upi--2020-02-06--U.S. vows to increase pressure on Maduro as Guaido visits White House

Feb. 5 ( UPI ) -- The United States plans to further ratchet up its maximum pressure campaign on embattled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro , a senior administration official said as U.S. President Donald Trump hosted opposition leader Juan Guaido to a state visit .
`` You will see some impactful measures within the next 30 days , which will be very important and further crippling on the regime , '' the senior administration official said in a phone call with reporters on Wednesday .
The United States has been employing a maxim pressure policy of escalating sanctions and political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his re-election was deemed illegitimate in late 2018 .
In early 2019 , Guaido , as leader of the National Assembly , appointed himself interim president .
Since then , nearly 60 mostly Western nations , led by the United States , have voiced support for Guaido 's presidency .
However , despite the mounting pressure , Maduro has managed to cling to power with the support of Russia and Cuba , but the United States is planning to further tighten its vises on Maduro in order to force him to step down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We are probably halfway to what maximum pressure could look like , '' the official said .
`` There 's a lot of tools and a lot of targets at our disposal , and we plan to use as many of them as necessary in order to fulfill our goal of an end to this dictatorship and a democratic transition in Venezuela . ''
The comments came as U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido at the White House on Wednesday for a state visit .
The White House said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had `` a historic discussion '' about how to bring about a democratic transition in Venezuela .
`` President Trump underscored the United States ' commitment to end the corrupt and violent dictatorship of Nicolas Maduro , '' the White House said in the statement .
The Oval Office meeting and the South Lawn welcome came a day after Guaido attended Trump 's 3rd State of the Union address as his special guest .
During his speech , Trump introduced Guaido and said the United States stands with the people of Venezuela in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ condemned the `` brutality '' of Maduro .
`` Maduro is an illegitimate ruler , a tyrant who brutalizes his people , '' Trump said Tuesday night .
`` But Maduro 's grip of tyranny will be smashed and broken . ''
Sen. Rick Scott , R-Fla. , applauded Trump for inviting Guaido to the White House , stating he encouraged earlier in the week for the meeting to happen .
`` I am glad President Trump is taking this historic step today , '' Scott said in a statement .
`` This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Guaido as his guest to last night 's State of the Union , sends a clear message to Maduro that his time is up .
We will never stop fighting to free the people from Maduro 's brutal regime , and the United Staes will always stand with those fighting for freedom , democracy and human rights . ''
Sen. Mark Rubio , R-Fla. , who met with Guaido Wednesday along with other senators and Vice-President Mike Pence , also said the Trump administration `` deserves credit '' for supporting the Venezuelan opposition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assist Venezuela 's path to democratic order , we must prioritize efforts that will help the nation prosper in a Venezuela liberated from the evils of Maduro 's narco-dictatorship , '' he said in a statement .
Venezuela on Wednesday rejected Trump 's State of the Union comments as `` delirious and arrogant . ''
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza in a statement said the country denounces Trump 's `` rude interferences in its internal affairs . ''
`` He seemed to resurrect the already obsolete manifest destiny , reiterated his contempt for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life and in particular for the sovereignty of Venezuela , counting on the shameful complicity of those who are dedicated to betray the homeland , in exchange for the humiliating crumbs that he throws at them , depending on his mood , his boss , Mr. Trump , '' he said .

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U.S. President Donald Trump walks with Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido down the West Wing Colonnade as he arrives for meeting at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 5 (UPI) -- The United States plans to further ratchet up its maximum pressure campaign on embattled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, a senior administration official said as U.S. President Donald Trump hosted opposition leader Juan Guaido to a state visit. "You will see some impactful measures within the next 30 days, which will be very important and further crippling on the regime," the senior administration official said in a phone call with reporters on Wednesday. Advertisement
The United States has been employing a maxim pressure policy of escalating sanctions and political pressure on Maduro to step down after his re-election was deemed illegitimate in late 2018. In early 2019, Guaido, as leader of the National Assembly, appointed himself interim president.
Since then, nearly 60 mostly Western nations, led by the United States, have voiced support for Guaido's presidency. However, despite the mounting pressure, Maduro has managed to cling to power with the support of Russia and Cuba, but the United States is planning to further tighten its vises on Maduro in order to force him to step down, the senior official said.
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"We are probably halfway to what maximum pressure could look like," the official said. "There's a lot of tools and a lot of targets at our disposal, and we plan to use as many of them as necessary in order to fulfill our goal of an end to this dictatorship and a democratic transition in Venezuela."
The comments came as U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido at the White House on Wednesday for a state visit.
The White House said in a statement that the two men had "a historic discussion" about how to bring about a democratic transition in Venezuela.
"President Trump underscored the United States' commitment to end the corrupt and violent dictatorship of Nicolas Maduro," the White House said in the statement.
The Oval Office meeting and the South Lawn welcome came a day after Guaido attended Trump's 3rd State of the Union address as his special guest.
During his speech, Trump introduced Guaido and said the United States stands with the people of Venezuela in their quest for freedom. He also condemned the "brutality" of Maduro.
"Maduro is an illegitimate ruler, a tyrant who brutalizes his people," Trump said Tuesday night. "But Maduro's grip of tyranny will be smashed and broken."
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Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., applauded Trump for inviting Guaido to the White House, stating he encouraged earlier in the week for the meeting to happen.
"I am glad President Trump is taking this historic step today," Scott said in a statement. "This meeting, as well as having President Guaido as his guest to last night's State of the Union, sends a clear message to Maduro that his time is up. We will never stop fighting to free the people from Maduro's brutal regime, and the United Staes will always stand with those fighting for freedom, democracy and human rights."
Sen. Mark Rubio, R-Fla., who met with Guaido Wednesday along with other senators and Vice-President Mike Pence, also said the Trump administration "deserves credit" for supporting the Venezuelan opposition leader.
"As we continue to assist Venezuela's path to democratic order, we must prioritize efforts that will help the nation prosper in a Venezuela liberated from the evils of Maduro's narco-dictatorship," he said in a statement.
Venezuela on Wednesday rejected Trump's State of the Union comments as "delirious and arrogant."
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza in a statement said the country denounces Trump's "rude interferences in its internal affairs."
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"He seemed to resurrect the already obsolete manifest destiny, reiterated his contempt for peace, for international law, for life and in particular for the sovereignty of Venezuela, counting on the shameful complicity of those who are dedicated to betray the homeland, in exchange for the humiliating crumbs that he throws at them, depending on his mood, his boss, Mr. Trump," he said.


upi--2020-02-06--Meghan Trainor, Shania Twain rock Red Dress fashion show in NYC

Feb. 6 ( UPI ) -- Singers Meghan Trainor and Shania Twain performed some of their biggest hits at Wednesday 's American Heart Association Go Red for Women Red Dress Collection fashion show in New York City .
Trainor opened the show with `` Blink '' and `` Me Too , '' and Twain closed it with `` That Do n't Impress Me Much , '' `` Life 's About to Get Good , '' `` Any Man of Mine '' and `` Man !
I Feel Like a Woman . ''
In between their sets , the women took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , crimson frocks , alongside their fellow celebrities A.J .
Andrews , Heather Graham , Kimberly Williams-Paisley , Sarah Chalke , Darlene Love , Robin Givens , Jeri Ryan , Bailee Madison , Constance Zimmer , Sunny Hostin , Jennifer Tilly , Sara Haines , Ali Stroker , Roselyn Sanchez , Laura Marano , Lyric Ross , Marin Hinkle , Rachel Smith , Gretchen Carlson , Loren Gray , Madeline Stuart and Paris and Nikki Hilton .
`` There 's been a lot of talk recently about women not being represented , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Manhattan 's Hammerstein Ballroom .
`` We 're here tonight to shine a light not only on women 's heart health but gender disparities in research , health care , medicine , STEM careers and much more , '' she added .
`` There is the continued perception that women can be treated medically the same as men and for this reason , our sisters , women , are losing their lives .
Tonight , this changes . ''
Hall went on to say she was surprised to learn that cardiovascular disease is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the United States .
`` We know that when women come together demanding change , change can happen and the time for change is now , '' Hall said .
`` So , tonight , I ask you to help change the future for ourselves and for the millions of women whose lives have been saved by the actions we take to ensure women are seen , counseled , represented , treated . ''

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Meghan Trainor performs at The American Heart Association's Go Red For Women Red Dress Collection 2020 at Hammerstein Ballroom on Wednesday in New York City. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 6 (UPI) -- Singers Meghan Trainor and Shania Twain performed some of their biggest hits at Wednesday's American Heart Association Go Red for Women Red Dress Collection fashion show in New York City. Trainor opened the show with "Blink" and "Me Too," and Twain closed it with "That Don't Impress Me Much," "Life's About to Get Good," "Any Man of Mine" and "Man! I Feel Like a Woman." Advertisement
In between their sets, the women took turns strutting down the catwalk in glamorous, crimson frocks, alongside their fellow celebrities A.J. Andrews, Heather Graham, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Sarah Chalke, Darlene Love, Robin Givens, Jeri Ryan, Bailee Madison, Constance Zimmer, Sunny Hostin, Jennifer Tilly, Sara Haines, Ali Stroker, Roselyn Sanchez, Laura Marano, Lyric Ross, Marin Hinkle, Rachel Smith, Gretchen Carlson, Loren Gray, Madeline Stuart and Paris and Nikki Hilton.
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"There's been a lot of talk recently about women not being represented," host Tamron Hall told the crowd at Manhattan's Hammerstein Ballroom.
"We're here tonight to shine a light not only on women's heart health but gender disparities in research, health care, medicine, STEM careers and much more," she added. "There is the continued perception that women can be treated medically the same as men and for this reason, our sisters, women, are losing their lives. Tonight, this changes."
Hall went on to say she was surprised to learn that cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of women in the United States.
"We know that when women come together demanding change, change can happen and the time for change is now," Hall said. "So, tonight, I ask you to help change the future for ourselves and for the millions of women whose lives have been saved by the actions we take to ensure women are seen, counseled, represented, treated."


