upi--2020-11-05--Space Force leads first training exercise since its inception

Nov. 5 ( UPI ) -- The U.S. Space Force led Schriever Wargame , a two-day space training event attended by 200 people from eight countries , which concluded last week .
The wargame began in 2001 under Air Force Space Command , and this week 's event was the 14th iteration of the exercise -- and the first under the direction of the newly-created service .
`` Today 's partnerships are vital in the contested space environment to strengthen our integration and interoperability along with promoting the peaceful use and development of space , '' said Lt. Gen. Stephen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Command , USSF .
This year 's wargame included participants from Australia , Canada , France , Germany , Japan , New Zealand , United Kingdom as well as the U.S .
This year 's exercise was completed virtually via the Battlefield Information Exploitation and Collection System due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
The training event is designed to explore critical space issues to include investigating military utility of new space systems , identifying solutions to common challenges and advancing space support in air , land , sea , space and cyberspace doctrine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ segments this year , including a deep dive in September and the Capstone Coalition Council this week .
The latter was chaired by Gen. John W. `` Jay '' Raymond , Chief of Space Operations , USSF .
`` Space is critical to international stability , and our use of space helps keep our countries safe , protects lives , and supports our everyday way of life .
Adversaries , such as Russia and China , are actively developing counter-space capabilities to deny U.S. and our partners the advantages of space in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gen. James H. Dickinson , USSPACECOM commander , said .
`` The U.S. will not go it alone in space , and Schriever Wargame is just one way we work alongside our Allies and partners to help us retain space superiority , deliver space-based effects to the warfighter , and ensure there is never a day without space . ''

Maj. Gen. Stephen Whiting, Headquarters United States Space Force deputy commander, signs three USSF recruits contracts at the Denver Military Entrance Processing Station Oct. 20, 2020. Photo by Haley N. Blevins/U.S. Space Force
Nov. 5 (UPI) -- The U.S. Space Force led Schriever Wargame, a two-day space training event attended by 200 people from eight countries, which concluded last week. The wargame began in 2001 under Air Force Space Command, and this week's event was the 14th iteration of the exercise -- and the first under the direction of the newly-created service. Advertisement
"Today's partnerships are vital in the contested space environment to strengthen our integration and interoperability along with promoting the peaceful use and development of space," said Lt. Gen. Stephen N. Whiting, Commander, Space Operations Command, USSF.
This year's wargame included participants from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, United Kingdom as well as the U.S.
This year's exercise was completed virtually via the Battlefield Information Exploitation and Collection System due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The training event is designed to explore critical space issues to include investigating military utility of new space systems, identifying solutions to common challenges and advancing space support in air, land, sea, space and cyberspace doctrine.
The event was divided into two segments this year, including a deep dive in September and the Capstone Coalition Council this week.
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The latter was chaired by Gen. John W. "Jay" Raymond, Chief of Space Operations, USSF.
"Space is critical to international stability, and our use of space helps keep our countries safe, protects lives, and supports our everyday way of life. Adversaries, such as Russia and China, are actively developing counter-space capabilities to deny U.S. and our partners the advantages of space in a crisis or conflict," U.S. Army Gen. James H. Dickinson, USSPACECOM commander, said. "The U.S. will not go it alone in space, and Schriever Wargame is just one way we work alongside our Allies and partners to help us retain space superiority, deliver space-based effects to the warfighter, and ensure there is never a day without space."


upi--2020-11-05--Bitcoin surges past $15,700 to highest value since January 2018

Nov. 5 ( UPI ) -- The price of Bitcoin continued on an upward path Thursday , increasing in value by $ 1,472.28 , or more than 10 % in a single day and reaching a high of $ 15,755.52 .
The price of the crypto token has been rallying for several weeks , increasing by more than 30 % in value in the past month , and more than doubling in value since the year began .
Some investors and speculators believe that cryptocurrency can provide a shelter from inflation as governments around the world are flooding their citizens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday .
`` Bitcoin 's creation was in part due to fears that increased fiscal stimulus is devaluing currencies globally , '' Simon Peters , a cryptoasset analyst at eToro told CNBC .
`` As a result , when central banks announce extensive plans to pump money into economies , many investors in the crypto community take this as a major bitcoin buy signal . ''
Bitcoin is also easier to use , after PayPal announced in October that the online payment company would accept Bitcoin payment .
Tech payment company Square allowed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cash App starting in the summer of 2019 .
The digital currency has risen and crashed multiple times since its introduction in 2008 , when `` coins , '' a virtual token with records maintained in a permanent blockchain ledger , cost about $ 10 each .
Most recently , in December 2017 , the cryptocurrency shot up in value to more than $ 20,000 per digital coin and then quickly plunged , dropping in value to end up at less than $ 4,000 over the next year .
Thursday 's value was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the market price for Bitcoin was falling after reaching record highs .
Meanwhile , the U.S. Justice Department has seized large amounts of Bitcoin in recent months .
An August digital raid on a purported al-Qaida-linked cluster of terrorist groups confiscated $ 3 million in Bitcoin .
Thursday , federal authorities said they had seized Bitcoin valued at $ 1 billion that had been stolen around 2012 by an anonymous hacker from the shuttered dark-web trading site Silk Road .

The digital cryptocurrency Bitcoin, represented here in a souvenir token, rose in value to more than $15,750 on Thursday, a boost of about 30% in the past month. File Photo by Maxim Shipenkov/EPA-EFE
Nov. 5 (UPI) -- The price of Bitcoin continued on an upward path Thursday, increasing in value by $1,472.28, or more than 10% in a single day and reaching a high of $15,755.52. The price of the crypto token has been rallying for several weeks, increasing by more than 30% in value in the past month, and more than doubling in value since the year began. Advertisement
Some investors and speculators believe that cryptocurrency can provide a shelter from inflation as governments around the world are flooding their citizens with coronavirus stimulus cash, experts said Thursday.
"Bitcoin's creation was in part due to fears that increased fiscal stimulus is devaluing currencies globally," Simon Peters, a cryptoasset analyst at eToro told CNBC. "As a result, when central banks announce extensive plans to pump money into economies, many investors in the crypto community take this as a major bitcoin buy signal."
Bitcoin is also easier to use, after PayPal announced in October that the online payment company would accept Bitcoin payment. Tech payment company Square allowed buying and selling of Bitcoin through its Cash App starting in the summer of 2019.
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The digital currency has risen and crashed multiple times since its introduction in 2008, when "coins," a virtual token with records maintained in a permanent blockchain ledger, cost about $10 each.
Most recently, in December 2017, the cryptocurrency shot up in value to more than $20,000 per digital coin and then quickly plunged, dropping in value to end up at less than $4,000 over the next year.
Thursday's value was the highest since January 2018, when the market price for Bitcoin was falling after reaching record highs.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Justice Department has seized large amounts of Bitcoin in recent months. An August digital raid on a purported al-Qaida-linked cluster of terrorist groups confiscated $3 million in Bitcoin.
Thursday, federal authorities said they had seized Bitcoin valued at $1 billion that had been stolen around 2012 by an anonymous hacker from the shuttered dark-web trading site Silk Road.


upi--2020-11-05--Washington-California football game canceled due to COVID-19 case

Nov. 5 ( UPI ) -- Saturday 's season opener between the Washington Huskies and California Golden Bears has been called off after a Cal football player tested positive for COVID-19 , the Pac-12 announced Thursday .
`` The Pac-12 has approved a request from Cal to cancel the Washington at Cal football game scheduled for November 7 , '' the Pac-12 said in a statement .
`` This decision was made under the Pac-12 's football game cancellation policy due to Cal not having the minimum number of scholarship players available for the game as a result of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ isolation of additional football student-athletes under contact tracing protocols . ''
Cal reported the case Wednesday night after a daily antigen test came back positive .
A PCR test then confirmed the positive result .
`` As a result , several football student-athletes are in quarantine due to contact tracing , '' Cal said in a statement .
The school did n't reveal how many players were in quarantine as a result of contact tracing .
The player who tested positive is asymptomatic .
Under Pac-12 policy , the game will be declared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Air Force-Army and Navy-Tulsa matchups scheduled for this weekend have been postponed because of the coronavirus .
Saturday 's game between Tulsa and Navy was pushed back due to COVID-19 issues at Navy , the American Athletic Conference announced Thursday .
The league said positive cases and subsequent contact tracing forced the game to be moved back .
Many Navy student-athletes are under quarantine , and the Midshipmen have temporarily paused all football activities .
`` Protocols and guidelines are very comprehensive both at the Naval Academy and within the American Athletic Conference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a statement Thursday .
`` An administrative decision has been made that clearly reflects the safety and welfare of all involved with both institutions . ''
Neither team shares a common open date for the remainder of the season .
The AAC said it will consider `` a number of options '' for rescheduling the game .
Much like the Navy football program , Air Force also experienced coronavirus issues this week .
An increase in COVID-19 cases and contact tracing at the Air Force Academy left the team unable to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Force and Army have played every year since 1968 .
`` We are disappointed to postpone this game , but the health and safety of our cadets , staff and the community continues to be our No .
1 priority at the Academy , '' Air Force athletic director Nathan Pine said in a statement Thursday .
`` Due to the upward trends in our COVID numbers across the campus , we have paused all intercollegiate team activities . ''
Air Force and Army have no common open dates remaining on its schedules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be rescheduled .

