upi--2020-04-01--Bechtel awarded $1.2B to destroy mustard weapons at Pueblo plant

April 1 ( UPI ) -- Bechtel National received a $ 1.2 billion contract extension this week to destroy surplus chemical weapons stored at the U.S. Army Pueblo Chemical Depot in Colorado .
The deal funds the construction of three new buildings -- called static detonation chambers -- to destroy munitions that could not be destroyed by automated equipment in Pueblo , according to Bechtel .
The Chemical Agent Destruction Pilot Plant in Pueblo began pilot operations in 2016 and has destroyed more than 1,300 tons of mustard weapons .
According to Bechtel , that 's more than half of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time the project is complete , Bechtel estimates staff will have destroyed more than 2,600 tons of mustard gas in three formats -- 155mm projectiles , 105 mm projectiles and 4.2-inch mortar rounds -- before ultimately closing the plant .
According to materials published by the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant , staff at the plant use three processes to destroy chemical weapons : neutralization followed by biotreatment ; explosive destruction ; and static detonation .
`` The mission of this plant , our people , and our customer has international significance : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weapons , '' Barbara Rusinko , president of Bechtel 's Nuclear , Security and Environmental global business unit , said in a press release .
`` The team overcame the challenge posed by some munitions and is now simultaneously operating the main plant and building the new destruction facilities . ''
Michael S. Abaie , program executive officer for the Army 's Program Executive Office for Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives , said the project puts his office in a `` good position '' to finish destroying the weapons stockpile by December 2023 .

This 2015 photo shows a worker at the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. This week Bechtel received a $1.2 contract modification to continue destroying mustard munitions at the plant. Photo by Bethani Crouch/U.S. Army
April 1 (UPI) -- Bechtel National received a $1.2 billion contract extension this week to destroy surplus chemical weapons stored at the U.S. Army Pueblo Chemical Depot in Colorado. The deal funds the construction of three new buildings -- called static detonation chambers -- to destroy munitions that could not be destroyed by automated equipment in Pueblo, according to Bechtel. Advertisement
The Chemical Agent Destruction Pilot Plant in Pueblo began pilot operations in 2016 and has destroyed more than 1,300 tons of mustard weapons. According to Bechtel, that's more than half of the stockpile in Colorado.
By the time the project is complete, Bechtel estimates staff will have destroyed more than 2,600 tons of mustard gas in three formats -- 155mm projectiles, 105 mm projectiles and 4.2-inch mortar rounds -- before ultimately closing the plant.
According to materials published by the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant, staff at the plant use three processes to destroy chemical weapons: neutralization followed by biotreatment; explosive destruction; and static detonation.
"The mission of this plant, our people, and our customer has international significance: to help rid the U.S. of chemical weapons," Barbara Rusinko, president of Bechtel's Nuclear, Security and Environmental global business unit, said in a press release. "The team overcame the challenge posed by some munitions and is now simultaneously operating the main plant and building the new destruction facilities."
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Michael S. Abaie, program executive officer for the Army's Program Executive Office for Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives, said the project puts his office in a "good position" to finish destroying the weapons stockpile by December 2023.


upi--2020-04-01--Climate change shrinking wings of nightingale, making migration more difficult

April 1 ( UPI ) -- The seasonal long-distant trek from Europe and Asian to sub-Saharan Africa is getting harder and harder for the common nightingale .
Scientists have discovered a link between Earth 's changing climate and the nightingale 's wingspan .
As Earth gets hotter and drier as a result of climate change , the migrating songbird 's wings are getting shorter .
For the study , published Wednesday in the journal The Auk : Ornithological Advances , scientists analyzed 20 years of data on wing shape and size variation among a pair of common nightingale populations living @ @ @ @ @ @ @ birds with shorter wingspans were less likely to return to their breeding grounds after their first round-trip to Africa .
But what accounts for the relationship between wingspan , migration and survival was a question for the researchers .
Authors of the new study hypothesized that wingspan is one of several traits in a migratory gene package .
Songbirds like the common nightingale have adapted to long distance travel by evolving a longer wingspan , faster resting metabolic rate , larger clutch size and shorter lifespan .
Scientists suspect these traits are controlled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ While such a gene package surely offers benefits , environmental stressors putting negative pressure on one of the traits can suppress other traits , as well .
Over the last several decades in central Spain , the arrival of spring has shifted and summer droughts have increased in length and intensity .
As a result , nightingale 's have a smaller window in which to produce and raise young .
Scientists suspect birds producing smaller clutches of eggs have an advantage .
If environmental pressures are depressing the nightingale 's clutch size , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ migratory gene package are being influenced .
As birds produce smaller clutch sizes , they may also grow shorter wings .
But while a smaller clutch size can prove advantageous , helping the common nightingale raise young in a shorter amount of time , a shorter wingspan makes long-distance travel more difficult .
In this case , a shrinking wingspan serves as an example of a maladaptive change .
`` There is much evidence that climate change is having an effect on migratory birds , changing their arrival and laying dates and their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' lead author Carolina Remacha , an ecologist at the University of Madrid , said in a news release .
`` If we are to fully understand how bird populations adapt to new environments in order to help them tackle the challenges of a rapidly changing world , it is important to call attention to the potential problems of maladaptive change . ''

New research shows that climate change may be affecting the wing shape of nightingales, making them less able to complete their annual migration. Photo by Javier de la Puente
April 1 (UPI) -- The seasonal long-distant trek from Europe and Asian to sub-Saharan Africa is getting harder and harder for the common nightingale. Scientists have discovered a link between Earth's changing climate and the nightingale's wingspan. As Earth gets hotter and drier as a result of climate change, the migrating songbird's wings are getting shorter. Advertisement
For the study, published Wednesday in the journal The Auk: Ornithological Advances, scientists analyzed 20 years of data on wing shape and size variation among a pair of common nightingale populations living in central Spain.
The data showed birds with shorter wingspans were less likely to return to their breeding grounds after their first round-trip to Africa. But what accounts for the relationship between wingspan, migration and survival was a question for the researchers.
Authors of the new study hypothesized that wingspan is one of several traits in a migratory gene package. Songbirds like the common nightingale have adapted to long distance travel by evolving a longer wingspan, faster resting metabolic rate, larger clutch size and shorter lifespan. Scientists suspect these traits are controlled by the same group of genes.
While such a gene package surely offers benefits, environmental stressors putting negative pressure on one of the traits can suppress other traits, as well.
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Over the last several decades in central Spain, the arrival of spring has shifted and summer droughts have increased in length and intensity. As a result, nightingale's have a smaller window in which to produce and raise young. Scientists suspect birds producing smaller clutches of eggs have an advantage.
If environmental pressures are depressing the nightingale's clutch size, it's like other traits in the migratory gene package are being influenced. As birds produce smaller clutch sizes, they may also grow shorter wings.
But while a smaller clutch size can prove advantageous, helping the common nightingale raise young in a shorter amount of time, a shorter wingspan makes long-distance travel more difficult. In this case, a shrinking wingspan serves as an example of a maladaptive change.
"There is much evidence that climate change is having an effect on migratory birds, changing their arrival and laying dates and their physical features over the last few decades," lead author Carolina Remacha, an ecologist at the University of Madrid, said in a news release. "If we are to fully understand how bird populations adapt to new environments in order to help them tackle the challenges of a rapidly changing world, it is important to call attention to the potential problems of maladaptive change."


upi--2020-04-01--Dow Jones falls 973 points amid reports of job losses, high coronavirus death toll

April 1 ( UPI ) -- U.S. stocks fell Wednesday , a day after finishing their worst first quarter in history , amid reports on job losses and the potential for as many as 200,000 deaths due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 973.65 points , or 4.44 percent , while the S & P 500 and Nasdaq Composite both closed down 4.41 percent .
Boeing stock fell 12.35 percent , American Express stock slid 9.03 percent and Dow Inc. dropped 7.52 percent , leading the Dow 's decline .
Real estate investment , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5 percent as they dragged down the S & P 500 .
Wednesday 's decline extended the Dow 's losses from Tuesday , when it dropped 410 points , ending Wall Street 's worst first quarter in history and worst three-month performance since 1987 .
ADP and Moody 's analytics reported Wednesday that 27,000 U.S. jobs had been lost by March 12 , before the main impact of the coronavirus .
The Labor Department will release its March jobs report Friday .
The decline also came after White House experts on Tuesday shared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ die due to the coronavirus and President Donald Trump warned Americans to prepare for a `` very tough two weeks '' as deaths are expected to hit a peak .
Trump had previously extended federal social distancing deadlines through the end of April and more states including Florida have issued statewide orders directing Americans to stay inside and non-essential businesses to close .

The trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange is seen mostly empty on March 20, when Wall Street went to all electronic trades. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
April 1 (UPI) -- U.S. stocks fell Wednesday, a day after finishing their worst first quarter in history, amid reports on job losses and the potential for as many as 200,000 deaths due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 973.65 points, or 4.44 percent, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite both closed down 4.41 percent. Advertisement
Boeing stock fell 12.35 percent, American Express stock slid 9.03 percent and Dow Inc. dropped 7.52 percent, leading the Dow's decline. Real estate investment, utilities, energy and financials each fell 5 percent as they dragged down the S&P 500.
Wednesday's decline extended the Dow's losses from Tuesday, when it dropped 410 points, ending Wall Street's worst first quarter in history and worst three-month performance since 1987.
ADP and Moody's analytics reported Wednesday that 27,000 U.S. jobs had been lost by March 12, before the main impact of the coronavirus. The Labor Department will release its March jobs report Friday.
The decline also came after White House experts on Tuesday shared projections that 100,000 to 200,000 Americans may die due to the coronavirus and President Donald Trump warned Americans to prepare for a "very tough two weeks" as deaths are expected to hit a peak.
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Trump had previously extended federal social distancing deadlines through the end of April and more states including Florida have issued statewide orders directing Americans to stay inside and non-essential businesses to close.


upi--2020-04-01--Texas stays execution of Fabian Hernandez amid coronavirus outbreak

April 1 ( UPI ) -- A Texas appeals court on Wednesday issued its third stay of execution amid a disruption to the judicial system brought on by the coronavirus pandemic .
The Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas said Fabian Hernandez 's lethal injection will be delayed for 60 days , at which point a new execution date can be scheduled .
The 44-year-old was originally scheduled to be executed April 23 .
Hernandez is the third death row inmate in Texas to receive a stay amid the virus outbreak as lawyers argue they 're unable to investigate and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before scheduled executions .
Hernandez received the death penalty for the 2006 shooting deaths of his estranged wife , Renee Urbina Hernandez , and her boyfriend , Arturo Fonseca .
The court approved stays for John Hummel and Tracy Beatty last month .
They were on the schedule to be executed March 18 and March 25 , respectively .
Death penalty experts warn the pandemic could disrupt executions in the United States for months as millions of Americans are under stay-at-home orders that prevent the normal order of business from taking place .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , D.C.-based Death Penalty Information Center , told UPI last month there 's a lot of legal work that happens once a death row inmate is put on the calendar for execution .
In some cases , witnesses do n't come forward to provide evidence or testimony until there 's a date .
This means there 's a substantial investigation that goes on in the weeks and months before an execution involving multiple courts .
Many states have closed prison facilities , preventing lawyers from interacting with their clients except in certain situations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ witnesses , family members of the victims and defendants , spiritual advisers and corrections officials .
Many take part in or watch the execution inside rooms that do n't allow for the 6 feet of space federal health officials recommend between people .
`` You are creating a potential petri dish to spread the virus , '' he said .
`` That does n't even go to the question of the very scarce judicial resources . ''
It 's unclear how many scheduled executions might be stayed because of the COVID-19 outbreak .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of June , during which time there are four more executions scheduled .
Of those , three are in Texas -- Billy Wardlow on April 29 , Edward Busby on May 6 and Randall Mays on May 13 .
One is scheduled in Missouri -- Walter Barton on May 19 .

Fabian Hernandez received the death penalty for the 2006 shooting deaths of his estranged wife, Renee Urbina Hernandez, and her boyfriend, Arturo Fonseca. File Photo courtesy of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice
April 1 (UPI) -- A Texas appeals court on Wednesday issued its third stay of execution amid a disruption to the judicial system brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. The Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas said Fabian Hernandez's lethal injection will be delayed for 60 days, at which point a new execution date can be scheduled. The 44-year-old was originally scheduled to be executed April 23. Advertisement
Hernandez is the third death row inmate in Texas to receive a stay amid the virus outbreak as lawyers argue they're unable to investigate and defend their clients in the final weeks before scheduled executions.
Hernandez received the death penalty for the 2006 shooting deaths of his estranged wife, Renee Urbina Hernandez, and her boyfriend, Arturo Fonseca.
The court approved stays for John Hummel and Tracy Beatty last month. They were on the schedule to be executed March 18 and March 25, respectively.
Death penalty experts warn the pandemic could disrupt executions in the United States for months as millions of Americans are under stay-at-home orders that prevent the normal order of business from taking place.
Robert Dunham, director of the Washington, D.C.-based Death Penalty Information Center, told UPI last month there's a lot of legal work that happens once a death row inmate is put on the calendar for execution. In some cases, witnesses don't come forward to provide evidence or testimony until there's a date.
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This means there's a substantial investigation that goes on in the weeks and months before an execution involving multiple courts. Many states have closed prison facilities, preventing lawyers from interacting with their clients except in certain situations.
The actual execution date involves media witnesses, family members of the victims and defendants, spiritual advisers and corrections officials. Many take part in or watch the execution inside rooms that don't allow for the 6 feet of space federal health officials recommend between people.
"You are creating a potential petri dish to spread the virus," he said. "That doesn't even go to the question of the very scarce judicial resources."
It's unclear how many scheduled executions might be stayed because of the COVID-19 outbreak. Hernandez's stay lasts through the beginning of June, during which time there are four more executions scheduled.
Of those, three are in Texas -- Billy Wardlow on April 29, Edward Busby on May 6 and Randall Mays on May 13. One is scheduled in Missouri -- Walter Barton on May 19.


upi--2020-04-01--Couple win second lottery jackpot with same numbers 35 years later

April 1 ( UPI ) -- An Australian couple who have played the same lottery numbers for more than 35 @ @ @ @ @ -- their second jackpot using the digits .
The Hamilton Hill , Western Australia , @ @ @ @ @ their 60s , told Lotterywest officials the Saturday Lotto ticket they bought from Hamilton Hill @ @ @ @ @ of birthday numbers they have been using for more than 35 years .
The ticket @ @ @ @ @ 789,288 Division One prize .
The couple said the numbers had proven lucky before .
@ @ @ @ @ Division Two with the same numbers around 35 years ago and did say that one @ @ @ @ @ big one , '' they said .

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April 1 (UPI) -- An Australian couple who have played the same lottery numbers for more than 35 years won nearly $800,000 -- their second jackpot using the digits.
The Hamilton Hill, Western Australia, couple, who are in their 60s, told Lotterywest officials the Saturday Lotto ticket they bought from Hamilton Hill Newsagency bore the same set of birthday numbers they have been using for more than 35 years.
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The ticket earned the couple a $789,288 Division One prize.
The couple said the numbers had proven lucky before.
"We managed to win Division Two with the same numbers around 35 years ago and did say that one day we'd win the big one," they said.


upi--2020-04-01--Cat rescued from high ceiling at supermarket

April 1 ( UPI ) -- Animal rescuers were called to a British supermarket where a cat was spotted stranded on ceiling beams 40 feet above the ground .
The RSPCA said Inspectors Anthony Joynes and John Littlewood were dispatched March 25 to the Sainsbury 's store in Upton , Merseyside , England , where employees had spotted a cat stranded on the beams across the ceiling of the store 's delivery bay .
The inspectors erected a ladder and created a pulley system to raise a cage that Joynes coaxed the cat into by shaking a can of food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from where she was found but I have no idea how she managed to climb up so high but she was obviously terrified once she was up there and realized she could n't safely get down , '' Joynes said .
`` It was lucky she was spotted by Sainsbury 's workers and this case also goes to show the importance of microchipping pets , '' he said .
The 9-year-old cat , named Ellie , was returned to her owners , Robert and Melissa Smith .
The Smiths said their pet had @ @ @ @ @ @

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Animal rescuers were called to a supermarket in Britain to rescue a cat stranded in the beams across a supermarket loading bay ceiling. Photo courtesy of the RSPCA
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe April 1 (UPI) -- Animal rescuers were called to a British supermarket where a cat was spotted stranded on ceiling beams 40 feet above the ground. The RSPCA said Inspectors Anthony Joynes and John Littlewood were dispatched March 25 to the Sainsbury's store in Upton, Merseyside, England, where employees had spotted a cat stranded on the beams across the ceiling of the store's delivery bay. Advertisement
The inspectors erected a ladder and created a pulley system to raise a cage that Joynes coaxed the cat into by shaking a can of food.
"She lives not far away from where she was found but I have no idea how she managed to climb up so high but she was obviously terrified once she was up there and realized she couldn't safely get down," Joynes said.
"It was lucky she was spotted by Sainsbury's workers and this case also goes to show the importance of microchipping pets," he said.
The 9-year-old cat, named Ellie, was returned to her owners, Robert and Melissa Smith. The Smiths said their pet had been missing for 10 days.


upi--2020-04-01--Pilates may reduce blood pressure, body fat in obese women, study finds

April 1 ( UPI ) -- Pilates may significantly improve blood pressure in young , obese women , a new study has found .
Women who engage in 90 minutes of mat pilates weekly saw blood pressure declines of up to six points , and experienced a drop in their percentage of body fat , according to study results published Wednesday in American Journal of Hypertension .
Mat Pilates is a popular fitness regiment , with about 9 million participants in 2018 , that emphasizes core strength , flexibility , body posture and controlled breathing .
`` Our findings provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by decreasing blood pressure , arterial stiffness , and body fatness in young obese women with elevated blood pressure , '' the authors said in a press release .
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , more than 40 percent of American adults are considered obese .
The prevalence of severe obesity is more than 9 percent among women , based on agency estimates .
Meanwhile , the prevalence of obesity in young adults has become a major public health issue .
Though it is well-documented that exercise is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cardiovascular health problems , obese women tend not to stick with traditional workout routines , research has shown .
For the current study , researchers looked at young obese women between age 19 and 29 who had elevated blood pressure -- but were otherwise healthy non-smokers -- and a body mass index between 30 and 40 kilograms per square meter .
Body mass index is a commonly used measure for obesity that measures a person 's weight against their height , in meters .
All of the study participants reported exercising less than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beginning of the project .
In all , 14 of the 28 study participants through 12 weeks of mat Pilates .
There were three one-hour training sessions per week , which were divided into the following stages : initial warm up and stretch for 10 minutes ; general mat Pilates exercises for 40 minutes ; and a cool down period of 10 minutes .
Training increased over the 12 weeks , with the repetition of each exercise steadily rising , with a certified mat Pilates instructor supervising all sessions .
Compared to those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mat Pilates experienced reductions in brachial systolic blood pressure , by five points , and aortic systolic blood pressure , by six points .
Their body fat percentages also dropped by an average of 2 percent over the 12-week period .
`` Because adherence to traditional exercise , both aerobic and resistance , is low in obese individuals , Mat Pilates Training might prove an effective exercise alternative for the prevention of hypertension and cardiovascular events in young obese adults , '' the authors wrote .

