upi--2020-02-09--Ireland's Sinn Fein party seeks to form coalition government

Feb. 9 ( UPI ) -- Ireland 's Sinn Fein party will seek to form a coalition government after appearing to win the most votes in the country 's general election .
Party leader Mary Lou McDonald said Sunday that a `` revolution '' occurred in the election that saw her party on course to win 24 percent of the vote as she pledged to form a ruling coalition with other parties .
`` This election has proven to be seismic , '' she said .
`` It is historic .
The two-party system in this state is now broken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a different government . ''
Exit polls on Saturday night predicted a three-way tie among Sinn Fein , Fianna Fail and Fine Gael , but Sinn Fein ultimately surged to gain a slim lead .
Centrist parties Fianna Fail and Fine Gael each earned 22 percent of the vote , while the Greens gathered 7 percent and it appears no party will have the 80 seats necessary to earn a majority .
Sinn Fein ran fewer candidates than Fianna Fail and Fine Gael , which are both expected to win more seats than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` It 's almost impossible to work out what a possible government configuration could be , '' Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said .
`` I think it will take weeks to work out . ''
Sinn Fein said she had spoken to other parties in hops of forming a coalition with Fine Gael or Fianna Fail but said she would be open to a deal with either party .
Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar ruled out the possibility of forming a coalition with Sinn Fein .
`` For us , coalition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but we are willing to talk to other parties , '' he said .

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, seen standing to the right of Fine Gael party leader Leo Varadkar and Fianna Fail party leader Micheal Martin, pledged to form a coalition government without either of their parties. Photo by Aidan Crawley/EPA-EFE
Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Ireland's Sinn Fein party will seek to form a coalition government after appearing to win the most votes in the country's general election. Party leader Mary Lou McDonald said Sunday that a "revolution" occurred in the election that saw her party on course to win 24 percent of the vote as she pledged to form a ruling coalition with other parties. Advertisement
"This election has proven to be seismic," she said. "It is historic. The two-party system in this state is now broken. People want a different politics and a different government."
Exit polls on Saturday night predicted a three-way tie among Sinn Fein, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, but Sinn Fein ultimately surged to gain a slim lead.
Centrist parties Fianna Fail and Fine Gael each earned 22 percent of the vote, while the Greens gathered 7 percent and it appears no party will have the 80 seats necessary to earn a majority.
Sinn Fein ran fewer candidates than Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, which are both expected to win more seats than Sinn Fein the Irish parliaments lower chamber.
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"It's almost impossible to work out what a possible government configuration could be," Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said. "I think it will take weeks to work out."
Sinn Fein said she had spoken to other parties in hops of forming a coalition with Fine Gael or Fianna Fail but said she would be open to a deal with either party.
Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar ruled out the possibility of forming a coalition with Sinn Fein.
"For us, coalition with Sinn Fein is not an option, but we are willing to talk to other parties," he said.


upi--2020-02-09--Northrop postpones Antares rocket launch in Virginia on Sunday

Feb. 7 ( UPI ) -- Northrop Grumman postponed a cargo capsule launch to the International Space Station from Virginia at 5:44 p.m. EST Sunday .
Northrop launch controllers announced an abort less than three minutes before liftoff was scheduled to occur .
A NASA spokeswoman said the launch was scrubbed because of `` off-nominal data '' from ground crews , without further explanation .
No new date was set for the launch , as crews were still investigating the problem .
The company 's Antares rocket was prepared to carry the disposable Cygnus capsule on the company 's CRS-13 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wallops Flight Facility , in the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport .
The capsule was loaded with 8,000 pounds of science experiments , crew supplies and hardware .
Live video of the launch showed the rocket against a mostly sunny sky which was turning orange and pink with the sunset .
Launch controllers also had announced a hold at five minutes to launch time , originally set for 5:39 p.m. , with no reason given , but they soon returned to the countdown before announcing the abort .
As with all launches to the space @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instantaneous , meaning any significant problems mean a postponement to the next day or a future launch date .
NASA said the launch on Sunday , if it had happened , may have been visible to residents throughout the mid-Atlantic region and possibly the East Coast of the United States .
The capsule carries equipment for multiple science experiments .
Examples include tissue culturing , a demonstration of a new miniature scanning electron microscope and an experiment to study fires aboard spacecraft .

A Northrop Grumman Antares rocket stands ready to launch cargo to the International Space Station on Sunday evening. Photo courtesy of NASA
Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Northrop Grumman postponed a cargo capsule launch to the International Space Station from Virginia at 5:44 p.m. EST Sunday. Northrop launch controllers announced an abort less than three minutes before liftoff was scheduled to occur. A new launch could take place as early as Thursday, officials said. Advertisement
A NASA spokeswoman said the launch was scrubbed because of "off-nominal data" from ground crews, without further explanation. No new date was set for the launch, as crews were still investigating the problem.
The company's Antares rocket was prepared to carry the disposable Cygnus capsule on the company's CRS-13 mission from Pad 0A at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility, in the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport.
The capsule was loaded with 8,000 pounds of science experiments, crew supplies and hardware. Live video of the launch showed the rocket against a mostly sunny sky which was turning orange and pink with the sunset.
Launch controllers also had announced a hold at five minutes to launch time, originally set for 5:39 p.m., with no reason given, but they soon returned to the countdown before announcing the abort.
As with all launches to the space station, the launch window was virtually instantaneous, meaning any significant problems mean a postponement to the next day or a future launch date.
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NASA said the launch on Sunday, if it had happened,may have been visible to residents throughout the mid-Atlantic region and possibly the East Coast of the United States.
The capsule carries equipment for multiple science experiments. Examples include tissue culturing, a demonstration of a new miniature scanning electron microscope and an experiment to study fires aboard spacecraft.


upi--2020-02-09--UFC 247 results: Jon Jones edges Dominick Reyes with controversial decision

Feb. 9 ( UPI ) -- In a razor-close fight , Jon Jones beat Dominick Reyes by unanimous decision to retain the UFC light heavyweight title in the co-main event of UFC 247 on Saturday night at Toyota Center in Houston .
The crowd in the arena rained down boos when ring announcer Bruce Buffer read the result .
After the bell sounded at the conclusion of the fifth round , each fighter raised his arms , believing he had won .
The scores varied for all three judges , according to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ third , fourth and fifth rounds .
Judge Marcos Rosales had Jones winning the second , fourth and fifth rounds , while judge Joe Solis had Jones winning the second , third , fourth and fifth .
`` I do feel disrespected , '' Reyes said in his post-fight interview .
`` I know I won that fight .
...
I made Jon Jones look like just a man .
I brought the fight to him . ''
UFC president Dana White told reporters Saturday at the post-fight press conference that he scored @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the fight were `` all over the map . ''
`` My kids are terrorizing me that the fix is in .
'How could this happen , Dad ?
Reyes won that fight . '
The list goes on and on about people reaching out to me , '' White said .
`` None of us are judges .
The judges call the fight , and that 's that .
As far as the judging and the reffing tonight , do I think it was perfect ?
I do not .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work down here . ''
In 22 career UFC fights , Saturday 's bout marked the first time that Jones was outstruck by an opponent , according to ESPN Stats & Information .
Reyes landed 116 significant strikes , the most by a Jones foe , to Jones ' 104 .
`` He landed some hard hits , '' Jones said .
`` The fans like it when they see me get hit -- it does n't happen very often .
But at the same time , I landed some takedowns .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occasion .
... A hard-earned victory , but a victory . ''
Reyes pressured Jones with his boxing and hard kicks to the legs and body in the first three rounds .
In the championship rounds , Jones turned to his wrestling and landed multiple takedowns , but Reyes never appeared to be in danger on the ground .
Jones edged Reyes 46-34 on significant strikes in the final two rounds .
Reyes ( 12-1 ) believed he won the first three rounds before his cardio gave out in the fourth and five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through three , man , '' Reyes said .
`` I was all over him .
It is what it is .
I 'll get better .
...
I proved that I 'm the real deal . ''
With the victory , Jones ( 26-1 , 1 NC ) became the all-time wins leader in UFC title bouts ( 14 ) , moving past Georges St-Pierre .
Jones also extended his record UFC unbeaten streak to 18 fights and tied Demetrious Johnson for the most UFC title defenses ( 11 ) .
Jones @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never suffered a true loss in his fighting career , with his only defeat coming via disqualification for illegal elbow strikes in 2009 .
Reyes secured wins in all six of his UFC fights entering Saturday night 's bout against Jones .
He knocked out former middleweight champion Chris Weidman in October to earn a title shot versus Jones .
Valentina Shevchenko def .
Katlyn Chookagian via TKO in third round ( 1:03 ) Justin Tafa def .
Juan Adams via TKO in first round ( 1:59 ) Kalinn Williams def .
Alex @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 0:27 ) Mario Bautista def .
Miles Johns via TKO in second round ( 1:41 ) Journey Newson def .
Domingo Pilarte via TKO in first round ( 0:38 )

