upi--2020-02-11--Prosecutors request Roger Stone serve 7-9 years in prison

Feb. 11 ( UPI ) -- Prosecutors have asked a federal judge to sentence Roger Stone , a political operative and former campaign adviser to President Donald Trump , to serve up to nine years in prison for obstructing a congressional investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election .
The federal prosecutors told a U.S. district court judge in a sentencing memorandum that Stone , 67 , should be sentenced to seven to nine years due to the seriousness of his offenses and that he knew exactly what he was doing when he committed them .
`` Roger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interference in the 2016 election , lied under oath and tampered with a witness , '' the prosecution wrote in the filing .
`` And when his crimes were revealed by the indictment in this case , he displayed contempt for this court and the rule of law .
For that , he should be punished in accord with the advisory guidelines . ''
The memorandum detailed how Stone made `` repeated efforts '' to obtain information from WikiLeaks , which had published a trove of emails stolen from Trump 's then-political rival @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Congressional committee investigating Russian interference in the election five lies designed to conceal his communications with the Trump campaign about the controversial website .
They also said he tampered with a witness , Randy Credico , for months through `` badgering and threatening Credico 's reputation , friend , life and dog '' to convince him to lie to Congress to prevent it from learning of his communications with WikiLeaks .
Following being indicted , the court entered an order prohibiting Stone from making comments about the case , which he ignored @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issued , Stone posted an image to Instagram of the presiding judge with crosshairs next to her head with a comment that suggested he was being set up .
He then lied to the court about who published the image .
The filing states Stone should be sentenced for up to nine years as his actions deserve adequate punishment and to deter potential future crimes .
`` Stone 's criminal conduct was not an act of desperation , '' the prosecutors said .
`` He is a man of substantial means , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from his years of being a political advisor and confidant to powerful politicians , and from being an author and host of his own political radio show .
Rather , his conduct was undertaken purposefully , by someone who knew exactly what he was doing . ''
Trump voiced his displeasure over the request Tuesday , calling it `` disgraceful '' on Twitter .
Stone is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 20 after it was delayed late last year for his lawyers to arrange his financial situation .
In Stone 's sentencing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ receive no more than 15 months in prison .
Stone was found guilty in November on seven criminal counts , making him the sixth Trump staffer to be convicted on charges related to former special counsel Robert Mueller 's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election .

Roger Stone, a former advisor to President Donald Trump, arrives with his wife Nydia for his trial at the E. Barrett Prettyman United States Courthouse in Washington, D.C., on November 7. File Photo by Tasos Katopodis/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 11 (UPI) -- Hours after the Department of Justice announced plans to lower a sentencing request for former Trump campaign adviser Roger Stone on Tuesday, four prosecutors quit the case. Prosecutors on Monday asked a federal judge to sentence Stone, 67, to up to nine years in prison for obstructing a congressional investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election. Advertisement
President Donald Trump voiced his displeasure over the request Tuesday, calling it "disgraceful" in one early-morning tweet, and "horrible and very unfair" and a "miscarriage of justice" in another tweet.
Shortly after the tweets, a senior Justice Department official told CBS News the department was "shocked" by the length of the sentencing recommendation.
"This is not what was briefed to the department," the official said. "The department believes the recommendation is extreme and excessive and is grossly disproportionate to Stone's offenses."
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Justice Department spokeswoman Kerri Kupec denied any communication between the White House and the department about the sentencing recommendation, saying department leadership decided to lower the prison term recommendation after the court filing became available Monday evening.
Hours after the Justice Department's announcement to lower the recommendation, four of the federal prosecutors working on the case, Adam Jed, Jonathan Kravis, Michael Marando and Aaron S.J. Zelinsky, quit. Two of them -- Kravis and Zelinsky -- resigned entirely as employees of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Washington, D.C.
Late Tuesday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi accused Trump of having engaged in political interference in the sentencing of Stone.
"It is outrageous that DOJ has deeply damaged the rule of law by withdrawing its recommendation," she said in a statement. "Stepping down of prosecutors should be commended and actions of DOJ should be investigated."
Federal prosecutors told a U.S. district court judge in a sentencing memorandum that Stone should be sentenced to seven years to nine years as a "general deterrence" due to the seriousness of his offenses and that he knew exactly what he was doing when he committed them.
"Roger Stone obstructed Congress' investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, lied under oath and tampered with a witness," the prosecution wrote in the filing. "And when his crimes were revealed by the indictment in this case, he displayed contempt for this court and the rule of law. For that, he should be punished in accord with the advisory guidelines."
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The memorandum detailed how Stone made "repeated efforts" to obtain information from WikiLeaks, which had published a trove of emails stolen from Trump's then-political rival, Hillary Clinton. Stone then told the Congressional committee investigating Russian interference in the election five lies designed to conceal his communications with the Trump campaign about the controversial website.
They also said he tampered with a witness, Randy Credico, for months through "badgering and threatening Credico's reputation, friend, life and dog" to convince him to lie to Congress to prevent it from learning of his communications with WikiLeaks.
Following being indicted, the court entered an order prohibiting Stone from making comments about the case, which he ignored.
Three days after the order was issued, Stone posted an image to Instagram of the presiding judge with crosshairs next to her head with a comment that suggested he was being set up. He then lied to the court about who published the image.
The filing states Stone should be sentenced for up to nine years as his actions deserve adequate punishment and to deter potential future crimes.
"Stone's criminal conduct was not an act of desperation," the prosecutors said. "He is a man of substantial means, and he has enjoyed a modicum of fame from his years of being a political advisor and confidant to powerful politicians, and from being an author and host of his own political radio show. Rather, his conduct was undertaken purposefully, by someone who knew exactly what he was doing."
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Stone is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 20 after it was delayed late last year for his lawyers to arrange his financial situation.
In Stone's sentencing memorandum, his lawyers said he should receive no more than 15 months in prison.
Stone was found guilty in November on seven criminal counts, making him the sixth Trump staffer to be convicted on charges related to former special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
Trump, speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Tuesday afternoon, blamed the original sentencing proposal of up to nine years on the federal prosecutors who worked on the Mueller probe.
"They ought to be ashamed of themselves," he said. "I think it's been disgraceful."
He declined to comment on whether he's considering commuting Stone's sentence.


upi--2020-02-11--Two new meds ineffective against Alzheimer's in trials

Two experimental drugs do not appear to slow memory loss or mental decline in patients in the early stages of a rare , inherited form of Alzheimer 's disease , according to initial results from a clinical trial .
The international phase 2 and 3 clinical trial separately evaluated the two drugs -- solanezumab , by Eli Lilly and Co. , and gantenerumab , from Roche and its U.S. affiliate , Genentech -- in nearly 200 people with dominantly inherited Alzheimer 's disease , also called autosomal dominant Alzheimer 's disease .
People with this form of Alzheimer 's suffer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in their 50s , 40s or even 30s .
The patients were followed for up to seven years , with an average of five years .
Initial analysis suggests that neither drug achieved the primary outcome of the study , which was a slowing of mental decline as measured by thinking and memory tests .
`` Although the drugs we evaluated were not successful , the trial will move us forward in understanding Alzheimer 's , '' study director Dr. Randall Bateman , a professor of neurology at Washington University in St. Louis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The study can help guide future research into the disease , including the more common form that typically strikes after age 65 , according to Bateman .
Alzheimer's-related brain changes that occur as the disease progresses are much the same in patients with the inherited , younger-onset and the late-onset forms of the disease , he explained .
Both forms have `` silent '' phases that begin up to two decades before symptoms appear .
The disease process starts with the accumulation of plaques of the protein amyloid beta in the brain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were designed to target the protein .
A more detailed analysis of the trial 's data will be presented for the first time April 2-5 at the Advances in Alzheimer 's and Parkinson 's Therapies annual meeting , in Vienna , Austria .
Research presented at meetings is considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal .
The Alzheimer 's Association has more on younger-onset Alzheimer 's disease .

Two experimental drugs do not appear to slow memory loss or mental decline in patients in the early stages of a rare, inherited form of Alzheimer's disease, according to initial results from a clinical trial.
The international phase 2 and 3 clinical trial separately evaluated the two drugs -- solanezumab, by Eli Lilly and Co., and gantenerumab, from Roche and its U.S. affiliate, Genentech -- in nearly 200 people with dominantly inherited Alzheimer's disease, also called autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease.
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People with this form of Alzheimer's suffer declines in memory and thinking skills starting in their 50s, 40s or even 30s.
The patients were followed for up to seven years, with an average of five years. Initial analysis suggests that neither drug achieved the primary outcome of the study, which was a slowing of mental decline as measured by thinking and memory tests.
"Although the drugs we evaluated were not successful, the trial will move us forward in understanding Alzheimer's," study director Dr. Randall Bateman, a professor of neurology at Washington University in St. Louis, said in a university news release.
The study can help guide future research into the disease, including the more common form that typically strikes after age 65, according to Bateman.
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Alzheimer's-related brain changes that occur as the disease progresses are much the same in patients with the inherited, younger-onset and the late-onset forms of the disease, he explained.
Both forms have "silent" phases that begin up to two decades before symptoms appear. The disease process starts with the accumulation of plaques of the protein amyloid beta in the brain. The two drugs in the study were designed to target the protein.
A more detailed analysis of the trial's data will be presented for the first time April 2-5 at the Advances in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Therapies annual meeting, in Vienna, Austria. Research presented at meetings is considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.
More information
The Alzheimer's Association has more on younger-onset Alzheimer's disease.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-02-11--Lack of MLB stars, roster turnover could force USA Baseball out of Olympics

