upi--2020-01-27--Look: Pentagon teases first full-length album

Jan. 27 ( UPI ) -- South Korean boy band Pentagon is teasing its forthcoming first full-length album .
The @ @ @ @ @ Monday on Twitter after announcing it will release its first studio album .
The short @ @ @ @ @ pentagon against a celestial background .
The scene then cuts to black .
Pentagon 's @ @ @ @ @ said in a statement last week that Pentagon will make its comeback with a full-length @ @ @ @ @ Because this is the first studio album they will release since their debut , they @ @ @ @ @ anticipate the album 's release , '' the company said .
Pentagon debuted as a @ @ @ @ @ group 's most recent EP , Sum ( me : r ) , was released @ @ @ @ @ of Jinho , Hui , Hongseok , Shinwon , Yeo One , YanAn , Yuto @ @ @ @ @ The group is known for the singles `` Gorilla , '' `` Beautiful , '' @ @ @ @ @ Sha La La '' and `` Humph ! ''

Jan. 27 (UPI) -- South Korean boy band Pentagon is teasing its forthcoming first full-length album.
The K-pop group shared a teaser Monday on Twitter after announcing it will release its first studio album.
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The short teaser shows a glowing purple pentagon against a celestial background. The scene then cuts to black.
Pentagon's agency, Cube Entertainment, said in a statement last week that Pentagon will make its comeback with a full-length album in mid-February.
"Because this is the first studio album they will release since their debut, they are preparing diligently. Please anticipate the album's release," the company said.
[] #펜타곤, 2월 중순 컴백...데뷔 3년여만 첫 정규앨범 (출처 : 엑스포츠뉴스 | 네이버 TV연예)https://t.co/I9S598eH1S— CUBE ENTERTAINMENT (@cubeunited) January 22, 2020
Pentagon debuted as a group in 2016. The group's most recent EP, Sum(me:r), was released in July.
Pentagon consists of Jinho, Hui, Hongseok, Shinwon, Yeo One, YanAn, Yuto, Kino and Wooseok. The group is known for the singles "Gorilla," "Beautiful," "Shine," "Sha La La" and "Humph!"


upi--2020-01-27--Browns make Andrew Berry, 32, NFL's youngest GM

Jan. 27 ( UPI ) -- The Cleveland Browns have hired Andrew Berry as their general manager , making the @ @ @ @ @ in NFL history to hold that position .
Sources told NFL Network , ESPN and @ @ @ @ @ to the five-year pact with Berry on Monday .
Berry spent three seasons as the @ @ @ @ @ player personnel from 2016 to 2018 .
He served as the Philadelphia Eagles ' vice @ @ @ @ @ 2019 .
The Browns parted ways with former general manager John Dorsey in December .
@ @ @ @ @ favorite to reach the playoffs , but posted a 6-10 record in 2019 .
The @ @ @ @ @ managers since 2012 .
They hired new head coach Kevin Stefanski on Jan. 12 , @ @ @ @ @ .

Jan. 27 (UPI) -- The Cleveland Browns have hired Andrew Berry as their general manager, making the 32-year-old Harvard graduate the youngest in NFL history to hold that position.
Sources told NFL Network, ESPN and Cleveland.com that the Browns agreed to the five-year pact with Berry on Monday.
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Berry spent three seasons as the Browns' vice president of player personnel from 2016 to 2018. He served as the Philadelphia Eagles' vice president of football operations in 2019.
The Browns parted ways with former general manager John Dorsey in December. Cleveland was a preseason betting favorite to reach the playoffs, but posted a 6-10 record in 2019.
The Browns have had six general managers since 2012. They hired new head coach Kevin Stefanski on Jan. 12, replacing fired coach Freddie Kitchens.


upi--2020-01-28--Super Bowl LIV: Chiefs, 49ers motivated by Kobe Bryant 'Mamba mentality'

MIAMI , Jan. 28 ( UPI ) -- Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant was on the minds of many San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs players on Opening Night , as the teams prepare for Super Bowl LIV this weekend .
An image of the late Bryant was shown on the big screen and fans , players and media members had a moment of silence , following his death in a helicopter accident Sunday , which also killed his daughter Gianna and seven others .
The moment of silence was interrupted as fans in the stands chanted `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bryant meant something different to everyone , but his on-court mentality was something most of the players mentioned when asked about the `` Black Mamba . ''
`` It 's unfortunate .
It 's really sad , '' 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman said .
`` He was a friend of mine , he was a mentor .
He meant a lot to this world and he made a positive impact .
There 's nothing that I can say to really quantify his impact on myself and on others .
`` I just know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take this to react , especially in this moment , in this game .
I was really sad yesterday , and I was sad this morning I was kind of down .
I was in the dumps .
And then I just thought about what he would tell me .
`` He would tell me stop being a baby and man up and play it and do it in his honor and win this game for him .
And that 's what we 're going to try to do .
I 'm going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ play some dominating ball , just like he wanted .
The 'Mamba mentality ' still lives on . ''
Sherman , 31 , is a Compton , Calif. , native .
He grew up an avid Lakers fan and idolized Bryant .
They bonded in 2017 after Sherman tore his ACL , an injury Bryant sustained four years earlier .
Bryant returned from his injury and offered Sherman advice on how to deal with the adversity .
`` He gave that advice : Do n't be a baby , '' Sherman said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ about his mentality .
He 's very competitive .
But he 's also caring .
He 's one of the most caring and genuine human beings I 've ever been a part of .
But when he comes to events like this ... he says it was selfish of us to think of him and what he was going through if we 're not using it as anything but motivation to do anything but dominate and win .
`` Obviously , we want to do this for him .
I want to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do this for him .
I 'm sure there 's guys on the Chiefs that want to do it for him .
He 's such a special person ; you want to go out there and win this game . ''
Sherman learned of Bryant 's death from 49ers general manager John Lynch while the team was aboard its flight to Miami on Sunday .
The news is still very fresh to others who will be on the field this Sunday in Miami Gardens , Fla. , even if they were n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I was n't lucky enough to get to meet Kobe , but the impact that he made on my life was huge , '' Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said .
`` I still watch videos on YouTube on days before games and just listen to him talk and how he puts everything into perspective about being great , on and off the field , with his kids and his business ventures and obviously his play .
It 's a tragic thing . ''
49ers tight end George Kittle said he wore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ School in Norman , Okla. , because of Bryant .
`` You know Kobe , other than my parents , he was the reason I played sports .
Just his mindset , the 'Mamba mentality . '
I wore the No .
24 in high school , my freshman , sophomore year , because of him , '' Kittle said .
`` I wore Kobe Bryant basketball shoes because of Kobe Bryant .
Every time I laced up my basketball shoes , I felt like I had Kobe Bryant with me .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I had his jumper , I had his fadeaway .
`` The amount of hours I spent practicing that fadeaway from the corner .
I never made it , but I tried and I always thought I was Kobe .
He 's an icon .
He was a hero of mine . ''
The 49ers and Chiefs take the field for Super Bowl LIV at 6:30 p.m. EST Sunday at Miami 's Hard Rock Stadium .

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San Francisco 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman considered Kobe Bryant a friend, after growing up in Los Angeles and idolizing the late Lakers legend. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
MIAMI, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant was on the minds of many San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs players on opening night, as the teams prepare for Super Bowl LIV this weekend. An image of the late Bryant was shown on the big screen and fans, players and media members had a moment of silence to honor Bryant, who was killed in a helicopter accident Sunday along with his daughter Gianna and seven others. The moment of silence was interrupted as fans in the stands chanted "Kobe, Kobe, Kobe." Advertisement
Bryant meant something different to everyone, but most of the players mentioned his on-court mentality when asked about the "Black Mamba."
"It's unfortunate. It's really sad," 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman said. "He was a friend of mine, he was a mentor. He meant a lot to this world, and he made a positive impact. There's nothing that I can say to really quantify his impact on myself and on others.
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"I just know how he would have wanted me to take this to react, especially in this moment, in this game. I was really sad yesterday, and I was sad this morning I was kind of down. I was in the dumps. And then I just thought about what he would tell me.
"He would tell me stop being a baby and man up and play it and do it in his honor and win this game for him. And that's what we're going to try to do. I'm going to go out there and try to play some dominating ball, just like he wanted. The 'Mamba mentality' still lives on."
Sherman, 31, is a Compton, Calif., native. He grew up an avid Lakers fan and idolized Bryant. They bonded in 2017 after Sherman tore his ACL, an injury Bryant sustained four years earlier. Bryant returned from his injury and offered Sherman advice on how to deal with the adversity.
"He gave that advice: Don't be a baby," Sherman said. "And that's what I mean about his mentality. He's very competitive. But he's also caring. He's one of the most caring and genuine human beings I've ever been a part of. But when he comes to events like this ... he says it was selfish of us to think of him and what he was going through if we're not using it as anything but motivation to do anything but dominate and win.
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"Obviously, we want to do this for him. I want to do this for him. My teammates want to do this for him. I'm sure there's guys on the Chiefs that want to do it for him. He's such a special person; you want to go out there and win this game."
Sherman learned of Bryant's death from 49ers general manager John Lynch while the team was aboard its flight to Miami on Sunday. The news is still very fresh to others who will be on the field this Sunday in Miami Gardens, Fla., even if they weren't as close to Bryant as Sherman was.
"I wasn't lucky enough to get to meet Kobe, but the impact that he made on my life was huge," Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said. "I still watch videos on YouTube on days before games and just listen to him talk and how he puts everything into perspective about being great, on and off the field, with his kids and his business ventures and obviously his play. It's a tragic thing."
49ers tight end George Kittle said he wore the No. 24 at Norman High School in Norman, Okla., because of Bryant.
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"You know Kobe, other than my parents, he was the reason I played sports. Just his mindset, the 'Mamba mentality.' I wore the No. 24 in high school, my freshman, sophomore year, because of him," Kittle said. "I wore Kobe Bryant basketball shoes because of Kobe Bryant. Every time I laced up my basketball shoes, I felt like I had Kobe Bryant with me. I had a little part of him. I had his jumper, I had his fadeaway.
"The amount of hours I spent practicing that fadeaway from the corner. I never made it, but I tried and I always thought I was Kobe. He's an icon. He was a hero of mine."
The 49ers and Chiefs take the field for Super Bowl LIV at 6:30 p.m. EST Sunday at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium.


