on the flights soon.
The comments come as the United States implemented restrictions barring non-citizens who have visited China within the past 14 days from entering the country. The Department of Homeland Security also announced that U.S. citizens flying to the United States from China will be re-routed to one of 11 airports where the government has established enhanced screening procedures and quarantine capacity.
The restrictions were implemented as the death toll from the coronavirus, called 2019-nCoV, climbed to 362 worldwide after the Phillippines recorded the first death from the virus outside of China.
However, China lashed back at the United States on Monday for implementing the measures, accusing it of fanning fears of the virus and failing to offer support.
"Most countries appreciate and support China's efforts to fight against the novel coronavirus, and we understand and respect them when they adopt or enhance quarantine measures at border entry," said China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying. "But in the meantime, some countries, the U.S. in particulate, have inappropriately overreacted."
Advertisement
She said the United States hasn't provided any "substantial assistance" to China while being the first to evacuate personnel from Wuhan and the first to impose a travel ban on Chinese travelers.
"All it has done could only create and spread fear, which is a bad example," she said.
The comments run counter to those President Donald Trump made during an interview Sunday with Fox News' Sean Hannity when he said the United States is offering the Asian nation "tremendous help" concerning the outbreak.
"We have a tremendous relationship with China, which is a very positive thing," he said, adding that the new restrictive measures have "shut it down" from further infestation of the virus.
The United States has confirmed 11 cases of the coronavirus.
On Saturday, the United States increased its travel advisory for China to Level 4, warning its citizens not to travel to the country. The advisory came days after the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.


upi--2020-02-03--Chinese markets slump as coronavirus cases surge

Feb. 3 ( UPI ) -- Markets in China were slammed Monday as the Asian nation reels from a coronavirus outbreak that has claimed 362 lives worldwide .
Chinese health officials announced Monday that 57 people had died since the day prior , raising the death toll to 361 in China .
The Philippines also confirmed the first death outside of China on Sunday .
The markets in China have been closed since Jan. 23 for the Lunar New Year -- well before the mysterious new virus had killed more than two dozen people and nearly a week before the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emergency .
But when they opened Monday morning , stocks in Shanghai plummeted 8.7 percent and shares in Shenzhen fell 9 percent making it China 's worst day since August 2015 .
More than 2,600 stocks took a dive to the daily limit of 10 percent , Bloomberg reported .
The People 's Bank of China said it poured $ 173 billion into its economy on Monday to `` maintain reasonable and adequate liquidity '' of its banking system as the country attempts to prevent the outbreak from becoming an epidemic .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operations rate to 2.4 percent from 2.5 percent and the 14-day rate to 2.55 percent from 2.65 percent , it said in a press release .
`` The situation is terrible , and China 's economy will be dealt a bad blow , '' AxiCorp 's chief market strategist Stephen Innes told South China Morning Post .
The market slide comes as Chinese health officials said the coronavirus outbreak has killed more than the 349 lives claimed by the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome , better known as SARS , that shook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The number of confirmed cases nationwide grew by 2,829 through Sunday to 17,205 , Chinese health officials said .
Hubei Province , the epicenter of the outbreak , accounted for 2,103 of the new cases and 56 deaths , 41 of which were reported in Wuhan , home to a seafood and animal market that is believed to be where the virus emerged from .
Health officials said 2,296 patients remain in serious condition while 476 other patients have been cured and discharged from the hospital .
Wuhan has been under a widening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to encompass all major cities in Hubei , home some 62 million people , and countries are attempting to repatriate their citizens from the province amid tightening travel restrictions and airlines mass canceling flights to the region .
Chinese officials gave the first batch of some 200 Taiwanese citizens under lockdown in Wuhan permission to leave the country through Wuhan Tianhe International Airport , according to Taiwan News .
Canada also said it has chartered a flight to evacuate its citizens from Wuhan where the airspace is currently closed .
The plane is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Vietnam , before deploying for Wuhan , once it receives permission to do so from China , Global Affairs Canada said in a statement .
The plane was charted after 325 Canadians in Hubei requested assistance to leave the country .
Canadian government officials and military personnel were on their way to Hanoi and were obtaining the requested visas from the government of China to enter Wuhan , it said .
Returning Canadians will be subjected to health screenings before boarding , during the flight and upon arrival at the airport in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ east of Toronto , according to foreign ministry officials .
Those who require medical attention will be transferred to the healthcare system on arrival while everyone else , including staff and flight crew , will remain under medical observation for 14 days at the Trenton airport , officials said .
`` The government of Canada takes the health and safety of Canadians , both at home and abroad , very seriously , '' said Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Phillippe Champagne .
`` We are taking action to return Canadians home from Wuhan , China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in place to prevent and limit the spread of the novel coronavirus . ''
More than 25 countries have reported at least one confirmed case of the virus , and to prevent it from spreading further , countries are restricting travel access to Chinese nationals and those who have recently visited the Asian nation .
On Monday , New Zealand implemented a temporary entry ban on all foreign nationals traveling from or transiting through mainland China in an attempt to stop the disease from spreading to the island nation , which has yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus .
The restriction will be in place 14 days for all foreign travelers who left China after Sunday and it will be reviewed every 48 hours , Immigration New Zealand said .
The Maldives also implemented similar entry restrictions on Monday for any foreign nationals arriving at any of its entry points from China ontop of its having already suspended incoming direct flights from the Asian nation .
The restrictions come as Air New Zealand added its name to the growing list of airline companies to cancel routes with China by suspending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until March 29 , it said in a media release .
Meanwhile , India confirmed its third cases of the coronavirus , known as 2019-nCoV , on Monday , according to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations .

