American consumption of sugary drinks declines, study finds

A new study found that American consumption of sugary drinks is declining. Photo by Nica444/Pixabay

Sept. 24 (UPI) -- Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages in the United States declined significantly between 2003 and 2016, according to a report published Thursday by the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

The percentage of American children who were "heavy consumers" of the drinks, including sodas and chocolate milk, declined to 3% from 11% over the 14-year period, the data showed.
For adults, the percentage dropped to 9% from 13% over the same period.
"Heavy consumers" were defined as those who drank more than 500 calories of sugar-sweetened beverages -- about 3 1/2 cans of soda -- daily.

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"We found that the percentage of children and adults in the U.S. who are heavy sugar-sweetened beverage drinkers has declined significantly over time," study co-author Kelsey Vercammen told UPI.

"This is promising because we know that excessive sugar-sweetened beverage consumption is related to poor health," said Vercammen, a doctoral student in the Department of Epidemiology at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Sugar-sweetened beverages are leading sources of added sugars in the American diet, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Heavy consumption has been linked with weight gain and obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, kidney diseases, non-alcoholic liver disease, tooth decay and cavities and gout, the agency said.

These beverages are widely consumed in the United States, with about 60% of children and 50% of adults drinking at least one during a typical day, Vercammen and her colleagues said.

For their analysis, the researchers analyzed data on sugar-sweetened beverage consumption for more than 20,000 children and 30,000 adults from the National Health Examination and Nutrition Survey.

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Although they noted declines in consumption overall, the percentage of heavy sugar-sweetened beverage drinkers increased slightly among people age 60 and older -- though it remains relatively low -- and little change was observed in consumption among adults aged 40 to 59 years.

"There have also been a number of public health campaigns about the health harms of sugar-sweetened beverages and greater awareness about the health harms of [these drinks] seems to be shifting public preference," Vercammen said.

In addition, "a number of cities and counties have imposed beverage taxes, while others have passed healthy beverage ordinances, which require restaurants to offer only healthy beverages with children's meals instead of sugar-sweetened beverages," she said.

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ACA reduced number of Americans with 'catastrophic' health expenditures



The ACA has reduced risk for catastrophic health expenditures for many Americans, a new study has found. Photo by Thomas Breher/Pixabay


Sept. 24 (UPI) -- Researchers have linked a nearly 20% decline in "catastrophic" healthcare expenditures during the last decade to changes made as a result of the Affordable Care Act, according to an analysis published Thursday by JAMA Network Open.

An estimated 11.2 million Americans experienced "catastrophic" healthcare expenditures in 2017, down from 13.6 million in 2010, researchers reported. The ACA was signed into law in 2010 and fully in effect by 2014.

The researchers defined catastrophic health expenditures as calendar year out-of-pocket costs plus premium spending that exceeds 40% of post-subsistence income -- or income minus typical food and housing expenditures.

While low-income households saw a 2.3% reduction in risk for catastrophic health expenditures between 2010 and 2017, the risk still was more than twice that of those with higher incomes, the researchers said.

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"These findings help to explain why so many U.S. residents, including those with insurance, continue to worry about their ability to afford needed care," the researchers, from Stanford University, wrote.

The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, was designed to lower the cost of healthcare insurance and reduce the number of uninsured Americans.

One of the goals of the law was also to protect low-income households from health expenses that would severely limit their ability to cover subsistence costs such as food and housing.
RELATED Study: U.S. healthcare costs nearly double of other wealthy countries



For the analysis, researchers reviewed data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, using income information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The number of uninsured non-elderly adults declined to just under 28 million in 2017, from nearly 43 million in 2010, the data showed.

Over the same period, the population of those who received Medicaid coverage increased to just over 18 million from 11.0 million.

RELATED Survey: Michigan Medicaid expansion reduced number of residents in 'poor' health

Although the number of Americans experiencing catastrophic health expenditures declined by about 20%, privately insured adults accounted for 54% of all cases of catastrophic health expenditures in 2017, up from 46% in 2010.

"Despite large coverage gains, 11 million U.S. adults, including 6 million with private insurance, continue to experience catastrophic health expenditures annually," researchers wrote.

"These figures are likely to increase as millions lose employment or require unexpected medical care because of [COVID-19]."

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Hamas, Fatah agree to 'unified vision' for Palestinian state


Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas speaks out against U.S. President Donald Trump's peace plan on January 28, 2019, saying "the conspiracy deal will not pass." File Photo by Debbie Hill/UPI | License Photo

Sept. 24 (UPI) -- Leading Palestinian rival groups Hamas and Fatah on Thursday agreed to a unified vision in their fight for a Palestinian nation.

The groups issued a joint statement after the meeting in Turkey. It said Hamas and Fatah have a "unified vision" to defend the rights of the Palestinian people and continue its fight for an independent country with Jerusalem as its capital.

