upi--2020-02-13--Watch: German farmer's marriage proposal spotted on Google Earth

Feb. 13 ( UPI ) -- A German farmer 's unusual marriage proposal involving a corn field and a camera @ @ @ @ @ effect -- it 's visible on Google Earth .
Steffen Schwarz said an experience helping @ @ @ @ @ maze gave him the idea to grow corn into the shape of the words `` @ @ @ @ @ '' in his field in the Huettenberg area of Hesse .
Schwartz said he waited @ @ @ @ @ and then asked his girlfriend to use a camera drone to check the are for @ @ @ @ @ spotted the proposal on the drone 's camera and turned to Shwartz , who presented @ @ @ @ @ she accepted .
Schwartz said he was surprised to later learn his proposal had been @ @ @ @ @ curious Internet users .
He said his aunt , who lives in Canada , sent @ @ @ @ @ satellite camera photo after she spotted it online .

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Feb. 13 (UPI) -- A German farmer's unusual marriage proposal involving a corn field and a camera drone had an unexpected side effect -- it's visible on Google Earth.
Steffen Schwarz said an experience helping someone else plant a corn maze gave him the idea to grow corn into the shape of the words "Will you marry me?" in his field in the Huettenberg area of Hesse.
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Schwartz said he waited for the corn to grow and then asked his girlfriend to use a camera drone to check the are for wild boar.
The woman spotted the proposal on the drone's camera and turned to Shwartz, who presented her with the ring when she accepted.
Schwartz said he was surprised to later learn his proposal had been spotted on Google Earth by curious Internet users. He said his aunt, who lives in Canada, sent him a screenshot of the satellite camera photo after she spotted it online.


upi--2020-02-13--Controversial South Korea pundit receives suspended prison sentence

Feb. 13 ( UPI ) -- A conservative South Korean commentator charged with creating falsified documents that framed pro-democracy activists as North Korean spies has been given a two-year suspended prison sentence .
Jee Man-won , who has alleged participants in the South 's May 18 , 1980 Gwangju Uprising were members of the North Korean military 's special forces , was also fined about $ 1,000 at a Seoul central district court , Yonhap reported Thursday .
Jee has been charged with defamation , including labeling South Korean Catholic priests as `` communists , '' alleging photos taken during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and accusing Kim Sa-bok , a South Korean taxi driver who became the subject of a 2017 hit movie about the events in Gwangju , of being a communist , according to Newsis .
According to a verdict from Justice Kim Tae-ho on Thursday , Jee framed citizens taking part in a pro-democracy movement .
Jee is also charged with slandering a North Korean defector who runs an Internet enterprise .
Kim also said Jee failed to make `` credible claims '' in court regarding his assertions of North Korean military involvement in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Korean priests affiliated with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Gwangju have previously sued Jee for defamation and for distorting history .
The event was a pro-democracy campaign that was violently suppressed 25 years ago by then-President Chun Doo-hwan .
South Korean family members of those who died during the movement say a total of 600 individuals were labeled communist or North Korean spies .
During the nine-day uprising , South Korea 's military junta beat and sometimes killed citizens , murdering 200 people and wounding another 1,800 , according to South Korean analysts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Jee 's opponents confronted him .
A scuffle ensued between Jee 's supporters and the opposition , Newsis reported .
One person collapsed following the fight outside the court and was taken away in an ambulance .
Jee exchanged handshakes with his conservative supporters before leaving the courthouse , according to the report .
Jee has been on trial and has made court appearances since 2016 .

A South Korean court ordered a suspended two-year prison sentence for a defendant accused of slandering pro-democracy activists. File Photo by Yonhap
Feb. 13 (UPI) -- A conservative South Korean commentator charged with creating falsified documents that framed pro-democracy activists as North Korean spies has been given a two-year suspended prison sentence. Jee Man-won, who has alleged participants in the South's May 18, 1980 Gwangju Uprising were members of the North Korean military's special forces, was also fined about $1,000 at a Seoul central district court, Yonhap reported Thursday. Advertisement
Jee has been charged with defamation, including labeling South Korean Catholic priests as "communists," alleging photos taken during the uprising show North Korean soldiers, and accusing Kim Sa-bok, a South Korean taxi driver who became the subject of a 2017 hit movie about the events in Gwangju, of being a communist, according to Newsis.
According to a verdict from Justice Kim Tae-ho on Thursday, Jee framed citizens taking part in a pro-democracy movement. Jee is also charged with slandering a North Korean defector who runs an Internet enterprise.
Kim also said Jee failed to make "credible claims" in court regarding his assertions of North Korean military involvement in a South Korean pro-democracy movement.
South Korean priests affiliated with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Gwangju have previously sued Jee for defamation and for distorting history.
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The event was a pro-democracy campaign that was violently suppressed 25 years ago by then-President Chun Doo-hwan.
South Korean family members of those who died during the movement say a total of 600 individuals were labeled communist or North Korean spies.
During the nine-day uprising, South Korea's military junta beat and sometimes killed citizens, murdering 200 people and wounding another 1,800, according to South Korean analysts.
Following his court appearance on Thursday, Jee's opponents confronted him. A scuffle ensued between Jee's supporters and the opposition, Newsis reported.
One person collapsed following the fight outside the court and was taken away in an ambulance. Jee exchanged handshakes with his conservative supporters before leaving the courthouse, according to the report.
Jee has been on trial and has made court appearances since 2016.


upi--2020-02-14--In photos: Sid and Marty Krofft receive star on Hollywood Walk of Fame in LA

Sid and Marty Krofft receive star on Hollywood Walk of Fame in LA Puppeteers/producers Sid and Marty Krofft were honored @ @ @ @ @ the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles on Thursday .
Their hit shows include @ @ @ @ @ '' “ Sigmund & the Sea Monsters , ” “ The Bugaloos , ” “ @ @ @ @ @ ”

Puppeteers/producers Sid (L) and Marty Krofft hold replica plaques during an unveiling ceremony honoring them with the 2,687th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI


upi--2020-02-14--Iran's foreign minister should be arrested in Europe

Feb. 14 ( UPI ) -- Inviting Mohammad Javad Zarif , the foreign minister of Iran , to address the Munich Security Conference on Friday and Saturday , where he joined more than 450 senior decision-makers as well as prime ministers and presidents from around the world , was a grave error .
Zarif has been listed as a terrorist by the U.S. State Department .
In January , he was banned from entering the United States to attend a United Nations Security Council meeting .
Why then , is the European Union still willing to extend the hand of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foreign minister , Zarif is in charge of Iran 's army of ambassadors and diplomatic staff .
In June 2018 , he was therefore responsible for the orders given to Assadollah Assadi , a diplomat from the Iranian Embassy in Vienna .
Assadi was allegedly instructed to hand over 500 grams of high explosives and a detonator to an Iranian couple from Antwerp , Belgium .
He allegedly ordered them to drive to Paris and detonate the bomb at a major rally organized by the National Council for Resistance in Iran and attended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operation by the German , French and Belgian intelligence services led to the arrest of Assadi and the other conspirators , all of whom are now in prison in Belgium , awaiting trial on charges of terrorism .
It was well known that Rudy Giuliani and other high-ranking international political leaders would be attending and speaking at this rally .
So Zarif must clearly have planned the terrorist attack with Mahmoud Alavi , Iran 's minister of intelligence , and Reza Amiri Moghaddam , head of the Ministry of Intelligence & Security 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a high-level atrocity could only have been validated by Hassan Rouhani , the so-called `` moderate '' president of Iran and the country 's supreme leader , Sayyid Ali Khamenei .
Zarif had even arranged to fly to Vienna the day following the proposed bombing outrage , presumably to congratulate Assadi personally and to spread the usual lies and propaganda , no doubt blaming the Mojahedin e-Khalq/People 's Mojahedin of Iran , the main opposition to the mullahs , for planning the attack on their own supporters so that they could point the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But Zarif 's plan backfired horribly , leaving him lamely trying to claim that the arrest of his diplomat and other trained Iranian agents was a `` false flag operation '' designed to deceive , by enemies of Iran .
It will be interesting to see what the Belgian courts make of this ludicrous claim .
Ironically , the senior diplomat whom Assadi had replaced in the Vienna Embassy was Mostafa Roodaki , another trained MOIS agent .
He had previously been the head of the Iranian regime 's intelligence station in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the MEK/PMOI across the whole of Europe .
Roodaki had been redeployed to Albania by Zarif , with the rank of first secretary in the Iranian Embassy in Tirana .
He was joined there by a new ambassador appointed by Zarif , Gholam Hossein Mohammadinia , a former high-ranking Iranian intelligence official who had also been a member of the Iranian nuclear negotiating team .
Zarif had clearly instructed his new team of `` diplomats '' in Albania that their main mandate was to track down and eliminate the MEK/PMOI , who had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ housing over 2,500 of their members .
But once again Zarif 's plans were thwarted .
Albanian intelligence officers uncovered a plot to detonate a bomb at a Nowruz ( Iranian New Year ) gathering of MEK/PMOI members in Tirana .
Two MOIS agents , together with Mohammadinia and his first secretary , Roodaki , were expelled from the country by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama .
These were not the only terror plots that bear the fingerprints of Zarif .
In October 2018 , the Iranian regime sent another senior MOIS agent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ties to the Iranian embassy and its ambassador in Norway , to assassinate an opposition figure in Denmark .
He too now awaits trial on terrorism charges .
Also , in 2018 two Iranian diplomats were expelled from the Netherlands for acts of terror .
With this catalog of assassinations and bomb plots involving Iranian diplomatic personnel under the leadership and guidance of Foreign Minister Javad Zarif , it is not surprising that the United States has decided to label him as a terrorist .
Yet the West continues to believe that his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mean that he must be a trustworthy moderate with whom we can negotiate .
Giving this person a platform in Munich was a big mistake , particularly because Zarif , like Khamenei , is a Holocaust denier .
In a reference to the West , Iran 's supreme leader said in a speech on Feb. 7 2006 , which was posted on his English language website : `` The freedom of expression which they claim to advocate does not allow them to raise doubts about the myth of the massacre of the Jews @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zarif was asked by ABC News , `` Do you endorse or reject the ayatollah 's belief that the Holocaust is a myth ? ''
he replied : `` I have spoken to him about this .
He was mistranslated .
This is the problem when you translate something from Persian to English , it gets lost in translation . ''
Addressing students at Columbia University in 2006 , Zarif was asked by a student : `` Do you personally believe that 6 million Jews died in the Holocaust ? ''
Zarif responded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be asked is what is the crime committed by the Palestinians in these atrocities . ''
When the students cried out in anger at his failure to answer , he lamely fell back on the supreme leader 's issue of `` freedom of expression , '' stating : `` I 'm answering .
If you want to cypher the right to freedom of expression , then that 's your problem , not mine . ''
Allowing Zarif to address the security conference in Munich , during the year which marks the 75th anniversary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a serious error .
Zarif , as both a Holocaust denier and a sponsor of state terrorism , should be placed on the EU terrorist blacklist and arrested next time he sets foot in Europe .
Struan Stevenson is the coordinator of the Campaign for Iran Change .
He was a member of the European Parliament representing Scotland ( 1999-2014 ) , president of the Parliament 's Delegation for Relations with Iraq ( 2009-14 ) and chairman of the Friends of a Free Iran Intergroup ( 2004-14 ) .
He is an international @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the European Iraqi Freedom Association .