Feb. 11 ( UPI ) -- The U.S. baseball team might not qualify for the 2020 Summer Games because Major League Baseball most likely will refuse to let its best players compete in the Olympics .
Baseball and softball are returning to the Olympics for the first time since 2008 .
Baseball competition is set for Tokyo between July 29 and Aug. 8 .
While USA Baseball can use free agents , the U.S. team -- composed of prospects and a few veterans -- has yet to qualify for the Summer Games .
The team missed its first chance to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ innings in the WBSC Premier12 tournament in Tokyo during November .
But it will get one or maybe two more shots .
Team USA will be among eight squads playing in another qualifier in March in Arizona , trying to earn a spot in the six-team Olympic field .
Mexico , Japan , Korea and Israel have clinched the right to play at the Games .
Whoever wins the Arizona tournament will go to the Olympics , while the second- and third-place finishers will battle in Taiwan during April for the final Olympic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arizona will be the Dominican Republic , Puerto Rico , Nicaragua , Cuba , Venezuela , Canada and Colombia .
MLB shuns participation in the Games by its players because franchises fear diminished attendance and potential injuries to key players during the Olympics , which coincides with the U.S. professional baseball season .
Star players sometimes feel the same way , particularly about avoiding injuries that could affect their entire season or even their careers .
MLB has n't said officially that players on the 40-man rosters for its 30 teams will not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's Olympics , but that has been the rule in the past .
The architects of the current Team USA squad anticipate that will be the rule again in Tokyo .
`` I have a free agent list now , but that will change daily up to spring training , '' USA Baseball national team general manager Eric Campbell said .
MLB franchises still can sign players and declare them ineligible for the Olympics , making the U.S. team of today look completely different when the Games start .
Campbell described the status @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pattern . ''
Team USA catcher and 10-year MLB veteran Erik Kratz recently signed a Minor League Baseball contract with the New York Yankees .
He wants to focus on cracking the big league roster , but still is preparing for Japan .
`` I have to stay ready for qualifying and eventually be ready for the Olympics .
I hope I 'm still going to be able to do it , but it 's not up to me , '' Kratz said .
MLB and the MLB Players Association did not respond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ player participation .
About half of the U.S. team from the last qualifier in November will be ineligible for the next one in March as a result of being signed by MLB teams or because of injuries .
The roster turnover gives teammates just a few days to practice together before taking the field .
`` You ca n't look too far ahead , but it 's definitely something I would consider a disadvantage as far as building a team and team camaraderie , '' Kratz said .
Kratz said a friend received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two days before the 2008 Olympics , making him ineligible to represent the United States .
That friend was sent down to the minors a week later and would have been eligible -- except that the Olympics already had begun .
While focusing on qualifying for the Olympics , USA Baseball is tracking star free agents .
Players have mixed feelings because they want to represent the United States in Japan , but they 'd also like to get snapped up by a major league team .
`` It 's truly up in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Andrew Vaughn , one of the Chicago White Sox 's top prospects , said about his status on the team .
`` I really do n't have a clue yet .
I would obviously love to play in the Olympics .
There is no doubt about that . ''
While Team USA 's goal is winning , MLB franchises scout players from Olympic qualifiers they might consider for their rosters .
This conundrum means a player 's performance helps and hurts USA Baseball 's prospects of Olympic success since contributions to the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ result in a talented player being signed by a big league team and being forced off the roster .
`` It 's such a great development tool , '' Kratz said .
`` I would encourage any organization with any player they want to have an impact on a big league team [ to participate ] .
Playing international baseball is the best way to learn how to win .
Ultimately , that 's what I assume all the big league teams want to do . ''
Despite the tight loss to Mexico @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on recruiting star free agents to help win a slot in the next qualifying round .
`` We are going to try and win the games .
That 's our strategy , '' Kratz said .
Baseball is excluded from the 2024 Olympics , but could return at the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles due to popularity of the sport in the United States .
`` Playing in the Olympics is something that 's an incredible honor and opportunity , '' Kratz said .
`` I do n't know of anybody who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If you opened it up to guys on a 40-man roster , the team we could put together would be incredible .
It would be really good for baseball . ''
Baseball 's lack of star participation not only weakens Team USA , but also the entire Olympic field .
More than 250 players from 20 countries outside of the United States were on MLB opening-day rosters in 2019 .
Japan will halt play in its Nippon Professional Baseball League during the Olympics , helping the host country field a strong squad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unwilling to do , unlike the National Hockey League , which has suspended play to allow players to compete in the Olympics .
`` There is no way Japan wanted to host an Olympics without baseball .
That 's their sport , '' Campbell said .
`` The local host will have a great influence .
We think the same thing will happen in 2028 with Los Angeles . ''
The World Baseball Classic could be another obstacle for the Olympics .
The international tournament is a joint venture between MLB and its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during spring training every four years .
`` If Major League Baseball did n't own the WBC , I think they would allow players to play , '' Kratz said .
`` But it 's tough .
It 's not free to stop your season .
`` But what it would do for the Olympic competition would be incredible .
[ MLB ] started the WBC , and I think that is part of the driving force of not sending big league players or even Minor League 40-man roster guys . ''
Campbell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a roadblock , but rather as a barometer for the interest level of MLB players representing their home countries .
`` I think the World Baseball Classic shows year in and year out how much players want to play for their country , '' Campbell .
`` If a player agrees to play in the World Baseball Classic , that 's not going to dilute his stance of playing in the Olympics .
`` Contractually , he might not be able to play , but his love for playing in the uniform is @ @ @ @ @ @

Andrew Vaughn is one of the top prospects in baseball, but does not know if he will be part of Team USA if it qualifies for the 2020 Summer Games. Photo courtesy of USA Baseball
Feb. 11 (UPI) -- The U.S. baseball team might not qualify for the 2020 Summer Games because Major League Baseball most likely will refuse to let its best players compete in the Olympics. Baseball and softball are returning to the Olympics for the first time since 2008. Baseball competition is set for Tokyo between July 29 and Aug. 8. Advertisement
While USA Baseball can use free agents, the U.S. team -- composed of prospects and a few veterans -- has yet to qualify for the Summer Games.
The team missed its first chance to qualify by losing to Mexico in extra innings in the WBSC Premier12 tournament in Tokyo during November. But it will get one or maybe two more shots.
Team USA will be among eight squads playing in another qualifier in March in Arizona, trying to earn a spot in the six-team Olympic field. Mexico, Japan, Korea and Israel have clinched the right to play at the Games.
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Whoever wins the Arizona tournament will go to the Olympics, while the second- and third-place finishers will battle in Taiwan during April for the final Olympic spot.
Also in the mix in Arizona will be the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua, Cuba, Venezuela, Canada and Colombia.
MLB shuns participation in the Games by its players because franchises fear diminished attendance and potential injuries to key players during the Olympics, which coincides with the U.S. professional baseball season.
Star players sometimes feel the same way, particularly about avoiding injuries that could affect their entire season or even their careers.
No official word
MLB hasn't said officially that players on the 40-man rosters for its 30 teams will not be eligible to participate in this year's Olympics, but that has been the rule in the past. The architects of the current Team USA squad anticipate that will be the rule again in Tokyo.
"I have a free agent list now, but that will change daily up to spring training," USA Baseball national team general manager Eric Campbell said.
MLB franchises still can sign players and declare them ineligible for the Olympics, making the U.S. team of today look completely different when the Games start. Campbell described the status of his roster as a "holding pattern."
Advertisement
Team USA catcher and 10-year MLB veteran Erik Kratz recently signed a Minor League Baseball contract with the New York Yankees. He wants to focus on cracking the big league roster, but still is preparing for Japan.
"I have to stay ready for qualifying and eventually be ready for the Olympics. I hope I'm still going to be able to do it, but it's not up to me," Kratz said.
MLB and the MLB Players Association did not respond to several requests for comment regarding future player participation.
Little practice
About half of the U.S. team from the last qualifier in November will be ineligible for the next one in March as a result of being signed by MLB teams or because of injuries. The roster turnover gives teammates just a few days to practice together before taking the field.
"You can't look too far ahead, but it's definitely something I would consider a disadvantage as far as building a team and team camaraderie," Kratz said.
Kratz said a friend received his first promotion to the major leagues two days before the 2008 Olympics, making him ineligible to represent the United States. That friend was sent down to the minors a week later and would have been eligible -- except that the Olympics already had begun.
Advertisement
While focusing on qualifying for the Olympics, USA Baseball is tracking star free agents. Players have mixed feelings because they want to represent the United States in Japan, but they'd also like to get snapped up by a major league team.
"It's truly up in the air," Team USA's Andrew Vaughn, one of the Chicago White Sox's top prospects, said about his status on the team. "I really don't have a clue yet. I would obviously love to play in the Olympics. There is no doubt about that."
While Team USA's goal is winning, MLB franchises scout players from Olympic qualifiers they might consider for their rosters. This conundrum means a player's performance helps and hurts USA Baseball's prospects of Olympic success since contributions to the U.S. effort can help the team advance or result in a talented player being signed by a big league team and being forced off the roster.
"It's such a great development tool," Kratz said. "I would encourage any organization with any player they want to have an impact on a big league team [to participate]. Playing international baseball is the best way to learn how to win. Ultimately, that's what I assume all the big league teams want to do."
Advertisement
Despite the tight loss to Mexico, Team USA players aren't focused on recruiting star free agents to help win a slot in the next qualifying round.
"We are going to try and win the games. That's our strategy," Kratz said.
Honor, opportunity
Baseball is excluded from the 2024 Olympics, but could return at the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles due to popularity of the sport in the United States.
"Playing in the Olympics is something that's an incredible honor and opportunity," Kratz said. "I don't know of anybody who wouldn't be willing to do it. If you opened it up to guys on a 40-man roster, the team we could put together would be incredible. It would be really good for baseball."
Baseball's lack of star participation not only weakens Team USA, but also the entire Olympic field. More than 250 players from 20 countries outside of the United States were on MLB opening-day rosters in 2019.
Japan will halt play in its Nippon Professional Baseball League during the Olympics, helping the host country field a strong squad. That's something MLB has been unwilling to do, unlike the National Hockey League, which has suspended play to allow players to compete in the Olympics.
Advertisement
"There is no way Japan wanted to host an Olympics without baseball. That's their sport," Campbell said. "The local host will have a great influence. We think the same thing will happen in 2028 with Los Angeles."
The World Baseball Classic could be another obstacle for the Olympics. The international tournament is a joint venture between MLB and its players association. The tournament takes place during spring training every four years.
"If Major League Baseball didn't own the WBC, I think they would allow players to play," Kratz said. "But it's tough. It's not free to stop your season.
"But what it would do for the Olympic competition would be incredible. [MLB] started the WBC, and I think that is part of the driving force of not sending big league players or even Minor League 40-man roster guys."
Campbell doesn't see the World Baseball Classic a roadblock, but rather as a barometer for the interest level of MLB players representing their home countries.
"I think the World Baseball Classic shows year in and year out how much players want to play for their country," Campbell. "If a player agrees to play in the World Baseball Classic, that's not going to dilute his stance of playing in the Olympics.
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"Contractually, he might not be able to play, but his love for playing in the uniform isn't going to change."