The Washington Huskies' game against the California Golden Bears was scrapped after a Cal football player tested positive for COVID-19. File Photo by Art Foxall/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 5 (UPI) -- Saturday's season opener between the Washington Huskies and California Golden Bears has been called off after a Cal football player tested positive for COVID-19, the Pac-12 announced Thursday. "The Pac-12 has approved a request from Cal to cancel the Washington at Cal football game scheduled for November 7," the Pac-12 said in a statement. Advertisement
"This decision was made under the Pac-12's football game cancellation policy due to Cal not having the minimum number of scholarship players available for the game as a result of a positive football student-athlete COVID-19 case and resulting isolation of additional football student-athletes under contact tracing protocols."
Cal reported the case Wednesday night after a daily antigen test came back positive. A PCR test then confirmed the positive result.
"As a result, several football student-athletes are in quarantine due to contact tracing," Cal said in a statement.
The school didn't reveal how many players were in quarantine as a result of contact tracing. The player who tested positive is asymptomatic.
Under Pac-12 policy, the game will be declared a no contest.
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Meanwhile, the Air Force-Army and Navy-Tulsa matchups scheduled for this weekend have been postponed because of the coronavirus.
Saturday's game between Tulsa and Navy was pushed back due to COVID-19 issues at Navy, the American Athletic Conference announced Thursday. The league said positive cases and subsequent contact tracing forced the game to be moved back.
Many Navy student-athletes are under quarantine, and the Midshipmen have temporarily paused all football activities.
"Protocols and guidelines are very comprehensive both at the Naval Academy and within the American Athletic Conference," Navy athletic director Chet Gladchuk said in a statement Thursday. "An administrative decision has been made that clearly reflects the safety and welfare of all involved with both institutions."
Neither team shares a common open date for the remainder of the season. The AAC said it will consider "a number of options" for rescheduling the game.
Much like the Navy football program, Air Force also experienced coronavirus issues this week. An increase in COVID-19 cases and contact tracing at the Air Force Academy left the team unable to compete against Army on Saturday.
Air Force and Army have played every year since 1968.
"We are disappointed to postpone this game, but the health and safety of our cadets, staff and the community continues to be our No. 1 priority at the Academy," Air Force athletic director Nathan Pine said in a statement Thursday.
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"Due to the upward trends in our COVID numbers across the campus, we have paused all intercollegiate team activities."
Air Force and Army have no common open dates remaining on its schedules. It remains unclear whether the matchup can be rescheduled.


upi--2020-11-05--GenDyn nabs $9.5B for construction of first 2 Columbia-class subs

Nov. 5 ( UPI ) -- General Dynamics was awarded a $ 9.5 billion contract modification for the construction and test of the lead and second ships of the Columbia class , the Pentagon announced .
The deal , which modifies a $ 5 billion contract originally awarded in 2017 , exercises an option to test the ships and to provide design and engineering support .
The original contract was for design completion for the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines , which are meant to replace the Navy 's current force of 14 aging Ohio-class boats .
In May the Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buy two of its new Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines , a deal then estimated to be worth $ 17.7 billion .
Eventually the Pentagon plans to acquire 12 of the vessels , for a total cost of $ 110 billion .
Per the modification , GenDyn will begin constructing the lead ship in fiscal 2021 and will begin advance procurement , advance construction , coordinated material buys and full construction of the follow hull in fiscal 2024 .
Work on the contract will be performed in Groton , Conn. ; Newport News , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The estimated completion date for the deal is April 2030 .

This 2019 artist's rendering portrays a Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine, which the DoD just awarded a $9.5 billion contract to build and test. Image courtesy of U.S. Navy
Nov. 5 (UPI) -- General Dynamics was awarded a $9.5 billion contract modification for the construction and test of the lead and second ships of the Columbia class, the Pentagon announced. The deal, which modifies a $5 billion contract originally awarded in 2017, exercises an option to test the ships and to provide design and engineering support. Advertisement
The original contract was for design completion for the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines, which are meant to replace the Navy's current force of 14 aging Ohio-class boats.
In May the Department of Defense asked Congress for authority to buy two of its new Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines, a deal then estimated to be worth $17.7 billion.
Eventually the Pentagon plans to acquire 12 of the vessels, for a total cost of $110 billion.
Per the modification, GenDyn will begin constructing the lead ship in fiscal 2021 and will begin advance procurement, advance construction, coordinated material buys and full construction of the follow hull in fiscal 2024.
Work on the contract will be performed in Groton, Conn.; Newport News, Va.; Quonset Point, R.I.
The estimated completion date for the deal is April 2030.


upi--2020-11-05--Among geladas, new male leaders cause female primates to more quickly mature

Nov. 5 ( UPI ) -- Primates can alter the rate at which they reach sexual maturity .
Previous studies have shown a variety of factors , including food availability , can determine whether primates mature earlier or later .
Now , for the first time , researchers have found that female geladas -- close relatives of baboons , found only in the Ethiopian Highlands -- accelerate their sexual maturity when new males take over .
Scientists shared the discovery in a paper published Thursday in the journal Current Biology .
`` We found that prepubertal females are more likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ male arrives in the group -- even if it means maturing earlier than expected , '' senior author Jacinta Beehner said in a news release .
`` We also noticed that some of these maturing females were maturing much later than expected , '' said Beehner , a professor of psychology and anthropology at the University of Michigan .
According to the new research , later-blooming females were mostly the daughters of the primary breeding male prior to the turnover in leadership .
The pattern suggests female geladas can either accelerate or delay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fathers , researchers said .
`` Once their father is ousted by the new male , they appear to lift this suppression and immediately mature , '' Beehner said .
`` Taken together , we see that a new male causes a really obvious increase in the number of maturations in a group -- whether early , on-time or late . ''
Normally , during any given year , the group of geladas being monitored by scientists featured only a handful of sexually mature females .
But researchers began noticing that the arrival @ @ @ @ @ @ @ followed by the sudden sexual development of several females .
Researchers started monitoring the estrogen levels of females , which can be measured in feces , before and after changes in male leadership .
Prior to sexual maturity , female primates start producing higher levels of estrogen .
`` Females usually mature around 4.5 years old , but we saw that even females as young as one year old exhibited a temporary surge in estrogen , '' Beehner said .
`` We suspect that this boost in estrogen causes females to mature , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ young for this boost to actually work . ''
The findings suggest the sexual maturity process in primates is both flexible and sensitive to social factors .
While scientists have previously observed such characteristics among New World monkeys , the latest research marks the first time researchers have identified the phenomenon among Old World monkeys .
`` If an Old World monkey , like geladas , can suppress maturation in response to the presence of their biological fathers and lift this suppression in response to the arrival of a novel male , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be present in apes , and possibly even in humans , '' Beehner said .
However , before gelatos are used to make inferences about the sexual maturity of primates , the researchers said more work needs to be done to understand what kinds of costs and benefits are associated with the acceleration or suppression of the maturation process .
`` We have to be patient and wait until these females , now matured , live out their reproductive lives , '' Beehner said .
`` So , stay tuned , and we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in another 14 years . ''

A young female gelada is photographed grooming the dominant breeding male in her group. Photo by Rachel Perlman
Nov. 5 (UPI) -- Primates can alter the rate at which they reach sexual maturity. Previous studies have shown a variety of factors, including food availability, can determine whether primates mature earlier or later. Now, for the first time, researchers have found that female geladas -- close relatives of baboons, found only in the Ethiopian Highlands -- accelerate their sexual maturity when new males take over. Advertisement
Scientists shared the discovery in a paper published Thursday in the journal Current Biology.
"We found that prepubertal females are more likely to mature right after a new breeding male arrives in the group -- even if it means maturing earlier than expected," senior author Jacinta Beehner said in a news release.
"We also noticed that some of these maturing females were maturing much later than expected," said Beehner, a professor of psychology and anthropology at the University of Michigan.
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According to the new research, later-blooming females were mostly the daughters of the primary breeding male prior to the turnover in leadership.
The pattern suggests female geladas can either accelerate or delay sexual maturity to avoid interbreeding with their fathers, researchers said.
"Once their father is ousted by the new male, they appear to lift this suppression and immediately mature," Beehner said. "Taken together, we see that a new male causes a really obvious increase in the number of maturations in a group -- whether early, on-time or late."
Normally, during any given year, the group of geladas being monitored by scientists featured only a handful of sexually mature females. But researchers began noticing that the arrival of a new male leader was often followed by the sudden sexual development of several females.
Researchers started monitoring the estrogen levels of females, which can be measured in feces, before and after changes in male leadership. Prior to sexual maturity, female primates start producing higher levels of estrogen.
"Females usually mature around 4.5 years old, but we saw that even females as young as one year old exhibited a temporary surge in estrogen," Beehner said. "We suspect that this boost in estrogen causes females to mature, but that some females are just too young for this boost to actually work."
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The findings suggest the sexual maturity process in primates is both flexible and sensitive to social factors. While scientists have previously observed such characteristics among New World monkeys, the latest research marks the first time researchers have identified the phenomenon among Old World monkeys.
"If an Old World monkey, like geladas, can suppress maturation in response to the presence of their biological fathers and lift this suppression in response to the arrival of a novel male, it's possible that such a process could be present in apes, and possibly even in humans," Beehner said.
However, before gelatos are used to make inferences about the sexual maturity of primates, the researchers said more work needs to be done to understand what kinds of costs and benefits are associated with the acceleration or suppression of the maturation process.
"We have to be patient and wait until these females, now matured, live out their reproductive lives," Beehner said. "So, stay tuned, and we'll get back to you on that in another 14 years."


upi--2020-11-05--State Department approves $500M sale of SM-2 missiles to Canada

Nov. 5 ( UPI ) -- The State Department has approved a possible $ 500 million deal to sell Standard Missile 2 Block IIIC missiles and related equipment to Canada , according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency .
According to the DSCA , Canada 's government asked to buy 100 SM-2 Block IIIC missiles and 100 MK 13 vertical launch systems .
The request also included obsolescence engineering , training and training equipment and technical and logistics support .
According to the DSCA , Canada would install the missiles on its planned 15 Canadian Surface Combatant ships .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to improve the military capability of Canada , a NATO ally that is an important force for ensuring political stability and economic progress and a contributor to military , peacekeeping and humanitarian operations around the world , '' the DSCA announcement said .
The prime contractor on this deal would be Raytheon , which received a $ 19 million contract for engineering and technical services on the Standard Missile-2 and Standard Missile-6 in 2019 .
The State Department approved a $ 313.9 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Korea in 2019 .