Feb. 9 (UPI) -- In a razor-close fight, Jon Jones beat Dominick Reyes by unanimous decision to retain the UFC light heavyweight title in the co-main event of UFC 247 on Saturday night at Toyota Center in Houston.
The crowd in the arena rained down boos when ring announcer Bruce Buffer read the result. After the bell sounded at the conclusion of the fifth round, each fighter raised his arms, believing he had won.
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The scores varied for all three judges, according to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Judge Chris Lee had Jones winning the third, fourth and fifth rounds. Judge Marcos Rosales had Jones winning the second, fourth and fifth rounds, while judge Joe Solis had Jones winning the second, third, fourth and fifth.
"I do feel disrespected," Reyes said in his post-fight interview. "I know I won that fight. ... I made Jon Jones look like just a man. I brought the fight to him."
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UFC president Dana White told reporters Saturday at the post-fight press conference that he scored the bout for Reyes but said scores from the fight were "all over the map."
"My kids are terrorizing me that the fix is in. 'How could this happen, Dad? Reyes won that fight.' The list goes on and on about people reaching out to me," White said. "None of us are judges. The judges call the fight, and that's that. As far as the judging and the reffing tonight, do I think it was perfect? I do not. I think that we need to do some work down here."
In 22 career UFC fights, Saturday's bout marked the first time that Jones was outstruck by an opponent, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Reyes landed 116 significant strikes, the most by a Jones foe, to Jones' 104.
"He landed some hard hits," Jones said. "The fans like it when they see me get hit -- it doesn't happen very often. But at the same time, I landed some takedowns. I got his back on more than one occasion. ... A hard-earned victory, but a victory."
Reyes pressured Jones with his boxing and hard kicks to the legs and body in the first three rounds. In the championship rounds, Jones turned to his wrestling and landed multiple takedowns, but Reyes never appeared to be in danger on the ground. Jones edged Reyes 46-34 on significant strikes in the final two rounds.
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Reyes (12-1) believed he won the first three rounds before his cardio gave out in the fourth and five rounds.
"I had him one through three, man," Reyes said. "I was all over him. It is what it is. I'll get better. ... I proved that I'm the real deal."
With the victory, Jones (26-1, 1 NC) became the all-time wins leader in UFC title bouts (14), moving past Georges St-Pierre. Jones also extended his record UFC unbeaten streak to 18 fights and tied Demetrious Johnson for the most UFC title defenses (11).
Jones, a New York native, has never suffered a true loss in his fighting career, with his only defeat coming via disqualification for illegal elbow strikes in 2009.
Reyes secured wins in all six of his UFC fights entering Saturday night's bout against Jones. He knocked out former middleweight champion Chris Weidman in October to earn a title shot versus Jones.
UFC 247 main card results:
Jon Jones def. Dominick Reyes via unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46)
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Valentina Shevchenko def. Katlyn Chookagian via TKO in third round (1:03)
Justin Tafa def. Juan Adams via TKO in first round (1:59)
Dan Ige def. Mirsad Bektic via split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29)
Derrick Lewis def. Ilir Latifi via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
UFC 247 prelims results:
Trevin Giles def. James Krause via split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29)
Lauren Murphy def. Andrea Lee via split decision (29-28, 30-27, 28-29)
Kalinn Williams def. Alex Morono via KO in first round (0:27)
Mario Bautista def. Miles Johns via TKO in second round (1:41)
Journey Newson def. Domingo Pilarte via TKO in first round (0:38)
Andre Ewell def. Jonathan Martinez via split decision (29-28, 30-27, 28-29)
Youseff Zalal def. Austin Lingo via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)


upi--2020-02-09--Spirit Awards blue carpet

Spirit Awards blue carpet

The Independent Spirit Awards ceremony in Santa Monica on Saturday , February 8 , 2020 , celebrated excellence in low-budget @ @ @ @ @ Farewell , Uncut Gems and The Lighthouse were the big winners at the gala .

Barry Jenkins and Lulu Wang attend the 35th annual Film Independent Spirit Awards. Wang directed The Farewell, which won Best Picture. UPI Photo Jim Ruymen/UPI


upi--2020-02-09--Man arrested outside White House for threatening to assassinate President Donald Trump

Feb. 9 ( UPI ) -- Police arrested a man carrying a sheathed knife outside of the White House for @ @ @ @ @ Trump .
Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department report said that Roger Hedgpeth , a 25-year-old @ @ @ @ @ approached a Secret Service police officer on patrol on Saturday and said he planned to @ @ @ @ @ I am here to assassinate President Donald Trump , '' Hedgpeth told the officer , @ @ @ @ @ `` I have a knife to do it with . ''
The Secret Service then @ @ @ @ @ and confiscated a sheathed knife with a 3.5-inch blade that Heedgpeth was wearing on his @ @ @ @ @ he also wore an empty pistol holder on his right hip .
Hedgpeth was placed @ @ @ @ @ officer was advised by Secret Service that he was a critically missing/endangered person and a @ @ @ @ @ was then moved to a hospital for a mental health evaluation where he will remain @ @ @ @ @ stayed in the White House this weekend .

A man was arrested outside the White House on Saturday after telling a Secret Service member he planned to assassinate President Donald Trump while carrying a knife. File Photo by Oliver Contreras/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Police arrested a man carrying a sheathed knife outside of the White House for threatening to kill President Donald Trump. Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department report said that Roger Hedgpeth, a 25-year-old from Bradenton, Fla., approached a Secret Service police officer on patrol on Saturday and said he planned to kill the president. Advertisement
"I am here to assassinate President Donald Trump," Hedgpeth told the officer, according to the report. "I have a knife to do it with."
The Secret Service then conducted a pat down search and confiscated a sheathed knife with a 3.5-inch blade that Heedgpeth was wearing on his left hip. Police said he also wore an empty pistol holder on his right hip.
Hedgpeth was placed under arrest and the arresting officer was advised by Secret Service that he was a critically missing/endangered person and a mental health patient.
He was then moved to a hospital for a mental health evaluation where he will remain until further notice.
Trump stayed in the White House this weekend.


upi--2020-02-09--Iran fails fourth consecutive effort to launch satellite into orbit

Feb. 9 ( UPI ) -- An Iranian rocket launch failed to place a satellite into orbit Sunday , state television reported .
Iranian Defense Ministry spokesman Ahmed Hosseini said the county was able to launch a Simorgh rocket at 7:15 p.m. at Imam Khomeini Spaceport in the Semnan Province but the rocket could not place a Zafar 1 communications satellite into orbit due to low speed , according to state-run Irib News Agency .
`` Stage-1 and stage-2 motors of the carrier functioned properly and the satellite was successfully detached from its carrier , but at the end of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ required speed for being put in the orbit , '' Hosseini said .
Iran 's Information and Communications Technology Minister Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi compared the failed launch to `` a few samples of U.S. launch failures '' in a tweet on Sunday .
`` But we 're UNSTOPPABLE , '' he added .
`` We have more upcoming great Iranian Sattlelites . ''
Iran 's first satellite was launched in 2009 and there have been others since then , usually in February during the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution .
Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of an Iranian satellite launch most recently preceded by a launch on Jan. 15 , 2019 , in which the rocket launch successfully passed the first and second stages but malfunctioned on the third stage .
International leaders have expressed concern over Iran 's satellite program with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling the January 2019 launch the `` first stage of an intercontinental missile '' that violates international agreements .
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also condemned the launch at the time .
`` In defiance of the international community & @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off a space launch vehicle today .
The launch yet again shows that Iran is pursuing enhanced missile capabilities that threaten Europe and the Middle East , '' said Pompeo .

Iran launched a Simorgh rocket at 7:15 p.m. at Imam Khomeini Spaceport in the Semnan Province, according to state-run Irib News Agency.
Feb. 9 (UPI) -- An Iranian rocket launch failed to place a satellite into orbit Sunday, state television reported. Iranian Defense Ministry spokesman Ahmed Hosseini said the county was able to launch a Simorgh rocket at 7:15 p.m. at Imam Khomeini Spaceport in the Semnan Province but the rocket could not place a Zafar 1 communications satellite into orbit due to low speed, according to state-run Irib News Agency. Advertisement
"Stage-1 and stage-2 motors of the carrier functioned properly and the satellite was successfully detached from its carrier, but at the end of its path it did not reach the required speed for being put in the orbit," Hosseini said.
Iran's Information and Communications Technology Minister Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi compared the failed launch to "a few samples of U.S. launch failures" in a tweet on Sunday.
"But we're UNSTOPPABLE," he added. "We have more upcoming great Iranian Sattlelites."
Iran's first satellite was launched in 2009 and there have been others since then, usually in February during the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Sunday's effort marked the fourth consecutive failure of an Iranian satellite launch most recently preceded by a launch on Jan. 15, 2019, in which the rocket launch successfully passed the first and second stages but malfunctioned on the third stage.
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International leaders have expressed concern over Iran's satellite program with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling the January 2019 launch the "first stage of an intercontinental missile" that violates international agreements.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also condemned the launch at the time.
"In defiance of the international community & UNSCR 2231, Iran's regime fired off a space launch vehicle today. The launch yet again shows that Iran is pursuing enhanced missile capabilities that threaten Europe and the Middle East," said Pompeo.


upi--2020-02-09--Federal prosecutors seek delay in Michael Flynn's sentencing schedule

Feb. 9 ( UPI ) -- Federal prosecutors filed a motion Sunday seeking a delay in the court case of former national security adviser Michael Flynn .
The filing calls for a delay of several key deadlines citing that Flynn 's recent request to withdraw his guilty plea on charges that he made a false statement to the FBI as part of former special counsel Robert Mueller 's investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election may require additional testimony .
Flynn said that he received ineffective assistance from his former lawyers at the law firm Covington & Burling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testimony , according to the filing .
`` The government requests that the Court suspend the current briefing schedule concerning the defendant 's supplemental motion to withdraw his plea of guilty until such time as the government has been able to confer with Covington Regarding the information it seeks , '' the filing states .
`` While Covington has indicated a willingness to comply with this request , it has understandably declined to do so in the absence of a Court order confirming the waiver of attorney-client privilege . ''
Last month , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's sentencing hearing from Jan. 28 to Feb. 27 in light of his decision to withdraw his guilty plea .
The filing Sunday does not specifically request a delay of the hearing but calls for the court to suspend the current briefing schedule .
Flynn asked to withdraw the guilty plea on Jan. 14 , stating prosecutors broke its agreement for his cooperation when they requested he receive jail time instead of probation .

Federal prosecutors filed a motion Sunday seeking to suspend the current sentencing schedule for former national security adviser Michael Flynn after he withdrew his guilty plea for lying to the FBI. File Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Federal prosecutors filed a motion Sunday seeking a delay in the court case of former national security adviser Michael Flynn. The filing calls for a delay of several key deadlines citing that Flynn's recent request to withdraw his guilty plea on charges that he made a false statement to the FBI as part of former special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election may require additional testimony. Advertisement
Flynn said that he received ineffective assistance from his former lawyers at the law firm Covington & Burling, which will require information and possibly testimony, according to the filing.
"The government requests that the Court suspend the current briefing schedule concerning the defendant's supplemental motion to withdraw his plea of guilty until such time as the government has been able to confer with Covington Regarding the information it seeks," the filing states. "While Covington has indicated a willingness to comply with this request, it has understandably declined to do so in the absence of a Court order confirming the waiver of attorney-client privilege."
Last month, U.S. District Judge Emmett Sullivan delayed Flynn's sentencing hearing from Jan. 28 to Feb. 27 in light of his decision to withdraw his guilty plea.
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The filing Sunday does not specifically request a delay of the hearing but calls for the court to suspend the current briefing schedule.
Flynn asked to withdraw the guilty plea on Jan. 14, stating prosecutors broke its agreement for his cooperation when they requested he receive jail time instead of probation.
On Dec. 1, 2017, Flynn pleaded guilty.


upi--2020-02-09--British Airways flight breaks record for fastest subsonic trip from New York to London

Feb. 9 ( UPI ) -- A British Airways flight broke the record for the fastest subsonic flight between New @ @ @ @ @ Saturday to Sunday .
Flight-tracking service Flightradar24 said that the Boeing 747 aircraft reached its @ @ @ @ @ minutes arriving at Heathrow airport at 4:43 a.m. , nearly two hours ahead of schedule @ @ @ @ @ top speed of 825 mph as it sought to arrive in England ahead of an @ @ @ @ @ We always prioritize safety over speed records , but our highly trained pilots made the @ @ @ @ @ get customers back to London well ahead of time , '' a British Airways representative @ @ @ @ @ set the previous record in January 2018 , completing the 3,458-mile trip in 5 hours @ @ @ @ @ British Airways ' 2015 record of 5 hours and 16 minutes .
Flightradar24 noted that @ @ @ @ @ was one minute faster than a Virgin Airbus A350 flight and three minutes faster than @ @ @ @ @ of which also broke the 2018 record .