upi--2020-02-05--Watch: Two arrested after police chase on Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl parade route

Feb. 5 ( UPI ) -- Two suspects were taken into custody after a car chase along the parade route for the Super Bowl LIV champion Kansas City Chiefs , police said .
According to a release issued Wednesday by Kansas City police , the incident began at 8:12 a.m. CST when the vehicle broke through a parade barrier .
Police deployed stop sticks , which the car struck , but the vehicle kept going down the parade route lined with fans .
Videos from the parade showed police making contact with the car before executing a PIT maneuver , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to turn sideways and lose control .
Once the car was stopped , police officers immediately surrounded the vehicle .
Police said the driver was being investigated for impairment and a search of the car found no weapons .
The release said no motive is known , but added `` there were no indications of terrorist activity . ''
The parade route was secured after the incident , according to police .
No injuries were reported .
The Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers 31-20 in Super Bowl LIV on Sunday at Hard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The historic victory led to the Chiefs ' first Super Bowl victory parade in 50 years .
Chiefs radio broadcaster Mitch Holthus , who served as the master of ceremonies for the post-parade rally at Kansas City 's Union Station , estimated more than 1 million people attended the festivities .
Chiefs star players Patrick Mahomes , Travis Kelce , Tyrann Mathieu and Tyreek Hill spoke during the rally after the two-mile parade .
Kansas City chairman Clark Hunt was the first member of the franchise to speak , followed by head @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Veach .
The parade also included members of the Chiefs ' last Super Bowl-winning team .

Feb. 5 (UPI) -- Two suspects were taken into custody after a car chase along the parade route for the Super Bowl LIV champion Kansas City Chiefs, police said.
According to a release issued Wednesday by Kansas City police, the incident began at 8:12 a.m. CST when the vehicle broke through a parade barrier. Police deployed stop sticks, which the car struck, but the vehicle kept going down the parade route lined with fans.
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Videos from the parade showed police making contact with the car before executing a PIT maneuver, a tactic that forces a fleeing vehicle to turn sideways and lose control. Once the car was stopped, police officers immediately surrounded the vehicle.
Police said the driver was being investigated for impairment and a search of the car found no weapons. The release said no motive is known, but added "there were no indications of terrorist activity."
The parade route was secured after the incident, according to police. No injuries were reported.
BREAKING: A police chase broke out on the Chiefs Kingdom Champions Parade route. We're working to learn more about the circumstances. pic.twitter.com/rGwr8c1z5m— 41 Action News (@41actionnews) February 5, 2020
Advertisement Two suspects are in custody following a car chase along the parade route for the Super Bowl champion Chiefs, Kansas City police said. ( via @Loganmoore00) pic.twitter.com/WL7aZ5noJ9— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 5, 2020
The Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers 31-20 in Super Bowl LIV on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. The historic victory led to the Chiefs' first Super Bowl victory parade in 50 years.
Chiefs radio broadcaster Mitch Holthus, who served as the master of ceremonies for the post-parade rally at Kansas City's Union Station, estimated more than 1 million people attended the festivities.
Chiefs star players Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Tyrann Mathieu and Tyreek Hill spoke during the rally after the two-mile parade. Kansas City chairman Clark Hunt was the first member of the franchise to speak, followed by head coach Andy Reid and general manager Brett Veach.
The parade also included members of the Chiefs' last Super Bowl-winning team.


upi--2020-02-05--Miami Heat to acquire Andre Iguodala in trade with Memphis Grizzlies

Feb. 5 ( UPI ) -- The Memphis Grizzlies agreed to a trade that will send veteran forward Andre Iguodala to the Miami Heat .
League sources told ESPN and The Athletic on Wednesday that Iguodala signed off to be moved to the Heat and also reached a two-year , $ 30 million extension with Miami .
The agreement has a team option in the second season ( 2021-22 ) .
Heat forward Justise Winslow will be the centerpiece of the package sent to the Grizzlies in the trade , according to ESPN .
He has played in only 11 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ averaging 11.3 points , 6.6 rebounds and four assists .
Iguodala , who was traded to the Grizzlies last off-season , has n't played for Memphis this season .
Before the start of the 2019-20 campaign , the two sides reached an agreement allowing Iguodala to work out away from the Grizzlies while the team searched for a trade partner .
On Monday , Grizzlies swingman Dillon Brooks offered a sharp response when asked about speculation that Iguodala could be traded .
`` A guy that 's on our team does n't want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brooks told reporters .
`` I ca n't wait until we find a way to trade him so we can play him , and I can show him what really Memphis is about . ''
Multiple Grizzlies teammates appeared to agree with Brooks ' critical comments .
Star rookie point guard Ja Morant posted a shouting emoji on social media , and guard De'Anthony Melton reacted with a shrugging emoji on Twitter .
Iguodala 's former Golden State Warriors teammate Stephen Curry also joined the discussion with a post on his Instagram story @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Iguodala with a `` shush '' emoji .
Morant responded to Curry 's subtle jab with a picture of former Warriors star Kevin Durant , who signed with the Brooklyn Nets this past off-season .
In the photo , Durant is holding up one of his NBA Finals MVP trophies , insinuating the Warriors needed Durant 's help to win in the postseason .
Iguodala , 36 , played a significant role in the Warriors ' three championships and five straight Finals appearances .
The veteran forward is considered one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ averaged 5.7 points , 3.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game as the Warriors ' sixth man last season .
He had 9.8 points , 4.3 rebounds and four assists per game during the playoffs .

Former Golden State Warriors forward Andre Iguodala was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies last off-season. He has yet to appear in a game with the Grizzlies. File Photo by John G. Mabanglo/EPA-EFE
Feb. 5 (UPI) -- The Memphis Grizzlies agreed to a trade that will send veteran forward Andre Iguodala to the Miami Heat. League sources told ESPN and The Athletic on Wednesday that Iguodala signed off to be moved to the Heat and also reached a two-year, $30 million extension with Miami. The agreement has a team option in the second season (2021-22). Advertisement
Heat forward Justise Winslow will be the centerpiece of the package sent to the Grizzlies in the trade, according to ESPN. He has played in only 11 games this season because of injuries, averaging 11.3 points, 6.6 rebounds and four assists.
Iguodala, who was traded to the Grizzlies last off-season, hasn't played for Memphis this season. Before the start of the 2019-20 campaign, the two sides reached an agreement allowing Iguodala to work out away from the Grizzlies while the team searched for a trade partner.
On Monday, Grizzlies swingman Dillon Brooks offered a sharp response when asked about speculation that Iguodala could be traded.
"A guy that's on our team doesn't want to be on our team," Brooks told reporters. "I can't wait until we find a way to trade him so we can play him, and I can show him what really Memphis is about."
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Multiple Grizzlies teammates appeared to agree with Brooks' critical comments. Star rookie point guard Ja Morant posted a shouting emoji on social media, and guard De'Anthony Melton reacted with a shrugging emoji on Twitter.
Iguodala's former Golden State Warriors teammate Stephen Curry also joined the discussion with a post on his Instagram story. Curry added a post-NBA championship photo of Iguodala with a "shush" emoji.
Morant responded to Curry's subtle jab with a picture of former Warriors star Kevin Durant, who signed with the Brooklyn Nets this past off-season. In the photo, Durant is holding up one of his NBA Finals MVP trophies, insinuating the Warriors needed Durant's help to win in the postseason.
Steph Curry and Ja Morant going back-and-forth on social media Ja engages with tweets about Andre Iguodala in Memphis Steph posts Iggy championship pic to IG story Ja responds with pic of KD with a championship trophy pic.twitter.com/FAT9fnKvZH— ESPN (@espn) February 4, 2020
Iguodala, 36, played a significant role in the Warriors' three championships and five straight Finals appearances. The veteran forward is considered one of the league's top wing defenders.
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Iguodala averaged 5.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game as the Warriors' sixth man last season. He had 9.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and four assists per game during the playoffs.


upi--2020-02-05--Cincinnati Reds officially sign reliever Pedro Strop to one-year deal

Feb. 5 ( UPI ) -- The Cincinnati Reds finalized a one-year , $ 1.825 million contract with right-handed reliever Pedro Strop , the team announced Wednesday .
Strop , 34 , was a member of the Chicago Cubs ' bullpen for the last six years .
He was limited to 50 appearances last season because of a hamstring injury , posting a 2-5 record with a 4.97 ERA , 10 saves and six blown saves .
Strop struggled in the middle of the 2019 campaign after returning from the injury .
He went 1-1 with four blown saves in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and one save in August .
He ended the season on a high note , recording a 2.00 ERA in 11 appearances in September .
The signing marked the Reds ' first move to upgrade their bullpen in an off-season focused on offense .
Earlier in the off-season , the Reds signed infielder Mike Moustakas to a four-year , $ 64 million contract and added starting pitcher Wade Miley on a two-year , $ 15 million deal .
Cincinnati also signed outfielder Shogo Akiyama , an All-Star in his native Japan , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and outfielder Nick Castellanos to a four-year , $ 64 million contract .
The Reds designated right-hander Sal Romano for assignment in a corresponding roster move .