Study finds that Mat Pilates may reduce blood pressure and body fat in obese women. Image by Angelica Barbieri from Pixabay
April 1 (UPI) -- Pilates may significantly improve blood pressure in young, obese women, a new study has found. Women who engage in 90 minutes of mat pilates weekly saw blood pressure declines of up to six points, and experienced a drop in their percentage of body fat, according to study results published Wednesday in American Journal of Hypertension. Advertisement
Mat Pilates is a popular fitness regiment, with about 9 million participants in 2018, that emphasizes core strength, flexibility, body posture and controlled breathing.
"Our findings provide evidence that Mat Pilates benefit cardiovascular health by decreasing blood pressure, arterial stiffness, and body fatness in young obese women with elevated blood pressure," the authors said in a press release.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 40 percent of American adults are considered obese. The prevalence of severe obesity is more than 9 percent among women, based on agency estimates.
Meanwhile, the prevalence of obesity in young adults has become a major public health issue. Though it is well-documented that exercise is a key factor in preventing and managing cardiovascular health problems, obese women tend not to stick with traditional workout routines, research has shown.
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For the current study, researchers looked at young obese women between age 19 and 29 who had elevated blood pressure -- but were otherwise healthy non-smokers -- and a body mass index between 30 and 40 kilograms per square meter. Body mass index is a commonly used measure for obesity that measures a person's weight against their height, in meters.
All of the study participants reported exercising less than 90 minutes per week prior to the beginning of the project.
In all, 14 of the 28 study participants through 12 weeks of mat Pilates. There were three one-hour training sessions per week, which were divided into the following stages: initial warm up and stretch for 10 minutes; general mat Pilates exercises for 40 minutes; and a cool down period of 10 minutes. Training increased over the 12 weeks, with the repetition of each exercise steadily rising, with a certified mat Pilates instructor supervising all sessions.
Compared to those who did participate, people who performed Mat Pilates experienced reductions in brachial systolic blood pressure, by five points, and aortic systolic blood pressure, by six points. Their body fat percentages also dropped by an average of 2 percent over the 12-week period.
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"Because adherence to traditional exercise, both aerobic and resistance, is low in obese individuals, Mat Pilates Training might prove an effective exercise alternative for the prevention of hypertension and cardiovascular events in young obese adults," the authors wrote.


upi--2020-04-01--U.S. Air Force moves 23 units to Space Force

April 1 ( UPI ) -- The U.S. Air Force identified 23 units and organizations to be transferred to the U.S. Space Force on Wednesday .
While the entities will not physically relocate , they will be transitioned to the Space Force , currently an agency of the Air Force .
Personnel within the units to be moved will retain their ranks and pay grades under the Air Force system .
`` Building the U.S. Space Force represents a top priority for the Department of the Air Force , '' Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transfers incorporate existing forces into the agile Space Force , which stands ready to defend American and allied interests . ''
The locations include the 17th Test Squadron , Peterson AFB , Colo. ; 18th Intel Squadron , Wright-Patterson AFB , Ohio ; 25th Space Range Squadron at Schriever AFB , Colo. ; 328th Weapons Squadron , Nellis AFB , Nev. ; 527th Space Aggressor Squadron , Schriever AFB , Colo. ; 705th Combat Training Squadron OL-A , Schriever AFB , Colo. ; 7th Intel Squadron , Ft. Meade , Md .
; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Colo. ; 32nd Intel Squadron , Ft. Meade , Md .
; 566th Intel Squadron , Buckley AFB , Colo. ; 544th ISR Group Staff & Detachment 5 , Peterson AFB , Colo. ; Detachment 1 , USAF Warfare Center , Schriever AFB , Colo. ; 533rd Training Squadron , Vandenberg AFB , Calif. ; National Security Space Institute , Peterson AFB , Colo. ; AFRL Research Lab Mission Execution , Wright-Patterson AFB , Ohio ; AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate , Kirtland AFB , N.M. ; AFRL Rocket Propulsion Division , Edwards AFB @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maui , Hawaii and Kirtland AFB , N.M. ; AFRL Sensors Directorate , Wright-Patterson AFB , Ohio ; Counter-Space Analysis Squadron , Wright-Patterson AFB , Ohio ; Space Analysis Squadron , Wright-Patterson AFB , Ohio ; Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center Detachment 4 , Peterson AFB , Colo. and Air Force Safety Center-Space Safety Division , Kirtland AFB , N.M .
The transfer of mission , which involves 1,840 billets within the Air Force , is a sign of the growth and organization of the Space Force , which has formally @ @ @ @ @ @

Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett, L, testifies before Congress on March 4. The Air Force moved 23 units or organizations to the U.S. Space Force on Wednesday. Photo by Wayne Clark/U.S. Air Force
April 1 (UPI) -- The U.S. Air Force identified 23 units and organizations to be transferred to the U.S. Space Force on Wednesday. While the entities will not physically relocate, they will be transitioned to the Space Force, currently an agency of the Air Force. Personnel within the units to be moved will retain their ranks and pay grades under the Air Force system. Advertisement
"Building the U.S. Space Force represents a top priority for the Department of the Air Force," Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett said in a statement on Tuesday. "These mission transfers incorporate existing forces into the agile Space Force, which stands ready to defend American and allied interests."
The locations include the 17th Test Squadron, Peterson AFB, Colo.; 18th Intel Squadron, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio; 25th Space Range Squadron at Schriever AFB, Colo.; 328th Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.; 527th Space Aggressor Squadron, Schriever AFB, Colo.; 705th Combat Training Squadron OL-A, Schriever AFB, Colo.; 7th Intel Squadron, Ft. Meade, Md.; 16th AF/Advanced Programs, Schriever AFB, Colo.; 32nd Intel Squadron, Ft. Meade, Md.; 566th Intel Squadron, Buckley AFB, Colo.; 544th ISR Group Staff & Detachment 5, Peterson AFB, Colo.; Detachment 1, USAF Warfare Center, Schriever AFB, Colo.; 533rd Training Squadron, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.; National Security Space Institute, Peterson AFB, Colo.; AFRL Research Lab Mission Execution, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio; AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate, Kirtland AFB, N.M.; AFRL Rocket Propulsion Division, Edwards AFB, Calif; AFRL Electro-Optical Division, Maui, Hawaii and Kirtland AFB, N.M.; AFRL Sensors Directorate, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio; Counter-Space Analysis Squadron, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio; Space Analysis Squadron, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio; Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center Detachment 4, Peterson AFB, Colo. and Air Force Safety Center-Space Safety Division, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
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The transfer of mission, which involves 1,840 billets within the Air Force, is a sign of the growth and organization of the Space Force, which has formally been in existence since December.


upi--2020-04-01--Ancient human relative Lucy's brain was surprisingly ape-like

April 1 ( UPI ) -- The early hominin Australopithecus afarensis -- known to many as Lucy -- walked upright and boasted a brain 20 percent bigger than a chimp 's .
Some scientists estimate Lucy used simple stone tools .
Lucy , which lived between 3.9 and 2.9 million years ago in Africa , is thought to be a close relative of the Homo genus , which includes modern humans .
But new research suggests Australopithecus afarensis had a surprisingly ape-like brain .
Scientists were able to gain new insights into the development and organization of Lucy 's brain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ imprints .
They published the results of their analysis Wednesday in the journal Science Advances .
`` Brains do not fossilize , but as the brain grows and expands before and after birth , the tissues surrounding its outer layer leave an imprint in the bony braincase , '' Philipp Gunz , biological anthropologist at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Germany , told UPI in an email .
`` Based on these endocasts we could measure endocranial volume , and infer key aspects of brain organization from impressions of brain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CT scans , scientists were able to create detailed virtual models of endocranial imprints inside the braincases of several different Australopithecus afarensis specimens .
By counting the dental growth lines -- like tree rings -- scientists were able to precisely date the age of the hominin specimens , including a young child .
`` Using high resolution synchrotron scans , we could count the number of daily growth lines in the teeth , and found that the Dikika child died when it was 861 days old , '' Gunz said .
By comparing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adults , scientists were able to better understand how the Lucy 's brain developed .
When Gunz and his colleagues set out to study the development and organization of Lucy 's brain , they were especially interested in locating the elusive endocranial imprint of a part of the brain called the lunate sulcus .
`` A key difference between apes and humans involves the organization of the brain 's parietal and occipital lobes , '' Gunz said .
`` In all ape brains , a well-defined lunate sulcus approximates the anterior boundary of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lobes . ''
Previously , researchers have hypothesized that Australopithecus afarensis evolved a more human-like brain with a backwards positioning of the lunate sulcus -- a repositioning that might have empowered sophisticated behaviors like tool usage , creative problem solving and vocal communication .
`` Unfortunately , the lunate sulcus typically does not reproduce well on endocasts , so there is unresolved controversy about its position in australopiths , '' Gunz said .
`` The exceptionally well preserved endocast of the Dikika child has an unambiguous impression of a lunate sulcus in an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the signature of an ape-like lunate sulcus in the braincase of an adult australopith .
`` Contrary to previous claims , we did not find evidence for brain reorganization in any Australopithecus afarensis endocast that preserves detailed sulcal impressions , '' Gunz said .
While the organization of Lucy 's brain was quite ape-like , its growth during adolescent recalled the development of human brains .
`` A comparison of infant and adult endocranial volumes nevertheless indicates more human-like protracted brain growth in Australopithecus afarensis , likely critical for the evolution of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Gunz said .
Scientists plan to continue studying the endocranial imprints of geologically younger hominin fossils in order to better understand the evolution of brain structures among members of the genus Homo .

