upi--2020-12-28--Walter Reed doctor who criticized Trump motorcade greeting works final shift

Dec. 28 ( UPI ) -- An emergency room doctor at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center worked his last day at the hospital after criticizing President Donald Trump 's decision to greet supporters from his motorcade while he was being treated for COVID-19 .
Dr. James Phillips announced on Twitter on Sunday that he had worked his final shift as he was removed from the work schedule after describing the motorcade greeting during Trump 's brief stay at the hospital as `` completely unnecessary . ''
`` I will miss the patients and my military and civilian coworkers -- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'm honored to have worked there and I look forward to new opportunities , '' he wrote .
`` I stand by my words , and I regret nothing . ''
Walter Reed told CNN Monday that there was `` no decision by anyone '' at the hospital to remove Phillips from the work schedule .
`` As you may know , Dr. Phillps worked as a contract employee at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center , which provides requirements for contract employees to the contract agency , '' the hospital said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with contract employees to determine individual schedules . ''
Two days after being admitted to Walter Reed upon testing positive for COVID-19 , Trump made what he described as a `` surprise '' visit to supporters in the motorcade , wearing a cloth mask while sitting in the back seat of the vehicle as he waved at those who gathered outside of the hospital .
Secret Service agents riding in the car wore N95 masks , protective eyewear and protective gowns , the White House said at the time .
Following the incident @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lives at risk for `` political theater '' and that everyone inside the vehicle should have quarantined for 14 days following .
`` That Presidential SUV is not only bulletproof , but hermetically sealed against chemical attack , '' he wrote in the since-deleted tweet .
`` The risk of COVID-19 transmission inside is as high as it gets outside of medical procedures .
The irresponsibility is astounding .
My thoughts are with the Secret Service forced to play . ''
Phillips will continue his work at George Washington University , where he @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Dr. James Phillips worked his final shift at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center after criticizing President Donald Trump's decision to greet supporters from his motorcade while being treated for COVID-19. File Photo by Oliver Contreras/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 28 (UPI) -- An emergency room doctor at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center worked his last day at the hospital after criticizing President Donald Trump's decision to greet supporters from his motorcade while he was being treated for COVID-19. Dr. James Phillips announced on Twitter on Sunday that he had worked his final shift as he was removed from the work schedule after describing the motorcade greeting during Trump's brief stay at the hospital as "completely unnecessary." Advertisement
"I will miss the patients and my military and civilian coworkers -- they have been overwhelmingly supportive. I'm honored to have worked there and I look forward to new opportunities," he wrote. "I stand by my words, and I regret nothing."
Walter Reed told CNN Monday that there was "no decision by anyone" at the hospital to remove Phillips from the work schedule.
"As you may know, Dr. Phillps worked as a contract employee at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, which provides requirements for contract employees to the contract agency," the hospital said.
"The contract agency then works together with contract employees to determine individual schedules."
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Two days after being admitted to Walter Reed upon testing positive for COVID-19, Trump made what he described as a "surprise" visit to supporters in the motorcade, wearing a cloth mask while sitting in the back seat of the vehicle as he waved at those who gathered outside of the hospital.
Secret Service agents riding in the car wore N95 masks, protective eyewear and protective gowns, the White House said at the time.
Following the incident, Phillips tweeted that Trump had put lives at risk for "political theater" and that everyone inside the vehicle should have quarantined for 14 days following.
"That Presidential SUV is not only bulletproof, but hermetically sealed against chemical attack," he wrote in the since-deleted tweet. "The risk of COVID-19 transmission inside is as high as it gets outside of medical procedures. The irresponsibility is astounding. My thoughts are with the Secret Service forced to play."
Phillips will continue his work at George Washington University, where he serves as chief of disaster medicine.


upi--2020-12-28--Blaze at Mass. Black church investigated as possible hate crime

Dec. 28 ( UPI ) -- An early morning , two-alarm fire at a Black church in western Massachusetts is being investigated as arson and is `` highly suspicious , '' fire officials said Monday .
Springfield firefighters were summoned to the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Presbyterian Church about 5 a.m. on Monday , Springfield Fire Commissioner Bernard Calvi said .
The fire was put out in about an hour , but the church is significantly damaged and unusable , he said .
`` There have been several nuisance fires in that neighborhood that we 've been looking into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This morning 's fire is highly suspicious .
...
It 's a church that burned at nighttime , so it 's a potential hate crime , '' Calvi said .
`` At this time , we have not identified anybody , but any help the community could give would be greatly appreciated , '' he added .
A $ 5,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the arrest of anyone involved with the fire , which is being investigated by the city 's arson and bomb squad , state police investigators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agents with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco , Firearms and Explosives .
`` It 's terrible that someone tried to burn down Martin Luther King Community Presbyterian Church , '' Springfield Mayor Dominic Sarno said Monday .
`` It looks to be an arson type of situation and we are reviewing cameras . ''
The fire caused about $ 100,000 worth of smoke and water damage , spokesman Capt .
Drew Piemonte said Monday .
Firefighters cut a hole in the roof , which had just been replaced by the congregation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ church building , used by the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Presbyterian Church since 1979 , was built in 1950 .
The congregation has about 50 members , WWLP reported .

An early morning blaze at Martin Luther King Jr. Presbyterian Church in Springfield, Mass., is being investigated as possible arson and a hate crime, the fire commissioner said Monday. Photo courtesy of the Springfield Fire Department/ Twitter
Dec. 28 (UPI) -- An early morning, two-alarm fire at a Black church in western Massachusetts is being investigated as arson and is "highly suspicious," fire officials said Monday. Springfield firefighters were summoned to the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Presbyterian Church about 5 a.m. on Monday, Springfield Fire Commissioner Bernard Calvi said. The fire was put out in about an hour, but the church is significantly damaged and unusable, he said. Advertisement
"There have been several nuisance fires in that neighborhood that we've been looking into," Calvi said Monday. "This morning's fire is highly suspicious. ... It's a church that burned at nighttime, so it's a potential hate crime," Calvi said.
"At this time, we have not identified anybody, but any help the community could give would be greatly appreciated," he added.
A $5,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the arrest of anyone involved with the fire, which is being investigated by the city's arson and bomb squad, state police investigators from the fire marshal's office and agents with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
"It's terrible that someone tried to burn down Martin Luther King Community Presbyterian Church," Springfield Mayor Dominic Sarno said Monday. "It looks to be an arson type of situation and we are reviewing cameras."
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The fire caused about $100,000 worth of smoke and water damage, spokesman Capt. Drew Piemonte said Monday. Firefighters cut a hole in the roof, which had just been replaced by the congregation last week, Piemonte said.
The church building, used by the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Presbyterian Church since 1979, was built in 1950. The congregation has about 50 members, WWLP reported.


upi--2020-12-28--Study: Too few with treatment-resistant high blood pressure tested for hormone disorder

Dec. 28 ( UPI ) -- Fewer than 2 % of people with treatment-resistant high blood pressure are checked for a hormone disorder that can drive blood pressure higher , a study published Monday by the Annals of Internal Medicine found .
In people with primary aldosteronism , the adrenal gland produces too much of a hormone called aldosterone , causing increases in blood pressure , often to unhealthy levels , according to the Mayo Clinic .
Professional guidelines recommend checking those with high blood pressure that does n't respond to treatment for the hormonal disorder , but researchers found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` While primary aldosteronism is a common cause of difficult to control hypertension , it is under-diagnosed , '' study co-author Dr. Jordana Cohen told UPI .
`` Patients who were tested in our study were more likely to be treated with the appropriate medications ... and to have better blood pressure control over time , said Cohen , an assistant professor of medicine and epidemiology at the University of Pennsylvania .
Many people who do n't respond well to commonly used blood pressure control medications , including beta blockers and ACE inhibitors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disorder , Cohen and her colleagues said .
The condition has been linked with a four- to 12-fold increased risk for cardiovascular events , such as heart attack and stroke , compared to those with high blood pressure due to other causes , the researchers said .
However , the disorder can be effectively treated with drugs called mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists , or MRAs , including spironolactone and eplerenone , or surgery , according to Cohen .
For this study , she and researchers at the University of Pennsylvania , Stanford University and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Veterans Health Administration for more than 269,000 veterans with apparent treatment-resistant high blood pressure .
Treatment-resistant hypertension was defined as either two blood pressures of at least 140 systolic or 90 diastolic at least one month apart .
Patients also had to be receiving treatment with at least three blood pressure drugs , including a diuretic , or with at least four different types of blood pressure drugs , the researchers said .
Just under 2 % of patients with treatment-resistant high blood pressure underwent guideline-recommended testing for the hormone disorder , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from 0 % to 6 % at centers included in the study and did not correlate with the number of patients with treatment-resistant hypertension , the researchers said .
And just 15 % of the patients were on an MRA drug , the data showed .
Patients tested for the hormone condition were more likely to receive treatment with MRAs and have better long-term blood pressure control , according to the researchers .
Testing rates also did not change meaningfully over nearly two decades of follow-up despite an increasing number of guidelines recommending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they said .
`` If you are on three or more medications for management of your blood pressure , ask your doctor if they think you might benefit from testing or from being treated with an MRA , '' Cohen said .
`` Not all patients are appropriate to be tested or treated with MRAs , but most people with treatment resistant hypertension are , '' she said .