Former Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Pedro Strop was limited to 50 appearances last season because of a hamstring injury. File Photo by Kamil Krzaczynski/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 5 (UPI) -- The Cincinnati Reds finalized a one-year, $1.825 million contract with right-handed reliever Pedro Strop, the team announced Wednesday. Strop, 34, was a member of the Chicago Cubs' bullpen for the last six years. He was limited to 50 appearances last season because of a hamstring injury, posting a 2-5 record with a 4.97 ERA, 10 saves and six blown saves. Advertisement
Strop struggled in the middle of the 2019 campaign after returning from the injury. He went 1-1 with four blown saves in July and 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA and one save in August. He ended the season on a high note, recording a 2.00 ERA in 11 appearances in September.
The signing marked the Reds' first move to upgrade their bullpen in an off-season focused on offense.
Earlier in the off-season, the Reds signed infielder Mike Moustakas to a four-year, $64 million contract and added starting pitcher Wade Miley on a two-year, $15 million deal. Cincinnati also signed outfielder Shogo Akiyama, an All-Star in his native Japan, to a three-year, $21 million agreement and outfielder Nick Castellanos to a four-year, $64 million contract.
Advertisement STROP OFFICIAL The #Reds have signed RHP Pedro Strop to a 1-year, $1.825 million contract! RHP Sal Romano was designated for assignment. pic.twitter.com/yh4jZESSWE— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) February 5, 2020
The Reds designated right-hander Sal Romano for assignment in a corresponding roster move.


upi--2020-02-05--Final accuser testifies against Harvey Weinstein at New York sex assault trial

Feb. 5 ( UPI ) -- Harvey Weinstein 's final accuser testified Wednesday in his Manhattan rape trial that the Hollywood producer trapped her in a bathroom and groped her .
Actress Lauren Marie Young concluded a string of emotional witness testimony during the third week of Weinstein 's trial .
She said the alleged attack happened in 2013 in a Beverly Hills , Calif. , hotel room .
She said she went to an Oscars dinner hosted by Weinstein in February 2012 where she met his friend Claudia Salinas and got her contact information .
Salinas then reached out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a script Young wrote and they met on Feb. 19 , 2013 , at the Montage Beverly Hills .
Weinstein arrived about 10 minutes after she met Salinas at the lobby bar and the pair led her to a hotel room after Weinstein said he had to get ready for an awards event involving Quentin Tarantino .
Young said Salinas then trapped her in the bathroom with Weinstein who stripped , masturbated in front of her , pulled down her dress and groped her before she managed to escape .
`` I stood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the door .
By that point he was already undressed and he stepped in front of me with his naked body ...
I felt so trapped , '' she said .
`` The girl that invited me closed the door , she left me there , that 's what I realized 'this was set up , she put me in here . '
'' During the encounter , Young said Weinstein asked `` How am I going to know if you can act ? ''
and said , `` This is how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Young said she left the hotel and went to a friend 's house where she told people about the encounter and said she was `` Traumatized .
Terrified .
Paranoid . ''
Weinstein attorney Damon Cheronis asked Young whether she was pushed into the bathroom , to which she replied she was not .
The defense also presented the dress Young said she was wearing at the time of the alleged assault and questioned how Weinstein went about removing it .
`` Is it your testimony that your arms and shoulders fell out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it take for him to unbutton and unzip this ? ''
Cheronis asked .
Jessica Mann , 34 , another accuser , testified under cross-examination Tuesday that she had an on-again , off-again consensual sexual relationship with Weinstein , whom she referred to as `` my rapist . ''
She 's accused him of sexually assaulting her twice in 2013 .
Tuesday was her second day under cross-examination after she broke down on the stand Monday and brought the hearing to a temporary halt .
`` I know the history of my relationship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` It 's complicated and it 's difficult .
I do n't need an excuse .
I own my behavior . ''
Weinstein 's attorneys suggested that Mann enjoyed being connected to Weinstein , noting that she accepted invitations to numerous Hollywood parties and asked him to support her for membership into an exclusive club .
Mann said she kept in touch with Weinstein out of fear .
The 67-year-old Weinstein could spend the rest of his life in prison if he 's convicted .
He has said all the sexual encounters mentioned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the most powerful figures in the movie business , he faces one charge of first-degree rape , two counts of predatory sexual assault , one count of first-degree sexual assault and one count of third-degree rape .

Former film producer Harvey Weinstein arrives at Manhattan Supreme Court in New York City on January 22 for opening arguments in his sexual assault trial. Photo by Louis Lanzano/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 5 (UPI) -- Harvey Weinstein's final accuser testified Wednesday in his Manhattan rape trial that the Hollywood producer trapped her in a bathroom and groped her. Actress Lauren Marie Young concluded a string of emotional witness testimony during the third week of Weinstein's trial. Advertisement
She said the alleged attack happened in 2013 in a Beverly Hills, Calif., hotel room.
She said she went to an Oscars dinner hosted by Weinstein in February 2012 where she met his friend Claudia Salinas and got her contact information.
Salinas then reached out to Young a year later to discuss a script Young wrote and they met on Feb. 19, 2013, at the Montage Beverly Hills. Weinstein arrived about 10 minutes after she met Salinas at the lobby bar and the pair led her to a hotel room after Weinstein said he had to get ready for an awards event involving Quentin Tarantino.
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Young said Salinas then trapped her in the bathroom with Weinstein who stripped, masturbated in front of her, pulled down her dress and groped her before she managed to escape.
"I stood there in shock ... and I went to the door. By that point he was already undressed and he stepped in front of me with his naked body ... I felt so trapped," she said. "The girl that invited me closed the door, she left me there, that's what I realized 'this was set up, she put me in here.'"
During the encounter, Young said Weinstein asked "How am I going to know if you can act?" and said, "This is how all the actresses make it."
Young said she left the hotel and went to a friend's house where she told people about the encounter and said she was "Traumatized. Terrified. Paranoid."
Weinstein attorney Damon Cheronis asked Young whether she was pushed into the bathroom, to which she replied she was not.
The defense also presented the dress Young said she was wearing at the time of the alleged assault and questioned how Weinstein went about removing it.
"Is it your testimony that your arms and shoulders fell out of this dress? How long did it take for him to unbutton and unzip this?" Cheronis asked.
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Jessica Mann, 34, another accuser, testified under cross-examination Tuesday that she had an on-again, off-again consensual sexual relationship with Weinstein, whom she referred to as "my rapist." She's accused him of sexually assaulting her twice in 2013. Tuesday was her second day under cross-examination after she broke down on the stand Monday and brought the hearing to a temporary halt.
"I know the history of my relationship," Mann said in court. "It's complicated and it's difficult. I don't need an excuse. I own my behavior."
Weinstein's attorneys suggested that Mann enjoyed being connected to Weinstein, noting that she accepted invitations to numerous Hollywood parties and asked him to support her for membership into an exclusive club. Mann said she kept in touch with Weinstein out of fear.
The 67-year-old Weinstein could spend the rest of his life in prison if he's convicted. He has said all the sexual encounters mentioned at trial were consensual. Once one of the most powerful figures in the movie business, he faces one charge of first-degree rape, two counts of predatory sexual assault, one count of first-degree sexual assault and one count of third-degree rape.


upi--2020-02-05--Pittsburgh Steelers extend GM Kevin Colbert through 2021 NFL Draft

Feb. 5 ( UPI ) -- The Pittsburgh Steelers signed general manager Kevin Colbert to a one-year contract extension , the team announced Wednesday .
With the one-year extension , Colbert will remain with the Steelers through the 2021 NFL Draft .
His current deal went through this year 's draft in April .
`` I am happy to announce we have extended Kevin Colbert 's contract for an additional year , '' Steelers president Art Rooney II said in a statement .
`` Kevin continues to play a key role in our success and his dedication to our personnel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he will lead those efforts for at least one more year . ''
Colbert , entering his 21st year with the organization , joined the Steelers in February 2000 as the director of football operations .
He is in his 10th year as the team 's general manager .
During Colbert 's time with the team , the Steelers have won nine division titles and two Super Bowl championships .
Pittsburgh has also won three AFC Championship games and had 15 winning seasons in that span .
`` It 's hard to quantify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a part of this organization the last 20 years , '' Colbert said in a statement .
`` I look forward to the challenge of getting our team back into playoff contention while never losing sight of our ultimate goal -- winning a Super Bowl . ''
Last season , Colbert was instrumental in acquiring defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick in a trade with the Miami Dolphins in Week 3 .
Fitzpatrick made an immediate impact in Pittsburgh , recording 57 total tackles , five interceptions , nine passes defensed , one forced fumble @ @ @ @ @ @ @ games with the Steelers .

Feb. 5 (UPI) -- The Pittsburgh Steelers signed general manager Kevin Colbert to a one-year contract extension, the team announced Wednesday.
With the one-year extension, Colbert will remain with the Steelers through the 2021 NFL Draft. His current deal went through this year's draft in April.
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"I am happy to announce we have extended Kevin Colbert's contract for an additional year," Steelers president Art Rooney II said in a statement. "Kevin continues to play a key role in our success and his dedication to our personnel efforts is unparalleled. We are pleased he will lead those efforts for at least one more year."
Colbert, entering his 21st year with the organization, joined the Steelers in February 2000 as the director of football operations. He is in his 10th year as the team's general manager.
During Colbert's time with the team, the Steelers have won nine division titles and two Super Bowl championships. Pittsburgh has also won three AFC Championship games and had 15 winning seasons in that span.
"It's hard to quantify how fortunate I am to have been a part of this organization the last 20 years," Colbert said in a statement. "I look forward to the challenge of getting our team back into playoff contention while never losing sight of our ultimate goal -- winning a Super Bowl."
Advertisement Vice President & General Manager Kevin Colbert's extension keeps him with the team through at least the 2021 NFL Draft. pic.twitter.com/d3nOUssImG— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) February 5, 2020
Last season, Colbert was instrumental in acquiring defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick in a trade with the Miami Dolphins in Week 3.
Fitzpatrick made an immediate impact in Pittsburgh, recording 57 total tackles, five interceptions, nine passes defensed, one forced fumble and one defensive touchdown in 14 regular-season games with the Steelers.


upi--2020-02-05--40 companies net up to $982.1 million for Navy’s drone vessel program

Feb. 5 ( UPI ) -- The U.S. Navy has awarded contracts to 40 companies received a contract , with a combined potential value of $ 982.1 million to support the Navy 's Unmanned Surface Vehicle Family of Systems , according to the Pentagon .
Unmanned surface vehicles are boats that operate on the surface of the water without a crew .
Historically USVs have been used for minesweeping applications and a 2013 study recommended their use for observation and collection of information , military electronic warfare , defense against small boats , testing and training , search and rescue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vehicles .
In July the branch formally announced it was looking for proposals for a vessel up to 164 feet long , to function as a sensor and communications relay in part of a family of unmanned surface systems under development , with the intent of announcing an award recipient in the first quarter of 2020 .
The Navy 's RFP announcement said the medium unmanned surface vehicle would be a `` pier-launched , self-deploying modular , open architecture surface vehicle capable of autonomous navigation and mission execution '' and that the RFP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Under the indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity , multiple award contract , the listed businesses -- which include BAE Systems , Boeing , Lockheed Martin , Northrop Grumman and Leidos -- will have the opportunity to compete in the awarded functional area for individual delivery orders in support of the program .
Fiscal 2019 research , development , test and evaluation funding in the amount of $ 1,000 -- $ 40,000 total -- is obligated under each contract 's initial delivery order and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year .
The contract @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five-year ordering period option , which , if exercised , would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $ 982.1 million .
Work will be performed in various U.S. locations in accordance with each delivery order and work is expected to be completed by February 2025 .
If the five-year ordering period option is exercised the work will be completed by February 2030 .
The contracts were competitively procured via Federal Business Opportunities with 42 offers received .