New analysis of brain imprints on ancient skull fossils suggests the hominin Australopithecus afarensis had an ape-like brain and prolonged human-like brain growth. Photo by Philipp Gunz/CC
April 1 (UPI) -- The early hominin Australopithecus afarensis -- known to many as Lucy -- walked upright and boasted a brain 20 percent bigger than a chimp's. Some scientists estimate Lucy used simple stone tools. Lucy, which lived between 3.9 and 2.9 million years ago in Africa, is thought to be a close relative of the Homo genus, which includes modern humans. But new research suggests Australopithecus afarensis had a surprisingly ape-like brain. Advertisement
Scientists were able to gain new insights into the development and organization of Lucy's brain by studying what are known as endocranial imprints. They published the results of their analysis Wednesday in the journal Science Advances.
"Brains do not fossilize, but as the brain grows and expands before and after birth, the tissues surrounding its outer layer leave an imprint in the bony braincase," Philipp Gunz, biological anthropologist at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Germany, told UPI in an email. "Based on these endocasts we could measure endocranial volume, and infer key aspects of brain organization from impressions of brain convolutions in the skull."
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Using CT scans, scientists were able to create detailed virtual models of endocranial imprints inside the braincases of several different Australopithecus afarensis specimens. By counting the dental growth lines -- like tree rings -- scientists were able to precisely date the age of the hominin specimens, including a young child.
"Using high resolution synchrotron scans, we could count the number of daily growth lines in the teeth, and found that the Dikika child died when it was 861 days old," Gunz said.
By comparing the endocasts of infants, adolescents and adults, scientists were able to better understand how the Lucy's brain developed.
When Gunz and his colleagues set out to study the development and organization of Lucy's brain, they were especially interested in locating the elusive endocranial imprint of a part of the brain called the lunate sulcus.
"A key difference between apes and humans involves the organization of the brain's parietal and occipital lobes," Gunz said. "In all ape brains, a well-defined lunate sulcus approximates the anterior boundary of the primary visual cortex of the occipital lobes."
Previously, researchers have hypothesized that Australopithecus afarensis evolved a more human-like brain with a backwards positioning of the lunate sulcus -- a repositioning that might have empowered sophisticated behaviors like tool usage, creative problem solving and vocal communication.
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"Unfortunately, the lunate sulcus typically does not reproduce well on endocasts, so there is unresolved controversy about its position in australopiths," Gunz said. "The exceptionally well preserved endocast of the Dikika child has an unambiguous impression of a lunate sulcus in an ape-like position."
Scientists also discovered the signature of an ape-like lunate sulcus in the braincase of an adult australopith.
"Contrary to previous claims, we did not find evidence for brain reorganization in any Australopithecus afarensis endocast that preserves detailed sulcal impressions," Gunz said.
While the organization of Lucy's brain was quite ape-like, its growth during adolescent recalled the development of human brains.
"A comparison of infant and adult endocranial volumes nevertheless indicates more human-like protracted brain growth in Australopithecus afarensis, likely critical for the evolution of a long period of childhood learning in hominins," Gunz said.
Scientists plan to continue studying the endocranial imprints of geologically younger hominin fossils in order to better understand the evolution of brain structures among members of the genus Homo.


upi--2020-04-01--Israel to transfer all travelers from abroad to quarantine facilities

April 1 ( UPI ) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday mandated that all new arrivals to the country must be placed into quarantine .
He made the announcement after the country 's death toll from COVID-19 increased to 25 and the number of confirmed cases reached 6,092 .
Netanyahu ordered the Defense Ministry to handle the transfer of all people entering Israel from abroad to specified hotels and other quarantine facilities .
Before Wednesday 's order , travelers from abroad were forced to enter a 14-day quarantine .
Also , non-Israelis who are n't based in Israel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus restrictions .
Israel 's Channel 12 reported that hundreds of people have been entering the country without being tested and without entering isolation , including passengers on a flight from New York , the epicenter of the United States ' outbreak .
Former Health Minister Gabi Barabash told the channel that without stricter measures , Israel was in danger of `` simply becoming a branch of New York . ''
`` People will just fly here from there , '' he said .
`` Everything we 've achieved to date will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday that the state has recorded 1,941 deaths and has more than 83,000 cases .

1/5
A man walks in an empty arrivals hall in the Ben Gurion Airport in Lod, Israel, near Tel Aviv, on Wednesday. Photo by Debbie Hill/UPI | License Photo
April 1 (UPI) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday mandated that all new arrivals to the country must be placed into quarantine. He made the announcement after the country's death toll from COVID-19 increased to 25 and the number of confirmed cases reached 6,092. Advertisement
Netanyahu ordered the Defense Ministry to handle the transfer of all people entering Israel from abroad to specified hotels and other quarantine facilities.
Before Wednesday's order, travelers from abroad were forced to enter a 14-day quarantine. Also, non-Israelis who aren't based in Israel aren't allowed in the country amid coronavirus restrictions.
Israel's Channel 12 reported that hundreds of people have been entering the country without being tested and without entering isolation, including passengers on a flight from New York, the epicenter of the United States' outbreak.
Former Health Minister Gabi Barabash told the channel that without stricter measures, Israel was in danger of "simply becoming a branch of New York."
"People will just fly here from there," he said. "Everything we've achieved to date will be lost. It's intolerable."
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday that the state has recorded 1,941 deaths and has more than 83,000 cases.


upi--2020-04-01--Scenes from a pandemic: World copes with COVID-19

Pope Francis , isolated in front of an empty square from the sagrato of St. Peter 's Basilica in St. @ @ @ @ @ City , offers an extraordinary moment of prayer in time of pandemic , the adoration @ @ @ @ @ on March 27 .
The `` Salus Populi Romani '' icon and the crucifix of @ @ @ @ @ in front of the central door of the basilica .
Vatican media broadcast the ceremony @ @ @ @ @ it could also be followed in several languages on Facebook and YouTube .
Photo by @ @

The French authorities started lifting the coronavirus lockdown on May 11, but people living in regions that are most at risk, notably in Paris, still face tight restrictions. Photo by Eco Clement/UPI


upi--2020-04-01--Taliban, Afghanistan prepare for prisoner swap, first phase of peace agreement

April 1 ( UPI ) -- Afghanistan and the Taliban will begin a long-awaited prisoner exchange this week , the Taliban and sources within the government said Wednesday .
About 5,000 members of the anti-government insurgency are in Afghan captivity , and an announcement of the release of up to 100 of them , in exchange for 20 Afghan military personnel , is expected Thursday .
Government sources confirmed the plan , and a Taliban statement said that a three-member delegation now in Kabul `` will pursue the issue of prisoner release and help in necessary technical steps . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ time insurgency representatives were in the capital since the Taliban was removed from power in 2001 in a military invasion led by the United States .
The delegates traveled from Khandahar province before being flown to Kabul by the International Committee of the Red Cross .
The prisoner exchange is designed to be the start of peace negotiations and requires the Taliban to free about 1,000 government detainees .
The peace process is outlined in an agreement signed in February between the United States and the Taliban .
It commits the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forces , over 14 months , in exchange for Taliban assurances that terrorists will not use Afghanistan as a safe haven .
The government of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani is not a party to the prisoner swap , but under pressure from Washington , agreed last week to assembling a 21-member team of negotiators ready to negotiate a peace deal with the Taliban and other stakeholders within the country .
`` We have seen a team identified and it looks like it 's pretty inclusive , pretty broad , '' U.S. Secretary of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're happy about that .
We have begun to see some work done on prisoner releases as well . ''
On Tuesday , Abdullah Abdullah , Afghanistan 's self-proclaimed president and a political rival of Ghani , endorsed this week 's negotiations with the Taliban .
Abdullah lost a September 2019 election , which he says was unfairly manipulated , to Ghani .
Their rivalry increased concerns that a united Afghan force to negotiate with the Taliban would not be formed .

U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad, L, and Taliban co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, R, shake hands during the signing ceremony of the U.S.-Taliban peace agreement in Doha, Qatar, on February 29. The first action of the peace deal, a prisoner swap of Taliban members and Afghan government forces, is expected this week. File Photo by Stringer/EPA-EFE
April 1 (UPI) -- Afghanistan and the Taliban will begin a long-awaited prisoner exchange this week, the Taliban and sources within the government said Wednesday. About 5,000 members of the anti-government insurgency are in Afghan captivity, and an announcement of the release of up to 100 of them, in exchange for 20 Afghan military personnel, is expected Thursday. Government sources confirmed the plan, and a Taliban statement said that a three-member delegation now in Kabul "will pursue the issue of prisoner release and help in necessary technical steps." Advertisement
The delegation arrived Tuesday, the first time insurgency representatives were in the capital since the Taliban was removed from power in 2001 in a military invasion led by the United States. The delegates traveled from Khandahar province before being flown to Kabul by the International Committee of the Red Cross. The prisoner exchange is designed to be the start of peace negotiations and requires the Taliban to free about 1,000 government detainees.
The peace process is outlined in an agreement signed in February between the United States and the Taliban. It commits the United States and allies to a withdrawal of military forces, over 14 months, in exchange for Taliban assurances that terrorists will not use Afghanistan as a safe haven. The government of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani is not a party to the prisoner swap, but under pressure from Washington, agreed last week to assembling a 21-member team of negotiators ready to negotiate a peace deal with the Taliban and other stakeholders within the country.
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"We have seen a team identified and it looks like it's pretty inclusive, pretty broad," U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo commented. "We're happy about that. We have begun to see some work done on prisoner releases as well."
On Tuesday, Abdullah Abdullah, Afghanistan's self-proclaimed president and a political rival of Ghani, endorsed this week's negotiations with the Taliban. Abdullah lost a September 2019 election, which he says was unfairly manipulated, to Ghani. Their rivalry increased concerns that a united Afghan force to negotiate with the Taliban would not be formed.


upi--2020-04-01--Watch: Truck load of toilet paper burns in Texas highway crash

April 1 ( UPI ) -- Authorities in Texas said a truck driver was not injured when his vehicle caught @ @ @ @ @ but the flames destroyed some precious cargo : a load of toilet paper .
The @ @ @ @ @ the truck crashed about 4 a.m. Wednesday and burst into flames on Interstate 20 , @ @ @ @ @ southern Dallas County .
The truck driver sad he hit a bump , lost control @ @ @ @ @ a highway barrier , causing the truck to overturn .
The driver and his dog @ @ @ @ @ were summoned to the scene and extinguished the flames , but officials said the truck @ @ @ @ @ burned extensively before firefighters arrived .
Clean-up operations were expected to last for several hours @

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April 1 (UPI) -- Authorities in Texas said a truck driver was not injured when his vehicle caught fire on the interstate, but the flames destroyed some precious cargo: a load of toilet paper.
The Texas Department of Transportation said the truck crashed about 4 a.m. Wednesday and burst into flames on Interstate 20, near the I-45 interchange in southern Dallas County.
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The truck driver sad he hit a bump, lost control of the vehicle and struck a highway barrier, causing the truck to overturn. The driver and his dog were not injured.
Firefighters were summoned to the scene and extinguished the flames, but officials said the truck's load of toilet paper burned extensively before firefighters arrived.
Clean-up operations were expected to last for several hours.


