upi--2020-01-07--Watch: Tiffany Haddish details bat mitzvah, friendship with Billy Crystal on 'Kimmel'

Jan. 7 ( UPI ) -- Tiffany Haddish discussed on Jimmy Kimmel Live her recent bat mitzvah , which was attended by the late night host and her friend Billy Crystal .
Kimmel mentioned on Monday how he thought the bat mitzvah was a joke with Haddish explaining that she is taking Judaism very seriously .
`` I do n't joke about religion like that , '' Haddish said .
`` If I have a microphone in my hand , I might be joking about religion but if I 'm talking to you mano-a-mano , Im telling the truth .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Crystal who spoke at the bat mitzvah .
`` He 's my everything , '' she said about Crystal .
`` He 's amazing .
He 's taught me so much , he 's like my secondary rabbi like if I got issues going on I 'll take it to him . ''
`` He gives me some of the best advice .
He 's been in this business for over 60 years and he has taught me some really valuable lessons .
I wish I would have known him sooner in my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Haddish said for her bat mitzvah she was gifted a diamond necklace from Barbra Streisand and a Bible with a diamond crucifix from Beyonce 's mother Tina Knowles .
`` So I read from that and the Torah everyday , '' Haddish said .
Haddish will next be seen in comedy Like a Boss alongside Rose Byrne and Salma Hayek .
The film arrives in theaters on Jan. 10 .
Haddish released in December a Netflix comedy special where she discussed religion titled Black Mitzvah .

Jan. 7 (UPI) -- Tiffany Haddish discussed on Jimmy Kimmel Live her recent bat mitzvah, which was attended by the late night host and her friend Billy Crystal.
Kimmel mentioned on Monday how he thought the bat mitzvah was a joke with Haddish explaining that she is taking Judaism very seriously.
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"I don't joke about religion like that," Haddish said. "If I have a microphone in my hand, I might be joking about religion but if I'm talking to you mano-a-mano, Im telling the truth."
Haddish then detailed her friendship with Crystal who spoke at the bat mitzvah.
"He's my everything," she said about Crystal. "He's amazing. He's taught me so much, he's like my secondary rabbi like if I got issues going on I'll take it to him."
"He gives me some of the best advice. He's been in this business for over 60 years and he has taught me some really valuable lessons. I wish I would have known him sooner in my career," the comedian continued.
Haddish said for her bat mitzvah she was gifted a diamond necklace from Barbra Streisand and a Bible with a diamond crucifix from Beyonce's mother Tina Knowles.
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"So I read from that and the Torah everyday," Haddish said.
Haddish will next be seen in comedy Like a Boss alongside Rose Byrne and Salma Hayek. The film arrives in theaters on Jan. 10.
Haddish released in December a Netflix comedy special where she discussed religion titled Black Mitzvah.


upi--2020-01-07--Brooks Koepka to make 2020 debut in Abu Dhabi, commits to Honda Classic

Jan. 7 ( UPI ) -- Brooks Koepka , the No .
1 player in the Official World Golf Ranking , will make his 2020 debut at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship Jan. 16 to Jan. 19 in Abu Dhabi , United Arab Emirates .
The tournament confirmed Koepka 's entry Monday .
Tournament officials announced Tuesday that Koepka will also play in the 2020 Honda Classic from Feb. 24 to March 1 at PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens , Fla. Koepka , 29 , has not played since the CJ Cup in October in South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Aug. 26 to repair a partially torn patella tendon .
`` Brooks ' rehab for his knee has gone great the past three months and he has met all of his physical therapy goals , '' Koepka 's agent , Blake Smith , said in an email to ESPN .
`` He feels as good as he ever has and is excited to tee it up next week . ''
The Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship also announced that Koepka will take part in a pre-tournament exhibition Jan. 14 .
Matt Fitzpatrick and Bernd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Koepka won his fourth major championship in 2019 , when he claimed the PGA Championship title .
He also won the 2019 WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational .
He returned to action in October , but missed the cut at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open .
He re-aggravated his knee injury during a slip while playing at the CJ Cup , forcing him to withdraw from the tournament .
Koepka tied for second at the 2019 Honda Classic .
`` Every golfer and fan in the local community obviously takes great pride @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several years , '' Honda Classic executive director Kenneth R. Kennerly said in a news release .
`` We are excited that he has decided to return to the Honda Classic .
His presence will undoubtedly create an enormous amount of excitement at this year 's tournament . ''
Koepka had three wins and three second-place finishes during his 2019 season .
He tied for third at the Tour Championship .

Brooks Koepka finished in the top four of all four major championships in 2019, including a win at the PGA Championship. File Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo
Jan. 7 (UPI) -- Brooks Koepka, the No. 1 player in the Official World Golf Ranking, will make his 2020 debut at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship Jan. 16 to Jan. 19 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The tournament confirmed Koepka's entry Monday. Tournament officials announced Tuesday that Koepka will also play in the 2020 Honda Classic from Feb. 24 to March 1 at PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Advertisement
Koepka, 29, has not played since the CJ Cup in October in South Korea. He underwent a stem-cell procedure Aug. 26 to repair a partially torn patella tendon.
"Brooks' rehab for his knee has gone great the past three months and he has met all of his physical therapy goals," Koepka's agent, Blake Smith, said in an email to ESPN. "He feels as good as he ever has and is excited to tee it up next week."
The Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship also announced that Koepka will take part in a pre-tournament exhibition Jan. 14. Matt Fitzpatrick and Bernd Wiesberger will also play in the exhibition.
Koepka won his fourth major championship in 2019, when he claimed the PGA Championship title. He also won the 2019 WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational. He returned to action in October, but missed the cut at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. He re-aggravated his knee injury during a slip while playing at the CJ Cup, forcing him to withdraw from the tournament.
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Koepka tied for second at the 2019 Honda Classic.
"Every golfer and fan in the local community obviously takes great pride in what Brooks has accomplished the past several years," Honda Classic executive director Kenneth R. Kennerly said in a news release. "We are excited that he has decided to return to the Honda Classic. His presence will undoubtedly create an enormous amount of excitement at this year's tournament."
Koepka had three wins and three second-place finishes during his 2019 season. He tied for third at the Tour Championship.


upi--2020-01-07--Nationals to sign former Brewers 1B Eric Thames to 1-year deal

Jan. 7 ( UPI ) -- The Washington Nationals have agreed to a one-year deal with former Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Eric Thames .
MLB.com , ESPN and The Athletic reported the contract includes a mutual option for a second season .
The deal will pay Thames $ 3 million in 2020 and $ 4 million , if exercised , in 2021 .
The contract also includes a $ 1 million buyout for the 2021 option .
Thames , 33 , became a free agent in November when Milwaukee declined his $ 7.5 million option for 2020 .
Thames hit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 61 RBIs in 149 games last season for the Brewers .
He is a career .244 hitter with 93 home runs in 564 games .
Thames first suited up for the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners after making his Major League Baseball debut in 2011 .
After briefly playing in the minor leagues for Baltimore and Houston , Thames took an MLB hiatus in 2014 and played three seasons internationally , during which he hit 102 home runs for the NC Dinos of the Korean Baseball Organization .
The MLB champion Nationals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with free agent Ryan Zimmerman and Howie Kendrick at first base .
Kendrick was the MVP of the 2019 National League Championship Series after posting a .333 average with four doubles and four RBIs in Washington 's four-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals .
The Nationals declined a 2020 option for first baseman Matt Adams in November .
Washington has scheduled its first full-squad spring training workout on Feb. 18 in West Palm Beach , Fla .

Infielder Eric Thames hit .247 with 25 home runs and 61 RBIs last season for the Milwaukee Brewers. File Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo
Jan. 7 (UPI) -- The Washington Nationals have agreed to a one-year deal with former Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Eric Thames. MLB.com, ESPN and The Athletic reported the contract includes a mutual option for a second season. The deal will pay Thames $3 million in 2020 and $4 million, if exercised, in 2021. The contract also includes a $1 million buyout for the 2021 option. Advertisement
Thames, 33, became a free agent in November when Milwaukee declined his $7.5 million option for 2020.
Thames hit .247 and recorded 25 home runs and 61 RBIs in 149 games last season for the Brewers. He is a career .244 hitter with 93 home runs in 564 games. Thames first suited up for the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners after making his Major League Baseball debut in 2011.
After briefly playing in the minor leagues for Baltimore and Houston, Thames took an MLB hiatus in 2014 and played three seasons internationally, during which he hit 102 home runs for the NC Dinos of the Korean Baseball Organization.
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The MLB champion Nationals could opt to rotate Thames in 2020 with free agent Ryan Zimmerman and Howie Kendrick at first base. Kendrick was the MVP of the 2019 National League Championship Series after posting a .333 average with four doubles and four RBIs in Washington's four-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Nationals declined a 2020 option for first baseman Matt Adams in November.
Washington has scheduled its first full-squad spring training workout on Feb. 18 in West Palm Beach, Fla.


upi--2020-01-07--'Joker,' 'The Irishman,' 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' lead BAFTA Film Awards nominations