Sea Hunter, an unmanned sea surface vehicle developed in partnership between the Office of Naval Research and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, on an autonomous sail from San Diego to Hawaii and back—the first ship ever to do so autonomously. The Navy has just awarded up to $982.1 million to 40 companies for support of its unmanned surface vehicle program. Photo courtesy of U.S. Navy
Feb. 5 (UPI) -- The U.S. Navy has awarded contracts to 40 companies, with a combined potential value of $982.1 million, to support the Navy's Unmanned Surface Vehicle Family of Systems, according to the Pentagon. Unmanned surface vehicles are boats that operate on the surface of the water without a crew. Advertisement
Historically USVs have been used for minesweeping applications and a 2013 study recommended their use for observation and collection of information, military electronic warfare, defense against small boats, testing and training, search and rescue, and the support of other unmanned vehicles.
In July the branch formally announced it was looking for proposals for a vessel up to 164 feet long, to function as a sensor and communications relay in part of a family of unmanned surface systems under development, with the intent of announcing an award recipient in the first quarter of 2020.
The Navy's RFP announcement said the medium unmanned surface vehicle would be a "pier-launched, self-deploying modular, open architecture surface vehicle capable of autonomous navigation and mission execution" and that the RFP contained options for additional unmanned surface vehicles.
Under the indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple award contract, the listed businesses -- which include BAE Systems, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Leidos -- will have the opportunity to compete in the awarded functional area for individual delivery orders in support of the program.
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Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funding in the amount of $1,000 -- $40,000 total -- is obligated under each contract's initial delivery order and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.
The contract has a five-year base period and one five-year ordering period option, which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $982.1 million.
Work will be performed in various U.S. locations in accordance with each delivery order and work is expected to be completed by February 2025.
If the five-year ordering period option is exercised the work will be completed by February 2030.
The contracts were competitively procured via Federal Business Opportunities with 42 offers received.


upi--2020-02-06--El Paso Walmart shooter indicted on 90 federal charges, including hate crimes

Feb. 6 ( UPI ) -- The 21-year-old man accused of killing 22 people in a shooting at an El Paso , Texas , Walmart was charged with federal hate crimes on Thursday .
The grand jury indictment charges Patrick Crusius of Allen , Texas , with 90 federal charges including 22 counts each of hate crimes resulting in death , hate crime involving attempt to kill and use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence in addition to 21 counts of use of a firearm to commit murder during and in relation to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Crusius bought a GP WASR-10 semi-automatic rifle and 1,000 rounds of hollow-point ammunition online in June 2019 .
It further states that Crusius wrote a document ahead of the shooting stating the attack was `` a response to the Hispanic invasion of Texas . ''
The charges carry a sentence of the death penalty or life in prison .
In September , a grand jury in El Paso indicted Crusius on charges of capital murder .
El Paso County District Attorney Jaime Esparza said Thursday that his office supports the federal indictment and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's office in the prosecution of the charges .
`` The state of Texas is continuing prosecution of the Walmart shooter , '' he added .
`` Our office is actively working on the case and continues to be committed to assisting the victims through the judicial process . ''

Accused El Paso gunman Patrick Crusius was indicted on 90 federal charges including hate crimes on Thursday. File Photo courtesy FBI
Feb. 6 (UPI) -- The 21-year-old man accused of killing 22 people in a shooting at an El Paso, Texas, Walmart was charged with federal hate crimes on Thursday. The grand jury indictment charges Patrick Crusius of Allen, Texas, with 90 federal charges including 22 counts each of hate crimes resulting in death, hate crime involving attempt to kill and use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence in addition to 21 counts of use of a firearm to commit murder during and in relation to a crime of violence. Advertisement
The indictment alleges Crusius bought a GP WASR-10 semi-automatic rifle and 1,000 rounds of hollow-point ammunition online in June 2019.
It further states that Crusius wrote a document ahead of the shooting stating the attack was "a response to the Hispanic invasion of Texas."
The charges carry a sentence of the death penalty or life in prison.
In September, a grand jury in El Paso indicted Crusius on charges of capital murder.
El Paso County District Attorney Jaime Esparza said Thursday that his office supports the federal indictment and will fully cooperate with the U.S. Attorney's office in the prosecution of the charges.
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"The state of Texas is continuing prosecution of the Walmart shooter," he added. "Our office is actively working on the case and continues to be committed to assisting the victims through the judicial process."


upi--2020-02-06--DoD report affirms Space Force's commitment to minimal budget and bureaucracy

Feb. 6 ( UPI ) -- A Department of Defense report submitted to Congress this week was light on detail , but emphasized the newly created branch 's commitment to minimizing cost and bureaucracy .
The full report , obtained by Air Force Magazine , emphasizes that Space Force will -- as the legislation that created it requires -- rely primarily on existing military personnel and funding .
The document , which was required under the fiscal 2020 National Defense Authorization Act that created Space Force , will continue to be adapted until the expected release of a final version @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on creating a structure that removes traditional layers of bureaucracy while maintaining clear lines of authority , responsibility , and accountability .
The successful establishment of the Space Force is vital to the continued ability of the United States to compete , deter , and win in an era of great power competition , '' Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett wrote in the document .
The NDAA text directs officials to pull from existing military personnel , and U.S. Space Force Vice Commander Lt. Gen. David Thompson , who also still serves as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said during a press briefing this week that there currently are 6,000 Air Force personnel previously assigned to Air Force Space Command , who are now assigned to the Space Force .
After 2021 , when personnel in key Air Force Space Command roles have completed the transfer to Space Force , the branch will begin pulling personnel from the Army and Navy .
The branch should have 16,000 members once all transfers are complete .
The plan creates an Office of Chief of Space Operations to oversee human capital and logistics , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and analysis .
It creates some new administrative roles , including the vice chief of space operations , who will support Chief of Space Operations Gen. John Raymond on the Joint Requirements Oversight Council .
Other organizational details are still to be determined and will be the subject of additional reports scheduled for release this spring .
It 's not even clear yet what troops in the new branch -- which released its new but familiar-looking logo at the end of January -- will be called .
But one name is off the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is considering crowdsourcing ideas for service members ' names , but they definitely wo n't be called `` space men . ''

U.S. Space Force vice commander Lt. Gen. David Thompson, shown here at a November 2019 conference in Arizona, told reporters this week the DoD has begun the process of transferring 6,000 personnel from the Air Force to the newly-created Space Force. Photo by Angela Ruiz/ U.S. Air Force
Feb. 6 (UPI) -- A Department of Defense report submitted to Congress this week was light on detail, but emphasized the newly created branch's commitment to minimizing cost and bureaucracy. The full report, obtained by Air Force Magazine, emphasizes that Space Force will -- as the legislation that created it requires -- rely primarily on existing military personnel and funding. Advertisement
The document, which was required under the fiscal 2020 National Defense Authorization Act that created Space Force, will continue to be adapted until the expected release of a final version in May.
"DOD is focused on creating a structure that removes traditional layers of bureaucracy while maintaining clear lines of authority, responsibility, and accountability. The successful establishment of the Space Force is vital to the continued ability of the United States to compete, deter, and win in an era of great power competition," Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett wrote in the document.
The NDAA text directs officials to pull from existing military personnel, and U.S. Space Force Vice Commander Lt. Gen. David Thompson, who also still serves as a uniformed member of the USAF, said during a press briefing this week that there currently are 6,000 Air Force personnel previously assigned to Air Force Space Command, who are now assigned to the Space Force.
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After 2021, when personnel in key Air Force Space Command roles have completed the transfer to Space Force, the branch will begin pulling personnel from the Army and Navy.
The branch should have 16,000 members once all transfers are complete.
The plan creates an Office of Chief of Space Operations to oversee human capital and logistics, operations and plans, programs, requirements and analysis.
It creates some new administrative roles, including the vice chief of space operations, who will support Chief of Space Operations Gen. John Raymond on the Joint Requirements Oversight Council.
Other organizational details are still to be determined and will be the subject of additional reports scheduled for release this spring.
It's not even clear yet what troops in the new branch -- which released its new but familiar-looking logo at the end of January -- will be called.
But one name is off the table.
Thompson told reporters Space Force is considering crowdsourcing ideas for service members' names, but they definitely won't be called "space men."


upi--2020-02-06--Bureau of Land Management finalizes management plans for Utah land monuments

Feb. 6 ( UPI ) -- The Bureau of Land Management on Thursday approved new management plans for two national monuments in Utah that have been reduced by the Trump administration .
The three management plans affect the reduced Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante monuments as well as 900,000 acres removed from the Staircase now known as the Paria River District and permits more drilling , mining and cattle grazing in these areas .
`` The approved plans keep the commitment of this administration to the families and communities of Utah that know and love this land the best and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ generations to come , '' Casey Hammond , the Interior Department 's acting assistant secretary for land and minerals management , said .
Under the plans , much of Bears Ears and about 1 million acres in and around Grand Staircase will be open to grazing , while two new routes in Grand Staircase will also be opened to off-road vehicles .
Bureau of Land Management Utah communications director Kimberly Finch said the agency has received 15 mining claims on lands excluded from the monuments and the plans will allow for more drilling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allow for commercial logging , but trees and other vegetation can be cut as part of treatments .
BLM reversed a decision to return livestock grazing to about 40 miles of the Escalante River wich Steve Bloch , legal director for the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance , described as `` a silver lining on a very dark day . ''
`` That was the right decision , but there are still a lot of problems with grazing in the Grand Staircase monument on lands where it had been eliminated and retired , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and various other groups have sued to invalidate President Donald Trump 's 2017 order to reduce the monuments established by former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama by a combined 2 million acres .
Last year , a federal judge declined a Justice Department motion to have the lawsuits dismissed and the Interior Department has received criticism for issuing plans with the litigation ongoing .
Hammond said Thursday the agency would not allow the legal process to delay its decision .
`` If we stopped and waited for every piece of litigation to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to do much of anything around here , '' he said .