upi--2020-02-11--Western states battle invasive grasses that create tinderbox

Feb. 11 ( UPI ) -- After an uptick in massive wildfires and the loss of thousands of acres of sagebrush wildlife habitats , Western states are creating a regional battle plan to attack invasive annual grasses .
Quick-growing cheatgrass has galloped across the Great Basin states , crowding out native plants and providing a dry , fine fuel source that doubles the risk of wildfire on the rangeland , scientists say .
Cheatgrass crowds out the native bunch grasses , and when it burns , it knocks out sagebrush steppe habitat , home to the embattled sage grouse and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeds irritate the eyes , nostrils and mouths of livestock and wildlife .
The Western Governor 's Association 's Invasive Species Initiative has announced a special working group to fight cheatgrass and protect areas in the West where it has n't taken over .
The states have a lot of work to do .
Some 50 million acres are infested with cheatgrass in the United States .
Cheatgrass , also called broncograss , marching grass and Mormon wheat , was introduced from Asia 100 years ago in shipping containers .
The grass has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fragile ecosystems in Nevada , Arizona , Idaho , Wyoming , Colorado , California , Oregon and Utah .
In winter , while perennial native grasses lie dormant , cheatgrass gets an early start , soaking up water and broadcasting its seeds .
By summer , it dies , leaving dry , dead grass across the landscape .
`` You find these spiky seeds in your socks when you walk through the farm .
First you see a little bit , and the next year , you see more .
Suddenly you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said hay farm operator Rose Brinks , 84 , of LaPorte , Colo .
But the real threat of invasive grasses is wildfire .
In July , 2018 , the Martin fire burned a stretch of Nevada 's Owyhee Desert , scorching 430,000 acres of sagebrush steppe habitat .
The burn scar was visible from space .
The dried grass acts like kindling in a campfire , changing the fuel structure of the ecosystem , said Emily Fusco , a post-doctoral biology researcher at the University of Massachusetts , who studies wildfires and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moves into the system that provides a new type of fuel and is easily combusted , '' Fusco said in an interview .
The Martin fire was the largest in Nevada history , said Matthew Glenn , habitat restoration biologist with the Nevada Department of Wildlife .
It was followed by the South Sugarloaf fire in August , 2018 , which claimed almost 300,000 acres .
`` Cheatgrass lends itself to these megafires , '' Glenn said .
While sagebrush is damaged and weakened , cheatgrass quickly recovers after a fire .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a `` feedback loop , '' which eventually kills off sagebrush , he said .
In some areas of the West , cheatgrass has won the battle .
The Snake River Plain in Idaho , for example , has become essentially grassland now , said Portland , Ore.-based Jeremy Maestas , sage ecosystems specialist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture 's Natural Resources Conservation Service .
`` More weeds leads to more fire , leads to more weeds .
There 's a big fire every three to five years instead of every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ December , the U.S. Department of Agriculture , U.S .
Fish and Wildlife Service and various state agencies rolled out the `` Idaho Cheatgrass Challenge '' to proactively remove cheatgrass from sagebrush areas that are still intact to try to protect and expand the core sagebrush regions .
`` It 's essentially a battle plan , '' Maestas said .
Other states working with the governor 's association are creating similar plans .
And if cheatgrass is bad , other invasive grasses that follow are even worse , said Ann Kennedy , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the USDA 's Agricultural Research Service .
Medusahead and ventenata grass from Russia often take over after cheatgrass has invaded a habitat .
`` Cattle can graze on cheatgrass when it 's still green , but these other grasses are so full of silica , they have little nutritional value and give animals problems with their teeth , '' Kennedy said .
Kennedy is an expert in the battle of invasive grasses .
With researchers at Washington State University , she developed a microbial weapon that soon might be available to farmers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the winter and inhibit the plants ' growth .
The bio-herbicide developed by Boise-based Biowest is awaiting EPA approval , said Kennedy , who now works as a plant consultant .
The USDA 's Maestas said state and federal agencies finally are working together this year to face the challenge of invasive grass and try to stop it before it takes over .
`` The problem [ with invasive grasses ] has been building up for 100-plus years and has only gotten worse .
You have to have respect for plants that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have moved to another continent and thrived .
`` But our native ecosystems are extremely resilient , and can beat cheatgrass .
If we help them , they have a chance . ''

1/3
The Martin fire burned a stretch of Nevada's Owyhee Desert, scorching 430,000 acres of sagebrush steppe habitat. The burn scar is visible from space in this natural-color satellite image on July 10, 2018. Actively burning areas, detected by thermal bands, are outlined in red. Image courtesy of NASA
Feb. 11 (UPI) -- After an uptick in massive wildfires and the loss of thousands of acres of sagebrush wildlife habitats, Western states are creating a regional battle plan to attack invasive annual grasses. Quick-growing cheatgrass has galloped across the Great Basin states, crowding out native plants and providing a dry, fine fuel source that doubles the risk of wildfire on the rangeland, scientists say. Advertisement
Cheatgrass crowds out the native bunch grasses, and when it burns, it knocks out sagebrush steppe habitat, home to the embattled sage grouse and 350 other animals. Its abundant sharp-spiked seeds irritate the eyes, nostrils and mouths of livestock and wildlife.
The Western Governor's Association's Invasive Species Initiative has announced a special working group to fight cheatgrass and protect areas in the West where it hasn't taken over.
The states have a lot of work to do. Some 50 million acres are infested with cheatgrass in the United States.
Advertisement
Cheatgrass, also called broncograss, marching grass and Mormon wheat, was introduced from Asia 100 years ago in shipping containers. The grass has marched relentlessly across the country, invading the fragile ecosystems in Nevada, Arizona, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, California, Oregon and Utah.
In winter, while perennial native grasses lie dormant, cheatgrass gets an early start, soaking up water and broadcasting its seeds. By summer, it dies, leaving dry, dead grass across the landscape.
"You find these spiky seeds in your socks when you walk through the farm. First you see a little bit, and the next year, you see more. Suddenly you have it -- cheatgrass Chernobyl," said hay farm operator Rose Brinks, 84, of LaPorte, Colo.
But the real threat of invasive grasses is wildfire.
In July, 2018, the Martin fire burned a stretch of Nevada's Owyhee Desert, scorching 430,000 acres of sagebrush steppe habitat. The burn scar was visible from space.
The dried grass acts like kindling in a campfire, changing the fuel structure of the ecosystem, said Emily Fusco, a post-doctoral biology researcher at the University of Massachusetts, who studies wildfires and invasive grass.
"A new grass moves into the system that provides a new type of fuel and is easily combusted," Fusco said in an interview.
Advertisement
The Martin fire was the largest in Nevada history, said Matthew Glenn, habitat restoration biologist with the Nevada Department of Wildlife. It was followed by the South Sugarloaf fire in August, 2018, which claimed almost 300,000 acres.
"Cheatgrass lends itself to these megafires," Glenn said. While sagebrush is damaged and weakened, cheatgrass quickly recovers after a fire. The cheatgrass burns again a few years later in a "feedback loop," which eventually kills off sagebrush, he said.
In some areas of the West, cheatgrass has won the battle.
The Snake River Plain in Idaho, for example, has become essentially grassland now, said Portland, Ore.-based Jeremy Maestas, sage ecosystems specialist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service.
"More weeds leads to more fire, leads to more weeds. There's a big fire every three to five years instead of every 50 to 100 years."
In December, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and various state agencies rolled out the "Idaho Cheatgrass Challenge" to proactively remove cheatgrass from sagebrush areas that are still intact to try to protect and expand the core sagebrush regions.
"It's essentially a battle plan," Maestas said. Other states working with the governor's association are creating similar plans.
Advertisement
And if cheatgrass is bad, other invasive grasses that follow are even worse, said Ann Kennedy, a Pullman, Wash.-based retired soil scientist for the USDA's Agricultural Research Service.
Medusahead and ventenata grass from Russia often take over after cheatgrass has invaded a habitat.
"Cattle can graze on cheatgrass when it's still green, but these other grasses are so full of silica, they have little nutritional value and give animals problems with their teeth," Kennedy said.
Kennedy is an expert in the battle of invasive grasses. With researchers at Washington State University, she developed a microbial weapon that soon might be available to farmers.
Specially grown bacteria attack invasive grass roots over the winter and inhibit the plants' growth. The bio-herbicide developed by Boise-based Biowest is awaiting EPA approval, said Kennedy, who now works as a plant consultant.
The USDA's Maestas said state and federal agencies finally are working together this year to face the challenge of invasive grass and try to stop it before it takes over.
"The problem [with invasive grasses] has been building up for 100-plus years and has only gotten worse. You have to have respect for plants that are as adaptable as cheatgrass, that have moved to another continent and thrived.
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"But our native ecosystems are extremely resilient, and can beat cheatgrass. If we help them, they have a chance."