An SM-2 telemetry surface to air missile is launched from the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Shiloh while conducting a live-fire exercise in March. Photo by Ryre Arciaga/U.S. Navy
Nov. 5 (UPI) -- The State Department has approved a possible $500 million deal to sell Standard Missile 2 Block IIIC missiles and related equipment to Canada, according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency. According to the DSCA, Canada's government asked to buy 100 SM-2 Block IIIC missiles and 100 MK 13 vertical launch systems. Advertisement
The request also included obsolescence engineering, training and training equipment and technical and logistics support.
According to the DSCA, Canada would install the missiles on its planned 15 Canadian Surface Combatant ships.
"This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to improve the military capability of Canada, a NATO ally that is an important force for ensuring political stability and economic progress and a contributor to military, peacekeeping and humanitarian operations around the world," the DSCA announcement said.
The prime contractor on this deal would be Raytheon, which received a $19 million contract for engineering and technical services on the Standard Missile-2 and Standard Missile-6 in 2019.
The State Department approved a $313.9 million sale of SM-2 missiles to South Korea in 2019.
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upi--2020-11-05--Young adults in U.S. among world leaders in unhealthy weight, researchers say

Nov. 5 ( UPI ) -- Young adults in the United States are among the world 's heaviest with a body-mass index of 25.4 , an analysis published Thursday by The Lancet found .
This suggests they are among the global leaders in a key indicator of poor overall health , the researchers said , as a BMI of 25 or above is considered overweight for adults , according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
BMI is calculated by taking a person 's weight in kilograms and dividing it by height in square meters .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ method for measuring body weight in the context of height to identify those who are overweight or obese , the CDC said .
`` National nutrition and health programs should be extended to older children and adolescents to enable healthy growth and development , '' Majid Ezzati , co-author of the Lancet analysis , said in a statement .
`` We need to improve access to affordable , healthy foods at school and in the community both , through healthy food vouchers and free healthy school meal programs for low-income families , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regulations and taxes , '' said Ezzati , professor of global environmental health at Imperial College London .
The average BMI among 19-year-olds in the United States , 25.4 , places them just outside the global Top 10 of nations ranked by BMI .
Average height and BMI in countries reflects the quality of nutrition and healthiness of the environment during childhood and adolescence , and are important indicators of health and development , Ezzati and his colleagues said .
BMI accounts for weight gain due to being taller , and therefore measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ height versus being overweight or underweight , the researchers said .
Having low height or excessively low BMI increases the risk of illness and premature death , impairs cognitive development and reduces educational performance and work productivity in later life , they said .
Similarly , high BMI in childhood and adolescence has been linked with a greater risk , and earlier onset of , chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure .
For this analysis , Ezzati and his colleagues analyzed physical growth trends for 200 countries worldwide over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from 2,181 studies on more than 65 million children and adolescents ages 5 to 19 .
The researchers focused on 19-year-olds in order to track how height and BMI through childhood and adolescence impact these indicators of health into adulthood , with 19 marking the end of `` school ages '' and the beginning of adulthood in most countries .
The countries with the tallest 19-year-olds included the Netherlands , Montenegro , Iceland and Denmark , the researchers said .
Countries with the shortest 19-year-olds were in South Asia and Southeast Asia , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
The highest average BMIs among 19-year-olds were found in the Pacific islands , the Middle East and the United States , while `` unhealthy growth trends '' -- with too little height gain and excess weight gains -- were seen in New Zealand , the United States , Malaysia , Mexico and sub-Saharan Africa , researchers said .
At the other extreme , the BMI of 19-year-olds was lowest in countries in south Asia and east and central Africa , the researchers said .
Growth patterns were healthiest -- with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for girls living in South Korea , Vietnam and Saudi Arabia , among others , and for boys in Central Europe and Western Europe , they said .
American 19-year-olds had the 16th-highest BMI worldwide and ranked 47th in height , the data showed .
`` These massive global disparities reflect the imbalance between successful efforts to improve nutrition and growth during the early years compared with school-aged children and adolescents , who have been largely overlooked in many countries , '' Ezzati said .

Young adults in the United States are among the global leaders in indicators of unhealthy weight, a new study has found. Photo by ThorstenF/ Pixabay
Nov. 5 (UPI) -- Young adults in the United States are among the world's heaviest with a body-mass index of 25.4, an analysis published Thursday by The Lancet found. This suggests they are among the global leaders in a key indicator of poor overall health, the researchers said, as a BMI of 25 or above is considered overweight for adults, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Advertisement
BMI is calculated by taking a person's weight in kilograms and dividing it by height in square meters. It generally is viewed as the most accurate method for measuring body weight in the context of height to identify those who are overweight or obese, the CDC said.
"National nutrition and health programs should be extended to older children and adolescents to enable healthy growth and development," Majid Ezzati, co-author of the Lancet analysis, said in a statement.
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"We need to improve access to affordable, healthy foods at school and in the community both, through healthy food vouchers and free healthy school meal programs for low-income families, and to protect children from unhealthy foods through regulations and taxes," said Ezzati, professor of global environmental health at Imperial College London.
The average BMI among 19-year-olds in the United States, 25.4, places them just outside the global Top 10 of nations ranked by BMI.
Average height and BMI in countries reflects the quality of nutrition and healthiness of the environment during childhood and adolescence, and are important indicators of health and development, Ezzati and his colleagues said.
BMI accounts for weight gain due to being taller, and therefore measures having healthy weight for an individual's height versus being overweight or underweight, the researchers said.
Having low height or excessively low BMI increases the risk of illness and premature death, impairs cognitive development and reduces educational performance and work productivity in later life, they said.
Similarly, high BMI in childhood and adolescence has been linked with a greater risk, and earlier onset of, chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.
For this analysis, Ezzati and his colleagues analyzed physical growth trends for 200 countries worldwide over the past 35 years, using data from 2,181 studies on more than 65 million children and adolescents ages 5 to 19.
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The researchers focused on 19-year-olds in order to track how height and BMI through childhood and adolescence impact these indicators of health into adulthood, with 19 marking the end of "school ages" and the beginning of adulthood in most countries.
The countries with the tallest 19-year-olds included the Netherlands, Montenegro, Iceland and Denmark, the researchers said.
Countries with the shortest 19-year-olds were in South Asia and Southeast Asia, Latin America and East Africa, they said.
The highest average BMIs among 19-year-olds were found in the Pacific islands, the Middle East and the United States, while "unhealthy growth trends" -- with too little height gain and excess weight gains -- were seen in New Zealand, the United States, Malaysia, Mexico and sub-Saharan Africa, researchers said.
At the other extreme, the BMI of 19-year-olds was lowest in countries in south Asia and east and central Africa, the researchers said.
Growth patterns were healthiest -- with a larger gain in height than BMI -- for girls living in South Korea, Vietnam and Saudi Arabia, among others, and for boys in Central Europe and Western Europe, they said.
American 19-year-olds had the 16th-highest BMI worldwide and ranked 47th in height, the data showed.
"These massive global disparities reflect the imbalance between successful efforts to improve nutrition and growth during the early years compared with school-aged children and adolescents, who have been largely overlooked in many countries," Ezzati said.


upi--2020-11-05--Maine expands mask mandate, 16 states hit record COVID-19 hospitalizations

Nov. 5 ( UPI ) -- Maine Gov .
Janet Mills issued an executive order Thursday expanding requirements for people wearing masks in public , as 16 states reported new records for COVID-19 hospitalizations .
Mills announced the new order , which strengthens the state 's mask mandate by requiring people to wear face coverings in public `` regardless of the ability to maintain physical distance , '' as the state recorded 183 new COVID-19 cases , its highest single-day increase since the start of the pandemic .
`` We have recorded yet another day of record high case numbers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spreading all across our state . ''
Mills said .
`` Protect your family .
Protect a health care worker .
Protect the elderly .
Wear your face covering .
Save lives .
It is that simple . ''
Maine 's record high comes as cases have surged throughout the United States with more than 100,000 cases reported nationwide Wednesday , a single-day record for the country .
Overall the United States has reported 9,544,315 COVID-19 cases and 234,300 deaths since the start of the pandemic , according to data gathered by Johns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported all-time highs in COVID-19 hospitalizations including Indiana , Iowa , Kansas , Kentucky , Minnesota , Montana , Nebraska , New Mexico , North Dakota , Ohio , Oklahoma , South Dakota , Tennessee , Utah , Wisconsin and Wyoming .
`` Our number of hospitalized people goes up every day .
These are a lot of Kentuckians who are fighting for their lives , '' Kentucky Gov .
Andy Beshear said Wednesday , according to CNN .
`` There 's a lot of pain out there and it 's hitting everybody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Oklahoma State Medical Association called for a mask mandate in the state as the state reached 1,026 hospitalized COVID-19 patients .
`` We 've got to do something different .
The pathway we are on is unsustainable , '' Monks said .