A moonlit arch over Grand Staircase-Escalante on February 6, 2015. On Thursday, the Bureau of Land Management released plans permitting drilling, mining and grazing in the Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears monuments in Utah.Photo by Bob Wick/Bureau of Land Management
Feb. 6 (UPI) -- The Bureau of Land Management on Thursday approved new management plans for two national monuments in Utah that have been reduced by the Trump administration. The three management plans affect the reduced Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante monuments as well as 900,000 acres removed from the Staircase now known as the Paria River District and permits more drilling, mining and cattle grazing in these areas. Advertisement
"The approved plans keep the commitment of this administration to the families and communities of Utah that know and love this land the best and will care for these resources for many generations to come," Casey Hammond, the Interior Department's acting assistant secretary for land and minerals management, said.
Under the plans, much of Bears Ears and about 1 million acres in and around Grand Staircase will be open to grazing, while two new routes in Grand Staircase will also be opened to off-road vehicles.
Bureau of Land Management Utah communications director Kimberly Finch said the agency has received 15 mining claims on lands excluded from the monuments and the plans will allow for more drilling and mining.
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The plans do not allow for commercial logging, but trees and other vegetation can be cut as part of treatments.
BLM reversed a decision to return livestock grazing to about 40 miles of the Escalante River wich Steve Bloch, legal director for the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, described as "a silver lining on a very dark day."
"That was the right decision, but there are still a lot of problems with grazing in the Grand Staircase monument on lands where it had been eliminated and retired," said Bloch.
Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance and various other groups have sued to invalidate President Donald Trump's 2017 order to reduce the monuments established by former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama by a combined 2 million acres.
Last year, a federal judge declined a Justice Department motion to have the lawsuits dismissed and the Interior Department has received criticism for issuing plans with the litigation ongoing.
Hammond said Thursday the agency would not allow the legal process to delay its decision.
"If we stopped and waited for every piece of litigation to be resolved, we would never be able to do much of anything around here," he said.


upi--2020-02-06--Los Angeles Rams' Eric Weddle announces retirement after 13 NFL seasons

Feb. 6 ( UPI ) -- Veteran safety Eric Weddle announced his retirement from the NFL on Thursday after 13 seasons .
Weddle , 35 , made the announcement with a post on Twitter .
The former Los Angeles Rams defensive back had one season remaining on a two-year , $ 10.5 million contract that he signed with the team last off-season .
`` I wish Eric and his family the best as he retires from football , '' Rams head coach Sean McVay said in a statement Thursday .
`` Eric had a distinguished 13-year career in the NFL @ @ @ @ @ @ @ level and earned respect across the entire league .
He is one of the smartest and most instinctual players I have ever been around .
`` Last season , he served as a captain on our team and was a key cog on our defense .
More than that , he was a leader in our locker room and set a professional example for everyone he encountered . ''
Weddle previously indicated at the end of the Rams ' 9-7 season that he was considering retirement .
`` Whatever the decision happens [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me or them , it 's all good , '' Weddle said Dec. 22 .
`` If it is [ my last game ] , I 'm ready for the next step of being at home with my kids .
I 've missed them dearly . ''
Weddle , a six-time Pro Bowl selection and five-time All-Pro , finished with 1,178 total tackles , 29 interceptions , 99 passes defensed , 9.5 sacks , eight forced fumbles , seven fumble recoveries and four defensive touchdowns in 201 career regular-season games .
The then-San @ @ @ @ @ @ @ round ( No .
37 overall ) of the 2007 NFL Draft out of Utah .
He played nine seasons for the Chargers ( 2007-15 ) before spending three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens ( 2016-18 ) .

Former Baltimore Ravens safety Eric Weddle had one season remaining on a two-year, $10.5 million contract that he signed with the Los Angeles Rams last off-season. File Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 6 (UPI) -- Veteran safety Eric Weddle announced his retirement from the NFL on Thursday after 13 seasons. Weddle, 35, made the announcement with a post on Twitter. The former Los Angeles Rams defensive back had one season remaining on a two-year, $10.5 million contract that he signed with the team last off-season. Advertisement
"I wish Eric and his family the best as he retires from football," Rams head coach Sean McVay said in a statement Thursday. "Eric had a distinguished 13-year career in the NFL, where he played at a high level and earned respect across the entire league. He is one of the smartest and most instinctual players I have ever been around.
"Last season, he served as a captain on our team and was a key cog on our defense. More than that, he was a leader in our locker room and set a professional example for everyone he encountered."
Weddle previously indicated at the end of the Rams' 9-7 season that he was considering retirement.
"Whatever the decision happens [to be], whether it's me or them, it's all good," Weddle said Dec. 22. "If it is [my last game], I'm ready for the next step of being at home with my kids. I've missed them dearly."
Weddle, a six-time Pro Bowl selection and five-time All-Pro, finished with 1,178 total tackles, 29 interceptions, 99 passes defensed, 9.5 sacks, eight forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries and four defensive touchdowns in 201 career regular-season games.
The then-San Diego Chargers selected Weddle in the second round (No. 37 overall) of the 2007 NFL Draft out of Utah. He played nine seasons for the Chargers (2007-15) before spending three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens (2016-18).


upi--2020-02-06--Los Angeles Clippers to acquire Marcus Morris, Isaiah Thomas in 3-team trade

Feb. 6 ( UPI ) -- The Los Angeles Clippers , New York Knicks and Washington Wizards agreed to a three-team trade that will send Marcus Morris and former All-Star guard Isaiah Thomas to the Clippers .
League sources told ESPN and The Athletic on Thursday that former Clippers guard Jerome Robinson will join the Wizards .
The Knicks will receive Moe Harkless and a 2020 first-round draft pick in the deal .
Once the agreement is finalized , the Clippers are expected to waive Thomas , according to ESPN .
The 30-year-old guard has averaged 12.2 points per game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wizards .
Morris , 30 , will join a Western Conference-contending Clippers team that currently sits three games behind the Los Angeles Lakers for the No .
1 seed in the conference .
He has averaged a career-best 19.6 points per game this season while shooting a career-high 43.9 percent from 3-point range .
The Lakers also had trade discussions with the Knicks involving Morris , according to ESPN .
New York wanted a package that included Kyle Kuzma , Danny Green and future second-round picks , a price tag that the Lakers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is averaging 5.5 points and four rebounds per game this season , his first with the Clippers .
He has started 38 of the 50 regular-season games he has appeared in with the team .
Robinson , 22 , has averaged 2.9 points , 1.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists in Los Angeles this season .

New York Knicks forward Marcus Morris Sr. (13) has averaged a career-high 19.6 points per game this season. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 6 (UPI) -- The Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks and Washington Wizards agreed to a three-team trade that will send Marcus Morris and former All-Star guard Isaiah Thomas to the Clippers. League sources told ESPN and The Athletic on Thursday that former Clippers guard Jerome Robinson will join the Wizards. The Knicks will receive Moe Harkless and a 2020 first-round draft pick in the deal. Advertisement
Once the agreement is finalized, the Clippers are expected to waive Thomas, according to ESPN. The 30-year-old guard has averaged 12.2 points per game this season, his first with the Wizards.
Morris, 30, will join a Western Conference-contending Clippers team that currently sits three games behind the Los Angeles Lakers for the No. 1 seed in the conference. He has averaged a career-best 19.6 points per game this season while shooting a career-high 43.9 percent from 3-point range.
The Lakers also had trade discussions with the Knicks involving Morris, according to ESPN. New York wanted a package that included Kyle Kuzma, Danny Green and future second-round picks, a price tag that the Lakers considered too much.
Advertisement Thank You NewYork! Nothing but love on this side!— Marcus Morris (@MookMorris2) February 6, 2020
Harkless, 26, is averaging 5.5 points and four rebounds per game this season, his first with the Clippers. He has started 38 of the 50 regular-season games he has appeared in with the team.
Robinson, 22, has averaged 2.9 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists in Los Angeles this season.


upi--2020-02-06--Study: Gene variant increases dementia risk in Parkinson's patients

A genetic variant associated with Alzheimer 's disease increases the risk of dementia in people with Parkinson 's disease , researchers say .
The finding could lead to new treatments for dementia in Parkinson 's patients , according to the team at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis .
Parkinson 's disease is a progressive neurological disorder that causes tremors , stiffness , slow movement and impaired balance .
Eighty percent of patients diagnosed with Parkinson 's develop dementia within 20 years .
Those who carry a particular variant of the gene APOE have an especially high risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ researchers found that Parkinson's-related proteins spread more rapidly through the brains of mice with the high-risk APOE4 variant , and that memory and thinking skills decline faster in Parkinson 's patients who have the variant .
APOE4 is known to increase the risk of Alzheimer 's disease by three to five times .
The study was published Feb. 5 in the journal Science Translational Medicine .
`` Dementia takes a huge toll on people with Parkinson 's and their caregivers , '' said lead author Dr. Albert Davis , an assistant professor of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is often what determines whether someone with Parkinson 's is able to remain in their home or has to go into a nursing home . ''
These findings could lead to therapies that target APOE to slow or prevent mental decline in people with Parkinson 's , the study authors said in a university news release .
About 930,000 people in the United States have Parkinson 's disease , which is believed to be caused by a buildup of toxic proteins called alpha-synuclein in a brain area involved in movement .
The protein @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Parkinson 's is the most common , but there are other , rarer diseases that also are caused by alpha-synuclein aggregation and also have very limited treatment options , '' Davis said .
`` Targeting APOE with therapeutics might be a way to change the course of such diseases . ''
Davis noted that APOE does n't affect the overall risk of developing Parkinson 's or its progression , so an APOE-targeted therapy might slow or prevent dementia without improving movement problems .
Even so , such therapy could be beneficial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Parkinson 's develop dementia , the financial and emotional costs to them and their families are just enormous , '' Davis said .
`` If we can reduce their risk of dementia , we could dramatically improve their quality of life . ''
The Parkinson 's Foundation has more on Parkinson 's disease .