upi--2020-01-28--WWE Raw: Randy Orton attacks Edge, Drew McIntyre challenges Brock Lesnar

Jan. 28 ( UPI ) -- Randy Orton viciously assaulted the returning Edge on Raw with a steel chair .
Edge is a multi-time world champion and Hall of Famer who returned on Sunday during the Royal Rumble match .
The Rated R Superstar had previously retired in 2011 due to injury .
Edge discussed his journey back to WWE on Raw Monday and how he underwent two neck surgeries .
Edge said he was back to end his career on his terms .
Orton then arrived onto the scene and asked if Edge wanted to reform their tag team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had a Rated RKO reunion during the Royal Rumble match until Edge eliminated his former partner .
Orton , before Edge could answer , took out the returning legend with a well-timed RKO .
The Viper then got violent , grabbing a steel chair to attack him with .
Orton ended the assault by placing a steel chair under Edge 's head and then smacking his head with another .
Drew McIntyre , who won the Men 's Royal Rumble match , announced that he will be challenging Brock Lesnar for the WWE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eliminated The Beast during the Royal Rumble match .
McIntyre celebrated his victory by issuing an open challenge that was accepted by Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson of The OC .
McIntyre defeated them both with back-to-back Claymores .
Lesnar suddenly attacked McIntyre from behind , taking out his future opponent with an F5 .
Lesnar then posed with his WWE Championship inside the ring .
Charlotte Flair , who won the Women 's Royal Rumble match , announced that she is still thinking about who she wants to face at WrestleMania 36 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Women 's Champion Becky Lynch or Smackdown Women 's Champion Bayley .
Flair was interrupted by Women 's Tag Team Champion Asuka and her partner Kairi Sane .
Asuka said that she would have won the Royal Rumble if she had competed in the bout .
The Empress of Tomorrow and Flair had a competitive one-on-one match that ended due to Sane attacking Flair with the InSane Elbow while Asuka was locked into the Figure-Eight .
Flair fought back and sent the Women 's Tag Team Champions packing .
Other moments from Raw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; Aleister Black defeating Kenneth Johnson ; Humberto Carrillo defeating United States Champion Andrade via disqualification ; Carrillo slamming Andrade into exposed concrete ; 24/7 Champion Mojo Rawley defeating No Way Jose ; R-Truth defeating Rawley to win the 24/7 Championship only for Rawley to win it right back ; Liv Morgan defeating Lana ; Erick Rowan defeating Branden Vice and Raw Tag Team Champions Seth Rollins and Buddy Murphy successfully defending their titles against Kevin Owens and Samoa Joe .
Owens and Joe had The Viking Raiders attack AOP so that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the match .
Joe performed a Suicide Dive and injured himself , leaving Owens to fight on his own .
Rollins and Murphy took advantage of the situation and won .

Jan. 28 (UPI) -- Randy Orton viciously assaulted the returning Edge on Raw with a steel chair.
Edge is a multi-time world champion and Hall of Famer who returned on Sunday during the Royal Rumble match. The Rated R Superstar had previously retired in 2011 due to injury.
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Edge discussed his journey back to WWE on Raw Monday and how he underwent two neck surgeries. Edge said he was back to end his career on his terms.
Orton then arrived onto the scene and asked if Edge wanted to reform their tag team, Rated RKO. Edge and Orton had a Rated RKO reunion during the Royal Rumble match until Edge eliminated his former partner.
Orton, before Edge could answer, took out the returning legend with a well-timed RKO. The Viper then got violent, grabbing a steel chair to attack him with. Orton ended the assault by placing a steel chair under Edge's head and then smacking his head with another.
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Drew McIntyre, who won the Men's Royal Rumble match, announced that he will be challenging Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 36. McIntyre had eliminated The Beast during the Royal Rumble match.
McIntyre celebrated his victory by issuing an open challenge that was accepted by Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson of The OC. McIntyre defeated them both with back-to-back Claymores.
Lesnar suddenly attacked McIntyre from behind, taking out his future opponent with an F5. Lesnar then posed with his WWE Championship inside the ring.
Charlotte Flair, who won the Women's Royal Rumble match, announced that she is still thinking about who she wants to face at WrestleMania 36. The Queen can choose between Raw Women's Champion Becky Lynch or Smackdown Women's Champion Bayley.
Flair was interrupted by Women's Tag Team Champion Asuka and her partner Kairi Sane. Asuka said that she would have won the Royal Rumble if she had competed in the bout.
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The Empress of Tomorrow and Flair had a competitive one-on-one match that ended due to Sane attacking Flair with the InSane Elbow while Asuka was locked into the Figure-Eight. Flair fought back and sent the Women's Tag Team Champions packing.
Other moments from Raw included Rey Mysterio defeating returning veteran MVP; Aleister Black defeating Kenneth Johnson; Humberto Carrillo defeating United States Champion Andrade via disqualification; Carrillo slamming Andrade into exposed concrete; 24/7 Champion Mojo Rawley defeating No Way Jose; R-Truth defeating Rawley to win the 24/7 Championship only for Rawley to win it right back; Liv Morgan defeating Lana; Erick Rowan defeating Branden Vice and Raw Tag Team Champions Seth Rollins and Buddy Murphy successfully defending their titles against Kevin Owens and Samoa Joe.
Owens and Joe had The Viking Raiders attack AOP so that they would not help Rollins and Murphy during the match. Joe performed a Suicide Dive and injured himself, leaving Owens to fight on his own. Rollins and Murphy took advantage of the situation and won.


upi--2020-01-28--NTSB: Chopper carrying Kobe Bryant, others climbed in moments before crash

Jan. 28 ( UPI ) -- The pilot of a helicopter carrying NBA legend Kobe Bryant , his daughter and seven other people made a rapid upward ascent to avoid a layer of clouds in the moments before it crashed into a hillside , federal investigators said Monday night .
National Transportation Safety Board member Jennifer Homendy said in an update the helicopter had been flying from Orange County to Ventura County in Southern California -- below 1,000 feet under special visual flight rules ( SVFR ) -- when the 29-year-old Sikorsky S-76 chopper slammed into a hillside in Calabasas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was making the upward maneuver in what would be the aircraft 's final radio communication .
Special visual flight rules allows pilots to fly lower than usual , most commonly due to poor visibility or poor weather conditions .
Fog had settled into the area early Sunday , officials said , and was so bad that both the Los Angeles Police Department and Los Angeles Sheriff 's Department barred their helicopters from flying in it .
The pilot of Bryant 's chopper flew in circles for 12 minutes before controllers granted him SVFR @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the ground to help him avoid other air traffic in such reduced visibility , but controllers told him the helicopter was flying too low to be monitored .
The wreckage of the helicopter , which can accommodate about a dozen passengers , is at about 1,100 feet above sea level and is scattered over about 600 feet , Homendy added .
`` There is an impact area on one of the hills and a piece of the tail is down the hill , '' she said .
`` The fuselage is on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Then the main rotor is about hundred yards beyond that . ''
Bryant , 41 , and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna were traveling from their home in Newport Beach to her basketball game at the Mamba Academy in Malibu when the chopper crashed .
Six others associated with Bryant and his basketball academy were also aboard , plus the pilot .
Officials said the Sikorsky S-76 chopper was built in 1991 and does not have a prior history of other crashes or mechanical incidents .
Bryant often kept a chartered helicopter at Orange @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Monday is could take days to retrieve the bodies and make formal identifications , due to the ruggedness of the terrain in which the chopper crashed .
Sheriff 's deputies have reached the area on horseback and even bulldozed a new road to get a vehicle in the vicinity .
The Los Angeles coroner , however , said three of the bodies were recovered late Sunday , though it did n't say to whom they belonged .
Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said , due to intense interest in the crash @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accessing the wreckage site .
Officials invoked an emergency ordinance that makes it a misdemeanor to trespass at the site , he noted .
As Bryant was mourned worldwide on Monday , the Los Angeles Lakers and NBA star LeBron James both issued their first statements on the matter .
James , a star forward for the Lakers , promised to continue Bryant 's legacy and the team announced the cancellation of a game with the Los Angeles Clippers and said the aftermath of Bryant 's death has been a `` very difficult @ @ @