upi--2020-04-01--FDA orders Zantac, other heartburn drugs removed from market due to NDMA contamination

April 1 ( UPI ) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday ordered drugmakers to remove all prescription and over-the-counter products containing the agent ranitidine from the market immediately as the agency continues to investigate possible contamination .
Ranitidine is the key ingredient in a number of prescription and over-the-counter drugs used to treat heartburn and acid reflux .
The popular product Zantac is one of many that uses ranitidine , the FDA noted .
`` The FDA is committed to ensuring that the medicines Americans take are safe and effective , '' Dr. Janet Woodcock , director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Evaluation and Research , said in a press release .
`` We make every effort to investigate potential health risks and provide our recommendations to the public based on the best available science . ''
The agency announced in January that it would begin checking all ranitidine-based medications for a contaminant called N-Nitrosodimethylamine , or NDMA , after concerns were first raised last summer .
The agency has determined that the impurity in some ranitidine products increases over time and when stored at higher than room temperatures .
Consumers may be exposed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a result , the agency noted .
As a result of the FDA 's immediate market withdrawal request , ranitidine products will not be available for new or existing prescriptions or over-the-counter use in the United States , effective immediately .
The FDA is also advising consumers taking products containing ranitidine to stop , dispose of them properly and not buy more .
For those who wish to continue treating their condition , they should consider using other FDA-approved products , after talking with their healthcare professional .
To date , the FDA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ famotidine , which is marketed as Pepcid ; cimetidine , which is sold as Tagamet ; esomeprazole , or Nexium ; lansoprazole , or Prevacid ; and omeprazole , or Prilosec .
According to the FDA , NDMA is a probable human carcinogen , or a substance that may cause cancer .
Although low levels of NDMA are commonly found in some foods and in drinking water , sustained levels of exposure to higher amounts `` may increase the risk of cancer in humans , '' the agency said .
Initially , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NDMA in ranitidine at low levels .
However , new testing prompted by information from third-party laboratories confirmed that NDMA levels increase in ranitidine even under normal storage conditions , and NDMA has been found to increase significantly in samples stored at higher temperatures , including temperatures the product may be exposed to during distribution and handling by consumers .
FDA testing also showed that `` the older a ranitidine product is , or the longer the length of time since it was manufactured , the greater the level of NDMA . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of NDMA in many of the samples that we tested , '' Woodcock said .
`` However , since we do n't know how or for how long the product might have been stored , we decided that it should not be available to consumers and patients unless its quality can be assured .
The FDA will continue our efforts to ensure impurities in other drugs do not exceed acceptable limits so that patients can continue taking medicines without concern . ''

Various heartburn relief medicines are displayed in a pharmacy shop in Washington, D.C. The FDA has ordered products containing ranitidine to be removed from shelves over concerns about possible contamination. Photo by Billie Jean Shaw/UPI
April 1 (UPI) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday ordered drugmakers to remove all prescription and over-the-counter products containing the agent ranitidine from the market immediately as the agency continues to investigate possible contamination. Ranitidine is the key ingredient in a number of prescription and over-the-counter drugs used to treat heartburn and acid reflux. The popular product Zantac is one of many that uses ranitidine, the FDA noted. Advertisement
"The FDA is committed to ensuring that the medicines Americans take are safe and effective," Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in a press release. "We make every effort to investigate potential health risks and provide our recommendations to the public based on the best available science."
The agency announced in January that it would begin checking all ranitidine-based medications for a contaminant called N-Nitrosodimethylamine, or NDMA, after concerns were first raised last summer. The agency has determined that the impurity in some ranitidine products increases over time and when stored at higher than room temperatures.
Consumers may be exposed to "unacceptable levels" of NDMA as a result, the agency noted. As a result of the FDA's immediate market withdrawal request, ranitidine products will not be available for new or existing prescriptions or over-the-counter use in the United States, effective immediately.
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The FDA is also advising consumers taking products containing ranitidine to stop, dispose of them properly and not buy more. For those who wish to continue treating their condition, they should consider using other FDA-approved products, after talking with their healthcare professional.
To date, the FDA's testing has not found NDMA in famotidine, which is marketed as Pepcid; cimetidine, which is sold as Tagamet; esomeprazole, or Nexium; lansoprazole, or Prevacid; and omeprazole, or Prilosec.
According to the FDA, NDMA is a probable human carcinogen, or a substance that may cause cancer. Although low levels of NDMA are commonly found in some foods and in drinking water, sustained levels of exposure to higher amounts "may increase the risk of cancer in humans," the agency said.
Initially, the FDA conducted thorough laboratory tests and found NDMA in ranitidine at low levels. However, new testing prompted by information from third-party laboratories confirmed that NDMA levels increase in ranitidine even under normal storage conditions, and NDMA has been found to increase significantly in samples stored at higher temperatures, including temperatures the product may be exposed to during distribution and handling by consumers.
FDA testing also showed that "the older a ranitidine product is, or the longer the length of time since it was manufactured, the greater the level of NDMA."
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"We didn't observe unacceptable levels of NDMA in many of the samples that we tested," Woodcock said. "However, since we don't know how or for how long the product might have been stored, we decided that it should not be available to consumers and patients unless its quality can be assured. The FDA will continue our efforts to ensure impurities in other drugs do not exceed acceptable limits so that patients can continue taking medicines without concern."


upi--2020-04-01--T-Mobile, Sprint complete merger, T-Mobile CEO John Legere steps down

April 1 ( UPI ) -- T-Mobile formally completed its $ 31 billion merger with Sprint on Wednesday , a union of the United States ' third- and fourth-largest wireless carriers .
The new company , to be called T-Mobile , promised that its 5G network will reach 99 percent of U.S. homes within six years and offer 50 Mbps speeds to 90 percent of rural areas , to get Justice Department approval of the merger .
It is also committed to 100 Mbps service to 90 percent of the population and free Internet access to 10 million homes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mobile and Virgin Mobile , will be sold to Dish Network , a Justice Department demand to help Dish become a nationwide wireless competitor .
The DOJ review , and lawsuits from 13 states , forced the assurances of improvements and delayed the merger .
The new company remains in third place in size , behind Verizon and AT & T .
It will offer `` 14 times more capacity in the next six years that T-Mobile alone has today , '' a company statement said on Wednesday .
No plans for use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday , but T-Mobile said that John Legere , its CEO , will step down and be replaced by COO Mike Sievert .
Legere led T-Mobile 's turnaround , taking the company from a distant fourth place to the point it could acquire a competitor .
In 2019 , T-Mobile announced that Legere would leave the position , but remain on the company 's board , once the merger was completed .
`` During this extraordinary time , it has become abundantly clear how vital a strong and reliable network is to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a statement .
`` The new T-Mobile 's commitment to delivering a transformative broad and deep nationwide 5G network is more important and more needed than ever and what we are building is mission-critical for consumers . ''
It will remain on the Nasdaq stock exchange and continue trading under the name TMUS .

Mike Sievert was announced as wireless carrier T-Mobile's new CEO on Wednesday, with the completion of the merger of T-Mobile and Sprint. File Photo by James Atoa/UPI | License Photo
April 1 (UPI) -- T-Mobile formally completed its $31 billion merger with Sprint on Wednesday, a union of the United States' third- and fourth-largest wireless carriers. The new company, to be called T-Mobile, promised that its 5G network will reach 99 percent of U.S. homes within six years and offer 50 Mbps speeds to 90 percent of rural areas, to get Justice Department approval of the merger. It is also committed to 100 Mbps service to 90 percent of the population and free Internet access to 10 million homes. Sprint's prepaid businesses, including Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile, will be sold to Dish Network, a Justice Department demand to help Dish become a nationwide wireless competitor. Advertisement
The DOJ review, and lawsuits from 13 states, forced the assurances of improvements and delayed the merger. The new company remains in third place in size, behind Verizon and AT&T.
It will offer "14 times more capacity in the next six years that T-Mobile alone has today," a company statement said on Wednesday.
No plans for use of the Sprint brand were announced on Wednesday, but T-Mobile said that John Legere, its CEO, will step down and be replaced by COO Mike Sievert. Legere led T-Mobile's turnaround, taking the company from a distant fourth place to the point it could acquire a competitor. In 2019, T-Mobile announced that Legere would leave the position, but remain on the company's board, once the merger was completed.
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"During this extraordinary time, it has become abundantly clear how vital a strong and reliable network is to the world we live in," Sievert said in a statement. "The new T-Mobile's commitment to delivering a transformative broad and deep nationwide 5G network is more important and more needed than ever and what we are building is mission-critical for consumers."
It will remain on the Nasdaq stock exchange and continue trading under the name TMUS.


upi--2020-04-01--Watch: 'JJ Villard's Fairy Tales': Adult Swim tackles classic stories in new trailer

April 1 ( UPI ) -- Adult Swim offers twisted takes on classic Brothers Grimm fairy tales in the first @ @ @ @ @ , JJ Villard 's Fairy Tales .
Rapunzel uses her hair in violent ways while @ @ @ @ @ a helicopter .
The Seven Dwarfs , after meeting Snow White , threaten to kill @ @ @ @ @ The charm and cuteness of the original stories remain , but now they 've been @ @ @ @ @ ball of raw , visceral , gross weirdness , '' reads the synopsis .
The @ @ @ @ @ Villard ( King Star King ) and is produced by Cartoon Network Studios .
JJ @ @ @ @ @ premiere on May 10 at 12:15 a.m. EDT .
Adult Swim also announced on Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ Ricky and Morty Season 4 will begin on May 3 .