Pixabay Eighty percent of patients diagnosed with Parkinson's develop dementia within 20 years. Photo by Gundula Vogel
A genetic variant associated with Alzheimer's disease increases the risk of dementia in people with Parkinson's disease, researchers say. The finding could lead to new treatments for dementia in Parkinson's patients, according to the team at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Advertisement
Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological disorder that causes tremors, stiffness, slow movement and impaired balance.
Eighty percent of patients diagnosed with Parkinson's develop dementia within 20 years. Those who carry a particular variant of the gene APOE have an especially high risk, the study authors said.
The researchers found that Parkinson's-related proteins spread more rapidly through the brains of mice with the high-risk APOE4 variant, and that memory and thinking skills decline faster in Parkinson's patients who have the variant.
APOE4 is known to increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease by three to five times.
The study was published Feb. 5 in the journal Science Translational Medicine.
"Dementia takes a huge toll on people with Parkinson's and their caregivers," said lead author Dr. Albert Davis, an assistant professor of neurology. "The development of dementia is often what determines whether someone with Parkinson's is able to remain in their home or has to go into a nursing home."
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These findings could lead to therapies that target APOE to slow or prevent mental decline in people with Parkinson's, the study authors said in a university news release.
About 930,000 people in the United States have Parkinson's disease, which is believed to be caused by a buildup of toxic proteins called alpha-synuclein in a brain area involved in movement. The protein clumps damage and can kill brain cells.
"Parkinson's is the most common, but there are other, rarer diseases that also are caused by alpha-synuclein aggregation and also have very limited treatment options," Davis said. "Targeting APOE with therapeutics might be a way to change the course of such diseases."
Davis noted that APOE doesn't affect the overall risk of developing Parkinson's or its progression, so an APOE-targeted therapy might slow or prevent dementia without improving movement problems. Even so, such therapy could be beneficial, he suggested.
"Once people with Parkinson's develop dementia, the financial and emotional costs to them and their families are just enormous," Davis said. "If we can reduce their risk of dementia, we could dramatically improve their quality of life."
More information
The Parkinson's Foundation has more on Parkinson's disease.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-02-06--Mud wasp nests used to date ancient Australian rock art

Feb. 6 ( UPI ) -- Researchers have used mud wasp nests to narrow the age range of Aboriginal rock art in the Kimberley region of Western Australia .
Previous surveys suggested some Kimberley painting were 16,000 years old , but the latest findings proved the Aboriginal rock art was much younger .
`` This is the first time we have been able to confidently say Gwion style paintings were created around 12,000 years ago , '' Damien Finch , doctoral student at the University of Melbourne , said in a news release .
`` No one has been able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before . ''
For the study , published this week in the journal Science Advances , scientists collected and analyzed 100 mud wasp nests from rock art sites .
`` A painting beneath a wasp nest must be older than the nest , and a painting on top of a nest must be younger than the nest , '' Finch said .
`` If you date enough of the nests , you build up a pattern and can narrow down an age range for paintings in a particular style . ''
Gwion Gwion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , are one of the two main regional rock art traditions in Western Australia 's Kimberley region .
The paintings , ranging in size from six inches to six feet , feature tall and slender human figures in ornate costume .
Many Gwion paintings include figures sporting headdresses , arm bands and anklets .
`` The Kimberley contains some of the world 's most visually spectacular and geographically extensive records of Indigenous rock art , estimated to include tens of thousands of sites , only a small fraction of which have been studied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ professor of geology at the University of Melbourne .
By pinpointing the age of the Gwion Gwion art tradition , scientists can link the paintings with other kinds of contemporaneous artifacts , giving researchers a better sense of the environment from which the painting emerged .

Wasp nests have helped scientists narrow the age range of Kimberley rock art in Western Australia. Photo by Damien Finch/University of Melbourne
Feb. 6 (UPI) -- Researchers have used mud wasp nests to narrow the age range of Aboriginal rock art in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Previous surveys suggested some Kimberley painting were 16,000 years old, but the latest findings proved the Aboriginal rock art was much younger. Advertisement
"This is the first time we have been able to confidently say Gwion style paintings were created around 12,000 years ago," Damien Finch, doctoral student at the University of Melbourne, said in a news release. "No one has been able present the scientific evidence to say that before."
For the study, published this week in the journal Science Advances, scientists collected and analyzed 100 mud wasp nests from rock art sites.
"A painting beneath a wasp nest must be older than the nest, and a painting on top of a nest must be younger than the nest," Finch said. "If you date enough of the nests, you build up a pattern and can narrow down an age range for paintings in a particular style."
Gwion Gwion paintings, also called Bradshaw rock paintings, are one of the two main regional rock art traditions in Western Australia's Kimberley region.
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The paintings, ranging in size from six inches to six feet, feature tall and slender human figures in ornate costume. Many Gwion paintings include figures sporting headdresses, arm bands and anklets.
"The Kimberley contains some of the world's most visually spectacular and geographically extensive records of Indigenous rock art, estimated to include tens of thousands of sites, only a small fraction of which have been studied intensively," said Andy Gleadow, professor of geology at the University of Melbourne.
By pinpointing the age of the Gwion Gwion art tradition, scientists can link the paintings with other kinds of contemporaneous artifacts, giving researchers a better sense of the environment from which the painting emerged.


upi--2020-02-06--Los Angeles to hold public memorial for Kobe Bryant, helicopter crash victims Feb. 24

Feb. 6 ( UPI ) -- A public memorial for Los Angeles Lakers icon Kobe Bryant , his daughter Gianna Bryant and the seven other people killed in a helicopter crash in January will be held later this month .
The memorial will be held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Feb. 24 , the Los Angeles Times and Los Angeles news station KTTV reported on Thursday .
For weeks people have gathered outside of the stadium and the site in Calabasas where the plane crashed killing Bryant , his daughter , Alyssa Altobelli , John Altobelli , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chester , Christina Mauser and Ara Zobayan on Jan. 26 .
The Lakers held a tribute for Bryant and the other victims during their game against the Portland Trailblazers last Friday , which LeBron James declaried a celebration of `` the 20 years of the blood , the sweat , the tears , the broken-down body , the getting up , the sitting down , the everything '' he brought to the team during his career .
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said last week that the city was preparing for a memorial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` how much unity we have . ''
`` I think one message that I would say is this is not just about a man who was a basketball player , this is about a father , this is about a leader , this is about a filmmaker , this is about an artist , this is about somebody who was so much more than just how he was on the court , '' he said .

Thousands of fans have gathered around a number of makeshift memorials throughout the day to pay tribute to Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven other passengers killed in a Calabasas helicopter crash early Sunday morning, in Xbox Plaza outside Staples Center in Los Angeles on Tuesday, January 28, 2020. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 6 (UPI) -- A public memorial for Los Angeles Lakers icon Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna Bryant and the seven other people killed in a helicopter crash in January will be held later this month. The memorial will be held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Feb. 24, the Los Angeles Times and Los Angeles news station KTTV reported on Thursday. Advertisement
For weeks people have gathered outside of the stadium and the site in Calabasas where the plane crashed killing Bryant, his daughter, Alyssa Altobelli, John Altobelli, Keri Altobelli, Payton Chester, Sarah Chester, Christina Mauser and Ara Zobayan on Jan. 26.
The Lakers held a tribute for Bryant and the other victims during their game against the Portland Trailblazers last Friday, which LeBron James declaried a celebration of "the 20 years of the blood, the sweat, the tears, the broken-down body, the getting up, the sitting down, the everything" he brought to the team during his career.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said last week that the city was preparing for a memorial that will serve as a reminder of "how much unity we have."
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"I think one message that I would say is this is not just about a man who was a basketball player, this is about a father, this is about a leader, this is about a filmmaker, this is about an artist, this is about somebody who was so much more than just how he was on the court," he said.


upi--2020-02-06--Watch: Police rescue wallaby struggling nearly four miles off shore

Feb. 6 ( UPI ) -- Police in Australia shared video of the rescue of a wallaby found swimming in @ @ @ @ @ shore .
The Queensland Police Service said a Water Police boat responded Wednesday to a @ @ @ @ @ spotted the marsupial swimming and monitored the animal for two hours , determining it was @ @ @ @ @ the way back to shore .
Police shared video of officers plucking the wallaby , @ @ @ @ @ Fraser , out of the water .
The officers gave the wallaby a lift to @ @ @ @ @ the animal was released onto dry land .