More people with treatment-resistant high blood pressure should be receiving tests for a hormone disorder that can increase pressure, researchers say. Photo by Bru-nO/ Pixabay
Dec. 28 (UPI) -- Fewer than 2% of people with treatment-resistant high blood pressure are checked for a hormone disorder that can drive blood pressure higher, a study published Monday by the Annals of Internal Medicine found. In people with primary aldosteronism, the adrenal gland produces too much of a hormone called aldosterone, causing increases in blood pressure, often to unhealthy levels, according to the Mayo Clinic. Advertisement
Professional guidelines recommend checking those with high blood pressure that doesn't respond to treatment for the hormonal disorder, but researchers found the tests often are not performed.
"While primary aldosteronism is a common cause of difficult to control hypertension, it is under-diagnosed," study co-author Dr. Jordana Cohen told UPI.
"Patients who were tested in our study were more likely to be treated with the appropriate medications ... and to have better blood pressure control over time, said Cohen, an assistant professor of medicine and epidemiology at the University of Pennsylvania.
Many people who don't respond well to commonly used blood pressure control medications, including beta blockers and ACE inhibitors, are found to have the hormone disorder, Cohen and her colleagues said.
The condition has been linked with a four- to 12-fold increased risk for cardiovascular events, such as heart attack and stroke, compared to those with high blood pressure due to other causes, the researchers said.
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However, the disorder can be effectively treated with drugs called mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, or MRAs, including spironolactone and eplerenone, or surgery, according to Cohen.
For this study, she and researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, Stanford University and the University of Michigan reviewed data from the Veterans Health Administration for more than 269,000 veterans with apparent treatment-resistant high blood pressure.
Treatment-resistant hypertension was defined as either two blood pressures of at least 140 systolic or 90 diastolic at least one month apart. Patients also had to be receiving treatment with at least three blood pressure drugs, including a diuretic, or with at least four different types of blood pressure drugs, the researchers said.
Just under 2% of patients with treatment-resistant high blood pressure underwent guideline-recommended testing for the hormone disorder, the data showed.
Testing rates ranged from 0% to 6% at centers included in the study and did not correlate with the number of patients with treatment-resistant hypertension, the researchers said.
And just 15% of the patients were on an MRA drug, the data showed.
Patients tested for the hormone condition were more likely to receive treatment with MRAs and have better long-term blood pressure control, according to the researchers.
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Testing rates also did not change meaningfully over nearly two decades of follow-up despite an increasing number of guidelines recommending testing for the disorder in this population, they said.
"If you are on three or more medications for management of your blood pressure, ask your doctor if they think you might benefit from testing or from being treated with an MRA," Cohen said.
"Not all patients are appropriate to be tested or treated with MRAs, but most people with treatment resistant hypertension are," she said.


upi--2020-12-28--Look: Donkey rescued after a month stranded on South African island

Dec. 28 ( UPI ) -- A donkey that went missing from its owner 's South African home in November @ @ @ @ @ water rescue team after being found stranded on an island .
The National Sea Rescue @ @ @ @ @ in the Vaal Dam area was alerted Sunday to a donkey spotted stranded on an @ @ @ @ @ The donkey reportedly went onto the island about four weeks ago when water levels were @ @ @ @ @ get back to mainland when water levels rose , '' NSRI station commander Jake Manten @ @ @ @ @ brought a veterinarian to the island and the donkey was confirmed to be suffering from @ @ @ @ @ animal was tranquilized and transported back to shore , where it was turned over to @ @ @ @ @ donkey is being well cared for by its owners who were delighted at its return @ @ @ @ @

A donkey that had been missing for four weeks in South Africa was rescued by the National Sea Rescue Institute after being found stranded on a small island. Photo courtesy of NSRI Vaal Dam
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Dec. 28 (UPI) -- A donkey that went missing from its owner's South African home in November was brought home by a water rescue team after being found stranded on an island. The National Sea Rescue Institute said a crew based in the Vaal Dam area was alerted Sunday to a donkey spotted stranded on an island near Deneysville. Advertisement
"The donkey reportedly went onto the island about four weeks ago when water levels were low but was unable to get back to mainland when water levels rose," NSRI station commander Jake Manten said.
The NSRI team brought a veterinarian to the island and the donkey was confirmed to be suffering from stress and malnutrition. The animal was tranquilized and transported back to shore, where it was turned over to its owners.
"The donkey is being well cared for by its owners who were delighted at its return," Manten said.


upi--2020-12-28--U.S. markets hit records after Trump signs COVID-19 relief bill

Dec. 28 ( UPI ) -- U.S. markets rose to records on Monday after President Donald Trump signed the long-awaited $ 900 billion COVID-19 relief bill .
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 204.1 points , or 0.68 % , and the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.74 % both hitting intraday records at 30,525.56 and 12,930.83 respectively earlier in the day .
The S & P 500 also rose 0.87 % to an intraday high of 3,735.36 .
Monday 's gains came after Trump on Sunday evening signed the coronavirus relief and government funding bill he previously panned as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also holding a vote Monday to increase direct stimulus payments included in the relief package from $ 600 to $ 2,000 .
`` While the benefits of the relief bill wo n't be reflected in December data that we will see next week , the direction of least resistance remains higher , '' James Meyer , chief investment officer at Tower Bridge Advisors , said in a note .
Apple led the Dow higher rising 3.58 % , while Disney gained 2.95 % and Goldman Sachs increased 1.34 % .
The S & @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and communication services each rose 1 % to lead the index higher .
Entering the final week of trading for 2020 the Nasdaq has soared 43.7 % for the year as investors have favored tech throughout the pandemic , while the S & P 500 has risen 15.6 % and the Dow has gained 6.6 % .

The Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite all hit intraday records on Monday after President Donald Trump signed the long-awaited $900 billion COVID-19 relief bill. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 28 (UPI) -- U.S. markets rose to records on Monday after President Donald Trump signed the long-awaited $900 billion COVID-19 relief bill. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 204.1 points, or 0.68%, and the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.74% both hitting intraday records at 30,525.56 and 12,930.83 respectively earlier in the day. The S&P 500 also rose 0.87% to an intraday high of 3,735.36. Advertisement
Monday's gains came after Trump on Sunday evening signed the coronavirus relief and government funding bill he previously panned as a "disgrace."
The House was also holding a vote Monday to increase direct stimulus payments included in the relief package from $600 to $2,000.
"While the benefits of the relief bill won't be reflected in December data that we will see next week, the direction of least resistance remains higher," James Meyer, chief investment officer at Tower Bridge Advisors, said in a note.
Apple led the Dow higher rising 3.58%, while Disney gained 2.95% and Goldman Sachs increased 1.34%.
The S&P 500's consumer discretionary, technology and communication services each rose 1% to lead the index higher.
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Entering the final week of trading for 2020 the Nasdaq has soared 43.7% for the year as investors have favored tech throughout the pandemic, while the S&P 500 has risen 15.6% and the Dow has gained 6.6%.


upi--2020-12-28--Study: Psoriasis, metabolic syndrome combo may increase heart disease risk

Dec. 28 ( UPI ) -- The presence of metabolic syndrome in people with psoriasis may contribute to an increased risk of heart disease , according to a study published Monday by the Journal of the American Association of Dermatology .
People with both conditions may have higher levels of visceral fat tissue , a known risk factor for heart disease , the researchers said .
The findings could lead to new ways to help prevent cardiovascular disease among those with psoriasis , the researchers said .
`` Metabolic syndrome , so common among our psoriasis patients , drives up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increasing the plaque buildup that clogs the heart 's arteries , '' study co-author Dr. Nehal N. Mehta said in a statement .
`` Our study shows that , of the metabolic syndrome components , hypertension and obesity contribute the most to coronary plaque buildup , and hence can be good targets for intervention , '' said Mehta , head of the Lab of Inflammation and Cardiometabolic Diseases at the National Heart , Lung and Blood Institute .
Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that affects up to 3 % of adults @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the National Institutes of Health .
The condition has long been linked with an increased risk for heart disease , including heart attack and stroke .
This is because it can speed plaque buildup that clogs arteries , in addition to worsening blood-vessel and systemic inflammation , Mehta and his colleagues said .
About one in four people in the United States has metabolic syndrome , a condition that includes obesity , diabetes , high cholesterol and high blood pressure , the NIH estimates .
The condition is even more common among people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his colleagues .
For the new analysis , researchers conducted an observational study of 260 patients with psoriasis , 80 of whom also met the criteria for metabolic syndrome .
All participants underwent computed tomography scanning to create images of their coronary arteries , the researchers said .
Systemic inflammation , insulin resistance and blood cholesterol were significantly higher in the participants who had both psoriasis and metabolic syndrome , the study found .
Those with metabolic syndrome also had higher coronary artery plaque buildup , which increases a person 's risk for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Excess visceral fat tissue , or abdominal fat , in patients with both conditions also was associated with worse outward symptoms of metabolic syndrome , such as larger waist circumference , higher blood pressure and higher cholesterol , they said .
High abdominal fat is a known risk factor for heart disease in the general population and for increased plaque buildup in the arteries of psoriasis patients , the researchers said .
Because this was an observational study , the researchers can not establish cause-effect links between metabolic syndrome and heart disease risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mehta .
However , the findings provide strong evidence that psoriasis patients with metabolic syndrome have high levels of heart disease-producing plaque in their arteries , he said .
It 's possible that identifying metabolic syndrome , especially larger waist circumference , in people with psoriasis can significantly help to measure abdominal fat levels and assess heart disease risk in people with psoriasis , according to Mehta and his colleagues .
`` In psoriasis patients , traditional risk factors of cardiovascular disease , such as age , do not relate strongly to cardiovascular @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Mehta said .