Hamas and Fatah said they will continue to work out differences and capitalize on previous talks they have held in Ramallah and Beirut.

Azzam al-Ahmad, of Fatah's Central Committee, told Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency that coming elections will include Palestinians in Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip. He said the outcome of the meeting will be given to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to issue a decree.

"It was agreed to hold legislative elections, followed by presidential elections, then elections for the National Council," al-Ahmad said.

Hussein al-Sheikh, a member of Fatah's Central Committee, tweeted that both groups coming together would help Palestinians form a strategy in the long-running campaign for a Palestinian state and dispute with Israel.

"The dialogue is an important step towards reconciliation and partnership, and unifying the Palestinian stance in the light of the consensus on rejecting all the liquidation projects against the Palestinian cause," al-Sheikh said.

Earlier this month, Palestinian leadership condemned U.S.-brokered deals to normalize relations between Israel and both Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.

German bishops announce higher payments to Catholic abuse victims STILL NOT ENOUGH

The Catholic bishops conference said the new panel will be comprised of medical and mental health professionals and attorneys. File Photo by Debbie Hill/UPI | License Photo

Sept. 24 (UPI) -- A conference of German Catholic bishops introduced a new model on Thursday to pay survivors of abuse within the church, which could pay each more than $50,000.

The German Bishops Conference announced the creation of an independent committee to investigate complaints of sexual abuse by priests and other clergy. The panel would also determine compensation.

Conference Chair Georg Batzing detailed the new model Thursday at a meeting in Fulda.

Under the change, survivors are eligible for a onetime payment of up to $58,000. Victims will also be able to request that the church pay for therapy.

The independent committee will be comprised of medical and mental health professionals and attorneys. The proposed model would take effect next year.

While the increase in compensation is a tenfold increase over what survivors in Germany have previously been entitled to ($5,800), it's far less than advocates were hoping for.

Batzing called the improvement a "genuine step forward" in addressing past abuse, but acknowledged that some will find the change "unsatisfactory."

One German victims group had called for an increased payout to $466,000 per victim, arguing the amount would be appropriate for a lifetime of trauma some survivors have experienced.

A 2018 study paid for by the German Bishops Conference found that more than 1,600 clergymen had committed some form of abuse against thousands of minors, mostly boys, between 1946 and 2014. Victims groups believe the actual numbers are higher.

DOJ: 300 charged with committing crimes 'under the guise' of protests

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The remains of vehicles are on the lot of Car Source, a pre-owned vehicle dealership, are shown on Aug. 31, after they were torched by protesters during demonstrations against the shooting in the back of Jacob Blake, an unarmed Black man last week in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Photo by Alex Wroblewski/UPI | License Photo

Sept. 24 (UPI) -- The Justice Department announced Thursday that more than 300 people have been charged with committing crimes "under the guise" of peaceful protests that erupted nationwide following the police-involved killing of George Floyd.

In a statement, the department said hundreds were arrested in 29 states and Washington, D.C., since late May with more than 40 of the 94 U.S. Attorneys' Offices filing federal charges, including attempted murder, assaulting a law enforcement officer, arson and unlawful possession of a destructive device, among a slew of other federal offenses.

"Violent opportunists have exploited these demonstrations in various ways," the Justice Department said.

Protests erupted nationwide against police brutality and racial inequality after Floyd, an unarmed Black man, was killed by a White police office on Memorial Day in Minneapolis.

The Justice Department said of the hundreds arrested since then, 80 were indicted on arson and explosives charges, 35 were charged with assaulting a law enforcement officer, 30 with civil disorder offenses and 15 were charged with damaging property.

"These individuals are alleged to have set fires to local businesses as well as city and federal property, which will regrettably incur millions of taxpayer dollars to repair damages to the Portland Courthouse, Nashville Courthouse, Minneapolis Police Third Precinct, Seattle Police East Precinct and local high school in Minnesota; and, to replace police cruisers in South Carolina, Washington, Rhode Island, Georgia, Utah and other states," the Justice Department said.

RIGHT WINGERS
In one instance in Virginia Beach, Va., John Malcolm Bareswill, 63, pleaded guilty in August to making a telephone threat in early June to burn down an African American church. In another in Boston, John Boampong, 37, has been accused of firing 11 rounds at a crowd of police officers and civilians.

The Justice Department said several of those charged with civil disorder offenses used social media platforms to incite destruction during the protests and for police officers to be attacked.

In Knoxville, Tenn., Dominic Brown, 18, was charged with inciting a riot after posting messages to his Snapchat account instructing his followers to attack police officers.

In one message, he is accused of writing "we are not each other's enemy only enemy is 12," using a slang term indicating police officers and for his followers to "lace your shoes, wear masks and gloves. Bring hammers bricks whatever you have."