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Feb. 6 (UPI) -- Police in Australia shared video of the rescue of a wallaby found swimming in circles nearly 4 miles from shore.
The Queensland Police Service said a Water Police boat responded Wednesday to a call from a resident who spotted the marsupial swimming and monitored the animal for two hours, determining it was confused and unable to find the way back to shore.
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Police shared video of officers plucking the wallaby, dubbed Dawny after swimmer Dawn Fraser, out of the water.
The officers gave the wallaby a lift to North Stradbroke Island, where the animal was released onto dry land.


upi--2020-02-06--DNC Chair Tom Perez calls for recanvass of Iowa caucus

Feb. 6 ( UPI ) -- DNC Chair Tom Perez called Thursday for a recanvass of the Iowa caucuses after problems caused delays in reporting votes from Monday night .
`` Enough is enough , '' Perez tweeted .
`` In light of the problems that have emerged in the implementation of the delegate selection plan and in order to ensure public confidence in the results , I am calling on the Iowa Democratic Party to immediately begin a recanvass . ''
The Iowa Democratic Party responded in a statement without mentioning Perez or the DNC .
`` Should any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Delegate Selection Plan request a recanvass , the IDP is prepared , '' Troy Price , state party chair , said in a statement .
`` In such a circumstance , the IDP will audit the paper records of report , as provided by the precinct chairs and signed by representatives of presidential campaigns . ''
Results were delayed due to inconsistencies in the reporting of results after a new mobile phone app built by the company Shadow to tally results was not shut down or tampered with and had to be checked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York Times analysis Thursday further showed failure to resolve `` quality control issues . ''
`` More than 100 precincts reported results that were internally inconsistent , that were missing data or that were not possible under the complex rules of the Iowa caucuses , '' the analysis found .
The results , which officially remain too close to call , have trickled in with South Bend , Ind.
, Mayor Pete Buttigieg maintaining a slight lead in the state delegate equivalents over Senator Bernie Sanders , D-Vt. , with 97 percent of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equivalents , Sanders declared victory Thursday , arguing that he had a significant advantage in the popular vote and accused the media of placing too much emphasis on standard delegate equivalent counts to proclaim the winner .
`` Even though the vote tabulations have been extremely slow , we are now at a point with some 97 percent of the precincts reporting where our campaign is winning the popular initial vote by some 6,000 votes , '' Sanders told reporters at his New Hampshire headquarters .
`` And when 6,000 more people come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your nearest opponent , we here in northern New England call that a victory . ''
Earlier in the week , Buttigieg declared victory and became the first openly gay candidate in U.S. history to earn presidential primary delegates toward a major party 's nomination process , whatever the final results may show .
`` It validates for a kid , somewhere in a community , wondering if he belongs , or she belongs , or they belong in their own family , that if you believe in yourself and your country , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ belief , '' he said .

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2020 Democratic presidential candidates Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg gather on stage for a debate in Des Moines, Iowa, on Jan. 14. The debate came three weeks before Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucuses on Feb. 3. Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 6 (UPI) -- Democratic candidates Pete Buttigieg and Bernie Sanders were locked in a near tie as 100 percent of precincts reported in the Iowa caucus on Thursday. Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Ind., garnered 26.20 percent of state delegate equivalents, while Sen. Sanders of Vermont received 26.13 percent, resulting in a virtual tie that awarded both candidates 11 delegates. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren received 18 percent and five delegates, former Vice President Joe Biden received 15. 8 percent and two delegates and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar received 12.3 percent and one delegate. Advertisement
Businessmen Andrew Yang and Tom Steyer received 1 percent and 0.3 percent respectively and were not awarded any delegates.
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Results were delayed due to inconsistencies in their reporting after a new mobile phone app built by the company Shadow to tally the votes had to be checked against a paper trail. The Iowa Democratic Party said the app was not shut down or tampered with.
The New York Times analysis Thursday further showed failure to resolve "quality control issues."
"More than 100 precincts reported results that were internally inconsistent, that were missing data or that were not possible under the complex rules of the Iowa caucuses," the analysis found.
DNC Chair Tom Perez called Thursday for a recanvass of the Iowa caucuses after problems caused delays in reporting votes from Monday night.
Perez made the announcement on Twitter Thursday afternoon.
"Enough is enough," Perez tweeted. "In light of the problems that have emerged in the implementation of the delegate selection plan and in order to ensure public confidence in the results, I am calling on the Iowa Democratic Party to immediately begin a recanvass."
The Iowa Democratic Party responded in a statement without mentioning Perez or the DNC.
"Should any presidential campaign in compliance with the Iowa Delegate Selection Plan request a recanvass, the IDP is prepared," Troy Price, state party chair, said in a statement. "In such a circumstance, the IDP will audit the paper records of report, as provided by the precinct chairs and signed by representatives of presidential campaigns."
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Despite the state delegate equivalents, Sanders declared victory Thursday, arguing that he had a significant advantage in the popular vote and accused the media of placing too much emphasis on standard delegate equivalent counts to proclaim the winner.
"Even though the vote tabulations have been extremely slow, we are now at a point with some 97 percent of the precincts reporting where our campaign is winning the popular initial vote by some 6,000 votes," Sanders told reporters at his New Hampshire headquarters. "And when 6,000 more people come out for you in an election than your nearest opponent, we here in northern New England call that a victory."
Earlier in the week, Buttigieg declared victory and became the first openly gay candidate in U.S. history to earn presidential primary delegates toward a major party's nomination process, whatever the final results may show.
"It validates for a kid, somewhere in a community, wondering if he belongs, or she belongs, or they belong in their own family, that if you believe in yourself and your country, there's a lot backing up that belief," he said.


upi--2020-02-06--Camera, social media reunite woman with stolen purse

Feb. 6 ( UPI ) -- A woman whose $ 350 purse was stolen out of a rental vehicle in New Orleans was reunited with her property thanks to a stranger , her GoPro camera and social media .
Florida woman Saarah Yob , 23 , said visiting New Orleans in January when her $ 350 Michael Kors purse was stolen out of a rented Dodge Ram pickup truck she had left in a paid parking lot in the French Quarter .
The purse contained her GoPro camera , $ 70 cash and a chain necklace with an emerald pendant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I was kind of ignorant and I had n't had this happen before .
I was so defeated , I just gave up , '' Yob told NOLA.com .
James Elmes , 21 , said he was on his way to his car , parked just outside the French Quarter , when he spotted a purse abandoned on the curb .
The bag did n't contain any identification , but it did still contain Yob 's GoPro camera .
Elmes posted a photo from the camera to his Twitter account , hoping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found a stolen purse in the French quarter , New Orleans .
Wallet was missing so I have no identification , this girl has traveled all over the world w the world with a GoPro I found .
Looking for her to return her lost memories .
Help me find her , '' Elmes tweeted .
The post reached Yob , who was reunited with the purse and camera .
`` A week ago my purse was stolen in New Orleans .
Today social media and an extremely kind soul helped me get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so much , '' she tweeted .

Photos on a GoPro camera helped a New Orleans man reunite a tourist with her stolen purse. Photo by NabinMewahang/Pixabay.com
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Feb. 6 (UPI) -- A woman whose $350 purse was stolen out of a rental vehicle in New Orleans was reunited with her property thanks to a stranger, her GoPro camera and social media. Florida woman Saarah Yob, 23, said visiting New Orleans in January when her $350 Michael Kors purse was stolen out of a rented Dodge Ram pickup truck she had left in a paid parking lot in the French Quarter. Advertisement
The purse contained her GoPro camera, $70 cash and a chain necklace with an emerald pendant that had belonged to her grandmother.
"I was kind of ignorant and I hadn't had this happen before. I was so defeated, I just gave up," Yob told NOLA.com.
James Elmes, 21, said he was on his way to his car, parked just outside the French Quarter, when he spotted a purse abandoned on the curb.
The bag didn't contain any identification, but it did still contain Yob's GoPro camera.
Elmes posted a photo from the camera to his Twitter account, hoping to find the owner.
"I found a stolen purse in the French quarter, New Orleans. Wallet was missing so I have no identification, this girl has traveled all over the world w the world with a GoPro I found. Looking for her to return her lost memories. Help me find her," Elmes tweeted.
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The post reached Yob, who was reunited with the purse and camera.
"A week ago my purse was stolen in New Orleans. Today social media and an extremely kind soul helped me get it back. Thank you so so so much," she tweeted.


upi--2020-02-06--Chinese coronavirus whistle-blower dies of coronavirus

Feb. 6 ( UPI ) -- The Chinese doctor who first sounded the alarm about the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan died in the early hours Friday local time .
Li Wenliang , 34 , was declared dead at 2:58 am after `` emergency treatment '' at Wuhan Central Hospital .
The hospital had denied reports earlier Thursday from Chinese state media and the World Health Organization that a doctor accused of `` spreading rumors '' about the 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak had died of the virus .
Hospital officials told the South China Morning Post early Friday local time that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time and remained in critical condition after receiving life-saving treatment .
WHO officials responded to the earlier reports about Li , an ophthalmologist , during a press briefing Thursday morning , calling him a `` front-line worker who is committed to care for patients , '' and that `` we should celebrate his life and mourn his death with his colleagues . ''
Li , who worked at Wuhan Central when the coronavirus outbreak started in December , was accused by law enforcement officials in the city of spreading rumors about it after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social media .
His hospital , he told them , was seeing patients coming in with an `` unusual '' pneumonia that he compared to SARS .
Li was summoned by police on Jan. 3 and reprimanded for `` spreading rumors online '' and `` severely disrupting social order . ''
Li had to sign a statement admitting his `` misdemeanor '' and promising not to commit further `` unlawful acts . ''
It was confirmed earlier this week that he had been diagnosed with the virus after helping treat hospital patients .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ accuses countries affected by the 2019-nCoV outbreak of withholding information on cases and virus samples .
The WHO has refused to cite countries by name , but has pointedly -- and consistently -- refused to criticize the Chinese government 's handling of information on the outbreak .
`` We are still awaiting data from a number of countries , '' said Dr. Michael Ryan , executive director of WHO 's Health Emergencies Program .
However , `` from our observation of the situation , China has reported data in an extremely timely fashion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government had surveillance systems in place to identify `` unusual pneumonia , '' and that this system quickly identified 2019 nCoV and led to a rapid mobilization of health response teams to the city .
Officials at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have also credited the Chinese with sharing the viral genome quickly , which has enabled the development of an accurate diagnostic test and served as the starting point for research into possible vaccines and drug treatments .
WHO officials said Thursday that 250,000 testing kits for 2019-nCoV have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CDC also started shipping its laboratory test kit to detect 2019-nCoV on Wednesday to select qualified U.S. and international laboratories .
Distribution of the tests will help improve the global capacity to detect and respond to the virus , the agency said .
The tests are being shipped through the International Reagent Resource , a CDC-established mechanism that distributes laboratory reagents .
The test kit , called the CDC 2019-nCoV Real-Time Reverse Transcriptase-PCR Diagnostic Panel , is designed for use with the RT-PCR testing instrument used to test for seasonal flu .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lower respiratory specimens collected from people who meet CDC criteria for 2019-nCoV testing and can provide results in four hours .
`` Our goal is early detection of new cases and to prevent further spread of the coronavirus , '' CDC Director Robert R. Redfield said in a statement .
`` Distribution of these diagnostic tests to state laboratories , U.S. government partners and more broadly to the global public health community will accelerate efforts to confront this evolving global public health challenge . ''
The test kit has not been cleared or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but the FDA on Tuesday issued an Emergency Use Authorization .
Initially , about 200 test kits will be distributed to U.S. laboratories and a similar number will be distributed to select international labs .
Each test kit can process 700 to 800 patient specimens .