Maine Gov. Janet Mills expanded the state's mask mandate Thursday 16 states reported new records for COVID-19 hospitalizations. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 5 (UPI) -- The United States set a new record for the second consecutive day reporting more than 120,000 new cases, as 16 states reported new records for COVID-19 hospitalizations. The United States reported 121,054 new cases and 1,187 deaths on Thursday, according to data gathered by Johns Hopkins University, registering a new single-day record a day after more than 100,000 cases reported nationwide on Wednesday. Advertisement
Overall the United States has reported 9,544,315 COVID-19 cases and 234,300 deaths since the start of the pandemic, according to Johns Hopkins.
Additionally, 16 states reported all-time highs in COVID-19 hospitalizations including Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
"Our number of hospitalized people goes up every day. These are a lot of Kentuckians who are fighting for their lives," Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said Wednesday, according to CNN. "There's a lot of pain out there and it's hitting everybody."
Dr. George Monks, head of the Oklahoma State Medical Association, called for a mask mandate in the state as it reached 1,026 hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
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"We've got to do something different. The pathway we are on is unsustainable," Monks said.
Maine Gov. Janet Mills announced the new order, which strengthens the state's mask mandate by requiring people to wear face coverings in public "regardless of the ability to maintain physical distance," as the state recorded 183 new COVID-19 cases, its highest single-day increase since the start of the pandemic.
"We have recorded yet another day of record-high case numbers. This deadly and dangerous virus is spreading all across our state." Mills said. "Protect your family. Protect a health care worker. Protect the elderly. Wear your face covering. Save lives. It is that simple."
Maine's record high comes as cases have surged throughout the United States with


upi--2020-11-05--Extinct group of lizard-like amphibians used a rapid-fire tongue to catch prey

Nov. 5 ( UPI ) -- An unusual group of extinct amphibians known as albanerpetontids used a rapid-fire tongue to catch prey , according to a new study published Thursday in the journal Science .
For years , albanerpetontids , called `` albies '' for short , have puzzled scientists .
Despite claws , scales and tails that recall those of lizards , albies are officially amphibians .
Their lineage diverged from today 's frogs , salamanders and caecilians more than 165 million years ago , but the group only disappeared from the fossil record 2 million years ago .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ extinct groups , '' study co-author Susan Evans told UPI in an email .
`` Albies are interesting and mysterious -- in their specialized anatomy , in the fact that they became extinct only a couple of million years ago , in their distribution and lifestyle , '' said Evans , professor of vertebrate morphology and paleontology at University College London and an albie expert .
Albies are noted for their robust skulls , leading many scientists to suggest the amphibians were burrowers , catching mostly soil-bound prey .
But new analysis of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggests albies were capable of zapping flies from midair .
Evans had never seen an albie trapped in Myanmar amber until a group of scientists led by Juan Diego Daza , assistant professor of biological sciences at Sam Houston State University , described a group of lizard fossils in a 2016 paper .
The identification of one particular specimen from the cadre of fossils proved especially vexing for Daza and his colleagues .
The creature boasted an array of befuddling characteristics .
After much debate , researchers classified the specimen as an early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she realized the authors had made a mistake .
The specimen was n't a lizard .
It was an albanerpetontid .
Evans reached out to Daza to inform him of his error .
Daza 's paper also caught the attention of another researcher , Adolf Peretti , a gemologist who had acquired another collection of similar amber fossils .
After performing a series of CT scans , Daza realized one of the fossils contained the complete skull of an albanerpetontid .
He made sure the 3D images of the albie fossils made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she had never seen such a well-preserved albie skull .
The fossil featured bits of soft tissue , as well as jaw muscles and eyelids .
But most importantly , the fossilized skull boasted a tongue pad -- the kinds of pad that supports a sling-shot tongue .
`` I had already speculated that this might be part of a ballistic tongue apparatus in previous work , but the main Myanmar specimen shows it beautifully , '' Evans said .
`` Importantly , it preserves part of the soft tissue of the tongue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' is really part of a tongue mechanism . ''
Daza , Evans and their research partners compared the tongue bone with those found in modern chameleons and a group of modern salamanders called bolitoglossa -- the only living animals known to use a slingshot tongue .
The structures proved nearly identical .
Researchers confirmed that the only living species with a slingshot tongue are also the only living species with a specialized elongated hyoid apparatus .
`` Thus , in having this exceptionally long hyoid element -- tongue-bone -- in the floor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they shared a ballistic mechanism , '' Evans said .
`` Moreover , this also fits with other strange adaptations we know albies have -- large eyes , a complex anterior jaw joint and a mobile neck . ''
Researchers determined that the ballistic-tongued albies specimen represented a new genus and species , Yaksha perettii , but Evans estimates the slingshot tongue was common among the early amphibians .
If the earliest albies -- which date back 165 million years -- had rapid-fire tongues , too , it would mean amphibians evolved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before chameleons .
Previously , albies fossils were mostly found in North America , Europe and East Asia -- and less often in Morocco .
Now , the evidence suggests they were living in the part of Gondwana that became Southeast Asia .
New , yet discovered albies fossils could provide clues as to what exactly the earliest amphibians looked like .
`` [ Albies remain ] of interest because they possess a mix of primitive amphibian characters and very derived ones , '' Evans said .
`` There is a big debate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ modern amphibians and , as an early branch from the modern amphibian stem , albanerpetontids have the potential to tell us something about amphibian relationships generally and the origins of modern forms , '' she said .

A CT scan reveals the ancient amphibian's soft tissue and its long, narrow ballistic tongue apparatus. Photo Edward Stanley/Florida Museum of Natural History
Nov. 5 (UPI) -- An unusual group of extinct amphibians known as albanerpetontids used a rapid-fire tongue to catch prey, according to a new study published Thursday in the journal Science. For years, albanerpetontids, called "albies" for short, have puzzled scientists. Despite claws, scales and tails that recall those of lizards, albies are officially amphibians. Advertisement
Their lineage diverged from today's frogs, salamanders and caecilians more than 165 million years ago, but the group only disappeared from the fossil record 2 million years ago.
"We are always interested in enigmatic extinct groups," study co-author Susan Evans told UPI in an email.
"Albies are interesting and mysterious -- in their specialized anatomy, in the fact that they became extinct only a couple of million years ago, in their distribution and lifestyle," said Evans, professor of vertebrate morphology and paleontology at University College London and an albie expert.
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Albies are noted for their robust skulls, leading many scientists to suggest the amphibians were burrowers, catching mostly soil-bound prey. But new analysis of collection of 99-million-year-old amber fossils from Myanmar suggests albies were capable of zapping flies from midair.
Evans had never seen an albie trapped in Myanmar amber until a group of scientists led by Juan Diego Daza, assistant professor of biological sciences at Sam Houston State University, described a group of lizard fossils in a 2016 paper.
The identification of one particular specimen from the cadre of fossils proved especially vexing for Daza and his colleagues. The creature boasted an array of befuddling characteristics. After much debate, researchers classified the specimen as an early chameleon.
When Evans read the paper, she realized the authors had made a mistake. The specimen wasn't a lizard. It was an albanerpetontid. Evans reached out to Daza to inform him of his error.
Daza's paper also caught the attention of another researcher, Adolf Peretti, a gemologist who had acquired another collection of similar amber fossils.
After performing a series of CT scans, Daza realized one of the fossils contained the complete skull of an albanerpetontid. He made sure the 3D images of the albie fossils made their way to Evans.
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Evans said she had never seen such a well-preserved albie skull. The fossil featured bits of soft tissue, as well as jaw muscles and eyelids. But most importantly, the fossilized skull boasted a tongue pad -- the kinds of pad that supports a sling-shot tongue.
"I had already speculated that this might be part of a ballistic tongue apparatus in previous work, but the main Myanmar specimen shows it beautifully," Evans said. "Importantly, it preserves part of the soft tissue of the tongue itself showing that the long 'tongue bone' is really part of a tongue mechanism."
Daza, Evans and their research partners compared the tongue bone with those found in modern chameleons and a group of modern salamanders called bolitoglossa -- the only living animals known to use a slingshot tongue. The structures proved nearly identical.
Researchers confirmed that the only living species with a slingshot tongue are also the only living species with a specialized elongated hyoid apparatus.
"Thus, in having this exceptionally long hyoid element -- tongue-bone -- in the floor of the mouth, we can conclude that they shared a ballistic mechanism," Evans said. "Moreover, this also fits with other strange adaptations we know albies have -- large eyes, a complex anterior jaw joint and a mobile neck."
Advertisement
Researchers determined that the ballistic-tongued albies specimen represented a new genus and species, Yaksha perettii, but Evans estimates the slingshot tongue was common among the early amphibians.
If the earliest albies -- which date back 165 million years -- had rapid-fire tongues, too, it would mean amphibians evolved an elongated hyoid apparatus and ballistic tongue before chameleons.
Previously, albies fossils were mostly found in North America, Europe and East Asia -- and less often in Morocco.
Now, the evidence suggests they were living in the part of Gondwana that became Southeast Asia. New, yet discovered albies fossils could provide clues as to what exactly the earliest amphibians looked like.
"[Albies remain] of interest because they possess a mix of primitive amphibian characters and very derived ones," Evans said.
"There is a big debate at the moment about the origins of modern amphibians and, as an early branch from the modern amphibian stem, albanerpetontids have the potential to tell us something about amphibian relationships generally and the origins of modern forms," she said.


upi--2020-11-05--Java's Mount Merapi volcano threat level rises

Nov. 5 ( UPI ) -- Authorities in Indonesia on Thursday boosted the threat level for the Mount Merapi volcano , which is near a densely populated area on the island of Java .
Government volcano-watchers elevated Merapi 's status to level three of the country 's four-tier alert system .
`` The potential danger is lava erupting out of the volcano , with volcanic material and hot ash clouds spewing as far as 5 kilometers , '' the Geological Disaster Technology Research and Development Center said Thursday .
The city of Yogyakarta , with a population of 3 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Merapi and about 70,000 people live close to the volcano .
The agency halted mining in rivers within a 6-mile radius of the volcano 's peak and asked that tourist activities , including climbing to the top of the volcano , be suspended .
Only disaster officials and researchers will be allowed to venture into the restricted area .
Mount Merapi , more than 9,600 feet tall , is one of the active volcanoes in the Pacific Ring of Fire .
Merapi is classified by geologists as a stratovolcano , possessing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and ash .
The volcano is more active because it has an unstable lava dome , which can collapse , causing eruptions .
Most recently , Merapi has been in a slow-motion erupting state since 1987 , but the volcano has had 68 historic eruptions since 1548 .
In June , the volcano sent smoke and ash into the air , but no one was killed .
Government researchers said the volcano might dribble incandescent lava down its slopes in an effusive eruption , or the volcano could experience a more dangerous explosive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ air .
In 2010 , an explosive eruption killed about 300 people living near the volcanic epicenter and 400,000 people had to flee from their homes .
`` If the eruption is an explosive eruption , the strength will not be the same as the 2010 eruption , '' Hanik Humaida , head of the disaster center said Wednesday , as reported by the Jakarta Post .
`` But whether it is effusive or explosive , the eruption of Merapi must be anticipated . ''
Residents reported lenticular cloud formations above the mountain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Government disaster staff have prepared at least 35 emergency shelters and are prepared to activate an emergency warning system by phone .
Areas in Java that could be affected by the eruption include Cangkringan district in Sleman regency , Yogyakarta , Dukun district in Magelang , Selo district in Boyolali and Kemalang district in Klaten , the Jakarta Post reported .