A few Chinese wearing protective face masks visit a normally bustling, international shopping mall in Beijing on Friday. Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 3 (UPI) -- Markets in China were slammed Monday as the Asian nation reels from a coronavirus outbreak that has claimed 362 lives worldwide. Chinese health officials announced Monday that 57 people had died since the day prior, raising the death toll to 361 in China. The Philippines also confirmed the first death outside of China on Sunday. Advertisement
The markets in China have been closed since Jan. 23 for the Lunar New Year -- well before the mysterious new virus had killed more than two dozen people and nearly a week before the World Health Organization declared a global health emergency. But when they opened Monday morning, stocks in Shanghai plummeted 8.7 percent and shares in Shenzhen fell 9 percent making it China's worst day since August 2015.
More than 2,600 stocks took a dive to the daily limit of 10 percent, Bloomberg reported.
Advertisement
The People's Bank of China said it poured $173 billion into its economy on Monday to "maintain reasonable and adequate liquidity" of its banking system as the country attempts to prevent the outbreak from becoming an epidemic.
The bank also lowered the seven-day reverse repo operations rate to 2.4 percent from 2.5 percent and the 14-day rate to 2.55 percent from 2.65 percent, it said in a press release.
"The situation is terrible, and China's economy will be dealt a bad blow," AxiCorp's chief market strategist Stephen Innes told South China Morning Post.
The market slide comes as Chinese health officials said the coronavirus outbreak has killed more than the 349 lives claimed by the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome, better known as SARS, that shook the nation from 2002 to 2003.
The number of confirmed cases nationwide grew by 2,829 through Sunday to 17,205, Chinese health officials said. Hubei Province, the epicenter of the outbreak, accounted for 2,103 of the new cases and 56 deaths, 41 of which were reported in Wuhan, home to a seafood and animal market that is believed to be where the virus emerged from.
Health officials said 2,296 patients remain in serious condition while 476 other patients have been cured and discharged from the hospital.
Advertisement
Wuhan has been under a widening lockdown since Jan. 22 that has grown to encompass all major cities in Hubei, home some 62 million people, and countries are attempting to repatriate their citizens from the province amid tightening travel restrictions and airlines mass canceling flights to the region.
Chinese officials gave the first batch of some 200 Taiwanese citizens under lockdown in Wuhan permission to leave the country through Wuhan Tianhe International Airport, according to Taiwan News.
Canada also said it has chartered a flight to evacuate its citizens from Wuhan where the airspace is currently closed.
The plane is standing by and will land in Hanoi, Vietnam, before deploying for Wuhan, once it receives permission to do so from China, Global Affairs Canada said in a statement.
The plane was charted after 325 Canadians in Hubei requested assistance to leave the country. Canadian government officials and military personnel were on their way to Hanoi and were obtaining the requested visas from the government of China to enter Wuhan, it said.
Returning Canadians will be subjected to health screenings before boarding, during the flight and upon arrival at the airport in Trenton, Ontario, some 105 miles east of Toronto, according to foreign ministry officials.
Advertisement
Those who require medical attention will be transferred to the healthcare system on arrival while everyone else, including staff and flight crew, will remain under medical observation for 14 days at the Trenton airport, officials said.
"The government of Canada takes the health and safety of Canadians, both at home and abroad, very seriously," said Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Phillippe Champagne. "We are taking action to return Canadians home from Wuhan, China, while ensuring that appropriate measures are in place to prevent and limit the spread of the novel coronavirus."
More than 25 countries have reported at least one confirmed case of the virus, and to prevent it from spreading further, countries are restricting travel access to Chinese nationals and those who have recently visited the Asian nation.
On Monday, New Zealand implemented a temporary entry ban on all foreign nationals traveling from or transiting through mainland China in an attempt to stop the disease from spreading to the island nation, which has yet to report a confirmed case of the virus.
The restriction will be in place 14 days for all foreign travelers who left China after Sunday and it will be reviewed every 48 hours, Immigration New Zealand said.
Advertisement
The Maldives also implemented similar entry restrictions on Monday for any foreign nationals arriving at any of its entry points from China ontop of its having already suspended incoming direct flights from the Asian nation.
The restrictions come as Air New Zealand added its name to the growing list of airline companies to cancel routes with China by suspending its Auckland to Shanghai route effective immediately until March 29, it said in a media release.
Meanwhile, India confirmed its third cases of the coronavirus, known as 2019-nCoV, on Monday, according to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.


upi--2020-02-03--Coronavirus could impede U.S. trade with China, experts say

EVANSVILLE , Ind.
, Feb. 3 ( UPI ) -- The spread of the coronavirus through China is raising concern among American shipping ports and industries that rely on trade with the world 's most populous nation .
The Chinese government already has forced factories and businesses to close to slow the spread of the disease .
And there is no telling how much the virus will impact China 's consumer demand , even after the forced holiday ends .
`` One of the things we 're hearing is that it 's possible some of their factories may remain closed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Noel Hacegaba , the deputy executive director for the Port of Long Beach in California .
`` That means marine cargo wo n't be moving .
It wo n't be leaving China .
It wo n't flow into the United States . ''
That also means China will not receive American goods , Hacegaba added .
Typically , agricultural products -- like soybeans -- are the most frequent items shipped through the Port of Long Beach , Hacegaba said .
Other leading exports to China include aircraft , machinery , electrical machinery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Office of the United States Trade Representative .
The disruption comes at a time when industries were expecting trade with China to pick up .
President Donald Trump and Chinese government leaders on Jan. 15 signed a phase one trade deal -- the first step toward ending an 18-month trade war between the two countries .
As part of the deal , China promised to purchase $ 200 billion of American goods , including $ 40 billion in agricultural products .
Such purchases would offer relief to U.S. businesses , like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that have seen demand fall and prices plummet during the trade war .
`` Anything that can impact China 's ability to make these commitments is something we should pay attention to , '' said John Newton , chief economist at the American Farm Bureau Federation .
Newton said it was too soon to speculate on how much the coronavirus will impact agricultural trade in the coming months .
At the federal level , for example , agencies still are assessing the situation .
`` As [ U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to bring the virus under control and help the victims of this disease , '' a Department of Commerce spokesperson said in an email .
`` It is also important to consider the ramifications of doing business with a country that has a long history of covering up real risks to its own people and the rest of the world .
Fortunately , the Department of Commerce is equipped to support the American people and our businesses to do both . ''
The Chinese government mandated that all factories remain closed until at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Other provincial governments have extended the forced holiday until Feb. 10 , said Rajiv Biswas , the Asia Pacific chief economist at IHS Markit , a global analytics and information company based in London .
Factories already were closed last week for the Lunar New Year celebration , Biswas said .
`` There will be a big impact on trade because of the long period of forced holiday , '' Biswas said .
`` The next question is , how will this impact demand in China ? ''
In the immediate future , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demand for imported materials because plants that are n't operating wo n't need supplies , Biswas said .
The longer term impact is less clear .
Currently , the rapid spread of the disease has dramatically slowed commerce in China , he said .
`` It 's escalating so rapidly , '' said Biswas , who is based in Singapore .
`` There is a great deal of fear because not a good understanding of how to contain it .
Now , because people are in this state of fear , they do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're staying home .
They wo n't be buying as many things . ''
It is too soon to tell what markets will be most affected , Biswas said .
A lot depends on how quickly the virus spread can be contained .
Work is underway on a vaccine , but how soon once could be developed in not known .
Even if they have a vaccine , it would take months to actually produce enough vaccines for the whole country , '' Biswas said .
`` China has 1.3 billion people .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that kind of scale is immense .
I do n't think this can be stopped anytime soon . ''

The Chinese government has instituted a forced holiday for all factories while officials try to contain the coronavirus, which could decrease that nation's imports and exports. File Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI | License Photo
EVANSVILLE, Ind., Feb. 3 (UPI) -- The spread of the coronavirus through China is raising concern among American shipping ports and industries that rely on trade with the world's most populous nation. The Chinese government has forced factories and businesses to close to slow the spread of the disease. There is no telling how much the virus will impact China's consumer demand, even after the forced holiday ends. Advertisement
"One of the things we're hearing is that it's possible some of their factories may remain closed until the virus is contained," said Noel Hacegaba, the deputy executive director for the Port of Long Beach in California. "That means marine cargo won't be moving. It won't be leaving China. It won't flow into the United States."
That also means China will not receive American goods, Hacegaba added.
Typically, agricultural products -- like soybeans -- are the most frequent items shipped through the Port of Long Beach, Hacegaba said. Other leading exports to China include aircraft, machinery, electrical machinery, medical instruments and vehicles, according to the Office of the United States Trade Representative.
Advertisement
The disruption comes at a time when industries were expecting trade with China to pick up. President Donald Trump and Chinese government leaders on Jan. 15 signed a phase one trade deal -- the first step toward ending an 18-month trade war between the two countries.
As part of the deal, China promised to purchase $200 billion of American goods, including $40 billion in agricultural products. Such purchases would offer relief to U.S. businesses, like soybean growers and other agricultural interests, that have seen demand fall and prices plummet during the trade war.
"Anything that can impact China's ability to make these commitments is something we should pay attention to," said John Newton, chief economist at the American Farm Bureau Federation.
Newton said it was too soon to speculate on how much the coronavirus will impact agricultural trade in the coming months. At the federal level, for example, agencies still are assessing the situation.
As U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross "made clear, the first step is to bring the virus under control and help the victims of this disease," a Department of Commerce representative said in an email.
"It is also important to consider the ramifications of doing business with a country that has a long history of covering up real risks to its own people and the rest of the world. Fortunately, the Department of Commerce is equipped to support the American people and our businesses to do both."
Advertisement
The Chinese government mandated that all factories remain closed until at least the beginning of this week. Other provincial governments have extended the forced holiday until Feb. 10, said Rajiv Biswas, the Asia Pacific chief economist at IHS Markit, a global analytics and information company based in London.
Factories already were closed last week for the Lunar New Year celebration, Biswas said.
"There will be a big impact on trade because of the long period of forced holiday," Biswas said. "The next question is, how will this impact demand in China?"
In the immediate future, the factory closures will reduce China's demand for imported materials because plants that aren't operating won't need supplies, Biswas said.
The longer term impact is less clear. So far, the rapid spread of the disease has dramatically slowed commerce in China, he said.
"It's escalating so rapidly," said Biswas, who is based in Singapore. "There is a great deal of fear because there is not a good understanding of how to contain it. Now, because people are in this state of fear, they don't want to go out. They're staying home. They won't be buying as many things."
It is too soon to tell what markets will be most affected, Biswas said. A lot depends on how quickly the virus spread can be contained. Work is underway on a vaccine, but how soon one could be developed is not known.
Advertisement
"Even if they have a vaccine, it would take months to actually produce enough vaccines for the whole country," Biswas said. "China has 1.3 billion people. The logistics of creating a vaccine to that kind of scale is immense. I don't think this can be stopped anytime soon."