People are wearing protective respiratory masks in Beijing amid the ongoing 2019-nCoV outbreak. Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 6 (UPI) -- The Chinese doctor who first sounded the alarm about the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan died in the early hours Friday local time. Li Wenliang, 34, was declared dead at 2:58 am after "emergency treatment" at Wuhan Central Hospital. Advertisement
The hospital had denied reports earlier Thursday from Chinese state media and the World Health Organization that a doctor accused of "spreading rumors" about the 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak had died of the virus.
Hospital officials told the South China Morning Post early Friday local time that Li, was still alive at the time and remained in critical condition after receiving life-saving treatment.
WHO officials responded to the earlier reports about Li, an ophthalmologist, during a press briefing Thursday morning, calling him a "front-line worker who is committed to care for patients," and that "we should celebrate his life and mourn his death with his colleagues."
Advertisement We deeply mourn the death of #Wuhan doctor Li wenliang, who unfortunately got infected with novel #Coronavirus while battling with the epidemic. After all-effort rescue, Li passed away on 2:58 am, Feb. 7. pic.twitter.com/mbYA3wB4pn— People's Daily, China (@PDChina) February 6, 2020
Li, who worked at Wuhan Central when the coronavirus outbreak started in December, was accused by law enforcement officials in the city of spreading rumors about it after he warned friends about the disease on social media. His hospital, he told them, was seeing patients coming in with an "unusual" pneumonia that he compared to SARS.
Li was summoned by police on Jan. 3 and reprimanded for "spreading rumors online" and "severely disrupting social order."
Li had to sign a statement admitting his "misdemeanor" and promising not to commit further "unlawful acts."
It was confirmed earlier this week that he had been diagnosed with the virus after helping treat hospital patients.
Compiling data
Li's illness comes as the WHO accuses countries affected by the 2019-nCoV outbreak of withholding information on cases and virus samples. The WHO has refused to cite countries by name, but has pointedly -- and consistently -- refused to criticize the Chinese government's handling of information on the outbreak.
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"We are still awaiting data from a number of countries," said Dr. Michael Ryan, executive director of WHO's Health Emergencies Program. However, "from our observation of the situation, China has reported data in an extremely timely fashion."
He noted that the Chinese government had surveillance systems in place to identify "unusual pneumonia," and that this system quickly identified 2019 nCoV and led to a rapid mobilization of health response teams to the city.
Officials at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have also credited the Chinese with sharing the viral genome quickly, which has enabled the development of an accurate diagnostic test and served as the starting point for research into possible vaccines and drug treatments.
Test kits
WHO officials said Thursday that 250,000 testing kits for 2019-nCoV have been distributed to member states.
The CDC also started shipping its laboratory test kit to detect 2019-nCoV on Wednesday to select qualified U.S. and international laboratories. Distribution of the tests will help improve the global capacity to detect and respond to the virus, the agency said.
The tests are being shipped through the International Reagent Resource, a CDC-established mechanism that distributes laboratory reagents.
The test kit, called the CDC 2019-nCoV Real-Time Reverse Transcriptase-PCR Diagnostic Panel, is designed for use with the RT-PCR testing instrument used to test for seasonal flu. It is intended for use with upper and lower respiratory specimens collected from people who meet CDC criteria for 2019-nCoV testing and can provide results in four hours.
Advertisement
"Our goal is early detection of new cases and to prevent further spread of the coronavirus," CDC Director Robert R. Redfield said in a statement. "Distribution of these diagnostic tests to state laboratories, U.S. government partners and more broadly to the global public health community will accelerate efforts to confront this evolving global public health challenge."
The test kit has not been cleared or approved by the Food and Drug Administration, but the FDA on Tuesday issued an Emergency Use Authorization.
Initially, about 200 test kits will be distributed to U.S. laboratories and a similar number will be distributed to select international labs. Each test kit can process 700 to 800 patient specimens.


upi--2020-02-06--People with cluster headaches miss twice as much work

People afflicted with cluster headaches miss work twice as often as colleagues without the debilitating headaches , a new study finds .
Cluster headaches are extremely painful headaches that last from 15 minutes to three hours , for many days , or even weeks , in a row .
They 're more common in men .
For the study , Swedish researchers compared more than 3,200 working-age people who get cluster headaches with 16,200 people who do n't have them .
In 2010 , headache sufferers averaged 16 sick days , compared to just under seven days for the headache-free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disability days were added in , people with cluster headaches averaged 63 missed workdays a year .
Those without headaches averaged 34 .
And those with less education missed more work than those with more schooling : 86 days for those who completed only elementary school ; 65 for those who finished high school ; and 41 days for those who went to college , according to the report .
The researchers also found that women with cluster headaches took twice as many sick days ( 24 ) as men ( 12 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sick and disability days , compared with 53 for men .
The study was published online Feb. 5 in the journal Neurology .
Author Dr. Christina Sjostrand said the findings show that `` cluster headaches dramatically interfere '' with people 's capacity to work .
She 's a researcher in the department of clinical neuroscience at Karolinska Institute in Stockholm .
`` More research is needed on how to best treat and manage this form of headache so people who experience them have fewer days in pain and miss fewer days of work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news release .
`` While it is believed that men and women experience cluster headaches in mostly similar ways , it may be that we do not yet have a full picture of sex differences in the disease , '' she added .
`` The reasons for these sex differences are unclear and more studies are needed . ''
Cluster headaches affect about one in every 1,000 people in the United States .
The American Migraine Foundation has more on cluster headaches .

People afflicted with cluster headaches miss work twice as often as colleagues without the debilitating headaches, a new study finds.
Cluster headaches are extremely painful headaches that last from 15 minutes to three hours, for many days, or even weeks, in a row. They're more common in men.
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For the study, Swedish researchers compared more than 3,200 working-age people who get cluster headaches with 16,200 people who don't have them.
In 2010, headache sufferers averaged 16 sick days, compared to just under seven days for the headache-free group, the findings showed.
When disability days were added in, people with cluster headaches averaged 63 missed workdays a year. Those without headaches averaged 34.
And those with less education missed more work than those with more schooling: 86 days for those who completed only elementary school; 65 for those who finished high school; and 41 days for those who went to college, according to the report.
The researchers also found that women with cluster headaches took twice as many sick days (24) as men (12), and had an average of 84 sick and disability days, compared with 53 for men.
The study was published online Feb. 5 in the journal Neurology.
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Author Dr. Christina Sjostrand said the findings show that "cluster headaches dramatically interfere" with people's capacity to work. She's a researcher in the department of clinical neuroscience at Karolinska Institute in Stockholm.
"More research is needed on how to best treat and manage this form of headache so people who experience them have fewer days in pain and miss fewer days of work," Sjostrand said in a journal news release.
"While it is believed that men and women experience cluster headaches in mostly similar ways, it may be that we do not yet have a full picture of sex differences in the disease," she added. "The reasons for these sex differences are unclear and more studies are needed."
Cluster headaches affect about one in every 1,000 people in the United States.
More information
The American Migraine Foundation has more on cluster headaches.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-02-06--In photos: Highlights from the week of February 3, 2020 in Washington, D.C.

The `` witch hunt '' began , he said , `` the day we came down the elevator '' -- @ @ @ @ @ the race for president in June 2015 -- `` and it never really stopped .
@ @ @ @ @

Trump holds documents related to the emoluments case against him. An appeals court ruled Friday that congressional Democrats don't have legal ground to sue Trump for profiting from his business empire while serving as president. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI


upi--2020-02-06--Watch: Firefighters rescue cat with head stuck in tire rim

Feb. 6 ( UPI ) -- Firefighters in California said they ended up using a power saw to free a @ @ @ @ @ its head stuck through the middle of a tire rim .
The Cal Fire/Riverside County @ @ @ @ @ from Station 65 in Moreno Valley responded to a call from the Riverside County Department @ @ @ @ @ with a cat rescue .
The firefighters brought the whole tire , which the cat @ @ @ @ @ the rim , to their station , where they used a power saw to carefully @ @ @ @ @ feline .
The cat was taken to a local animal shelter , where it is @ @ @ @ @ for adoption .

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Feb. 6 (UPI) -- Firefighters in California said they ended up using a power saw to free a cat that ended up with its head stuck through the middle of a tire rim.
The Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department said a crew from Station 65 in Moreno Valley responded to a call from the Riverside County Department of Animal Services to assist with a cat rescue.
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The firefighters brought the whole tire, which the cat's head still stuck in the rim, to their station, where they used a power saw to carefully cut the rim around the feline.
The cat was taken to a local animal shelter, where it is expected to be put up for adoption.