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Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board use equipment to map the area in Calabasas, Calif., on Monday where a helicopter crash killed basketball star Kobe Bryant, his daughter and seven other people. Photo courtesy of NTSB/Twitter
Jan. 28 (UPI) -- Officials on Tuesday completed recovering the bodies of all nine victims who died in the helicopter crash that killed NBA legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter, the Los Angeles coroner's office said. The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner said response teams recovered three bodies Sunday, the day of the crash. It took until Monday for searchers to locate the other six occupants of the helicopter. Advertisement
The bodies were transported to the county's Forensic Science Center.
Investigators worked to identify the nine victims, which included Kobe Bryant's 13-year-old daughter, Gianna Bryant.
The pilot of the helicopter made a rapid upward ascent to avoid a layer of clouds in the moments before it crashed into a hillside, the National Transportation Safety Board said.
NTSB official Jennifer Homendy said in an update the helicopter had been flying from Orange County to Ventura County in Southern California -- below 1,000 feet under special visual flight rules -- when the 29-year-old Sikorsky S-76 chopper slammed into a hillside in Calabasas.
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The pilot told ground controllers he was making the upward maneuver in what would be the aircraft's final radio communication. Special visual flight rules allow pilots to fly lower than usual, most commonly due to poor visibility or poor weather conditions.
Fog had settled into the area early Sunday, officials said, and was so bad that the Los Angeles Police Department and Los Angeles Sheriff's Department barred their helicopters from flying in it. The pilot of Bryant's chopper flew in circles for 12 minutes before controllers granted him SVFR.
The pilot also requested radar assistance from the ground to help him avoid other air traffic in such reduced visibility, but controllers told him the helicopter was flying too low to be monitored.
The wreckage of the helicopter, which can accommodate about a dozen passengers, is at about 1,100 feet above sea level and is scattered over about 600 feet, Homendy added.
"There is an impact area on one of the hills, and a piece of the tail is down the hill," she said. "The fuselage is on the other side of that hill. Then the main rotor is about 100 yards beyond that."
Remembering the career of NBA legend Kobe Bryant
Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant stands during a time out against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York City during a game on January 26, 2014. Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna in Calabasas, Calif., on January 26, 2020. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Kobe Bryant, 41, and Gianna were traveling from their home in Newport Beach to her basketball game at the Mamba Academy in Malibu when the chopper crashed. Six others associated with Bryant and his basketball academy were also aboard, plus the pilot.
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Officials said the Sikorsky S-76 chopper was built in 1991 and does not have a prior history of crashes or mechanical incidents. Bryant often kept a chartered helicopter at Orange County's John Wayne Airport.
Authorities said it took days to locate the bodies due to the ruggedness of the terrain in which the chopper crashed. Sheriff's deputies have reached the area on horseback and even bulldozed a new road to get a vehicle in the vicinity.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said, due to intense interest in the crash, the public has been barred from accessing the wreckage site. Officials invoked an emergency ordinance that makes it a misdemeanor to trespass at the site.
As Bryant was mourned worldwide on Monday, the Los Angeles Lakers and NBA star LeBron James issued statements. James, a star forward for the Lakers, promised to continue Bryant's legacy, and the team announced the cancellation of a game with the Los Angeles Clippers, saying the aftermath of Bryant's death has been a "very difficult time."


upi--2020-01-28--Israeli Prime MInister Benjamin Netanyahu withdraws immunity request

Jan. 28 ( UPI ) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that he has withdrawn his request for immunity from prosecution on charges of bribery , fraud and breach of trust .
`` I will not allow my political opponents to use this matter to interfere with the historic move that I am leading , '' he said in a statement published on his personal Facebook page .
Netanyahu had sent the immunity request early this month to the Israeli parliament , known as the Knesset , which was to convene Tuesday to vote on a committee that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be granted .
Israel 's longest-serving prime minister was charged in November for receiving gifts as the prime minister , paying for favorable news coverage and implementing regulatory moves to benefit news outlets to spur positive news stories .
Netanyahu has denied all charges against him and said he requested immunity from prosecution until the term of the Knesset expires in order to prevent the government from harm .
The announcement comes as Netanyahu is in Washington to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump ahead of the White House 's unveiling of its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At this fateful hour for the people of Israel , while I am in the U.S. on a historic mission to shape Israel 's permanent borders and ensure our security for future generations , another Knesset show is expected to open in the immunity circus , '' Netanyahu said in the statement .
He said that his opponents , instead of recognizing the importance of what he was doing , were continuing to engage in `` cheap politics . ''
`` Since I was not given due process , because all the rules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rough foot and since the results of the procedure were pre-dictated without proper discussion , I decided not to let this dirty game continue , '' he said in announcing his decision to rescind his request .
He said he will `` shatter all the disproportionate claims '' he is accused of in the charges .
Benny Gantz -- Netanyahu 's chief political rival who will face him in the nation 's third election in less than a year after neither politician was able to form a unity government -- responded to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Israel must move forward .
`` Israeli citizens have a clear choice : A prime minister who will work for them or a self-employed prime minister , '' Gantz said via Twitter .
`` No one can run a state and simultaneously run three serious criminal cases for bribery , fraud and breach of trust . ''

President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu answer questions from members of the media in the Rose Garden at the White House on Monday in Washington, D.C. Photo by Leigh Vogel/UPI | License Photo
Jan. 28 (UPI) -- Israel's attorney general filed an indictment of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on bribery and other charges Tuesday just hours after the Israeli leader withdrew his request for immunity. Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit charged Netanyahu with bribery, fraud and breach of trust in an indictment filed with the Jerusalem District Court. Advertisement
He announced the indictment in November, but had been prevented from filing it as Netanyahu sought immunity from prosecution.
The prime minister had sent the immunity request early this month to the Knesset, which was to convene Tuesday to vote on a committee that would debate whether the request should to be granted. But he withdrew the request Tuesday.
"I will not allow my political opponents to use this matter to interfere with the historic move that I am leading," he said in a statement published on his personal Facebook page.
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Israel's longest-serving prime minister was charged for receiving gifts as the prime minister, paying for favorable news coverage and implementing regulatory moves to benefit news outlets to spur positive news stories.
Netanyahu has denied all charges against him and said he requested immunity from prosecution until the term of the Knesset expires in order to prevent the government from harm.
"At this fateful hour for the people of Israel, while I am in the U.S. on a historic mission to shape Israel's permanent borders and ensure our security for future generations, another Knesset show is expected to open in the immunity circus," Netanyahu said in the statement.
The filing of the indictment comes as he was in Washington to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump ahead of the White House's unveiling of its new Middle East peace plan.
His supporters denounced the attorney general's decision to file the indictment so quickly after the immunity request was withdrawn.
"If anyone still had doubt that the prime minister is being pursued obsessively, this is more clear, sharp proof," a source close to Netanyahu told the Jerusalem Post. "Their eagerness to file the ridiculous indictment against the prime minister is so great that they cannot even wait a single day for the historic summit in Washington that is one of the most important in the history of the state."
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Netanyahu said he will "shatter all the disproportionate claims" he is accused of in the charges.
"Since I was not given due process, because all the rules of Knesset work were trampled on a rough foot and since the results of the procedure were pre-dictated without proper discussion, I decided not to let this dirty game continue," he said in announcing his decision to rescind his request.
Benny Gantz -- Netanyahu's chief political rival who will face him in the nation's third election in less than a year after neither politician was able to form a unity government -- responded to the withdrawal saying Netanyahu must go to trial and Israel must move forward.
"Israeli citizens have a clear choice: A prime minister who will work for them or a self-employed prime minister," Gantz said via Twitter. "No one can run a state and simultaneously run three serious criminal cases for bribery, fraud and breach of trust."


upi--2020-01-28--Losing sense of smell affects relationships, physical health

Could you imagine not being able to smell bacon frying , or freshly cut grass , or the presence of smoke ?
People who lose their sense of smell face difficulties that can affect their daily lives and put their health and safety at risk , a new British study suggests .
It included 71 patients , ages 31 to 80 , who lost their sense of smell .
They reported a number of problems -- from concerns about personal hygiene to loss of sexual intimacy and the breakdown of personal relationships .
They also reported physical health consequences and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Smell disorders affect around 5 percent of the population and cause people to lose their sense of smell , or change the way they perceive odors .
Some people perceive smells that are n't there at all , '' said researcher Dr. Carl Philpott , a professor of rhinology and olfactology at the University of East Anglia 's Norwich Medical School in England .
There are many causes , he said , including infections , injury and neurological diseases such as Alzheimer 's .
Some medications also cause a loss of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who ca n't smell also report high rates of depression , anxiety , isolation and relationship issues , Philpott said .
`` One really big problem was around hazard perception -- not being able to smell food that had gone off , or not being able to smell gas or smoke .
This had resulted in serious near misses for some , '' he said in a university news release .
But smell is n't just a lifesaving sense -- it is also life-enhancing , Philpott added .
`` A large number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and some had lost appetite and weight , '' he said .
`` Others were eating more food with low nutritional value that was high in fat , salt and sugar -- and had consequently gained weight . ''
Social lives were also greatly affected by a lack of smell .
`` We found that personal hygiene was a big cause for anxiety and embarrassment , because the participants could n't smell themselves , '' Philpott said .
This could affect sexual and personal relationships .
The researchers said they hope their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loss of smell more seriously , and provide better help and support to patients .
The findings were recently published in the journal Clinical Otolaryngology .
The U.S. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders has more on smell disorders .