upi--2020-02-03--On This Day, Feb. 3: 15th Amendment ratified

Feb. 03 ( UPI ) -- On this date in history : In 1690 , Massachusetts Colony issued the first paper money in America .
In 1783 , Spain recognized the independence of the United States from Great Britain .
In 1870 , the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified .
It decreed that the right to vote shall not be denied on account of race , color or previous condition of servitude .
In 1913 , the 16th Amendment , allowing establishment of an income tax , became part of the U.S. Constitution after ratification by Wyoming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ severed relations with Germany following the former 's announcing its intention of waging unrestricted submarine warfare the previous day , on Feb. 2 , 1917 .
In 1924 , Woodrow Wilson , the 28th president of the United States , died in Washington at the age of 67 .
In 1959 , singers Buddy Holly , J.P. `` The Big Bopper '' Richardson and Ritchie Valens , and their pilot , Roger Peterson , were killed in a plane crash near Clear Lake , Iowa .
In 1966 , the Soviet Union accomplished @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when the unmanned spacecraft Luna 9 touched down on the Ocean of Storms .
In 1973 , the Endangered Species Act was signed into law by U.S. President Richard Nixon .
In 1994 , the United States ended a trade embargo on Vietnam after 19 years .
In 1994 , Space Shuttle Discovery blasted off into space with the first Russian cosmonaut aboard a U.S. spacecraft .
In 1998 , Texas executed Karla Faye Tucker , the first female inmate to be put to death by the state in 135 years .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a cable car wire in a northern Italian ski resort , killing 20 people .
In 2004 , the discovery of the lethal poison ricin in the mailroom of U.S. Sen. Bill Frist , R-Tenn. , the Senate majority leader , forced the temporary closing of three Senate office buildings in Washington .
In 2005 , 104 people aboard an Afghan airliner died when it crashed in the mountains near Kabul .
It was Afghanistan 's worst air disaster .
In 2006 , an Egyptian ferry sank in the Red Sea off the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killed nearly 1,000 people .
In 2007 , a truck bomb exploded in a Baghdad market killing at least 135 people and injuring more than 300 .
In 2009 , Eric Holder became the first African-American attorney general , succeeding Michael Mukasey under the Obama administration .
In 2011 , the New York City Council approved a measure banning smoking in 1,700 parks and along 14 miles of beaches .
In 2019 , Pope Francis arrived in the United Arab Emirates for a three-day visit , becoming the first pope to visit an @ @ @ @

1/4
An 1870 print celebrating the passage of the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. On February 3, 1870, the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified. It decreed that the right to vote shall not be denied on account of race, color or previous condition of servitude. File Photo by Thomas Kelly/Library of Congress
Feb. 03 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1690, Massachusetts Colony issued the first paper money in America. Advertisement
In 1783, Spain recognized the independence of the United States from Great Britain.
In 1870, the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified. It decreed that the right to vote shall not be denied on account of race, color or previous condition of servitude.
In 1913, the 16th Amendment, allowing establishment of an income tax, became part of the U.S. Constitution after ratification by Wyoming.
In 1917, the United States severed relations with Germany following the former's announcing its intention of waging unrestricted submarine warfare the previous day, on Feb. 2, 1917.
In 1924, Woodrow Wilson, the 28th president of the United States, died in Washington at the age of 67.
File Photo by Library of Congress/UPI
In 1959, singers Buddy Holly, J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson and Ritchie Valens, and their pilot, Roger Peterson, were killed in a plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa.
Advertisement
In 1966, the Soviet Union accomplished the first controlled landing on the moon when the unmanned spacecraft Luna 9 touched down on the Ocean of Storms.
In 1973, the Endangered Species Act was signed into law by U.S. President Richard Nixon.
In 1994, the United States ended a trade embargo on Vietnam after 19 years.
In 1994, Space Shuttle Discovery blasted off into space with the first Russian cosmonaut aboard a U.S. spacecraft.
In 1998, Texas executed Karla Faye Tucker, the first female inmate to be put to death by the state in 135 years.
In 1998, a U.S. Marine jet clipped a cable car wire in a northern Italian ski resort, killing 20 people.
In 2004, the discovery of the lethal poison ricin in the mailroom of U.S. Sen. Bill Frist, R-Tenn., the Senate majority leader, forced the temporary closing of three Senate office buildings in Washington.
File Photo by Michael Kleinfeld/UPI
In 2005, 104 people aboard an Afghan airliner died when it crashed in the mountains near Kabul. It was Afghanistan's worst air disaster.
Advertisement
In 2006, an Egyptian ferry sank in the Red Sea off the coast of Egypt, an accident that killed nearly 1,000 people.
In 2007, a truck bomb exploded in a Baghdad market killing at least 135 people and injuring more than 300.
In 2009, Eric Holder became the first African-American attorney general, succeeding Michael Mukasey under the Obama administration.
In 2011, the New York City Council approved a measure banning smoking in 1,700 parks and along 14 miles of beaches.
In 2019, Pope Francis arrived in the United Arab Emirates for a three-day visit, becoming the first pope to visit an Arab Gulf state.


upi--2020-02-03--Famous birthdays for Feb. 3: Morgan Fairchild, Warwick Davis

Feb. 03 ( UPI ) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Aquarius .
-- Elizabeth @ @ @ @ @ doctor of medicine , in 1821