upi--2020-02-11--On This Day, Feb. 11: Nelson Mandela released from prison

Feb. 11 ( UPI ) -- On this date in history : In 1858 , French peasant girl Bernadette Soubirous said the Virgin Mary appeared to her at Lourdes .
In 1929 , a Lateran treaty signed in Italy recognized the sovereignty of Vatican City .
In 1929 , Miss Bobbi Trout , an 18-year-old `` Tomboy '' who took up flying to avoid dish-washing , broke three world aviation records .
In 1941 , Glenn Miller 's Chattanooga Choo Choo was awarded the first gold record , given for sales of 1 million copies .
In 1945 , U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Winston Churchill and Soviet leader Josef Stalin ended a wartime conference at Yalta .
In 1965 , U.S. and South Vietnamese planes made their first bombing raids on North Vietnam .
In 1970 , Japan put a satellite , Ohsumi , in space , following the Soviet Union , the United States and France .
In 1990 , Nelson Mandela , leader of the movement to end South African apartheid , was released after 27 years in prison .
In 1993 , British Prime Minister John Major said Queen Elizabeth II would pay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well as being subject to capital and inheritance levies .
In 2006 , U.S. adventurer Steve Fossett broke the solo flight record when he landed near Bournemouth , England , covering 24,997 miles after taking off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida four days earlier .
In 2009 , a long , bitter political fight in Zimbabwe apparently was resolved when President Robert Mugabe swore in opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai as prime minister .
In 2011 , Hosni Mubarak stepped down after nearly 30 years as president of Egypt , bowing to intense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of massive , often violent protests that spawned a reported death toll of more than 800 people .
Mubarak , 82 , ceded power to the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces .
In 2012 , Whitney Houston , an American pop singing star who sold millions of albums and starred in movies , was found dead in a Beverly Hills , Calif. , hotel room .
The Los Angeles coroner said the 48-year-old entertainer died of accidental drowning in her bathtub but that cocaine and heart disease also played a role .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ military plane crashed into a mountain in eastern Algeria , killing 77 people , including civilians .
There was one survivor , a soldier .
In 2016 , the last four remaining armed occupiers at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon surrendered after a 41-day standoff that left one dead .
In 2018 , a passenger jet carrying 71 people on board crashed after takeoff from a Moscow airport , killing all on board .

1/5
South African leader Nelson Mandela (C) and wife Winnie (R) wave to the crowd of supporters June 25, 1990. On February 11, 1990, Mandela was released after 27 years in prison. File Photo by Martin Jeong/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 11 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1858, French peasant girl Bernadette Soubirous said the Virgin Mary appeared to her at Lourdes. Advertisement
In 1929, a Lateran treaty signed in Italy recognized the sovereignty of Vatican City.
In 1929, Miss Bobbi Trout, an 18-year-old "Tomboy" who took up flying to avoid dish-washing, broke three world aviation records.
In 1941, Glenn Miller's Chattanooga Choo Choo was awarded the first gold record, given for sales of 1 million copies.
In 1945, U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet leader Josef Stalin ended a wartime conference at Yalta.
UPI File Photo
In 1965, U.S. and South Vietnamese planes made their first bombing raids on North Vietnam.
In 1970, Japan put a satellite, Ohsumi, in space, following the Soviet Union, the United States and France.
In 1990, Nelson Mandela, leader of the movement to end South African apartheid, was released after 27 years in prison.
In 1993, British Prime Minister John Major said Queen Elizabeth II would pay income tax on her personal income as well as being subject to capital and inheritance levies.
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In 2006, U.S. adventurer Steve Fossett broke the solo flight record when he landed near Bournemouth, England, covering 24,997 miles after taking off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida four days earlier.
In 2009, a long, bitter political fight in Zimbabwe apparently was resolved when President Robert Mugabe swore in opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai as prime minister.
File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI
In 2011, Hosni Mubarak stepped down after nearly 30 years as president of Egypt, bowing to intense public pressure to resign after 18 days of massive, often violent protests that spawned a reported death toll of more than 800 people. Mubarak, 82, ceded power to the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces.
In 2012, Whitney Houston, an American pop singing star who sold millions of albums and starred in movies, was found dead in a Beverly Hills, Calif., hotel room. The Los Angeles coroner said the 48-year-old entertainer died of accidental drowning in her bathtub but that cocaine and heart disease also played a role.
In 2014, an Algerian Hercules C-130 military plane crashed into a mountain in eastern Algeria, killing 77 people, including civilians. There was one survivor, a soldier.
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In 2016, the last four remaining armed occupiers at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon surrendered after a 41-day standoff that left one dead.
In 2018, a passenger jet carrying 71 people on board crashed after takeoff from a Moscow airport, killing all on board.


upi--2020-02-11--Famous birthdays for Feb. 11: Natalie Dormer, Khalid

Feb. 11 ( UPI ) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Aquarius .
-- Jeb @ @ @ @ @ and presidential son and brother , in 1953 ( age 67 )

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Natalie Dormer arrives on the red carpet at the Season 8 premiere of "Game of Thrones" at Radio City Music Hall on April 3 in New York City. The actor turns 38 on February 11. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 11 (UPI) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Aquarius. They include: Advertisement
-- Pope Gregory XIV in 1535
-- Englishman Henry Fox Talbot, a developer of photography, in 1800
-- Abolitionist/writer Lydia Maria Child in 1802
-- Inventor Thomas Edison in 1847
-- Boxer Max Baer in 1909
-- Film director Joseph L. Mankiewicz in 1909
-- Actor Eva Gabor in 1919
-- King Farouk, Egypt's last monarch, in 1920
-- Actor Leslie Nielsen in 1926
-- Actor Tina Louise in 1934 (age 86)
-- Actor Burt Reynolds in 1936
File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
-- Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega in 1938
-- Songwriter Gerry Goffin in 1939
-- Brazilian musician Sergio Mendes in 1941 (age 79)
-- Jeb Bush, former Florida governor and presidential son and brother, in 1953 (age 67)
-- Singer/songwriter Sheryl Crow in 1962 (age 58)
File Photo by Dennis Van Tine/UPI
-- Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin in 1964 (age 56)
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-- Actor Jennifer Aniston in 1969 (age 51)
-- Actor Damian Lewis in 1971 (age 49)
-- Surfer Kelly Slater in 1972 (age 48)
-- Radio host Alex Jones in 1974 (age 46)
-- Actor Isaiah Mustafa in 1974 (age 46)
-- Singer/guitarist Mike Shinoda in 1977 (age 43)
-- Singer/actor Brandy Norwood in 1979 (age 41)
File Photo by Alex Gallardo/UPI
-- Singer Kelly Rowland in 1981 (age 39)
-- Actor Natalie Dormer in 1982 (age 38)
-- Singer Aubrey O'Day in 1984 (age 36)
-- Actor Taylor Lautner in 1992 (age 28)
-- Singer Khalid, born Khalid Donnel Robinson, in 1998 (age 22)


upi--2020-02-11--Justice Dept sues California, New Jersey, Washington over 'sanctuary' laws

Feb. 11 ( UPI ) -- The Justice Department announced it is suing local and state governments in California , New Jersey and Washington State over laws the Trump administration says shelters criminals who have entered the country illegally .
The Justice Department announced the three separate lawsuits Monday as U.S. Attorney General William Barr told those in attendance for the National Sheriff 's Association winter conference that `` progressive '' politicians were jeopardizing the public 's safety through installing so-called sanctuary laws .
`` They have put in place policies and laws designed to thwart the ability of federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and thereby help them escape back into the community , '' Barr said .
`` They often proudly brand their jurisdictions as 'sanctuaries ' and package their obstructive policies in idealist and misleading rhetoric about 'protecting the immigrant community . '
'' The Justice Department filed a suit against California , its governor and its attorney general in a challenge to a law prohibiting private prisons , including those run by federal agencies , such as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement .
In New Jersey , it sued the state , its governor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limits state officials ' sharing of information with federal immigration authorities .
And in King County , Wash. , where Seattle is located , it sued the county and its chief executive over an executive order prohibiting its international airport from being used for deporting immigration detainees .
Barr accused these policies in his speech of having nothing to do with protecting those who enter the country illegally and live here peacefully but were made to allow `` criminal aliens '' to escape justice .
`` Their express purpose is to shelter aliens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for other crimes , '' he said .
`` This is neither lawful nor sensible . ''
In the California complaint , the Justice Department said the law banning private prisons will force the federal government to relocate prisoners and detainees at great expense .
`` The U.S .
Marshals Service , for example , which is responsible for the housing and transportation of federal prisoners awaiting trial and sentencing , will need to relocate nearly 50 percent of its inmates in the Southern District of California and nearly 30 percent of its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' the Justice Department said .
In New Jersey , it said the directive that limits the sharing of information on immigration status and release dates of detainees caused state officials to repeatedly fail to provide the information concerning non-U.S. citizens who had been charged with or convicted of crimes .
In 2018 when the directive was issued , New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said it was intended to build trust between local law enforcement and immigration communities .
Grewal said in a letter to all enforcement chief executives that the federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to enforce federal immigration law , which installs fear in the immigration community while hindering local law enforcement for solving crimes .
`` Put simply , New Jersey 's law enforcement officers protect the public by investigating state criminal offenses and enforcing state criminal laws .
They are not responsible for enforcing civil immigration violations , '' he said .
Following Monday 's announcement , he accused President Donald Trump of attacking immigration as he is facing re-election in November .
`` What 's disappointing is that my former colleagues at the Justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this election-year stunt , '' Grewal said in a statement .
King County Executive Dow Constantine accused Barr of `` bullying '' the county for being a `` welcoming community . ''
He said the ordinance requires the county to facilitate immigration directives only when accompanied by a court order .
`` Mass deportations raise deeply troubling human rights concerns , including separation of families , racial disproportionality in policing and constitutional issues of due process , '' he said in a statement .
`` My Executive Order of April 23 , 2109 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ practices consistent with our region 's values . ''
All three lawsuits challenge the policies as being unlawful under the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution that states federal laws generally trump state laws .
`` Enforcing a country 's immigration laws is an essential function of the national government , '' Barr said in his speech .
`` And no national government can enforce those laws properly if state and local governments are getting in the way . ''