Could you imagine not being able to smell bacon frying, or freshly cut grass, or the presence of smoke?
People who lose their sense of smell face difficulties that can affect their daily lives and put their health and safety at risk, a new British study suggests.
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It included 71 patients, ages 31 to 80, who lost their sense of smell. They reported a number of problems -- from concerns about personal hygiene to loss of sexual intimacy and the breakdown of personal relationships. They also reported physical health consequences and the difficulties and cost of seeking help.
"Smell disorders affect around 5 percent of the population and cause people to lose their sense of smell, or change the way they perceive odors. Some people perceive smells that aren't there at all," said researcher Dr. Carl Philpott, a professor of rhinology and olfactology at the University of East Anglia's Norwich Medical School in England.
There are many causes, he said, including infections, injury and neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's. Some medications also cause a loss of smell.
Previous research has shown that people who can't smell also report high rates of depression, anxiety, isolation and relationship issues, Philpott said.
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"One really big problem was around hazard perception -- not being able to smell food that had gone off, or not being able to smell gas or smoke. This had resulted in serious near misses for some," he said in a university news release.
But smell isn't just a lifesaving sense -- it is also life-enhancing, Philpott added.
"A large number of the participants no longer enjoyed eating, and some had lost appetite and weight," he said. "Others were eating more food with low nutritional value that was high in fat, salt and sugar -- and had consequently gained weight."
Social lives were also greatly affected by a lack of smell. "We found that personal hygiene was a big cause for anxiety and embarrassment, because the participants couldn't smell themselves," Philpott said. This could affect sexual and personal relationships.
The researchers said they hope their study will help persuade doctors to take loss of smell more seriously, and provide better help and support to patients.
The findings were recently published in the journal Clinical Otolaryngology.
More information
The U.S. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders has more on smell disorders.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-01-28--Daniel Radcliffe, Steve Buscemi do medieval comedy in ‘Miracle Workers’

LOS ANGELES , Jan. 28 ( UPI ) -- The fate of humanity is no longer at stake in TBS ' comedy Miracle Workers .
Daniel Radcliffe and Steve Buscemi return for Season 2 , set in the medieval past where they find new laughs as entirely different characters .
Season 1 cast Buscemi as a disgruntled God who decides to end humanity .
Radcliffe played an employee of heaven who convinced him not to do that by making two humans fall in love .
Season 2 casts Radcliffe as a medieval prince .
`` He does n't have like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ father , but he is psychotically stupid and has a complete lack of empathy or self-awareness , '' Radcliffe said via satellite as part of a recent Television Critics Association panel .
`` Geraldine [ Viswanathan ] 's character Alexandra , and Karan [ Soni ] 's character Lord Vexler , they sort of teach him to be , hopefully , slightly more human , '' he said .
A new character did n't prove as challenging to Radcliffe as his new costars .
He has scenes involving ducks , who were less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ went to the bathroom in Radcliffe 's eye .
`` Basically , the duck was on the ground , '' Radcliffe said .
`` All I saw was that it sort of ruffled its feathers , and then like a millisecond later , I felt something hit my eye , and I was like , `` 'Ah , that 's definitely what that is . '
'' Since he finished the eighth Harry Potter film in 2011 , Radcliffe has explored comedy more .
He did voices for The Simpsons , Bojack Horseman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ romantic comedy What If and played a flatulent dead body in Swiss Army Man .
Miracle Workers asks Radcliffe to be funny every week , but to him acting is acting .
`` Comedy is hard , but I think it 's very hard for the writers , '' Radcliffe said .
`` We kind of get to all come in and reap the benefits of that .
There 's like timing and precision and all that stuff , and it 's hard , but it 's just acting .
It 's all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Even though Miracle Workers creator Simon Rich rebooted the story for Season 2 , performing it with the same cast kept a consistency .
`` I think actually this is one of the lovely things about coming back and working with the same group of people again , '' Radcliffe said .
`` We get a chance to form those relationships and learn and enjoy kind of coming back to that chemistry for a second season . ''
Steve Buscemi plays a lowly peasant to Radcliffe 's prince this time around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] shoveler .
His job is to clean up the kingdom 's excrement .
Buscemi considered it a step up from playing God in Season 1 .
`` God was so isolated and depressed and confused and in his own world , and everybody had to kind of treat him with kid gloves , '' Buscemi said on the panel .
`` He just got in everybody 's way , but Eddie , he 's like a pillar of the community .
`` People depend on him and he 's proud of what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and he 's got a beautiful family that he loves , and he 's got friends .
People like him . ''
Playing an excrement shoveler made Buscemi appreciate the creature comforts of modern day life .
`` What 's weird was like doing a show like this and then being so grateful for what we have , '' Buscemi said .
`` Every morning , I would take a shower and go , 'Well , you could n't do this then . '
[ Or ] flush the toilet .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like everyday things that you take for granted . ''
`` Whenever somebody says ' I was born out of my time ' or ' I wish I had been born in a different time ' I say , 'No you do n't .
It was terrible . '
''

1/2
Daniel Radcliffe plays a medieval prince in Season 2 of "Miracle Workers." File Photo by Bryan R. Smith/UPI | License Photo
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- The fate of humanity is no longer at stake in TBS' comedy Miracle Workers. Daniel Radcliffe and Steve Buscemi return for Season 2, set in the medieval past where they find new laughs as entirely different characters. Season 1 cast Buscemi as a disgruntled God who decides to end humanity. Radcliffe played an employee of heaven who convinced him not to do that by making two humans fall in love. Season 2 casts Radcliffe as a medieval prince. Advertisement
"He doesn't have like the kind of tyrannical bloodlust of his father, but he is psychotically stupid and has a complete lack of empathy or self-awareness," Radcliffe said via satellite as part of a recent Television Critics Association panel.
"Geraldine [Viswanathan]'s character Alexandra, and Karan [Soni]'s character Lord Vexler, they sort of teach him to be, hopefully, slightly more human," he said.
Advertisement
A new character didn't prove as challenging to Radcliffe as his new costars. He has scenes involving ducks, who were less predictable than human actors. One duck went to the bathroom in Radcliffe's eye.
"Basically, the duck was on the ground," Radcliffe said. "All I saw was that it sort of ruffled its feathers, and then like a millisecond later, I felt something hit my eye, and I was like, "'Ah, that's definitely what that is.'"
Since he finished the eighth Harry Potter film in 2011, Radcliffe has explored comedy more. He did voices for The Simpsons, Bojack Horseman and Robot Chicken, starred in the romantic comedy What If and played a flatulent dead body in Swiss Army Man.
Miracle Workers asks Radcliffe to be funny every week, but to him acting is acting.
"Comedy is hard, but I think it's very hard for the writers," Radcliffe said. "We kind of get to all come in and reap the benefits of that. There's like timing and precision and all that stuff, and it's hard, but it's just acting. It's all fun at the end of the day."
Even though Miracle Workers creator Simon Rich rebooted the story for Season 2, performing it with the same cast kept a consistency.
Advertisement
"I think actually this is one of the lovely things about coming back and working with the same group of people again," Radcliffe said. "We get a chance to form those relationships and learn and enjoy kind of coming back to that chemistry for a second season."
Steve Buscemi plays a lowly peasant to Radcliffe's prince this time around, and is named Eddie [Expletive]shoveler. His job is to clean up the kingdom's excrement. Buscemi considered it a step up from playing God in Season 1.
"God was so isolated and depressed and confused and in his own world, and everybody had to kind of treat him with kid gloves," Buscemi said on the panel. "He just got in everybody's way, but Eddie, he's like a pillar of the community.
"People depend on him and he's proud of what he does. He's a laborer, and he's got a beautiful family that he loves, and he's got friends. People like him."
Playing an excrement shoveler made Buscemi appreciate the creature comforts of modern day life.
"What's weird was like doing a show like this and then being so grateful for what we have," Buscemi said. "Every morning, I would take a shower and go, 'Well, you couldn't do this then.' [Or] flush the toilet. It really does make you grateful for just like everyday things that you take for granted."
Advertisement
Radcliffe agreed.
"Whenever somebody says 'I was born out of my time' or 'I wish I had been born in a different time' I say, 'No you don't. It was terrible.'"
Miracle Workers returns Tuesday at 10:30 p.m. on TBS.


upi--2020-01-28--Pork industry joins battle to stop plant-based products from being called 'meat'