1/2
Morgan Fairchild arrives on the red carpet for the 45th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in California on April 29, 2018. The actor turns 70 on February 3. File Photo by Chris Chew/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 03 (UPI) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Aquarius. They include: Advertisement
-- Explorer Ferdinand Magellan in 1480
-- German composer Felix Mendelssohn in 1809
-- U.S. journalist Horace Greeley in 1811
-- Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman doctor of medicine, in 1821
-- Poet/novelist Gertrude Stein in 1874
-- Artist Norman Rockwell in 1894
-- Gangster Charles Arthur "Pretty Boy" Floyd in 1904
-- Author James Michener in 1907
-- Comedian Shelley Berman in 1925
-- Actor John Fiedler in 1925
-- Football Hall of Fame quarterback Fran Tarkenton in 1940 (age 80)
-- Actor Blythe Danner in 1943 (age 77)
File Photo by Christine Chew/UPI
-- Football Hall of Fame quarterback Bob Griese in 1945 (age 75)
-- Musician Dave Davies in 1947 (age 73)
-- Nobel Peace Prize laureate Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo in 1948 (age 72)
-- Actor Morgan Fairchild in 1950 (age 70)
-- Actor Pamela Franklin in 1950 (age 70)
-- Actor Nathan Lane in 1956 (age 64)
-- Actor Thomas Calabro in 1959 (age 61)
Advertisement
-- Actor Maura Tierney in 1965 (age 55)
-- Professional golfer Retief Goosen in 1969 (age 51)
-- Actor Warwick Davis in 1970 (age 50)
File Photo by Paul Treadway/ UPI
-- Actor Isla Fisher in 1976 (age 44)
-- Singer Daddy Yankee, born Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez, in 1977 (age 43)
-- Actor Maitland Ward in 1977 (age 43)
-- Human rights lawyer Amal Clooney in 1978 (age 42)
-- Rapper Sean Kingston in 1990 (age 30)


upi--2020-02-03--Michigan inmate back in custody after mistaken release

Feb. 3 ( UPI ) -- Authorities said they have apprehended a Michigan inmate who was mistakenly released last month while being transferred to Ohio .
The Michigan Department of Corrections said in a statement Sunday that Talleon Stephon Brazil who was released by Ohio authorities on Jan. 21 was arrested by authorities in Detroit on Saturday .
Brazil , 31 , was arrested by the state 's Absconder Recovery Unit at around 4 p.m. after he was discovered in a Detroit residence following days of surveillance and intelligence gathering , authorities said .
`` We are glad this came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michigan Department of Corrections Director Heidi Washington .
`` And we appreciate all the assistance from our law enforcement partners who worked so cohesively to make this happen . ''
Brazil was serving a 15-40-year prison sentence for a 2010 conviction on a slew of charges , including unarmed robbery , carjacking and firearms possession by a felon , when on Jan. 14 , Ohio authorities transported him to the Scioto County Sheriff 's Office in Portsmouth , Ohio , where he faces a series of drug-related charges .
However , instead of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` improperly released '' on bond Jan. 21 and was picked up by family members who drove him to Detroit .
The search for Brazil began Jan. 30 after Ohio authorities contacted the Michigan Department of Corrections concerning Brazil 's release .
Brazil was arrested after his family was contacted by authorities who said Brazil is required to turn himself in , which he did not do .
Authorities said he may face additional charges related to his attempts to elude recapture .

Talleon Stephon Brazil was mistakenly released by Ohio authorities on Jan. 21. Photo courtesy of Michigan Department of Corrections/ Twitter
Feb. 3 (UPI) -- Authorities said they have apprehended a Michigan inmate who was mistakenly released last month while being transferred to Ohio. The Michigan Department of Corrections said in a statement Sunday that Talleon Stephon Brazil who was released by Ohio authorities on Jan. 21 was arrested by authorities in Detroit on Saturday. Advertisement
Brazil, 31, was arrested by the state's Absconder Recovery Unit at around 4 p.m. after he was discovered in a Detroit residence following days of surveillance and intelligence gathering, authorities said.
"We are glad this came to a quick resolution," said Michigan Department of Corrections Director Heidi Washington. "And we appreciate all the assistance from our law enforcement partners who worked so cohesively to make this happen."
Talleon Stephon Brazil is back in MDOC custody. pic.twitter.com/PBd5QbxpxJ— MichiganDOC (@MichiganDOC) February 1, 2020
Brazil was serving a 15-40-year prison sentence for a 2010 conviction on a slew of charges, including unarmed robbery, carjacking and firearms possession by a felon, when on Jan. 14, Ohio authorities transported him to the Scioto County Sheriff's Office in Portsmouth, Ohio, where he faces a series of drug-related charges.
Advertisement
However, instead of keeping him in custody, Brazil was "improperly released" on bond Jan. 21 and was picked up by family members who drove him to Detroit.
The search for Brazil began Jan. 30 after Ohio authorities contacted the Michigan Department of Corrections concerning Brazil's release.
Brazil was arrested after his family was contacted by authorities who said Brazil is required to turn himself in, which he did not do.
Authorities said he may face additional charges related to his attempts to elude recapture.


upi--2020-02-02--First coronavirus death reported outside China in Philippines; toll at 362

Feb. 2 ( UPI ) -- The Philippines has reported the first coronavirus death outside China , where the toll climbed to 361 fatalities and 17,205 cases through Sunday .
China 's National Health Commission reported 2,829 new cases and 57 additional deaths for a total of 361 on Monday morning .
Eight days ago , there were 46 deaths in mainland China with the first death reported on Jan. 11 .
There have now been more deaths from the coronavirus on mainland China than the 349 recorded by the WHO during the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some 800 people worldwide between 2002 and 2003 .
Health officials in Hubei Province , which is the epicenter of the outbreak , reported 2,103 new cases and 56 additional deaths through Sunday .
Forty-one of the deaths were reported in the provincial capital of Wuhan , where a now-closed seafood and animal market is believed to be where the virus emerged from .
A total of 147 patients in China were released from hospitals after being cured , including 80 in Hubei province .
In the Philippines , a 44-year-old male Chinese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department of Health said in a statement , bringing the worldwide death toll amid the coronavirus outbreak to 362 .
Health officials said that the patient -- the country 's one of two confirmed cases of the coronavirus -- was in stable condition and showed signs of improvement , but his health rapidly deteriorated in the 24 hours prior to his death .
He was the companion of a 38-year-old Chinese woman who arrived in the Philippines from Wuhan on Jan. 21 after traveling through Hong Kong .
`` This is the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in mind that this is not a locally acquired case , but in the epicenter of the disease in Wuhan , where there are very large number of deaths .
We are working with the DoH to minimize and contain the disease , '' said Rabindra Abeyasinghe , the World Health Organization representative to the Philippines .
Philippines Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III confirmed that it was an imported case of the virus with no evidence of local transmission .
`` We are currently working with the Chinese Embassy to ensure the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Duque said .
Twenty-three people are currently under investigation for the disease , according to the Philippines Department of Health .
Hours before the death was announced , Philippines Sen. Christopher `` Bong '' Go said a temporary travel ban will be issued for visitors from China , including Hong Kong and Macau , regardless of their nationality .
`` Taking into consideration the concerns raised by key government officials and health experts , the president made a decision and has agreed to adopt this recommendation and implement it immediately as additional precautionary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the senator , a former close aide of President Rodrigo Duterte , said Sunday in an interview on GMA News TV .
Filipinos will have to undergo a 14-day quarantine period upon arriving in the Philippines from China .
There are about 240,000 Filipino workers in Hong Kong .
Many of these are domestics helpers who would have made plans to return to home in April for Holy Week , according to Eman Villanueva , a spokesman for the Asian Migrants Coordinating Body in Hong Kong .
`` I was scheduled to go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death anniversary ...
I am basically deprived of going home and spending time with my family , '' Jess Mendez , a 38-year-old Filipino domestic helper in Hong Kong , said in a report by the South China Morning Post .
In Hong Kong , there were 15 reported cases , with 10 in Taiwan and eight in Macau , according to statistics through Monday morning in China .
Outside mainland China , a total of 149 cases have been reported , including 96 in other Asian nations , 23 in Europe and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the South China Morning Post .
But since then , three more cases were reported in the United States for 11 total .
A second woman in Santa Clara County , Calif. , was reported with the illness -- though the cases are not related -- and a married male and female in San Benito County .
All major cities in Hubei province , with 62 million people , are now under lockdown .
On Saturday , Xiangyang announced the shutdown of railway stations and the suspension of public transportation .
In Wuhan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of any city , authorities announced plans to quarantine all suspected patients and those known to have been in close contact with a confirmed case .
China is building two hospitals with 2,600 beds in less than two weeks in Wuhan .
One building called Huoshenshan Hospital was completed Sunday .
A study from the University of Hong Kong assumes each infected person could have passed the virus on to 2.68 others .
A total of 189,583 people that have had close contact with infected patients , the Chinese commission said .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @

1/4
A few Chinese wearing protective face masks visit a normally bustling, international shopping mall in Beijing on Friday. Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 2 (UPI) -- The Philippines has reported the first coronavirus death outside China, where the toll climbed to 361 fatalities and 17,205 cases through Sunday. China's National Health Commission reported 2,829 new cases and 57 additional deaths for a total of 361 on Monday morning. Eight days ago, there were 46 deaths in mainland China with the first death reported on Jan. 11. Advertisement
There have now been more deaths from the coronavirus on mainland China than the 349 recorded by the WHO during the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome, better known as SARS, that killed some 800 people worldwide between 2002 and 2003.
Health officials in Hubei Province, which is the epicenter of the outbreak, reported 2,103 new cases and 56 additional deaths through Sunday. Forty-one of the deaths were reported in the provincial capital of Wuhan, where a now-closed seafood and animal market is believed to be where the virus emerged from.
Advertisement
A total of 147 patients in China were released from hospitals after being cured, including 80 in Hubei province.
In the Philippines, a 44-year-old male Chinese national died Saturday, the country's Department of Health said in a statement, bringing the worldwide death toll amid the coronavirus outbreak to 362.
Health officials said that the patient -- the country's one of two confirmed cases of the coronavirus -- was in stable condition and showed signs of improvement, but his health rapidly deteriorated in the 24 hours prior to his death.
He was the companion of a 38-year-old Chinese woman who arrived in the Philippines from Wuhan on Jan. 21 after traveling through Hong Kong.
"This is the first reported death outside China, but bear in mind that this is not a locally acquired case, but in the epicenter of the disease in Wuhan, where there are very large number of deaths. We are working with the DoH to minimize and contain the disease," said Rabindra Abeyasinghe, the World Health Organization representative to the Philippines.
Philippines Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III confirmed that it was an imported case of the virus with no evidence of local transmission.
Advertisement
"We are currently working with the Chinese Embassy to ensure the dignified management of the remains," Duque said.
Twenty-three people are currently under investigation for the disease, according to the Philippines Department of Health.
Hours before the death was announced, Philippines Sen. Christopher "Bong" Go said a temporary travel ban will be issued for visitors from China, including Hong Kong and Macau, regardless of their nationality.
"Taking into consideration the concerns raised by key government officials and health experts, the president made a decision and has agreed to adopt this recommendation and implement it immediately as additional precautionary measure to protect the Filipinos," the senator, a former close aide of President Rodrigo Duterte, said Sunday in an interview on GMA News TV.
Filipinos will have to undergo a 14-day quarantine period upon arriving in the Philippines from China. There are about 240,000 Filipino workers in Hong Kong.
Many of these are domestics helpers who would have made plans to return to home in April for Holy Week, according to Eman Villanueva, a spokesman for the Asian Migrants Coordinating Body in Hong Kong.
"I was scheduled to go home in February for my mother's death anniversary ... I am basically deprived of going home and spending time with my family," Jess Mendez, a 38-year-old Filipino domestic helper in Hong Kong, said in a report by the South China Morning Post.
Advertisement
In Hong Kong, there were 15 reported cases, with 10 in Taiwan and eight in Macau, according to statistics through Monday morning in China.
Outside mainland China, a total of 149 cases have been reported, including 96 in other Asian nations, 23 in Europe and 13 in North America, according to the South China Morning Post. But since then, three more cases were reported in the United States for 11 total. A second woman in Santa Clara County, Calif., was reported with the illness -- though the cases are not related -- and a married male and female in San Benito County.
All major cities in Hubei province, with 62 million people, are now under lockdown. On Saturday, Xiangyang announced the shutdown of railway stations and the suspension of public transportation.
In Wuhan, where there are the most cases of any city, authorities announced plans to quarantine all suspected patients and those known to have been in close contact with a confirmed case.
China is building two hospitals with 2,600 beds in less than two weeks in Wuhan. One building called Huoshenshan Hospital was completed Sunday.
A study from the University of Hong Kong assumes each infected person could have passed the virus on to 2.68 others.
Advertisement
A total of 189,583 people that have had close contact with infected patients, the Chinese commission said. On Sunday,10,055 people were freed from observation.


upi--2020-02-02--In Photos: Highlights from Super Bowl LIV in Miami

`` We never lost faith , that 's the biggest thing , '' Mahomes said .
`` Everybody on this @ @ @ @ @ their head down .
We believed in each other .
That 's what we have @ @ @ @ @ '' Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI

"We never lost faith, that's the biggest thing," Mahomes said. "Everybody on this team, no one had their head down. We believed in each other. That's what we have preached all year long." Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI


upi--2020-02-02--In Photos: Jennifer Lopez, Shakira perform at Super Bowl LIV halftime show

Shakira ( L ) and Jennifer Lopez perform during the halftime show of Super Bowl LIV .
`` I 'm @ @ @ @ @ on one of the world 's biggest stages in the company of a fellow female @ @ @ @ @ Latinas from the United States and all over the world -- and to top it @ @ @ @ @ ! ''
Shakira said .
`` This is a true American dream and we are @ @ @ @ @ of a lifetime ! ''
Photo by John Angelillo/UPI

Shakira (L) and Jennifer Lopez perform during the halftime show of Super Bowl LIV. "I'm so honored to be taking on one of the world's biggest stages in the company of a fellow female artist to represent Latinos and Latinas from the United States and all over the world -- and to top it off, on my birthday!" Shakira said. "This is a true American dream and we are going to bring the show of a lifetime!" Photo by John Angelillo/UPI


upi--2020-02-02--Officials: 15-year-old student athlete killed in Florida funeral shooting

Feb. 2 ( UPI ) -- Officials confirmed on Sunday that a 15-year-old student athlete at a Florida high school was one of two people killed in a Saturday shooting outside a church .
In a statement , Broward County Public Schools said Terrence Jackson , a 10th-grade student at Deerfield High School , was shot and killed following a Saturday funeral .
`` Terrence was a good student and a good athlete , '' Broward County Public Schools said .
`` He was a valued member of the football team and student body and will be deeply missed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Police responded to the shooting outside the Victory City Church in Riviera Beach near West Palm Beach at just after 2:30 p.m. on Saturday .
Jackson and Royce Freeman , 47 , were pronounced dead at the scene , the Riviera Beach Police Department said .
Shanita Miller , 30 , was also shot and was transported to a local hospital where she was receiving treatment for non-life-threatening injuries , authorities said .
While the motive behind the shooting was still under investigation , police said it is believed to have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attending the funeral for the deceased and the shooters .
`` This shooting was not a random act of violence , '' the Riviera Beach Police Department said in a press release .
`` The victims and the shooters were known to each other . ''
Police initially reported that four people were injured at the scene but clarified that it was learned after further investigation that the fourth victim was wounded at a separate , unrelated shooting .