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has been listed as a terrorist by the U.S. State Department. File Photo by Miguel Gutierrez/EPA-EFE
Feb. 14 (UPI) -- Inviting Mohammad Javad Zarif, the foreign minister of Iran, to address the Munich Security Conference on Friday and Saturday, where he joined more than 450 senior decision-makers as well as prime ministers and presidents from around the world, was a grave error. Zarif has been listed as a terrorist by the U.S. State Department. In January, he was banned from entering the United States to attend a United Nations Security Council meeting. Why then, is the European Union still willing to extend the hand of friendship to this listed terrorist? Advertisement
As foreign minister, Zarif is in charge of Iran's army of ambassadors and diplomatic staff. In June 2018, he was therefore responsible for the orders given to Assadollah Assadi, a diplomat from the Iranian Embassy in Vienna. Assadi was allegedly instructed to hand over 500 grams of high explosives and a detonator to an Iranian couple from Antwerp, Belgium.
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He allegedly ordered them to drive to Paris and detonate the bomb at a major rally organized by the National Council for Resistance in Iran and attended by over 100,000 people. A combined operation by the German, French and Belgian intelligence services led to the arrest of Assadi and the other conspirators, all of whom are now in prison in Belgium, awaiting trial on charges of terrorism.
It was well known that Rudy Giuliani and other high-ranking international political leaders would be attending and speaking at this rally. So Zarif must clearly have planned the terrorist attack with Mahmoud Alavi, Iran's minister of intelligence, and Reza Amiri Moghaddam, head of the Ministry of Intelligence & Security's Foreign Intelligence and Movements Organization.
Such a high-level atrocity could only have been validated by Hassan Rouhani, the so-called "moderate" president of Iran and the country's supreme leader, Sayyid Ali Khamenei. Zarif had even arranged to fly to Vienna the day following the proposed bombing outrage, presumably to congratulate Assadi personally and to spread the usual lies and propaganda, no doubt blaming the Mojahedin e-Khalq/People's Mojahedin of Iran, the main opposition to the mullahs, for planning the attack on their own supporters so that they could point the finger of blame at the Iranian regime.
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But Zarif's plan backfired horribly, leaving him lamely trying to claim that the arrest of his diplomat and other trained Iranian agents was a "false flag operation" designed to deceive, by enemies of Iran. It will be interesting to see what the Belgian courts make of this ludicrous claim. Ironically, the senior diplomat whom Assadi had replaced in the Vienna Embassy was Mostafa Roodaki, another trained MOIS agent.
He had previously been the head of the Iranian regime's intelligence station in Austria and had been coordinating activities against the MEK/PMOI across the whole of Europe. Roodaki had been redeployed to Albania by Zarif, with the rank of first secretary in the Iranian Embassy in Tirana. He was joined there by a new ambassador appointed by Zarif, Gholam Hossein Mohammadinia, a former high-ranking Iranian intelligence official who had also been a member of the Iranian nuclear negotiating team.
Zarif had clearly instructed his new team of "diplomats" in Albania that their main mandate was to track down and eliminate the MEK/PMOI, who had created a new compound in the country housing over 2,500 of their members.
But once again Zarif's plans were thwarted. Albanian intelligence officers uncovered a plot to detonate a bomb at a Nowruz (Iranian New Year) gathering of MEK/PMOI members in Tirana. Two MOIS agents, together with Mohammadinia and his first secretary, Roodaki, were expelled from the country by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama.
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These were not the only terror plots that bear the fingerprints of Zarif. In October 2018, the Iranian regime sent another senior MOIS agent -- Mohammad Davoudzadeh Lului -- with close ties to the Iranian embassy and its ambassador in Norway, to assassinate an opposition figure in Denmark. He too now awaits trial on terrorism charges. Also, in 2018 two Iranian diplomats were expelled from the Netherlands for acts of terror.
With this catalog of assassinations and bomb plots involving Iranian diplomatic personnel under the leadership and guidance of Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, it is not surprising that the United States has decided to label him as a terrorist. Yet the West continues to believe that his mastery of English and his benign smile mean that he must be a trustworthy moderate with whom we can negotiate. Giving this person a platform in Munich was a big mistake, particularly because Zarif, like Khamenei, is a Holocaust denier.
In a reference to the West, Iran's supreme leader said in a speech on Feb. 7 2006, which was posted on his English language website: "The freedom of expression which they claim to advocate does not allow them to raise doubts about the myth of the massacre of the Jews known as the Holocaust." When Zarif was asked by ABC News, "Do you endorse or reject the ayatollah's belief that the Holocaust is a myth?" he replied: "I have spoken to him about this. He was mistranslated. This is the problem when you translate something from Persian to English, it gets lost in translation."
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Addressing students at Columbia University in 2006, Zarif was asked by a student: "Do you personally believe that 6 million Jews died in the Holocaust?" Zarif responded: "The question that needs to be asked is what is the crime committed by the Palestinians in these atrocities." When the students cried out in anger at his failure to answer, he lamely fell back on the supreme leader's issue of "freedom of expression," stating: "I'm answering. If you want to cypher the right to freedom of expression, then that's your problem, not mine."
Allowing Zarif to address the security conference in Munich, during the year which marks the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, was a serious error. Zarif, as both a Holocaust denier and a sponsor of state terrorism, should be placed on the EU terrorist blacklist and arrested next time he sets foot in Europe.
Struan Stevenson is the coordinator of the Campaign for Iran Change. He was a member of the European Parliament representing Scotland (1999-2014), president of the Parliament's Delegation for Relations with Iraq (2009-14) and chairman of the Friends of a Free Iran Intergroup (2004-14). He is an international lecturer on the Middle East and president of the European Iraqi Freedom Association.


upi--2020-02-14--British bank RBS changes name in evolution to 'purpose-led' operation

Feb. 14 ( UPI ) -- The Royal Bank of Scotland announced Friday it will change its name to the NatWest Group later this year as part of a shift to become a `` purpose-led '' operation -- and distance itself from scandals related to a major bailout more than a decade ago .
RBS will still exist , but the parent company will undergo the name change .
Most branches in Scotland will keep the Royal Bank of Scotland name and signage .
The bank , which is 62 percent owned by British taxpayers , said the new name @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affect customer services .
RBS nearly collapsed in 2008 but was saved by a government bailout of more than $ 50 billion .
RBS ' reputation was further damaged by various accusations over activities that led to the crisis .
The parent company has been known as RBS for nearly 300 years , but officials said they felt now is a good time to make the change and reflect that NatWest is its largest brand .
CEO Alison Rose , who took over last fall , said the change marks the start of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of the bank 's plan to cut about $ 325 million in costs this year .
That savings plan will almost certainly come with some layoffs and branch closures , though Rose did n't specify those Friday .
`` Customers will see no change to products or services as a result of this change and will continue to be served through the brands they recognize today , '' the bank said in a statement .
`` As we build a purpose-led bank focused on our customers , this is the right time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brand under which the majority of our business is delivered . ''
As part of its strategy as a purpose-led bank , RBS will also stop lending and underwriting for major oil and gas producers that do not have plans to cut carbon emissions levels that are in line with the multinational Paris Agreement .
The bank may take similar action against companies which continue to operate with certain levels of coal power , and said it will phase out coal financing entirely by 2030 .
It also said it will halve the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end of the 2020s .
`` On our balance sheet , only 1 percent of our lending is to the oil and gas sector , and in coal it 's marginal , '' Rose said .
`` But , for me , the key message here is we 're all going to need to work together ; no one organization is going to solve the climate challenge on their own and we 're very keen to work with business , with regulators , with industry to help make the plans to transition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ RBS reported an operating profit Friday of $ 5.5 billion for 2019 , exceeding its financial targets .

As a purpose-led bank, RBS also said it will no longer do business with companies that do not have serious transition plans to move away from fossil fuels. File Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 14 (UPI) -- The Royal Bank of Scotland announced Friday it will change its name to the NatWest Group later this year as part of a shift to become a "purpose-led" operation -- and distance itself from scandals related to a major bailout more than a decade ago. RBS will still exist, but the parent company will undergo the name change. Most branches in Scotland will keep the Royal Bank of Scotland name and signage. Advertisement
The bank, which is 62 percent owned by British taxpayers, said the new name is a branding evolution and will not affect customer services. RBS nearly collapsed in 2008 but was saved by a government bailout of more than $50 billion. RBS' reputation was further damaged by various accusations over activities that led to the crisis.
The parent company has been known as RBS for nearly 300 years, but officials said they felt now is a good time to make the change and reflect that NatWest is its largest brand.
CEO Alison Rose, who took over last fall, said the change marks the start of a "new era" and is part of the bank's plan to cut about $325 million in costs this year. That savings plan will almost certainly come with some layoffs and branch closures, though Rose didn't specify those Friday.
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"Customers will see no change to products or services as a result of this change and will continue to be served through the brands they recognize today," the bank said in a statement.
"As we build a purpose-led bank focused on our customers, this is the right time to align our group name with the brand under which the majority of our business is delivered."
As part of its strategy as a purpose-led bank, RBS will also stop lending and underwriting for major oil and gas producers that do not have plans to cut carbon emissions levels that are in line with the multinational Paris Agreement.
The bank may take similar action against companies which continue to operate with certain levels of coal power, and said it will phase out coal financing entirely by 2030. It also said it will halve the climate impact of its lending activity by the end of the 2020s.
"On our balance sheet, only 1 percent of our lending is to the oil and gas sector, and in coal it's marginal," Rose said.
"But, for me, the key message here is we're all going to need to work together; no one organization is going to solve the climate challenge on their own and we're very keen to work with business, with regulators, with industry to help make the plans to transition over the next 10 years."
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RBS reported an operating profit Friday of $5.5 billion for 2019, exceeding its financial targets.