A British Airways flight set a new record for the fastest subsonic flight between New York City and London, completing the 3,458-mile trip in 4 hours and 56 minutes. File Photo by Monika Graff/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 9 (UPI) -- A British Airways flight broke the record for the fastest subsonic flight between New York and London overnight from Saturday to Sunday. Flight-tracking service Flightradar24 said that the Boeing 747 aircraft reached its destination 4 hours and 56 minutes arriving at Heathrow airport at 4:43 a.m., nearly two hours ahead of schedule. Advertisement
The plan reached a top speed of 825 mph as it sought to arrive in England ahead of an oncoming winter storm.
"We always prioritize safety over speed records, but our highly trained pilots made the most of the conditions to get customers back to London well ahead of time," a British Airways representative told the BBC.
Norwegian set the previous record in January 2018, completing the 3,458-mile trip in 5 hours and 13 minutes to break British Airways' 2015 record of 5 hours and 16 minutes.
Flightradar24 noted that the record-setting British Airways flight was one minute faster than a Virgin Airbus A350 flight and three minutes faster than another Virgin plane, both of which also broke the 2018 record.


upi--2020-02-09--'Birds of Prey' tops the North American box office with $33.3M

Feb. 9 ( UPI ) -- The Margot Robbie-Mary Elizabeth Winstead comic-book adaptation Birds of Prey is the No .
@ @ @ @ @ , earning $ 33.3 million in receipts in its opening weekend , BoxOfficeMojo.com announced on @ @ @ @ @ No .
2 with $ 12 million is Bad Boys for Life , which previously @ @ @ @ @ three weeks , followed by 1917 at No .
3 with $ 9 million , @ @ @ @ @ with $ 6.7 million and Jumanji : The Next Level at No .
5 with @ @ @ @ @ out the top tier are The Gentleman at No .
6 with $ 4.2 million @ @ @ @ @ No .
7 with $ 3.5 million , Knives Out at No .
8 with @ @ @ @ @ Women at No .
9 and Star Wars : The Rise of Skywalker at No @ @ @ @ @ million .

1/3
"Birds of Prey" star Margot Robbie attends the British Academy Film Awards in London on February 2. Photo by Rune Hellestad/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 9 (UPI) -- The Margot Robbie-Mary Elizabeth Winstead comic-book adaptation Birds of Prey is the No. 1 movie in North America, earning $33.3 million in receipts in its opening weekend, BoxOfficeMojo.com announced on Sunday. Coming in at No. 2 with $12 million is Bad Boys for Life, which previously was No. 1 for three weeks, followed by 1917 at No. 3 with $9 million, Dolittle at No. 4 with $6.7 million and Jumanji: The Next Level at No. 5 with $5.5 million. Advertisement
Rounding out the top tier are The Gentleman at No. 6 with $4.2 million, Gretel & Hansel at No. 7 with $3.5 million, Knives Out at No. 8 with $2.4 million, Little Women at No. 9 and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker at No. 10 with $2.2 million.


upi--2020-02-09--Watch: RuPaul gives Pete Davidson a drag makeover on 'SNL'

In the pre-recorded video , RuPaul was all glammed up for a photo shoot when he decided it was time @ @ @ @ @ in the spotlight .
For some reason , the unenthusiastic Chad -- who was in @ @ @ @ @ shoot took place -- caught RuPaul 's eye .
`` There 's something dynamic about @ @ @ @ @ RuPaul told Chad , to which the younger man replied , `` OK , '' @ @ @ @ @ , heels and makeup at RuPaul 's direction .
`` There 's a queen inside @ @ @ @ @ all she needs is a crown , '' RuPaul said , challenging him to `` @ @ @ @ @ . ''
`` OK , '' Chad said , taking the stage , making little @ @ @ @ @ off and falling into a food table .
`` Do you want to be the @ @ @ @ @ world ? ''
RuPaul asked Chad .
`` Then turn and walk away . ''
@ @ @ @ @ OK , bye , Rupple , Chad said , leaving the room .

Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Entertainer RuPaul guest hosted Saturday Night Live this weekend and gave cast member Pete Davidson's recurring character Chad a drag makeover.
In the pre-recorded video, RuPaul was all glammed up for a photo shoot when he decided it was time to let someone else bask in the spotlight.
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For some reason, the unenthusiastic Chad -- who was in the room where the photo shoot took place -- caught RuPaul's eye.
"There's something dynamic about you, boy," RuPaul told Chad, to which the younger man replied, "OK," then tried on a gown, heels and makeup at RuPaul's direction.
"There's a queen inside of you, Chad, all she needs is a crown," RuPaul said, challenging him to "lip sync for your life."
"OK," Chad said, taking the stage, making little attempt to dazzle before walking off and falling into a food table.
"Do you want to be the greatest drag queen in the world?" RuPaul asked Chad.
"No," Chad shrugged.
"Then turn and walk away." his mentor instructed.
"OK, bye, Rupple, Chad said, leaving the room.


upi--2020-02-09--Pyeongchang looks to recapture spirit of the 'Peace Olympics''

PYEONGCHANG , South Korea , Feb. 9 ( UPI ) -- Two years after the Winter Games kicked off here with an opening ceremony that featured athletes from North and South Korea marching together under a unified flag , a group of scholars , leaders and experts descended Sunday on this small skiing village to try to spark some momentum in a peace process that has faltered in recent months .
The Pyeongchang Peace Forum 2020 began on Sunday afternoon , a three-day event of panel discussions and presentations with over 1,000 participants from 25 countries .
One of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deliver an action plan for officially ending the Korean War , said Choi Moon-soon , the governor of Gangwon Province , where Pyeongchang is located .
`` We want to bring out a concrete action plan and to make it a global agenda , '' said Choi at a press conference on Sunday .
`` This year we want to put an end to the Korean War and to forge a peace agreement . ''
The Korean War ended in 1953 with a ceasefire agreement but not a permanent peace treaty , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ war for almost 70 years .
The 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang became the starting point of a renewed period of detente on the Korean Peninsula and led to a series of inter-Korean summits as well as a pair of summits between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un .
However , since last year 's Trump-Kim summit , held in February in Hanoi , Vietnam , nuclear negotiations and peace talks have been at a standstill .
Once-hopeful rhetoric has been increasingly replaced by a series of weapons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the North .
Towards the end of 2019 , Kim Jong Un announced the development of a `` new strategic weapon '' while Pyongyang warned of a potential `` Christmas gift '' for the United States .
`` We are in a stalemate right now , '' said Choi , who was an instrumental figure in securing North Korean involvement in the Winter Games .
`` Although inter-Korean communications are not doing well , it is still a period of peace .
We are not going back to the old ways of nuclear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials are hoping to bridge the gap between North and South through sports and economic exchanges such as tourism to the North 's Mount Kumgang resort area and fielding a unified Olympic team for the 2020 Summer Games , which will be held in Tokyo this July and August .
He added that organizers of the peace forum are hoping to see Gangwon 's border area of Goseong County transformed into a United Nations-administered `` peace city . ''
However , many of the economic projects that have been proposed by the administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as reopening the joint Kaesong Industrial Zone and reconnecting rail and road links , remain in limbo due to international sanctions on North Korea .
Former United States diplomat Christopher Hill told reporters ahead of the peace forum that he believes it 's time to try to revisit nuclear negotiations with the participation of additional countries .
`` There has been no progress since Hanoi and I think it is time to see what progress can be made , '' said Hill , a former ambassador and assistant secretary of state who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Party Talks on the North Korean nuclear issue in the mid-2000 's .
`` It 's important to keep the door open to negotiations , '' he said .
`` And it 's especially important to keep other parties in the region well-informed .
I would like to see more countries involved directly in the negotiations .
There needs to be much broader diplomatic architecture because this is not something the U.S. alone can solve . ''
In his keynote address to start the Pyeongchang Peace Forum , former Secretary-General of the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carry forward the diplomatic momentum from the Olympic Games .
`` The [ peace ] process was kickstarted here in beautiful Pyeongchang during the Peace Olympics , '' said Ban .
`` Even though it may be fading a little bit at this moment , we should never be deterred by the setbacks we have now .
Only through mutual dialogue and respect will we be able to overcome the current impasse between North and South Korea .
We need all global citizens to come together . ''
The three-day conference , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , features sessions on topics such as inter-Korean tourism , developing the DMZ as a peace zone and sports diplomacy .
Last month , Gangwon Province was chosen to host the 2024 Winter Youth Olympics by the International Olympic Committee .