Jan. 7 ( UPI ) -- The British Academy of Film and Television Arts on Tuesday revealed the nominees for the 2020 British Academy Film Awards , with Joker leading the way with 11 nods .
Joker is nominated for Best Film , Leading Actor for Joaquin Phoenix , Director for Todd Phillips , Adapted Screenplay , Original Score , Casting , Cinematography , Editing , Production Design , Make Up & Hair and Sound .
The Irishman and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood each earned 10 nominations , followed by Jojo Rabbit with six and Little Women , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five each .
Parasite , 1917 , The Irishman and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood are the others nominated for Best Film .
Scarlett Johansson ( Marriage Story ) , Saoirse Ronan ( Little Women ) , Charlize Theron ( Bombshell ) , Renee Zellweger ( Judy ) and Jessie Buckley ( Wild Rose ) are nominated for Leading Actress .
Phoenix , Leonardo DiCaprio ( Once Upon a Time in Hollywood ) , Adam Driver ( Marriage Story ) , Taron Egerton ( Rocketman ) and Jonathan Pryce ( The Two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Phoenix won the Golden Globe on Sunday for best performance by an actor in a motion picture drama .
The nominees for Supporting Actor include Tom Hanks ( A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood ) , Anthony Hopkins ( The Two Popes ) , Al Pacino ( The Irishman ) , Joe Pesci ( The Irishman ) and Brad Pitt ( Once Upon a Time in Hollywood ) .
Supporting Actress nominees include Margot Robbie ( Once Upon a Time in Hollywood ) , Florence Pugh ( Little Women ) , Johansson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( Marriage Story ) and Robbie a second time for Bombshell .
Phillips , Sam Mendes ( 1917 ) , Martin Scorsese ( The Irishman ) , Quentin Tarantino ( Once Upon a Time in Hollywood ) and Bong Joon Ho ( Parasite ) are nominated for Best Director .
Tuesday 's announcement was met with hefty criticism for a lack of diversity among nominees .
No actors of color were nominated in any of the main acting categories and no women were nominated for Best Director .
BAFTA CEO Amanda Berry said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
`` Our year-round activity has many strands that focus on diversity , '' she said .
`` It 's clear there is much more to be done and we plan to double down our efforts to affect real change and to continue to support , and encourage the industry on the urgency of doing so much more . ''
`` We 'd have liked to have seen more diversity in the nominations , it does continue to be an industry-wide issue , '' BAFTA 's director of awards , Emma Baehr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think more films need to be made , and entered , giving people a chance to see them .
We 'd absolutely like to see more diversity , but I also do n't want to take away from those celebrating today . ''
She noted , however , that there has been a near 10 percent rise in entries for female filmmakers this year -- with 13 nominated outside of the main director category , compared to eight last year .
The 73rd British Academy Film Awards , hosted by Graham Norton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Royal Albert Hall in London and will air on BBC One .

1/3
Actor Joaquin Phoenix appears backstage Sunday after winning the award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama for "Joker" at the 77th Golden Globe Awards. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Jan. 7 (UPI) -- The British Academy of Film and Television Arts on Tuesday revealed the nominees for the 2020 British Academy Film Awards, with Joker leading the way with 11 nods. Joker is nominated for Best Film, Leading Actor for Joaquin Phoenix, Director for Todd Phillips, Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Casting, Cinematography, Editing, Production Design, Make Up & Hair and Sound. Advertisement
The Irishman and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood each earned 10 nominations, followed by Jojo Rabbit with six and Little Women, Marriage Story and The Two Popes with five each.
Parasite, 1917, The Irishman and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood are the others nominated for Best Film.
Scarlett Johansson (Marriage Story), Saoirse Ronan (Little Women), Charlize Theron (Bombshell), Renee Zellweger (Judy) and Jessie Buckley (Wild Rose) are nominated for Leading Actress.
Phoenix, Leonardo DiCaprio (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood), Adam Driver (Marriage Story), Taron Egerton (Rocketman) and Jonathan Pryce (The Two Popes) are nominated for Leading Actor. Phoenix won the Golden Globe on Sunday for best performance by an actor in a motion picture drama.
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The nominees for Supporting Actor include Tom Hanks (A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood), Anthony Hopkins (The Two Popes), Al Pacino (The Irishman), Joe Pesci (The Irishman) and Brad Pitt (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood). Supporting Actress nominees include Margot Robbie (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood), Florence Pugh (Little Women), Johansson (Jojo Rabbit), Laura Dern (Marriage Story) and Robbie a second time for Bombshell.
Phillips, Sam Mendes (1917), Martin Scorsese (The Irishman), Quentin Tarantino (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) and Bong Joon Ho (Parasite) are nominated for Best Director.
Tuesday's announcement was met with hefty criticism for a lack of diversity among nominees. No actors of color were nominated in any of the main acting categories and no women were nominated for Best Director. BAFTA CEO Amanda Berry said it's "hugely disappointing to see."
"Our year-round activity has many strands that focus on diversity," she said. "It's clear there is much more to be done and we plan to double down our efforts to affect real change and to continue to support, and encourage the industry on the urgency of doing so much more."
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"We'd have liked to have seen more diversity in the nominations, it does continue to be an industry-wide issue," BAFTA's director of awards, Emma Baehr, told The Hollywood Reporter. "I think more films need to be made, and entered, giving people a chance to see them. We'd absolutely like to see more diversity, but I also don't want to take away from those celebrating today."
She noted, however, that there has been a near 10 percent rise in entries for female filmmakers this year -- with 13 nominated outside of the main director category, compared to eight last year.
The 73rd British Academy Film Awards, hosted by Graham Norton, will be held Feb. 2 at the Royal Albert Hall in London and will air on BBC One.
Ellen DeGeneres, 'Fleabag' win at the 2020 Golden Globes


upi--2020-01-07--Cincinnati Reds sign first Japan-born player Shogo Akiyama for $21M

Jan. 7 ( UPI ) -- The Cincinnati Reds have signed Japanese outfielder Shogo Akiyama to a three-year , $ 21 million contract .
Akiyama is now under contract with Cincinnati through the 2022 season , according to the deal announced Monday , and is the first Japanese-born player to play for the Reds .
Cincinnati is the only Major League Baseball franchise that 's yet to debut a Japanese-born player .
Akiyama 's deal includes a $ 6 million salary for 2020 , $ 7 million in 2021 and $ 8 million in 2022 .
The 31-year-old outfielder hit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lions and averaged 23 home runs in the past three seasons .
He led the Nippon Professional Baseball league with a single-season record 216 hits in 2015 .
`` We scouted Shogo for several years in anticipation of his free agency , '' Reds President of Baseball Operations Dick Williams said in a statement .
`` We like his approach at the plate as well as his outfield defense , and we think he will complement our team very well . ''
The left-handed hitter is a six-time Pacific League Gold Glove winner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2019 .
He will wear No .
4 in Cincinnati .
Akiyama initially agreed to sign with the Reds on Dec. 30 , but needed to pass a physical to complete the deal .
The Reds enter the 2020 season with a crowded outfield , including Akiyama , Nick Senzel , Jesse Winker , Aristides Aquino and Phillip Ervin .
Akiyama could become a solid leadoff option for Cincinnati if he can keep up his on-base percentage track record in Major League Baseball .
The Reds ranked 12th in the National League @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pitchers and catchers report to spring training on Feb. 14 in Goodyear , Ariz. , and position players report Feb. 17 .
The Reds have their first full workout Feb. 18 .

Jan. 7 (UPI) -- The Cincinnati Reds have signed Japanese outfielder Shogo Akiyama to a three-year, $21 million contract.
Akiyama is now under contract with Cincinnati through the 2022 season, according to the deal announced Monday, and is the first Japanese-born player to play for the Reds.
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Cincinnati is the only Major League Baseball franchise that's yet to debut a Japanese-born player.
Akiyama's deal includes a $6 million salary for 2020, $7 million in 2021 and $8 million in 2022. The 31-year-old outfielder hit .301 in nine seasons with the Seibu Lions and averaged 23 home runs in the past three seasons. He led the Nippon Professional Baseball league with a single-season record 216 hits in 2015.
"We scouted Shogo for several years in anticipation of his free agency," Reds President of Baseball Operations Dick Williams said in a statement. "We like his approach at the plate as well as his outfield defense, and we think he will complement our team very well."
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The left-handed hitter is a six-time Pacific League Gold Glove winner and hit .303 with 20 home runs in 2019. He will wear No. 4 in Cincinnati.
Akiyama initially agreed to sign with the Reds on Dec. 30, but needed to pass a physical to complete the deal.
The Reds enter the 2020 season with a crowded outfield, including Akiyama, Nick Senzel, Jesse Winker, Aristides Aquino and Phillip Ervin.
Akiyama could become a solid leadoff option for Cincinnati if he can keep up his on-base percentage track record in Major League Baseball. The Reds ranked 12th in the National League in on-base percentage last season.
Reds pitchers and catchers report to spring training on Feb. 14 in Goodyear, Ariz., and position players report Feb. 17. The Reds have their first full workout Feb. 18.


upi--2020-01-07--Puerto Rico shaken by 2nd powerful earthquake in 2 days

Jan. 7 ( UPI ) -- For the second day in a row , a powerful earthquake rattled Puerto Rico Tuesday .
The magnitude-6.4 quake struck off the southern coast , 10 miles off Indios and about 60 miles southwest of San Juan , the U.S. Geological Survey said .
Tuesday 's temblor was the strongest of a series of quakes that have shaken Puerto Rico in the last two weeks .
`` Strong to very strong shaking occurred across parts of southern Puerto Rico closest to the event , and moderate shaking occurred across the rest of the island @ @ @ @ @ @ @ USGS issued an orange alert for economic loss , estimating the damage could range as high as 1 percent of Puerto Rico 's economy .
It noted that past orange-level events required a regional or national level response .
The event follows a magnitude-5.8 quake Monday , which hit just off the island 's southern coast and buckled an iconic natural stone formation arch in Guayanilla known as Punta Ventana , or Window Point .
The USGS said the quakes resulted from an oblique strike-slip fault at shallow depth where the North America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Director of Emergency Management Carlos Acevedo said there have been no reports of major injuries from either earthquake .