Indonesian government volcano scientists have boosted the threat level warning of a potential eruption of Mount Merapi, an active volcano in a densely populated area of Java. File Photo by EPA-EFE
Nov. 5 (UPI) -- Authorities in Indonesia on Thursday boosted the threat level for the Mount Merapi volcano, which is near a densely populated area on the island of Java. Government volcano-watchers elevated Merapi's status to level three of the country's four-tier alert system. Advertisement
"The potential danger is lava erupting out of the volcano, with volcanic material and hot ash clouds spewing as far as 5 kilometers," the Geological Disaster Technology Research and Development Center said Thursday.
The city of Yogyakarta, with a population of 3 million, is situated about 15 miles south of Merapi and about 70,000 people live close to the volcano.
The agency halted mining in rivers within a 6-mile radius of the volcano's peak and asked that tourist activities, including climbing to the top of the volcano, be suspended. Only disaster officials and researchers will be allowed to venture into the restricted area.
Mount Merapi, more than 9,600 feet tall, is one of the active volcanoes in the Pacific Ring of Fire.
Merapi is classified by geologists as a stratovolcano, possessing a cone surrounded by hardened layers of lava and ash. The volcano is more active because it has an unstable lava dome, which can collapse, causing eruptions.
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Most recently, Merapi has been in a slow-motion erupting state since 1987, but the volcano has had 68 historic eruptions since 1548.
In June, the volcano sent smoke and ash into the air, but no one was killed.
Government researchers said the volcano might dribble incandescent lava down its slopes in an effusive eruption, or the volcano could experience a more dangerous explosive eruption that would send lava into the air.
In 2010, an explosive eruption killed about 300 people living near the volcanic epicenter and 400,000 people had to flee from their homes.
"If the eruption is an explosive eruption, the strength will not be the same as the 2010 eruption," Hanik Humaida, head of the disaster center said Wednesday, as reported by the Jakarta Post. "But whether it is effusive or explosive, the eruption of Merapi must be anticipated."
Residents reported lenticular cloud formations above the mountain this week, caused by volcanic activity.
Government disaster staff have prepared at least 35 emergency shelters and are prepared to activate an emergency warning system by phone.
Areas in Java that could be affected by the eruption include Cangkringan district in Sleman regency, Yogyakarta, Dukun district in Magelang, Selo district in Boyolali and Kemalang district in Klaten, the Jakarta Post reported.


upi--2020-11-05--Dow rises 542 points, U.S. markets on pace for best week since April

Nov. 5 ( UPI ) -- A sustained election-week rally put U.S. markets on track for their best week since April on Thursday .
The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 542.52 points , or 1.95 % , the S & P 500 gained 1.95 % and the Nasdaq Composite increased 2.59 % , rising for the fourth consecutive day to start the month , as the results of the presidential election remained unclear .
The Dow was up 7.1 % for the week to date while the S & P 500 was up 7.4 % and the Nasdaq rose 9 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them on pace for their largest weekly gains since April .
Tech stocks helped to lead the rise on Thursday as Apple stock shot up 3.55 % , Netflix rose 3.38 % , Microsoft climbed 3.19 % , Facebook increased 2.54 % and Amazon ended the day up 2.49 % .
Thursday 's rise came as the Federal Reserve again left its benchmark lending rate unchanged and close to zero on Thursday with the intent of supporting the U.S. economy during challenging times amid a public health crisis .
`` The COVID-19 pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across the United States and around the world , '' the Federal Open Market Committee said .
Markets also reacted to new economic data as the Labor Department reported that 751,000 new unemployment claims were filed for the week ending in Oct. 31 and listed the unemployment rate at 5 % .

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 542.52 points on Thursday as markets continued to rise in the month of November putting them on track for their best week since April. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 5 (UPI) -- A sustained election-week rally put U.S. markets on track for their best week since April on Thursday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 542.52 points, or 1.95%, the S&P 500 gained 1.95% and the Nasdaq Composite increased 2.59%, rising for the fourth consecutive day to start the month, as the results of the presidential election remained unclear. Advertisement
The Dow was up 7.1% for the week to date while the S&P 500 was up 7.4% and the Nasdaq rose 9% over that time period, placing them on pace for their largest weekly gains since April.
Tech stocks helped to lead the rise on Thursday as Apple stock shot up 3.55%, Netflix rose 3.38%, Microsoft climbed 3.19%, Facebook increased 2.54% and Amazon ended the day up 2.49%.
Thursday's rise came as the Federal Reserve again left its benchmark lending rate unchanged and close to zero on Thursday with the intent of supporting the U.S. economy during challenging times amid a public health crisis.
"The COVID-19 pandemic is causing tremendous human and economic hardship across the United States and around the world," the Federal Open Market Committee said.
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Markets also reacted to new economic data as the Labor Department reported that 751,000 new unemployment claims were filed for the week ending in Oct. 31 and listed the unemployment rate at 5%.


upi--2020-11-05--Woman inspired by fellow store customer to buy $250,000 lottery ticket

Nov. 5 ( UPI ) -- A South Carolina woman said she was inspired by a fellow customer in line @ @ @ @ @ a lottery ticket and ended up winning $ 250,000 .
The Lake City woman told @ @ @ @ @ she had not originally intended to buy a lottery ticket at the Refuel convenience store @ @ @ @ @ a customer in front of her in line bought a ticket and inspired her to @ @ @ @ @ player selected a Fabulous Fortunes scratch-off ticket and scratched it off in her car .
@ @ @ @ @ n't be right , '' the woman recalled of revealing the ticket 's prize .
@ @ @ @ @ into the store to have the ticket scanned , confirming her $ 250,000 jackpot .
@ @ @ @ @ time ever winning anything , '' she said .
The winner said she had n't @ @ @ @ @ day and had just made an impulse decision to buy the ticket after seeing the @ @ @ @ @ .
`` It 's unbelievable , '' she said .

A Lake City, S.C., woman said she hadn't originally intended to buy a lottery ticket at a local convenience store, but she was inspired to do so after a customer ahead of her in line purchased a scratch-off. The woman ended up winning $250,000. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Nov. 5 (UPI) -- A South Carolina woman said she was inspired by a fellow customer in line at a store to buy a lottery ticket and ended up winning $250,000. The Lake City woman told South Carolina Education Lottery officials she had not originally intended to buy a lottery ticket at the Refuel convenience store in Lake City, but a customer in front of her in line bought a ticket and inspired her to do the same. Advertisement
The player selected a Fabulous Fortunes scratch-off ticket and scratched it off in her car.
"I thought this can't be right," the woman recalled of revealing the ticket's prize.
She ended up going back into the store to have the ticket scanned, confirming her $250,000 jackpot.
"It was my first time ever winning anything," she said.
The winner said she hadn't been feeling particularly lucky that day and had just made an impulse decision to buy the ticket after seeing the other customer do the same.
"It's unbelievable," she said.


upi--2020-11-05--Watch: Time capsule from the North Pole washes up in Ireland two years later

Nov. 5 ( UPI ) -- A pair of surfers on the northwestern tip of Ireland made an unusual discovery washed up on shore -- a time capsule tossed into an Arctic ice floe by the crew of a Russian ship .
Conor McClory and Sophie Curran of Gweedore , County Donegal , said they spotted the metal object on shore while they were checking sea conditions for surfing .
`` When I saw it , first I thought it was a steel pipe of a ship , then I lifted it and saw there was engraving on it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' McClory told the Donegal Daily .
`` When I saw the date on it I thought it could be somebody 's ashes , so I did n't open it . ''
McClory showed the engraving to an acquaintance who speaks Russian , and they translated the engraving and revealed it was a time capsule .
The container was opened and McClory discovered messages in Russian and English from the crew and passengers of 50 Years of Victory , a nuclear-powered Russian icebreaker ship that tossed the time capsule into an ice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The cylinder also contained photographs , beer mats , a menu , wine corks , badges and other items stowed away by the ship 's crew .
McClory and Curran were able to contact the author of one of the letters from the time capsule on social media , and the person told them the time capsule 's creators had not expected it to be found for 30 or 40 years .
`` She let me know that they actually traveled to the 90-degree point of the North Pole , '' Curran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got a helicopter there and they put the time capsule in ice . ''
`` So that means that the ice has melted and traveled over 4,000 kilometers [ 2,485 miles ] in two years , '' she said .