Former United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and other delegates kicked off the Pyeongchang Peace Forum 2020 in South Korea on Sunday. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI
PYEONGCHANG, South Korea, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Two years after the Winter Games kicked off here with an opening ceremony that featured athletes from North and South Korea marching together under a unified flag, a group of scholars, leaders and experts descended Sunday on this small skiing village to try to spark some momentum in a peace process that has faltered in recent months. The Pyeongchang Peace Forum 2020 began on Sunday afternoon, a three-day event of panel discussions and presentations with over 1,000 participants from 25 countries. Advertisement
One of the key goals of the forum is to deliver an action plan for officially ending the Korean War, said Choi Moon-soon, the governor of Gangwon Province, where Pyeongchang is located.
"We want to bring out a concrete action plan and to make it a global agenda," said Choi at a press conference on Sunday. "This year we want to put an end to the Korean War and to forge a peace agreement."
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The Korean War ended in 1953 with a ceasefire agreement but not a permanent peace treaty, which has left the neighbors technically still at war for almost 70 years.
The 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang became the starting point of a renewed period of detente on the Korean Peninsula and led to a series of inter-Korean summits as well as a pair of summits between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
However, since last year's Trump-Kim summit, held in February in Hanoi, Vietnam, nuclear negotiations and peace talks have been at a standstill.
Once-hopeful rhetoric has been increasingly replaced by a series of weapons tests and a more hostile tone from the North. Towards the end of 2019, Kim Jong Un announced the development of a "new strategic weapon" while Pyongyang warned of a potential "Christmas gift" for the United States.
"We are in a stalemate right now," said Choi, who was an instrumental figure in securing North Korean involvement in the Winter Games. "Although inter-Korean communications are not doing well, it is still a period of peace. We are not going back to the old ways of nuclear and ICBM tests."
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Choi said officials are hoping to bridge the gap between North and South through sports and economic exchanges such as tourism to the North's Mount Kumgang resort area and fielding a unified Olympic team for the 2020 Summer Games, which will be held in Tokyo this July and August.
He added that organizers of the peace forum are hoping to see Gangwon's border area of Goseong County transformed into a United Nations-administered "peace city."
However, many of the economic projects that have been proposed by the administration of South Korean President Moon Jae-in, such as reopening the joint Kaesong Industrial Zone and reconnecting rail and road links, remain in limbo due to international sanctions on North Korea.
Former United States diplomat Christopher Hill told reporters ahead of the peace forum that he believes it's time to try to revisit nuclear negotiations with the participation of additional countries.
"There has been no progress since Hanoi and I think it is time to see what progress can be made," said Hill, a former ambassador and assistant secretary of state who led the U.S. delegation to the Six Party Talks on the North Korean nuclear issue in the mid-2000's.
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"It's important to keep the door open to negotiations," he said. "And it's especially important to keep other parties in the region well-informed. I would like to see more countries involved directly in the negotiations. There needs to be much broader diplomatic architecture because this is not something the U.S. alone can solve."
In his keynote address to start the Pyeongchang Peace Forum, former Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon echoed the need to carry forward the diplomatic momentum from the Olympic Games.
"The [peace] process was kickstarted here in beautiful Pyeongchang during the Peace Olympics," said Ban. "Even though it may be fading a little bit at this moment, we should never be deterred by the setbacks we have now. Only through mutual dialogue and respect will we be able to overcome the current impasse between North and South Korea. We need all global citizens to come together."
The three-day conference, which is being held for the second time, features sessions on topics such as inter-Korean tourism, developing the DMZ as a peace zone and sports diplomacy. Last month, Gangwon Province was chosen to host the 2024 Winter Youth Olympics by the International Olympic Committee.


upi--2020-02-09--Three NYPD officers shot within 12 hours, suspect in custody

Feb. 9 ( UPI ) -- Three New York City Police Department officers were shot within 12 hours this weekend in a pair of attacks on a Bronx precinct .
One officer was shot and injured at the 41st Precinct in the Bronx on Sunday morning after two officers were shot and injured by a man that approached them while they were sitting in their marked police van in the borough on Saturday night .
Police believe the same suspect was involved in both shootings and he was taken into custody on Sunday morning .
Police Commissioner Dermot Shea called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attempt at two New York City police officers . ''
He said the two officers were assigned to a drug-prone area in the Bronx neighborhood of Longwood when a man approached them at 8:30 p.m. to ask for directions .
Shea said the man then pulled out a gun and fired multiple shots in close proximity to the van .
The officer driving the van yelled `` gun ! ''
and tried to drive the van away but was struck by gunfire in the neck and chin .
The officer 's partner then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was being treated and is expected to survive .
The officers were not able to return fire at the gunman .
NYPD did not immediately reveal the identities of the injured officers .
`` This once again shows how dangerous these streets can be for New York City police officers , '' Patrick Lynch , president of the Patrolmen 's Benevolent Association of New York City , said .
`` Do n't take lightly the words 'an attempted assassination . '
An attempted assassination because they were in a marked van with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York City police officer 's uniform .
We can not allow this to happen . ''
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio also stressed the assessment that the attack was an assassination attempt .
`` I want New Yorkers to be clear , this was an attempt to assassinate police officers , '' he said .
`` Out in the open , an individual walked up to a police van with the intention of killing police officers .
This is absolutely unacceptable in this city or any place .
In this country @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Two New York City Police Department officers were shot within 12 hours this weekend in a pair of attacks on a Bronx precinct.
One officer was shot and injured at the 41st Precinct in the Bronx on Sunday morning after two other officers were at shot, injuring one, by a man who approached them while they were sitting in their marked police van in the borough on Saturday night.
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Police believe the same suspect -- identified as 45-year-old Bronx resident Robert Williams -- was involved in both shootings and he was taken into custody on Sunday morning.
Recognize him? Help us identify the male depicted in these photos. @NYPDDetectives want to talk to him about the shooting of a NYPD Police Officer on Simpson Street in the Bronx. Anyone with info call @NYPDTips at 800-577-TIPS. pic.twitter.com/7YZdEaKMvh— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) February 9, 2020
Police Commissioner Dermot Shea called the Saturday night shooting "an assassination attempt at two New York City police officers."
He said the two officers were assigned to a drug-prone area in the Bronx neighborhood of Longwood when a man approached them at 8:30 p.m. to ask for directions.
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Shea said the man then pulled out a gun and fired multiple shots in close proximity to the van.
The officer driving the van yelled "gun!" and tried to drive the van away but was struck by gunfire in the neck and chin. The officer's partner then drove him to the Lincoln Hospital where he was being treated and is expected to survive.
The officers were not able to return fire at the gunman.
NYPD did not immediately reveal the identities of the injured officers.
"This once again shows how dangerous these streets can be for New York City police officers," Patrick Lynch, president of the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association of New York City, said. "Don't take lightly the words 'an attempted assassination.' An attempted assassination because they were in a marked van with their turret lights going in a New York City police officer's uniform. We cannot allow this to happen."
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio also stressed the assessment that the attack was an assassination attempt.
"I want New Yorkers to be clear, this was an attempt to assassinate police officers," he said. "Out in the open, an individual walked up to a police van with the intention of killing police officers. This is absolutely unacceptable in this city or any place. In this country, anywhere in this world."


upi--2020-02-09--Study: in 4 gets unneeded antibiotics at children's hospitals

One-quarter of kids who receive antibiotics in U.S. children 's hospitals are given the drugs inappropriately , which increases the risk of antibiotic resistance , researchers say .
`` Antibiotic resistance is a growing danger to everyone ; however , there is limited data on children , '' said study co-author Dr. Jason Newland , a professor of pediatrics at Washington University in St. Louis .
`` Data on adults have suggested that 30 % -50 % of antibiotics used in hospitalized adults is inappropriate , '' Newland noted in a university news release .
He said the goal of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used to treat hospitalized children were `` suboptimal . ''
That means doctors should n't have prescribed any antibiotics ; they could have used a more effective antibiotic ; or they could have prescribed a different dose or for a shorter duration .
`` Health care workers must be vigilant since the inappropriate use of antibiotics is fueling dangerous drug resistance in children , '' explained Newland , who directs the antimicrobial stewardship program at St. Louis Children 's Hospital .
About 1 in 3 patients in U.S. children 's hospitals receives one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in background notes .
They analyzed data from nearly 12,000 patients at 32 U.S. children 's hospitals .
The kids were prescribed one or more antibiotics to treat or prevent infections .
Of those patients , 25 % -- or nearly 3,600 -- received at least one antibiotic considered inappropriate , according to the study .
The most common cases of inappropriate antibiotic use were : giving the wrong antibiotic for a particular infection at 27 percent ; prolonged antibiotic use after surgery to prevent surgical-site infections at 17 percent ; unnecessary use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of broad-spectrum antibiotics when a drug that targets a specific type of bacteria could have been used at 11 percent .
Pneumonia , or lower respiratory infections , accounted for the greatest percentage of suboptimal prescriptions -- 18 percent .
The researchers also found that about half of inappropriate antibiotic use would not have been detected by current antibiotic stewardship programs designed to prevent antibiotic resistance .
`` Arguably , this is one of the most important findings because it helps us to identify blind spots in antimicrobial stewardship programs , '' Newland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for review still have a significant need for oversight .
The obvious solution is to expand routine reviews to include all antibiotics .
Unfortunately , this is resource-intensive and may not be feasible at some hospitals . ''
The study was recently published online in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases .
The American Academy of Pediatrics has more on antibiotics .

A study found one-quarter of kids who receive antibiotics in U.S. children's hospitals are given the drugs inappropriately, which increases the risk of antibiotic resistance. Photo by skeeze/Pixabay
One-quarter of kids who receive antibiotics in U.S. children's hospitals are given the drugs inappropriately, which increases the risk of antibiotic resistance, researchers say. "Antibiotic resistance is a growing danger to everyone; however, there is limited data on children," said study co-author Dr. Jason Newland, a professor of pediatrics at Washington University in St. Louis. Advertisement
"Data on adults have suggested that 30%-50% of antibiotics used in hospitalized adults is inappropriate," Newland noted in a university news release.
He said the goal of the study was to determine if antibiotics used to treat hospitalized children were "suboptimal." That means doctors shouldn't have prescribed any antibiotics; they could have used a more effective antibiotic; or they could have prescribed a different dose or for a shorter duration.
"Health care workers must be vigilant since the inappropriate use of antibiotics is fueling dangerous drug resistance in children," explained Newland, who directs the antimicrobial stewardship program at St. Louis Children's Hospital.
About 1 in 3 patients in U.S. children's hospitals receives one or more antibiotics, the researchers said in background notes.
They analyzed data from nearly 12,000 patients at 32 U.S. children's hospitals. The kids were prescribed one or more antibiotics to treat or prevent infections. Of those patients, 25% -- or nearly 3,600 -- received at least one antibiotic considered inappropriate, according to the study.
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The most common cases of inappropriate antibiotic use were: giving the wrong antibiotic for a particular infection at 27 percent; prolonged antibiotic use after surgery to prevent surgical-site infections at 17 percent; unnecessary use of antibiotics at 11 percentl and use of broad-spectrum antibiotics when a drug that targets a specific type of bacteria could have been used at 11 percent.
Pneumonia, or lower respiratory infections, accounted for the greatest percentage of suboptimal prescriptions -- 18 percent.
The researchers also found that about half of inappropriate antibiotic use would not have been detected by current antibiotic stewardship programs designed to prevent antibiotic resistance.
"Arguably, this is one of the most important findings because it helps us to identify blind spots in antimicrobial stewardship programs," Newland said. "Antibiotics currently not targeted for review still have a significant need for oversight. The obvious solution is to expand routine reviews to include all antibiotics. Unfortunately, this is resource-intensive and may not be feasible at some hospitals."
The study was recently published online in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.
More information
The American Academy of Pediatrics has more on antibiotics.
Copyright © 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-02-09--Storm targets Northeast US, threatens slick conditions for Monday's morning commute