A bicyclist passes a house damaged by a strong earthquake Monday on the coast of Guanica, Puerto Rico. A stronger quake rattled the island territory Tuesday. Photo by Thais Llorca/EPA-EFE
Jan. 7 (UPI) -- At least one person died Tuesday following a magnitude-6.4 earthquake off the southern Puerto Rico shore, which triggered an island-wide power outage and damaged roads and bridges. It was the second significant earthquake on the island within a 24-hour period. Advertisement
Officials said a 73-year-old Ponce man died when a wall in his home collapsed.
Authorities closed public offices and schools in Puerto Rico's southwestern region and Gov. Wanda Vazquez, facing her first natural disaster since taking office in August, urged calm.
"Citizen security is a priority, so vulnerable areas are being inspected and all necessary measures will be taken to ensure the safety of all Puerto Ricans," Vazquez tweeted.
A school in Agripina Seda collapsed during the quake, but education officials said others received less significant damage.
The power outage cut off water to about 300,000 who use electrical pumps to get water into their homes.
The quake Tuesday struck off the southern coast, 10 miles off Indios and about 60 miles southwest of San Juan, the U.S. Geological Survey said. It was the strongest of a series of quakes that have shaken Puerto Rico in the last two weeks.
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"Strong to very strong shaking occurred across parts of southern Puerto Rico closest to the event, and moderate shaking occurred across the rest of the island," the USGS said.
The USGS issued an orange alert for economic loss, estimating the damage could range as high as 1 percent of Puerto Rico's economy. It noted that past orange-level events required a regional or national level response.
The event follows a magnitude-5.8 quake Monday, which hit just off the island's southern coast and buckled an iconic natural stone formation arch in Guayanilla known as Punta Ventana, or Window Point.
The USGS said the quakes resulted from an oblique strike-slip fault at shallow depth where the North America plate converges with the Caribbean plate.
"Administration officials, including FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor, have been in touch with [Vazquez] and her team today, and we will continue to monitor the effects and coordinate with Puerto Rico officials," White House deputy press secretary Judd Deere said in a statement.


upi--2020-01-07--Donald Trump's threat to destroy Iran's cultural sites is a historic mistake

Jan. 7 ( UPI ) -- Be careful of the company you keep .
In a threat delivered over Twitter on Saturday , U.S. President Donald Trump said that he is prepared to `` HIT VERY FAST AND VERY HARD '' culturally important targets in Iran should the country retaliate for the American killing of its top general .
As a historian who has written about the medieval Islamic roots of the Islamic State group , I can tell you that by threatening Iran 's cultural heritage , Trump puts himself in the company of some repugnant characters .
History @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nicolae Ceauşescu , who planned the destruction of hundreds of his country 's picturesque villages and churches before he was deposed and executed in 1989 .
Just days after the outbreak of war in 1914 , German soldiers burned down the centuries-old Leuven library in neutral Belgium , along with its unique collection of books and manuscripts .
The Belgians , with American help , rebuilt the library -- only for it to be burned down for a second time 26 years later by the Nazis .
Nazi leader Adolf Hitler wanted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ War II neared an end -- a fate that was only avoided because his soldiers refused to carry out the orders .
More recently , the Taliban blew up Afghanistan 's famed Bamiyan Buddhas and the Islamic State group destroyed the ancient cities of Hatra and Palmyra , along with much of Mosul , including the 900-year-old Nuri mosque .
None of those sites were targeted for military reasons .
All of the attacks were wanton , aimed at destruction of the cultural and artistic heritage of humanity .
Iran is home to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ designated by the U.N. cultural body UNESCO , including the ruins of Persepolis that date back to the sixth century B.C .
Trump did not specify what locations he was targeting , other than to say in a tweet that 52 Iranian sites had been identified , including `` some at a very high level & important to Iran & the Iranian culture . ''
He has since doubled down on the threat , telling reporters : `` They 're allowed to kill our people .
They 're allowed to torture and maim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use roadside bombs and blow up our people .
And we 're not allowed to touch their cultural sites ?
It does n't work that way . ''
UNESCO responded by reminding the United States that it is bound by two conventions , one of which stipulates that signatories must not embark on `` deliberate measures which might damage directly or indirectly the cultural and natural heritage '' of another party .
The U.K. , a traditional Washington ally , likewise distanced itself from Trump 's comments by pointing toward international conventions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mark Esper issued a statement at odds with the president , saying the United States would `` follow the laws of armed conflict . ''
Pressed on whether that meant no attacks on cultural sites , Esper reiterated : `` That 's the laws of armed conflict . ''
Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif suggested that such bombing would amount to a war crime .
After the Iranian Revolution of 1979 , some feared that the new regime would be hostile to the study of the country 's pre-Islamic , even pre-revolutionary , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Iranian scholarship continued under the new regime and thrives to this day .
Two years ago , when Notre Dame burned , Zarif tweeted : `` Saddened that Notre Dame -- that iconic monument dedicated to the worship of our one God & that brought all of us closer through Hugo 's literary masterpiece -- is partially destroyed after standing through wars & revolution for 800 yrs . ''
Two thousand years ago , the great Roman historian Tacitus put the following words in the mouth of a heroic leader of British @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : `` They make a desert and they call it peace . ''
The world has come to expect barbarism from Trump 's tweets , but barbarism in action is another thing .
Ugly speech is hurtful , but at least it leaves the monuments of the past untouched .
David J. Wasserstein is a professor of history and Jewish studies at Vanderbilt University .
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license .
Read the original article .

Iran is home to more than 20 World Heritage sites, including the dome of Soltanieh in Zanjan Province. File Photo by Mohammad Kheirkhah/UPI | License Photo
Jan. 7 (UPI) -- Be careful of the company you keep. In a threat delivered over Twitter on Saturday, U.S. President Donald Trump said that he is prepared to "HIT VERY FAST AND VERY HARD" culturally important targets in Iran should the country retaliate for the American killing of its top general. Advertisement
As a historian who has written about the medieval Islamic roots of the Islamic State group, I can tell you that by threatening Iran's cultural heritage, Trump puts himself in the company of some repugnant characters.
Wonders lost
History's club of barbarians includes Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu, who planned the destruction of hundreds of his country's picturesque villages and churches before he was deposed and executed in 1989.
Just days after the outbreak of war in 1914, German soldiers burned down the centuries-old Leuven library in neutral Belgium, along with its unique collection of books and manuscripts. The Belgians, with American help, rebuilt the library -- only for it to be burned down for a second time 26 years later by the Nazis.
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Nazi leader Adolf Hitler wanted to demolish the landmarks of Paris as World War II neared an end -- a fate that was only avoided because his soldiers refused to carry out the orders.
More recently, the Taliban blew up Afghanistan's famed Bamiyan Buddhas and the Islamic State group destroyed the ancient cities of Hatra and Palmyra, along with much of Mosul, including the 900-year-old Nuri mosque.
None of those sites were targeted for military reasons. All of the attacks were wanton, aimed at destruction of the cultural and artistic heritage of humanity.
Iran is home to more than 20 World Heritage sites as designated by the U.N. cultural body UNESCO, including the ruins of Persepolis that date back to the sixth century B.C.
Trump did not specify what locations he was targeting, other than to say in a tweet that 52 Iranian sites had been identified, including "some at a very high level & important to Iran & the Iranian culture."
He has since doubled down on the threat, telling reporters: "They're allowed to kill our people. They're allowed to torture and maim our people. They're allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people. And we're not allowed to touch their cultural sites? It doesn't work that way."
Advertisement
UNESCO responded by reminding the United States that it is bound by two conventions, one of which stipulates that signatories must not embark on "deliberate measures which might damage directly or indirectly the cultural and natural heritage" of another party. The U.K., a traditional Washington ally, likewise distanced itself from Trump's comments by pointing toward international conventions. On Monday, Trump's Defense Secretary Mark Esper issued a statement at odds with the president, saying the United States would "follow the laws of armed conflict." Pressed on whether that meant no attacks on cultural sites, Esper reiterated: "That's the laws of armed conflict."
Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif suggested that such bombing would amount to a war crime.
After the Iranian Revolution of 1979, some feared that the new regime would be hostile to the study of the country's pre-Islamic, even pre-revolutionary, past. Such concerns were not necessary. Iranian scholarship continued under the new regime and thrives to this day.
When Notre Dame burned, Zarif tweeted: "Saddened that Notre Dame -- that iconic monument dedicated to the worship of our one God & that brought all of us closer through Hugo's literary masterpiece -- is partially destroyed after standing through wars & revolution for 800 yrs."
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Two thousand years ago, the great Roman historian Tacitus put the following words in the mouth of a heroic leader of British resistance to the might of imperial Rome: "They make a desert and they call it peace."
The world has come to expect barbarism from Trump's tweets, but barbarism in action is another thing. Ugly speech is hurtful, but at least it leaves the monuments of the past untouched.
David J. Wasserstein is a professor of history and Jewish studies at Vanderbilt University.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.


upi--2020-01-07--Hyundai, Uber unveil air taxi prototype at CES

SEOUL , Jan. 7 ( UPI ) -- Hyundai is teaming up with Uber to develop electric air taxis , the two companies said Tuesday .
They unveiled a full-scale prototype of the personal air vehicle , called the S-A1 , at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas .
Hyundai plans to produce and deploy the air vehicles , while Uber will offer airspace support services , connections to ground transportation , and customer interfaces via an aerial ride-share network .
The flying car will be able to carry a maximum of four passengers on trips of up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mph at a cruising altitude of about 1,000-3,000 feet , according to the two firms .
Hyundai said the five-person electric model is designed to take off vertically , transition to wing-borne lift in cruise and transition back to vertical flight to land .
Hyundai noted that the airborne vehicle will need a human driver in the early stage , but it will eventually become autonomous .
It is lighter and quieter than a combustion engine-powered helicopter , according to the automaker .
Late last year , Hyundai Executive Vice Chairman Chung Eui-sun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ air vehicles by 2023 to start air-taxi services in select regions by 2029 .
`` Our vision of Urban Air Mobility ( UAM ) will transform the concept of urban transportation , '' said Hyundai Executive Vice President Shin Jai-won , who is in charge of Hyundai 's UAM business .
`` We expect UAM to vitalize urban communities and provide more quality time to people .
We are confident that Uber Elevate is the right partner to make this innovative product readily available to as many customers as possible . ''
Uber @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hopes for the partnership .
`` Hyundai is our first vehicle partner with experience of manufacturing passenger cars on a global scale , '' he said .
`` Combining Hyundai 's manufacturing muscle with Uber 's technology platform represents a giant leap forward for launching a vibrant air taxi network in the coming years . ''