EVANSVILLE , Ind.
, Jan. 28 ( UPI ) -- The unveiling of Impossible Foods ' latest product -- `` Impossible Pork '' -- has drawn American pork producers into a years-long battle waged by the beef industry to stop plant-based companies from calling their foods some sort of meat .
`` It 's not pork , '' said Dan Kovich , the assistant director of science and technology for the National Pork Producers Council .
`` The ironic thing is that 's impossible .
You ca n't get pork from plants unless you feed them to a pig .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat launched a series of meat alternatives made from plants .
Their early products were beef burger substitutes .
The companies later started to market plant-made sausage , and Impossible Pork was unveiled earlier this month at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas .
The companies claim their products are virtually indistinguishable from real meat -- and many include the name of the meat they are mimicking in the product label .
`` They 're trying to get as close as possible to beef without actually being beef @ @ @ @ @ @ @ director of government affairs at the National Cattlemen 's Beef Association .
`` But their entire marketing strategy is to disparage beef .
They are trading on beef 's good name , but disparaging beef in the process . ''
Organizations like the National Pork Producers Council , the National Cattlemen 's Beef Association and the Livestock Marketing Association are pushing the federal government to force these companies to rename their products .
Under current law , only the Food and Drug Administration has the power to stop plant-based operations from using traditional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Asked about the FDA 's position on plant-based meat , a spokesperson said the agency is reviewing its stance of the `` standards of identify '' for dairy products , and that `` until we finish reviewing , we do n't have additional comment on the labeling of plant-based food product . ''
The spokesman added in an email : `` The FDA believes it is important to take a fresh look at existing standards of identity in light of marketing trends and the latest nutritional science . ''
Meanwhile , as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have enacted laws that ban companies from calling plant-based products by terms used to define traditional meat .
And lawmakers in at least 27 states have filed similar bills .
On the national level , U.S. Rep. Roger Marshall , R-Kan. , introduced the Real MEAT Act in October , which defines `` beef '' as coming from a cow and requires companies imitating beef to include the word `` imitation '' in the label , among other provisions .
Its purpose is to eliminate consumer confusion and deceptive marketing , Marshall has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alternative protein products have confused many consumers with misleading packaging and creative names for products , '' Marshall said in a statement .
`` With this bill , consumers can be sure that the meat products they are buying are indeed real meat . ''
The bill was referred to the Committee on Agriculture , which then referred it to the House Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture , where it remains .
The bill has 18 co-sponsors .
U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer , R-Neb.
, introduced a similar bill in the Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken on that bill .
`` What 's ironic about [ these bills ] is we bend over backwards to make it clear we are plant-based , '' said Rachel Konrad , a spokeswoman for Impossible Foods .
`` We have a huge logo on our products that says , 'Made from plants . '
We do not want any confusion and we know the reason why our growth is skyrocketing is because there is no confusion . ''
She added that her company is monitoring the new bills and will follow all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Impossible Foods has always anticipated this kind of attack , '' she said .
The Impossible company anticipated the attack , in part , because it is not targeting vegetarians -- it is trying to woo meat eaters .
`` Ninety-five percent of [ Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods ] customers are omnivores who also eat meat , '' said Zak Weston , a food service analyst at the Good Food Institute , a pro-plant-based food nonprofit based in Washington , D.C. `` These companies are looking at the market differently . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ plant-based supporters concerned .
Though growing rapidly , the plant-based protein industry is in its infancy , said Ocean Robbins , the CEO of Food Revolution Network , a pro-plant-based food group that supports `` healthy , ethical and sustainable food for all . ''
`` In the long run , if these terms are banned , companies are going to figure out another way , '' Robbins said .
`` But it will have an impact .
The meat industry is putting a lot of money into this because they 're aware @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they 're afraid of mainstream people giving this a try . ''

The Impossible Foods company says its burger tastes just like a beef burger, but without the beef. Photo courtesy of Impossible Foods
EVANSVILLE, Ind., Jan. 28 (UPI) -- The unveiling of Impossible Foods' latest product -- "Impossible Pork" -- has drawn American pork producers into a years-long battle waged by the beef industry to stop plant-based companies from calling their foods some sort of meat. "It's not pork," said Dan Kovich, director of science and technology for the National Pork Producers Council. "The ironic thing is that's impossible. You can't get pork from plants unless you feed them to a pig." Advertisement
Beginning in 2016, companies like Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat launched a series of meat alternatives made from plants. Their early products were beef burger substitutes. The companies later started to market plant-made sausage, and Impossible Pork was unveiled earlier this month at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
The companies claim their products are virtually indistinguishable from real meat -- and many include the name of the meat they are mimicking in the product label.
Advertisement
"They're trying to get as close as possible to beef without actually being beef," said Danielle Beck, executive director of government affairs at the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. "But their entire marketing strategy is to disparage beef. They are trading on beef's good name, but disparaging beef in the process."
Organizations like the National Pork Producers Council, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association and the Livestock Marketing Association are pushing the federal government to force these companies to rename their products.
Under current law, only the Food and Drug Administration has the power to stop plant-based operations from using traditional meat terms to define their products.
An FDA representative said the agency is reviewing its stance on the "standards of identity" for dairy products, and that "until we finish reviewing, we don't have additional comment on the labeling of plant-based food product."
The spokesman added in an email: "The FDA believes it is important to take a fresh look at existing standards of identity in light of marketing trends and the latest nutritional science."
Meanwhile, at least 13 states have enacted laws that ban companies from calling plant-based products by terms used to define traditional meat. And lawmakers in at least 27 states have filed similar bills.
Advertisement
On the national level, U.S. Rep. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., introduced the Real MEAT Act in October, which defines "beef" as coming from a cow and requires companies imitating beef to include the word "imitation" in the label, among other provisions.
Its purpose is to eliminate consumer confusion and deceptive marketing, Marshall has said.
"For years now, alternative protein products have confused many consumers with misleading packaging and creative names for products," Marshall said in a statement. "With this bill, consumers can be sure that the meat products they are buying are indeed real meat."
The bill was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, which referred it to the House Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture, where it remains. The bill has 18 co-sponsors.
U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., introduced a similar bill in December. No action has been taken on that bill.
"What's ironic about [these bills] is we bend over backwards to make it clear we are plant-based," said Rachel Konrad, a spokeswoman for Impossible Foods. "We have a huge logo on our products that says, 'Made from plants.' We do not want any confusion, and we know the reason why our growth is skyrocketing is because there is no confusion."
Advertisement
She added that her company is monitoring the new bills and will follow all applicable state and federal laws.
"Impossible Foods has always anticipated this kind of attack," she said.
The Impossible company anticipated the attack, in part, because it is not targeting vegetarians -- it is trying to woo meat eaters.
"Ninety-five percent of [Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods] customers are omnivores who also eat meat," said Zak Weston, a food service analyst at the Good Food Institute, a pro-plant-based food nonprofit based in Washington, D.C. "These companies are looking at the market differently."
The meat industry's attack has some plant-based supporters concerned.
Though growing rapidly, the plant-based protein industry is in its infancy, said Ocean Robbins, CEO of Food Revolution Network, a pro-plant-based food group that supports "healthy, ethical and sustainable food for all."
"In the long run, if these terms are banned, companies are going to figure out another way," Robbins said. "But it will have an impact. The meat industry is putting a lot of money into this because they're aware that the terms are impactful. And they're afraid of mainstream people giving this a try."


upi--2020-01-28--Maria Bamford talks 'Weakness is the Brand,' being a 'mental illness clown'

Jan. 28 ( UPI ) -- Maria Bamford 's latest stand-up special , Weakness is the Brand , is out Tuesday from Comedy Dynamics , and the veteran comedian said the hourlong special nearly took a very different shape .
Bamford , 49 , toyed with the concept of an audience in her two previous specials , 2014 's The Special Special Special , which featured an audience consisting solely of her parents in their living room , and 2017 's Old Baby , which saw the performer delivering portions of her routine for small groups of people in venues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside her home .
Weakness is the Brand takes a more conventional route , with Bamford delivering her material on a Los Angeles stage to a full house of spectators .
Bamford told UPI in a recent interview that the format , which she jokingly calls `` a regular Perkins pancake special , '' originally was meant to take a more unusual form .
`` The original idea for the special was to interview the people who the jokes were about after each joke , '' she said .
`` So I did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and because of my poor interviewing skills , we did not get stuff that would have been useful .
It was an epic try that just resulted in Perkins pancake . ''
The special has Bamford taking on topics that include her admiration for mediocrity ( `` I adore a two-star experience . ''
) and a failed attempt at filing a restraining order against the president of the United States ( `` ultimately , a useless gesture that did n't further the conversation in any way and wasted the time of caring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ includes ruminations on the subjects for which Bamford has become best known : her relationships with her family and her experiences with mental illness .
`` You talk about whatever is interesting to you , or whatever makes you mad , or gets you fired up , '' Bamford said .
`` And that 's what has fired me up over time , it seems .
... Those are the things that seem to come up as interesting to me .
I do n't think I said , 'Oh , I 'd really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . '
But also , gratitude to be the clown at all , it 's a great job . ''
Bamford said she is n't concerned whether her comedic legacy is tied to being `` the mental illness clown . ''
`` If I 'm remembered at all , that 's unbelievable , and if it 's for something about mental health , then that 's OK , too , '' she said .
`` I 'm just grateful to be thought of at all , especially when I 'm merging into traffic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be candid about her experiences on stage has led to meaningful encounters with fans off stage .
`` It really helps me when people come up to me and say , 'Oh , I 've had the same experience . '
It helps me not feel alone .
So it 's kind of a self-serving thing to be public about different experiences , '' she said .
Bamford said she felt `` grateful '' to others who spoke candidly about mental illness before she began her stand-up career , including authors Carrie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hornbacher , as well as fellow comedians Dana Gould and Jonathan Winters .
Bamford said her own tendency to talk openly about difficult issues is largely a side effect of her personality .
`` I 'm not a super private person , I 'm an attention-getter person , so it gives me relief to get attention for stuff , whereas I have friends who in no way want to have any audience or anyone to know things , '' she said .
`` I think it 's not because I 'm a good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
It 's because it 's part of my personality , I 'm somebody who likes to jibber-jabber . ''
'Why are we doing this ? '
Bamford , who recently starred in the semi-autobiographical sitcom Lady Dynamite on Netflix and hosts celebrity interview show What 's Your Ailment ?
!
on streaming platform Topic , said it 's partially that love of `` jibber-jabber '' that keeps her coming back to stand-up comedy .
`` I love learning about other things , and that 's exciting , but I do love @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there , and you can do and say exactly what you want to , '' she said .
`` It 's been a very good job for me , only working one hour during the day , and then you can rehearse on your own .
So it 's really been a great boon for me .
I get to be on stage , under the footlights , and I get to say exactly what I want .
It 's delightful .
It 's a non-stop delight . ''
The performer said she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anytime soon , but she is open to other opportunities should they arise .
`` Sometimes artists will say , ' I do n't know how to do anything else besides this , so that 's why I have to succeed , ' '' she said .
`` There 's plenty of other things I could do .
I 've been a secretary , and I do have skills of reading and using the Internet , so I 'm sure I could be a receptionist at a nonprofit somewhere .
But I do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do n't know what it would be . ''
Bamford said she sometimes seeks support from other comedians when she feels daunted .
`` I just started developing a new hour recently , and I had to call a bunch of other comics , texted a bunch , just to get support like , 'Right , starting from scratch .
Why ?
Why are we doing this ? '
and it was just really nice to get all this support from fellow comedians , who said , 'Oh , yeah , of course @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' And , yeah , maybe something else might be a better fit for me , I ca n't wait to find out .
But so far , I 'm still doing it and it seems fun . ''
The performer said she had one piece of advice she 'd give to the younger version of herself just starting out in comedy : `` Ask for help sooner than later .
Go get that help .
`` It 's OK to ask if you do n't know how to do something .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know , get how the world works and it 's supposed to come easily .
I just did n't have that idea that it 's OK to not know everything .
It sounds dumb even as I 'm saying it , so that 's what I would say .
Look dumb more often , Maria .
It will help . ''
Maria Bamford : Weakness is the Brand is available Tuesday from the Comedy Dynamics Network on platforms that include Comcast , Amazon Prime Video , Spectrum , Apple TV , Dish , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ YouTube .
The corresponding album of the same name is due out Friday .