upi--2020-02-14--President Donald Trump to be grand marshal at 2020 Daytona 500

Feb. 14 ( UPI ) -- President Donald Trump will be the grand marshal at the 2020 Daytona 500 , saying `` Gentleman , start your engines '' before the race Sunday at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach , Fla. A White House spokesman said Thursday Trump planned to attend the race , before the move was confirmed by Daytona International Speedway President Chip Wile .
`` We 're honored that the president of the United States has chosen to experience the pageantry and excitement of 'The Great American Race ' by attending Sunday 's 62nd annual Daytona 500 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump will be the second sitting U.S. president to attend a Daytona 500 and the first to have a role in the pre-race festivities .
Trump has attended several major sporting events during his tenure as president , including : the 2020 College Football Playoff National Championship ; the Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao boxing match in 2015 ; the 2015 U.S. Open tennis tournament ; the 2017 President 's Cup golf tournament ; the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship ; and the 2019 World Series .
Officials are also preparing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gov .
Ron DeSantis to attend the race .
The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a flight restriction for Sunday .
`` Ladies and Gentlemen , start your engines but not your drones , '' the U.S. Secret Service tweeted Wednesday .
`` The Secret Service is securing the NASCAR Daytona 500 by providing a 30-mile 'No Drone Zone . '
Enjoy the race . ''
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. , Alex Bowman , Joey Logano , William Byron and Aric Almirola will start in the top five at the 2020 Daytona 500 at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that reserved tickets for the 62nd annual Daytona 500 are sold out for the fifth consecutive year .
`` The Daytona 500 is one of the greatest events in sports and will unfold in front of a packed house , '' Wile said .
`` We have the most loyal and passionate fans in sports , and we are forever grateful for their support .
We look forward to another thrilling edition of 'The Great American Race ' as we kick off the new NASCAR season . ''

President Donald J. Trump will be the second sitting U.S. president to attend the Daytona 500 when he serves as grand marshal Sunday at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Photo by Jim Lo Scalzo/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 14 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump will be the grand marshal at the 2020 Daytona 500, saying "Gentlemen, start your engines" before the race Sunday at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. A White House spokesman said Thursday that Trump planned to attend the race before the move was confirmed by Daytona International Speedway President Chip Wile. A NASCAR spokesman said Friday Trump will be the grand marshal and deliver the starting command for the event. Advertisement
"We're honored that the president of the United States has chosen to experience the pageantry and excitement of 'The Great American Race' by attending Sunday's 62nd annual Daytona 500," Wile said in a statement.
Trump will be the second sitting U.S. president to attend a Daytona 500 and the first to have a role in the prerace festivities.
Former President George W. Bush attended the 2004 Daytona 500.
Trump has attended several major sporting events during his tenure as president, including: the 2020 College Football Playoff National Championship; the Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao boxing match in 2015; the 2015 U.S. Open tennis tournament; the 2017 President's Cup golf tournament; the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship; and the 2019 World Series.
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Officials are also preparing for first lady Melania Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to attend the race. The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a flight restriction for Sunday.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, start your engines but not your drones," the U.S. Secret Service tweeted Wednesday. "The Secret Service is securing the NASCAR Daytona 500 by providing a 30-mile 'No Drone Zone.' Enjoy the race."
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Alex Bowman, Joey Logano, William Byron and Aric Almirola will start in the top five at the 2020 Daytona 500 at 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
NASCAR announced Thursday that reserved tickets for the 62nd annual Daytona 500 are sold out for the fifth consecutive year.
"The Daytona 500 is one of the greatest events in sports and will unfold in front of a packed house," Wile said. "We have the most loyal and passionate fans in sports, and we are forever grateful for their support. We look forward to another thrilling edition of 'The Great American Race' as we kick off the new NASCAR season."


upi--2020-02-14--SpaceX plans to launch fifth Starlink batch Saturday

ORLANDO , Fla. , Feb. 14 ( UPI ) -- SpaceX plans to launch its fifth batch of Starlink satellites from Florida at 10:47 a.m. EST on Saturday , with a marginally favorable weather forecast .
A Falcon 9 rocket is loaded with 60 more Starlink spacecraft to lift off from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station , Fla. , about 60 miles east of Orlando .
SpaceX has 242 of its large dinner table-size satellites in orbit , each weighing over 500 pounds -- the largest single satellite constellation in orbit .
The launch comes as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Starlink as a separate publicly traded company , Bloomberg reported .
The space firm previously launched 60 Starlink satellites at a time in May , November and on Jan. 6 and Jan. 29 , with two test satellites launched before that .
If all continues on track for the constellation , 100 or more such Starlink launches could occur in the future .
SpaceX intends ultimately to launch thousands of satellites to beam broadband around the globe .
The Air Force predicts a 70 percent chance of favorable launch weather for Saturday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ date of Sunday .
The Saturday forecast also includes a moderate risk of rough weather at sea where SpaceX attempts to land the reusable first-stage booster on a robotic-controlled barge .
Starlink mission descriptions say satellites take months to reach their proper orbit , so judging the effectiveness of the experiment will take a while .
In the meantime , SpaceX continues launching Starlink .
Starlink satellites orbit at a height of about 340 miles above the Earth .
By comparison , the Kármán line that defines space is 62 miles high , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 250 miles high .
The Starlink satellites detach from the rocket 's second stage at an altitude of about 180 miles .
SpaceX engineers then conduct data reviews to ensure all Starlink satellites are operating as intended .
Once the checkouts are complete , the satellites use onboard ion thrusters to move into the final orbit height .
SpaceX says it is leveraging its experience in building rockets and spacecraft to deploy the world 's most advanced broadband Internet system in Starlink .
The company stacks the satellites in the rocket nosecone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ volume .

SpaceX plans to launch its fifth batch of 60 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. Photo courtesy of SpaceX | License Photo
ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 15 (UPI) -- SpaceX has delayed Sunday's planned launch of its fifth batch of Starlink satellites from Florida for technical reasons after an earlier after postponement caused by weather concerns. "Standing down from ... Starlink launch; the team is taking a closer look at a second stage valve component," the company tweeted early Saturday evening. Advertisement
SpaceX, headed by Elon Musk, said it now hopes to launch its Falcon 9 rocket Monday.
The Falcon 9 rocket is loaded with 60 more Starlink spacecraft to lift off from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., about 60 miles east of Orlando. SpaceX has 242 of its large dinner table-size satellites in orbit, each weighing over 500 pounds -- the largest single satellite constellation in orbit.
The launch will come shortly after SpaceX announced plans to spin off Starlink as a separate publicly traded company, Bloomberg reported.
The space firm previously launched 60 Starlink satellites at a time in May, November and on Jan. 6 and 29, with two test satellites launched before that.
If all continues on track for the constellation, 100 or more such Starlink launches could occur in the future. SpaceX intends ultimately to launch thousands of satellites to beam broadband around the globe.
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SpaceX is testing a satellite from an earlier launch that has a non-reflective coating, to see if it is less visible to astronomers and stargazers on the ground.
Starlink mission descriptions say satellites take months to reach their proper orbit, so judging the effectiveness of the experiment will take a while. In the meantime, SpaceX continues launching Starlink satellites.
The satellites orbit about 340 miles above the Earth. By comparison, the Kármán line that defines space is 62 miles high, and the International Space Station is more than 250 miles high.
The Starlink satellites detach from the rocket's second stage at an altitude of about 180 miles. SpaceX engineers then conduct data reviews to ensure all Starlink satellites are operating as intended. Once the checkouts are complete, the satellites use onboard ion thrusters to move into the final orbit height.
SpaceX has competitors who are planning their own new satellite constellations, including OneWeb and Amazon. SpaceX says it is leveraging its experience in building rockets and spacecraft to deploy the world's most advanced broadband Internet system in Starlink. The company stacks the satellites in the rocket nosecone, using a flat-panel design that minimizes volume.


upi--2020-02-14--Listen: Billie Eilish releases new James Bond theme 'No Time To Die'

Feb. 14 ( UPI ) -- Billie Eilish has released the title track for upcoming James Bond film , No Time To Die .
The singer uploaded the song to YouTube on Thursday .
No Time To Die , which will feature Daniel Craig as James Bond for the final time , is set to hit theaters on April 3 in the U.K. and on April 8 in the U.S. '' That I 'd fallen for a lie/ You were never on my side/ Fool me once , fool me twice/ Are you death or paradise ?
/ Now you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just no time to die , '' Eilish sings .
Eilish , 18 , is the youngest artist ever to write and record a James Bond theme song .
She created the piece with her brother , Finneas O'Connell , who also worked on Eilish 's hit debut album , When We All Fall Asleep , Where Do We Go ?
Eilish follows Adele who performed the theme song for Skyfall in 2012 and Sam Smith who performed `` Writing 's On The Wall '' for Spectre in 2015 .
No Time To @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is the 25th film in the James Bond series .
Lashana Lynch stars as Nomi , Rami Malek as new villain Safin , Lea Seydoux as Madeleine Swann , Christoph Waltz as Blofeld , Ralph Fiennes as M , Ben Whishaw as Q , Jeffrey Wright as Felix Leiter and Naomie Harris as Moneypenny .