The S-A1 is a personal air vehicle concept developed by Hyundai Motor and Uber. Photo courtesy of UPI News Korea
SEOUL, Jan. 7 (UPI) -- Hyundai is teaming up with Uber to develop electric air taxis, the two companies said Tuesday. They unveiled a full-scale prototype of the personal air vehicle, called the S-A1, at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Advertisement
Hyundai plans to produce and deploy the air vehicles, while Uber will offer airspace support services, connections to ground transportation, and customer interfaces via an aerial ride-share network.
The flying car will be able to carry a maximum of four passengers on trips of up to 62 miles with a speed of 180 mph at a cruising altitude of about 1,000-3,000 feet, according to the two firms.
Hyundai said the five-person electric model is designed to take off vertically, transition to wing-borne lift in cruise and transition back to vertical flight to land.
Hyundai noted that the airborne vehicle will need a human driver in the early stage, but it will eventually become autonomous. It is lighter and quieter than a combustion engine-powered helicopter, according to the automaker.
Late last year, Hyundai Executive Vice Chairman Chung Eui-sun disclosed the company's goal of developing air vehicles by 2023 to start air-taxi services in select regions by 2029.
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"Our vision of Urban Air Mobility (UAM) will transform the concept of urban transportation," said Hyundai Executive Vice President Shin Jai-won, who is in charge of Hyundai's UAM business.
"We expect UAM to vitalize urban communities and provide more quality time to people. We are confident that Uber Elevate is the right partner to make this innovative product readily available to as many customers as possible."
Uber Elevate chief Eric Allison also expressed great hopes for the partnership.
"Hyundai is our first vehicle partner with experience of manufacturing passenger cars on a global scale," he said.
"Combining Hyundai's manufacturing muscle with Uber's technology platform represents a giant leap forward for launching a vibrant air taxi network in the coming years."
Tech highlights from CES 2020
Attendees take a closer look at the Mercedes-Benz Vision EQS concept vehicle. Photo by James Atoa/UPI | License Photo


upi--2020-01-07--Watch: Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo scores second-half hat trick vs. Cagliari

Jan. 7 ( UPI ) -- Soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first Serie A hat trick with three goals in the second half of a Juventus blowout of Cagliari .
Ronaldo scored in the 49th minute , 67th minute and 82nd minute of the 4-0 victory Monday at Allianz Stadium in Turin , Italy .
He now has eight scores in his last five Serie A matches .
Juventus sits in second place in Serie A , trailing Inter Milan due to goal differential .
`` The most important aspect is performance and the team played very well , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it 's nice to score , but beyond my goals today we had to win and put pressure on Inter .
`` We must be calm and think about doing our best .
We are doing it : We are improving game after game , in defense , in midfield and up front .
We must grow in all aspects . ''
Ronaldo scored the first goal of the game in the 49th minute .
The Portuguese striker intercepted a pass from the Cagliari defense during that sequence .
He then ran into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Cagliari keeper Robin Olsen before finishing with a shot into the empty net .
Cagliari midfielder Marko Rog brought down Juventus striker Paulo Dybala to give Ronaldo a penalty kick in the 67th minute .
The Juventus star easily beat Olsen with a shot into the right side of the net for that score .
Gonzalo Higuain gave Juventus a 3-0 lead with another goal in the 81st minute .
The Juventus striker scorched down the left flank before dribbling to his right while inside the box .
He then ripped a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a diving Olsen .
Ronaldo finished his hat trick in the 82nd minute .
Juventus was on a breakaway during that sequence .
Douglas Costa dribbled toward the top of the box , before firing a pass ahead to Ronaldo on his left .
Ronaldo touched the ball with the outside of his right foot , before using his left foot to fire a shot under Olsen and into the net .
`` Today we played 80 minutes on the same level as the first 45 against Udinese , Sampdoria and Napoli , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` For a longer period we have put in place a quality that so far we have only expressed in flashes ...
The biggest difficulty we have at the moment comes from the movements of the midfielders who are different with the attacking midfielder from when we are with a 4-3-3 [ formation ] .
It is a difficulty that I hope we will be able to overcome in this month of training . ''
Juventus faces Roma in another Serie A clash at 2:45 p.m. EST Sunday at Stadio Olimpico in Rome @

Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo (L) has eight goals in his last five Serie A matches. Photo by Alessandro Di Marco/EPA-EFE
Jan. 7 (UPI) -- Soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first Serie A hat trick with three goals in the second half of a Juventus blowout of Cagliari. Ronaldo scored in the 49th minute, 67th minute and 82nd minute of the 4-0 victory Monday at Allianz Stadium in Turin, Italy. He now has eight scores in his last five Serie A matches. Juventus sits in second place in Serie A, trailing Inter Milan due to goal differential. Advertisement
"The most important aspect is performance and the team played very well," Ronaldo told reporters. "Certainly it's nice to score, but beyond my goals today we had to win and put pressure on Inter.
"We must be calm and think about doing our best. We are doing it: We are improving game after game, in defense, in midfield and up front. We must grow in all aspects."
Ronaldo scored the first goal of the game in the 49th minute. The Portuguese striker intercepted a pass from the Cagliari defense during that sequence. He then ran into the box and put a quick move on Cagliari keeper Robin Olsen before finishing with a shot into the empty net.
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Cagliari midfielder Marko Rog brought down Juventus striker Paulo Dybala to give Ronaldo a penalty kick in the 67th minute. The Juventus star easily beat Olsen with a shot into the right side of the net for that score.
Gonzalo Higuain gave Juventus a 3-0 lead with another goal in the 81st minute. The Juventus striker scorched down the left flank before dribbling to his right while inside the box. He then ripped a shot into the far-post netting, beating a diving Olsen.
Ronaldo finished his hat trick in the 82nd minute. Juventus was on a breakaway during that sequence. Douglas Costa dribbled toward the top of the box, before firing a pass ahead to Ronaldo on his left. Ronaldo touched the ball with the outside of his right foot, before using his left foot to fire a shot under Olsen and into the net.
"Today we played 80 minutes on the same level as the first 45 against Udinese, Sampdoria and Napoli," Juventus manager Maurizio Sarri said. "For a longer period we have put in place a quality that so far we have only expressed in flashes ... The biggest difficulty we have at the moment comes from the movements of the midfielders who are different with the attacking midfielder from when we are with a 4-3-3 [formation]. It is a difficulty that I hope we will be able to overcome in this month of training."
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Juventus faces Roma in another Serie A clash at 2:45 p.m. EST Sunday at Stadio Olimpico in Rome.


upi--2020-01-07--WWE Raw: Big Show returns, Brock Lesnar to compete in Royal Rumble match

Jan. 7 ( UPI ) -- Big Show returned to WWE on Raw in order to aid Kevin Owens and Samoa Joe against Seth Rollins and AOP .
Owens and Joe collided with their rivals in the main event on Monday , teasing throughout the night the mysterious partner who would be joining them for the match .
Big Show , a living legend , was not seen on WWE programming in 2019 .
The World 's Largest Athlete was able to mow down Rollins until AOP and their leader ganged up on Big Show .
Rollins would eventually grab @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in disqualification after he started using it against Big Show .
Rollins , who now calls himself a Messiah , was getting ready to deliver a Curb Stomp to Big Show but Owens was able to interfere and grab his leg while Joe fought off AOP .
This gave Big Show the opportunity to take out Rollins with a KO Punch .
Also on Raw , WWE Champion Brock Lesnar and his advocate Paul Heyman returned to the red brand to make a special announcement .
Heyman said that there was no worthy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ event , so instead , The Beast will be entering himself into the Royal Rumble match despite being a World Champion .
The annual Royal Rumble match features 30 superstars battling each other to determine who will earn a World Championship title shot at WrestleMania .
Superstars are eliminated from the match after they are thrown over the top rope and both feet touch the floor .
Heyman said that Lesnar wants to prove that he is the best in WWE and in doing so , the champ will enter at the dreaded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rumble match .
This ensures that Lesnar could encounter all 29 other participants .
The Royal Rumble takes place on Jan. 26 .
Other moments from Raw included United States Champion Andrade successfully defending his title against Rey Mysterio ; Raw Tag Team Champions The Viking Raiders successfully defended their titles against The Street Profits and The O.C .
; Raw Women 's Champion punched her Royal Rumble opponent Asuka ; Erick Rowan defeated KJ Orso ; AJ Styles defeated Akira Tozawa ; Charlotte Flair brawled with Sarah Logan ; Drew McIntyre defeated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Royal Rumble match ; Aleister Black defeated Shelton Benjamin before Buddy Murphy attacked him ; and Lana and Bobby Lashley were officially married following their disastrous wedding ceremony last week .
After Lana and Lashley were made husband and wife , Lana 's ex-husband Rusev interrupted the pair and presented photos from the wedding ceremony .
The photos included Lana fighting her secret lover Liv Morgan and Rusev popping out of the cake to attack Lashley .
Lashley then challenged Rusev to a match next week .