April 1 (UPI) -- Adult Swim offers twisted takes on classic Brothers Grimm fairy tales in the first trailer for upcoming animated series, JJ Villard's Fairy Tales.
Rapunzel uses her hair in violent ways while Little Red Riding Hood steals a helicopter. The Seven Dwarfs, after meeting Snow White, threaten to kill her using axes.
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"The charm and cuteness of the original stories remain, but now they've been updated and packaged into a ball of raw, visceral, gross weirdness," reads the synopsis.
The series hails from Emmy-winning animator Villard (King Star King) and is produced by Cartoon Network Studios.
Linda Blair, Warwick Davis, Robert Englund, Corey Feldman, Alan Oppenheimer, Jennifer Tilly and Villard provide voice work.
JJ Villard's Fairy Tales will premiere on May 10 at 12:15 a.m. EDT.
Adult Swim also announced on Wednesday that the second half of Ricky and Morty Season 4 will begin on May 3.


upi--2020-04-02--WWE NXT: Keith Lee defends his North American Championship in a Triple Threat match

April 2 ( UPI ) -- NXT North American Champion Keith Lee defended his title in a Triple Threat match against Dominik Dijakovic and Damian Priest on WWE NXT .
This battle of the giants on Wednesday was originally going to take place at the NXT TakeOver : Tampa Bay event on Saturday before it was canceled due to COVID-19 .
The TakeOver matches will now take place over the next couple of weeks on WWE NXT .
Lee proved why he is nicknamed the Limitless Superstar during the bout when he picked up Priest and used his body to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a Spirit Bomb on Priest but Dijakovic was able to break up the pin .
Priest and Dijakovic , after they were able to take Lee down , charged at each other .
Both grapplers knocked each other out and landed on top of Lee for a double pin , however , Lee was still able to kick out .
Priest would bring out his signature nightstick and was able to hit Dijakovic in the knee with the weapon as The Rare Breed attempted to perform his Feast Your Eyes finishing move @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ring and nailed Dijakovic with the Big Bang Catastrophe to retain the NXT North American Championship .
Also on WWE NXT , a Gauntlet match was held to determine who will next join an upcoming Ladder match that will determine the No .
1 contender for the NXT Women 's Championship .
Current champion Rhea Ripley will be defending the title against Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 36 which takes place on Saturday and Sunday .
Shotzi Blackheart kicked off the Gauntlet against Deonna Purrazzo .
Blackheart impressively defeated Purrazzo followed by Xia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dakota Kai was the last competitor to enter the match and was once again joined by her enforcer Raquel Gonzalez .
Blackheart was able to fight off Gonzalez outside the ring but Kai used the distraction to deliver the Go To Kick and win the match .
The Ladder match , set to take place next week , will feature Kai , her rival Tegan Nox , Chelsea Green , Mia Yim , Io Shirai and Candice LeRae .
The Velveteen Dream took on Bobby Fish of The Undisputed Era in a one-on-one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dream and focused on his left leg .
His Purple Highness was able to suddenly win the match after he countered Fish with Dream Valley Driver for the three count .
Other moments from WWE NXT included Dexter Lumis defeating Jake Atlas and Kushida defeating Joaquin Wilde who was abducted by masked men after he left the arena .

April 2 (UPI) -- NXT North American Champion Keith Lee defended his title in a Triple Threat match against Dominik Dijakovic and Damian Priest on WWE NXT.
This battle of the giants on Wednesday was originally going to take place at the NXT TakeOver: Tampa Bay event on Saturday before it was canceled due to COVID-19. The TakeOver matches will now take place over the next couple of weeks on WWE NXT.
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Lee proved why he is nicknamed the Limitless Superstar during the bout when he picked up Priest and used his body to attack Dijakovic. Lee ended the attack with a Spirit Bomb on Priest but Dijakovic was able to break up the pin.
Priest and Dijakovic, after they were able to take Lee down, charged at each other. Both grapplers knocked each other out and landed on top of Lee for a double pin, however, Lee was still able to kick out.
Priest would bring out his signature nightstick and was able to hit Dijakovic in the knee with the weapon as The Rare Breed attempted to perform his Feast Your Eyes finishing move.
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Lee then pushed Priest out of the ring and nailed Dijakovic with the Big Bang Catastrophe to retain the NXT North American Championship.
Also on WWE NXT, a Gauntlet match was held to determine who will next join an upcoming Ladder match that will determine the No. 1 contender for the NXT Women's Championship. Current champion Rhea Ripley will be defending the title against Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 36 which takes place on Saturday and Sunday.
Shotzi Blackheart kicked off the Gauntlet against Deonna Purrazzo. Blackheart impressively defeated Purrazzo followed by Xia Li, Kayden Carter and Aliyah.
Dakota Kai was the last competitor to enter the match and was once again joined by her enforcer Raquel Gonzalez. Blackheart was able to fight off Gonzalez outside the ring but Kai used the distraction to deliver the Go To Kick and win the match.
The Ladder match, set to take place next week, will feature Kai, her rival Tegan Nox, Chelsea Green, Mia Yim, Io Shirai and Candice LeRae.
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The Velveteen Dream took on Bobby Fish of The Undisputed Era in a one-on-one match. Fish took the fight to Dream and focused on his left leg.
His Purple Highness was able to suddenly win the match after he countered Fish with Dream Valley Driver for the three count.
Other moments from WWE NXT included Dexter Lumis defeating Jake Atlas and Kushida defeating Joaquin Wilde who was abducted by masked men after he left the arena.


upi--2020-04-02--Pakistan court clears 4 in 2002 death of U.S. reporter Daniel Pearl

April 2 ( UPI ) -- A Pakistan regional court has commuted the death sentence of the man convicted in the 2002 kidnapping and killing of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl and cleared three others in the case .
British-native Omar Saeed Sheikh was found guilty of planning Pearl 's death and has spent 18 years in prison .
It 's still believed he was involved in Pearl 's 2002 kidnapping but his attorneys in their appeals raised doubts about his responsibility for the reporter 's death .
The court on Wednesday commuted Sheikh 's death sentence to seven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ means he can be freed within days .
The Sindh High Court also acquitted three others who were charged in Pearl 's death , and who 'd spent nearly 20 years in prison .
It was n't immediately known when they would be released .
Pearl was working as the Journal 's South Asia bureau chief and was investigating `` shoe bomber '' Richard Reid in Karachi when he was abducted by militants in January 2002 .
The militants said Pearl was a spy and submitted a list of demands to the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unable to find Pearl before he was killed .
Pearl 's death , the first of numerous kidnappings and beheadings in the years that followed , sparked outrage when video footage of the killing was posted online in mid-2002 .
U.S. authorities say al-Qaida deputy and 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed had also confessed to killing Pearl .
Mohammed is being held at the U.S. military 's detention base in Guantanamo Bay , Cuba , where he is scheduled to stand trial for his role in the 2001 attacks next January .

Pearl was abducted in January 2002 and his remains were found about four months later. The court ruling cleared four men in the journalist's death. File Photo by Wall Street Journal/EPA
April 2 (UPI) -- A Pakistan regional court has commuted the death sentence of the man convicted in the 2002 kidnapping and killing of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl and cleared three others in the case. British-native Omar Saeed Sheikh was found guilty of planning Pearl's death and has spent 18 years in prison. It's still believed he was involved in Pearl's 2002 kidnapping but his attorneys in their appeals raised doubts about his responsibility for the reporter's death. Advertisement
The court on Wednesday commuted Sheikh's death sentence to seven years for the kidnapping charge, which means he can be freed within days.
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom said it was "appalled" by the court's decision to overturn Sheikh's murder conviction.
"After nearly two decades, there is still insufficient accountability for the horrific murder of Daniel Pearl, who was executed, in part, for being Jewish," said USCIRF Commissioner Johnnie More in a statement. "This terrible situation reminds us that freedom of religion and freedom of press are intertwined -- they are two sides of the same coin."
The Sindh High Court also acquitted three others who were charged in Pearl's death, and who'd spent nearly 20 years in prison. It wasn't immediately known when they would be released.
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Pearl was working as the Journal's South Asia bureau chief and was investigating "shoe bomber" Richard Reid in Karachi when he was abducted by militants in January 2002. The militants said Pearl was a spy and submitted a list of demands to the U.S. government. U.S. and Pakistani intelligence were unable to find Pearl before he was killed.
Steven Butler, the Asia program coordinator for the Committee to Protect Journalists, said in a statement he was "deeply disappointed" to see justice denied on Thursday, urging prosecutors to appeal the decision.
"We urge prosecutors to appeal the decision, which found Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh guilty only of kidnapping Pearl in a crime that led directly to his murder," he said.
Pearl's death, the first of numerous kidnappings and beheadings in the years that followed, sparked outrage when video footage of the killing was posted online in mid-2002.
U.S. authorities say al-Qaida deputy and 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed had also confessed to killing Pearl. Mohammed is being held at the U.S. military's detention base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where he is scheduled to stand trial for his role in the 2001 attacks next January.


upi--2020-04-02--Kim Jong Un struggling against South Korea influence, analyst says