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Nov. 5 (UPI) -- A pair of surfers on the northwestern tip of Ireland made an unusual discovery washed up on shore -- a time capsule tossed into an Arctic ice floe by the crew of a Russian ship.
Conor McClory and Sophie Curran of Gweedore, County Donegal, said they spotted the metal object on shore while they were checking sea conditions for surfing.
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"When I saw it, first I thought it was a steel pipe of a ship, then I lifted it and saw there was engraving on it. I thought it was a bomb then," McClory told the Donegal Daily. "When I saw the date on it I thought it could be somebody's ashes, so I didn't open it."
McClory showed the engraving to an acquaintance who speaks Russian, and they translated the engraving and revealed it was a time capsule.
The container was opened and McClory discovered messages in Russian and English from the crew and passengers of 50 Years of Victory, a nuclear-powered Russian icebreaker ship that tossed the time capsule into an ice floe at the North Pole in 2018.
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The cylinder also contained photographs, beer mats, a menu, wine corks, badges and other items stowed away by the ship's crew.
McClory and Curran were able to contact the author of one of the letters from the time capsule on social media, and the person told them the time capsule's creators had not expected it to be found for 30 or 40 years.
"She let me know that they actually traveled to the 90-degree point of the North Pole," Curran told the Irish Independent. "They got a helicopter there and they put the time capsule in ice."
"So that means that the ice has melted and traveled over 4,000 kilometers [2,485 miles] in two years," she said.


upi--2020-11-05--U.S. mortgage rates hit 12th record low

U.S. mortgage rates hit 12th record low

Nov. 5 ( UPI ) -- U.S. mortgage rates hit a 12th record low this week amid pending outcomes in the federal election .
Matthew Speakman , an economist for Zillow , said the low rate this time was driven by the `` uncertain outcome of the election . ''
`` The current uncertain outcome of the election appears to have led to a spike in demand for government bonds , placing downward pressure on mortgage rates , '' Speakman said in a statement Wednesday .
The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 2.78 % for the week ending Thursday , marking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mac said .
The current mortgage rate also marks the 12th record low this year .
The previous record low of 2.8 % held for two weeks .
Mortgage rates have declined since March amid economic uncertainty over the COVID-19 pandemic .
`` A day after rising to their highest levels since June , bond yields plummeted today , falling by more in one day than they have in any other day since April , '' Speakman said .
`` In this case , bond market investors appear to be interpreting the uncertain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic stimulus is unlikely in the near term .
The development helped push mortgage rates notably downward . ''
`` Given the still-uncertain election results , more sharp movements in mortgage rates in either direction may be on tap in the coming days and weeks , '' Speakman added .
The Federal Reserve plans to hold its benchmark rate near zero .
Mortgage rates have been below 3 % since July , but the demand for homes has exceeded supply leading to higher prices that cut into savings homebuyers gain from lower interest @ @

A townhouse is listed for sale in Northeast Washington. File Photo by Alexis C. Glenn/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 5 (UPI) -- U.S. mortgage rates hit a 12th record low this week amid pending outcomes in the federal election. Matthew Speakman, an economist for Zillow, said the low rate this time was driven by the "uncertain outcome of the election." Advertisement
"The current uncertain outcome of the election appears to have led to a spike in demand for government bonds, placing downward pressure on mortgage rates," Speakman said in a statement Wednesday.
The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 2.78% for the week ending Thursday, marking the lowest rate since 1971, Freddie Mac said.
The current mortgage rate also marks the 12th record low this year. The previous record low of 2.8% held for two weeks.
Mortgage rates have declined since March amid economic uncertainty over the COVID-19 pandemic.
"A day after rising to their highest levels since June, bond yields plummeted today, falling by more in one day than they have in any other day since April," Speakman said. "In this case, bond market investors appear to be interpreting the uncertain election results as a sign that more economic stimulus is unlikely in the near term. The development helped push mortgage rates notably downward."
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"Given the still-uncertain election results, more sharp movements in mortgage rates in either direction may be on tap in the coming days and weeks," Speakman added.
The Federal Reserve plans to hold its benchmark rate near zero.
Mortgage rates have been below 3% since July, but the demand for homes has exceeded supply leading to higher prices that cut into savings homebuyers gain from lower interest rates.


upi--2020-11-05--BBC America to air first three Sean Connery James Bond movies Friday

Nov. 5 ( UPI ) -- BBC America announced Thursday that it will air a Sean Connery James Bond marathon on Friday .
Connery died in his sleep at the age of 90 , it was announced Saturday .
The films in BBC America 's marathon are Dr. No , From Russia with Love and Goldfinger .
These are the first three of seven films in which Connery played James Bond , secret agent 007 .
Dr. No begins at 3:30 p.m. EST .
The 1962 film introduced Connery as Bond in an adaptation of Ian Fleming 's novel .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ whom Bond meets on a mission in Jamaica .
From Russia with Love begins at 6 p.m. EST .
The 1963 film sees Bond meet a Russian defector ( Daniela Bianchi ) to obtain a Lektor decoder .
The defector is actually a double agent of the global crime syndicate SPECTRE .
Robert Shaw plays villain Red Grant .
Goldfinger begins at 8:30 p.m. EST .
In the 1964 film , Bond discovers Auric Goldfinger ( Gerte Frobe ) is plotting to rob Fort Knox of its gold .
The third film in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a pre-title action sequence , a title song ( this one sung by Shirley Bassey ) , gadgets including a gadget-laden Aston Martin , and flamboyant henchman .
In this case , Goldfinger 's No .
2 is Oddjob ( Harold Sakata ) who throws a razor blade top hat .
The three films will show again on Nov. 29 as part of a James Bond marathon that will also include Roger Moore 's The Spy Who Loved Me , Pierce Brosnan 's Goldeneye and Daniel Craig 's Casino Royale .
Connery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You Only Live Twice , Diamonds Are Forever and Never Say Never Again .
George Lazenby played the role once in On Her Majesty 's Secret Service between You Only Live Twice and Diamonds Are Forever .
Moore made seven films after Diamonds Are Forever .
Timothy Dalton played the role in two films , Brosnan in four and Craig in five , including the upcoming No Time to Die .

Sean Connery playd James Bond in seven feature films. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 5 (UPI) -- BBC America announced Thursday that it will air a Sean Connery James Bond marathon on Friday. Connery died in his sleep at the age of 90, it was announced Saturday. The films in BBC America's marathon are Dr. No, From Russia with Love and Goldfinger. These are the first three of seven films in which Connery played James Bond, secret agent 007. Advertisement
Dr. No begins at 3:30 p.m. EST. The 1962 film introduced Connery as Bond in an adaptation of Ian Fleming's novel. Ursula Andress co-starred as Honey Rider, whom Bond meets on a mission in Jamaica.
From Russia with Love begins at 6 p.m. EST. The 1963 film sees Bond meet a Russian defector (Daniela Bianchi) to obtain a Lektor decoder. The defector is actually a double agent of the global crime syndicate SPECTRE. Robert Shaw plays villain Red Grant.
Goldfinger begins at 8:30 p.m. EST. In the 1964 film, Bond discovers Auric Goldfinger (Gerte Frobe) is plotting to rob Fort Knox of its gold. The third film in the series established what became the formula with a pre-title action sequence, a title song (this one sung by Shirley Bassey), gadgets including a gadget-laden Aston Martin, and flamboyant henchman. In this case, Goldfinger's No. 2 is Oddjob (Harold Sakata) who throws a razor blade top hat.
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The three films will show again on Nov. 29 as part of a James Bond marathon that will also include Roger Moore's The Spy Who Loved Me, Pierce Brosnan's Goldeneye and Daniel Craig's Casino Royale.
Connery also played James Bond in Thunderball, You Only Live Twice, Diamonds Are Forever and Never Say Never Again. George Lazenby played the role once in On Her Majesty's Secret Service between You Only Live Twice and Diamonds Are Forever.
Moore made seven films after Diamonds Are Forever. Timothy Dalton played the role in two films, Brosnan in four and Craig in five, including the upcoming No Time to Die.


upi--2020-11-05--Fed lending rate remains close to zero to boost COVID-19 recovery

Nov. 5 ( UPI ) -- The Federal Reserve again left its benchmark lending rate unchanged and close to zero on Thursday , saying the committee wanted to support the U.S. economy during challenging times amid a public health crisis .
`` The COVID-19 pandemic is causing tremendous human and economic hardship across the United States and around the world , '' the Federal Open Market Committee said in a statement .
The committee said the Fed would keep policy measures in place `` to support the economy and the flow of credit to U.S. households and businesses . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ would remain between zero and 0.25 % .
Monetary policy would be built around achieving `` maximum employment and inflation at the rate of 2 % over the longer run , '' the committee said Thursday .
Factors like public health , labor market conditions , inflation pressures , inflation expectations , and financial and international developments will be monitored to develop the Fed 's policy decisions , the committee added .
In a related action , the Fed 's board of governors voted to keep the primary credit rate at the existing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ monetary policy out of power or out of ammunition ?
The answer to that is no , I do n't think that , '' Chairman Jerome Powell said during a news conference .
`` I think that we 're strongly committed to using these powerful tools that we have to support the economy during this difficult time for as long as needed and no one should have any doubt about that , '' Powell added .
In June , the Fed said it does n't expect to raise the federal funds rate until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expanded by 33 % in the period between July and October , the Commerce Department reported last week , bouncing back from a 31 % drop between April and July .
The final jobs report before the election showed an addition of about 660,000 payroll jobs during the month of September .

Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell said Thursday that the Fed will use unchanged and low borrowing rates as tools to support the economy in tough times during the coronavirus pandemic. File Photo by Drew Angerer/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 5 (UPI) -- The Federal Reserve again left its benchmark lending rate unchanged and close to zero on Thursday, saying the committee wanted to support the U.S. economy during challenging times amid a public health crisis. "The COVID-19 pandemic is causing tremendous human and economic hardship across the United States and around the world," the Federal Open Market Committee said in a statement. The committee said the Fed would keep policy measures in place "to support the economy and the flow of credit to U.S. households and businesses." Advertisement
The target range for the lending rate would remain between zero and 0.25%. Monetary policy would be built around achieving "maximum employment and inflation at the rate of 2% over the longer run," the committee said Thursday. Factors like public health, labor market conditions, inflation pressures, inflation expectations, and financial and international developments will be monitored to develop the Fed's policy decisions, the committee added.
In a related action, the Fed's board of governors voted to keep the primary credit rate at the existing level of 0.25%.
"Is monetary policy out of power or out of ammunition? The answer to that is no, I don't think that," Chairman Jerome Powell said during a news conference.
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"I think that we're strongly committed to using these powerful tools that we have to support the economy during this difficult time for as long as needed and no one should have any doubt about that," Powell added.
In June, the Fed said it doesn't expect to raise the federal funds rate until at least 2022.
The U.S. economy expanded by 33% in the period between July and October, the Commerce Department reported last week, bouncing back from a 31% drop between April and July.
The final jobs report before the election showed an addition of about 660,000 payroll jobs during the month of September.


upi--2020-11-05--BAE proposes support package for Japan's next-generation F-X fighter

Nov. 5 ( UPI ) -- BAE Systems has proposed a package to support Japan 's F-X next generation fighter @ @ @ @ @ announced Thursday .
According to a company press release , BAE responded to a request @ @ @ @ @ Ministry of Defense 's acquisition , technology and logistics agency with a proposed package that @ @ @ @ @ across a range of key areas .
`` We firmly believe that we can add @ @ @ @ @ program .
We look forward to further progressing our discussions and we are honored to @ @ @ @ @ with Japan on this program , '' Andy Latham , Campaign Delivery Director-Japan , for @ @ @ @ @ , said .
Last week Japan 's Defense Ministry announced that it had named Mitsubishi @ @ @ @ @ contractor to build its next-generation fighter jet .
The announcement followed one in July for @ @ @ @ @ for development of the locally made next-generation fighter jet .
The new jet is intended @ @ @ @ @ Industries F-2 fighters , which Japan expects to phase out in the mid-2030s .