A quick-hitting storm system will spread accumulating snow to parts of the Upper Midwest Sunday .
After a dry and seasonal day on Sunday in the Northeast , the storm will move into the region Sunday night .
A storm system racing through the northern U.S. the beginning of the week will bring a quick accumulation of snow to parts of the Northeast , before the Monday morning commute .
The fast-moving nature of the storm , and marginal temperatures , will limit the duration , amount and coverage of wintry travel in the Northeast .
Still , a significant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fall Sunday night into early Monday over northern and western New York state and northern and central New England , when road surface temperatures will be lower .
Most areas can expect a blanket of 1-3 inches of snow , but 3-6 inches are forecast over the higher elevations of upstate New York and New England .
An AccuWeather Local StormMax of 8 inches is most likely in the highest elevations of the Adirondacks and western Maine .
Precipitation will likely start as snow from Ohio to northern Pennsylvania where cold air will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ storm , but a changeover to rain is expected throughout Monday .
Some areas could see an accumulation of snow to start , before things become slushy as warmer air is ushered into the region .
The storm is likely to bring rain along the I-95 corridor of the Northeast from Washington , D.C. , to Philadelphia , New York City and Boston with temperatures reaching the 40s and 50s .
Forecasters warn that motorists venturing through the I-80 , I-81 , I-87 , I-89 , I-90 , I-91 and I-93 corridors , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ degrees of freezing , should be prepared for areas of snow , slush and slippery conditions from Sunday night to early Monday .
As people head to the polls for the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday , some wintry weather weather could return to the area .
A storm system moving into the mid-Atlantic to start the week could bring precipitation back into the area , especially to southern parts of the state .
Cold air on the northern side of the storm could cause precipitation to fall as snow .
However , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state if the storm fails to push far enough north .
Other weak systems could follow suit and deliver snow to the northern tier of the U.S. into the middle of February .

A quick-hitting storm system will spread accumulating snow to parts of the Upper Midwest Sunday. After a dry and seasonal day on Sunday in the Northeast, the storm will move into the region Sunday night.
A storm system racing through the northern U.S. the beginning of the week will bring a quick accumulation of snow to parts of the Northeast, before the Monday morning commute.
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The fast-moving nature of the storm, and marginal temperatures, will limit the duration, amount and coverage of wintry travel in the Northeast. Still, a significant part of the snow is likely to fall Sunday night into early Monday over northern and western New York state and northern and central New England, when road surface temperatures will be lower.
Most areas can expect a blanket of 1-3 inches of snow, but 3-6 inches are forecast over the higher elevations of upstate New York and New England.
An AccuWeather Local StormMax of 8 inches is most likely in the highest elevations of the Adirondacks and western Maine.
Precipitation will likely start as snow from Ohio to northern Pennsylvania where cold air will hold on at the start of the storm, but a changeover to rain is expected throughout Monday.
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Some areas could see an accumulation of snow to start, before things become slushy as warmer air is ushered into the region.
The storm is likely to bring rain along the I-95 corridor of the Northeast from Washington, D.C., to Philadelphia, New York City and Boston with temperatures reaching the 40s and 50s.
Forecasters warn that motorists venturing through the I-80, I-81, I-87, I-89, I-90, I-91 and I-93 corridors, where temperatures will be within a few degrees of freezing, should be prepared for areas of snow, slush and slippery conditions from Sunday night to early Monday.
As people head to the polls for the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday, some wintry weather weather could return to the area.
A storm system moving into the mid-Atlantic to start the week could bring precipitation back into the area, especially to southern parts of the state. Cold air on the northern side of the storm could cause precipitation to fall as snow.
However, conditions could remain dry but chilly across the state if the storm fails to push far enough north.
Other weak systems could follow suit and deliver snow to the northern tier of the U.S. into the middle of February.


upi--2020-02-09--Two U.S. soldiers killed, 6 wounded in Afghanistan attack

Feb. 9 ( UPI ) -- Two U.S. Special Forces members were killed and six others wounded when a man wearing an Afghan uniform opened fire on a joint base in the eastern Nangarhar province of Afghanistan , U.S. military confirmed Sunday .
The Department of Defense identified the fatalities as Javier Jaguar Gutierrez , 28 , of San Antonio and Sgt .
1st Class Antonio Rey Rodriguez , 28 , of Las Cruces , N.M .
The men , who were posthumous promoted to first sergeant , were assigned to the 3rd Battalion , 7th Special Forces Airborne Group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Florida .
In addition , the Afghan Ministry of Defense said one of its soldiers was also killed in the attack Saturday , a U.S. official told CNN .
Initially Saturday , U.S. military officials gave sketchy details , only saying American and Afghan forces came under direct fire during an operation in the Nangarhar province .
A person with a machine gun opened fire on the Sherzad district center , said Col. Sonny Leggett , spokesman for the U.S. forces in Afghanistan .
`` Upon completing a key-leader engagement at the district @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an Afghan uniform opened fire on the combined U.S. and Afghan force with a machine gun , '' Col.Sonny Leggett said in a statement to Military Times .
`` We are still collecting information and the cause or motive behind the attack is unknown at this time . ''
The assailant in army uniform was killed , the governor of the eastern Afghan province , Shah Mahmood Miakhel , told Voice of America .
It was not immediately clear whether the deadly attack stemmed from a misunderstanding or the shooter was an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has not claimed responsibility for the attack .
The wounded soldiers were receiving medical treatment at a U.S. facility .
About 13,000 American troops are stationed in Afghanistan as part of Operation Freedom 's Sentinel , a NATO-led Resolute Support mission of training and advising Afghan security forces battling the Taliban .
During the State of the Union address last Tuesday , U.S. President Donald Trump expressed intentions to withdraw from Afghanistan .
`` I am not looking to kill hundreds of thousands of people in Afghanistan , many of them innocent , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also not our function to serve other nations as a law enforcement agency .
These are warfighters , the best in the world , and they either want to fight to win or not fight at all .
We are working to finally end America 's longest war and bring our troops back home . ''

Afghan Army soldiers patrol at a check point near the Shirzad district, in Hogyani district of Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, on Sunday. Twi American soldiers were killed and six wounded by someone wearing an Afghan soldier's uniform. Photo by Ghulamullah Habibi/EPA-EFE
Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Two U.S. Special Forces members were killed and six others wounded when a man wearing an Afghan uniform opened fire on a joint base in the eastern Nangarhar province of Afghanistan, U.S. military confirmed Sunday. The Department of Defense identified the fatalities as Javier Jaguar Gutierrez, 28, of San Antonio and Sgt. 1st Class Antonio Rey Rodriguez, 28, of Las Cruces, N.M. The men, who were posthumously promoted to first sergeant, were assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Airborne Group in Eglin Air Force Base in western Florida. Advertisement
In addition, the Afghan Ministry of Defense said one of its soldiers was also killed in the attack Saturday, {link:CNN reported. : "https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/08/politics/us-afghanistan-operation-under-fire/index.html" target="_blank"} Initially Saturday, U.S. military officials gave sketchy details, only saying American and Afghan forces came under direct fire during an operation in the Nangarhar province.
A person with a machine gun opened fire on the Sherzad district center, said Col. Sonny Leggett, spokesman for the U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
"Upon completing a key-leader engagement at the district center, current reports indicate an individual in an Afghan uniform opened fire on the combined U.S. and Afghan force with a machine gun," Col.Sonny Leggett said in a statement to Military Times. "We are still collecting information and the cause or motive behind the attack is unknown at this time."
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The assailant in army uniform was killed, the governor of the eastern Afghan province, Shah Mahmood Miakhel, told Voice of America.
It was not immediately clear whether the deadly attack stemmed from a misunderstanding or the shooter was an "influenced" person. The Taliban has not claimed responsibility for the attack.
The wounded soldiers were receiving medical treatment at a U.S. facility.
About 13,000 American troops are stationed in Afghanistan as part of Operation Freedom's Sentinel, a NATO-led Resolute Support mission of training and advising Afghan security forces battling the Taliban.
During the State of the Union address last Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed intentions to withdraw from Afghanistan.
"I am not looking to kill hundreds of thousands of people in Afghanistan, many of them innocent," Trump said. "It is also not our function to serve other nations as a law enforcement agency. These are warfighters, the best in the world, and they either want to fight to win or not fight at all. We are working to finally end America's longest war and bring our troops back home."


upi--2020-02-09--'Wild Wild West' actor Robert Conrad dead at 84

Feb. 9 ( UPI ) -- Wild Wild West , Black Sheep Squadron and Hawaiian Eye star Robert Conrad has @ @ @ @ @ was 84 .
`` He lived a wonderfully long life and while the family is @ @ @ @ @ he will live forever in their hearts , '' Jeff Ballard , a representative for @ @ @ @ @ People.com .
Entertainment Tonight said the Chicago native -- and father of eight children -- @ @ @ @ @ Saturday morning .
Conrad appeared in the films Thundering Jets , Murph the Surf , @ @ @ @ @ Jingle all the Way .
His other credits include the series High Mountain Rangers , @ @ @ @ @ Search and Rescue , and the TV movies Two Fathers ' Justice , Charley Hannah @ @ @ @ @ and the Mob and Sworn to Vengeance , Variety said .
A private memorial service @ @ @ @ @ , which would have been the actor 's 85th birthday .