NEW YORK , April 2 ( UPI ) -- North Korea 's mission of educating its citizens through propaganda has not diminished under Kim Jong Un , but any changes that have taken place under the current leader appear to have been made with South Korea in mind , according to an Australian analyst .
Christopher Richardson , an independent scholar in Sydney who studies the childhood policies of North Korea , says Kim undertook initiatives that signaled the restoration of power , including reviving The Boy General , a long-running animated series using state-of-the-art animation techniques .
The popular @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ancient Korean kingdom stopped running during the famine years , but aired again in 2015 .
`` Likewise , Kim ordered the replacement of weary anti-U.S. propaganda paintings in the Sinchon Museum of American Atrocities with startling new Madame Tussauds-style waxwork dioramas , '' Richardson said in an email to UPI .
The changes are not recent , but few observers have linked the developments to North Koreans ' greater access to South Korean media and their heightened sense of the outside world .
`` Competing with the lure of South Korean heterodoxy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , rather than adjusting the message , '' Richardson said .
Through interviews with North Korean defectors in the South , Richardson said he learned North Koreans are navigating a more diversified media environment .
South Korean dramas , for example , could be distracting people from nation building .
`` I once showed my collection of North Korean graphic novels to three young women who had left during the last decade , '' he said .
`` They laughed and simply said that they had always hated military tales and found them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Korea 's construction spree in Pyongyang , including the opening of new department stores and water parks , demonstrates a state need to showcase wealth comparable to the South 's , the analyst said .
`` The Kim Jong Un era projected a North Korean 'prosperity gospel ' in which loyalty to the supreme leader would be rewarded with material benefits , as well as the traditional spiritual rewards , '' Richardson said .
`` Meanwhile , the state was forced to compete with the material temptations of the South . ''
North @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the South is not without irony .
Not only do North Korean children continue to be indoctrinated into believing they must sacrifice their lives for Kim , the country has opposed capitalism in its official narrative .
Martin Petersen , a senior researcher and curator at the National Museum of Denmark , says anti-capitalist education begins in childhood .
In their formative years , North Koreans read stories , often in graphic novel format , about South Koreans who are portrayed as victims of capitalism and the `` gangsters of imperialism , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an interesting turn when North Korean graphic artists allow their imaginations to run wild , however .
According to Petersen , `` spy comics , '' usually about North Korean spies or `` patriots '' who go to the South , risk straying into dangerous territory .
`` In some of these stories , the North Korean patriots go to the South to fight the enemy , '' Petersen said .
`` But to fight the enemy in many of these stories they have to become like the enemy , become depraved , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be spotted out as being North Korean , '' he said .
The entertainment value of such stories , where North Korean protagonists slip into a South Korean cloak , may be too much for a regime that relies on the fealty of its citizens , the analyst added .
Regime concerns about popular North Korean fiction has come to reflect political reality in recent years .
Kim 's summit with U.S. President Donald Trump raised expectations the two sides would take steps toward historic reconciliation .
But as Trump and Kim appeared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ walked out of working-level talks in 2019 .
`` Military games and anti-Americanism remain foundational .
At the height of Trumpian summitry , there was a notable muting of anti-U.S rhetoric in Pyongyang , yet it did not last long , '' Richardson said .
`` Meanwhile , as sanctions bite and COVID-19 spreads throughout the country , I expect we will see a return to the language of austerity that characterized North Korean children 's propaganda in the '90s . ''

1/3
Kim Jong Un tours the Sinchon Museum of American Atrocities in 2015. The museum added new dioramas in order keep apace with "rapidly evolving media," according to an Australian analyst. File Photo by Rodong Sinmun/EPA
NEW YORK, April 2 (UPI) -- North Korea's mission of educating its citizens through propaganda has not diminished under Kim Jong Un, but any changes that have taken place under the current leader appear to have been made with South Korea in mind, according to an Australian analyst. Christopher Richardson, an independent scholar in Sydney who studies the childhood policies of North Korea, says Kim undertook initiatives that signaled the restoration of power, including reviving The Boy General, a long-running animated series using state-of-the-art animation techniques. The popular cartoon about a young warrior in an ancient Korean kingdom stopped running during the famine years, but aired again in 2015. Advertisement
"Likewise, Kim ordered the replacement of weary anti-U.S. propaganda paintings in the Sinchon Museum of American Atrocities with startling new Madame Tussauds-style waxwork dioramas," Richardson said in an email to UPI.
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The changes are not recent, but few observers have linked the developments to North Koreans' greater access to South Korean media and their heightened sense of the outside world.
"Competing with the lure of South Korean heterodoxy requires keeping apace with rapidly evolving media, rather than adjusting the message," Richardson said.
Through interviews with North Korean defectors in the South, Richardson said he learned North Koreans are navigating a more diversified media environment. South Korean dramas, for example, could be distracting people from nation building.
"I once showed my collection of North Korean graphic novels to three young women who had left during the last decade," he said.
"They laughed and simply said that they had always hated military tales and found them deeply boring."
Similarly, North Korea's construction spree in Pyongyang, including the opening of new department stores and water parks, demonstrates a state need to showcase wealth comparable to the South's, the analyst said.
"The Kim Jong Un era projected a North Korean 'prosperity gospel' in which loyalty to the supreme leader would be rewarded with material benefits, as well as the traditional spiritual rewards," Richardson said.
Advertisement
"Meanwhile, the state was forced to compete with the material temptations of the South."
North Korea's possible modeling of itself on the South is not without irony. Not only do North Korean children continue to be indoctrinated into believing they must sacrifice their lives for Kim, the country has opposed capitalism in its official narrative.
Martin Petersen, a senior researcher and curator at the National Museum of Denmark, says anti-capitalist education begins in childhood. In their formative years, North Koreans read stories, often in graphic novel format, about South Koreans who are portrayed as victims of capitalism and the "gangsters of imperialism," the United States.
The books take an interesting turn when North Korean graphic artists allow their imaginations to run wild, however.
According to Petersen, "spy comics," usually about North Korean spies or "patriots" who go to the South, risk straying into dangerous territory.
"In some of these stories, the North Korean patriots go to the South to fight the enemy," Petersen said.
"But to fight the enemy in many of these stories they have to become like the enemy, become depraved, sort of capitalist personalities, not to be spotted out as being North Korean," he said.
The entertainment value of such stories, where North Korean protagonists slip into a South Korean cloak, may be too much for a regime that relies on the fealty of its citizens, the analyst added.
Advertisement
Regime concerns about popular North Korean fiction has come to reflect political reality in recent years.
Kim's summit with U.S. President Donald Trump raised expectations the two sides would take steps toward historic reconciliation. But as Trump and Kim appeared to be drawing closer, North Korea walked out of working-level talks in 2019.
"Military games and anti-Americanism remain foundational. At the height of Trumpian summitry, there was a notable muting of anti-U.S rhetoric in Pyongyang, yet it did not last long," Richardson said.
"Meanwhile, as sanctions bite and COVID-19 spreads throughout the country, I expect we will see a return to the language of austerity that characterized North Korean children's propaganda in the '90s."


upi--2020-04-02--Dayton's Obi Toppin, Oregon's Sabrina Ionescu named finalists for Wooden Award

April 2 ( UPI ) -- Dayton men 's basketball star Obi Toppin and Oregon women 's basketball star Sabrina Ionescu have been named finalists for the John R. Wooden Award .
Iowa 's Luka Garza , Marquette 's Markus Howard and Seton Hall 's Myles Powell were also named finalists on Wednesday for the award given annually to the most outstanding player in the country in men 's basketball .
Ionescu 's teammate Ruthy Hebard , Baylor 's Lauren Cox , South Carolina 's Tyasha Harris and Kentucky 's Rhyne Howard are the other women 's finalists .
Toppin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ honor .
He averaged 20 points and 7.5 rebounds while leading the Flyers to the No .
3 ranking in the country .
Ionescu -- the reigning women 's Wooden Award winner -- averaged 17.5 points , 9 assists and 8.6 rebounds per game for the No .
2 Ducks .
Azubuike shot a Division I-best 74.8 percent from the floor and averaged 13.7 points , 10.5 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game for the No .
1 Jayhawks .
Howard was the best scorer in the nation this season in men 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per game .
Garza posted 23.9 points and 9.8 rebounds per game .
Powell averaged 21 points per game for Seton Hall .
Toppin -- a sophomore -- announced last week that he planned to sign with an agent and enter the 2020 NBA Draft .
Azubuike , Howard and Powell are seniors .
Howard , Powell , Azubuike , Garza and Toppin were also named All-Americans .
Kansas ' Devon Dotson , San Diego State 's Malachi Flynn , Gonzaga 's Filip Petrusev , Oregon 's Payton Pritchard and Michigan State 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ list .
Hebard averaged 17.3 points and 9.6 rebounds per game for the Ducks .
Cox averaged 12.5 points , 8.4 rebounds , 3.6 assists and 2.7 blocks per game for No .
3 Baylor .
Harris posted 12.1 points per game while shooting 38 percent from 3-point range for No .
1 South Carolina .
Howard averaged 23.4 points per game for the Wildcats .
The 44th annual Wooden Award presentation for the most outstanding women 's player will be given at 5 p.m. EST Monday on ESPN .
The men 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ EDT Tuesday on ESPN .
Former Duke star Zion Williamson won the 2019 men 's Wooden Award before becoming the No .
1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft .
Ionescu this season became the first player in NCAA history -- men 's or women 's -- to accumulate 2,000 career points , 1,000 career rebounds and 1,000 career assists .
The three-time Pac-12 Player of the Year could become the fourth player in history to win two consecutive Wooden Awards .
Both the men 's and women 's basketball seasons was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the NCAA canceling their respective 2020 Division 1 basketball tournaments on March 12 .

Dayton's Obi Toppin is leaving school after his sophomore season to enter the 2020 NBA Draft. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo
April 2 (UPI) -- Dayton men's basketball star Obi Toppin and Oregon women's basketball star Sabrina Ionescu have been named finalists for the John R. Wooden Award. Iowa's Luka Garza, Marquette's Markus Howard and Seton Hall's Myles Powell were also named finalists on Wednesday for the award given annually to the most outstanding player in the country in men's basketball. Ionescu's teammate Ruthy Hebard, Baylor's Lauren Cox, South Carolina's Tyasha Harris and Kentucky's Rhyne Howard are the other women's finalists. Advertisement
Toppin is a front-runner for the men's honor. He averaged 20 points and 7.5 rebounds while leading the Flyers to the No. 3 ranking in the country. Ionescu -- the reigning women's Wooden Award winner -- averaged 17.5 points, 9 assists and 8.6 rebounds per game for the No. 2 Ducks.
Azubuike shot a Division I-best 74.8 percent from the floor and averaged 13.7 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game for the No. 1 Jayhawks.
Howard was the best scorer in the nation this season in men's basketball, averaging 27. 8 points per game. Garza posted 23.9 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. Powell averaged 21 points per game for Seton Hall.
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Toppin -- a sophomore -- announced last week that he planned to sign with an agent and enter the 2020 NBA Draft. Azubuike, Howard and Powell are seniors.
Howard, Powell, Azubuike, Garza and Toppin were also named All-Americans. Kansas' Devon Dotson, San Diego State's Malachi Flynn, Gonzaga's Filip Petrusev, Oregon's Payton Pritchard and Michigan State's Cassius Winston also made the top-10 All-Americans list.
Hebard averaged 17.3 points and 9.6 rebounds per game for the Ducks. Cox averaged 12.5 points, 8.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.7 blocks per game for No. 3 Baylor. Harris posted 12.1 points per game while shooting 38 percent from 3-point range for No. 1 South Carolina. Howard averaged 23.4 points per game for the Wildcats.
The 44th annual Wooden Award presentation for the most outstanding women's player will be given at 5 p.m. EST Monday on ESPN. The men's award will be presented at 5 p.m. EDT Tuesday on ESPN.
Former Duke star Zion Williamson won the 2019 men's Wooden Award before becoming the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. Ionescu this season became the first player in NCAA history -- men's or women's -- to accumulate 2,000 career points, 1,000 career rebounds and 1,000 career assists. The three-time Pac-12 Player of the Year could become the fourth player in history to win two consecutive Wooden Awards.
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Both the men's and women's basketball seasons was shortened due to the coronavirus pandemic, with the NCAA canceling their respective 2020 Division 1 basketball tournaments on March 12.