BAE has submitted a proposal to support Japan's Defense Ministry as it develops a new jet fighter to replace the Mitsubishi F-2, shown here. Photo by Jerry Gunner/ Wikimedia Commons
Nov. 5 (UPI) -- BAE Systems has proposed a package to support Japan's F-X next generation fighter development program, the company announced Thursday. According to a company press release, BAE responded to a request for information from the Japanese Ministry of Defense's acquisition, technology and logistics agency with a proposed package that outlines BAE's technical capabilities across a range of key areas. Advertisement
"We firmly believe that we can add significant value to the F-X program. We look forward to further progressing our discussions and we are honored to have the opportunity to collaborate with Japan on this program," Andy Latham, Campaign Delivery Director-Japan, for BAE Systems' Air business, said.
Last week Japan's Defense Ministry announced that it had named Mitsubishi Heavy Industries as the prime contractor to build its next-generation fighter jet. The announcement followed one in July for the Japanese government's timeline for development of the locally made next-generation fighter jet.
The new jet is intended replace about 90 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries F-2 fighters, which Japan expects to phase out in the mid-2030s.


upi--2020-11-06--Scientists, students share blueprint for more affordable single-molecule microscope

Nov. 6 ( UPI ) -- With education budgets shrinking at universities in many parts of the world , every expense matters .
Thanks to a team of scientists and students from the University of Sheffield , stocking the chem lab just got a little less expensive .
In a new paper , published Friday in the journal Nature Communications , researchers shared plans for the construction of a more affordable single-molecule microscope .
The so-called smfBox is n't just any microscope ; it 's a specialist microscope capable of performing a photophysical process called Förster Resonance Energy Transfer , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used in just a handful of high-tech labs around the world to measure relative and absolute distances between molecules .
The microscopes work by measuring the efficiency of the energy transfer between two light-sensitive molecules , which correlates with the distance by which the molecules are separated .
FRET microscopes are important tools for the study of nucleic acids and proteins .
Normally , single-molecule FRET microscopes cost upwards of half-a-million dollars , but scientists and students at Sheffield were able to make the smfBox for roughly $ 50,000 .
Researchers did their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make their smfBox relatively easy to build and use .
They deployed lasers that are much safer than those typically used in FRET microscopes , and also shielded the microscope 's lasers in a way that ensures they work under normal lighting -- no dark room necessary .
`` We wanted to democratize single-use molecule measurements to make this method available for many labs , not just a few labs throughout the world , '' project leader Tim Craggs said in a news release .
`` This work takes what was a very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and gives every lab the blueprint and software to build it for themselves , at a fraction of the cost . ''
`` Many medical diagnostics are moving towards increased sensitivity , and there is nothing more sensitive than detecting single molecules .
In fact , many new COVID tests currently under development work at this level .
This instrument is a good starting point for further development towards new medical diagnostics , '' said Craggs , a lecturer in chemical biology at the University of Sheffield .
Scientists and students at Sheffield @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do some basic biomolecule science .
But researchers expect the impact of the new technology to only became apparent as labs around the world start deploying their own newly built smfBox microscopes in novel ways .

Researchers have designed a more affordable single-molecule microscope, called an smfBox, that could make the instrument more easily available to labs around the world -- potentially enabling new research and medical treatments. Photo by University of Sheffield/Nature Communications
Nov. 6 (UPI) -- With education budgets shrinking at universities in many parts of the world, every expense matters. Thanks to a team of scientists and students from the University of Sheffield, stocking the chem lab just got a little less expensive. In a new paper, published Friday in the journal Nature Communications, researchers shared plans for the construction of a more affordable single-molecule microscope. Advertisement
The so-called smfBox isn't just any microscope; it's a specialist microscope capable of performing a photophysical process called Förster Resonance Energy Transfer, or FRET.
Single-molecule FRET microscopes are used in just a handful of high-tech labs around the world to measure relative and absolute distances between molecules.
The microscopes work by measuring the efficiency of the energy transfer between two light-sensitive molecules, which correlates with the distance by which the molecules are separated. FRET microscopes are important tools for the study of nucleic acids and proteins.
Normally, single-molecule FRET microscopes cost upwards of half-a-million dollars, but scientists and students at Sheffield were able to make the smfBox for roughly $50,000.
Researchers did their best to compose blueprints they say will make their smfBox relatively easy to build and use.
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They deployed lasers that are much safer than those typically used in FRET microscopes, and also shielded the microscope's lasers in a way that ensures they work under normal lighting -- no dark room necessary.
"We wanted to democratize single-use molecule measurements to make this method available for many labs, not just a few labs throughout the world," project leader Tim Craggs said in a news release. "This work takes what was a very expensive, specialist piece of kit, and gives every lab the blueprint and software to build it for themselves, at a fraction of the cost."
"Many medical diagnostics are moving towards increased sensitivity, and there is nothing more sensitive than detecting single molecules. In fact, many new COVID tests currently under development work at this level. This instrument is a good starting point for further development towards new medical diagnostics," said Craggs, a lecturer in chemical biology at the University of Sheffield.
Scientists and students at Sheffield have already started using their smfBox to do some basic biomolecule science.
But researchers expect the impact of the new technology to only became apparent as labs around the world start deploying their own newly built smfBox microscopes in novel ways.


upi--2020-11-06--White Sox SS Tim Anderson 'won't change style' for manager Tony La Russa

Nov. 6 ( UPI ) -- Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson says he wo n't change his style of play to fit in with new manager Tony La Russa after the star infielder saw `` news '' that the two might not get along .
The White Sox hired La Russa -- who came out of retirement -- on Oct. 29 .
The 76-year-old longtime St. Louis Cardinals skipper has n't managed since 2011 .
`` Nah , that wo n't happen , '' Anderson told reporters Thursday , when asked about potential changes to his energetic style during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my style , the way I play , for Tony .
I will continue to be me .
I always have , and I always will . ''
Critics of the hire have wondered if La Russa 's methodical approach to the game can mesh with a new era of baseball players , who follow home runs with bat flips and display their personalities with flashy celebrations .
`` We 'll see what happens , I guess , if I do a bat flip or if I [ celebrate ] one , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` But no , I will not be changing the way I play or the way I approach the game . ''
Anderson , 27 , led Major League Baseball with a .335 batting average in 2019 .
He hit .322 with 10 home runs , 21 RBIs and an American League-high 45 runs scored in 49 games in 2020 .
He also claimed his first career Silver Slugger Award on Thursday .
He was one of three White Sox players to win the award , which is given to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each league .
Anderson said he has yet to hear from La Russa since he was hired as the White Sox new manager .
Chicago fired former manager Rick Renteria on Oct. 12 , despite the franchise 's first playoff berth since 2008 .
Renteria posted a 236-309 record in four seasons at the helm in Chicago .
La Russa has a career record of 2,728-2,365 .
`` There 's been a lot of news saying that we might not get along , '' Anderson said of La Russa .
`` Hopefully , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do what the ultimate goal is -- to try to win a championship on the South Side .
La Russa told MLB Network Thursday that he thinks the White Sox have the chance to win `` all kinds of games '' in 2020 , whether the score is 2-1 or 12-11 .
`` It 's very rare for a manager to come in to a club this exciting and ready to win , '' La Russa said .
`` Normally you take over a club that is struggling .
`` I watched them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years .
You can see the talent .
I see the potential of having a very complete club . ''
La Russa has three World Series titles , four Manager of the Year awards and six league pennants , along with 33 years of managerial experience .
His 2,728 wins are third all-time , behind only Connie Mack ( 3,731 ) and John McGraw ( 2,763 ) .
`` He 's still been watching the game , so he pretty much does know what 's going on , '' Anderson said of La @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he 's got to get out there and play .
`` All he has to do is just manage us , and I 'm pretty sure he 's going to know how to do that .
He 's in the Hall of Fame for a reason .
I 'm just excited to see the Tony that everybody 's talking about .
Learn from him and see which way this thing 's going to go . ''