Feb. 14 (UPI) -- Billie Eilish has released the title track for upcoming James Bond film, No Time To Die.
The singer uploaded the song to YouTube on Thursday. No Time To Die, which will feature Daniel Craig as James Bond for the final time, is set to hit theaters on April 3 in the U.K. and on April 8 in the U.S.
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"That I'd fallen for a lie/ You were never on my side/ Fool me once, fool me twice/ Are you death or paradise?/ Now you'll never see me cry/ There's just no time to die," Eilish sings.
Eilish, 18, is the youngest artist ever to write and record a James Bond theme song. She created the piece with her brother, Finneas O'Connell, who also worked on Eilish's hit debut album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
Eilish follows Adele who performed the theme song for Skyfall in 2012 and Sam Smith who performed "Writing's On The Wall" for Spectre in 2015.
No Time To Die, from director Cary Joji Fukunaga, is the 25th film in the James Bond series.
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Lashana Lynch stars as Nomi, Rami Malek as new villain Safin, Lea Seydoux as Madeleine Swann, Christoph Waltz as Blofeld, Ralph Fiennes as M, Ben Whishaw as Q, Jeffrey Wright as Felix Leiter and Naomie Harris as Moneypenny.


upi--2020-02-14--Mike Pompeo sets off for 1st Africa trip, will visit Senegal, Angola, Ethiopia

Feb. 14 ( UPI ) -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo began his first trip to sub-Saharan Africa Friday , where he will aid efforts to compete with the growing influence of China and fight threats of terrorism .
After a stopover in Germany to attend the Munich Security Conference , Pompeo departed to visit Senegal , Angola and Ethiopia over a five-day period .
Scheduled first are weekend meetings with Senegalese President Macky Sall and Foreign Minister Amadou Ba in Dakar , to be followed by talks with Angolan President Joao Lourenco and Foreign Minister Manuel Augusto Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and President Sahle-Work Zewde in Addis Ababa on Tuesday and Wednesday , when he will also hold talks with African Union Commission Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat .
After the final African stop , President Donald Trump 's chief diplomat will travel to the Middle East to visit Arab allies Saudi Arabia and Oman to discuss bilateral issues , including Iran , Yemen and human rights .
During his trip Friday , Pompeo posted a photo of weapons seized by U.S. authorities that he said were headed for Iranian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The U.S. Navy interdicted 358 Iranian-made missiles [ and ] other weapons components , '' he tweeted .
`` This is another example of the world 's largest state sponsor of terror the Islamic Republic of Iran continuing to defy the U.N. Security Council . ''
Pompeo 's visit to the African nations comes at a time of growing Chinese influence in the region , especially in Angola , where Beijing has promised to invest as much as $ 10 billion in industry , agriculture and scientific research .
U.S. State Department officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` U.S. engagement with these African countries and why the United States is a phenomenal partner for Africa . ''
The department seeks , for example , to expand economic ties with Angola .
Another common theme of the African trip is expected to focus on security and the threat of Islamic extremism and terrorism , especially in the Sahel region .
U.S. officials said Pompeo plans to praise Senegal , Angola and Ethiopia as `` major contributors to regional stability '' and work to support their leaders and anti-terror efforts of the @ @ @

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo walks off his plane in Munich, Germany, on Friday to attend a security conference ahead of his visit to three African nations. Photo courtesy U.S. Department of State/Mike Pompeo/Twitter
Feb. 14 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo began his first trip to sub-Saharan Africa Friday, where he will aid efforts to compete with the growing influence of China and fight threats of terrorism. After a stopover in Germany to attend the Munich Security Conference, Pompeo departed to visit Senegal, Angola and Ethiopia over a five-day period. Advertisement
Scheduled first are weekend meetings with Senegalese President Macky Sall and Foreign Minister Amadou Ba in Dakar, to be followed by talks with Angolan President Joao Lourenco and Foreign Minister Manuel Augusto Monday in Luanda.
Pompeo will then meet Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and President Sahle-Work Zewde in Addis Ababa on Tuesday and Wednesday, when he will also hold talks with African Union Commission Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat.
After the final African stop, President Donald Trump's chief diplomat will travel to the Middle East to visit Arab allies Saudi Arabia and Oman to discuss bilateral issues, including Iran, Yemen and human rights.
During his trip Friday, Pompeo posted a photo of weapons seized by U.S. authorities that he said were headed for Iranian-supported Houthi rebels in Yemen.
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"The U.S. Navy interdicted 358 Iranian-made missiles [and] other weapons components," he tweeted. "This is another example of the world's largest state sponsor of terror the Islamic Republic of Iran continuing to defy the U.N. Security Council."
Pompeo's visit to the African nations comes at a time of growing Chinese influence in the region, especially in Angola, where Beijing has promised to invest as much as $10 billion in industry, agriculture and scientific research.
U.S. State Department officials, however, said Pompeo will promote "U.S. engagement with these African countries and why the United States is a phenomenal partner for Africa." The department seeks, for example, to expand economic ties with Angola.
Another common theme of the African trip is expected to focus on security and the threat of Islamic extremism and terrorism, especially in the Sahel region. U.S. officials said Pompeo plans to praise Senegal, Angola and Ethiopia as "major contributors to regional stability" and work to support their leaders and anti-terror efforts of the African Union.
At the security conference in Munich, Pompeo was prompted to defend Trump's "America first" foreign policy.
"Our closest ally, the United States of America, under the current administration, rejects the very concept of the international community," German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said. "'Great again' but at the expense of neighbors and partners.
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"Thinking and acting this way hurts us all."
Trump has repeatedly criticized certain NATO members who have not met the bloc's 2014 guideline of spending 2 percent of their gross domestic economy on defense. Germany is one of 19 members who have not met the threshold.
"We are paying 4 to 4.3 percent when Germany's paying 1 to 1.2 percent at max of a much smaller GDP," Trump said at a NATO meeting in December. "That's not fair."


upi--2020-02-14--In photos: Zoe Kravitz attends 'High Fidelity' premiere in NYC

Zoe Kravitz stars as Rob .
John Cusack played Rob in the film version of `` High Fidelity '' in @ @ @ @ @ Angelillo/UPI

Zoe Kravitz stars as Rob. John Cusack played Rob in the film version of "High Fidelity" in 2000. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI


upi--2020-02-14--Daytona 500: Joey Logano, William Byron win qualifying races

Feb. 14 ( UPI ) -- Joey Logano and William Byron won the qualifying races to set the field for the 2020 Daytona 500 .
Logano claimed the checkered flag at Bluegreen Vacations Duel No .
1 Thursday at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach , Fla. Byron won Bluegreen Vacations Duel No .
2 .
Logano and Byron will start in the second row of the 2020 Daytona 500 , behind pole sitter Rickey Stenhouse Jr. and Alex Bowman .
`` Even though it 's just the Duels and not the 500 , it 's still a momentum builder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Almirola , Ryan Newman , Brad Keselowski and Bubba Wallace also finished in the top 5 for Bluegreen Vacations Duel No .
1 .
Jimmie Johnson , Kyle Larson , Kevin Harvick and Cole Custer finished behind Byron in Bluegreen Vacations Duel No .
2 .
Logano earned the lead during the final lap of Bluegreen Vacations Duel No .
1 , a 150-mile race .
Byron won his race by .117 , just edging teammate Jimmie Johnson .
Daniel Suarez wrecked his car in Bluegreen Vacations Duel No .
1 and will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was destroyed after he made contact with Ryan Blaney .
Suarez 's car slammed into a wall before sliding through the infield grass .
Almirola will start in the No .
5 spot of Sunday 's main event , behind Stenhouse , Bowman , Logano and Byron .
Johnson , Newman , Larson , Keselowski and Harvick will also start in the top 10 .
The 2020 Daytona 500 starts at 2:30 p.m. EST Sunday and will be broadcast by Fox .

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Joey Logano will start in the No. 3 spot at the 2020 Daytona 500 after winning Bluegreen Vacations Duel No. 1 Thursday at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Photo by Mike Gentry/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 14 (UPI) -- Joey Logano and William Byron won the qualifying races to set the field for the 2020 Daytona 500. Logano claimed the checkered flag at Bluegreen Vacations Duel No. 1 Thursday at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Byron won Bluegreen Vacations Duel No. 2. Logano and Byron will start in the second row of the 2020 Daytona 500, behind pole sitter Rickey Stenhouse Jr. and Alex Bowman. Advertisement
"Even though it's just the Duels and not the 500, it's still a momentum builder," Logano told reporters.
Aric Almirola, Ryan Newman, Brad Keselowski and Bubba Wallace also finished in the top 5 for Bluegreen Vacations Duel No. 1. Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Larson, Kevin Harvick and Cole Custer finished behind Byron in Bluegreen Vacations Duel No. 2.
Logano earned the lead during the final lap of Bluegreen Vacations Duel No. 1, a 150-mile race. Byron won his race by .117, just edging teammate Jimmie Johnson. Daniel Suarez wrecked his car in Bluegreen Vacations Duel No. 1 and will miss the Daytona 500. His car was destroyed after he made contact with Ryan Blaney. Suarez's car slammed into a wall before sliding through the infield grass.
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Almirola will start in the No. 5 spot of Sunday's main event, behind Stenhouse, Bowman, Logano and Byron. Johnson, Newman, Larson, Keselowski and Harvick will also start in the top 10.
The 2020 Daytona 500 starts at 2:30 p.m. EST Sunday and will be broadcast by Fox.


upi--2020-02-14--Watch: 'The Batman': Robert Pattinson suits up in camera test footage

Feb. 14 ( UPI ) -- Robert Pattinson dons the new Batman suit in camera test footage released for The Batman by director Matt Reeves .
Reeves uploaded a brief clip of Pattinson as Batman on video sharing site Vimeo on Thursday .
The footage is dark and offers only a brief glimpse of how the new Batman suit looks .
The chest piece displaying a new Batman symbol is featured along with part of Pattinson 's cowl .
Reeves confirmed on Twitter that the film 's cinematographer Greig Fraser shot the clip and that the music played during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michael Giacchino .
The Batman is set for release on June 25 , 2021 .
Production on the superhero epic began in January .
Zoe Kravitz stars as Catwoman , Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth , Colin Farrell as The Penguin , Paul Dano as The Riddler and Jeffrey Wright as Commissioner Gordon .
`` I 'm still in the process of talking to Matt Reeves who is the director and wrote the script and wrote a really , like beautiful , dark , moving script .
Really gorgeous , '' Farrell said @ @

Feb. 14 (UPI) -- Robert Pattinson dons the new Batman suit in camera test footage released for The Batman by director Matt Reeves.
Reeves uploaded a brief clip of Pattinson as Batman on video sharing site Vimeo on Thursday.
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The footage is dark and offers only a brief glimpse of how the new Batman suit looks. The chest piece displaying a new Batman symbol is featured along with part of Pattinson's cowl.
Reeves confirmed on Twitter that the film's cinematographer Greig Fraser shot the clip and that the music played during the footage is from the film's composer Michael Giacchino.
The Batman is set for release on June 25, 2021. Production on the superhero epic began in January.
Zoe Kravitz stars as Catwoman, Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth, Colin Farrell as The Penguin, Paul Dano as The Riddler and Jeffrey Wright as Commissioner Gordon.
"I'm still in the process of talking to Matt Reeves who is the director and wrote the script and wrote a really, like beautiful, dark, moving script. Really gorgeous," Farrell said previously.