1/2
Actor Robert Conrad -- pictured here in 1972 -- died Saturday at the age of 84. Photo courtesy of ABC
Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Wild Wild West, Black Sheep Squadron and Hawaiian Eye star Robert Conrad has died in Malibu. He was 84. "He lived a wonderfully long life and while the family is saddened by his passing, he will live forever in their hearts," Jeff Ballard, a representative for Conrad's survivors, told People.com. Advertisement
Entertainment Tonight said the Chicago native -- and father of eight children -- died of heart failure on Saturday morning.
Conrad appeared in the films Thundering Jets, Murph the Surf , The Lady in Red and Jingle all the Way. His other credits include the series High Mountain Rangers, Jesse Hawkes and High Sierra Search and Rescue, and the TV movies Two Fathers' Justice, Charley Hannah, Glory Days, Mario and the Mob and Sworn to Vengeance, Variety said.
A private memorial service is set for March 1, which would have been the actor's 85th birthday.
Notable deaths of 2020
<< Show Caption >>


upi--2020-02-09--Coronavirus death toll rises to 813 worldwide, equaling SARS

Feb. 9 ( UPI ) -- The death toll from coronavirus increased Sunday to 813 worldwide , equaling the number who died from severe acute respiratory syndrome epidemic of 2002-03 .
All but two of the deaths are in mainland China .
The other two were in Hong Kong and the Philippines though the patients had traveled from the nation .
In China , 89 additional deaths were reported Sunday through Saturday , which is three more than the previous day 's figure , according to China 's National Health Commission .
One week ago , there were 304 deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11 .
The number of newly confirmed cases rose by 2,656 , which is a drop from 3,385 new ones Friday .
In all , the number of cases worldwide is 37,566 , including 37,198 in mainland China .
In Hubei province , the epicenter of the outbreak , there were 81 new deaths and 2,147 more newly confirmed cases .
In all , the province 's total fatalities from the outbreak is 780 and total cases is 27,100 .
In Wuhan , where the virus was first discovered , there were 1,379 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients were released from hospitals after being cured , including 324 in Hubei Province .
Also , 31,124 people who had had close contact with infected patients were freed from medical observation .
So far , 371,905 people have been identified as having had close contact with infected patients.
, including 188,183 under medical observation , the health agency reported .
China has been attempting to increase the number of supplies and medical equipment .
On Saturday night , Hubei deputy governor Cao Guangjing said protection gear for medics in the province remained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needed .
The National Development and Reform Commission , which is a macroeconomic planning agency under the State Council , the country 's cabinet , said of health screening equipment , and drugs and vaccines , were being pushed to produce more of them as soon as possible .
The government will help companies to secure funding , licences , facilities and raw materials if needed , and would buy any unsold products , it said .
Outside China , there are 368 cases , including 29 in Hong Kong , 10 in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases have been reported in the United States , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
Travel from China has been curtailed .
On Friday , Royal Caribbean Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Lines announced all travelers with Chinese , Hong Kong and Macau passports , regardless of when or whether they had recently been to mainland China.
, will be banned .
In addition , cruise lines has rerouted voyages , ending stops in China .
When the Royal Caribbean 's Anthem of the Seas docked in Bayonne , N.J. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sent to a New Jersey hospital after 27 travelers on board were screened for the coronavirus .
Seventy cases have now been confirmed on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship off the coast of Yokohama , Jaoan .
A total of 3,700 people are on board , including 428 Americans .
The economic impact is forecast to be worse than SARS , according to Hong Kong 's financial secretary .
`` The actual impact of this epidemic on Hong Kong 's economy depends on its development , but I believe that the outlook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a stronger impact than the that of SARS in 2003 , '' Paul Chan wrote on his blog .
`` In terms of internal factors , mainland visitors now account for 78 % of all visitors to Hong Kong , a percentage much higher than 41 % in 2002 .
In recent years , tourism accounts for 32 % of Hong Kong 's total service industry output , which is higher than 21 % during the SARS period .
Therefore , if the tourism and retail industry continue to weaken , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our economy . ''

Chinese wear protective face masks as the deadly coronavirus threatens Beijing on Saturday. Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 9 (UPI) -- The death toll from the coronavirus increased Sunday to 813 worldwide, equaling the number who died from the severe acute respiratory syndrome epidemic of 2002-03. All but two of the deaths are in mainland China. The other two were in Hong Kong and the Philippines though the patients had traveled from the nation. Advertisement
In China, 89 additional deaths were reported Sunday through Saturday, which is three more than the previous day's figure, according to China's National Health Commission. One week ago, there were 304 deaths with the first dearth reported on Jan. 11.
The number of newly confirmed cases rose by 2,656, which is a drop from 3,385 new ones Friday.
In all, the number of cases worldwide is 37,566, including 37,198 in mainland China.
In Hubei province, the epicenter of the outbreak, there were 81 new deaths and 2,147 more newly confirmed cases. In all, the province's total fatalities from the outbreak is 780 and total cases is 27,100.
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In the city of Wuhan, where the virus was first discovered, there were 1,379 new cases.
A total of 600 patients were released from hospitals after being cured, including 324 in Hubei Province. Also, 31,124 people who had had close contact with infected patients were freed from medical observation.
So far, 371,905 people have been identified as having had close contact with infected patients., including 188,183 under medical observation, the health agency reported.
Meanwhile, China's Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai said on CBS' "Face the Nation" that they have been working closely with the World Health Organization and that U.S. experts will be entering China "very soon."
"We welcome the American experts to participate in our efforts, and we are coordinating with the World Health Organization because a lot of things are done under the auspicious of the World Health Organization," Cui said. "We certainly welcome American experts to join the group that the WHO is assembling and I'm sure they'll be going to China very soon."
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO's director-general, also said in a statement Sunday that he had just seen a team of international experts led by Dr. Bruce Aylward off at the airport heading to China.
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The comments appear to be a turnaround following combative remarks by China directed at the United States in response to its offers of assistance. Beijing has chastizing Washington for implementing strict screening and quarantine measures while saying the assistance offered has neither arrived nor has it been "substantial."
China has been attempting to increase the number of supplies and medical equipment.
On Saturday night, Hubei deputy governor Cao Guangjing said protection gear for medics in the province remained nearly 20 percent short of what was needed.
The National Development and Reform Commission, which is a macroeconomic planning agency under the State Council, the country's cabinet, said of health screening equipment, and drugs and vaccines, were being pushed to produce more of them as soon as possible. The government will help companies to secure funding, licences, facilities and raw materials if needed, and would buy any unsold products, it said.
Outside China, there are 368 cases, including 29 in Hong Kong, 10 in Macau and 18 in Taiwan. Twelves cases have been reported in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Travel from China has been curtailed.
On Friday, Royal Caribbean Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Lines announced all travelers with Chinese, Hong Kong and Macau passports, regardless of when or whether they had recently been to mainland China., will be banned. In addition, cruise lines has rerouted voyages, ending stops in China.
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When the Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas docked in Bayonne, N.J., on Friday, four passengers were sent to a New Jersey hospital after 27 travelers on board were screened for the coronavirus.
Seventy cases have now been confirmed on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship off the coast of Yokohama, Japan. A total of 3,700 people are on board, including 428 Americans.
The economic impact is forecast to be worse than SARS, according to Hong Kong's financial secretary.
"The actual impact of this epidemic on Hong Kong's economy depends on its development, but I believe that the outlook is not optimistic and is likely to be a stronger impact than that of SARS in 2003," Paul Chan wrote on his blog. "In terms of internal factors, mainland visitors now account for 78% of all visitors to Hong Kong, a percentage much higher than 41% in 2002. In recent years, tourism accounts for 32% of Hong Kong's total service industry output, which is higher than 21% during the SARS period. Therefore, if the tourism and retail industry continue to weaken, there will be a more significant impact on our economy."
Meanwhile, Ghebreyesus said the WHO has yet to raise the $675 million it requested from international partners on Wednesday to fund a three-month international preparedness and response plan, that they have yet to me.
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"In an evolving public health, emergency, all countries must step up efforts to prepare for [the 2019-nCoV]'s possible arrival and do their utmost to contain it should it arrive," he said. "This means lab capacity for rapid diagnosis, contact tracing and other tools in the public health arsenal."
The WHO has all called for a meeting later this week of 400 experts to convene in Geneva, Switzerland, to "prioritize work on all the tools we need, including rapid diagnostics, a vaccine and effective treatments," he said.


upi--2020-02-09--Gun who killed 26 people in Thailand shot dead

Feb. 9 ( UPI ) -- A soldier who killed 26 people and wounded 57 in a gun rampage near Bangkok , Thailand , was shot dead by security forces16 hours after the attack , police said Sunday .
Jakraphanth Thomma , 32 , was killed after being cornered all night in a shopping center in Nakhon Ratchasima , police said at a news conference .
It was the worst mass shooting in Thailand .
`` It is unprecedented in Thailand , and I want this to be the last time this crisis happens , '' Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospital in Nakhon Ratchasima , also known as Korat .
The prime minister said the death toll was raised from an earlier reported 20 .
Chan-ocha said Jakraphanth had a grudge with another soldier over a land-selling commission fee .
He killed his commanding officer , identified as Col Anantharot Krasae by the Bangkok Post of the 22nd Ammunition Battalion before stealing weapons from a military camp , police said .
He continued his attack on the streets and at Terminal 21 shopping center .
It began at about 15:30 p.m. local time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ camp .
Shortly after 3 a.m. local time , gunfire was heard as the security forces raided the building .
About 6 1/2 hours later , police confirmed that the gunman had been shot dead .
The gunman reportedly had tried to escape in the back of the building .
While he was holed up in the building , the suspect 's mother was also brought in from from his hometown in Chaiyaphum Province to try to persuade him to give himself up , Maj. Gen. Jirapob Puridet , who led the security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media .
The mother , whose name was withheld , told him he had depression and an extremely bad temper , and there was little point in talking to her son .
`` We had to make the move of confronting him because people who were trapped inside a freezing room sent messages to us that the oxygen level was very low and they are suffocating , '' Puridet said .
`` So we had to risk to confront him face to face otherwise people who were trapped inside would die . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ injured during the confrontation , Puridet said .
`` It was almost like a Hollywood action movie shooting scene , '' he said .
`` At certain points the gun firing was nonstop . ''
Charlie Crowson , a teacher of English who lives in Nakhon Ratchasima , told the BBC one of his girlfriend 's former students was among those killed .
He said there were `` bodies on the street . ''
The family of 13-year-old Ratchanon Karnchanamethee sobbed as they identified his body at a morgue .
`` He 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even had dinner , '' said his father , Natthawut Karnchanamethee , said in a CNN report .
`` I allowed him to do anything he wanted to .
I never set expectations for him .
I only wanted him to be a good person . ''
During the ordeal , he posted on his social media accounts , including on Facebook which has taken down the page .
He had posted image of a pistol with three sets of bullets , along with the words `` it is time to get excited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' .
In one post on Facebook , he asked whether he should surrender .
Army chief Apirat Kongsompong announced changes to armament for soldiers on base guard duties , banning them from carrying machine guns and ammunition .
In addition , they must remove bolts from their firearms and hand them over to commanding officers .