Metabolic syndrome in people with psoriasis may contribute to their increased risk for heart disease, according to a new study. Photo by Psoriasis-Netz/ Flickr
Dec. 28 (UPI) -- The presence of metabolic syndrome in people with psoriasis may contribute to an increased risk of heart disease, according to a study published Monday by the Journal of the American Association of Dermatology. People with both conditions may have higher levels of visceral fat tissue, a known risk factor for heart disease, the researchers said. Advertisement
The findings could lead to new ways to help prevent cardiovascular disease among those with psoriasis, the researchers said.
"Metabolic syndrome, so common among our psoriasis patients, drives up coronary artery disease in this population by increasing the plaque buildup that clogs the heart's arteries," study co-author Dr. Nehal N. Mehta said in a statement.
"Our study shows that, of the metabolic syndrome components, hypertension and obesity contribute the most to coronary plaque buildup, and hence can be good targets for intervention," said Mehta, head of the Lab of Inflammation and Cardiometabolic Diseases at the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.
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Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that affects up to 3% of adults in the United States, according to the National Institutes of Health.
The condition has long been linked with an increased risk for heart disease, including heart attack and stroke. This is because it can speed plaque buildup that clogs arteries, in addition to worsening blood-vessel and systemic inflammation, Mehta and his colleagues said.
About one in four people in the United States has metabolic syndrome, a condition that includes obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure, the NIH estimates.
The condition is even more common among people with psoriasis, according to Mehta and his colleagues.
For the new analysis, researchers conducted an observational study of 260 patients with psoriasis, 80 of whom also met the criteria for metabolic syndrome.
All participants underwent computed tomography scanning to create images of their coronary arteries, the researchers said.
Systemic inflammation, insulin resistance and blood cholesterol were significantly higher in the participants who had both psoriasis and metabolic syndrome, the study found.
Those with metabolic syndrome also had higher coronary artery plaque buildup, which increases a person's risk for heart attack, the researchers said.
Excess visceral fat tissue, or abdominal fat, in patients with both conditions also was associated with worse outward symptoms of metabolic syndrome, such as larger waist circumference, higher blood pressure and higher cholesterol, they said.
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High abdominal fat is a known risk factor for heart disease in the general population and for increased plaque buildup in the arteries of psoriasis patients, the researchers said.
Because this was an observational study, the researchers cannot establish cause-effect links between metabolic syndrome and heart disease risk among people with psoriasis, according to Mehta.
However, the findings provide strong evidence that psoriasis patients with metabolic syndrome have high levels of heart disease-producing plaque in their arteries, he said.
It's possible that identifying metabolic syndrome, especially larger waist circumference, in people with psoriasis can significantly help to measure abdominal fat levels and assess heart disease risk in people with psoriasis, according to Mehta and his colleagues.
"In psoriasis patients, traditional risk factors of cardiovascular disease, such as age, do not relate strongly to cardiovascular risk as in the general population," Mehta said.


upi--2020-12-28--Virginia man finds stolen 1969 Camaro after 17 years

Dec. 28 ( UPI ) -- A Virginia man whose 1969 Camaro was stolen 17 years ago was reunited with the vehicle after spotting it in a garage while helping a friend buy another vehicle .
Tommy Cook said the Hugger Orange Camaro was stolen from his auto repair lot in Woodbridge in 2003 , and after reporting it stolen he kept renewing the vehicle 's missing status with Prince William County police through the mail in the ensuing years .
`` I never wrote that car off , '' Cook told The Free Lance-Star newspaper .
`` I knew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time when I would get that car back .
I did n't know where , but I knew it was out there somewhere . ''
Cook said he had no leads until 17 years later , when a friend considering the purchase of a 1968 Camaro asked him to take a look at a vehicle listed for sale online by a Maryland man near La Plata .
Cook said he arrived at the auto shop to look at the 1968 Camaro , but his attention was grabbed by a hoodless 1969 Camaro in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man told Cook the green car had originally been painted Hugger Orange , the color of his stolen car .
Cook said he took a look at the dashboard VIN and thought it seemed suspicious , so he checked the VIN in another spot under the hood -- and it matched his missing car .
The Charles County Sheriff 's Office in Maryland had the Camaro towed to a storage lot , and Cook then had it towed to his new shop in Spotsylvania .
Cook said the car has received some upgrades @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an engine being installed in the formerly-engineless vehicle .
He said the car had apparently changed hands four times since it was stolen in 2003 .
`` Some people had put money into it , '' Cook said .
`` It was better than it was when it was stolen , but it 's still an ugly green . ''
Police in France solved a missing vehicle case after an even longer amount of time had elapsed in 2017 .
Chalons-en-Champagne police said a property owner called authorities to report a muddy pond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a the top of a Peugeot 104 buried in the muck .
Police determined the car had been reported stolen from its third owner in 1979 -- 38 years before it was found in the swamp .

Virginia man Tommy Cook was reunited with his 1969 Camaro when he spotted it in a Maryland garage 17 years after it was stolen. Cook said the vehicle had been painted green and given a fraudulent VIN to disguise it. Photo by Bruno/Wikimedia Commons
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Dec. 28 (UPI) -- A Virginia man whose 1969 Camaro was stolen 17 years ago was reunited with the vehicle after spotting it in a garage while helping a friend buy another vehicle. Tommy Cook said the Hugger Orange Camaro was stolen from his auto repair lot in Woodbridge in 2003, and after reporting it stolen he kept renewing the vehicle's missing status with Prince William County police through the mail in the ensuing years. Advertisement
"I never wrote that car off," Cook told The Free Lance-Star newspaper. "I knew there would be a day and a time when I would get that car back. I didn't know where, but I knew it was out there somewhere."
Cook said he had no leads until 17 years later, when a friend considering the purchase of a 1968 Camaro asked him to take a look at a vehicle listed for sale online by a Maryland man near La Plata.
Cook said he arrived at the auto shop to look at the 1968 Camaro, but his attention was grabbed by a hoodless 1969 Camaro in the corner of the garage.
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The man told Cook the green car had originally been painted Hugger Orange, the color of his stolen car. Cook said he took a look at the dashboard VIN and thought it seemed suspicious, so he checked the VIN in another spot under the hood -- and it matched his missing car.
The Charles County Sheriff's Office in Maryland had the Camaro towed to a storage lot, and Cook then had it towed to his new shop in Spotsylvania.
Cook said the car has received some upgrades since he last owned it -- including an engine being installed in the formerly-engineless vehicle. He said the car had apparently changed hands four times since it was stolen in 2003.
"Some people had put money into it," Cook said. "It was better than it was when it was stolen, but it's still an ugly green."
Police in France solved a missing vehicle case after an even longer amount of time had elapsed in 2017. Chalons-en-Champagne police said a property owner called authorities to report a muddy pond had receded amid drought conditions, revealing a the top of a Peugeot 104 buried in the muck.
Police determined the car had been reported stolen from its third owner in 1979 -- 38 years before it was found in the swamp.
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upi--2020-12-28--Crews add 192 new Waterford crystals to New Year's Eve ball

Dec. 28 ( UPI ) -- Crews have added 192 new Waterford crystals for a total of 2,688 crystals to be lit up when the ball drops in New York City 's Times Square on New Year 's Eve .
Workers installed the new crystal triangles on the almost 12,000-pound geodesic sphere on Sunday , with 32,256 LED lights covering all 2,688 crystal triangles .
The design this year for the ball high above Times Square on Broadway between 42nd and 43rd streets that drops at the stroke of midnight is called `` Gift of Happiness . ''
`` This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I would honestly say , and I think everybody would agree with me , that happiness is probably the most apt design theme that we could ever have because 2020 has been a tumultuous year for everybody , '' Waterford Crystal Master Artisan Tom Brennan told WABC .
The normally million-plus packed event will be closed to the general public due to COVID-19 , with the only people in attendance being the entertainers and 40 selected guests , called `` the heroes of 2020 . ''
`` We all need a little more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what this year 's celebrations is all about , '' Jeffrey Strauss of Countdown Entertainment told WABC .
`` We are going to have New York families that represent the best of us , our heroes of 2020 , they 're those folks that kept us safe , that protected us throughout this year , and who helped us survive . ''
The Times Square Alliance announced the `` Heroes of 2020 '' and their families would be onsite earlier this month , including New York families of first responders , frontline and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I Will Survive , '' and Mean Girls actor Jonathan Bennett will return to host the event .
Several TV networks will air New Year 's Eve specials from Times Square , including ABC 's Dick Clark 's New Year 's Rockin ' Eve with Ryan Seacrest on ABC .
The special begins at 8 p.m. EST .
Jennifer Lopez will headline from Times Square with other performers , such as Billy Porter , Cyndi Lauper , Jimmie Allen , and rapper Machine Gun Kelly , among them .
Porter and Pretty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Seacrest in hosting special at Times Square .
On Christmas Eve , Dick Clark 's New Year 's Rockin ' Eve announced Ella Mai would perform in the Los Angeles celebration along with previously announced Miley Cyrus , Nelly , Megan Thee Stallion , Doja Cat , and Maluma , and Ciara as host .

Dec. 28 (UPI) -- Crews have added 192 new Waterford crystals for a total of 2,688 crystals to be lit up when the ball drops in New York City's Times Square on New Year's Eve.
Workers installed the new crystal triangles on the almost 12,000-pound geodesic sphere on Sunday, with 32,256 LED lights covering all 2,688 crystal triangles.
Advertisement
The design this year for the ball high above Times Square on Broadway between 42nd and 43rd streets that drops at the stroke of midnight is called "Gift of Happiness."
"This year's theme is happiness, so I would honestly say, and I think everybody would agree with me, that happiness is probably the most apt design theme that we could ever have because 2020 has been a tumultuous year for everybody," Waterford Crystal Master Artisan Tom Brennan told WABC.
The normally million-plus packed event will be closed to the general public due to COVID-19, with the only people in attendance being the entertainers and 40 selected guests, called "the heroes of 2020."
"We all need a little more happiness in 2021, and that's what this year's celebrations is all about," Jeffrey Strauss of Countdown Entertainment told WABC. "We are going to have New York families that represent the best of us, our heroes of 2020, they're those folks that kept us safe, that protected us throughout this year, and who helped us survive."
Advertisement
The Times Square Alliance announced the "Heroes of 2020" and their families would be onsite earlier this month, including New York families of first responders, frontline and essential workers. Gloria Gaynor will perform "I Will Survive," and Mean Girls actor Jonathan Bennett will return to host the event.
Several TV networks will air New Year's Eve specials from Times Square, including ABC's Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest on ABC. The special begins at 8 p.m. EST.
Jennifer Lopez will headline from Times Square with other performers, such as Billy Porter, Cyndi Lauper, Jimmie Allen, and rapper Machine Gun Kelly, among them. Porter and Pretty Little Liars actress Lucy Hale will join Seacrest in hosting special at Times Square. On Christmas Eve, Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve announced Ella Mai would perform in the Los Angeles celebration along with previously announced Miley Cyrus, Nelly, Megan Thee Stallion, Doja Cat, and Maluma, and Ciara as host.