U.S. Attorney General William Barr arrives for U.S. President Donald Trump's State of the Union address on February 4. Pool Photo by Leah Millis/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 11 (UPI) -- The U.S. Justice Department announced it is suing local and state governments in California, New Jersey and Washington state over laws the Trump administration says shelter criminals who have entered the country illegally. The department announced the three separate lawsuits Monday, as U.S. Attorney General William Barr told those in attendance for the National Sheriff's Association winter conference that "progressive" politicians were jeopardizing the public's safety through so-called sanctuary laws. Advertisement
"They have put in place policies and laws designed to thwart the ability of federal officers to take custody of these criminals and thereby help them escape back into the community," Barr said. "They often proudly brand their jurisdictions as 'sanctuaries' and package their obstructive policies in idealist and misleading rhetoric about 'protecting the immigrant community.'"
The Justice Department filed a suit against California, its governor and its attorney general in a challenge to a law prohibiting private prisons, including those run by federal agencies, such as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
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In New Jersey, it sued the state, its governor and attorney general over a directive that limits state officials' sharing of information with federal immigration authorities.
And in King County, Wash., where Seattle is located, it sued the county and its chief executive over an executive order prohibiting its international airport from being used for deporting immigration detainees.
Barr accused these policies in his speech of having nothing to do with protecting those who enter the country illegally and live here peacefully but were made to allow "criminal aliens" to escape justice.
"Their express purpose is to shelter aliens whom local law enforcement has already arrested for other crimes," he said. "This is neither lawful nor sensible."
In the California complaint, the Justice Department said the law banning private prisons will force the federal government to relocate prisoners and detainees at great expense.
"The U.S. Marshals Service, for example, which is responsible for the housing and transportation of federal prisoners awaiting trial and sentencing, will need to relocate nearly 50 percent of its inmates in the Southern District of California and nearly 30 percent of its total California inmates to out-of-state facilities," the Justice Department said.
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In New Jersey, it said the directive that limits the sharing of information on immigration status and release dates of detainees caused state officials to repeatedly fail to provide the information concerning non-U.S. citizens who had been charged with or convicted of crimes.
In 2018 when the directive was issued, New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said it was intended to build trust between local law enforcement and immigration communities.
Grewal said in a letter to all enforcement chief executives that the federal government has increasingly relied upon local police to enforce federal immigration law, which instills fear in the immigration community while hindering local law enforcement for solving crimes.
"Put simply, New Jersey's law enforcement officers protect the public by investigating state criminal offenses and enforcing state criminal laws. They are not responsible for enforcing civil immigration violations," he said.
Following Monday's announcement, he accused President Donald Trump of attacking immigration as he is facing re-election in November.
"What's disappointing is that my former colleagues at the Justice Department have agreed to go along with this election year stunt," Grewal said in a statement.
King County Executive Dow Constantine accused Barr of "bullying" the county for being a "welcoming community."
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He said the ordinance requires the county to facilitate immigration directives only when accompanied by a court order.
"Mass deportations raise deeply troubling human rights concerns, including separation of families, racial disproportionality in policing and constitutional issues of due process," he said in a statement. "My Executive Order of April 23, 2019, sought to make King County government practices consistent with our region's values."
All three lawsuits challenge the policies as being unlawful under the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution that states federal laws generally trump state laws.
"Enforcing a country's immigration laws is an essential function of the national government," Barr said in his speech. "And no national government can enforce those laws properly if state and local governments are getting in the way."


upi--2020-02-11--Anesthesia boosts depression risk after c-section, study says

Women who receive general anesthesia during a cesarean section delivery are at higher risk of severe postpartum depression that requires hospitalization , as well as self-inflicted harm and suicidal thoughts , a new study finds .
Researchers from Columbia University analyzed more than 428,000 discharge records of women who delivered by C-section in New York state hospitals between 2006 and 2013 .
Eight percent had general anesthesia .
In all , 1,158 women -- 3 percent -- had to be hospitalized for severe postpartum depression .
Of those , 60 percent were diagnosed at readmission , about 164 days after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anesthesia , general anesthesia was associated with a 54 percent increased odds of postpartum depression , and a 91 % higher risk of suicidal thoughts or self-inflicted injury .
The study only found an observation rather than a cause-and-effect link .
`` General anesthesia for cesarean delivery may increase the risk of postpartum depression because it delays the initiation of mother to infant skin-to-skin interaction and breastfeeding , and often results in more acute and persistent postpartum pain , '' study first author Dr. Jean Guglielminotti said in a university news release .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a new mother 's dissatisfaction with anesthesia in general , and can lead to negative mental health outcomes , '' he added .
Guglielminotti is an assistant professor of anesthesiology at Columbia 's Mailman School of Public Health in New York City .
General anesthesia can hasten delivery in an emergency , but he said there is no evidence that it improves outcomes for the baby and there is increasing evidence that it may have serious consequences for mothers .
`` Our findings underscore the need to avoid using general anesthesia for cesarean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mental health screening , counseling and other follow-up services to obstetric patients exposed to general anesthesia , '' said study co-author Dr. Guohua Li , a professor of epidemiology and anesthesiology .
The study was recently published online in the journal Anesthesia and Analgesia .
Postpartum depression has increased sevenfold in the United States over the past 15 years , to about 550,000 new cases a year .
It now affects as many as 1 in 7 new mothers , the researchers said .
The U.S. National Institute of Mental Health has more @ @ @ @

Women who receive general anesthesia during a cesarean section delivery are at higher risk of severe postpartum depression that requires hospitalization, as well as self-inflicted harm and suicidal thoughts, a new study finds.
Researchers from Columbia University analyzed more than 428,000 discharge records of women who delivered by C-section in New York state hospitals between 2006 and 2013. Eight percent had general anesthesia.
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In all, 1,158 women -- 3 percent -- had to be hospitalized for severe postpartum depression. Of those, 60 percent were diagnosed at readmission, about 164 days after their initial discharge.
Compared with local anesthesia, general anesthesia was associated with a 54 percent increased odds of postpartum depression, and a 91% higher risk of suicidal thoughts or self-inflicted injury. The study only found an observation rather than a cause-and-effect link.
"General anesthesia for cesarean delivery may increase the risk of postpartum depression because it delays the initiation of mother to infant skin-to-skin interaction and breastfeeding, and often results in more acute and persistent postpartum pain," study first author Dr. Jean Guglielminotti said in a university news release.
"These situations are often coupled with a new mother's dissatisfaction with anesthesia in general, and can lead to negative mental health outcomes," he added. Guglielminotti is an assistant professor of anesthesiology at Columbia's Mailman School of Public Health in New York City.
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General anesthesia can hasten delivery in an emergency, but he said there is no evidence that it improves outcomes for the baby and there is increasing evidence that it may have serious consequences for mothers.
"Our findings underscore the need to avoid using general anesthesia for cesarean delivery whenever possible, and to provide mental health screening, counseling and other follow-up services to obstetric patients exposed to general anesthesia," said study co-author Dr. Guohua Li, a professor of epidemiology and anesthesiology. The study was recently published online in the journal Anesthesia and Analgesia.
Postpartum depression has increased sevenfold in the United States over the past 15 years, to about 550,000 new cases a year. It now affects as many as 1 in 7 new mothers, the researchers said.
More information
The U.S. National Institute of Mental Health has more on postpartum depression.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-02-11--U.S. soldier pleads guilty to distributing bomb-making instructions

Feb. 11 ( UPI ) -- A 24-year-old U.S. Army soldier who said he wanted to travel to Ukraine to fight with a far-right military group has pleaded guilty to distributing bomb-making instructions , according to prosecutors .
The U.S. Attorney 's Office for the District of Kansas said in a statement that Jarrett William Smith , of Fort Riley , Kan. , pleaded guilty Monday to two counts of distributing information related to explosives , destructive devices and weapons of mass destruction .
Smith , a specialist 1st class infantry soldier who joined the Army in June 2017 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigation by the FBI .
According to court records , the FBI had been tracking Smith since March when he was stationed in Texas before being transferred to Kansas in July .
In August , a month before his arrest , Smith told an undercover FBI agent that he was looking for `` radicals '' like himself , about killing members of the anti-fascist left-wing group Antifa and about destroying nearby cell towers .
Authorities said he also instructed undercover FBI agents on how to make a vehicle bomb and described in detail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the use of a cell phone .
He also provided the agents with a recipe for creating improvised napalm .
`` The FBI received information that Smith gave out guidance to others on how to construct improvised explosive devices , '' the U.S. Attorney 's Office said .
`` He spoke to others on social media about wanting to travel to Ukraine to fight with a violent , far-right military group . ''
According to the prosecution , smith had discussed joining the Right Sector , the Ukrainian paramilitary group , with people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is to be sentenced May 18 and could face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $ 250,000 for each charge .