upi--2020-02-14--Americans to spend a record $27.4B for Valentine's Day, survey says

Feb. 14 ( UPI ) -- Americans are expected to set a record for Valentine 's Day spending this year , according to a survey by the National Retail Federation .
U.S. adults celebrating the holiday told the NRF they plan to spend an average of $ 196.31 , a rise of 21 percent from last year 's record of $ 161.96 per person .
This year , Americans said they would collectively spend $ 27.4 billion for Valentine 's Day related items and events .
Experts at the NRF said the strength of the U.S. economy is a contributing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in average spending appears to be due to strong consumer finances and a continued trend of consumers buying more gifts , cards , candy and flowers for friends , family , coworkers and pets , '' the NRF said in its analysis .
`` The increase in total spending comes as the number of people celebrating Valentine 's Day returned to 55 percent , about average for the past decade after a dip to 52 percent last year . ''
The survey said Americans will spend an average of $ 101.21 on spouses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about $ 30 on other family members , $ 14 on friends and children 's classmates and teachers , $ 13 on co-workers , $ 12 on pets and $ 10 on others .
Collectively , U.S. shoppers said expect to spend most , nearly $ 6 billion , on jewelry , $ 4.3 billion on an evening out , $ 3 billion on clothing , $ 2.4 billion on candy , $ 2.3 billion on flowers , $ 2 billion on gift cards and $ 1.3 billion on greeting cards .
One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's Day cards , written in 1818 , was recently rediscovered by a man who said he first bought it 20 years ago .
Gavin Littaur does n't recall how much he paid for the card , but said it was `` expensive at the time . ''
`` George III of London would have been on the throne when this embossed letter was made by Dobbs of London more than 200 years ago .
It 's one of the earliest postally-used Valentines in existence , '' he said .
The card , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of flowers in the shape of a heart , contains a brief message .
`` From him who upon the return of another Valentine 's Day looks forward with pleasure to the time when his hopes may be realized ; & at the altar of Hymen he shall receive the hand accompanied with the heart of her for whom he feels -- not a wild and romantic love , which abates after a short acquaintance -- but an affection which time increases rather than diminishes , '' it reads .
The 1926 book @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Valentine messages were created and sent as early as 1667 but were n't offered commercially for sale or widely produced until the early nineteenth century in Britain .
In the book Consumer Rites : The Buying and Selling of American Holidays , Leigh Eric Schmidt writes that when colonists began to move to the United States the holiday on Feb. 14 was `` often forgotten '' and easily neglected '' until the 1840s , when Valentine 's Day gained retail popularity .
It 's now one of the most commercially profitable of all @ @ @

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Worker Dani Knoll assembles a dozen roses for a Valentine's Day sale at the Walter Knoll Florist in St. Louis, Mo., on Thursday. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 14 (UPI) -- Americans are expected to set a record for Valentine's Day spending this year, according to a survey by the National Retail Federation. U.S. adults celebrating the holiday told the NRF they plan to spend an average of $196.31, a rise of 21 percent from last year's record of $161.96 per person. This year, Americans said they would collectively spend $27.4 billion for Valentine's Day-related items and events. Advertisement
Experts at the NRF said the strength of the U.S. economy is a contributing factor.
"The unusually large increase in average spending appears to be due to strong consumer finances and a continued trend of consumers buying more gifts, cards, candy and flowers for friends, family, co-workers and pets," the NRF said in its analysis. "The increase in total spending comes as the number of people celebrating Valentine's Day returned to 55 percent, about average for the past decade after a dip to 52 percent last year."
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The survey said Americans will spend an average of $101.21 on spouses or significant others, in addition to about $30 on other family members, $14 on friends and children's classmates and teachers, $13 on co-workers, $12 on pets and $10 on others.
Collectively, U.S. shoppers said they expect to spend most, nearly $6 billion, on jewelry, $4.3 billion on an evening out, $3 billion on clothing, $2.4 billion on candy, $2.3 billion on flowers, $2 billion on gift cards and $1.3 billion on greeting cards.
Oldest Valentine
One of the world's oldest known Valentine's Day cards, written in 1818, was recently rediscovered by a man who said he first bought it 20 years ago. Gavin Littaur doesn't recall how much he paid for the card, but said it was "expensive at the time."
"George III of London would have been on the throne when this embossed letter was made by Dobbs of London more than 200 years ago. It's one of the earliest postally used Valentines in existence," he said.
The card, which features a drawing of an arrangement of flowers in the shape of a heart, contains a brief message.
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"From him who upon the return of another Valentine's Day looks forward with pleasure to the time when his hopes may be realized; & at the altar of Hymen he shall receive the hand accompanied with the heart of her for whom he feels -- not a wild and romantic love, which abates after a short acquaintance -- but an affection which time increases rather than diminishes," it reads.
The 1926 book The Romance of Greeting Cards said handcrafted Valentine messages were created and sent as early as 1667 but weren't offered commercially for sale or widely produced until the early 19th century in Britain.
In the book Consumer Rites: The Buying and Selling of American Holidays, Leigh Eric Schmidt writes that when colonists began to move to the United States the holiday on Feb. 14 was "often forgotten" and easily neglected" until the 1840s, when Valentine's Day gained retail popularity. It's now one of the most commercially profitable of all U.S. holidays.


upi--2020-02-14--Google celebrates Valentine's Day with new Doodle

Feb. 14 ( UPI ) -- Google is celebrating Valentine 's Day with a new outer space-themed Doodle .
Google @ @ @ @ @ a red and purple alien receiving a Valentine 's Day gift while inside a spaceship @ @ @ @ @ pink and light orange with the middle part shaped like a UFO .
Hearts and @ @ @ @ @ around the logo .
The red alien is crying as it reads a love letter @ @ @ @ @ gifted a plant .
`` Whether your loved ones are light-years away , or nearby @ @ @ @ @ of space gets in the way of letting them know you 're over the moon @ @ @ @ @ said .
Last year , Google released a Doodle featuring two worms coming together to @ @ @ @

Google's new Valentine's Day Doodle features two aliens. Image courtesy of Google
Feb. 14 (UPI) -- Google is celebrating Valentine's Day with a new outer space-themed Doodle. Google's homepage on Friday features a red and purple alien receiving a Valentine's Day gift while inside a spaceship. Advertisement
The Google logo is pink and light orange with the middle part shaped like a UFO. Hearts and other spaceships are also featured around the logo.
The red alien is crying as it reads a love letter while the purple alien was gifted a plant.
"Whether your loved ones are light-years away, or nearby, we hope no amount of space gets in the way of letting them know you're over the moon for them," Google said.
Last year, Google released a Doodle featuring two worms coming together to form a heart.


upi--2020-02-14--Cocoa may improve lower-leg blood flow, walking in peripheral artery disease

Feb. 14 ( UPI ) -- Cocoa may help improve walking and lower-leg blood flow in adults with peripheral artery disease , or PAD , a study published Friday in the journal Circulation Research has found .
The study of 44 people with PAD -- all of whom were 60 or older -- indicated that those who drank a beverage containing flavanol-rich cocoa three times a day for six months saw significant improvements in the distance they could walk without discomfort .
Those who drank the flavanol-rich cocoa also had improved blood flow to their calves and some improved muscle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Patients with PAD have difficulty walking that is as bad as people with advanced heart failure , '' Naomi Hamburg , chair of the American Heart Association 's Peripheral Vascular Disease Council and author of a related commentary in the journal , said in a press release .
`` Leg muscles do n't get enough blood supply in PAD , leading to injury , and in this study , cocoa appeared to be protecting the muscle and improving metabolism , '' Hamburg said .
`` We know that exercise therapy helps people with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ study suggests that cocoa may turn out to be a new way to treat people with PAD . ''
The study authors , however , emphasize that larger studies are needed to confirm whether cocoa is an effective treatment for PAD , a narrowing of the arteries that reduces blood flow from the heart to the legs .
The disease affects more than 8.5 million people 40 years of age and older nationwide .
The most common symptoms are pain , tightness , cramping , weakness or other discomfort in leg muscles in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ available for improving walking performance in people with PAD , '' said study co-author Mary McDermott , Jeremiah Stamler professor of medicine and preventive medicine at Northwestern University .
`` In addition to reduced blood flow to the legs , people with peripheral artery disease have been shown to have damaged mitochondria in their calf muscles , perhaps caused by the reduced blood flow . ''
For their research , McDermott and her colleagues asked study participants to drink either milk or water mixed with the contents of a powder packet containing flavanol-rich @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cocoa or epicatechin three times daily over six months .
They measured participants ' walking performance at the beginning of the study and at six months , using the six-minute walking test .
The researchers also administered a treadmill walking test and had the blood flow to their legs measured using magnetic resonance imaging .
In addition , participants who consented had a calf muscle biopsy to evaluate muscle health .
The cocoa used in the study is a natural unsweetened cocoa powder rich in the flavanol epicatechin , which is found in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ milk chocolate .
Each powdered packet contained 15 grams of cocoa and 75 mg of epicatechin .
Study participants who consumed cocoa walked an average of 43 meters further in the walking test compared to their baseline results from testing two-and-a-half hours after consuming the final study beverage .
Researchers also found increased mitochondrial activity , increased capillary density and other improvements to muscle health in those who consumed the cocoa .
Notably , those who drank the placebo beverage had a decline of 24.2 meters in their walking distance after the final @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
McDermott and her colleagues believe that epicatechin , a major flavanol component of cocoa , may increase mitochondrial activity and muscle health in the calves of those with lower extremity PAD .
Regular chocolate would not be expected to have the same effect , they said .
`` While we expected the improvements in walking , we were particularly pleased to see that cocoa treatment was also associated with increased capillary density , limb perfusion , mitochondrial activity and an additional measure of overall skeletal muscle health , '' McDermott noted .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a larger trial , these findings suggest that cocoa , a relatively inexpensive , safe and accessible product , could potentially produce significant improvements in calf muscle health , blood flow , and walking performance for PAD patients . ''