upi--2020-12-28--Tyndall AFB in Florida conducts Weapon System Evaluation Program

Dec. 28 ( UPI ) -- An 11-day Weapons System Evaluation Program event ended successfully at Tyndall Air Force Base , Fla. , the Air Force announced .
The WSEP , conducted regularly , evaluates air-to-ground and air-to-air weapons systems , with an emphasis on missile firing and combat skills , according to Air Force officials .
Tyndall 's 43rd Fighter Squadron , and the U.S. Navy 's Strike Fighter Squadrons 11 , 34 , 81 , and 211 of Carrier Air Wing One , based at Naval Air Station Oceana , Va. , participated in the evaluation .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the future , '' Lt. Cmdr .
Thomas Kellner , 83rd Fighter Squadron FA-18 program manager , said in a press release .
`` The [ Navy and Air Force ] joint team help each other meet the nation 's tasking and maintain a sharp edge on their combat skills while forward deployed , '' Kellner said .
The evaluation , which included 87 sorties flown and 28 missiles fired at Tyndall , is practice for combat , beyond briefings and simulators .
`` There is nothing that can replace actually getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' said Lt. Col. Jeffery Peterson , 43rd FS commander .
`` Our instructor pilots were able to shoot missiles , one of them for the first time , which allows our F-22 [ fighter plane ] instructor cadre to leverage that experience to better instruct future F-22 students , '' Peterson said .
The Gulf of Mexico was the program 's area of operations , and the air base noted in a statement last week , the support work of pilots of E-9A planes known as `` Widgets . ''
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Aerial Targets Squadron -- which flies the only two E-9As in the entire U.S. military -- are used as surveillance platforms ahead of missile firings .
They ensure the waters are clear of civilian boaters and aircraft during live missile launches and other hazardous military activities .

Use of the E-9A surveillance plane, known as the "Widget," was a crucial factor in the success of the 11-day Weapon System Evaluation Program at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., officials said. Photo by Sgt. Michael Ammons/USAF
Dec. 28 (UPI) -- An 11-day Weapons System Evaluation Program event ended successfully at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., the Air Force announced. The WSEP, conducted regularly, evaluates air-to-ground and air-to-air weapons systems, with an emphasis on missile firing and combat skills, according to Air Force officials. Advertisement
Tyndall's 43rd Fighter Squadron, and the U.S. Navy's Strike Fighter Squadrons 11, 34, 81, and 211 of Carrier Air Wing One, based at Naval Air Station Oceana, Va., participated in the evaluation.
"Pre-deployment joint training is crucial to success for the future," Lt. Cmdr. Thomas Kellner, 83rd Fighter Squadron FA-18 program manager, said in a press release.
"The [Navy and Air Force] joint team help each other meet the nation's tasking and maintain a sharp edge on their combat skills while forward deployed," Kellner said.
The evaluation, which included 87 sorties flown and 28 missiles fired at Tyndall, is practice for combat, beyond briefings and simulators.
"There is nothing that can replace actually getting in the jet and experiencing it first-hand," said Lt. Col. Jeffery Peterson, 43rd FS commander.
"Our instructor pilots were able to shoot missiles, one of them for the first time, which allows our F-22 [fighter plane] instructor cadre to leverage that experience to better instruct future F-22 students," Peterson said.
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The Gulf of Mexico was the program's area of operations, and the air base noted in a statement last week, the support work of pilots of E-9A planes known as "Widgets."
The small, turboprop planes of the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron -- which flies the only two E-9As in the entire U.S. military -- are used as surveillance platforms ahead of missile firings. They ensure the waters are clear of civilian boaters and aircraft during live missile launches and other hazardous military activities.


upi--2020-12-28--Japan suspends international air travel in response to new virus variant

Dec. 28 ( UPI ) -- Japan clamped down on international visits by non-resident foreign nationals until the end of January in response to the spread of a new more virulent variant of the coronavirus that has sickened people in 20 countries .
`` They say that no evidence is showing the vaccines that are already being administered overseas are not effective against this variant , and anti-infection steps for it are unchanged from those for the conventional virus , '' Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said Monday , urging residents to have a `` calm '' New Year celebration .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ New Year holidays , '' Suga added .
New travel rules will require Japanese citizens and foreign residents traveling from countries where the variant has been found to submit negative virus test results from within 72 hours of travel and undergo another test upon arriving in Japan .
The rules start Wednesday and last through the end of January .
Business travelers and students from mainland China , Taiwan and South Korea and some other Asian nations , are exempt from the new rules .
At least eight people in Japan have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus , including an airline pilot who visited London and a Tokyo woman hospitalized after returning from Britain , the Japan Times reported .
The new variant was first discovered in Britain in September , where health officials said Friday it can be 70 % more transmissible .
Japan has experienced 221,412 active cases and 3,100 deaths with a record high number of daily new cases at 3,892 recorded on Saturday , according to the Johns Hopkins University Tracker .
Yuichiro Hata , 53 , a Japanese former transport minister and parliamentarian , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , his family said .
The lawmaker was the first incumbent parliamentarian to die of the coronavirus .
The Japanese government is also making public health decisions in light of the rescheduled summer Olympics , slated for late July , 2021 , which were originally planned in Tokyo for summer of 2020 .
Earlier in December , the Japanese government announced that travelers from Britain and South Africa were required to quarantine for three days .
Suga also suspended the government-subsidized travel campaign `` Go To Travel , '' which was canceled through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , federal officials announced Friday that because of the new virus strain , air travelers from Britain would require a negative COVID test at least 72 hours before their flight .

Japan's government announced new temporary restrictions on non-resident and foreign air travelers to fight the spread of a new variant of the coronavirus. Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 28 (UPI) -- Japan clamped down on international visits by non-resident foreign nationals until the end of January in response to the spread of a new more virulent variant of the coronavirus that has sickened people in 20 countries. "They say that no evidence is showing the vaccines that are already being administered overseas are not effective against this variant, and anti-infection steps for it are unchanged from those for the conventional virus," Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said Monday, urging residents to have a "calm" New Year celebration. "The virus recognizes no year-end or New Year holidays," Suga added. Advertisement
New travel rules will require Japanese citizens and foreign residents traveling from countries where the variant has been found to submit negative virus test results from within 72 hours of travel and undergo another test upon arriving in Japan. The rules start Wednesday and last through the end of January.
Business travelers and students from mainland China, Taiwan and South Korea and some other Asian nations, are exempt from the new rules.
At least eight people in Japan have been infected with the new variant of the virus, including an airline pilot who visited London and a Tokyo woman hospitalized after returning from Britain, the Japan Times reported.
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The new variant was first discovered in Britain in September, where health officials said Friday it can be 70% more transmissible.
Japan has experienced 221,412 active cases and 3,100 deaths with a record high number of daily new cases at 3,892 recorded on Saturday, according to the Johns Hopkins University Tracker.
Yuichiro Hata, 53, a Japanese former transport minister and parliamentarian, died suddenly on Sunday of COVID-19 complications, his family said. The lawmaker was the first incumbent parliamentarian to die of the coronavirus.
The Japanese government is also making public health decisions in light of the rescheduled summer Olympics, slated for late July, 2021, which were originally planned in Tokyo for summer of 2020.
Earlier in December, the Japanese government announced that travelers from Britain and South Africa were required to quarantine for three days. Suga also suspended the government-subsidized travel campaign "Go To Travel," which was canceled through Jan. 11.
In the United States, federal officials announced Friday that because of the new virus strain, air travelers from Britain would require a negative COVID test at least 72 hours before their flight.


upi--2020-12-28--Watch: Dog adopted by soccer player after interrupting game in Bolivia

Dec. 28 ( UPI ) -- A professional soccer game in Bolivia came to a temporary halt when a dog @ @ @ @ @ mouth ran out onto the field .
The game in Potosi was paused for several @ @ @ @ @ carrying a soccer shoe , ran out onto the field during a game between The @ @ @ @ @ Players and officials chased the dog around the field , and one of the players @ @ @ @ @ the canine and carry it to the sidelines .
Raul Castro , a player for @ @ @ @ @ he is adopting the dog , who was dubbed Cachito by fans .

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Dec. 28 (UPI) -- A professional soccer game in Bolivia came to a temporary halt when a dog with a shoe in its mouth ran out onto the field.
The game in Potosi was paused for several minutes when the dog, carrying a soccer shoe, ran out onto the field during a game between The Strongest and Nacional Potosi.
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Players and officials chased the dog around the field, and one of the players was able to pick up the canine and carry it to the sidelines.
Raul Castro, a player for The Strongest, later announced he is adopting the dog, who was dubbed Cachito by fans.


upi--2020-12-29--Economic data may predict antimicrobial resistance levels in different countries

Dec. 29 ( UPI ) -- Scientists at the Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development have developed a new model that uses economic data to predict antimicrobial resistance levels across different countries .
To calculate antibiotic resistance within a given country , the model -- described this week in the journal PNAS -- considers a country 's average income , the average out-of-pocket health care costs of its citizens and the degree of government corruption found within a country 's borders .
Over the last decade , common antibiotics have become less effective at combating bacterial infections .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exacerbated by the overprescription of antibiotics by doctors , as well as by the overuse of antibiotics in the commercial livestock industry .
In most developed nations , regulators have worked to track the problem and institute reforms to address the issues of overprescription and overuse .
While doctors , in many countries , are required to report the bacterial infections they treat and the antibiotic therapies they prescribe , the problem is less well-documented in developing nations .
`` Substantial clinical surveillance gaps exist in low- and middle-income countries , '' the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many of these countries , there is n't the funding or infrastructure needed for detailed tracking efforts .
To improve antibiotic resistant surveillance in developing countries , researchers decided to look at the relationship between socioeconomic factors and the prevalence of nine common pathogens noted for their resistance to antibiotics .
The researchers then worked backwards to predict the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in countries where surveillance data is lacking .
When scientists tested their model 's predictions against countries where antimicrobial resistance is effectively tracked , they found it was 78 to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nine pathogens .
The new model could be used to identify places where efforts to track antimicrobial resistance need to be strengthened .
`` Our global maps of national resistance prevalence provide data-driven criteria for the prioritization of surveillance efforts in [ low- and middle-income countries ] , '' researchers wrote .
`` First , surveillance might be prioritized in countries where high resistance rates are expected . ''