1/2
Comedian Maria Bamford, whose special "Weakness is the Brand" is out Tuesday, said she loves stand-up comedy because "you can do and say exactly what you want to." Photo courtesy of Comedy Dynamics
Jan. 28 (UPI) -- Maria Bamford's latest stand-up special, Weakness is the Brand, is out Tuesday from Comedy Dynamics, and the veteran comedian said the hourlong special nearly took a very different shape. Bamford, 49, toyed with the concept of an audience in her two previous specials, 2014's The Special Special Special, which featured an audience consisting solely of her parents in their living room, and 2017's Old Baby, which saw the performer delivering portions of her routine for small groups of people in venues that included a bookstore and the bench outside her home. Advertisement
Weakness is the Brand takes a more conventional route, with Bamford delivering her material on a Los Angeles stage to a full house of spectators. Bamford told UPI in a recent interview that the format, which she jokingly calls "a regular Perkins pancake special," originally was meant to take a more unusual form.
Advertisement
"The original idea for the special was to interview the people who the jokes were about after each joke," she said. "So I did a bunch of interviews with people, and because of my poor interviewing skills, we did not get stuff that would have been useful. It was an epic try that just resulted in Perkins pancake."
Staying on-brand
The special has Bamford taking on topics that include her admiration for mediocrity ("I adore a two-star experience.") and a failed attempt at filing a restraining order against the president of the United States ("ultimately, a useless gesture that didn't further the conversation in any way and wasted the time of caring professionals.").
The material also includes ruminations on the subjects for which Bamford has become best known: her relationships with her family and her experiences with mental illness.
"You talk about whatever is interesting to you, or whatever makes you mad, or gets you fired up," Bamford said. "And that's what has fired me up over time, it seems. ... Those are the things that seem to come up as interesting to me. I don't think I said, 'Oh, I'd really love to be the mental illness clown.' But also, gratitude to be the clown at all, it's a great job."
Advertisement
Bamford said she isn't concerned whether her comedic legacy is tied to being "the mental illness clown."
"If I'm remembered at all, that's unbelievable, and if it's for something about mental health, then that's OK, too," she said. "I'm just grateful to be thought of at all, especially when I'm merging into traffic."
The comedian said her tendency to be candid about her experiences on stage has led to meaningful encounters with fans off stage.
"It really helps me when people come up to me and say, 'Oh, I've had the same experience.' It helps me not feel alone. So it's kind of a self-serving thing to be public about different experiences," she said.
Bamford said she felt "grateful" to others who spoke candidly about mental illness before she began her stand-up career, including authors Carrie Fisher, Kay Redfield Jamison and Marya Hornbacher, as well as fellow comedians Dana Gould and Jonathan Winters.
Bamford said her own tendency to talk openly about difficult issues is largely a side effect of her personality.
"I'm not a super private person, I'm an attention-getter person, so it gives me relief to get attention for stuff, whereas I have friends who in no way want to have any audience or anyone to know things," she said. "I think it's not because I'm a good person that I've been open about it. It's because it's part of my personality, I'm somebody who likes to jibber-jabber."
Advertisement
'Why are we doing this?'
Bamford, who recently starred in the semi-autobiographical sitcom Lady Dynamite on Netflix and hosts celebrity interview show What's Your Ailment?! on streaming platform Topic, said it's partially that love of "jibber-jabber" that keeps her coming back to stand-up comedy.
"I love learning about other things, and that's exciting, but I do love stand-up. There's so much freedom there, and you can do and say exactly what you want to," she said. "It's been a very good job for me, only working one hour during the day, and then you can rehearse on your own. So it's really been a great boon for me. I get to be on stage, under the footlights, and I get to say exactly what I want. It's delightful. It's a non-stop delight."
The performer said she has no plans to quit doing stand-up anytime soon, but she is open to other opportunities should they arise.
"Sometimes artists will say, 'I don't know how to do anything else besides this, so that's why I have to succeed,'" she said. "There's plenty of other things I could do. I've been a secretary, and I do have skills of reading and using the Internet, so I'm sure I could be a receptionist at a nonprofit somewhere. But I do think about that a lot. I don't know what it would be."
Advertisement
Bamford said she sometimes seeks support from other comedians when she feels daunted.
"I just started developing a new hour recently, and I had to call a bunch of other comics, texted a bunch, just to get support like, 'Right, starting from scratch. Why? Why are we doing this?' and it was just really nice to get all this support from fellow comedians, who said, 'Oh, yeah, of course that's what it feels like.' And, yeah, maybe something else might be a better fit for me, I can't wait to find out. But so far, I'm still doing it and it seems fun."
The performer said she had one piece of advice she'd give to the younger version of herself just starting out in comedy: "Ask for help sooner than later. Go get that help.
"It's OK to ask if you don't know how to do something. I just thought somehow you're supposed to know, get how the world works and it's supposed to come easily. I just didn't have that idea that it's OK to not know everything. It sounds dumb even as I'm saying it, so that's what I would say. Look dumb more often, Maria. It will help."
Advertisement
Maria Bamford: Weakness is the Brand is available Tuesday from the Comedy Dynamics Network on platforms that include Comcast, Amazon Prime Video, Spectrum, Apple TV, Dish, Google Play, DirecTV, Vimeo and YouTube. The corresponding album of the same name is due out Friday.


upi--2020-01-28--Famous birthdays for Jan. 28: Nick Carter, Alan Alda

Jan. 28 ( UPI ) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Aquarius .

Nick Carter and the Backstreet Boys perform on "Good Morning America" at the Rumsey Playfield/SummerStage in Central Park in New York City on July 13, 2018. The singer turns 40 on January 28. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Jan. 28 (UPI) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Aquarius. They include: Advertisement
-- Roman Catholic St. Thomas Aquinas in 1225
-- English Henry VII in 1457
-- Canadian Prime Minister and statesman Alexander MacKenzie in 1822
-- Cuban revolutionary and poet Jose Marti in 1853
-- French novelist Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette in 1873
-- Abstract expressionist painter Jackson Pollock in 1912
-- Musician Acker Bilk in 1929
-- Sculptor Claes Oldenburg in 1929 (age 91)
-- Actor Alan Alda in 1936 (age 84)
File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
-- Actor Susan Howard in 1944 (age 76)
-- Former Liberian leader Charles Taylor in 1948 (age 72)
-- Ballet dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov in 1948 (age 72)
-- NBA coach Gregg Popovich in 1949 (age 71)
-- Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy in 1955 (age 65)
-- Singer Sarah McLachlan in 1968 (age 52)
-- Comedian/journalist Mo Rocca in 1969 (age 51)
-- Rapper Rick Ross in 1976 (age 44)
Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
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-- Singer Joey Fatone in 1977 (age 43)
-- Singer Nick Carter in 1980 (age 40)
-- Actor Elijah Wood in 1981 (age 39)
-- Rapper J. Cole in 1985 (age 35)
-- Actor Tom Hopper in 1985 (age 35)
-- Actor Will Poulter in 1993 (age 27)
-- Actor Ariel Winter in 1998 (age 22)


upi--2020-01-28--On This Day, Jan. 28: U.S. hostages leave Tehran in 'Canadian Caper'

Jan. 28 ( UPI ) -- On this date in history : In 1547 , Henry VIII died and 9-year-old Edward VI became king of England .
In 1782 , the U.S. Congress authorized creation of the great seal of the United States .
In 1813 , Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen was published .
In 1958 , the Lego Group received a patent for its toy building blocks .
In 1965 , British Queen Elizabeth II accepted a new national flag design for Canada that included a red maple leaf in its center .
In 1974 , Israel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turned over 300,000 square miles of Egyptian territory to the United Nations , ending an occupation that had begun during the October 1973 war .
In 1980 , six Americans hidden for three months in the Canadian Embassy in Tehran were smuggled out of Iran by Canadian diplomats .
The so-called `` Canadian Caper '' was featured in the 2012 movie Argo .
In 1982 , kidnapped U.S. Army Brig .
Gen. James Dozier was rescued in Padua , Italy , after being held 42 days by Italian Red Brigades militants .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in popular music recorded `` We Are the World , '' royalties of which benefited the starving people of Africa .
In 1986 , the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded 72 seconds after launch from Cape Canaveral , killing all seven crew members , including civilian teacher Christa McAuliffe .
In 1997 , five former police officers in South Africa admitted to killing anti-apartheid activist Stephen Biko , who died in police custody in 1977 and whose death had been officially listed as an accident .
In 2004 , the chief U.S. weapons inspector @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were almost all wrong '' in believing Iraq had weapons of mass destruction and called for an outside independent investigation of the apparent intelligence failure .
In 2009 , the World Health Organization said more than 3,000 people died of cholera during an outbreak in Zimbabwe .
In 2019 , the U.S. Department of Justice charged Chinese smartphone giant Huawei Technologies with violating U.S. sanctions against Iran .