People with PAD who drank a beverage containing flavanol-rich cocoa three times a day for six months saw improvements to the distance they could walk. Photo by jhusemannde /Pixabay
Feb. 14 (UPI) -- Cocoa may help improve walking and lower-leg blood flow in adults with peripheral artery disease, a study published Friday in the journal Circulation Research has found. The study of 44 people with PAD -- all of whom were 60 or older -- indicated that those who drank a beverage containing flavanol-rich cocoa three times a day for six months saw significant improvements in the distance they could walk without discomfort. Advertisement
Those who drank the cocoa also had improved blood flow to their calves and some improved muscle function, the authors noted.
"Patients with PAD have difficulty walking that is as bad as people with advanced heart failure," Naomi Hamburg, chairwoman of the American Heart Association's Peripheral Vascular Disease Council and author of a related commentary in the journal, said in a press release.
"Leg muscles don't get enough blood supply in PAD, leading to injury, and in this study, cocoa appeared to be protecting the muscle and improving metabolism," Hamburg said. "We know that exercise therapy helps people with PAD walk farther, and this early study suggests that cocoa may turn out to be a new way to treat people with PAD."
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The study authors, however, emphasize that larger studies are needed to confirm whether cocoa is an effective treatment for PAD, a narrowing of the arteries that reduces blood flow from the heart to the legs.
The disease affects more than 8.5 million people 40 and older nationwide. The most common symptoms are pain, tightness, cramping, weakness or other discomfort in leg muscles in while walking.
"Few therapies are available for improving walking performance in people with PAD," said study co-author Mary McDermott, Jeremiah Stamler professor of medicine and preventive medicine at Northwestern University. "In addition to reduced blood flow to the legs, people with peripheral artery disease have been shown to have damaged mitochondria in their calf muscles, perhaps caused by the reduced blood flow."
For their research, McDermott and her colleagues asked study participants to drink either milk or water mixed with the contents of a powder packet containing flavanol-rich cocoa, or a placebo powder packet without cocoa or epicatechin, three times daily over six months. They measured participants' walking performance at the beginning of the study and at six months, using a six-minute walking test.
The researchers also administered a treadmill walking test and had the blood flow to their legs measured using magnetic resonance imaging. In addition, participants who consented had a calf muscle biopsy to evaluate muscle health.
Advertisement
The cocoa used in the study is a natural unsweetened cocoa powder rich in the flavanol epicatechin, which is found in larger quantities in dark chocolate than in milk chocolate. Each powdered packet contained 15 grams of cocoa and 75 mg of epicatechin.
Study participants who consumed cocoa walked an average of 43 meters further in the walking test compared to their baseline results from testing two-and-a-half hours after consuming the final study beverage. Researchers also found increased mitochondrial activity, increased capillary density and other improvements to muscle health in those who consumed the cocoa.
Notably, those who drank the placebo beverage had a decline of 24.2 meters in their walking distance after the final study beverage compared to their baseline results.
McDermott and her colleagues believe that epicatechin, a major flavanol component of cocoa, may increase mitochondrial activity and muscle health in the calves of those with lower extremity PAD. Regular chocolate would not be expected to have the same effect, they said.
"While we expected the improvements in walking, we were particularly pleased to see that cocoa treatment was also associated with increased capillary density, limb perfusion, mitochondrial activity and an additional measure of overall skeletal muscle health," McDermott noted. "If our results are confirmed in a larger trial, these findings suggest that cocoa, a relatively inexpensive, safe and accessible product, could potentially produce significant improvements in calf muscle health, blood flow and walking performance for PAD patients."


upi--2020-02-14--China lowers death toll; admits 1,700 medics infected

Feb. 14 ( UPI ) -- China revised down its death toll Friday from a deadly coronavirus by 108 while admitting more than 1,700 frontline medics have been sickened by the virus .
The China National Health Commission said it adjusted down the tally from nearly 1,500 due to `` repeated statistics , '' stating only 1,380 people had died since the outbreak began in early December .
The commission made the adjustment in its daily update , stating the number of confirmed cases was also inaccurately calculated by more than a thousand in the virus ' epicenter of Hubei @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases nationwide is 63,851 , it said .
The commission said the numbers include 121 deaths and 5,090 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 over Thursday .
Among the new cases , 4,823 were recorded in Hubei , of which 3,095 were `` clinically diagnosed , '' a new term adopted Thursday by health officials to include patients in its daily tallies who exhibit symptoms of COVID-19 but have not been confirmed sicken by the virus via blood test .
During a press conference Friday of China 's inter-agency task force on the safety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vice Minister Zeng Yixin announced that 1,716 medical workers have contracted the virus , including six who have died , as of Feb. 11 .
News of the affected frontline medical workers comes a week after Li Wenliang , an ophthalmologist at Wuhan Central Hospital , died of the disease after being punished by the police for spreading rumors online when he was attempting to warn friends and family about a mysterious new disease .
`` Since the outbreak of the [ COVID-19 ] the national medics put aside their personal interests , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the frontline , '' he said .
`` They made a great contribution to fight against [ COVID-19 ] .
They used their activities to show their spirit . ''
Globally , the death toll stood at 1,383 on Friday , after a Japanese woman in her 80s became the third person to die of the disease outside of mainland China a day prior .
Hong Kong and the Philippines have each recorded a death early this month .
Japan also increased its number of infected to 30 after confirming three more cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taxi driver , none of who visited Japan within the two-week incubation period before the onset of symptoms .
Minister of Health Katsunobu Kato told reporters that they are investigating how the woman contracted the disease and whether the taxi driver picked up Chinese tourists who may have been infected with COVID-19 .
`` I think we need to do various epidemiological investigations , '' he said .

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A Chinese man wears a protective face mask while shopping due to the threat of the deadly coronavirus in Beijing on Thursday. Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 14 (UPI) -- China revised down its death toll Friday from coronavirus by 108, while acknowledging more than 1,700 front-line medics have been infected. The China National Health Commission said it adjusted down the tally from nearly 1,500 due to "repeated statistics," stating only 1,380 people had died since the outbreak began in early December. Advertisement
The commission made the adjustment in its daily update, stating the number of confirmed cases was also inaccurately calculated by more than a thousand in the virus' epicenter of Hubei province. The new tally of confirmed cases nationwide is 63,851, it said.
The commission said the numbers include 121 deaths and 5,090 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 over Thursday.
Among the new cases, 4,823 were recorded in Hubei, of which 3,095 were "clinically diagnosed," a new term adopted Thursday by health officials to include patients in its daily tallies who exhibit symptoms of COVID-19 but have not been confirmed sicken by the virus via blood test.
During a press conference Friday of China's inter-agency task force on the safety of medical staff, National Health Commission Vice Minister Zeng Yixin announced that 1,716 medical workers have contracted the virus, including six who have died, as of Tuesday.
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News of the affected front-line medical workers comes a week after Li Wenliang, an ophthalmologist at Wuhan Central Hospital, died of the disease after being punished by the police for spreading rumors online when he was attempting to warn friends and family about a mysterious new disease.
"Since the outbreak of the [COVID-19], the national medics put aside their personal interests, rised to the challenge and rushed to the front line," he said. "They made a great contribution to fight against [COVID-19]. They used their activities to show their spirit."
Globally, the death toll stood at 1,383 on Friday, after a Japanese woman in her 80s became the third person to die of the disease outside mainland China a day prior. Hong Kong and the Philippines have each recorded a death early this month.
Japan also increased its number of infected to 30 after confirming three more cases, including a 70-year-old taxi driver, none of whom visited Japan within the two-week incubation period before the onset of symptoms.
Minister of Health Katsunobu Kato told reporters that they are investigating how the woman contracted the disease and whether the taxi driver picked up Chinese tourists who may have been infected.
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"We need to do various epidemiological investigations," he said.
Officials in Egypt also confirmed the first case of COVID-19 there, which is also the first confirmed case in Africa. The case involves a foreign visitor to the country and has been reported the case to the WHO.
During a visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo earlier this week, WHO officials marked the end of the recent Ebola outbreak there and expressed concern over COVID-19 reaching Africa, due to the weak healthcare systems in many countries on the continent.


upi--2020-02-14--United Nations calls on North Korea to release abductees in 50-year-old hijacking case

SEOUL , Feb. 14 ( UPI ) -- A panel of human rights experts from the United Nations is calling on North Korea to repatriate 11 South Koreans who were abducted on a hijacked plane 50 years ago .
Korean Air Lines flight YS-11 was hijacked in December 1969 with 50 South Koreans on board and forced to land in North Korea .
Thirty-nine of the passengers were released on Feb. 14 , 1970 -- 50 years ago today -- but the fate of the remaining 11 passengers and crew is still unknown .
`` It is entirely unacceptable that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have waited 50 long years in limbo with no information about their loved ones , '' said a group of U.N. experts including Tomás Ojea Quintana , special rapporteur on human rights in North Korea , in a statement released Thursday .
`` We call on the DPRK to urgently provide information about their fate and whereabouts and to allow them to freely communicate with their relatives , '' the experts said .
The Democratic People 's Republic of Korea is the official name of North Korea .
The experts also expressed concern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been tortured during their disappearance .
`` To date , no independent investigations have been conducted into the hijacking , disappearance or alleged torture , as required by the DPRK 's international obligations , '' the statement said .
Hwang In-cheol , 52 , whose father , Hwang Won , was one of the abductees , told UPI he was grateful that the United Nations spoke out on behalf of the abductees , noting that there is an international treaty against hijacking .
`` Following this convention , the KAL case is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ The abductees ] were kidnapped against their will .
Not only a meeting but also repatriation should happen under proper principles and procedures . ''
Hwang was two years old when his father , a radio producer , boarded the fateful KAL flight .
He said that his father 's disappearance and the subsequent absence of information has been an ongoing source of pain and trauma for his family .
`` In today 's world it is possible to communicate freely using Skype and the Internet , '' Hwang said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is so tragic .
My whole family has suffered a great deal from this case . ''
Hwang , who has become an outspoken advocate calling for the return of his father and the other abductees , added that his father attempted to escape from North Korea in 2013 but was unable to pull off the plan .
`` He really wants to reunite with his family , '' Hwang said .
Pyongyang has denied the kidnappings , saying that the 11 remaining passengers chose to stay in the country voluntarily .
North @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of South Korean and Japanese nationals .
The Korean War Abductees Families Union , a victim 's advocacy group , estimates that up to 100,000 South Koreans were abducted during the 1950-53 Korean War .
South Korea 's Ministry of Unification says that 516 abductees taken after the war remain in the North , most of them fishermen .
In 2014 , a United Nations Commission of Inquiry found that North Korean authorities had committed crimes against humanity against victims of international abduction and other persons denied repatriation .
`` It is high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to clarify the fate and whereabouts of these 11 individuals as well as all the other disappearances cases , '' the experts said .
The group said it has written to the government of North Korea to raise their concerns about the issue .