Feb. 11 (UPI) -- A 24-year-old U.S. Army soldier who said he wanted to travel to Ukraine to fight with a far-right military group has pleaded guilty to distributing bomb-making instructions, according to prosecutors.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Kansas said in a statement that Jarrett William Smith, of Fort Riley, Kan., pleaded guilty Monday to two counts of distributing information related to explosives, destructive devices and weapons of mass destruction.
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Smith, a specialist 1st class infantry soldier who joined the Army in June 2017, was arrested in September after months of investigation by the FBI.
According to court records, the FBI had been tracking Smith since March when he was stationed in Texas before being transferred to Kansas in July.
In August, a month before his arrest, Smith told an undercover FBI agent that he was looking for "radicals" like himself, about killing members of the anti-fascist left-wing group Antifa and about destroying nearby cell towers.
Authorities said he also instructed undercover FBI agents on how to make a vehicle bomb and described in detail how to detonate an explosive device through the use of a cell phone. He also provided the agents with a recipe for creating improvised napalm.
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"The FBI received information that Smith gave out guidance to others on how to construct improvised explosive devices," the U.S. Attorney's Office said. "He spoke to others on social media about wanting to travel to Ukraine to fight with a violent, far-right military group."
According to the prosecution, smith had discussed joining the Right Sector, the Ukrainian paramilitary group, with people online as early as 2016.
Smith is to be sentenced May 18 and could face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for each charge.


upi--2020-02-10--CDC confirms 13th case of coronavirus in the United States

Feb. 10 ( UPI ) -- The 13th case of the novel coronavirus in the United States has been detected in California , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday .
In a statement , the CDC said the patient was among the U.S. citizens who were recently evacuated from the Chinese city of Wuhan , the epicenter of the 2019-nCoV outbreak that began in December , and was under a federal-imposed 14-day quarantine .
`` CDC is conducting a thorough contact investigation of the person who has tested positive to determine contacts and to assess if those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the statement read .
The CDC confirmed to UPI that the patient was one of the hundreds of U.S. evacuees under quarantine at the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego , Calif. More than 800 U.S. nationals have been repatriated from Wuhan since Jan. 29 when the first evacuation flight arrived at the March Air Reserve Base in Riverside , Calif. , State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement , adding the most recent evacuation flights landed Friday .
News of the infection comes as the first batch of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the March Air Reserve Base .
A total of 195 U.S. nationals , mostly workers with the U.S. State Department and their families , will be released Tuesday after none and tested positive for the virus , Riverside County Public Health Office Cameron Kaiser said .
He said two individuals with symptoms were retested with their results also being negative .
`` We are working with state and federal partners to take every precaution to protect this community , and will take immediate action if any person being monitored develops symptoms of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ letter to the local community .
`` So far , no cases of nCoV have been detected , and we do n't expect it to happen , but we are ready if it does . ''
Evacuees have also been quarantined at Nebraska 's Camp Ashland .
Last week , the CDC confirmed the United States ' 12th case of the coronavirus as an adult in Wisconsin last week , stating it is believed the person came into contact with an infected individual while traveling to China .
China on Tuesday confirmed that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the outbreak with tens of thousands more infected .

This CDC illustration shows ultrastructural morphology exhibited by the 2019 novel coronavirus, or Covid-19. Illustration courtesy CDC
Feb. 10 (UPI) -- The 13th case of the novel coronavirus in the United States has been detected in California, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday. The World Health Organization on Tuesday also officially dubbed the new coronavirus Covid-19 in an effort to ease references to the global outbreak, officials said at a press briefing. Advertisement
In a statement, the CDC said the patient was among the U.S. citizens who were recently evacuated from the Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the Covid-19 outbreak that began in December, and was under a federally imposed 14-day quarantine.
"CDC is conducting a thorough contact investigation of the person who has tested positive to determine contacts and to assess if those contacts had high-risk exposures," the statement read.
The CDC confirmed to UPI that the patient was one of the hundreds of U.S. evacuees under quarantine at the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego.
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More than 800 U.S. nationals have been repatriated from Wuhan since Jan. 29, when the first evacuation flight arrived at the March Air Reserve Base in Riverside, Calif., State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement, adding the most recent evacuation flights landed Friday.
News of the infection comes as the first batch of evacuees plans to be released on Tuesday from the base.
A total of 195 U.S. nationals, mostly workers with the U.S. State Department and their families, will be released Tuesday after none have tested positive for the virus, Riverside County Public Health Office Cameron Kaiser said.
He said two people with symptoms were retested and their results were negative.
"We are working with state and federal partners to take every precaution to protect this community and will take immediate action if any person being monitored develops symptoms of 2019-nCov," he said in a letter to the local community. "So far, no cases of nCoV have been detected, and we don't expect it to happen, but we are ready if it does."
Evacuees have also been quarantined at Nebraska's Camp Ashland.
Last week, the CDC confirmed the United States' 12th case of the coronavirus as an adult in Wisconsin, stating it is believed the person came into contact with an infected individual while traveling to China.
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China on Tuesday confirmed that more than 1,000 people have died amid the outbreak with tens of thousands more infected.
Officially renamed
The WHO officially renamed the infection Covid-19 in response to criticism from public health professionals who felt the original name for the virus that has sickened more than 40,000 people in China, 2019 novel coronavirus, or nCoV, didn't reflect the seriousness of the ongoing outbreak.
WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during a press briefing Tuesday that the new name "did not refer to a geographical location, an animal, an individual or group of people, and which is also pronounceable and related to the disease."
"Having a name matters to prevent the use of other names that can be inaccurate or stigmatizing," he added. "It also gives us a standard format to use for any future coronavirus outbreaks.


upi--2020-02-10--Former Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa receives positive test results on injured hip

Feb. 10 ( UPI ) -- Former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Tua Tagovailoa continues to get healthier as the 2020 NFL Draft nears .
League sources told ESPN and NFL Media on Monday the most recent test results on Tagovailoa came back `` as positive as possible '' and showed that his fractured hip has healed .
Tagovailoa , a projected first-round selection in April 's NFL Draft , has good range of motion in the hip .
According to NFL Media , he could return to football activities in a month if he continues to progress well .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surgery in November , which caused him to miss the rest of his junior season at Alabama .
He declared for the upcoming draft on Jan. 6 , saying that he was optimistic he could return to the field in time for the start of the 2020 season .
Tagovailoa 's agent , Leigh Steinberg , told AL.com last month that his client is expected to be healthy by April and able to participate in throwing workouts for NFL teams .
Steinberg said Tagovailoa could hold about a 40-minute throwing session either at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a separate pro day sometime before the draft , depending on the quarterback 's health .
Tagovailoa completed 71.4 percent of his passes for 2,840 yards , 33 touchdowns and three interceptions with the Crimson Tide last season .

Former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Tua Tagovailoa underwent major hip surgery in November. File Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 10 (UPI) -- Former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Tua Tagovailoa continues to get healthier as the 2020 NFL Draft nears. League sources told ESPN and NFL Media on Monday the most recent test results on Tagovailoa came back "as positive as possible" and showed that his fractured hip has healed. Advertisement
Tagovailoa, a projected first-round selection in April's NFL Draft, has good range of motion in the hip. According to NFL Media, he could return to football activities in a month if he continues to progress well.
The 2018 Heisman Trophy runner-up underwent major hip surgery in November, which caused him to miss the rest of his junior season at Alabama. He declared for the upcoming draft on Jan. 6, saying that he was optimistic he could return to the field in time for the start of the 2020 season.
Tagovailoa's agent, Leigh Steinberg, told AL.com last month that his client is expected to be healthy by April and able to participate in throwing workouts for NFL teams. Steinberg said Tagovailoa could hold about a 40-minute throwing session either at Alabama's pro day in March or a separate pro day sometime before the draft, depending on the quarterback's health.
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Tagovailoa completed 71.4 percent of his passes for 2,840 yards, 33 touchdowns and three interceptions with the Crimson Tide last season.


upi--2020-02-10--XFL's Los Angeles Wildcats fire DC Pepper Johnson after season-opening loss

Feb. 10 ( UPI ) -- The Los Angeles Wildcats of the XFL made a series of moves Monday , two days after losing their season-opening game in the league 's inaugural campaign .
Los Angeles fired defensive coordinator Pepper Johnson in a decision that Wildcats head coach Winston Moss called `` difficult . ''
The team said no replacement has been named .
`` We recognize that there are issues we need to address for the 2020 season , '' Moss said in a statement .
`` While these decisions are difficult , we have given this significant thought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ best possible product on the field for our fans .
We thank Pepper for his contributions to the Wildcats and we are looking forward to our home opener this weekend . ''
The Wildcats allowed a league-worst 37 points in their season-opening loss to the Houston Roughnecks on Saturday .
Following the defeat , Moss voiced his frustration with the lack of production from the Wildcats ' defensive unit .
Houston quarterback P.J .
Walker threw four touchdown passes against the Wildcats .
Los Angeles managed to sack Walker only once .
Meanwhile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Johnson posted on social media that he is now a `` free agent . ''
The team did n't mention his apparent exit in its news release Monday .
Anthony Johnson was named one of four team captains for the Wildcats last week .
He recorded two total tackles in the Wildcats ' loss .