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Tony Mendez, a retired American CIA technical operations officer, arrives at the 24th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival awards gala on January 5, 2013. Mendez arranged the freedom of six American diplomats held hostage in Tehran in 1980. His actions were depicted in the film "Argo." File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Jan. 28 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1547, Henry VIII died and 9-year-old Edward VI became king of England. Advertisement
In 1782, the U.S. Congress authorized creation of the great seal of the United States.
In 1813, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen was published.
In 1958, the Lego Group received a patent for its toy building blocks.
File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
In 1965, British Queen Elizabeth II accepted a new national flag design for Canada that included a red maple leaf in its center.
In 1974, Israel lifted its siege of Suez City and turned over 300,000 square miles of Egyptian territory to the United Nations, ending an occupation that had begun during the October 1973 war.
In 1980, six Americans hidden for three months in the Canadian Embassy in Tehran were smuggled out of Iran by Canadian diplomats. The so-called "Canadian Caper" was featured in the 2012 movie Argo.
In 1982, kidnapped U.S. Army Brig. Gen. James Dozier was rescued in Padua, Italy, after being held 42 days by Italian Red Brigades militants.
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In 1985, dozens of the biggest names in popular music recorded "We Are the World," royalties of which benefited the starving people of Africa.
In 1986, the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded 72 seconds after launch from Cape Canaveral, killing all seven crew members, including civilian teacher Christa McAuliffe.
File Photo courtesy NASA
In 1997, five former police officers in South Africa admitted to killing anti-apartheid activist Stephen Biko, who died in police custody in 1977 and whose death had been officially listed as an accident.
In 2004, the chief U.S. weapons inspector in Iraq told congressional government officials "were almost all wrong" in believing Iraq had weapons of mass destruction and called for an outside independent investigation of the apparent intelligence failure.
In 2009, the World Health Organization said more than 3,000 people died of cholera during an outbreak in Zimbabwe.
In 2019, the U.S. Department of Justice charged Chinese smartphone giant Huawei Technologies with violating U.S. sanctions against Iran.
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upi--2020-01-28--FTC sues Martin Shkreli for illegally monopolizing drug

Jan. 28 ( UPI ) -- The Federal Trade Commission has charged disgraced former drug industry executive Martin Shkreli and Vyera Pharmaceuticals with concocting an elaborate competition-fixing scheme to maintain their monopoly over the life-saving drug Daraprim .
The FTC and the State of New York filed the complaint in federal court against the pharmaceutical company and its former executive who is currently severing a seven-year jail sentence for fraud , accusing them of pursuing `` an elaborate anticompetitive scheme '' to prevent generic versions of Daraprim from being introduced into the market .
According to the complaint , Daraprim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that is fatal in those with compromised immune systems , was relatively affordable for some 60 years until Vyera , then known as Turing Pharmaceuticals , hiked up its price from $ 17.50 a tablet to $ 750 immediately after purchasing the drug in 2015 .
It then prevented other companies from developing a generic equivalent of the drug through drawing up restrictive distribution agreements that barred them from buying samples of the medication while also limiting their access to a necessary ingredient used in its manufacturing , the FTC said in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drug for vulnerable patients , '' said Gail Levine , deputy director of the Bureau of Competition at the FTC .
`` Vyera kept the price of Daraprim astronomically high by illegally boxing out the competition . ''
The regulators also said Vyera and its then-executive Shkreli created other so-called data blocking agreements to prevent sales information on Daraprim from getting into the hands of companies that make generic drugs in order to prevent them from assessing whether it is in their interest to even pursue manufacturing a cheaper version of the drug @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Daraprim would have faced generic competition years ago , '' regulators said in the complaint .
`` Instead , toxoplasmosis patients who need Daraprim to survive have been denied the opportunity to purchase a lower-cost generic version , forcing them and other purchasers to pay tens of millions of dollars a year more for this life-saving medication . ''
The FTC is suing for monetary relief for those who suffered due to the alleged scheme to keep the price of the drug artificially inflated , remedial injunctive relief to restore competitive conditions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other named defendants from working in the pharmaceutical industry again .
Along with Shkreli , who is also known as `` Pharma Bro , '' former pharmaceutical executive Kevin Mulleady and Vyera 's parent company Phoenixus AG are named as defendants in the complaint .
New York Attorney General Letitia James accused the defendants of not only `` despicably '' jacking up the price of Daraprim but also holding it hostage from those who needed it .
`` We filed this lawsuit to stop Vyera 's egregious conduct , make the company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Marin Shkreli from ever working in the pharmaceutical industry again , '' James said in a statement .
`` We wo n't allow 'Pharma Bros ' to manipulate the market and line their pockets at the expense of vulnerable patients and the health care system . ''
Shkreli was convicted in August of 2017 for running a Ponzi scheme and bilking investors out of $ 11 million and was sentenced to seven years in prison .
Shkreli 's lawyer Benjamin Brafman said in a statement that `` Mr. Shkreli looks forward to defeating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FTC to sue an individual for monopolizing a market . ''

Attorney Benjamin Brafman puts his hand on the shoulder of former Turing Pharmaceuticals CEO Martin Shkreli as he exits the United States Federal courthouse after being found guilty of multiple criminal charges in his federal securities fraud trial on Aug. 4, 2017 in New York City. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Jan. 28 (UPI) -- The Federal Trade Commission has charged disgraced former drug industry executive Martin Shkreli and Vyera Pharmaceuticals with concocting an elaborate competition-fixing scheme to maintain their monopoly over the life-saving drug Daraprim. The FTC and the State of New York filed the complaint in federal court against the pharmaceutical company and its former executive who is currently severing a seven-year jail sentence for fraud, accusing them of pursuing "an elaborate anticompetitive scheme" to prevent generic versions of Daraprim from being introduced into the market. Advertisement
According to the complaint, Daraprim, which treats a rare parasitic infection that is fatal in those with compromised immune systems, was relatively affordable for some 60 years until Vyera, then known as Turing Pharmaceuticals, hiked up its price from $17.50 a tablet to $750 immediately after purchasing the drug in 2015.
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It then prevented other companies from developing a generic equivalent of the drug through drawing up restrictive distribution agreements that barred them from buying samples of the medication while also limiting their access to a necessary ingredient used in its manufacturing, the FTC said in the complaint.
"Daraprim is a lifesaving drug for vulnerable patients," said Gail Levine, deputy director of the Bureau of Competition at the FTC. "Vyera kept the price of Daraprim astronomically high by illegally boxing out the competition."
The regulators also said Vyera and its then-executive Shkreli created other so-called data blocking agreements to prevent sales information on Daraprim from getting into the hands of companies that make generic drugs in order to prevent them from assessing whether it is in their interest to even pursue manufacturing a cheaper version of the drug.
"Absent Defendants' anticompetitive conduct, Daraprim would have faced generic competition years ago," regulators said in the complaint. "Instead, toxoplasmosis patients who need Daraprim to survive have been denied the opportunity to purchase a lower-cost generic version, forcing them and other purchasers to pay tens of millions of dollars a year more for this life-saving medication."
The FTC is suing for monetary relief for those who suffered due to the alleged scheme to keep the price of the drug artificially inflated, remedial injunctive relief to restore competitive conditions to the market and to bar Shkreli and other named defendants from working in the pharmaceutical industry again.
Advertisement
Along with Shkreli, who is also known as "Pharma Bro," former pharmaceutical executive Kevin Mulleady and Vyera's parent company Phoenixus AG are named as defendants in the complaint.
New York Attorney General Letitia James accused the defendants of not only "despicably" jacking up the price of Daraprim but also holding it hostage from those who needed it.
"We filed this lawsuit to stop Vyera's egregious conduct, make the company pay for its illegal scheming and block Marin Shkreli from ever working in the pharmaceutical industry again," James said in a statement. "We won't allow 'Pharma Bros' to manipulate the market and line their pockets at the expense of vulnerable patients and the health care system."
Shkreli was convicted in August of 2017 for running a Ponzi scheme and bilking investors out of $11 million and was sentenced to seven years in prison.
Shkreli's lawyer Benjamin Brafman said in a statement that "Mr. Shkreli looks forward to defeating this baseless and unprecedented attempt by the FTC to sue an individual for monopolizing a market."