As a result of overprescription, many common antibiotics have become increasingly ineffective against bacterial infections over the last decade. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Scientists at the Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development have developed a new model that uses economic data to predict antimicrobial resistance levels across different countries. To calculate antibiotic resistance within a given country, the model -- described this week in the journal PNAS -- considers a country's average income, the average out-of-pocket health care costs of its citizens and the degree of government corruption found within a country's borders. Advertisement
Over the last decade, common antibiotics have become less effective at combating bacterial infections.
The problem has been antimicrobial resistance has been exacerbated by the overprescription of antibiotics by doctors, as well as by the overuse of antibiotics in the commercial livestock industry.
In most developed nations, regulators have worked to track the problem and institute reforms to address the issues of overprescription and overuse.
While doctors, in many countries, are required to report the bacterial infections they treat and the antibiotic therapies they prescribe, the problem is less well-documented in developing nations.
"Substantial clinical surveillance gaps exist in low- and middle-income countries," the authors report in their paper.
In many of these countries, there isn't the funding or infrastructure needed for detailed tracking efforts.
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To improve antibiotic resistant surveillance in developing countries, researchers decided to look at the relationship between socioeconomic factors and the prevalence of nine common pathogens noted for their resistance to antibiotics.
The researchers then worked backwards to predict the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in countries where surveillance data is lacking.
When scientists tested their model's predictions against countries where antimicrobial resistance is effectively tracked, they found it was 78 to 86 percent accurate for six of the nine pathogens.
The new model could be used to identify places where efforts to track antimicrobial resistance need to be strengthened.
"Our global maps of national resistance prevalence provide data-driven criteria for the prioritization of surveillance efforts in [low- and middle-income countries]," researchers wrote. "First, surveillance might be prioritized in countries where high resistance rates are expected."


upi--2020-12-29--U.S. adds 169,000 COVID-19 cases; gov't still well behind vaccine goal

Dec. 29 ( UPI ) -- Despite a sizable increase , the number of new COVID-19 cases in the United States is under 200,000 for the fourth time in five days , according to updated data Tuesday .
There were 168,800 new coronavirus cases nationwide on Monday , according to Johns Hopkins University .
The figure is an increase of almost 19,000 over Sunday , but signals a slowdown of the virus ' spread .
About 1,700 patients died on Monday , according to the data , an increase of several hundred from the day before .
Since the start @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 19.31 million coronavirus cases in the United States and about 335,100 deaths , according to Johns Hopkins .
The number of patients in U.S. hospitals increased on Monday to about 121,000 , a record , according to the COVID Tracking Project .
Tuesday , Dr. Anthony Fauci said the United States is still well behind the vaccination pace officials wanted to achieve by this time .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 2.1 million people had received their first vaccine dose by early Monday -- far fewer than the government 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of December .
`` [ The U.S. ] is certainly not at the numbers that we wanted to be at the end of December , '' Fauci , the nation 's top infectious diseases expert and director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , told CNN .
Two vaccines have so far been approved for use in the United States , and Fauci believes there will be a significant uptick in January .
`` As we get into January , we are going to see an increase in the momentum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hope [ this ] allows us to catch up to the projected pace that we had spoken about a month or two ago when we were talking about the planned rollout of the vaccinations . ''
• The Senate will stake out a position on a proposal to increase stimulus payments to $ 2,000 .
Democrats and President Donald Trump have called on the chamber to approve the raise Tuesday , but it 's unclear what it will do .
• Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and husband Doug Emhoff will both receive their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It was scheduled to be broadcast live .

A pharmacist readies a dose of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine at the Cottages of Lake St. Louis Retirement Center in Lake St. Louis, Mo., on Monday, the first day the vaccine became available at retirement homes and skilled care facilities. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Despite a sizable increase, the number of new COVID-19 cases in the United States is under 200,000 for the fourth time in five days, according to updated data Tuesday. There were 168,800 new coronavirus cases nationwide on Monday, according to Johns Hopkins University. The figure is an increase of almost 19,000 over Sunday, but signals a slowdown of the virus' spread. Advertisement
About 1,700 patients died on Monday, according to the data, an increase of several hundred from the day before.
Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 19.31 million coronavirus cases in the United States and about 335,100 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins.
The number of patients in U.S. hospitals increased on Monday to about 121,000, a record, according to the COVID Tracking Project.
Tuesday, Dr. Anthony Fauci said the United States is still well behind the vaccination pace officials wanted to achieve by this time.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 2.1 million people received their first vaccine dose by early Monday -- far fewer than the government's goal of 20 million by the end of December.
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"[The U.S.] is certainly not at the numbers that we wanted to be at the end of December," Fauci, the nation's top infectious diseases expert and director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told CNN.
Two vaccines have so far been approved for use in the United States, and Fauci believes there will be a significant uptick in January.
"As we get into January, we are going to see an increase in the momentum," he said. "I hope [this] allows us to catch up to the projected pace that we had spoken about a month or two ago when we were talking about the planned rollout of the vaccinations."
In California, five Los Angeles County hospitals declared an internal disaster -- closing the facilities to all ambulance traffic -- amid a shortage of oxygen.
The issue has particularly plagued aging hospitals where health officials have said, patients require such a high rate of oxygen that systems cannot maintain sufficient pressure in their pipes and that the high flow causes the pipes to freeze.
"If it freezes, then you can't have good flow of oxygen," Dr. Christina Ghaly, Los Angeles County health services director, said.
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Ghaly added that some hospitals are required to move patients to lower floors because it is easier to deliver oxygen without needing to send it to higher floors.
The county is averaging 14,000 new COVID-19 cases a day and coronavirus patients require 60 liters to 80 liters of oxygen per minute, while non-COVID patients require 6 liters.


upi--2020-12-29--Iconic French fashion designer Pierre Cardin dies at 98

Dec. 29 ( UPI ) -- Pierre Cardin , the global fashion icon who expanded his empire through international branding and merchandising , has died .
He was 98 .
Cardin got his start working under fashion stars like Jean Cocteau and Christian Dior before creating his own brand with signature futuristic designs .
Along with dressing the rich and famous , Cardin became a household name by branding to the masses , attaching his name to products like clothes , bathroom items , fragrances , vehicles and even aviator jumpsuits .
`` Immense sadness , '' Cyril Barthalois , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arts , tweeted .
`` Equally great joy of having known him . ''
Cardin was credited with expanding the fashion world beyond its traditional French epicenter by taking designs to shows in Tokyo , Beijing and Moscow in the 1950s .
His suits became a favorite with the Beatles a decade later and the adoption helped spread his popularity to a younger audience .
Cardin also went on to design uniforms for Pakistan International Airlines , clothing for nurses , and NASA commissioned him to create an interpretation of a spacesuit in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ artiste but I am a businessman , '' Cardin told The New York Times in 1987 .
Born in Italy in 1922 , Cardin 's family moved to France and he became a tailor at age 14 .
He later grew his talents during an apprenticeship .
Cardin got his break in 1945 when he was hired as an assistant in Paris ' House of Paquin , which led to to a start in designing costumes for the 1946 film Beauty and the Beast .

Designer Pierre Cardin is seen during a spring-summer presentation in Paris, France, in 2006. The fashion icon has died at the age of 98, the French Academy of Fine Arts said Tuesday. File Photo by William Alix/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Pierre Cardin, the global fashion icon who expanded his empire through international branding and merchandising, has died. He was 98. The French Academy of Fine Arts announced Cardin's death. Advertisement
Cardin got his start working under fashion stars like Jean Cocteau and Christian Dior before creating his own brand with signature futuristic designs.
Along with dressing the rich and famous, Cardin became a household name by branding to the masses, attaching his name to products like clothes, bathroom items, fragrances, vehicles and even aviator jumpsuits.
"Immense sadness," Cyril Barthalois, general-secretary of the French Academy of Fine Arts, tweeted. "Equally great joy of having known him."
Cardin was credited with expanding the fashion world beyond its traditional French epicenter by taking designs to shows in Tokyo, Beijing and Moscow in the 1950s. His suits became a favorite with the Beatles a decade later and the adoption helped spread his popularity to a younger audience.
Cardin also went on to design uniforms for Pakistan International Airlines, clothing for nurses, and NASA commissioned him to create an interpretation of a spacesuit in 1969.
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"I was born an artiste but I am a businessman," Cardin told The New York Times in 1987.
Born in Italy in 1922, Cardin's family moved to France and he became a tailor at age 14. He later grew his talents during an apprenticeship.
Cardin got his break in 1945 when he was hired as an assistant in Paris' House of Paquin, which led to to a start in designing costumes for the 1946 film Beauty and the Beast.
Notable deaths of 2020


upi--2020-12-29--Report: North Korea cracks down on foreign currency transactions

Dec. 29 ( UPI ) -- North Korean authorities may have banned the use of foreign currency in informal markets , where ordinary North Koreans generate most of their income , according to a Japanese press report .
Citing South Korean government sources , the Asahi Shimbun reported Tuesday North Korea 's ban on currencies like the U.S. dollar and the Chinese yuan apply to the more than 500 marketplaces .
North Korean buyers and sellers mostly accept foreign currencies for transactions , according to the report .
The new regulation could be part of North Korean policy to rein @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state-planned enterprises less relevant to people 's livelihoods .
North Korea 's currency , the won , appreciated in 2020 , the report said .
The currency , which traded at 8,000 won to the dollar , may have appreciated to 6,000 won in October .
The rise in the value of the North Korean won could be the direct result of the state ban on foreign currencies , according to the Asahi 's sources .
The report also said there is evidence a major trader of foreign currency was `` executed '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alleged procurement of prohibited South Korean supplies earlier this year could have been the result of the crackdown on foreign exchange transactions .
Dong Yong-sueng , senior fellow at the Samsung Economic Research Institute in the South , told the Asahi North Korea 's foreign currency ban appears to be `` part of the structural reform that will come out of North Korea 's five-year plan , '' which is expected to be made public in January , during Pyongyang 's Eighth Party Congress .
North Korea launched an 80-day campaign in October @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the economy , including in science and technology .
Korean Workers ' Party newspaper Rodong Sinmun reported Tuesday North Korean university students took part in computer programming contests hosted by CodeChef , based in India .
The North Korean students from Kim Il Sung University and other institutions won `` several rounds '' in the monthly programming competition , state media said .