Thai forensic police officers inspect car of a shooting victim at the scene of a mass shooting outside the Terminal 21 shopping mall in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, on Sunday. Photo by Rungroj Yongrit/EPA-EFE
Feb. 9 (UPI) -- A soldier who killed 26 people and wounded 57 in a gun rampage near Bangkok, Thailand, was shot dead by security forces 16 hours after the attack began, police said Sunday. Jakraphanth Thomma, 32, was killed after being all night in a shopping center in Nakhon Ratchasima, police said at a news conference. Advertisement
It was the worst mass shooting in Thailand.
"It is unprecedented in Thailand, and I want this to be the last time this crisis happens," Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said after visiting the wounded at a hospital in Nakhon Ratchasima, also known as Korat.
The prime minister said the death toll was raised from an earlier reported 20.
Chan-ocha said the suspect had a grudge with another soldier over a land-selling commission fee.
He killed his commanding officer, identified as Col Anantharot Krasae by the Bangkok Post of the 22nd Ammunition Battalion before stealing weapons from a military camp, police said. He continued his attack on the streets and at Terminal 21 shopping center.
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It began at about 3:30 p.m. local time Saturday at the Suatham Phithak military camp.
Shortly after 3 a.m. local time, gunfire was heard as the security forces raided the building.
About 6 1/2 hours later, police confirmed that the gunman had been shot dead.
The gunman reportedly had tried to escape in the back of the building.
While he was holed up in the building, the suspect's mother was also brought in from from his hometown in Chaiyaphum Province to try to persuade him to give himself up, Maj. Gen. Jirapob Puridet, who led the security team inside the building, told the media.
The mother, whose name was withheld, told him he had depression and an extremely bad temper, and there was little point in talking to her son.
"We had to make the move of confronting him because people who were trapped inside a freezing room sent messages to us that the oxygen level was very low and they are suffocating," Puridet said. "So we had to risk to confront him face to face otherwise people who were trapped inside would die."
One officer died and three others were injured during the confrontation, Puridet said.
"It was almost like a Hollywood action movie shooting scene," he said. "At certain points the gun firing was nonstop."
Advertisement
Charlie Crowson, a teacher of English who lives in Nakhon Ratchasima, told the BBC one of his girlfriend's former students was among those killed. He said there were "bodies on the street."
The family of 13-year-old Ratchanon Karnchanamethee sobbed as they identified his body at a morgue.
"He's my only son. He hasn't even had dinner," said his father, Natthawut Karnchanamethee, said in a CNN report. "I allowed him to do anything he wanted to. I never set expectations for him. I only wanted him to be a good person."
During the ordeal, he posted on his social media accounts, including on Facebook which has taken down the page.
He had posted an image of a pistol with three sets of bullets, along with the words "it is time to get excited" and "nobody can avoid death".
In one post on Facebook, he asked whether he should surrender.
Army chief Apirat Kongsompong announced changes to armament for soldiers on base guard duties, banning them from carrying machine guns and ammunition. In addition, they must remove bolts from their firearms and hand them over to commanding officers.


upi--2020-02-09--Solar Orbiter launch planned Sunday to study sun's poles

ORLANDO , Fla. , Feb. 8 ( UPI ) -- One of the most advanced science missions to study the sun in history -- the Solar Orbiter -- is scheduled for launch on Sunday night in Florida .
The launch is planned for 11:03 p.m. EST at Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station , which is adjacent to Kennedy Space Center .
A two-hour launch window exists in case of delays .
The satellite will aim multiple cameras and sensory equipment at the sun 's polar regions , images of which have never been taken .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ by NASA and the European Space Agency to better understand solar radiation and solar flares .
`` The mission will be able to look at the poles of the sun , which will be the first time ever that we will be able to look at the poles , '' said Cesar Garcia , Solar Orbiter project manager with the European agency .
He said the instruments on board will `` talk to each other , '' telling another instrument to take a measurement of an interesting phenomenon .
`` They measure the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ itself , providing images of the sun , the corona , the light scattered from the solar winds , '' Garcia said .
The spacecraft will slingshot around Venus several times to reach an orbital plane far different from that of the planets , which orbit the sun around its equator .
The slingshot maneuvers will are necessary to send the spacecraft around the poles of the sun , instead .
The closest approach of the Solar Orbiter will be about the distance between the sun and Mercury .
In contrast , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much closer to the sun , dipping into the sun 's outer atmosphere .
Even so , Solar Orbiter will become so hot that it will need to tilt its solar power panels away from the sun when at its closest point to avoid overheating , said Ian Walters , project manager for spacecraft manufacturer Airbus .
Cameras will be stored behind a protective heat shield , with apertures that open only briefly when needed .
Solar Orbiter will leave the launch pad atop 1.2 million pounds of thrust from a United Launch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a single solid rocket booster .
The first stage of the rocket will burn for about four minutes , while the second stage will carry the satellite for almost an hour after liftoff until it hits escape velocity of 27,000 miles per hour .

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The European Space Agency's Solar Orbiter science satellite is shown in an artist's concept as its instruments face the sun. Image courtesy of NASA
ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 8 (UPI) -- One of the most advanced science missions to study the sun in history -- the Solar Orbiter -- is scheduled for launch on Sunday night in Florida. The launch is planned for 11:03 p.m. EST at Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, which is adjacent to Kennedy Space Center. A two-hour launch window exists in case of delays. Advertisement
The satellite will aim multiple cameras and sensory equipment at the sun's polar regions, images of which have never been taken. It's part of a concerted effort by NASA and the European Space Agency to better understand solar radiation and solar flares.
"The mission will be able to look at the poles of the sun, which will be the first time ever that we will be able to look at the poles," said Cesar Garcia, Solar Orbiter project manager with the European agency.
He said the instruments on board will "talk to each other," telling another instrument to take a measurement of an interesting phenomenon.
"They measure the sun at the location of the spacecraft itself, providing images of the sun, the corona, the light scattered from the solar winds," Garcia said.
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The spacecraft will slingshot around Venus several times to reach an orbital plane far different from that of the planets, which orbit the sun around its equator. The slingshot maneuvers will are necessary to send the spacecraft around the poles of the sun, instead.
The closest approach of the Solar Orbiter will be about the distance between the sun and Mercury. In contrast, the Parker Solar Probe launched in 2018 orbits much closer to the sun, dipping into the sun's outer atmosphere.
Even so, Solar Orbiter will become so hot that it will need to tilt its solar power panels away from the sun when at its closest point to avoid overheating, said Ian Walters, project manager for spacecraft manufacturer Airbus.
Cameras will be stored behind a protective heat shield, with apertures that open only briefly when needed.
Solar Orbiter will leave the launch pad atop 1.2 million pounds of thrust from a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket that will have a single solid rocket booster.
The first stage of the rocket will burn for about four minutes, while the second stage will carry the satellite for almost an hour after liftoff until it hits escape velocity of 27,000 miles per hour.
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upi--2020-02-09--Famous birthdays for Feb. 9: Peggy Whitson, Rose Leslie

Feb. 9 ( UPI ) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Aquarius .
-- William @ @ @ @ @ of the United States , in 1773 -- Former Secretary of State Dean Rusk in @

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NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson is helped out of the Soyuz MS-04 spacecraft just minutes after she, Roscosmos cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin and NASA astronaut Jack Fischer landed in a remote area near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan, on September 3, 2017. Whitson turns 60 on February 9. File Photo by Bill Ingalls/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Aquarius. They include: Advertisement
-- William Henry Harrison, ninth president of the United States, in 1773
-- Former Secretary of State Dean Rusk in 1909
-- Actor Carmen Miranda in 1909
-- Country singer Ernest Tubb in 1914
-- Baseball entrepreneur Bill Veeck in 1914
-- Actor Kathryn Grayson in 1922
-- Irish playwright Brendan Behan in 1923
-- Television journalist Roger Mudd in 1928 (age 92)
-- South African author J. M. Coetzee, Nobel laureate, in 1940 (age 80)
-- Singer/songwriter Carole King in 1942 (age 78)
File Photo by Leigh Vogel/UPI
-- Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz in 1943 (age 77)
-- Actor Joe Pesci in 1943 (age 77)
-- Author Alice Walker in 1944 (age 76)
-- Actor Mia Farrow in 1945 (age 75)
-- Actor Judith Light in 1949 (age 71)
-- Actor Ciaran Hinds in 1953 (age 67)
-- Actor Charles Shaughnessy in 1955 (age 65)
-- American astronaut Peggy Whitson in 1960 (age 60)
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-- Country singer Travis Tritt in 1963 (age 57)
File Photo by David Tulis/UPI
-- Actor Charlie Day in 1976 (age 44)
-- Russian Olympic figure skater Irina Slutskaya in 1979 (age 41)
-- Actor Zhang Ziyi in 1979 (age 42)
-- Actor Tom Hiddleston in 1981 (age 39)
-- American Taliban John Walker Lindh in 1981 (age 39)
-- Actor Michael B. Jordan in 1987 (age 33)
-- Actor Rose Leslie in 1987 (age 33)


upi--2020-02-09--Claire Danes: 'Homeland' is 'unique,' 'stimulates conversation'