Jan. 7 (UPI) -- Big Show returned to WWE on Raw in order to aid Kevin Owens and Samoa Joe against Seth Rollins and AOP.
Owens and Joe collided with their rivals in the main event on Monday, teasing throughout the night the mysterious partner who would be joining them for the match.
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Big Show, a living legend, was not seen on WWE programming in 2019.
The World's Largest Athlete was able to mow down Rollins until AOP and their leader ganged up on Big Show. Rollins would eventually grab a steel chair and ended the match in disqualification after he started using it against Big Show.
Rollins, who now calls himself a Messiah, was getting ready to deliver a Curb Stomp to Big Show but Owens was able to interfere and grab his leg while Joe fought off AOP. This gave Big Show the opportunity to take out Rollins with a KO Punch.
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Also on Raw, WWE Champion Brock Lesnar and his advocate Paul Heyman returned to the red brand to make a special announcement.
Heyman said that there was no worthy challenges for Lesnar at the Royal Rumble event, so instead, The Beast will be entering himself into the Royal Rumble match despite being a World Champion.
The annual Royal Rumble match features 30 superstars battling each other to determine who will earn a World Championship title shot at WrestleMania. Superstars are eliminated from the match after they are thrown over the top rope and both feet touch the floor.
Heyman said that Lesnar wants to prove that he is the best in WWE and in doing so, the champ will enter at the dreaded No. 1 spot in the Royal Rumble match. This ensures that Lesnar could encounter all 29 other participants. The Royal Rumble takes place on Jan. 26.
Other moments from Raw included United States Champion Andrade successfully defending his title against Rey Mysterio; Raw Tag Team Champions The Viking Raiders successfully defended their titles against The Street Profits and The O.C.; Raw Women's Champion punched her Royal Rumble opponent Asuka; Erick Rowan defeated KJ Orso; AJ Styles defeated Akira Tozawa; Charlotte Flair brawled with Sarah Logan; Drew McIntyre defeated No Way Jose and entered himself into the Royal Rumble match; Aleister Black defeated Shelton Benjamin before Buddy Murphy attacked him; and Lana and Bobby Lashley were officially married following their disastrous wedding ceremony last week.
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After Lana and Lashley were made husband and wife, Lana's ex-husband Rusev interrupted the pair and presented photos from the wedding ceremony. The photos included Lana fighting her secret lover Liv Morgan and Rusev popping out of the cake to attack Lashley.
Lashley then challenged Rusev to a match next week.


upi--2020-01-07--Texas QB Sam Ehlinger returning to Longhorns

Jan. 7 ( UPI ) -- Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger has opted to forgo entry into the 2020 NFL Draft and return to the Longhorns next season .
Ehlinger announced his decision Monday night .
The junior quarterback threw for 3,663 yards and 32 scores this season for the Longhorns .
`` It 's been an amazing journey , '' Ehlinger wrote on the video .
`` One more year .
Chapter four . ''
Ehlinger 's video featured clips of himself celebrating and running out of the tunnel at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin , Texas .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Valero Alamo Bowl after throwing for 201 yards and four touchdown passes in a 38-10 win against Utah Dec. 31 at the Alamodome in San Antonio .
Ehlinger completed 64.7 percent of his throws for 3,292 yards , 25 touchdowns and five interceptions in 14 games during his 2018 campaign for the Longhorns .
He also ran for 482 yards and 16 scores in 2018 .
Ehlinger completed 65.2 percent of his throws and ran for 663 yards and seven scores in 2019 .
The Longhorns open the 2020 season against South Florida @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stadium in Austin , Texas .

Texas Longhorns quarterback Sam Ehlinger completed 65.2 percent of his throws for 3,663 yards, 32 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 13 games this season. Photo by AJ Sisco/UPI | License Photo
Jan. 7 (UPI) -- Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger has opted to forgo entry into the 2020 NFL Draft and return to the Longhorns next season. Ehlinger announced his decision Monday night. The junior quarterback threw for 3,663 yards and 32 scores this season for the Longhorns. Advertisement
"It's been an amazing journey," Ehlinger wrote on the video. "One more year. Chapter four."
Ehlinger's video featured clips of himself celebrating and running out of the tunnel at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas.
Ehlinger was the offensive MVP of the Valero Alamo Bowl after throwing for 201 yards and four touchdown passes in a 38-10 win against Utah Dec. 31 at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
Ehlinger completed 64.7 percent of his throws for 3,292 yards, 25 touchdowns and five interceptions in 14 games during his 2018 campaign for the Longhorns. He also ran for 482 yards and 16 scores in 2018. Ehlinger completed 65.2 percent of his throws and ran for 663 yards and seven scores in 2019.
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The Longhorns open the 2020 season against South Florida Sept. 5 at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas.


upi--2020-01-07--London firefighters battle blaze at iconic Koko music venue

Jan. 7 ( UPI ) -- London firefighters saved one of the city 's most famous music venues from destruction Tuesday after it became engulfed in flames , officials said .
The London Fire Brigade said in a statement that eight fire engines and some 60 firefighters battled flames at the Koko night club on Camden High Street throughout the night .
`` Firefighters ' quick action and hard work in the early stages meant the fire was contained to the roof and saved the rest of the building , '' Station Commander Jon Lewis said .
`` Fire crews @ @ @ @ @ @ @ morning . ''
Authorities said they received 22 calls about the fire Monday night and crews had it under control within hours .
The London Fire Brigade said it saved 30 percent of the roof .
`` Hard work and dynamic action has helped prevent significant escalation and fire spread , '' said brigade official Jonathan Smith .
Previously known as Camden Palace , the famed north London music venue of performances by Madonna , Prince and others was closed for renovations at the time of the fire .
The venue website said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transformation '' after the purchase of two adjacent buildings and was set to reopen in the spring .
`` Hugely grateful to [ the London Fire Brigade ] for their swift response , but devastated by the potential loss of such a huge part of Camden 's culture , '' local councilor Oliver Cooper said .

Some 60 firefighters worked to contain a fire at the iconic Koko music venue in London. Photo courtesy of London Fire Brigade/ Twitter
Jan. 7 (UPI) -- London firefighters saved one of the city's most famous music venues from destruction Tuesday after it became engulfed in flames, officials said. The London Fire Brigade said in a statement that eight fire engines and some 60 firefighters battled flames at the Koko night club on Camden High Street throughout the night. Advertisement
"Firefighters' quick action and hard work in the early stages meant the fire was contained to the roof and saved the rest of the building," Station Commander Jon Lewis said. "Fire crews will remain at the scene throughout the morning."
Authorities said they received 22 calls about the fire Monday night and crews had it under control within hours. The London Fire Brigade said it saved 30 percent of the roof.
"Hard work and dynamic action has helped prevent significant escalation and fire spread," said brigade official Jonathan Smith.
Previously known as Camden Palace, the famed north London music venue of performances by Madonna, Prince and others was closed for renovations at the time of the fire.
The venue website said it was undergoing "a major state-of-the-art transformation" after the purchase of two adjacent buildings and was set to reopen in the spring.
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"Hugely grateful to [the London Fire Brigade] for their swift response, but devastated by the potential loss of such a huge part of Camden's culture," local councilor Oliver Cooper said.
The fire at KOKO in Camden Town is under control and now being pushed back. Hugely grateful to @LondonFire for their swift response, but devastated by the potential loss of such a huge part of Camden's culture. pic.twitter.com/5k0pdkHjQF— Oliver Cooper (@OliverCooper) January 6, 2020


upi--2020-01-07--Mississippi prosecutor recuses himself from trying accused killer Curtis Flowers a 7th time

Jan. 7 ( UPI ) -- A Mississippi prosecutor who has tried a man six times for the murders of four people nearly a quarter-century ago has recused himself from further involvement .
District Attorney Doug Evans filed a voluntary recusal Monday in Montgomery County , asking the court to appoint the state attorney general 's office as lead prosecutor in the case of accused killer Curtis Flowers .
Evans has tried Flowers six times in connection to the 1996 deaths of four people .
Flowers was found guilty in four of those trials , but the first three were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last conviction and death sentence from his sixth trial in 2010 was overturned by the Supreme Court in June , which said Evans violated the law by excluding black jurors .
The other two trials ended in a hung jury .
In each of Flower 's six trials , he faced an all-white jury .
`` I have personally prosecuted the defendant in all six of his prior trials .
While I remain confident in both the investigation and jury verdicts in this matter , I have come to the conclusion that my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obtaining justice and from the defendant being held responsible for his actions , '' Evans said .
Flowers ' attorney Rob McDuff said in a statement his team is `` pleased '' with Evans ' recusal and hopes it will lead to an eventual dismissal .
`` We look forward to what we hope will be an impartial review of this case by the new attorney general of Mississippi , '' he said .
Evans ' recusal follows Judge Joseph Loper granting Curtis bail in December on a $ 25,000 bond .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presenting a `` far weaker case to the jury '' if it reaches trial .
McDuff said there 's no reason to continue `` wasting taxpayer money '' on a seventh trial .
`` Curtis Flowers is innocent , '' he said .
`` This misguided prosecution has been plagued from the beginning by misconduct and racial discrimination , and it is time to bring it to an end . ''

Curtis Flowers was released on bail in December. Photo courtesy Mississippi Department of Corrections
Jan. 7 (UPI) -- A Mississippi prosecutor who has tried a man six times for the murders of four people nearly a quarter-century ago has recused himself from further involvement. District Attorney Doug Evans filed a voluntary recusal Monday in Montgomery County, asking the court to appoint the state attorney general's office as lead prosecutor in the case of accused killer Curtis Flowers. Advertisement
Evans has tried Flowers six times in connection to the 1996 deaths of four people. Flowers was found guilty in four of those trials, but the first three were overturned due to prosecutorial misconduct. The last conviction and death sentence from his sixth trial in 2010 was overturned by the Supreme Court in June, which said Evans violated the law by excluding black jurors. The other two trials ended in a hung jury.
In each of Flower's six trials, he faced an all-white jury.
"I have personally prosecuted the defendant in all six of his prior trials. While I remain confident in both the investigation and jury verdicts in this matter, I have come to the conclusion that my continued involvement will prevent the families from obtaining justice and from the defendant being held responsible for his actions," Evans said.
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Flowers' attorney Rob McDuff said in a statement his team is "pleased" with Evans' recusal and hopes it will lead to an eventual dismissal.
"We look forward to what we hope will be an impartial review of this case by the new attorney general of Mississippi," he said.
Evans' recusal follows Judge Joseph Loper granting Curtis bail in December on a $25,000 bond. In his decision, Loper said prosecutors face presenting a "far weaker case to the jury" if it reaches trial.
McDuff said there's no reason to continue "wasting taxpayer money" on a seventh trial.
"Curtis Flowers is innocent," he said. "This misguided prosecution has been plagued from the beginning by misconduct and racial discrimination, and it is time to bring it to an end."


upi--2020-01-07--Future Navy, Marine Corps aircraft spending estimated at $11 billion per year

Jan. 7 ( UPI ) -- It will cost $ 11 billion per year to maintain the aviation fleet of the Navy and Marine Corps at it current size over the next 30 years , according to an estimate by the U.S. Congressional Budget Office .
The report estimates what it would cost to keep the Navy and Marines ' fleet at its current size of 4,000 between 2020 and 2050 .
The office 's projections are based on procurement schedules and costs extrapolated from Department of Defense documents , the report said , as well as the retirement ages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Costs would range from from $ 7 billion to $ 17 billion and total $ 280 billion , the report said .
Those costs would vary year to year as specific aircraft programs are phased out and added , the report said .
For example , CBO predicts a temporary drop after 2030 as several large programs wind down or end , and rebound in the mid-2030s as the Pentagon begins a new production cycle to replace them .
The MV-22B tiltrotor , the CH-53K helicopter and the F-35B/C fighters are all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ These programs represent a small number of the 60 models of aircraft the two branches operate , but are notable cost drivers due in part to their technological capabilities .
Replacement costs for attack aircraft would represent the largest fraction of overall costs during the next 30 years , the CBO estimated , totaling about $ 190 billion -- or half the total for all aircraft .