"Several of these charges carry significate maximum prison sentences," the Justice Department said, explaining that both arson and felony assault of a federal officer with a dangerous weapon carry maximum sentences of 20 years in prison.

"Through these acts, these individuals have shown minimal regard to their communities and for the safety of others and themselves," the federal department said.

Chinese citizen journalists remain in detention, reports say

By  Elizabeth Shim  SEPT. 25, 2020 

Chinese auhorities continue to detain journalists who went missing in February. File Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI | License Photo

Sept. 25 (UPI) -- Chinese citizen journalists arrested in February while reporting on the spread of the coronavirus in Wuhan are on hunger strike and under residential surveillance, according to press reports.

Zhang Zhan, a citizen journalist, continues to be detained, The Epoch Times reported Friday. Zhang is being held in Shanghai and is on hunger strike, as she faces charges of "picking quarrels and provoking trouble," according to the South China Morning Post.

Chen Qiushi, a journalist and lawyer who made headlines when he disappeared in February, is under government surveillance at home, along with his parents, the BBC reported.

Chen reported from Wuhan in late January before he went missing on Feb. 6.
RELATED FBI director warns Chinese hackers are targeting U.S. COVID-19 research



Xu Xiaodong, a Chinese mixed martial arts fighter and Chen's friend, posted a video to YouTube on Thursday confirming the 35-year-old Chen was in good health and was under "supervised surveillance at a designated residence" in Qingdao, Shandong Province.

"The authorities have investigated his activities on the mainland, Hong Kong and Japan," Xu said.

"They are satisfied that he has no financial links with 'foreign forces,' was not responsible for any subversive activities [and as a result decided] not to prosecute him."

A lawyer who spoke to the Post on the condition of anonymity said the surveillance is against the law.

"Since the authorities have decided not to prosecute him, it is actually not lawful to continue to keep him in close surveillance," the source said.

Citizen journalists began to roam the streets of Wuhan in January as the Chinese government and local Wuhan authorities declined to provide more information on the coronavirus.

Li Zehua, a journalist who disappeared after a car chase, could also be under residential surveillance, according to The Epoch Times. Fang Bin, another Wuhan-based whistleblower active on YouTube, remains missing, the report says.

EPOCH TIMES IS ANTI COMMUNIST RIGHT WING FAKE NEWS IN SUPPORT OF TRUMP

Poll: Majority of Americans want 2020 winner to pick Ginsburg's replacement

Female legislators look on as the casket of the late Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is carried Friday. A poll released Friday found that a majority of Americans want the winner of the 2020 election to select her replacement. Pool photo by Jonathan Ernst/UPI | License Photo

Sept. 25 (UPI) -- A majority of Americans believe whoever is elected president in November should be the one to nominate the jurist to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court, a poll released Friday found.

The Washington Post/ABC News poll found that 57% of respondents want the Senate to hold hearings for a nominee picked by the winner of the election, while 38% want hearings on President Donald Trump's pick.

Ginsburg died one week ago, less than two months before Election Day. Trump said he plans to nominate a new Supreme Court justice before Nov. 3, but critics said he should wait and let the winner of the election decide.

Democrats are especially eager for the nomination to be delayed pending the results of the election after Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell blocked hearings on President Barack Obama's pick after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia about nine months before the 2016 election.

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McConnell promised to hold a floor vote on Trump's pick, though.

After Scalia's death, a Post/News poll found that 63% of respondents believed the Senate should hold hearings on Obama's pick to replace Scalia, while 32% believed hearings should wait until a new president.

Trump ultimately picked Scalia's replacement -- Justice Neil Gorsuch.

Asked who they'd prefer to pick the next Supreme Court nominee, 50% of respondents said Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and 42% said Trump.

The Supreme Court appointment, though, came in sixth on the list of things most important to Americans when it comes to their choice for president. Those issues, in order, are the economy (25%), the coronavirus pandemic (17%), healthcare (15%), race equality (14%), crime and safety (12%) and the Supreme Court (11%).

The Post/News survey questioned 1,008 adults between Sept. 21-24 and had a margin of error of 3.5%.

Another poll published Thursday found that most Americans said the ideological makeup of the Supreme Court before Ginsburg's death was "about right."

Aviation company says it flew aircraft with hydrogen fuel cell



The company said it retrofitted a Piper M-class six-seat airplane with the hydrogen fuel cell. Photo courtesy of ZeroAvia

Sept. 26 (UPI) -- Aviation company ZeroAvia announced it has made the world's first flight of a commercial-grade aircraft powered by hydrogen fuel cells.

The company said it retrofitted a Piper M-class six-seat airplane with the fuel cell at its research and development facility in Cranfield, Britain. In a test flight Wednesday, the airplane off, completed a full pattern circuit, landed and taxied without the aid of fossil fuel.