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Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson (pictured) said he won't change his energetic style, which includes bat-flipping, to mesh with new manager Tony La Russa. File Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 6 (UPI) -- Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson says he won't change his style of play to fit in with new manager Tony La Russa after the star infielder saw "news" that the two might not get along. The White Sox hired La Russa -- who came out of retirement -- on Oct. 29. The 76-year-old longtime St. Louis Cardinals skipper hasn't managed since 2011. Advertisement
"Nah, that won't happen," Anderson told reporters Thursday, when asked about potential changes to his energetic style during games.
"I won't change my style, the way I play, for Tony. I will continue to be me. I always have, and I always will."
Critics of the hire have wondered if La Russa's methodical approach to the game can mesh with a new era of baseball players, who follow home runs with bat flips and display their personalities with flashy celebrations.
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"We'll see what happens, I guess, if I do a bat flip or if I [celebrate] one, we'll see what happens," Anderson said. "But no, I will not be changing the way I play or the way I approach the game."
Anderson, 27, led Major League Baseball with a .335 batting average in 2019. He hit .322 with 10 home runs, 21 RBIs and an American League-high 45 runs scored in 49 games in 2020.
He also claimed his first career Silver Slugger Award on Thursday. He was one of three White Sox players to win the award, which is given to the best offensive player at each position in each league.
Anderson said he has yet to hear from La Russa since he was hired as the White Sox new manager. Chicago fired former manager Rick Renteria on Oct. 12, despite the franchise's first playoff berth since 2008.
Renteria posted a 236-309 record in four seasons at the helm in Chicago. La Russa has a career record of 2,728-2,365.
"There's been a lot of news saying that we might not get along,'' Anderson said of La Russa. "Hopefully, we can get along and continue to do what the ultimate goal is -- to try to win a championship on the South Side.
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La Russa told MLB Network Thursday that he thinks the White Sox have the chance to win "all kinds of games" in 2020, whether the score is 2-1 or 12-11.
"It's very rare for a manager to come in to a club this exciting and ready to win," La Russa said. "Normally you take over a club that is struggling.
"I watched them in spring training the last couple of years. You can see the talent. I see the potential of having a very complete club."
La Russa has three World Series titles, four Manager of the Year awards and six league pennants, along with 33 years of managerial experience. His 2,728 wins are third all-time, behind only Connie Mack (3,731) and John McGraw (2,763).
"He's still been watching the game, so he pretty much does know what's going on," Anderson said of La Russa. "It's not like he's got to get out there and play.
"All he has to do is just manage us, and I'm pretty sure he's going to know how to do that. He's in the Hall of Fame for a reason. I'm just excited to see the Tony that everybody's talking about. Learn from him and see which way this thing's going to go."
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This week in Major League Baseball


upi--2020-11-06--Watch: Al Roker shares prostate cancer diagnosis

Nov. 6 ( UPI ) -- Today weather anchor and co-host Al Roker says he has prostate cancer .
The 66-year-old television personality announced on the show Friday that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in September .
Roker learned after a routine checkup that he had elevated levels of prostate-specific antigen ( PSA ) in his blood .
He then had an MRI and a biopsy , which confirmed his diagnosis .
`` It 's a good news-bad news kind of thing .
Good news is we caught it early .
Not great news is that it 's a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be taking some time off to take care of this , '' Roker said .
Roker will have surgery to remove his prostate next week in New York .
`` We 'll just wait and see , and hopefully in about two weeks , I 'll be back [ on Today ] , '' he said .
Roker said he went public about his diagnosis to urge others to get regular checkups , particularly Black men .
`` The problem for African Americans is that any number of reasons from genetics to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we want to make it available and let people know they got to get checked , '' he said .
Roker and his Today co-host Craig Melvin previously teamed up with the New Jersey Devils hockey team to create a PSA about getting checked for prostate cancer .

Our friend and colleague @AlRoker reveals that he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. pic.twitter.com/hnAUX4xfX3— TODAY (@TODAYshow) November 6, 2020
Nov. 6 (UPI) -- Today weather anchor and co-host Al Roker says he has prostate cancer.
The 66-year-old television personality announced on the show Friday that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in September.
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Roker learned after a routine checkup that he had elevated levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in his blood. He then had an MRI and a biopsy, which confirmed his diagnosis.
"It's a good news-bad news kind of thing. Good news is we caught it early. Not great news is that it's a little aggressive, so I'm going to be taking some time off to take care of this," Roker said.
Roker will have surgery to remove his prostate next week in New York.
"We'll just wait and see, and hopefully in about two weeks, I'll be back [on Today]," he said.
Roker said he went public about his diagnosis to urge others to get regular checkups, particularly Black men.
"The problem for African Americans is that any number of reasons from genetics to access to health care, and so we want to make it available and let people know they got to get checked," he said.
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Roker and his Today co-host Craig Melvin previously teamed up with the New Jersey Devils hockey team to create a PSA about getting checked for prostate cancer.


upi--2020-11-06--Joe Biden takes lead over Donald Trump in key Pennsylvania, Georgia election races

Nov. 6 ( UPI ) -- The tight presidential race between Donald Trump and Joe Biden shifted in Pennsylvania and Georgia on Friday as the former vice president surged ahead in the vote counts in both states .
Election officials in both states updated their tallies early Friday .
In Pennsylvania , Biden now holds a lead of about 5,500 votes , according to state figures .
Biden outpaced Trump by about 23,000 ballots in the latest count from Philadelphia , CNN reported .
Before the update , Trump had led by about 18,000 votes in a race that 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one point on Election Night , Trump led in the state by more than a half-million votes .
Biden 's electoral count remains at 253 to Trump 's 213 , according to projections by CBS News and CNN , NBC News .
It takes 270 to win election .
A total of 71 electoral votes were still up for grabs in six states early Friday -- Pennsylvania ( 20 electoral votes ) , Georgia ( 16 ) , Arizona ( 11 ) , North Carolina ( 15 ) , Nevada ( 6 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is also one electoral vote in a Maine district that has not been projected .
Biden also took a lead , by about 1,000 votes , in Georgia after officials updated their count early Friday morning .
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger had said late Thursday that about 14,000 ballots remained to be counted , including a few thousand in suburban Atlanta .
`` Officials in numerous counties are continuing to count ballots , with strong security protocols in place to protect the integrity of our election , '' he said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pace to accomplish that responsibly , ensuring that the voice of every eligible voter is heard .
It 's important to act quickly , but it 's more important to get it right . ''
Trump would need to secure both Georgia and Pennsylvania to win re-election .
In Nevada , where Biden increased his lead to nearly 12,000 votes Thursday , election officials were expected to report the results of 51,000 more ballots counted in largely Democratic Clark County , which includes Las Vegas , Registrar of Voters Joe Gloria told reporters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 190,000 ballots remaining to be counted , of which 90 % are in Clark County , officials said .
In Arizona , Biden held a 47,000-vote lead over Trump as of Friday morning , official results showed .
Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs said Thursday that final results in the state could be posted as soon as Friday .
In North Carolina , Trump holds a lead of about 80,000 votes , according to official state data .

Balloons and signs fill the fence between Black Lives Matter Plaza and Lafayette Park near the White House on Monday. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 6 (UPI) -- The tight presidential race between Donald Trump and Joe Biden shifted in Pennsylvania, Georgia and Nevada on Friday as the former vice president surges ahead in vote counts. In a televised appearance just before 11 p.m. Friday in Wilmington, Del., Biden said, "We're going to win this race." Advertisement
Standing alongside his running mate, California Sen. Kamala Harris, Biden said he is on track to win over 300 electoral votes and urged patience while the final ballots are counted.
"We have to remain calm, patient, let the process work out as we count all the votes."
Biden said he would not wait to get to work on the nation's problems, most urgently an economic crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. He and Harris have begun meeting with health and economic experts.
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"On day one, we're going to put our plan to control this virus into action," he said.
Biden's electoral count remains at 253 to Trump's 213, according to projections by CBS News and CNN, NBC News. It takes 270 to win.
In Pennsylvania, Biden grew his lead to about 28,000 votes, according to state figures late Friday.
About 21,000 mail ballots remained to be tabulated in Philadelphia County, according to Pennsylvania's Department of State, with a small number of precincts yet to report final numbers in in-person voting. City Commission Chairwoman Lisa Deeley said in a noontime news conference, cautioning it may take "several days" to complete the count.
Statewide, some 89,000 mail ballots cast have yet to be counted, just over 3% of the mail-in ballot total.
The largest chunk of outstanding mail-in ballots were in Allegheny County. About 29,000 of them are had a printing error, and in some cases, voters either submitted a new, corrected mail ballot or received a provisional ballot during in-person voting.
As elections officials closed in on finishing the mail ballot counting, their attention with then turn toward provisional ballots. These ballots likely will take time to evaluate, verify and count.
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Meanwhile, the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday ordered that all mail ballots that arrived after Election Day be segregated and counted. The totals from those ballots must be kept separate, though.
Pennsylvania Republicans had asked the U.S. Supreme Court for the order earlier in the day. Pennsylvania Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar said the late-arriving ballots were already being separated and had not yet been counted.
The state Supreme Court ruled in September that all mail-in ballots postmarked by Nov. 3 would be accepted and counted up to three days after Election Day.
A total of 71 electoral votes were still up for grabs in six states -- Pennsylvania (20), Georgia (16), Arizona (11), North Carolina (15), Nevada (6) and Alaska (3). There is also one electoral vote in a Maine district that has not been projected.
In Georgia, Biden's lead grew by more than 4,000 votes after officials updated their count Friday evening.
Trump, who has made accusations of voter fraud without any supporting evidence, would need to secure both Georgia and Pennsylvania to win re-election.
"We're not seeing any widespread irregularities," voting system implementation manager Gabriel Sterling said. "We're investigating any credible accusation with any real evidence behind it."
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Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said Friday afternoon that a recount is all but certain.
"The final tally in Georgia at this point has huge implications for the entire country," he said. "The stakes are high and emotions are high on all sides. We will not let those debates distract us from our work. We will get it right, and we will defend the integrity of our elections."
In Georgia, a recount is mandatory if the difference between the candidates is 0.5% or smaller. Biden presently has a lead of less than 0.1%, with a few thousands ballots left to count.
Only about 4,000 votes remain to be counted statewide, Sterling told reporters. About 3,500 of those votes were in Democratic-leaning Gwinnett County in suburban Atlanta, he said.
In Nevada, Biden grew his lead over Trump in new votes tabulated Friday.
Biden, who began Friday with a lead of about 11,000 votes, increased the margin to more than 22,600, according to the updated official numbers.
Nevada began Friday with more than 190,000 ballots remaining to be counted -- 90% of which were in Clark County, which contains Las Vegas and is heavily Democratic.
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In Arizona, Secretary of State Katie Hobbs said counting will extend to the weekend with 250,000 to 270,000 ballots remaining. About half of those are in Maricopa County.
Biden leads with 1,604,000 votes to Trump's 1,537,000, a 1% or nearly 30,000-vote margin.
In North Carolina, Trump holds a lead of about 80,000 votes, according to official state data.