Officers with the Riviera Beach Police Department responding to a shooting Saturday outside the Victory City Church in Riviera Beach, Fla. Image courtesy of Google Maps
Feb. 2 (UPI) -- Officials confirmed on Sunday that a 15-year-old student athlete at a Florida high school was one of two people killed in a Saturday shooting outside a church. In a statement, Broward County Public Schools said Terrence Jackson, a 10th-grade student at Deerfield High School, was shot and killed following a Saturday funeral. Advertisement
"Terrence was a good student and a good athlete," Broward County Public Schools said. "He was a valued member of the football team and student body and will be deeply missed by his teammates, friends and teachers."
Police responded to the shooting outside the Victory City Church in Riviera Beach near West Palm Beach at just after 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Jackson and Royce Freeman, 47, were pronounced dead at the scene, the Riviera Beach Police Department said.
Shanita Miller, 30, was also shot and was transported to a local hospital where she was receiving treatment for non-life-threatening injuries, authorities said.
While the motive behind the shooting was still under investigation, police said it is believed to have been the result of a dispute between relatives attending the funeral for the deceased and the shooters.
Advertisement
"This shooting was not a random act of violence," the Riviera Beach Police Department said in a press release. "The victims and the shooters were known to each other."
Police initially reported that four people were injured at the scene but clarified that it was learned after further investigation that the fourth victim was wounded at a separate, unrelated shooting.


upi--2020-02-03--Yad Vashem apologizes for videos downplaying Soviet involvement in World War II

Feb. 3 ( UPI ) -- Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Museum on Monday issued an apology for presenting content that downplayed the Soviet Union 's involvement in World War II and the Holocaust at the World Holocaust Forum .
The museum sent a letter to be published in Haaretz newspaper 's Hebrew edition on Tuesday saying it presented videos with that did not mention the Soviet Union 's crimes in WWII and also included maps that inaccurately depicted the borders of Poland and its neighboring countries .
`` Unfortunately there were some inaccuracies in the videos accompanying the event , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ present major key points leading to and during World War II and the Holocaust , which presented a partial picture of the historical facts and may have created an imbalanced impression , '' Prof. Dan Michman , head of the International Institute for Holocaust Research at Yad Vashem , said .
The videos did not include any reference to the partition of Poland between Soviet Russia and Nazi Germany in 1939 or the occupation of western Europe in 1940 , contained no reference to Ukraine and confused concentration camps with death camps .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a guest of honor at the event held in Jerusalem , which was sponsored by Israeli President Reuven Rivlin .
`` We apologize for the very regrettable mishap that occurred ... these videos do not represent the perspective of Yad Vashem 's research on these issues , '' the letter said .
`` As an institution , our obligation to Israel and the Jewish people ... is -- and will continue to be -- to stick to historical fact as far as it may be ascertained and to investigate in order to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political discourse in various countries . ''

The Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial center in Jerusalem on Monday apologized for presenting videos that downplayed Soviet involvement in World War II at the World Holocaust Forum last month. Pool Photo by Ronen Zvulun/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 3 (UPI) -- Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Museum on Monday issued an apology for presenting content that downplayed the Soviet Union's involvement in World War II and the Holocaust at the World Holocaust Forum. The museum sent a letter to be published in Haaretz newspaper's Hebrew edition on Tuesday saying it presented videos with that did not mention the Soviet Union's crimes in WWII and also included maps that inaccurately depicted the borders of Poland and its neighboring countries. Advertisement
"Unfortunately there were some inaccuracies in the videos accompanying the event, especially in one video meant to succinctly present major key points leading to and during World War II and the Holocaust, which presented a partial picture of the historical facts and may have created an imbalanced impression," Prof. Dan Michman, head of the International Institute for Holocaust Research at Yad Vashem, said.
The videos did not include any reference to the partition of Poland between Soviet Russia and Nazi Germany in 1939 or the occupation of western Europe in 1940, contained no reference to Ukraine and confused concentration camps with death camps.
Russian President Vladimir Putin was a key-speaker and a guest of honor at the event held in Jerusalem, which was sponsored by Israeli President Reuven Rivlin.
Advertisement
"We apologize for the very regrettable mishap that occurred ... these videos do not represent the perspective of Yad Vashem's research on these issues," the letter said. "As an institution, our obligation to Israel and the Jewish people ... is -- and will continue to be -- to stick to historical fact as far as it may be ascertained and to investigate in order to oppose attempts to blur and distort the political discourse in various countries."


upi--2020-02-03--Chiefs' Derrick Nnadi pays dog adoption fees after Super Bowl LIV win

Feb. 3 ( UPI ) -- Chiefs defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi celebrated his team 's Super Bowl LIV victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday by paying the adoption fees of all dogs currently living at a Kansas City animal shelter .
The Kansas City Pet Project announced Nnadi 's pledge Monday morning .
He will pay the adoption fees for all dogs living at the shelter as of Sunday for as long as it takes those dogs to be adopted .
As of Monday morning , there were 117 dogs listed as available for adoption on the Kansas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Adoption fees at the animal shelter normally cost about $ 150 .
`` We 're so honored to partner with @ DerrickNnadi who is sponsoring the adoption fees of all of our adoptable dogs at our locations !
What an incredibly generous gesture and we want to thank Derrick for his support all season long , '' the Kansas City Pet Project wrote Monday on Twitter .
Through his Derrick Nnadi Foundation , the defensive lineman also sponsored a program during the regular season in which he paid the adoption fee for one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ All of the dogs in that program found a home .
`` Kansas City is on cloud nine this morning with last night 's win and we 're thrilled to be partnering with Derrick Nnadi on this wonderful initiative , '' Tori Fugate , the chief communications officer at Kansas City Campus for Animal Care , told ABC News .
`` Thanks to his incredible support , more than 100 available dogs in our care will have their adoption fees sponsored starting today . ''
Nnadi recorded four tackles , one for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ win over the 49ers on Sunday in Super Bowl LIV at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Hardens , Fla .

Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman Derrick Nnadi celebrates after a 31-20 win over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. Photo by Jon SooHoo/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 3 (UPI) -- Chiefs defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi celebrated his team's Super Bowl LIV victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday by paying the adoption fees of all dogs currently living at a Kansas City animal shelter. The Kansas City Pet Project announced Nnadi's pledge Monday morning. He will pay the adoption fees for all dogs living at the shelter as of Sunday for as long as it takes those dogs to be adopted. Advertisement
As of Monday morning, there were 117 dogs listed as available for adoption on the Kansas City Pet Project's official website. Adoption fees at the animal shelter normally cost about $150.
"We're so honored to partner with @DerrickNnadi who is sponsoring the adoption fees of all of our adoptable dogs at our locations! What an incredibly generous gesture and we want to thank Derrick for his support all season long," the Kansas City Pet Project wrote Monday on Twitter.
Through his Derrick Nnadi Foundation, the defensive lineman also sponsored a program during the regular season in which he paid the adoption fee for one hard-to-adopt dog after each Chiefs win. All of the dogs in that program found a home.
Advertisement
"Kansas City is on cloud nine this morning with last night's win and we're thrilled to be partnering with Derrick Nnadi on this wonderful initiative," Tori Fugate, the chief communications officer at Kansas City Campus for Animal Care, told ABC News. "Thanks to his incredible support, more than 100 available dogs in our care will have their adoption fees sponsored starting today."
Nnadi recorded four tackles, one for a loss, in the Chiefs' 31-20 win over the 49ers on Sunday in Super Bowl LIV at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Hardens, Fla.