Hwang Won (C) was abducted by North Korea during a hijacking 50 years ago. Human rights experts from the United Nations are calling for the release of Hwang and the other remaining abductees. Photo courtesy of Hwang In-cheol
SEOUL, Feb. 14 (UPI) -- A panel of human rights experts from the United Nations is calling on North Korea to repatriate 11 South Koreans who were abducted on a hijacked plane 50 years ago. Korean Air Lines flight YS-11 was hijacked in December 1969 with 50 South Koreans on board and forced to land in North Korea. Thirty-nine of the passengers were released on Feb. 14, 1970 -- 50 years ago today -- but the fate of the remaining 11 passengers and crew is still unknown. Advertisement
"It is entirely unacceptable that the families of the remaining 11 individuals have waited 50 long years in limbo with no information about their loved ones," said a group of U.N. experts including Tomás Ojea Quintana, special rapporteur on human rights in North Korea, in a statement released Thursday.
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"We call on the DPRK to urgently provide information about their fate and whereabouts and to allow them to freely communicate with their relatives," the experts said. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is the official name of North Korea.
The experts also expressed concern over allegations that some of the individuals have been tortured during their disappearance.
"To date, no independent investigations have been conducted into the hijacking, disappearance or alleged torture, as required by the DPRK's international obligations," the statement said.
Hwang In-cheol, 52, whose father, Hwang Won, was one of the abductees, told UPI he was grateful that the United Nations spoke out on behalf of the abductees, noting that there is an international treaty against hijacking.
"Following this convention, the KAL case is unbelievable," he said. "[The abductees] were kidnapped against their will. Not only a meeting but also repatriation should happen under proper principles and procedures."
Hwang was 2 years old when his father, a radio producer, boarded the fateful KAL flight. He said that his father's disappearance and the subsequent absence of information has been an ongoing source of pain and trauma for his family.
"In today's world, it is possible to communicate freely using Skype and the Internet," Hwang said. "Not being able to contact my father is so tragic. My whole family has suffered a great deal from this case."
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Hwang, who has become an outspoken advocate calling for the return of his father and the other abductees, added that his father attempted to escape from North Korea in 2013 but was unable to pull off the plan.
"He really wants to reunite with his family," Hwang said.
Pyongyang has denied the kidnappings, saying that the 11 remaining passengers chose to stay in the country voluntarily.
North Korea has a long history of abductions of South Korean and Japanese nationals. The Korean War Abductees Families Union, a victim's advocacy group, estimates that up to 100,000 South Koreans were abducted during the 1950-53 Korean War.
South Korea's Ministry of Unification says 516 abductees taken after the war remain in the North, most of them fishermen.
In 2014, a United Nations Commission of Inquiry found that North Korean authorities had committed crimes against humanity against victims of international abduction and other persons denied repatriation.
"It is high time that the DPRK start genuine cooperation to clarify the fate and whereabouts of these 11 individuals as well as all the other disappearances cases," the experts said. The group said it has written to the government of North Korea to raise their concerns about the issue.


upi--2020-02-14--Gum disease linked to higher stroke risk

Gum disease may be linked to higher rates of stroke caused by hardened and severely blocked arteries , preliminary research findings indicate .
Two unpublished studies suggest that treating gum disease alongside other stroke risk factors might help prevent stroke by reducing the buildup of plaque in arteries and narrowing of blood vessels in the brain .
However , the studies do not prove that gum disease is a cause of stroke .
`` Because inflammation appears to play a major role in the development and worsening of atherosclerosis , or 'hardening ' of blood vessels , we investigated if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brain vessels and strokes caused by atherosclerosis of the brain vessels , '' said Dr. Souvik Sen , who led both studies .
Sen is chairman of clinical neurology at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine .
The first study involved 265 stroke patients .
Sen and his team investigated whether gum disease and specific types of stroke were related .
They found : • Patients with gum disease had twice as many strokes due to thickening and hardening of brain arteries as patients without .
• Patients with gum disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a stroke involving blood vessels in the back of the brain , which controls vision , coordination and other functions .
• Gum disease was more common in patients who had a stroke involving large blood vessels within the brain , but not among those who had a stroke due to blockages elsewhere .
The second study involved more than 1,100 patients who had not experienced a stroke .
It found : • Patients with gum inflammation were twice as likely to have moderately severe narrowing of brain arteries .
• After adjusting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high cholesterol , patients with gum disease were 2.4 times more likely to have severely blocked brain arteries .
The preliminary research is to be presented at the American Stroke Association 's International Stroke Conference in Los Angeles , Feb. 19-21 .
`` It 's important for clinicians to recognize that gum disease is an important source of inflammation for their patients and to work with patients to address gum disease , '' Sen said in a meeting news release .
People who had gum disease serious enough to result in tooth loss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are now studying whether treating gum disease reduces its association with stroke .
Research presented at meetings is typically considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal .
The U.S. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research has more on gum disease .

Gum disease may be linked to higher rates of stroke caused by hardened and severely blocked arteries, preliminary research findings indicate.
Two unpublished studies suggest that treating gum disease alongside other stroke risk factors might help prevent stroke by reducing the buildup of plaque in arteries and narrowing of blood vessels in the brain. However, the studies do not prove that gum disease is a cause of stroke.
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"Because inflammation appears to play a major role in the development and worsening of atherosclerosis, or 'hardening' of blood vessels, we investigated if gum disease is associated with blockages in brain vessels and strokes caused by atherosclerosis of the brain vessels," said Dr. Souvik Sen, who led both studies. Sen is chairman of clinical neurology at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine.
The first study involved 265 stroke patients. Sen and his team investigated whether gum disease and specific types of stroke were related. They found:
Patients with gum disease had twice as many strokes due to thickening and hardening of brain arteries as patients without.
Patients with gum disease were three times as likely to have a stroke involving blood vessels in the back of the brain, which controls vision, coordination and other functions.
Gum disease was more common in patients who had a stroke involving large blood vessels within the brain, but not among those who had a stroke due to blockages elsewhere.
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The second study involved more than 1,100 patients who had not experienced a stroke. It found:
Ten percent had severely blocked brain arteries.
Patients with gum inflammation were twice as likely to have moderately severe narrowing of brain arteries.
After adjusting for age, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, patients with gum disease were 2.4 times more likely to have severely blocked brain arteries.
The preliminary research is to be presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference in Los Angeles, Feb. 19-21.
"It's important for clinicians to recognize that gum disease is an important source of inflammation for their patients and to work with patients to address gum disease," Sen said in a meeting news release.
People who had gum disease serious enough to result in tooth loss were excluded from the study.
Researchers are now studying whether treating gum disease reduces its association with stroke.
Research presented at meetings is typically considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.
More information
The U.S. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research has more on gum disease.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-02-14--On This Day, Feb. 14: League of Women Voters formed

Feb. 14 ( UPI ) -- On this date in history : In 1779 , British navigator and explorer James Cook , first known European to reach the Hawaiian Islands , was stabbed to death by island natives while investigating the theft of a boat .
In 1849 , James Polk became the first U.S. president to be photographed while in office .
The photographer was Mathew Brady , who is famous for his Civil War pictures .
In 1859 , Oregon was admitted as the 33rd member of the United States .
In 1903 , U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Commerce and Labor .
In 1912 , Arizona was admitted as the 48th member of the United States .
In 1920 , the League of Women Voters was formed in Chicago .
In 1929 , in what became known as the `` St. Valentine 's Day Massacre , '' gunmen believed to be working for Prohibition-era crime boss Al Capone killed seven members of the rival George `` Bugs '' Moran gang in a Chicago garage .
In 1949 , Israel 's legislature , the Knesset , convened for the first time .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , offended by The Satanic Verses , called on Muslims to kill its author , Salman Rushdie .
He offered a $ 1 million reward for Rushdie 's death , sending the writer into hiding .
Iran rescinded the death sentence in 1998 .
In 1990 , 90 people were killed and 56 injured in the crash of an Indian Airlines Airbus 320 , about 50 yards short of a runway in Bangalore , India .
In 1994 , a convicted serial killer who admitted killing 55 people -- Andrei Chikatilo -- was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russian prison .
In 2005 , former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was assassinated .
Twenty-one others died with him .
In 2005 , video-sharing website YouTube was founded by former PayPal employees .
The company was purchased by Google a year and a half later for $ 1.65 billion .
In 2011 , Chevron was ordered to pay $ 8.6 billion to clean up oil pollution in a rain forest area in northeastern Ecuador .
In 2018 , a 19-year-old who had been expelled for discipline problems walked into Marjory Stoneman Douglas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and fatally shot 17 people , including 14 students .
In 2019 , William Barr took the oath of office as attorney general hours after the Senate confirmed him to replace Jeff Sessions .