upi--2020-01-28--Gene test could spot soccer players at risk for brain issues

A gene mutation implicated in the risk for Alzheimer 's disease might also impair memory in soccer players who head the ball a lot , a new study suggests .
The finding could have implications for young athletes in contact sports where the head can take hits during play .
Among soccer players who headed the ball the most , those with the gene mutation called the apolipoprotein E epsilon4 , or APOE e4 , allele did four times worse on memory tests than those who head the ball the least , the researchers found .
`` This is important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' said lead researcher Dr. Michael Lipton , a professor of radiology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City .
`` Most people have relatively modest exposure and do n't seem to be adversely affected .
It 's really whether you have other risk factors like this gene , '' he said .
Lipton noted that about 25 percent of the population carries the APOE e4 allele .
Lipton said the injuries to the brain from heading are n't concussions , but rather tiny subclinical damage that does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is hitting the ball with the head at least 1,000 times in a year .
That may seem like a lot , but Lipton 's team found that some players headed the ball in the range of 15,000 times a year .
For the report , Lipton and his colleagues studied nearly 380 amateur soccer players who took part in a soccer study from November 2013 through January 2018 .
Among these players , 355 had their genes sequenced to look for the APOE e4 allele .
All the players had played soccer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over several visits to the clinic , they took memory tests and estimated how many times they had headed the ball .
In all , 352 players with a total of more than 1,200 test sessions were analyzed .
According to Lipton , many of the consequences of heading for those who carry the APOE e4 allele are n't known .
For example , it 's not known whether the damage heals itself or is permanent and exactly how much heading is too much .
`` A much larger study would be needed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but in general , the threshold is on the order of a thousand headers per year , '' he said .
Dr. Sam Gandy , chair of Alzheimer 's research and director of the Mount Sinai Center for Cognitive Health and NFL Neurological Care in New York City , thinks the evidence is mounting that carriers of the APOE e4 allele are in real danger of developing dementia if they play a lot of contact sports .
`` I think that it is time to seriously consider how and where in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ educating parents about the potential risks of the APOE e4 allele , especially when two copies are present , '' Gandy explained .
This will be expensive and cumbersome to implement , he said .
`` But if we are to do all we can to protect the brains of child athletes , it seems to me that children with two copies of APOE e4 should be identified and their parents should undergo informed consent , '' Gandy said .
As early as 1997 , Gandy and his colleagues identified the APOE e4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy , or CTE , which is seen in football players and boxers .
Battlefield blast exposure has been added to the list of triggers that increase the risk for CTE , and with this latest report , soccer players are also members of this `` club '' at high risk for serious cognitive impairment because of genetic vulnerability and repeated brain injuries , he said .
`` Almost no one with two APOE e4 alleles escapes dementia , and exposing children with two APOE e4 alleles to collision sports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ function , '' Gandy said .
The report was published online Jan. 27 in JAMA Neurology .
Dr. Gayatri Devi is a neurologist and psychiatrist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City .
She said , `` In an increasingly competitive world , particularly in the area of sport , athletes seek an edge , sometimes at great personal cost .
Using the head as a weapon or a tool comes at a cost because the cranium houses our most precious organ -- the brain within .
Nature housed our soft brains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ excellent reason -- protection . ''
For more on the APOE e4 gene and dementia , head to the U.S. National Institute on Aging .

Uruguay's Matias Vina and USA's Tyler Boyd keep eyes on the ball in the first half of their international friendly game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Tuesday, September 10, 2019. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo
A gene mutation implicated in the risk for Alzheimer's disease might also impair memory in soccer players who head the ball a lot, a new study suggests. The finding could have implications for young athletes in contact sports where the head can take hits during play. Advertisement
Among soccer players who headed the ball the most, those with the gene mutation called the apolipoprotein E epsilon4, or APOE e4, allele did four times worse on memory tests than those who head the ball the least, the researchers found.
"This is important because heading is generally seen as inconsequential," said lead researcher Dr. Michael Lipton, a professor of radiology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City.
"Most people have relatively modest exposure and don't seem to be adversely affected. It's really whether you have other risk factors like this gene," he said. Lipton noted that about 25 percent of the population carries the APOE e4 allele.
Advertisement
Lipton said the injuries to the brain from heading aren't concussions, but rather tiny subclinical damage that doesn't produce obvious symptoms.
Excessive heading is hitting the ball with the head at least 1,000 times in a year. That may seem like a lot, but Lipton's team found that some players headed the ball in the range of 15,000 times a year.
For the report, Lipton and his colleagues studied nearly 380 amateur soccer players who took part in a soccer study from November 2013 through January 2018. Among these players, 355 had their genes sequenced to look for the APOE e4 allele.
All the players had played soccer for five years or more, and over several visits to the clinic, they took memory tests and estimated how many times they had headed the ball. In all, 352 players with a total of more than 1,200 test sessions were analyzed.
According to Lipton, many of the consequences of heading for those who carry the APOE e4 allele aren't known. For example, it's not known whether the damage heals itself or is permanent and exactly how much heading is too much.
"A much larger study would be needed to really define where the threshold is, but in general, the threshold is on the order of a thousand headers per year," he said.
Advertisement
Dr. Sam Gandy, chair of Alzheimer's research and director of the Mount Sinai Center for Cognitive Health and NFL Neurological Care in New York City, thinks the evidence is mounting that carriers of the APOE e4 allele are in real danger of developing dementia if they play a lot of contact sports.
"I think that it is time to seriously consider how and where in the system there should be some option for educating parents about the potential risks of the APOE e4 allele, especially when two copies are present," Gandy explained.
This will be expensive and cumbersome to implement, he said. "But if we are to do all we can to protect the brains of child athletes, it seems to me that children with two copies of APOE e4 should be identified and their parents should undergo informed consent," Gandy said.
As early as 1997, Gandy and his colleagues identified the APOE e4 allele's connection with the degenerative brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, which is seen in football players and boxers.
Battlefield blast exposure has been added to the list of triggers that increase the risk for CTE, and with this latest report, soccer players are also members of this "club" at high risk for serious cognitive impairment because of genetic vulnerability and repeated brain injuries, he said.
Advertisement
"Almost no one with two APOE e4 alleles escapes dementia, and exposing children with two APOE e4 alleles to collision sports might well guarantee that they lose cognitive function," Gandy said.
The report was published online Jan. 27 in JAMA Neurology.
Dr. Gayatri Devi is a neurologist and psychiatrist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. She said, "In an increasingly competitive world, particularly in the area of sport, athletes seek an edge, sometimes at great personal cost. Using the head as a weapon or a tool comes at a cost because the cranium houses our most precious organ -- the brain within. Nature housed our soft brains in our very hard skulls for an excellent reason -- protection."
More information
For more on the APOE e4 gene and dementia, head to the U.S. National Institute on Aging.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-01-28--House passes bill to support Holocaust education

Jan. 28 ( UPI ) -- The House overwhelming passed a bipartisan bill on International Holocaust Remembrance Day to increase support and spending on education to raise awareness of the Holocaust and to curb anti-Semitism .
The Never Again Education Act passed the House 393-5 on Monday in favor of allocating $ 10 million over five years to expand the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum 's education programming for teachers to improve awareness about the Holocaust .
If implemented , it would require the Washington museum to develop and disseminate accurate , relevant and accessible resources to teachers nationwide , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can access curriculum material and to support the expansion of its professional development programs .
`` As we recommit ourselves to the promise of 'Never Again ' on this 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau , I am reminded that the lessons of the Holocaust do not just apply to anti-Semitism but to all forms of hate and bigotry and I can think of no better way to honor the memories of those murdered than to make sure our students know their names and their stories , '' said Democratic Rep. Carolyn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` If we do not learn from history , we are doomed to repeat it .
I urge the Senate to act quickly on this bill . ''
Co-sponsor Rep. Elise Stefanik , R-N.Y. , said with the passing of this bill they are preparing future generations to stand up to anti-Semitism and recognize that the Holocaust must never be forgotten .
`` As we continue to condemn horrific acts of anti-Semitism across the world , we must also take proactive measures to educate and provide states and schools with the resources necessary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ensuring that all students understand the evils of Holocaust and its impact , '' Stefanik said .
The vote was held on International Holocaust Remembrance Day that commemorates the deaths of some 6 million Jewish people who were killed by Nazi Germany during the Second World War .
The bill also comes amid a recent uptick in violence targeting Jewish people in the United States .
Early this month , police charged a man with hate crime and attempted murder offenses for injuring an Orthodox Jewish man and four other people in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in New York .

Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-NY, said the passing of the Never Again Education Act would help bolster understanding of the Holocaust and combat anti-Semitism. Photo by Alex Wroblewski/UPI | License Photo
Jan. 28 (UPI) -- The House overwhelming passed a bipartisan bill on International Holocaust Remembrance Day to increase support and spending on education to raise awareness of the Holocaust and to curb anti-Semitism. The Never Again Education Act passed the House 393-5 on Monday in favor of allocating $10 million over five years to expand the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum's education programming for teachers to improve awareness about the Holocaust. Advertisement
If implemented, it would require the Washington museum to develop and disseminate accurate, relevant and accessible resources to teachers nationwide, to expand upon a website where teachers can access curriculum material and to support the expansion of its professional development programs.
"As we recommit ourselves to the promise of 'Never Again' on this 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, I am reminded that the lessons of the Holocaust do not just apply to anti-Semitism but to all forms of hate and bigotry and I can think of no better way to honor the memories of those murdered than to make sure our students know their names and their stories," said Democratic Rep. Carolyn Maloney, who sponsored the bill. "If we do not learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it. I urge the Senate to act quickly on this bill."
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Co-sponsor Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., said with the passing of this bill they are preparing future generations to stand up to anti-Semitism and recognize that the Holocaust must never be forgotten.
"As we continue to condemn horrific acts of anti-Semitism across the world, we must also take proactive measures to educate and provide states and schools with the resources necessary to incorporate Holocaust education into their classrooms, ensuring that all students understand the evils of Holocaust and its impact," Stefanik said.
The vote was held on International Holocaust Remembrance Day that commemorates the deaths of some 6 million Jewish people who were killed by Nazi Germany during the Second World War.
The bill also comes amid a recent uptick in violence targeting Jewish people in the United States. Early this month, police charged a man with hate crime and attempted murder offenses for injuring an Orthodox Jewish man and four other people in a machete attack during a Hanukkah celebration in New York.