The U.S. Congressional Budget Office estimates the Navy and Marine Corps will spend $280 billion over the next 30 years to replace its 4,000 aircraft. In this September 2018 photo, U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II assigned to the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, flies over Afghanistan. Photo by Corey Hook/U.S. Air Force
Jan. 7 (UPI) -- It will cost $11 billion per year to maintain the aviation fleet of the Navy and Marine Corps at it current size over the next 30 years, according to an estimate by the U.S. Congressional Budget Office. The report estimates what it would cost to keep the Navy and Marines' fleet at its current size of 4,000 between 2020 and 2050. Advertisement
The office's projections are based on procurement schedules and costs extrapolated from Department of Defense documents, the report said, as well as the retirement ages and costs fo the aircraft being replaced.
Costs would range from from $7 billion to $17 billion and total $280 billion, the report said.
Those costs would vary year to year as specific aircraft programs are phased out and added, the report said.
For example, CBO predicts a temporary drop after 2030 as several large programs wind down or end, and rebound in the mid-2030s as the Pentagon begins a new production cycle to replace them.
The MV-22B tiltrotor, the CH-53K helicopter and the F-35B/C fighters are all schedule to sunset in the 2030s.
These programs represent a small number of the 60 models of aircraft the two branches operate, but are notable cost drivers due in part to their technological capabilities.
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Replacement costs for attack aircraft would represent the largest fraction of overall costs during the next 30 years, the CBO estimated, totaling about $190 billion -- or half the total for all aircraft.


upi--2020-01-07--Juan Guaido storms parliament, is sworn in as National Assembly leader

Jan. 7 ( UPI ) -- Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido and a group of his supporters stormed the country 's parliament building on Tuesday to reclaim his role as president of the National Assembly .
Guaido and about 100 diplomatic supporters pushed past guards outside the building to hold a vote to recognize him as the head of the National Assembly for 2020 , days after assembly members who support embattled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro voted in their own head , lawmaker Luis Parra .
`` From Venezuela , we know that for the international community it 's complex @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country , '' Guaido said .
`` Today , the National Assembly diplomats , elected by the vote of the people , defeated the legislative coup attempt orchestrated by the dictatorship and their accomplices . ''
Upon entering the parliament building , Guaido took a microphone as opposition lawmakers sang the national anthem before the vote .
At one point electricity in the building was shut off .
Lawmakers read the attendance prior to the vote by the light of their cellphones and without the use of microphones .
Maduro 's government elected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a vote widely described as a coup after security forces loyal to the president blocked Guaido and other opposition members on the National Assembly from entering the building .
The opposition later held its own election in which they re-elected Guaido to another term as head of the National Assembly with a vote tally of 100-0 , stating they had `` defeated the dictatorship '' in doing so .
Guido declared himself the country 's interim president in January of last year , calling Maduro 's rule illegitimate .
Guaido has since received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States , which have since stated they will not recognize Parra as the head of the parliamentary body .

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido was sworn in as the head of the country's National Assembly after he stormed the parliamentary building with supporters on Tuesday. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez/EPA-EFE
Jan. 7 (UPI) -- Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido and a group of his supporters stormed the country's parliament building on Tuesday to reclaim his role as president of the National Assembly. Guaido and about 100 diplomatic supporters pushed past guards outside the building to hold a vote to recognize him as the head of the National Assembly for 2020, days after assembly members who support embattled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro voted in their own head, lawmaker Luis Parra. Advertisement
"From Venezuela, we know that for the international community it's complex to understand what's happening in our country," Guaido said. "Today, the National Assembly diplomats, elected by the vote of the people, defeated the legislative coup attempt orchestrated by the dictatorship and their accomplices."
Upon entering the parliament building, Guaido took a microphone as opposition lawmakers sang the national anthem before the vote.
At one point electricity in the building was shut off. Lawmakers read the attendance prior to the vote by the light of their cellphones and without the use of microphones.
Maduro's government elected and swore in Parra on Sunday in a vote widely described as a coup after security forces loyal to the president blocked Guaido and other opposition members on the National Assembly from entering the building.
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The opposition later held its own election in which they re-elected Guaido to another term as head of the National Assembly with a vote tally of 100-0, stating they had "defeated the dictatorship" in doing so.
Guido declared himself the country's interim president in January of last year, calling Maduro's rule illegitimate. Guaido has since received the backing of dozens of nations including the United States, which have since stated they will not recognize Parra as the head of the parliamentary body.


upi--2020-01-07--NASA needs new way to handle accident investigations, report says

ORLANDO , Fla. , Jan. 7 ( UPI ) -- NASA needs new ways to investigate accidents that occur during human spaceflight when private companies like SpaceX and Boeing are launching astronauts , an agency watchdog said .
That recommendation was among those put forth in the federal Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel 's annual report for 2019 , released Tuesday .
`` As NASA approaches the resumption of launching humans on U.S. spacecraft , it is very important that the language in the NASA Authorization Act of 2005 requiring a Presidential Commission for mishap investigations be reviewed and revised , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ best time for that to be accomplished is before a mishap occurs . ''
NASA expects to launch astronauts from Florida to the International Space Station in the first half of 2020 .
But the space agency is relying on SpaceX and Boeing to conduct those missions , aboard the Crew Dragon and Starliner capsules , respectively .
In the past , NASA designed the Apollo capsules and the space shuttle , and contractors helped to build those vehicles with heavy NASA involvement .
But under the new Commercial Crew Program , NASA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and construction .
The private companies have more influence and control over launches than before .
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine tweeted about the report Monday , but only briefly , noting that it `` recognizes the considerable headway toward our human exploration objectives . ''
In response to questions about implementing the report , NASA said , `` Only Congress can revise those requirements .
NASA is working closely with Congress to make them aware of the potential issues associated with the mishap investigation procedures .
... NASA is hopeful that the procedures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ human space transportation environment . ''
Specifically , the report calls for more clarification about `` the level of vehicle damage requiring investigation , the temporal issues of when mission phases begin and end , and NASA 's oversight role in mishap investigations conducted by its providers , as well as when the need for outside oversight is required . ''
The report offered several other recommendations , including the need for action to address `` a burgeoning safety hazard '' of meteorites and orbital debris that could damage spacecraft and the need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , especially the Super Guppy jet that transports large aerospace equipment .
Touching on planned Artemis moon missions , the report said the new deadline imposed by the Trump administration for a moon landing by 2024 `` will stress the NASA community '' and has the potential to impact risk management .
`` One of NASA 's strengths is the unwillingness to give up when faced with a tough challenge ; this strength could become a weakness if a management team establishes an unrealistic program , '' the report said .
The panel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ military personnel , former NASA executives and experts in their fields ranging from aviation to medicine .
Following the space shuttle shuttle Columbia accident , Congress required that the group submit an annual report to the NASA administrator and to Congress .

1/2
The first crew of the Boeing Starliner spacecraft attends the roll out of the new Boeing Starliner spacecraft at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., on Nov. 21: Boeing Astronaut Chris Ferguson (l) and NASA Astronauts Mike Finke and Nicole Mann. Photo by Joe Marino-Bill Cantrell/UPI | License Photo
ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 7 (UPI) -- NASA needs new ways to investigate accidents that occur during human spaceflight when private companies like SpaceX and Boeing are launching astronauts, an agency watchdog said. That recommendation was among those put forth in the federal Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel's annual report for 2019, released Tuesday. Advertisement
"As NASA approaches the resumption of launching humans on U.S. spacecraft, it is very important that the language in the NASA Authorization Act of 2005 requiring a Presidential Commission for mishap investigations be reviewed and revised," the report said. "The best time for that to be accomplished is before a mishap occurs."
NASA expects to launch astronauts from Florida to the International Space Station in the first half of 2020. But the space agency is relying on SpaceX and Boeing to conduct those missions, aboard the Crew Dragon and Starliner capsules, respectively.
In the past, NASA designed the Apollo capsules and the space shuttle, and contractors helped to build those vehicles with heavy NASA involvement. But under the new Commercial Crew Program, NASA contracts with SpaceX and Boeing for design and construction. The private companies have more influence and control over launches than before.
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NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine tweeted about the report Monday, but only briefly, noting that it "recognizes the considerable headway toward our human exploration objectives."
In response to questions about implementing the report, NASA said, "Only Congress can revise those requirements. NASA is working closely with Congress to make them aware of the potential issues associated with the mishap investigation procedures. ... NASA is hopeful that the procedures will be revised to reflect the current human space transportation environment."
Specifically, the report calls for more clarification about "the level of vehicle damage requiring investigation, the temporal issues of when mission phases begin and end, and NASA's oversight role in mishap investigations conducted by its providers, as well as when the need for outside oversight is required."
The report offered several other recommendations, including the need for action to address "a burgeoning safety hazard" of meteorites and orbital debris that could damage spacecraft and the need to updates the agency's aging aircraft, especially the Super Guppy jet that transports large aerospace equipment.
Touching on planned Artemis moon missions, the report said the new deadline imposed by the Trump administration for a moon landing by 2024 "will stress the NASA community" and has the potential to impact risk management.
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"One of NASA's strengths is the unwillingness to give up when faced with a tough challenge; this strength could become a weakness if a management team establishes an unrealistic program," the report said.
The panel, established in 1968, includes retired military personnel, former NASA executives and experts in their fields ranging from aviation to medicine. Following the space shuttle shuttle Columbia accident, Congress required that the group submit an annual report to the NASA administrator and to Congress.


upi--2020-01-07--Missiles from Iran target military bases housing U.S. soldiers in Iraq

Jan. 7 ( UPI ) -- At least 10 missiles launched from Iran struck at least one Iraqi military base where U.S. forces were stationed Wednesday , U.S. and Iraqi military officials said .
A U.S. official confirmed to ABC News that ballistic missiles were fired from inside Iran at multiple U.S. facilities in Iraq including one in Erbil and the al-Asad Air Base .
Iranian state-run news outlet ISNA reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ' Air Force launched tens of ground-to-ground missiles as part of its so-called Operation Martyr Soleimani .
The operation was named after Iranian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killed in a U.S. airstrike at Baghdad 's international airport early Friday Iraq time .
Qatri al-Obeidi , a commander for Sunni paramilitary forces in a town near the al-Asad base , told CNN the shelling stopped by about 7 p.m. EST Tuesday .
White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said U.S. President Donald Trump was briefed on reports of the rocket attacks .
`` We are aware of the reports of attacks on U.S. facilities in Iraq .
The president has been briefed and is monitoring the situation closely and consulting with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .

More than a dozen of ground-to-ground missiles were launched from Iran to Iraqi military bases where U.S. troops were stationed Wednesday. File Photo by 1st Lt. Leland White/U.S. Army National Guard
Jan. 7 (UPI) -- More than a dozen missiles launched from Iran struck two Iraqi military bases where U.S. forces were stationed Wednesday, U.S. military officials said. The U.S. Department of Defense said ballistic missiles were fired from inside Iran toward multiple U.S. facilities in Iraq including one in Erbil and the al-Asad Air Base. Advertisement
Iranian state-run news outlet ISNA reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Air Force launched the ground-to-ground missiles as part of its so-called Operation Martyr Soleimani. The operation was named after Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander Qassem Soleimani who was killed in a U.S. airstrike at Baghdad's international airport early Friday Iraq time.
A Pentagon official told Newsweek the military bases were hit by cruise missiles and short-range ballistic missiles.
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Qatri al-Obeidi, a commander for Sunni paramilitary forces in a town near the al-Asad base, told CNN the shelling stopped by about 7 p.m. EST Tuesday. Al-Asad Air Base is located in the western Iraqi province of al-Anbar.
There were some Iraqi casualties at al-Asad airbase, but no U.S. casualties were reported, according to CNN.
Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said the agency is assessing the damage done by the attacks.
"In recent days and in response to Iranian threats and actions, the Department of Defense has taken all appropriate measures to safeguard our personnel and partners," Hoffman said. "These bases have been on high alert due to indicators that the Iranian regime planned to attack our forces and interests in the region."
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard said in its Telegram channel that the "Pentagon reports that the U.S. will respond to Iran's attacks" adding in a footnote that "this time we will respond to you in America."
It also said that if Iranian soil is bombed it will target the cities of Dubai, United Arab Emirates and Haifa, Israel.
Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif tweeted about the attacks, saying they came in response to U.S. strikes.
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"Iran took and concluded proportionate measures in self-defense under Article 51 of U.N. charter targeting base from which cowardly armed attack against our citizens and senior officials were launched," he wrote. "We do not seek escalation or war, but will defend ourselves against any aggression."
The Federal Aviation Administration issued flight restrictions prohibiting U.S. civil aviation operators from operating in the airspace over Iraq, Iran and the waters of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
"The FAA will continue closely monitoring events in the Middle East. We continue coordinating with our national security partners and sharing information with U.S. air carriers and foreign civil aviation authorities," the agency said.
White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said U.S. President Donald Trump was briefed on reports of the missile attacks.
"We are aware of the reports of attacks on U.S. facilities in Iraq. The president has been briefed and is monitoring the situation closely and consulting with his national security team," she said.
Trump tweeted in response to the attack on Tuesday night, saying that "all is well" and that he will make a statement on Wednesday morning.
Advertisement All is well! Missiles launched from Iran at two military bases located in Iraq. Assessment of casualties & damages taking place now. So far, so good! We have the most powerful and well equipped military anywhere in the world, by far! I will be making a statement tomorrow morning.— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2020 Remove
The attack follows a U.S. airstrike on Baghdad International Airport that killed Soleimani.
U.S. military officials accused Soleimani of developing plans to attack U.S. diplomats and service members in the Middle East. Washington held him responsible for the deaths of hundreds of U.S. and coalition service members and a Dec. 27 attack on a northern Iraqi military base in which a U.S. contractor was killed.
The United States also accused Soleimani of approving a recent attack on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad protesting U.S. airstrikes against the Kata'ib Hezbollah militia, one of several mostly Shiite militias backed by Iran, in response to the Dec. 27 attack.
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Trump on Sunday threatened to hit 52 targets in Iran "very hard" if Tehran retaliates for the death of Soleimani, including some targets "at a very high level" that are "important to Iran and the Iranian culture."
In the wake of the airstrike that killed Soleaimani and the attacks on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq's Parliament voted unanimously to expel foreign troops from the country, prompting Trump to threaten sanctions.
U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Monday that there has been "no decision whatsoever to leave Iraq" in response to a letter seeming to indicate the withdrawal of troops that Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley said was poorly worded, unsigned and should not have been sent out.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tweeted that the United States and the world "cannot afford war."
"Closely monitoring the situation following bombings targeting U.S. troops in Iraq. We must ensure the safety of our service members, including ending needless provocations from the administration and demanding that Iran cease its violence," she said.
A spokesman for Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer said he is "closely monitoring the situation and is praying for the safety of our service members and other personnel."
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Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., also said tweeted that he was praying for the safety of U.S. troops and called for an end to escalation "before it leads to another endless war in the Middle East."
"In the meantime, the administration needs to bring any discussion of war with Iran to the American people and their representatives in Congres, as the Constitution requires," he said.


upi--2020-01-07--'Prozac Nation' author Elizabeth Wurtzel dies at 52

Jan. 7 ( UPI ) -- Author Elizabeth Wurtzel died Tuesday following a battle with breast cancer , a family representative said .
She was 52 .
Wurtzel , best known for her 1994 memoir Prozac Nation , which described her experience with depression and substance abuse , died in a Manhattan hospital after cancer recently metastasized to her brain , her husband , Jim Freed , said .
`` She put up a valiant fight and we admire her for that , '' a family spokeswoman told NBC News .
`` We deeply loved her and hope she rests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the memoir with a collection of essays titled Bitch : In Praise of Difficult Women and another memoir More , Now , Again : A Memoir of Addiction .
Wurtzel announced her breast cancer diagnosis in a 2015 op-ed in The Guardian in which she declared she was `` early for history . ''
`` I was on Prozac when it was still called fluoxetine .
I wrote a twentynothing memoir when there was no such thing .
I got addicted to snorting Ritalin before there was Adderall .
I was a riot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I posed topless giving the world the finger on the cover of my second book . ''
She was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer stemming from the BRCA gene and advocated for Ashkenazi Jewish women to be tested for the mutation as they are 10 times more likely to be BRCA positive .
`` I did not know I have the BRCA mutation .
I did not know I would likely get breast cancer when I was still young , when the disease is a wild animal .
I caught it fast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must have looked away : By the time of my double mastectomy , the cancer had spread to five lymph nodes , '' Wurtzel wrote in The New York Times .

"Prozac Nation" author Elizabeth Wurtzel died at the age of 52 after being diagnosed with breast cancer which recently metastasized to her brain, her husband said. Photo courtesy Blonde1967/ Wikimedia Commons
Jan. 7 (UPI) -- Author Elizabeth Wurtzel died Tuesday following a battle with breast cancer, a family representative said. She was 52. Wurtzel, best known for her 1994 memoir Prozac Nation, which described her experience with depression and substance abuse, died in a Manhattan hospital after cancer recently metastasized to her brain, her husband, Jim Freed, said. Advertisement
"She put up a valiant fight and we admire her for that," a family spokeswoman told NBC News. "We deeply loved her and hope she rests in peace."
Prozac Nation kickstarted Wurtzel's career and sparked a conversation about clinical depression.
She followed up the memoir with a collection of essays titled Bitch: In Praise of Difficult Women and another memoir More, Now, Again: A Memoir of Addiction.
Wurtzel announced her breast cancer diagnosis in a 2015 op-ed in The Guardian in which she declared she was "early for history."
"I was on Prozac when it was still called fluoxetine. I wrote a twentynothing memoir when there was no such thing. I got addicted to snorting Ritalin before there was Adderall. I was a riot girl, I was a do-me feminist and I posed topless giving the world the finger on the cover of my second book."
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She was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer stemming from the BRCA gene and advocated for Ashkenazi Jewish women to be tested for the mutation as they are 10 times more likely to be BRCA positive.
"I did not know I have the BRCA mutation. I did not know I would likely get breast cancer when I was still young, when the disease is a wild animal. I caught it fast and I acted fast, but I must have looked away: By the time of my double mastectomy, the cancer had spread to five lymph nodes," Wurtzel wrote in The New York Times.


upi--2020-01-07--Taking to the skies radically transformed gut microbiomes of bats, birds