Feb. 10 (UPI) -- The Los Angeles Wildcats of the XFL made a series of moves Monday, two days after losing their season-opening game in the league's inaugural campaign.
Los Angeles fired defensive coordinator Pepper Johnson in a decision that Wildcats head coach Winston Moss called "difficult." The team said no replacement has been named.
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"We recognize that there are issues we need to address for the 2020 season," Moss said in a statement. "While these decisions are difficult, we have given this significant thought. We are here to put the best possible product on the field for our fans. We thank Pepper for his contributions to the Wildcats and we are looking forward to our home opener this weekend."
The Wildcats allowed a league-worst 37 points in their season-opening loss to the Houston Roughnecks on Saturday. Following the defeat, Moss voiced his frustration with the lack of production from the Wildcats' defensive unit.
"When there are 4 turnovers, you don't put pressure on the QB, & when you keep putting the defense in tough situations... it was very clear we didn't play well enough to win tonight." Advertisement Tomorrow, we hit the reset button. #ForTheLoveOfFootball pic.twitter.com/IGvMvedASm— Los Angeles Wildcats (@XFLWildcats) February 9, 2020
Houston quarterback P.J. Walker threw four touchdown passes against the Wildcats. Los Angeles managed to sack Walker only once.
Meanwhile, Wildcats linebacker and team captain Anthony Johnson posted on social media that he is now a "free agent." The team didn't mention his apparent exit in its news release Monday.
Free Agent!— Anthony Johnson (@AXJ76) February 10, 2020
Anthony Johnson was named one of four team captains for the Wildcats last week. He recorded two total tackles in the Wildcats' loss.


upi--2020-02-10--Coronavirus deaths top 1,000 as WHO arrives in China

Feb. 10 ( UPI ) -- Over 1,000 people in China have died from the novel coronavirus , Chinese health officials said Tuesday hours after an advance team of experts from the World Health Organization arrived in the Asian nation .
Officials with China 's National Health Commission confirmed a total of 1,016 people have died from the virus , dubbed 2019-nCoV , since patients first started falling ill with the mysterious new disease in early December .
The death toll skyrocketed from Sunday 's tally of 908 after 108 people died on Monday , making it the deadliest day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 97 tallied from the day prior .
Hubei province , the epicenter of the outbreak , accounted for 103 of Monday 's deaths , the officials said , with Wuhan , the city of 11 million people believed to be where the virus emerged from , recording 101 of them .
The number of confirmed cases grew to 42,638 , up by 2,478 cases from the day before , officials said .
Among the infected are 27 foreigners , China 's Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said Monday in his daily briefing with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remain in isolation .
The figure includes two deaths -- that of a U.S. citizen who died Thursday and a Japanese national who died over the weekend .
Geng said the U.S. citizen was a Chinese American who died in Wuhan and whose Chinese family had been in contact with medical officials during his treatment .
`` We offer the deepest condolences over the American national 's passing , '' Geng said .
`` We have notified the U.S. through diplomatic channels and will offer necessary assistance to the U.S. side and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly 4,000 patients infected with the virus have been cured and discharged from the hospital .
Worldwide , there have only been two deaths outside mainland China -- one in Hong Kong and one in the Philippines -- with the number of confirmed cases surpassing 300 in 24 countries , according to the World Health Organization .
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreysus said Monday that the situation of the epidemic remains unchanged as 99 percent of the infections reside within China and most of them were `` mild . ''
Ghebreysus announced that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ led by renowned Canadian epidemiologist Dr. Bruce Aylward , arrived in China to lay the groundwork for further experts to arrive .
The WHO 's chief said many people are asking about the status of the outbreak and this team , along with an international forum to kick off Tuesday in Geneva , will hopefully be able to better answer those questions .
While spread of the disease outside of China remains slow , he said recent concerns have been raised over new cases of the disease discovered in people who have no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detection of these small number of cases could be the spark that becomes a bigger fire but for now it is only a spark , '' he said .
`` Our objective remains containment .
We call on all countries to use the window of opportunity we have to prevent a bigger fire . ''
The number of deaths from the 2019-nCoV has exceeded the death toll from the severe acute respiratory syndrome epidemic from November 2002 to July 2003 that killed 774 people , mostly in China and Hong Kong .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was expanding its travel ban to Hong Kong and Macao .
Last week , it limited the issuance of visas to those from the two nearby Chinese regions but increased its precautions Monday due to the severity of the risk of infection , Taiwan 's Mainland Affairs Council said in a statement .
`` Except for business performance activities , internal transfers of multinational enterprises , spouses and minor children who have obtained residence permits , '' all from Hong Kong and Macau are barred from Taiwan , it said , adding those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subjected to a 14-day home quarantine .
Taiwan had previously suspended most direct passenger flights with mainland China .
Britain on Monday also declared the transmission of the novel coronavirus constitutes a `` serious and imminent threat to public health , '' hours after it announced its fourth confirmed case of the disease .
`` In light of the recent public health emergency from the novel coronavirus originating from Wuhan , secretary of state has made regulations to ensure that the public are protected as far as possible form the transmission of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Social Care said in a statement .
Two facilities have been designated for the isolation of patients and the province of Hubei has been declared as an `` infected area , '' under the new regulations , it said .
Britain on Sunday confirmed four patients have tested positive for the virus , raising the risk to the public from low to moderate .
`` The new case is a known contact of a previously confirmed UK case , and the virus was passed on in France , '' Chief Medical Officer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said late Sunday that while the spread of the disease outside China remains slow , there are now `` concerning instances '' of the spread of the disease from people who have not visited China .
Most of those who have been sickened with the virus have visited the Asian nation .
`` The detection of a small number of cases may indicate more widespread transmission in other countries , '' he said .
`` In short , we may only be seeing the tip of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the disease remains the WHO 's objective but all countries must prepare for the possible arrival of the virus .
`` I reiterate my call on all countries to share what they know about [ 2019-nCoV ] in real time with WHO .
I reiterate my call for calm .
I reiterate my call for solidarity -- human , financial and scientific solidarity , '' he said via Twitter .
`` Any break in solidarity is a victory for the virus . ''
A WHO-led team of international experts has also been dispatched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
The news comes as health experts in Australia 's New South Wales announced Monday they have grown the live coronavirus from NSW patients , which will allow health officials worldwide to faster contain the virus ' spread .
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said their discovery will expand access to better diagnostic testing for infected patients through better understanding of how the virus behaves and replicates .
`` Early and accurate diagnosis of infectious and deadly viruses is critical because undiagnosed patients can unknowingly transmit it to others , '' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pathologists were able to grow the virus by sequencing its genome and then growing the live virus from real patients instead of using synthetic materials , Hazzard said .
Professor Dominic Dwyer , NSW 's director of public health pathology , said their work will expand access to faster and reliable diagnostic testing .
`` Being able to cultivate the novel coronavirus with samples from NSW patients as opposed to trying to mimic it from synthetic specimens is a terrific breakthrough , '' Dwyer said .
`` We 're proud to be able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health Organization and international researchers and clinicians , so together we ultimately help save lives . ''
The news comes as Japan 's Health Ministry reported 60 new confirmed cases of coronavirus infection on a cruise ship under quarantine in Yokohama , which brings the total number of cases on the ship to 135 .
On Sunday , the Ministry of Health , Labor and Welfare reported a total of 70 cases from the Diamond Princess after an additional six people had fallen ill .
The ministry has tested over 336 of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been quarantined off Yokohama since Tuesday , but it is considering testing everyone on board .
All of the ill passengers have been removed from the ship and transported to local hospitals for treatment , Japanese health officials said .
In addition to the Americans , the newly diagnosed cases include 45 Japanese as well as travelers from Australia , Canada , England , the Philippines and Ukraine , Princess Cruises , which owns the ship , said in a statement .
`` We are taking a close look whether we can conduct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kato , the minister of health , labor and welfare .
Another ship owned by the company , the Caribbean Princess , curtailed its planned 14-day cruise in the Caribbean `` out of an abundance of caution due to guests reporting symptoms consistent with a mild case of gastrointestinal illness , '' according to a separate statement released Monday .
The affected passengers are being treated by the ship 's onboard medical team , and there are no cases of coronavirus identified among guests or crew , the company said .
The ship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to arrive in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday .
Meanwhile , some 3,600 passengers of a cruise ship named World Dream in Hong Kong have been allowed to leave after four days quarantined on the vessel .
The Hong Kong government also said its confirmed cases rose to 36 after it recorded 10 new cases , nine of which were among the same family who fell ill after sharing a meal .
The Center for Health Protection of the Department of Health said Sunday that 19 relatives shared the meal .
The spread of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the Ladies Professional Golf Association announcing Monday it is canceling the 2020 HSBC Women 's World Championships scheduled to run Feb. 27 to March 1 in Singapore .
`` The health and safety of our players , fans and everyone working on the event is always our highest priority , '' it said in a statement .
`` While we are disappointed that these tournaments will not take place this season , we look forward to returning to Asia soon . ''