"It's hard to put into words what this means to our team, but also for everybody interested in zero-emission flight," Val Miftakhov, CEO of ZeroAvia said in a statement. "While some experimental aircraft have flown using hydrogen fuel cells as a power source, the size of this commercially available aircraft shows that paying passengers could be boarding a truly zero-emission flight very soon."

ZeroAvia said it will attempt to have the airplane make a 250-mile trip to an airfield in Orkney, Scotland, from Britain by the end of 2020. The company said the trip would be equivalent to completing popular short-trip routes like from Los Angeles to San Francisco or London to Edinburgh, Scotland.

"Aviation is a hotbed of innovation and ZeroAvia's fantastic technology takes us all one step closer to a sustainable future for air travel," said British Shipping and Aviation Minister Robert Courts in a statement. "Through our ground-breaking Jet Zero partnership we're working hard with industry to drive innovation in zero-carbon flight, and we look forward to seeing the sector go from strength to strength."

United Kingdom government funding has supported the venture.

Chinese automaker unveils flying electric car

A staff member holds a board reading 'Wear mask and keep distance' at the Beijing International Automotive Exhibition in Beijing, China, Saturday. Photo by Wu Hong/EPA-EFE

Sept. 26 (UPI) -- A Chinese auto maker revealed an electric flying vehicle at the 2020 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition Saturday.

The car, dubbed the Kiwigogo, can carry up to two passengers and is designed to flow at altitudes between 16 and 82 feet, according to Xpeng Motors, the Alibaba-backed manufacturer that produced the car.

It has eight propellers and a small, capsule-like frame.

Xpeng, a startup with $1.7 billion in investment capital that raised another $1.5 billion at its initial public offering in August, is considered an emerging rival to Tesla in the electric vehicle market.

The company said the Kiwigogo is the first in a series of electric flying vehicles it's developing as part of a long-term research and development that includes research into mapping technologies.

"We think in the future not only electric vehicles will have the smart mobility autonomous driving features, but with other technology, enable other devices that can create a multi-dimensional ecosystem, that will be very exciting," said Brian Gu, vice chairman and president of Xpeng. "That's why we are investing in that area, and doing some exploration."

Analysis: Racial discrimination has been major factor in U.S. executions


Tuesday's report notes that of the 57 people presently on federal death row, 34 are persons of color. More than two dozen are Black men and some were convicted by all-White juries. File Photo by Paul Buck/EPA

Sept. 15 (UPI) -- The Death Penalty Information Center said in a new analysis Tuesday that racial discrimination in the United States has played a prominent role in the administration of capital punishment in the past.

The report, titled, "Enduring Injustice: the Persistence of Racial Discrimination in the U.S. Death Penalty," examines the way that people of color -- particularly Black Americans -- have disproportionately faced executions, lynchings and police killings.

"The death penalty has been used to enforce racial hierarchies throughout United States history, beginning with the colonial period and continuing to this day," said Ngozi Ndulue, DPIC senior director of research and special projects and the report's lead author.

"Its discriminatory presence as the apex punishment in the American legal system legitimizes all other harsh and discriminatory punishments. That is why the death penalty must be part of any discussion of police reform, prosecutorial accountability, reversing mass incarceration and the criminal legal system as a whole."

Tuesday's report notes that of the 57 people presently on federal death row, 34 are persons of color. More than two dozen are Black men and some were convicted by all-White juries.

The analysis specifically cites the cases of Abu-Ali Abdur Rahman, who's argued that a prosecutor unjustly removed two potential Black jurors based on racial stereotypes -- and Julius Jones, who was sentenced to death by an all-White jury for killing a White businessman.

The report said between 1990 and 2010, 20% of inmates scheduled for execution in North Carolina were sentenced by all-White juries, and qualified Black jurors were disqualified at more than twice the rate of their White counterparts in almost 200 capital cases.

A mock jury study of more than 500 Californians six years ago also found that White jurors were more likely to sentence poor Latino defendants to death than poor White defendants, Tuesday's report noted.

Further, it cited an analysis that found killers of Whites were more likely to face capital prosecution than killers of Blacks.

The DPIC report also tied the racial history of capital punishment to ongoing civil unrest over police brutality that followed the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, noting that exonorations of Black Americans are more likely to be linked to some type of official misconduct.

A separate report on Tuesday similarly found that more than half exonerations of innocent victims of all races involved some type of misconduct by prosecutors or police.

"Racial disparities are present at every stage of a capital case and get magnified as a case moves through the legal process," DPIC Executive Director Robert Dunham said.

"If you don't understand the history -- that the modern death penalty is the direct descendant of slavery, lynching and Jim Crow-segregation -- you won't understand why."