upi--2020-04-02--Arctic climate change: Recent carbon emissions worse than ancient methane

April 2 ( UPI ) -- The Arctic is predicted to warm faster than anywhere else in the world this century , perhaps by as much as 7°C .
These rising temperatures threaten one of the largest long-term stores of carbon on land : permafrost .
Permafrost is permanently frozen soil .
The generally cold temperatures in the Arctic keep soils there frozen year-on-year .
Plants grow in the uppermost soil layers during the short summers and then decay into soil , which freezes when the winter snow arrives .
Over thousands of years , carbon has built up in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now estimated to contain twice the carbon currently in the atmosphere .
Some of this carbon is more than 50,000 years old , which means the plants that decomposed to produce that soil grew over 50,000 years ago .
These soil deposits are known as `` Yedoma , '' which are mainly found in the East Siberian Arctic , but also in parts of Alaska and Canada .
As the region warms , the permafrost is thawing , and this frozen carbon is being released to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide and methane @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as it 's a highly potent greenhouse gas .
But a recent study suggested that the release of methane from ancient carbon sources -- sometimes referred to as the Arctic methane `` bomb '' -- did n't contribute much to the warming that occurred during the last deglaciation -- the period after the last ice age .
This occurred 18,000 to 8,000 years ago , a period that climate scientists study intently , as it 's the last time global temperatures rose by 4°C , which is roughly what is predicted for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to many that ancient methane emissions are not something we should be worried about this century .
But in new research , we found that this optimism may be misplaced .
We went to the East Siberian Arctic to compare the age of different forms of carbon found in the ponds , rivers and lakes .
These waters thaw during the summer and leak greenhouse gases from the surrounding permafrost .
We measured the age of the carbon dioxide , methane and organic matter found in these waters using radiocarbon dating and found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the atmosphere was overwhelmingly `` young . ''
Where there was intense permafrost thaw , we found that the oldest methane was 4,800 years old , and the oldest carbon dioxide was 6,000 years old .
But over this vast Arctic landscape , the carbon released was mainly from young plant organic matter .
This means that the carbon produced by plants growing during each summer growing season is rapidly released over the next few summers .
This rapid turnover releases much more carbon than the thaw of older permafrost , even where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does this mean for future climate change ?
It means that carbon emissions from a warming Arctic may not be driven by the thawing of an ancient frozen carbon bomb , as it 's often described .
Instead , most emissions may be relatively new carbon that is produced by plants that grew fairly recently .
What this shows is that the age of the carbon released from the warming Arctic is less important than the amount and form it takes .
Methane is 34 times more potent than carbon dioxide as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The East Siberian Arctic is a generally flat and wet landscape , and these are conditions which produce lots of methane , as there 's less oxygen in soils which might otherwise create carbon dioxide during thaws instead .
As a result , potent methane could well dominate the greenhouse gas emissions from the region .
Since most of the emissions from the Arctic this century will likely be from `` young '' carbon , we may not need to worry about ancient permafrost adding substantially to modern climate change .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ source of carbon emissions , as carbon that was soil or plant matter only a few hundred years ago leaches to the atmosphere .
That will increase as warmer temperatures lengthen growing seasons in the Arctic summer .
The fading specter of an ancient methane time bomb is cold comfort .
The new research should urge the world to act boldly on climate change , to limit how much natural processes in the Arctic can contribute to the problem .
Joshua Dean is a lecturer in biogeochemical cycles at the University of Liverpool @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Conversation under a Creative Commons license .
Read the original article .

Arctic landscapes are changing rapidly as the region warms. Photo courtesy of Joshua Dean
April 2 (UPI) -- The Arctic is predicted to warm faster than anywhere else in the world this century, perhaps by as much as 7°C. These rising temperatures threaten one of the largest long-term stores of carbon on land: permafrost. Permafrost is permanently frozen soil. The generally cold temperatures in the Arctic keep soils there frozen year-on-year. Plants grow in the uppermost soil layers during the short summers and then decay into soil, which freezes when the winter snow arrives. Advertisement
Over thousands of years, carbon has built up in these frozen soils, and they're now estimated to contain twice the carbon currently in the atmosphere. Some of this carbon is more than 50,000 years old, which means the plants that decomposed to produce that soil grew over 50,000 years ago. These soil deposits are known as "Yedoma," which are mainly found in the East Siberian Arctic, but also in parts of Alaska and Canada.
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As the region warms, the permafrost is thawing, and this frozen carbon is being released to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide and methane. Methane release is particularly worrying, as it's a highly potent greenhouse gas.
But a recent study suggested that the release of methane from ancient carbon sources -- sometimes referred to as the Arctic methane "bomb" -- didn't contribute much to the warming that occurred during the last deglaciation -- the period after the last ice age. This occurred 18,000 to 8,000 years ago, a period that climate scientists study intently, as it's the last time global temperatures rose by 4°C, which is roughly what is predicted for the world by 2100.
This study suggested to many that ancient methane emissions are not something we should be worried about this century. But in new research, we found that this optimism may be misplaced.
'Young' vs. 'old' carbon
We went to the East Siberian Arctic to compare the age of different forms of carbon found in the ponds, rivers and lakes. These waters thaw during the summer and leak greenhouse gases from the surrounding permafrost. We measured the age of the carbon dioxide, methane and organic matter found in these waters using radiocarbon dating and found that most of the carbon released to the atmosphere was overwhelmingly "young." Where there was intense permafrost thaw, we found that the oldest methane was 4,800 years old, and the oldest carbon dioxide was 6,000 years old. But over this vast Arctic landscape, the carbon released was mainly from young plant organic matter.
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This means that the carbon produced by plants growing during each summer growing season is rapidly released over the next few summers. This rapid turnover releases much more carbon than the thaw of older permafrost, even where severe thaw is occurring.
So what does this mean for future climate change? It means that carbon emissions from a warming Arctic may not be driven by the thawing of an ancient frozen carbon bomb, as it's often described. Instead, most emissions may be relatively new carbon that is produced by plants that grew fairly recently.
What this shows is that the age of the carbon released from the warming Arctic is less important than the amount and form it takes. Methane is 34 times more potent than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas over a 100-year time frame. The East Siberian Arctic is a generally flat and wet landscape, and these are conditions which produce lots of methane, as there's less oxygen in soils which might otherwise create carbon dioxide during thaws instead. As a result, potent methane could well dominate the greenhouse gas emissions from the region.
Since most of the emissions from the Arctic this century will likely be from "young" carbon, we may not need to worry about ancient permafrost adding substantially to modern climate change. But the Arctic will still be a huge source of carbon emissions, as carbon that was soil or plant matter only a few hundred years ago leaches to the atmosphere. That will increase as warmer temperatures lengthen growing seasons in the Arctic summer.
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The fading specter of an ancient methane time bomb is cold comfort. The new research should urge the world to act boldly on climate change, to limit how much natural processes in the Arctic can contribute to the problem.
Joshua Dean is a lecturer in biogeochemical cycles at the University of Liverpool. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.


upi--2020-04-02--Coronavirus cases worldwide near 1 million; 10,000 deaths in Spain

Pope Francis , isolated in front of an empty square from the sagrato of St. Peter 's Basilica in St. @ @ @ @ @ City , offers an extraordinary moment of prayer in time of pandemic , the adoration @ @ @ @ @ on March 27 .
The `` Salus Populi Romani '' icon and the crucifix of @ @ @ @ @ in front of the central door of the basilica .
Vatican media broadcast the ceremony @ @ @ @ @ it could also be followed in several languages on Facebook and YouTube .
Photo by @ @ @

Travelers wears masks and gloves for protection against the coronavirus after arriving at Ben Gurion Airport in Lod, Israel, on Wednesday. Photo by Debbie Hill/UPI | License Photo
April 2 (UPI) -- The number of coronavirus cases worldwide surpassed the 1 million mark Thursday as hard-hit Spain reached 10,000 deaths from the disease. The global number of confirmed cases has doubled over the past nine days, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University. Advertisement
"In the next day or two, we will reach more than 1 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 globally, and 50,000 deaths," World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Thursday.
"This virus, which was unknown to us three months ago, has exposed the weaknesses and inequities in our health systems and societies, our lack of preparedness, and the gaps in our supply chains and other essential systems."
The United States has the most cases, but deaths in European centers like Italy, Spain and France have far surpassed the rest of the world, with a combined toll of more than 28,500. WHO said more than 95 percent of the European coronavirus deaths have involved patients over age 60.
Spain's dire situation grew worse on Thursday. Health officials in Madrid reported a new daily high of 950 coronavirus deaths, pushing the nation's toll past 10,000.
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Some 8,100 new infections were reported, taking Spain's total caseload to more than 110,000. More than 54,000 have been hospitalized, with nearly 27,000 recoveries.
Doctors, though, said fewer patients have come into hospital emergency rooms, raising hopes that the worst of the crisis could be over.
Russia reported 771 new cases -- a 28 percent rise over Tuesday's total -- taking its total caseload to more than 3,500. The vast majority are in Moscow. Thirty have died.
A Kremlin spokesman said President Vladimir Putin shook hands recently with a doctor who later tested positive. On Wednesday, he signed a new law imposing a seven-year prison sentence for those who violate quarantine rules and whose actions cause two deaths or more.
Scenes from a pandemic: World copes with COVID-19