A historical, normally tourist-heavy area is eerily empty as the deadly coronavirus threatens Beijing on Saturday. Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 10 (UPI) -- Over 1,000 people in China have died from the novel coronavirus, Chinese health officials said Tuesday hours after an advance team of experts from the World Health Organization arrived in the Asian nation. Officials with China's National Health Commission confirmed a total of 1,016 people have died from the virus, dubbed 2019-nCoV, since patients first started falling ill with the mysterious new disease in early December. Advertisement
The death toll skyrocketed from Sunday's tally of 908 after 108 people died on Monday, making it the deadliest day on record. The previous record was 97 tallied from the day prior.
Hubei province, the epicenter of the outbreak, accounted for 103 of Monday's deaths, the officials said, with Wuhan, the city of 11 million people believed to be where the virus emerged from, recording 101 of them.
The number of confirmed cases grew to 42,638, up by 2,478 cases from the day before, officials said.
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Among the infected are 27 foreigners, China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said Monday in his daily briefing with reporters, adding 22 of them still remain in isolation.
The figure includes two deaths -- that of a U.S. citizen who died Thursday and a Japanese national who died over the weekend.
Geng said the U.S. citizen was a Chinese American who died in Wuhan and whose Chinese family had been in contact with medical officials during his treatment.
"We offer the deepest condolences over the American national's passing," Geng said. "We have notified the U.S. through diplomatic channels and will offer necessary assistance to the U.S. side and the bereaved family."
Health officials said nearly 4,000 patients infected with the virus have been cured and discharged from the hospital.
Worldwide, there have only been two deaths outside mainland China -- one in Hong Kong and one in the Philippines -- with the number of confirmed cases surpassing 300 in 24 countries, according to the World Health Organization.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreysus said Monday that the situation of the epidemic remains unchanged as 99 percent of the infections reside within China and most of them were "mild."
Ghebreysus announced that an advance team of international experts, led by renowned Canadian epidemiologist Dr. Bruce Aylward, arrived in China to lay the groundwork for further experts to arrive.
Advertisement
The WHO's chief said many people are asking about the status of the outbreak and this team, along with an international forum to kick off Tuesday in Geneva, will hopefully be able to better answer those questions.
While spread of the disease outside of China remains slow, he said recent concerns have been raised over new cases of the disease discovered in people who have no travel history to China.
"The detection of these small number of cases could be the spark that becomes a bigger fire but for now it is only a spark," he said. "Our objective remains containment. We call on all countries to use the window of opportunity we have to prevent a bigger fire."
The number of deaths from the 2019-nCoV has exceeded the death toll from the severe acute respiratory syndrome epidemic from November 2002 to July 2003 that killed 774 people, mostly in China and Hong Kong.
In response, Taiwan announced starting Tuesday it was expanding its travel ban to Hong Kong and Macao.
Last week, it limited the issuance of visas to those from the two nearby Chinese regions but increased its precautions Monday due to the severity of the risk of infection, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council said in a statement.
Advertisement
"Except for business performance activities, internal transfers of multinational enterprises, spouses and minor children who have obtained residence permits," all from Hong Kong and Macau are barred from Taiwan, it said, adding those who do enter the island will be subjected to a 14-day home quarantine.
Taiwan had previously suspended most direct passenger flights with mainland China.
Britain on Monday also declared the transmission of the novel coronavirus constitutes a "serious and imminent threat to public health," hours after it announced its fourth confirmed case of the disease.
"In light of the recent public health emergency from the novel coronavirus originating from Wuhan, secretary of state has made regulations to ensure that the public are protected as far as possible form the transmission of the virus," the Department of Health and Social Care said in a statement.
Two facilities have been designated for the isolation of patients and the province of Hubei has been declared as an "infected area," under the new regulations, it said.
Britain on Sunday confirmed four patients have tested positive for the virus, raising the risk to the public from low to moderate.
"The new case is a known contact of a previously confirmed UK case, and the virus was passed on in France," Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty said in a statement.
Advertisement
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said late Sunday that while the spread of the disease outside China remains slow, there are now "concerning instances" of the spread of the disease from people who have not visited China. Most of those who have been sickened with the virus have visited the Asian nation.
"The detection of a small number of cases may indicate more widespread transmission in other countries," he said. "In short, we may only be seeing the tip of the iceberg."
Ghebreyesus said containment of the disease remains the WHO's objective but all countries must prepare for the possible arrival of the virus.
"I reiterate my call on all countries to share what they know about [2019-nCoV] in real time with WHO. I reiterate my call for calm. I reiterate my call for solidarity -- human, financial and scientific solidarity," he said via Twitter. "Any break in solidarity is a victory for the virus."
A WHO-led team of international experts has also been dispatched to China to investigate the outbreak, he said.
The news comes as health experts in Australia's New South Wales announced Monday they have grown the live coronavirus from NSW patients, which will allow health officials worldwide to faster contain the virus' spread.
Advertisement
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said their discovery will expand access to better diagnostic testing for infected patients through better understanding of how the virus behaves and replicates.
"Early and accurate diagnosis of infectious and deadly viruses is critical because undiagnosed patients can unknowingly transmit it to others," he said.
The team of scientists and pathologists were able to grow the virus by sequencing its genome and then growing the live virus from real patients instead of using synthetic materials, Hazzard said.
Professor Dominic Dwyer, NSW's director of public health pathology, said their work will expand access to faster and reliable diagnostic testing.
"Being able to cultivate the novel coronavirus with samples from NSW patients as opposed to trying to mimic it from synthetic specimens is a terrific breakthrough," Dwyer said. "We're proud to be able to share our discovery with the World Health Organization and international researchers and clinicians, so together we ultimately help save lives."
The news comes as Japan's Health Ministry reported 60 new confirmed cases of coronavirus infection on a cruise ship under quarantine in Yokohama, which brings the total number of cases on the ship to 135.
On Sunday, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare reported a total of 70 cases from the Diamond Princess after an additional six people had fallen ill.
Advertisement
The ministry has tested over 336 of the 3,700 people on the ship that has been quarantined off Yokohama since Monday, but it is considering testing everyone on board.
All of the ill passengers have been removed from the ship and transported to local hospitals for treatment, Japanese health officials said. In addition to the Americans, the newly diagnosed cases include 45 Japanese as well as travelers from Australia, Canada, England, the Philippines and Ukraine, Princess Cruises, which owns the ship, said in a statement.
"We are taking a close look whether we can conduct all the tests," said Katsunobu Kato, the minister of health, labor and welfare.
Another ship owned by the company, the Caribbean Princess, curtailed its planned 14-day cruise in the Caribbean "out of an abundance of caution due to guests reporting symptoms consistent with a mild case of gastrointestinal illness," according to a separate statement released Monday.
The affected passengers are being treated by the ship's onboard medical team, and there are no cases of coronavirus identified among guests or crew, the company said. The ship, with more than 4,100 is scheduled to arrive in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday.
Meanwhile, some 3,600 passengers of a cruise ship named World Dream in Hong Kong have been allowed to leave after four days quarantined on the vessel.
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The Hong Kong government also said its confirmed cases rose to 36 after it recorded 10 new cases, nine of which were among the same family who fell ill after sharing a meal.
The Center for Health Protection of the Department of Health said Sunday that 19 relatives shared the meal.
The spread of the disease is also affecting sports, with the Ladies Professional Golf Association announcing Monday it is canceling the 2020 HSBC Women's World Championships scheduled to run Feb. 27 to March 1 in Singapore.
"The health and safety of our players, fans and everyone working on the event is always our highest priority," it said in a statement. "While we are disappointed that these tournaments will not take place this season, we look forward to returning to Asia soon."


upi--2020-02-10--Vanessa Bryant on deaths of Kobe, Gianna: 'I can't process both at the same time'

Feb. 10 ( UPI ) -- Vanessa Bryant penned an emotional message on social media Monday , expressing her sadness and anger as she continues to cope with the deaths of her husband , Kobe Bryant , and daughter , Gianna , in last month 's helicopter crash .
In a lengthy post on Instagram , Vanessa Bryant said she 's been `` reluctant to put my feelings into words '' and has struggled to `` accept that both Kobe and Gigi are gone . ''
`` My brain refuses to accept that both Kobe and Gigi are gone , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't process both at the same time .
It 's like I 'm trying to process Kobe being gone but my body refuses to accept my Gigi will never come back to me .
It feels wrong .
Why should I be able to wake up another day when my baby girl is n't being able to have that opportunity ?
!
I 'm so mad .
She had so much life to live . ''
Bryant said she realizes that she must remain strong for her three surviving daughters , Natalia , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'm not with Kobe and Gigi but thankful that I 'm here with Natalia , Bianka and Capri , '' she wrote .
`` I know what I 'm feeling is normal .
It 's part of the grieving process .
I just wanted to share in case there 's anyone out there that 's experienced a loss like this .
God I wish they were here and this nightmare would be over .
`` Praying for all of the victims of this horrible tragedy .
Please continue to pray for all .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ feature from Slam Magazine about Kobe coaching Gianna 's youth basketball team .
Kobe Bryant , his 13-year-old daughter , Gianna , and seven others were killed when their helicopter crashed into a mountainside on Jan. 26 in Calabasas , Calif .
The group was headed to a girls basketball tournament at Kobe 's Mamba Sports Academy .
A public memorial was held Monday for Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli , his wife , Keri , and daughter , Alyssa .
Also killed in the crash were veteran pilot Ara Zobayan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her daughter , Payton .
Vanessa Bryant announced last week that a `` celebration of life '' memorial will be held Feb. 24 at Staples Center to honor Kobe and Gianna .

Former Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna (R), were among nine killed in a helicopter crash last month in Calabasas, Calif. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 10 (UPI) -- Vanessa Bryant penned an emotional message on social media Monday, expressing her sadness and anger as she continues to cope with the deaths of her husband, Kobe Bryant, and daughter, Gianna, in last month's helicopter crash. In a lengthy post on Instagram, Vanessa Bryant said she's been "reluctant to put my feelings into words" and has struggled to "accept that both Kobe and Gigi are gone." Advertisement
"My brain refuses to accept that both Kobe and Gigi are gone," she wrote. "I can't process both at the same time. It's like I'm trying to process Kobe being gone but my body refuses to accept my Gigi will never come back to me. It feels wrong. Why should I be able to wake up another day when my baby girl isn't being able to have that opportunity?! I'm so mad. She had so much life to live."
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Bryant said she realizes that she must remain strong for her three surviving daughters, Natalia, Bianka and Capri.
"Mad I'm not with Kobe and Gigi but thankful that I'm here with Natalia, Bianka and Capri," she wrote. "I know what I'm feeling is normal. It's part of the grieving process. I just wanted to share in case there's anyone out there that's experienced a loss like this. God I wish they were here and this nightmare would be over.
"Praying for all of the victims of this horrible tragedy. Please continue to pray for all."
The post also included a video feature from Slam Magazine about Kobe coaching Gianna's youth basketball team. Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven others were killed when their helicopter crashed into a mountainside on Jan. 26 in Calabasas, Calif. The group was headed to a girls basketball tournament at Kobe's Mamba Sports Academy.
A public memorial was held Monday for Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli, his wife, Keri, and daughter, Alyssa. Also killed in the crash were veteran pilot Ara Zobayan, Christina Mauser, Sarah Chester and her daughter, Payton.
Vanessa Bryant announced last week that a "celebration of life" memorial will be held Feb. 24 at Staples Center to honor Kobe and Gianna.