upi--2020-02-03--Cervical cancer may nearly disappear in North America by 2040

Vaccination and screening could nearly wipe out cervical cancer in North America in the next 20 years and rid the world of the disease within the next century , researchers say .
In a new study , the researchers assessed the potential impacts of the World Health Organization 's draft strategy for cervical cancer elimination , which calls for 90 percent of girls to be vaccinated against human papillomavirus , or HPV , by 2030 .
The WHO plan also calls for 70 percent of women to be screened for cervical cancer once or twice in their lifetime , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lesions or cervical cancer to receive appropriate treatment .
With HPV vaccination alone , cervical cancer cases would fall 89 percent within a century in 78 countries hardest-hit by the disease .
That 's 60 million cases of cervical cancer prevented , according to the report .
With the added tests and treatment of precancerous lesions , cervical cancer cases would fall by 97 percent and 72 million cases would be prevented over the next century .
And with an increase in appropriate treatment , 62 million cervical cancer deaths would be prevented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ published Jan. 30 in The Lancet .
`` Our results suggest that to eliminate cervical cancer , it will be necessary to achieve both high vaccination coverage and a high uptake of screening and treatment , especially in countries with the highest burden of the disease , '' said research team co-director Marc Brisson , a professor at Laval University in Quebec , Canada .
WHO 's strategy is to be presented for adoption at the World Health Assembly in Geneva , Switzerland , in May .
`` If the strategy is adopted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cancer could be eliminated in high-income countries by 2040 and across the globe within the next century , which would be a phenomenal victory for women 's health , '' Brisson said in a university news release .
`` However , this can only be achieved with considerable international financial and political commitment , in order to scale up prevention and treatment , '' he added .
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on cervical cancer prevention .

Vaccination and screening could nearly wipe out cervical cancer in North America in the next 20 years and rid the world of the disease within the next century, researchers say.
In a new study, the researchers assessed the potential impacts of the World Health Organization's draft strategy for cervical cancer elimination, which calls for 90 percent of girls to be vaccinated against human papillomavirus, or HPV, by 2030.
Advertisement
HPV causes most cervical cancer cases.
The WHO plan also calls for 70 percent of women to be screened for cervical cancer once or twice in their lifetime, and for 90 percent of women with precancerous lesions or cervical cancer to receive appropriate treatment.
With HPV vaccination alone, cervical cancer cases would fall 89 percent within a century in 78 countries hardest-hit by the disease. That's 60 million cases of cervical cancer prevented, according to the report.
With the added tests and treatment of precancerous lesions, cervical cancer cases would fall by 97 percent and 72 million cases would be prevented over the next century.
And with an increase in appropriate treatment, 62 million cervical cancer deaths would be prevented, according to a pair of studies published Jan. 30 in The Lancet.
Advertisement
"Our results suggest that to eliminate cervical cancer, it will be necessary to achieve both high vaccination coverage and a high uptake of screening and treatment, especially in countries with the highest burden of the disease," said research team co-director Marc Brisson, a professor at Laval University in Quebec, Canada.
WHO's strategy is to be presented for adoption at the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, in May.
"If the strategy is adopted and applied by member states, cervical cancer could be eliminated in high-income countries by 2040 and across the globe within the next century, which would be a phenomenal victory for women's health," Brisson said in a university news release.
"However, this can only be achieved with considerable international financial and political commitment, in order to scale up prevention and treatment," he added.
More information
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on cervical cancer prevention.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-02-03--High Court nullifies re-election of Malawi's President Peter Mutharika

Feb. 3 ( UPI ) -- The High Court of Malawi nullified Monday the re-election of President Peter Mutharika on May 21 .
The court declared the election results `` invalid , null and void , '' after siding with petitioners ' argument that the Malawi Electoral Commission failed to conduct the elections in a constitutional manner .
`` We hold the first respondent ( Peter Mutharika ) was not duly elected during the May 21 , 2019 elections , '' Justice Healy Potani , chairing the five judges panel , said .
`` We hereby order the nullification of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'irregularities ' in the May vote .
`` It has been our findings that irregularities and anomalies have been so widespread , systematic and grave that the integrity of the results have been seriously compromised , '' Potani said .
Mutharika was declared the narrow winner of a second term in May with 38 percent of the votes , followed by Lazarus Chakwera with 35 percent and former vice president Saulos Chilima with 20 percent .
The four other candidates received nearly 6 percent of the votes collectively .
As a result , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election within 150 days and ordered that Chilima revert to vice president again , removing the current vice president Everton Chimulirenji elected with Mutharika in May in the canceled vote .
Still , President Mutharika will remain in office with Chilima until the next election .
Legal experts previously told The Nation Online that Mutharika could still elongate his presidency and Chimulirenji 's chance to continue his vice presidency by appealing to the Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal and getting a court order to put aside the Constitutional Court decision .
Among the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tipp-Ex was used on some tallying forms polling stations sent in after party agents had already signed them .
The commission said it did not supply the Tipp-Ex , and it had only altered procedural information and not changed the result .
The 2019 election was the first legally challenged since Malawi 's independence from Britain in 1964 .
Since the now nullified May election , there have been regular anti-government protests , some of which have resulted in looting .
One police office officer and one civilian have been killed during protests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in October , police officers raped and sexually assaulted women during a security crackdown following a protest .
A few days before the High Court 's decision the country 's anti-corruption body arrested a top businessman on allegations he attempted to bribe the judges in favor of Mutharika and the MEC .

The High Court of Malawi has nullified Malawi President Peter Mutharika's election in May, but he will remain in office until new elections are held within 150 days. File Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 3 (UPI) -- The High Court of Malawi nullified Monday the re-election of President Peter Mutharika on May 21. The court declared the election results "invalid, null and void," after siding with petitioners' argument that the Malawi Electoral Commission failed to conduct the elections in a constitutional manner. Advertisement
"We hold the first respondent (Peter Mutharika) was not duly elected during the May 21, 2019 elections," Justice Healy Potani, chairing the five judges panel, said. "We hereby order the nullification of the said elections."
Potani cited 'irregularities' in the May vote.
"It has been our findings that irregularities and anomalies have been so widespread, systematic and grave that the integrity of the results have been seriously compromised," Potani said.
Mutharika was declared the narrow winner of a second term in May with 38 percent of the votes, followed by Lazarus Chakwera with 35 percent and former vice president Saulos Chilima with 20 percent. The four other candidates received nearly 6 percent of the votes collectively.
As a result, the High Court has ordered a new election within 150 days and ordered that Chilima revert to vice president again, removing the current vice president Everton Chimulirenji elected with Mutharika in May in the canceled vote.
Advertisement
Still, President Mutharika will remain in office with Chilima until the next election.
Legal experts previously told The Nation Online that Mutharika could still elongate his presidency and Chimulirenji's chance to continue his vice presidency by appealing to the Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal and getting a court order to put aside the Constitutional Court decision.
Among the issues, lawyers said correction fluid called Tipp-Ex was used on some tallying forms polling stations sent in after party agents had already signed them. The commission said it did not supply the Tipp-Ex, and it had only altered procedural information and not changed the result.
The 2019 election was the first legally challenged since Malawi's independence from Britain in 1964.
Since the now nullified May election, there have been regular anti-government protests, some of which have resulted in looting. One police office officer and one civilian have been killed during protests, and the Malawi Human Rights Commission said in October, police officers raped and sexually assaulted women during a security crackdown following a protest.
A few days before the High Court's decision the country's anti-corruption body arrested a top businessman on allegations he attempted to bribe the judges in favor of Mutharika and the MEC.