LOS ANGELES , Feb. 9 ( UPI ) -- When Homeland returns Sunday for its final season , it will resolve the Season 7 cliffhanger .
The series began with an American POW returning , and now main character Carrie Mathison ( Claire Danes ) finds herself in a similar predicament .
Carrie successfully brought Russian spy Simone Martin ( Sandrine Holt ) back to the United States , but was captured .
The season premiere reveals that Carrie makes it out of a Russian prison , but she is in just as precarious a position as Nicholas Brody ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ began .
`` There 's that perfect symmetry , '' Danes said on a Television Critics Association panel Jan. 13 .
`` I think just psychically , it fuses Carrie with Brody in a way that felt right . ''
Brody returned from an al-Qaeda prison in Season 1 , leading to suspicions the terrorists turned him into a sleeper agent .
Carrie 's return from Russia strips her of the authority she 's earned as an American spy for seven seasons .
`` She is so clear about her patriotism , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she can be challenged in every way , but if her patriotism is questioned , I think that is probably the most profound insult she could imagine . ''
Homeland co-creator Alex Gansa said Carrie now ca n't even be sure about herself .
`` She 's the one whose loyalties are questioned , not only by those in the intelligence community , but by Carrie Mathison herself , because her memory is so just fragmented from her time in captivity , '' Gansa said .
One person who still trusts her is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saul , the CIA chief whom President Keane made national security adviser in Season 7 , is ready to send her on another mission .
`` The mission that I found so meaningful and ironic at the end of the day was the mentee/mentor , father/child [ relationship ] , '' Patinkin said .
In seven seasons of spy work , Carrie and Saul have at times betrayed each other , and Saul has roped her back into emotionally compromising work .
Season 8 begins with Saul throwing Carrie a lifeline after she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the conclusion of Homeland will be the conclusion of Carrie and Saul 's relationship .
`` That 's what you will see resolved by the end of the 12 episodes , '' Gansa said .
Season 8 will be Saul and Carrie 's last mission , but Patinkin suspects another show will take Homeland 's place .
He believes people always will have an appetite for dramas that explore fictional crises in a world full of real ones .
`` It 's a necessity , not just for the news media , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that story front and center for the sake of humanity , '' Patinkin said .
Danes agrees that Homeland is more than just escapist entertainment .
`` I do think it stimulates conversation , and I think it is unique , '' Danes said .
`` So I think there will be an absence .
I will miss it , personally .
I think it will be missed . ''
Homeland has reflected topical issues such as the war in Afghanistan and Russian interference with U.S. politics .
Gansa said the final season @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than past seasons .
`` This season we really decided to focus on these two actors and these two characters and to tell the final chapter of that story , '' Gansa said .
As Saul and Carrie 's relationship reaches its resolution , and Carrie finds herself the suspected POW , Gansa also found ways to bring back some Season 4 characters .
`` For the people that have stuck with the show all of these years , they are going to get their rewards , '' Gansa said .
`` One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of them is a resolution to the Haqqani story that we left hanging at the end of Season 4 . ''

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Claire Danes says goodbye to her "Homeland" character Carrie Mathison after the eighth season. File Photo by Serena Xu-Ning/UPI | License Photo
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- When Homeland returns Sunday for its final season, it will resolve the Season 7 cliffhanger. The series began with an American POW returning, and now main character Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes) finds herself in a similar predicament. Carrie successfully brought Russian spy Simone Martin (Sandrine Holt) back to the United States, but was captured. The season premiere reveals that Carrie makes it out of a Russian prison, but she is in just as precarious a position as Nicholas Brody (Damian Lewis) was when the show began. Advertisement
"There's that perfect symmetry," Danes said on a Television Critics Association panel Jan. 13. "I think just psychically, it fuses Carrie with Brody in a way that felt right."
Brody returned from an al-Qaeda prison in Season 1, leading to suspicions the terrorists turned him into a sleeper agent. Carrie's return from Russia strips her of the authority she's earned as an American spy for seven seasons.
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"She is so clear about her patriotism," Danes said. "That is, she can be challenged in every way, but if her patriotism is questioned, I think that is probably the most profound insult she could imagine."
Homeland co-creator Alex Gansa said Carrie now can't even be sure about herself.
"She's the one whose loyalties are questioned, not only by those in the intelligence community, but by Carrie Mathison herself, because her memory is so just fragmented from her time in captivity," Gansa said.
One person who still trusts her is Saul Berenson (Mandy Patinkin). Saul, the CIA chief whom President Keane made national security adviser in Season 7, is ready to send her on another mission.
"The mission that I found so meaningful and ironic at the end of the day was the mentee/mentor, father/child [relationship]," Patinkin said.
In seven seasons of spy work, Carrie and Saul have at times betrayed each other, and Saul has roped her back into emotionally compromising work.
Season 8 begins with Saul throwing Carrie a lifeline after she sacrificed herself for his mission. Gansa said the conclusion of Homeland will be the conclusion of Carrie and Saul's relationship.
"That's what you will see resolved by the end of the 12 episodes," Gansa said.
Advertisement
Season 8 will be Saul and Carrie's last mission, but Patinkin suspects another show will take Homeland's place. He believes people always will have an appetite for dramas that explore fictional crises in a world full of real ones.
"It's a necessity, not just for the news media, but for storytellers in general to keep that story front and center for the sake of humanity," Patinkin said.
Danes agrees that Homeland is more than just escapist entertainment.
"I do think it stimulates conversation, and I think it is unique," Danes said. "So I think there will be an absence. I will miss it, personally. I think it will be missed."
Homeland has reflected topical issues such as the war in Afghanistan and Russian interference with U.S. politics. Gansa said the final season would be less reflective of topical storylines than past seasons.
"This season we really decided to focus on these two actors and these two characters and to tell the final chapter of that story," Gansa said.
As Saul and Carrie's relationship reaches its resolution, and Carrie finds herself the suspected POW, Gansa also found ways to bring back some Season 4 characters.
"For the people that have stuck with the show all of these years, they are going to get their rewards," Gansa said. "One of them is Max, and one of them is a resolution to the Haqqani story that we left hanging at the end of Season 4."
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Homeland returns Sunday at 9 p.m. on Showtime.


upi--2020-02-09--On This Day, Feb. 9: Joseph McCarthy warns of communists in State Department

Feb. 9 ( UPI ) -- On this date in history : In 1825 , after no presidential candidate won the necessary majority , the House of Representatives elected John Quincy Adams the sixth president of the United States .
In 1900 , the solid silver trophy known as the Davis Cup was first put up for competition when American collegian Dwight Filley Davis challenged British tennis players to compete against his Harvard team .
In 1943 , in a major World War II strategic victory , the Allies retook Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands from the Japanese .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ R-Wis. , charged the U.S. State Department was infested with communists , touching off the infamous `` McCarthy era . ''
The State Department denied the allegation the next day .
In 1964 , the Beatles appeared on television 's The Ed Sullivan Show .
An estimated 73 million people watched .
In 1971 , Satchel Paige became the first Negro League player voted into baseball 's Hall of Fame .
In 1984 , Soviet President Yuri Andropov , in power 15 months , died at age 69 .
In 1991 , Lithuanians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Union .
In 2001 , the submarine USS Greeneville collided with the Ehime Maru , a Japanese fishery training boat , off the coast of Oahu in Hawaii during a surfacing drill .
Nine people on the fishing vessel were killed .
The victims included four high school students .
In 2008 , the U.S. space shuttle Atlantis delivered a $ 2 billion European-made science lab to the International Space Station , doubling its zero-gravity research capacity .
In 2010 , U.S. President Barack Obama signed a memorandum setting up a federal task @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2013 , Afzal Guru , who authorities said was the mastermind behind a 2001 attack on India 's Parliament , killing , seven people , was executed in New Delhi .
In 2019 , Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts made her 2020 bid for the presidency official .

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Portrait of U.S. Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy, R-Wis., taken in 1954. McCarthy charged the U.S. State Department was infested with communists, touching off the infamous "McCarthy era" on February 9, 1950. File Photo/UPI
Feb. 9 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1825, after no presidential candidate won the necessary majority, the House of Representatives elected John Quincy Adams the sixth president of the United States. Advertisement
In 1900, the solid silver trophy known as the Davis Cup was first put up for competition when American collegian Dwight Filley Davis challenged British tennis players to compete against his Harvard team.
In 1943, in a major World War II strategic victory, the Allies retook Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands from the Japanese.
In 1950, U.S. Sen. Joseph McCarthy, R-Wis., charged the U.S. State Department was infested with communists, touching off the infamous "McCarthy era." The State Department denied the allegation the next day.
In 1964, the Beatles appeared on television's The Ed Sullivan Show. An estimated 73 million people watched.
In 1971, Satchel Paige became the first Negro League player voted into baseball's Hall of Fame.
In 1984, Soviet President Yuri Andropov, in power 15 months, died at age 69.
UPI File Photo
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In 1991, Lithuanians overwhelmingly voted to secede from the Soviet Union.
In 2001, the submarine USS Greeneville collided with the Ehime Maru, a Japanese fishery training boat, off the coast of Oahu in Hawaii during a surfacing drill. Nine people on the fishing vessel were killed. The victims included four high school students.
In 2008, the U.S. space shuttle Atlantis delivered a $2 billion European-made science lab to the International Space Station, doubling its zero-gravity research capacity.
In 2010, U.S. President Barack Obama signed a memorandum setting up a federal task force to tackle childhood obesity.
File Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI
In 2013, Afzal Guru, who authorities said was the mastermind behind a 2001 attack on India's Parliament, killing, seven people, was executed in New Delhi.
In 2019, Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts made her 2020 bid for the presidency official.
File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI


upi--2020-02-08--'Farewell,' 'Uncut Gems,' 'Lighthouse' shine at Independent Spirit Awards

Feb. 8 ( UPI ) -- The Farewell , Uncut Gems and The Lighthouse were the big winners at the @ @ @ @ @ Santa Monica on Saturday .
The Farewell was named Best Feature and the Best Supporting @ @ @ @ @ member Zhao Shuzhen .
Benny Safdie and Josh Safdie shared the Best Director prize for @ @ @ @ @ Adam Sandler won for Best Actor .
The film also picked up the Best Editing @ @ @ @ @ home with the Best Supporting Actor statuette for The Lighthouse , which also won for @ @ @ @ @ won the Best Screenplay and Robert Altman Award prizes .
Renee Zellweger won for Best @ @ @ @ @ was voted Best International Film and the Best Documentary prize went to American Factory .
@ @ @ @ @ actress Aubrey Plaza hosted the event , which aired on IFC .

Feb. 8 (UPI) -- The Farewell, Uncut Gems and The Lighthouse were the big winners at the Independent Spirit Awards ceremony in Santa Monica on Saturday.
The Farewell was named Best Feature and the Best Supporting Actress award went to cast member Zhao Shuzhen.
Benny Safdie and Josh Safdie shared the Best Director prize for Uncut Gems and film lead Adam Sandler won for Best Actor. The film also picked up the Best Editing honor.
Willem Dafoe went home with the Best Supporting Actor statuette for The Lighthouse, which also won for Best Cinematography.
Marriage Story won the Best Screenplay and Robert Altman Award prizes.
Renee Zellweger won for Best Actress for Judy, Parasite was voted Best International Film and the Best Documentary prize went to American Factory.
The gala celebrated excellence in low-budget, art-house movies.