North Korea's informal economy relies heavily on foreign currency transactions involving the Chinese yuan or the U.S. dollar, but the country could be banning the exchanges, according to a Japanese press report on Tuesday. File Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 29 (UPI) -- North Korean authorities may have banned the use of foreign currency in informal markets, where ordinary North Koreans generate most of their income, according to a Japanese press report. Citing South Korean government sources, the Asahi Shimbun reported Tuesday North Korea's ban on currencies like the U.S. dollar and the Chinese yuan apply to the more than 500 marketplaces. North Korean buyers and sellers mostly accept foreign currencies for transactions, according to the report. Advertisement
The new regulation could be part of North Korean policy to rein in market forces that have made the state-planned enterprises less relevant to people's livelihoods.
North Korea's currency, the won, appreciated in 2020, the report said. The currency, which traded at 8,000 won to the dollar, may have appreciated to 6,000 won in October. The rise in the value of the North Korean won could be the direct result of the state ban on foreign currencies, according to the Asahi's sources.
The report also said there is evidence a major trader of foreign currency was "executed" upon orders. Pyongyang Medical University's alleged procurement of prohibited South Korean supplies earlier this year could have been the result of the crackdown on foreign exchange transactions.
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Dong Yong-sueng, senior fellow at the Samsung Economic Research Institute in the South, told the Asahi North Korea's foreign currency ban appears to be "part of the structural reform that will come out of North Korea's five-year plan," which is expected to be made public in January, during Pyongyang's Eighth Party Congress.
North Korea launched an 80-day campaign in October to realize goals in every sector of the economy, including in science and technology.
Korean Workers' Party newspaper Rodong Sinmun reported Tuesday North Korean university students took part in computer programming contests hosted by CodeChef, based in India.
The North Korean students from Kim Il Sung University and other institutions won "several rounds" in the monthly programming competition, state media said.


upi--2020-12-29--Jared Goff to miss crucial Rams-Cardinals matchup after thumb surgery

Dec. 29 ( UPI ) -- The Los Angeles Rams will be without Jared Goff for their vital Week 17 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals after the starting quarterback had surgery on his broken right thumb , coach Sean McVay said .
Goff had surgery on Monday after he sustained the injury in the third quarter of the Rams loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday in Seattle .
Goff sustained the injury when his thumb got caught in the helmet of Seahawks defensive lineman Benson Mayowa .
He had the thumb popped back into place and finished the game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On Monday , McVay told reporters that Goff had screws inserted into the thumb , but he `` should be available '' to play if the Rams advance to the playoffs .
`` Just really stabilizing that joint is probably the best way that I can articulate it , '' McVay said .
The Rams ( 9-6 ) can clinch a playoff spot with a win .
They can also advance with a loss and a Chicago Bears loss .
John Wolford will start in place of Goff on Sunday .
Wolford @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the regular season .
The Wake Forest product completed 63.9 % of his throws for 3,192 yards , 29 touchdowns and six interceptions during his 2017 campaign for the Demon Deacons .
He also had 683 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns that season .
Wolford spent the 2019 season on the Rams practice squad .
He entered the league as an undrafted free agent and also spent time with the New York Jets .
Wolford also appeared in the Alliance of American Football .
The Rams host the Cardinals at 4:25 p.m. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Inglewood , Calif .

1/3
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff had thumb surgery on Monday, but is expected to be available for the postseason. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 29 (UPI) -- The Los Angeles Rams will be without Jared Goff for their vital Week 17 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals after the starting quarterback had surgery on his broken right thumb, coach Sean McVay said. Goff had surgery on Monday after he sustained the injury in the third quarter of the Rams loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday in Seattle. Advertisement
Goff sustained the injury when his thumb got caught in the helmet of Seahawks defensive lineman Benson Mayowa. He had the thumb popped back into place and finished the game before it was determined he needed surgery.
On Monday, McVay told reporters that Goff had screws inserted into the thumb, but he "should be available" to play if the Rams advance to the playoffs.
"Just really stabilizing that joint is probably the best way that I can articulate it," McVay said.
The Rams (9-6) can clinch a playoff spot with a win. They can also advance with a loss and a Chicago Bears loss.
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John Wolford will start in place of Goff on Sunday. Wolford has never taken an NFL snap during the regular season.
The Wake Forest product completed 63.9% of his throws for 3,192 yards, 29 touchdowns and six interceptions during his 2017 campaign for the Demon Deacons. He also had 683 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns that season.
Wolford spent the 2019 season on the Rams practice squad. He entered the league as an undrafted free agent and also spent time with the New York Jets. Wolford also appeared in the Alliance of American Football.
The Rams host the Cardinals at 4:25 p.m. EST on Sunday at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.
This week in the National Football League


upi--2020-12-29--Soleil Moon Frye, Jason Goldberg separate after 22 years of marriage

Dec. 29 ( UPI ) -- Soleil Moon Frye and her husband , Jason Goldberg , have separated after 22 years of marriage .
Entertainment Tonight confirmed Monday that Frye , 44 , and Goldberg , 48 , split up earlier this year .
`` Soleil Moon Frye and Jason Goldberg quietly separated this year , '' Frye 's rep said .
`` Their priority will continue to be their four beautiful children as they move forward with love and compassion . ''
Frye and Goldberg married in October 1998 and have four children , daughters Poet Sienna , 15 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and sons Lyric Sonny , 6 , and Story , 4 .
Frye shared a photo with her kids Saturday on Instagram .
`` Happy happy day after Christmas to all .
Sending everyone so much love .
So grateful to be safe & cuddled up with these loves , '' the star captioned the post .
`` As my girls and I love to say along with my life long friend forever @ jennydianelewis 'It is one day closer to Christmas , ' '' she added .
`` Hope you are well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 2020 . ''
Frye came to fame as a child as the title character in the NBC series Punky Brewster .
She will reprise the role in a Punky Brewster sequel series for Peacock that finished filming its first season this month .
Frye shared photos from set on Instagram after wrapping Season 1 .
`` This is how we ended season one .
In bliss with my Punky babies .
I am so full of gratitude , joy and awe that we are here , '' the actress captioned the post @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our incredible cast , phenomenal crew , @ ucp & @ peacocktv our amazing show runners Jim & Steve [ Armogida ] the brilliant writers & directors we have had the honor to work with , every person in every role here that has helped weave this tapestry , and our loved ones for the support they have given us during this time , '' she added .
Peacock shared a teaser trailer for the Punky Brewster sequel series in April that shows an adult Punky ( Frye ) raising three kids as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jr. , plays Punky 's ex-husband , Travis .

Soleil Moon Frye (C), pictured with daughters Jagger (L) and Poet, split from her husband, producer Jason Goldberg, earlier this year. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Soleil Moon Frye and her husband, Jason Goldberg, have separated after 22 years of marriage. Entertainment Tonight confirmed Monday that Frye, 44, and Goldberg, 48, split up earlier this year. Advertisement
People reported the news Monday afternoon.
"Soleil Moon Frye and Jason Goldberg quietly separated this year," Frye's rep said. "Their priority will continue to be their four beautiful children as they move forward with love and compassion."
Frye and Goldberg married in October 1998 and have four children, daughters Poet Sienna, 15, and Jagger Joseph, 12, and sons Lyric Sonny, 6, and Story, 4. Frye shared a photo with her kids Saturday on Instagram.
"Happy happy day after Christmas to all. Sending everyone so much love. So grateful to be safe & cuddled up with these loves," the star captioned the post.
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"As my girls and I love to say along with my life long friend forever @jennydianelewis 'It is one day closer to Christmas,'" she added. "Hope you are well. This room may represent some feelings of 2020."
Frye came to fame as a child as the title character in the NBC series Punky Brewster. She will reprise the role in a Punky Brewster sequel series for Peacock that finished filming its first season this month.
Frye shared photos from set on Instagram after wrapping Season 1.
"This is how we ended season one. In bliss with my Punky babies. I am so full of gratitude, joy and awe that we are here," the actress captioned the post.
"I am so thankful to our incredible cast, phenomenal crew, @ucp & @peacocktv our amazing show runners Jim & Steve [Armogida] the brilliant writers & directors we have had the honor to work with, every person in every role here that has helped weave this tapestry, and our loved ones for the support they have given us during this time ," she added.
Peacock shared a teaser trailer for the Punky Brewster sequel series in April that shows an adult Punky (Frye) raising three kids as a single mom. Freddie Prinze, Jr., plays Punky's ex-husband, Travis.
Celebrity splits of 2020
December P.K. Subban (L) and Lindsey Vonn arrive on the red carpet at the MTV Video Music Awards in Newark, N.J., on August 26, 2019. The couple P.K. Subban (L) and Lindsey Vonn arrive on the red carpet at the MTV Video Music Awards in Newark, N.J., on August 26, 2019. The couple called off their engagement after being together for three years. Photo by Serena Xu-Ning/UPI | License Photo


upi--2020-12-29--Activists in South Korea file petition against anti-leaflet law

Dec. 29 ( UPI ) -- Defectors and activists in South Korea filed a constitutional petition against a new law that bans anti-North Korean activism at the border , claiming the rule is `` excessive '' and interferes with freedom of expression .
Representatives of groups that have previously sent anti-Pyongyang flyers by helium balloon near the demilitarized zone said Tuesday the blocking of leaflets is going too far and a violation of free speech , Yonhap reported .
Activists affiliated with 27 organizations , including North Korea In Direct Way , Kuensaem and Mulmangcho said the anti-leaflet law that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerns as a `` pretext '' to prevent information from the outside world reaching North Korea .
Activists said their work posed minimal risks to South Korean border residents .
Defector Park Sang-hak of Fighters for a Free North Korea launched balloons at night , which does not affect safety of the population , they said .
In June , North Korean politician Kim Yo Jong had called defectors `` human scum '' and `` mongrel dogs '' for sending leaflets that denounced the leadership of her older brother Kim Jong Un .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of defector organizations , and ruling party lawmakers supported and passed a law banning leaflet activism .
The law , which takes effect on March 30 , also bans the use of loudspeakers , which the government once used as part of `` psychological warfare '' against the North .
Most South Koreans are aware of human rights abuses in North Korea , and more people could be supportive of Seoul 's attention to the issue .
The Database Center for North Korean Human Rights said Tuesday during a seminar in Seoul that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new survey said their country should `` actively intervene in North Korean human rights . ''
The poll of 1,000 adult men and women in the South was conducted by phone , according to KBS .
In November , Seoul decided for the second consecutive year to opt out of a resolution in the United Nations General Assembly condemning the human rights situation in North Korea .