upi--2020-02-03--Two monarch butterfly activists found dead in Mexico

Feb. 3 ( UPI ) -- Two monarch butterfly activists have been found dead in Mexico in less than a week , authorities have said .
Homero Gomez Gonzalez was found floating in a well with a head injury last week , while the body of Raul Hernandez Romero was found dead on Saturday with signs that he had been beaten with a sharp object .
Gomez Gonzalez , who managed the El Rosario monarch butterfly reserve was missing for two weeks before his body was found and Hernandez Romero , a part-time tour guide at the sanctuary , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ municipality of Angangueo on Jan. 27 .
Officials said they were unsure if the two deaths were linked or related to their work at the butterfly reserve .
Michoacan attorney general 's office spokeswoman Magdalena Guzman said authorities were `` looking into several lines of investigation '' into their deaths .
Gomez Gonzalez , a former logger , spoke out against the illegal logging of timber in Mexico that threatens the habitats and livelihoods of the millions of buterflies that travel to the country from the United States and Canada each winter .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ facing activists in Mexico , with many environmental activists having been killed after clashing with developers and local crime groups .
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador described Gomez Gonzalez 's death as `` very unfortunate and painful . ''

Two activists at one of Mexico's largest monarch butterfly sanctuaries have been found dead within a week. Photo by Alianza-WWF-Telcel/EPA-EFE
Feb. 3 (UPI) -- Two monarch butterfly activists have been found dead in Mexico in less than a week, authorities have said. Homero Gomez Gonzalez was found floating in a well with a head injury last week, while the body of Raul Hernandez Romero was found dead on Saturday with signs that he had been beaten with a sharp object. Advertisement
Gomez Gonzalez, who managed the El Rosario monarch butterfly reserve was missing for two weeks before his body was found and Hernandez Romero, a part-time tour guide at the sanctuary, was last seen leaving his home in the municipality of Angangueo on Jan. 27.
Officials said they were unsure if the two deaths were linked or related to their work at the butterfly reserve.
Michoacan attorney general's office spokeswoman Magdalena Guzman said authorities were "looking into several lines of investigation" into their deaths.
Gomez Gonzalez, a former logger, spoke out against the illegal logging of timber in Mexico that threatens the habitats and livelihoods of the millions of buterflies that travel to the country from the United States and Canada each winter.
His death called attention to the dangers facing activists in Mexico, with many environmental activists having been killed after clashing with developers and local crime groups.
Advertisement
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador described Gomez Gonzalez's death as "very unfortunate and painful."


upi--2020-02-03--Atlanta Falcons parting ways with DE Vic Beasley

Feb. 3 ( UPI ) -- The Atlanta Falcons are moving on from former first-round draft pick Vic Beasley , the team announced Monday .
`` As we continue to craft our 2020 roster , we 'd like to thank Vic for five years of effort on behalf of our organization , '' Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said in a statement .
Beasley , who was Falcons head coach Dan Quinn 's first draft selection with the team , will become an unrestricted free agent when the new league year begins March 18 .
The Falcons picked Beasley with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 2015 NFL Draft out of Clemson .
Beasley was the NFL 's sack champion with 15.5 sacks in 2016 , the season the Falcons made it to the Super Bowl , but he failed to show consistency over the next few years .
He was a Pro Bowl choice that season but recorded only five sacks in each of the 2017 and 2018 campaigns .
The 27-year-old defensive end notched eight sacks this past season , but 6.5 of his quarterback takedowns came in the second half of the year .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the league with 28 total sacks .
Beasley 's eight sacks led the team , followed by All-Pro interior defensive tackle Grady Jarrett ( 7.5 ) and veteran defensive lineman Adrian Clayborn ( four ) .
Beasley started 60 games for the Falcons during his five-year tenure with the team .
He tallied 156 total tackles , 37.5 sacks , 36 tackles for a loss , 11 forced fumbles , one interception and 12 passes defensed .

The Atlanta Falcons selected Vic Beasley in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft out of Clemson. File Photo by Brian Kersey/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 3 (UPI) -- The Atlanta Falcons are moving on from former first-round draft pick Vic Beasley, the team announced Monday. "As we continue to craft our 2020 roster, we'd like to thank Vic for five years of effort on behalf of our organization," Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said in a statement. Advertisement
Beasley, who was Falcons head coach Dan Quinn's first draft selection with the team, will become an unrestricted free agent when the new league year begins March 18. The Falcons picked Beasley with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft out of Clemson.
Beasley was the NFL's sack champion with 15.5 sacks in 2016, the season the Falcons made it to the Super Bowl, but he failed to show consistency over the next few years. He was a Pro Bowl choice that season but recorded only five sacks in each of the 2017 and 2018 campaigns.
The 27-year-old defensive end notched eight sacks this past season, but 6.5 of his quarterback takedowns came in the second half of the year.
Advertisement
The Falcons finished this season tied for 29th in the league with 28 total sacks. Beasley's eight sacks led the team, followed by All-Pro interior defensive tackle Grady Jarrett (7.5) and veteran defensive lineman Adrian Clayborn (four).
Beasley started 60 games for the Falcons during his five-year tenure with the team. He tallied 156 total tackles, 37.5 sacks, 36 tackles for a loss, 11 forced fumbles, one interception and 12 passes defensed.


upi--2020-02-03--Black, white prostate cancer patients have similar outcomes with access to care

Survival rates are similar for black and white prostate cancer patients who are treated in an equal-access health system , researchers say .
In the general U.S. population , black men are more likely than white men to be diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer , and more than twice as likely to die from the disease .
In a new study , researchers assessed whether this racial disparity was evident in the equal-access Veterans Affairs Health System .
The investigators analyzed data on more than 60,000 men diagnosed with prostate cancer between 2000 and 2015 , and cared for at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent percent were black and 70 percent were white .
Compared to white patients , black patients were no more likely to have delays in diagnosis and care , no more likely to be diagnosed with advanced disease , and were no more likely to die from their disease , the findings showed .
The outcomes were similar even though black men were more likely to live in lower-income areas , according to the study published online Jan. 27 in the journal Cancer .
The authors said the results show that black prostate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treatment can expect outcomes similar to white patients , and that access to high-quality care may help reduce racial disparities .
`` These results suggest that poorer outcomes for African American men with prostate cancer may not be a foregone conclusion .
With smart public policy choices , we may be able to reduce or even eliminate disparities and achieve equal outcomes for all men with prostate cancer , '' study leader Dr. Brent Rose said in a journal news release .
Rose is an assistant professor of radiation medicine and applied medicine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Diego .
He is also affiliated with the VA San Diego Healthcare System .
The American Cancer Society has more on prostate cancer .

Survival rates are similar for black and white prostate cancer patients who are treated in an equal-access health system, researchers say.
In the general U.S. population, black men are more likely than white men to be diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer, and more than twice as likely to die from the disease.
Advertisement
In a new study, researchers assessed whether this racial disparity was evident in the equal-access Veterans Affairs Health System.
The investigators analyzed data on more than 60,000 men diagnosed with prostate cancer between 2000 and 2015, and cared for at the VA. Of those patients, 30 percent percent were black and 70 percent were white.
Compared to white patients, black patients were no more likely to have delays in diagnosis and care, no more likely to be diagnosed with advanced disease, and were no more likely to die from their disease, the findings showed.
The outcomes were similar even though black men were more likely to live in lower-income areas, according to the study published online Jan. 27 in the journal Cancer.
The authors said the results show that black prostate cancer patients who receive equal screening and treatment can expect outcomes similar to white patients, and that access to high-quality care may help reduce racial disparities.
Advertisement
"These results suggest that poorer outcomes for African American men with prostate cancer may not be a foregone conclusion. With smart public policy choices, we may be able to reduce or even eliminate disparities and achieve equal outcomes for all men with prostate cancer," study leader Dr. Brent Rose said in a journal news release.
Rose is an assistant professor of radiation medicine and applied medicine at the University of California, San Diego. He is also affiliated with the VA San Diego Healthcare System.
More information
The American Cancer Society has more on prostate cancer.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.