Jan. 7 ( UPI ) -- The gut microbiome plays an important role in human health .
In fact , most mammals have a unique relationship with the communities of microbes living in their intestines .
Scientists can predict what an animal 's gut microbiome is likely to be like by studying the microbes in the guts of their closest relatives .
Or at least , that 's what they thought .
A new study of the gut microbiomes of bats and birds -- published Tuesday in the journal mBio -- suggests not all vertebrates benefit from the microbes living @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the relationship between mammals and gut microbiomes is quite old .
In other words , as mammals have evolved , their gut microbiomes have evolved along with them .
`` Gut microbes serve a function that is presumably advantageous in these groups and is therefore conserved over evolutionary timescales , '' Holly Lutz , a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California , San Diego and a research associate at Chicago 's Field Museum , told UPI in an email .
`` In bats and birds , we see no such pattern , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not benefit as strongly -- if at all -- from their gut microbiota . ''
For the study , scientists analyzed fecal samples from nearly 900 vertebrates , examining the relationships between mammals , birds , reptiles and amphibians and their gut microbiomes .
The effort involved scientists , museum collections and zoo directors from across the globe .
When scientists sequenced the DNA in the samples and organized them into family trees the way related species are , they found the gut microbiomes of bats and birds were outliers .
The makeup @ @ @ @ @ @ @ birds and bats appeared almost haphazard , as if bird and bat species carry whatever microbes they happened to have picked up from their last few meals .
The research could undermine many of the assumptions scientists have made about the importance of gut bacteria to vertebrates .
Most research into the gut microbiomes of vertebrates has used humans and domestic animals like dogs or rodents as models .
`` The synthesis of these findings has led to the general conclusion that vertebrates share intimate and functionally significant associations with microbial symbionts in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` The fact that this general observation does not appear to apply to bats and birds is important not only because it suggests a new paradigm , but because this new paradigm would hold for two vertebrate groups that comprise a major proportion of vertebrate biodiversity . ''
There are approximately 10,000 species of birds and some 1,200 species of bats .
`` Compare those numbers to only approximately 3,400 species of non-flighted mammals and it 's hard to conclude that bats and birds are the exception rather than the rule , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the skies altered the relationship between bats and birds and their gut microbiomes ?
Scientists are n't entirely sure .
Research suggests the length of the intestines in birds and bats are shorter than those of similarly sized flightless mammals .
As a result , the guts of birds and bats host fewer microbes .
Birds and bats also absorb nutrients from the the food passing through digestive tract more quickly .
Scientists suspect this adaptation allows bats and birds to carry smaller amounts of digested material , making it easier to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how and when bats and birds abandoned gut microbes as a helpful physiological tool , scientists ca n't be certain , but the latest findings suggest the adaptation was an evolutionary concession made in order to take to the skies .
Lutz and her colleagues are currently working to study how the unique microstructures found in the intestines of birds and bats influence their gut microbiome .
The researchers are also interested in studying whether the unique nature of the gut microbiomes of bats and birds make them more susceptible to pathogens .

New research suggests birds and bats, including species like the Kenyan fruit bat, Epomophorus wahlbergi, don't rely on their gut microbiome the same way humans and other mammals do. Photo by Holly Lutz/Field Museum
Jan. 7 (UPI) -- The gut microbiome plays an important role in human health. In fact, most mammals have a unique relationship with the communities of microbes living in their intestines. Scientists can predict what an animal's gut microbiome is likely to be like by studying the microbes in the guts of their closest relatives. Or at least, that's what they thought. Advertisement
A new study of the gut microbiomes of bats and birds -- published Tuesday in the journal mBio -- suggests not all vertebrates benefit from the microbes living in their intestines.
Previous studies suggest the relationship between mammals and gut microbiomes is quite old. In other words, as mammals have evolved, their gut microbiomes have evolved along with them.
"Gut microbes serve a function that is presumably advantageous in these groups and is therefore conserved over evolutionary timescales," Holly Lutz, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, San Diego and a research associate at Chicago's Field Museum, told UPI in an email. "In bats and birds, we see no such pattern, suggesting that perhaps these flighted vertebrates do not benefit as strongly -- if at all -- from their gut microbiota."
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For the study, scientists analyzed fecal samples from nearly 900 vertebrates, examining the relationships between mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians and their gut microbiomes. The effort involved scientists, museum collections and zoo directors from across the globe.
When scientists sequenced the DNA in the samples and organized them into family trees the way related species are, they found the gut microbiomes of bats and birds were outliers. The makeup of microbial communities in the guts of birds and bats appeared almost haphazard, as if bird and bat species carry whatever microbes they happened to have picked up from their last few meals.
The research could undermine many of the assumptions scientists have made about the importance of gut bacteria to vertebrates.
Most research into the gut microbiomes of vertebrates has used humans and domestic animals like dogs or rodents as models.
"The synthesis of these findings has led to the general conclusion that vertebrates share intimate and functionally significant associations with microbial symbionts in the digestive tract," Lutz said. "The fact that this general observation does not appear to apply to bats and birds is important not only because it suggests a new paradigm, but because this new paradigm would hold for two vertebrate groups that comprise a major proportion of vertebrate biodiversity."
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There are approximately 10,000 species of birds and some 1,200 species of bats.
"Compare those numbers to only approximately 3,400 species of non-flighted mammals and it's hard to conclude that bats and birds are the exception rather than the rule," Lutz said.
What about taking to the skies altered the relationship between bats and birds and their gut microbiomes? Scientists aren't entirely sure.
Research suggests the length of the intestines in birds and bats are shorter than those of similarly sized flightless mammals. As a result, the guts of birds and bats host fewer microbes. Birds and bats also absorb nutrients from the the food passing through digestive tract more quickly. Scientists suspect this adaptation allows bats and birds to carry smaller amounts of digested material, making it easier to get and remain airborne.
As to how and when bats and birds abandoned gut microbes as a helpful physiological tool, scientists can't be certain, but the latest findings suggest the adaptation was an evolutionary concession made in order to take to the skies.
Lutz and her colleagues are currently working to study how the unique microstructures found in the intestines of birds and bats influence their gut microbiome. The researchers are also interested in studying whether the unique nature of the gut microbiomes of bats and birds make them more susceptible to pathogens.
Advertisement


upi--2020-01-07--Indian court schedules executions for 2012 New Delhi gang rape

Jan. 7 ( UPI ) -- A New Delhi court on Tuesday scheduled the executions of four men found guilty of brutally gang raping and killing a 23-year-old woman in 2012 .
The court scheduled Mukesh , 32 ; Pawan Gupta , 25 ; Vinay Sharma , 26 ; and Akshay Kumar Singh , 31 , to be executed Jan. 22 at Tihar Jail .
The announcement comes more than six years after they were sentenced to death for the Dec. 16 , 2012 , slaying of the woman who came to be known in India as `` Nirbhaya , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hindi .
Prosecutors said five men and a male juvenile attacked the woman after she and a male companion boarded a bus .
The perpetrators took turns raping the woman and assaulting her with an iron rod while the bus drove around for an hour .
The bus driver was among the attackers .
The men also beat the woman 's companion and dumped them both by the side of the road after the attack .
Both victims were hospitalized and the woman died from her injuries two weeks later .
The five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ juvenile received a three-year prison sentence , which he has completed .
One of the adult perpetrators killed himself in prison .
The Press Trust of India reported the four men likely will be hanged simultaneously .
Nirbhaya 's family said the issuance of the death warrant provides her with justice .
`` The hanging of the four convicts will restore the faith of women in law , '' her mother said .
The woman 's rape and death prompted protests in India , accusing the government of failing to adequately protect women @

Jan. 7 (UPI) -- A New Delhi court on Tuesday scheduled the executions of four men found guilty of brutally gang raping and killing a 23-year-old woman in 2012.
The court scheduled Mukesh, 32; Pawan Gupta, 25; Vinay Sharma, 26; and Akshay Kumar Singh, 31, to be executed Jan. 22 at Tihar Jail.
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The announcement comes more than six years after they were sentenced to death for the Dec. 16, 2012, slaying of the woman who came to be known in India as "Nirbhaya," which means "fearless" in Hindi. Prosecutors said five men and a male juvenile attacked the woman after she and a male companion boarded a bus.
The perpetrators took turns raping the woman and assaulting her with an iron rod while the bus drove around for an hour. The bus driver was among the attackers.
The men also beat the woman's companion and dumped them both by the side of the road after the attack. Both victims were hospitalized and the woman died from her injuries two weeks later.
The five adults were sentenced to death and the juvenile received a three-year prison sentence, which he has completed. One of the adult perpetrators killed himself in prison.
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The Press Trust of India reported the four men likely will be hanged simultaneously.
Nirbhaya's family said the issuance of the death warrant provides her with justice.
"The hanging of the four convicts will restore the faith of women in law," her mother said.
The woman's rape and death prompted protests in India, accusing the government of failing to adequately protect women.


upi--2020-01-07--Detroit Pistons' Blake Griffin out indefinitely following knee surgery

Jan. 7 ( UPI ) -- Detroit Pistons star forward Blake Griffin is out indefinitely after he underwent a successful arthroscopic procedure on his injured left knee , the team announced Tuesday .
The Pistons said in a statement that Griffin will undergo an `` extended rehabilitation period '' following the surgery and no timetable is set for his return .
Griffin , a six-time All-Star selection , has appeared in only 18 games this season because of the knee ailment .
He underwent arthroscopic surgery on the same knee in April .
Playing in his third season with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 4.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game this year .
Detroit has limped to a 13-24 record this season and currently sit near the bottom of the Eastern Conference .
The Pistons acquired Griffin in a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers in January 2018 .
He played in 25 games with Detroit that year before starting 75 games last season , his most since the 2013-14 season .
Griffin averaged a career-high 24.5 points to go with 7.5 rebounds last season in Detroit .
He has two years and $ 76 @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Detroit Pistons forward Blake Griffin (23) has appeared in only 18 games this season because of the knee ailment. File photo by Jason Szenes/EPA-EFE
Jan. 7 (UPI) -- Detroit Pistons star forward Blake Griffin is out indefinitely after he underwent a successful arthroscopic procedure on his injured left knee, the team announced Tuesday. The Pistons said in a statement that Griffin will undergo an "extended rehabilitation period" following the surgery and no timetable is set for his return. Advertisement
Griffin, a six-time All-Star selection, has appeared in only 18 games this season because of the knee ailment. He underwent arthroscopic surgery on the same knee in April.
Playing in his third season with the Pistons, Griffin has averaged 15.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game this year. Detroit has limped to a 13-24 record this season and currently sit near the bottom of the Eastern Conference.
The #Pistons announced today that forward Blake Griffin underwent a successful arthroscopic debridement of his left knee. Griffin will undergo an extended rehabilitation period and there is no timetable set for his return. pic.twitter.com/D3cfSUUciY— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) January 7, 2020
The Pistons acquired Griffin in a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers in January 2018. He played in 25 games with Detroit that year before starting 75 games last season, his most since the 2013-14 season.
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Griffin averaged a career-high 24.5 points to go with 7.5 rebounds last season in Detroit. He has two years and $76 million remaining on his current contract.