Defectors and activists in South Korea are opposed to a new law that bans anti-Pyongyang activities near the demilitarized zone, which included sending leaflets and bottles of rice across the border. File Photo by Yonhap/EPA-EFE
Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Defectors and activists in South Korea filed a constitutional petition against a new law that bans anti-North Korean activism at the border, claiming the rule is "excessive" and interferes with freedom of expression. Representatives of groups that have previously sent anti-Pyongyang flyers by helium balloon near the demilitarized zone said Tuesday the blocking of leaflets is going too far and a violation of free speech, Yonhap reported. Advertisement
Activists affiliated with 27 organizations, including North Korea In Direct Way, Kuensaem and Mulmangcho said the anti-leaflet law that passed earlier this month uses domestic security concerns as a "pretext" to prevent information from the outside world reaching North Korea.
Activists said their work posed minimal risks to South Korean border residents. Defector Park Sang-hak of Fighters for a Free North Korea launched balloons at night, which does not affect safety of the population, they said.
In June, North Korean politician Kim Yo Jong had called defectors "human scum" and "mongrel dogs" for sending leaflets that denounced the leadership of her older brother Kim Jong Un. South Korea subsequently called for an audit of defector organizations, and ruling party lawmakers supported and passed a law banning leaflet activism. The law, which takes effect on March 30, also bans the use of loudspeakers, which the government once used as part of "psychological warfare" against the North.
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Most South Koreans are aware of human rights abuses in North Korea, and more people could be supportive of Seoul's attention to the issue.
The Database Center for North Korean Human Rights said Tuesday during a seminar in Seoul that 64.6% of South Koreans in a new survey said their country should "actively intervene in North Korean human rights." The poll of 1,000 adult men and women in the South was conducted by phone, according to KBS.
In November, Seoul decided for the second consecutive year to opt out of a resolution in the United Nations General Assembly condemning the human rights situation in North Korea.


upi--2020-12-29--Study says at least 50 journalists killed in 2020; hundreds detained or missing

Dec. 29 ( UPI ) -- At least 50 journalists have died worldwide this year , according to new data -- a slight decline from 2019 .
Advocacy group Reporters Without Borders said in its report that the share of journalists who died in war zones , like Syria and Yemen , declined to 32 % of the total number .
Conversely , the number of reporters killed outside war zones increased to 68 % .
The five deadliest nations for journalists this year were Mexico ( 8 deaths ) , Iraq ( 6 ) , Afghanistan ( 5 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 4 ) .
Three died in the Philippines and Honduras .
The report said 84 % of journalists who died this year were knowingly targeted and deliberately killed , a 21 % increase over 2019 .
Last year , RWB said 53 journalists were killed worldwide .
Almost 1,000 have died over the past decade .
The data noted that the number of those who went missing , were detained or held hostage in 2020 remained at a historically high 387 .
`` [ This year ] has also seen a 35 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ journalists arbitrarily detained and a fourfold increase in arrests of journalists during the first three months of COVID-19 's spread around the world , '' the report added .
`` Fourteen journalists who were arrested in connection with their coverage of the pandemic are still being held . ''
The Committee to Protect Journalists reported earlier this month that at least 274 reporters worldwide were in prison on Dec. 1 , the highest figure since the committee started tracking data in the early 1990s .

Journalists cover a news conference from Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence in Moscow, Russia, on December 17. Photo by Maxim Shipenkov/EPA-EFE
Dec. 29 (UPI) -- At least 50 journalists have died worldwide this year, according to new data -- a slight decline from 2019. Advocacy group Reporters Without Borders said in its report that the share of journalists who died in war zones, like Syria and Yemen, declined to 32% of the total number. Advertisement
Conversely, the number of reporters killed outside war zones increased to 68%.
The five deadliest nations for journalists this year were Mexico (8 deaths), Iraq (6), Afghanistan (5), Pakistan (4) and India (4). Three died in the Philippines and Honduras.
The report said 84% of journalists who died this year were knowingly targeted and deliberately killed, a 21% increase over 2019.
Last year, RWB said 53 journalists were killed worldwide. Almost 1,000 have died over the past decade.
The data noted that the number of those who went missing, were detained or held hostage in 2020 remained at a historically high 387.
"[This year] has also seen a 35% increase in the number of women journalists arbitrarily detained and a fourfold increase in arrests of journalists during the first three months of COVID-19's spread around the world," the report added. "Fourteen journalists who were arrested in connection with their coverage of the pandemic are still being held."
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The Committee to Protect Journalists reported earlier this month that at least 274 reporters worldwide were in prison on Dec. 1, the highest figure since the committee started tracking data in the early 1990s.


upi--2020-12-29--Padres continue off-season splurge, deal for Yu Darvish

Dec. 29 ( UPI ) -- The San Diego Padres continued their trend as one of the most-active Major League Baseball teams this off-season as they agreed to a trade with the Chicago Cubs to acquire All-Star pitcher Yu Darvish .
Sources informed MLB.com , The Athletic and USA Today of the trade on Monday .
The Padres will also net Cubs catcher Victor Caratini in the swap .
The Cubs are set to receive right-handed pitcher Zach Davies , shortstop prospects Reginald Preciado and Yeison Santana , and outfield prospects Owen Caissie and Ismael Mena in the trade , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 34 , won a league-high eight games and had a 2.01 ERA in 12 starts last season for the Cubs .
The four-time All-Star finished second in National League Cy Young Award voting in 2020 .
Darvish has a 71-56 record and 3.47 ERA during his eight-year MLB tenure .
He has also pitched for the Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Dodgers .
Darvish is signed through the 2023 season and has a $ 22 million salary in 2021 .
The Padres ' move for Darvish comes one day after the franchise agreed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Blake Snell .
Darvish and Snell -- the 2018 American League Cy Young Award winner -- should give San Diego one of the most-formidable rotations in the National League .
Caratini , 27 , hit .241 with a home run and 16 RBIs in 44 games last season for Chicago .
He hit a career-high .266 with 11 home runs and 34 RBIs in 95 games in 2019 .
Davis , 27 , posted a career-best 2.73 ERA and a 7-4 record in 12 starts last season for the Padres .
He is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a free agent next off-season .
Preciado was the No .
11 prospect in the Padres organization , according to MLB Pipeline .
Caissie ( No .
13 ) , Mena ( No .
15 ) and Santana ( No .
16 ) also were among the team 's top prospects .
The Padres also gave up some top prospects in the Snell deal , which sends Luis Patino ( No .
3 ) , Cole Wilcox ( No .
7 ) , Blake Hunt ( No .
14 ) and Francisco @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Rays in exchange for the ace .

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Yu Darvish (pictured) and Blake Snell should give the San Diego Padres one of the best rotations in the National League next season after the franchise agreed to acquire both pitchers via trade. File Photo by Kamil Krzaczynski/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 29 (UPI) -- The San Diego Padres continued their trend as one of the most-active Major League Baseball teams this off-season as they agreed to a trade with the Chicago Cubs to acquire All-Star pitcher Yu Darvish. Sources informed MLB.com, The Athletic and USA Today of the trade on Monday. The Padres will also net Cubs catcher Victor Caratini in the swap. Advertisement
The Cubs are set to receive right-handed pitcher Zach Davies, shortstop prospects Reginald Preciado and Yeison Santana, and outfield prospects Owen Caissie and Ismael Mena in the trade, which is pending physicals.
Darvish, 34, won a league-high eight games and had a 2.01 ERA in 12 starts last season for the Cubs. The four-time All-Star finished second in National League Cy Young Award voting in 2020.
Darvish has a 71-56 record and 3.47 ERA during his eight-year MLB tenure. He has also pitched for the Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Dodgers. Darvish is signed through the 2023 season and has a $22 million salary in 2021.
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The Padres' move for Darvish comes one day after the franchise agreed to trade for Tampa Bay Rays ace Blake Snell.
Darvish and Snell -- the 2018 American League Cy Young Award winner -- should give San Diego one of the most-formidable rotations in the National League.
Caratini, 27, hit .241 with a home run and 16 RBIs in 44 games last season for Chicago. He hit a career-high .266 with 11 home runs and 34 RBIs in 95 games in 2019.
Davis, 27, posted a career-best 2.73 ERA and a 7-4 record in 12 starts last season for the Padres. He is eligible for arbitration this off-season and could be a free agent next off-season.
Preciado was the No. 11 prospect in the Padres organization, according to MLB Pipeline. Caissie (No. 13), Mena (No. 15) and Santana (No. 16) also were among the team's top prospects.
The Padres also gave up some top prospects in the Snell deal, which sends Luis Patino (No. 3), Cole Wilcox (No. 7), Blake Hunt (No. 14) and Francisco Mejia (No. 15) to the Rays in exchange for the ace.


upi--2020-12-29--Constance Wu gives birth to first child with Ryan Kattner

Wu 's manager , Larry Taube , confirmed Monday to USA Today that Wu , 38 , welcomed her first child , a daughter , with her boyfriend , musician Ryan Kattner , over the summer .
`` They are doing great , and they are so excited and happy , '' a source said of Wu and Kattner .
Wu attended the Queerties awards reception in February but has kept out of the public eye during the COVID-19 pandemic .
The private actress has her Instagram and Twitter accounts labeled as `` defunct . ''
Wu played Jessica Huang @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Boat , which ended in February after six seasons .
She portrays Rachel Chu in the film Crazy Rich Asians and will reprise the role in a sequel .
Henry Golding told Digital Spy in September that production on the Crazy Rich Asians sequel has been delayed .
The actor said they are working to adapt the Kevin Kwan novels that the films are based on .
`` They 've got the two books that Kevin Kwan wrote still to come and they 're trying to find an angle to convert those from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Golding said .
`` it 's a very complicated process because , visually , sometimes a novel does n't make as much sense as it would on the screen in a direct adaptation .
So you have to really change it up to make it interesting , '' he added .
Kattner performs in the rock band Man Man under the name Honus Honus .

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Constance Wu welcomed her first child, a daughter, with her boyfriend, Ryan Kattner, over the summer. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Crazy Rich Asians star Constance Wu is a new mom. Wu's manager, Larry Taube, confirmed Monday to USA Today that Wu, 38, welcomed her first child, a daughter, with her boyfriend, musician Ryan Kattner, over the summer. Advertisement
E! News reported the birth Monday afternoon.
"They are doing great, and they are so excited and happy," a source said of Wu and Kattner.
Wu attended the Queerties awards reception in February but has kept out of the public eye during the COVID-19 pandemic. The private actress has her Instagram and Twitter accounts labeled as "defunct."
Wu played Jessica Huang on the ABC series Fresh Off the Boat, which ended in February after six seasons. She portrays Rachel Chu in the film Crazy Rich Asians and will reprise the role in a sequel.
Henry Golding told Digital Spy in September that production on the Crazy Rich Asians sequel has been delayed. The actor said they are working to adapt the Kevin Kwan novels that the films are based on.
"They've got the two books that Kevin Kwan wrote still to come and they're trying to find an angle to convert those from page to script to film," Golding said.
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"it's a very complicated process because, visually, sometimes a novel doesn't make as much sense as it would on the screen in a direct adaptation. So you have to really change it up to make it interesting," he added.
Kattner performs in the rock band Man Man under the name Honus Honus.


upi--2020-12-29--American Airlines 1st to return 737 Max to skies over U.S. Tuesday

Dec. 29 ( UPI ) -- The 737 Max , Boeing 's troubled airliner that 's been grounded for almost two years over trouble with its automated flight system , returns to the skies over the United States on Tuesday .
American Airlines is the first U.S. carrier to return the model to commercial service .
Tuesday it was scheduled to fly the plane on a three-hour trip from Miami to New York City .
AA Flight 718 , a 737 Max 8 , was scheduled to leave Miami International Airport for New York City 's LaGuardia Airport at 10:30 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the door for the 737 Max to resume commercial service in the United States , which grounded the airliner in March 2019 after two crashes overseas killed close to 350 people .
It was later found there was a problem with the automated flight software .
American said earlier this month it was preparing its 737 Max fleet for a return after the Federal Aviation Administration certified the software fix and deemed the plane airworthy .
Brazil has also cleared the 737 Max .
American has said it will use the model for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ City and will likely add more in January .
Only two other U.S. carriers presently fly the 737 Max -- United and Southwest .
United plans to return its planes to service in February and Southwest will follow in March .
Alaska Airlines has agreed to buy 737 Max airliners from Boeing , but to date has not yet taken any deliveries .

American, Southwest and United are the only carriers that presently fly Boeing's 737 Max airliner. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 29 (UPI) -- The 737 Max, Boeing's troubled airliner that's been grounded for almost two years over trouble with its automated flight system, returned to the skies over the United States on Tuesday. With a three-hour trip from Miami to New York City Tuesday morning, American Airlines became the first U.S. carrier to return the model to commercial service. Advertisement
AA Flight 718, a 737 Max 8, departed Miami International Airport for New York City's LaGuardia Airport at 10:24 a.m. EST.
American's return opened the second act of the 737 Max after it was grounded by U.S. regulators in March 2019 after two crashes overseas killed close to 350 people. It was later found there was a problem with the automated flight software.
American said earlier this month it was preparing its 737 Max fleet for a return after the Federal Aviation Administration certified the software fix and deemed the plane airworthy. Brazil has also cleared the 737 Max.
American has said it will use the model for daily flights between Miami and New York City and will likely add more in January.
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Only two other U.S. carriers presently operate the 737 Max -- United, which plans to fly them again in February, and Southwest, which will follow in March.
Alaska Airlines has agreed to buy 737 Max airliners from Boeing, but to date has not yet taken any deliveries.
Pictures of the Year: Top images from 2020


upi--2020-12-29--Lillard, Trent rally Blazers over Lakers

Dec. 29 ( UPI ) -- Damian Lillard scored a game-high 31 points to lead the Portland Trail Blazers to a comeback victory over the world champion Los Angeles Lakers .
The Blazers overcame a 13-point deficit and ended the game on a 12-6 run to earn the 115-107 triumph on Monday at Staples Center in Los Angeles .
`` I 'm happy with it , '' Lillard told reporters .
`` I came into the season optimistic , as always .
I expect a lot out of our team and myself .
I am just letting it happen .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 28 points off the Blazers bench .
LeBron James led the Lakers with 29 points , nine rebounds and six assists .
`` We knew we were playing a very good team , '' James said .
`` We knew it was n't going to be a blowout and we had to win the game in 48 minutes .
It came down to execution . ''
James scored 12 points in the first quarter to get the Lakers off to a quick start .
Los Angeles opened the game on a 6-0 run @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to earn a 20-7 lead midway through the first quarter .
The Blazers responded with an 11-0 run and cut the Lakers lead to 30-22 at the end of the frame .
Portland continued its hot streak with a 10-0 run to start the second quarter .
C.J .
McCollum scored 11 points in the frame to help Portland take a 58-54 lead at halftime .
The Lakers then went on a 15-0 run to start the third quarter and outscored the Blazers 31-26 in the frame to take a one-point lead into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Blazers exchanged the lead several times to start the final frame before Portland pulled away .
Jusuf Nurkic gave the Blazers a 100-99 lead with a go-ahead layup with 5:15 remaining .
The Blazers then used a 10-2 run to take a 108-101 lead with 2:55 remaining and held onto the edge down the stretch to secure the victory .
Nurkic had 10 points and 12 rebounds for the Blazers .
McCollum added 20 points and 11 assists in the victory .
Enes Kanter chipped in 12 points and 14 rebounds off the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11 of his attempts from 3-point range and 10 of his 14 shots overall in the victory .
`` Whenever you can get it going , it 's a great feeling , '' Trent said .
`` It was most important to get the win .
That 's what we came here to do . ''
Lakers guard Dennis Schroder had 24 points in the loss .
Anthony Davis had 13 points , 10 rebounds and five assists for the Lakers .
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope chipped in 14 points in the loss .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Antonio Spurs at 8:30 p.m. EST on Wednesday at the AT & T Center in San Antonio .
The Blazers ( 2-1 ) face the Los Angeles Clippers at 10 p.m. EST on Wednesday at Staples Center .

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Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard carries the ball toward the rim during the second half of a win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday in Los Angeles. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Damian Lillard scored a game-high 31 points to lead the Portland Trail Blazers to a comeback victory over the world champion Los Angeles Lakers. The Blazers overcame a 13-point deficit and ended the game on a 12-6 run to earn the 115-107 triumph on Monday at Staples Center in Los Angeles. Advertisement
"I'm happy with it," Lillard told reporters. "I came into the season optimistic, as always. I expect a lot out of our team and myself. I am just letting it happen."
Gary Trent Jr. scored a career-high 28 points off the Blazers bench. LeBron James led the Lakers with 29 points, nine rebounds and six assists.
"We knew we were playing a very good team," James said. "We knew it wasn't going to be a blowout and we had to win the game in 48 minutes. It came down to execution."
James scored 12 points in the first quarter to get the Lakers off to a quick start. Los Angeles opened the game on a 6-0 run before it put together another 11-2 run to earn a 20-7 lead midway through the first quarter.
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The Blazers responded with an 11-0 run and cut the Lakers lead to 30-22 at the end of the frame. Portland continued its hot streak with a 10-0 run to start the second quarter. C.J. McCollum scored 11 points in the frame to help Portland take a 58-54 lead at halftime.
The Lakers then went on a 15-0 run to start the third quarter and outscored the Blazers 31-26 in the frame to take a one-point lead into the fourth quarter.
The Lakers and Blazers exchanged the lead several times to start the final frame before Portland pulled away.
Jusuf Nurkic gave the Blazers a 100-99 lead with a go-ahead layup with 5:15 remaining. The Blazers then used a 10-2 run to take a 108-101 lead with 2:55 remaining and held onto the edge down the stretch to secure the victory.
Nurkic had 10 points and 12 rebounds for the Blazers. McCollum added 20 points and 11 assists in the victory. Enes Kanter chipped in 12 points and 14 rebounds off the Blazers bench.
Trent made 7 of 11 of his attempts from 3-point range and 10 of his 14 shots overall in the victory.
"Whenever you can get it going, it's a great feeling," Trent said. "It was most important to get the win. That's what we came here to do."
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Lakers guard Dennis Schroder had 24 points in the loss. Anthony Davis had 13 points, 10 rebounds and five assists for the Lakers. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope chipped in 14 points in the loss.
The Lakers (2-2) face the San Antonio Spurs at 8:30 p.m. EST on Wednesday at the AT&T Center in San Antonio. The Blazers (2-1) face the Los Angeles Clippers at 10 p.m. EST on Wednesday at Staples Center.
Moments from LeBron James' career