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Portrait of the National League of Women Voters' board of directors, including Maud Wood Park and Carrie Chapman Catt, taken during its Chicago Convention in 1920. The group was founded on February 14, 1920, by Catt. File Photo by Library of Congress
Feb. 14 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1779, British navigator and explorer James Cook, first known European to reach the Hawaiian Islands, was stabbed to death by island natives while investigating the theft of a boat. Advertisement
In 1849, James Polk became the first U.S. president to be photographed while in office. The photographer was Mathew Brady, who is famous for his Civil War pictures.
In 1859, Oregon was admitted as the 33rd member of the United States.
In 1903, U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt signed a law creating the Department of Commerce and Labor.
In 1912, Arizona was admitted as the 48th member of the United States.
In 1920, the League of Women Voters was formed in Chicago.
File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI
In 1929, in what became known as the "St. Valentine's Day Massacre," gunmen believed to be working for Prohibition-era crime boss Al Capone killed seven members of the rival George "Bugs" Moran gang in a Chicago garage.
In 1949, Israel's legislature, the Knesset, convened for the first time.
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In 1989, Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeini, offended by The Satanic Verses, called on Muslims to kill its author, Salman Rushdie. He offered a $1 million reward for Rushdie's death, sending the writer into hiding. Iran rescinded the death sentence in 1998.
In 1990, 90 people were killed and 56 injured in the crash of an Indian Airlines Airbus 320, about 50 yards short of a runway in Bangalore, India.
In 1994, a convicted serial killer who admitted killing 55 people -- Andrei Chikatilo -- was executed by a firing squad in a Russian prison.
In 2005, former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was assassinated. Twenty-one others died with him.
File Photo by Mohammed Tawil/UPI
In 2005, video-sharing website YouTube was founded by former PayPal employees. The company was purchased by Google a year and a half later for $1.65 billion.
In 2011, Chevron was ordered to pay $8.6 billion to clean up oil pollution in a rain forest area in northeastern Ecuador.
In 2018, a 19-year-old who had been expelled for discipline problems walked into Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., and fatally shot 17 people, including 14 students.
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In 2019, William Barr took the oath of office as attorney general hours after the Senate confirmed him to replace Jeff Sessions.


upi--2020-02-14--'Downhill' makes audience referee Will Ferrell vs. Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Feb. 14 ( UPI ) -- In Downhill , Pete Stanton ( Will Ferrell ) abandons his wife Billie ( Julia Louis-Dreyfus ) and children in an avalanche during a ski trip .
The film 's writer/directors Nat Faxon and Jim Rash said they want audiences to debate whether Billie or Pete was right after they leave the movie .
`` It 's so easy to say I 'm hunkering down , I 'm running to the aid , '' Rash said in a phone interview with UPI .
`` We hope to be that person .
I 'd probably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person . ''
The Stanton family survives the avalanche .
It turns out to be a mild dusting of snow after a controlled blast .
When Billie sees her husband run , however , the psychological damage lasts longer than the physical terror .
`` We all want to be the Billie , '' Rash continued .
`` You 're always going to want to be the person who recovers and fights the good fight together , but I think we all enjoy flawed characters making bad decisions . ''
Ferrell was game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his lovable goofballs in Elf , Anchorman or Talladega Nights .
The directors struggled to present Pete honestly , without making him the villain of Downhill .
`` One of the challenges throughout both the writing and the filming and then a lot of work in the editing room was just evening the tone , '' Faxon said .
`` [ Ferrell ] was very gung-ho and eager to play a part in that . ''
Downhill is an English-language remake of the Swedish/Norwegian film Force Majeure , so titled because a force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ someone from fulfilling a contract .
A situation need not be as overwhelming as an avalanche to provoke force majeure debates .
`` There are other force majeure moments out there .
Seinfeld had one with George Costanza when he ran away out of that party , '' Rash said , recalling an episode in which Jason Alexander 's character trampled children to escape from a fire at a birthday party .
`` Whether it is a marriage or a friendship or any kind of relationship , to be in a situation like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ play out that debate , '' he continued .
Both Force Majeure and Downhill have the avalanche -- a husband/father who runs and a scene in which the married couple argues in front of another couple .
Downhill added some more uncomfortable moments to the adaptation .
After the avalanche , Billie goes to the mountain safety office to complain about the controlled blast that set off the avalanche without warning .
An agent ( Force Majeure star Kristofer Hivju ) refuses to acknowledge they did anything wrong .
`` It 's a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to need some kind of validation or vindication or justice when something like that happens , '' Rash said .
Rash said that Billie wants someone to validate how she feels about what happened , since her husband has n't .
Louis-Dreyfus produced Downhill with Fox Searchlight , now renamed Searchlight Pictures under Disney .
The creator of Force Majeure also was on board .
`` Ruben Ostlund , the original writer/director , was excited at the prospect of an American version , [ with ] different cultures taking on this theme and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rash said .
Some scenes were omitted from the American version of Force Majeure to stay true to the characters in Downhill .
`` I think we wanted to stay focused on Pete and Billie in our journey , '' Rash said .
`` We just wanted to be able to stay with them . ''
Faxon and Rash also gave Downhill a different ending than Force Majeure .
It resolves Pete and Billie 's debate while remaining on the mountain , instead of during the bus ride down the mountain in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're connected in a lot of ways in the sense that there is hopefully a debate that happens after you see the film , '' Faxon said .
`` Do you ever really truly know the person that is possibly closest to you ?
And do you ever truly know yourself and what you would do in that situation ?
We are all selfish people .
It 's just a matter of when that presents itself . ''
Also , Force Majeure is presented more from the husband 's perspective .
Faxon and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Billie 's perspective , and that required a different ending .
`` It 's not black and white with our ending , but because we took a journey that 's slightly different and we really got into the head of Billie , '' Rash said .
`` Then you have this moment at the end where they both look at each other and sort of scoff .
In fact , what Billie knows is everything is not black and white . ''

1/4
Julia Louis-Dreyfus executive produces and stars in "Downhill." File Photo by Christine Chew/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 14 (UPI) -- In Downhill, Pete Stanton (Will Ferrell) abandons his wife, Billie (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), and children in an avalanche during a ski trip. The film's writers/directors Nat Faxon and Jim Rash said they want audiences to debate whether Billie or Pete did the right thing. "It's so easy to say I'm hunkering down, I'm running to the aid," Rash said in a recent phone interview with UPI. "We hope to be that person. I'd probably say that we aren't all that person." Advertisement
The Stanton family survives the avalanche. It turns out to be a mild dusting of snow after a controlled blast. When Billie sees her husband run, however, the psychological damage lasts longer than the physical terror.
"We all want to be the Billie," Rash continued. "You're always going to want to be the person who recovers and fights the good fight together, but I think we all enjoy flawed characters making bad decisions."
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Ferrell was game to present a character more unflattering than his lovable goofballs in Elf, Anchorman or Talladega Nights. The directors struggled to present Pete honestly, without making him the villain of Downhill.
"One of the challenges throughout both the writing and the filming and then a lot of work in the editing room was just evening the tone," Faxon said. Ferrell "was very gung-ho and eager to play a part in that."
Downhill is an English-language remake of the Swedish/Norwegian film Force Majeure, whose title means an unforeseeable circumstances that prevents someone from fulfilling a contract. A situation need not be as overwhelming as an avalanche to provoke force majeure debates.
"There are other force majeure moments out there. Seinfeld had one with George Costanza when he ran away out of that party," Rash said, recalling an episode in which Jason Alexander's character trampled children to escape a fire at a birthday party.
"Whether it is a marriage or a friendship or any kind of relationship, to be in a situation like that together is interesting to sort of play out that debate," he continued.
Force Majeure and Downhill have the avalanche -- a husband/father who runs and a scene in which the married couple argues in front of another couple. Downhill added some more uncomfortable moments to the adaptation.
Advertisement
After the avalanche, Billie goes to the mountain safety office to complain about the controlled blast that set off the avalanche without warning. An agent (Force Majeure star Kristofer Hivju) refuses to acknowledge they did anything wrong.
"It's a very ugly American thing to do, to need some kind of validation or vindication or justice when something like that happens," Rash said.
Rash said Billie wants someone to validate how she feels about what happened, since her husband hasn't.
Louis-Dreyfus produced Downhill with Fox Searchlight, now renamed Searchlight Pictures under Disney. The creator of Force Majeure also was on board.
"Ruben Ostlund, the original writer/director, was excited at the prospect of an American version, [with] different cultures taking on this theme and what that would look like," Rash said.
Some scenes were omitted from the American version of Force Majeure to stay true to the characters in Downhill.
"We wanted to stay focused on Pete and Billie in our journey," Rash said. "We just wanted to be able to stay with them."
Faxon and Rash also gave Downhill a different ending than Force Majeure. It resolves Pete and Billie's debate while remaining on the mountain, instead of during the bus ride down the mountain in the original film.
Advertisement
"They're connected in a lot of ways in the sense that there is hopefully a debate that happens after you see the film," Faxon said. "Do you ever really truly know the person that is possibly closest to you? And do you ever truly know yourself and what you would do in that situation? We are all selfish people. It's just a matter of when that presents itself."
Also, Force Majeure is presented more from the husband's perspective. Faxon and Rash wanted to balance Downhill with more of Billie's perspective, and that required a different ending.
"It's not black and white with our ending, but because we took a journey that's slightly different, and we really got into the head of Billie," Rash said. "Then you have this moment at the end where they both look at each other and sort of scoff. In fact, what Billie knows is everything is not black and white."
Downhill opens in theaters Friday.


upi--2020-02-14--Famous birthdays for Feb. 14: Simon Pegg, Michael Bloomberg

Feb. 14 ( UPI ) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Aquarius .
-- Magician @ @ @ @ @ and Teller in 1948 ( age 72 )

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Simon Pegg attends the "Mission: Impossible - Fallout" premiere at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum on July 22, 2018, in Washington, DC. The actor turns 50 on February 14. File Photo by Oliver Contreras/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 14 (UPI) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Aquarius. They include: Advertisement
-- Statesman/abolitionist Frederick Douglass in 1818
-- Suffrage leader Anna Howard Shaw in 1847
-- Comedy legend Jack Benny in 1894
-- Actor Thelma Ritter in 1902
-- Football Coach Woody Hayes in 1913
-- Labor leader Jimmy Hoffa 1913
-- Broadcaster Hugh Downs in 1921 (age 99)
-- Actor/singer Florence Henderson in 1934
-- Entrepreneur/former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg in 1942 (age 78)
File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
-- Writer Carl Bernstein in 1944 (age 76)
-- Dancer/actor Gregory Hines in 1946
-- Magician Raymond Joseph Teller of Penn and Teller in 1948 (age 72)
-- Radio host Terry Gross in 1951 (age 69)
-- Opera star Renee Fleming in 1959 (age 61)
File Photo by Pat Benic
-- Actor Meg Tilly in 1960 (age 60)
-- Actor Simon Pegg in 1970 (age 50)
-- Musician Rob Thomas in 1972 (age 48)
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-- Actor Danai Gurira in 1978 (age 42)
-- Actor Brett Dier in 1990 (age 30)
-- Actor Freddie Highmore in 1992 (age 28)
-- Actor Alberto Rosende in 1993 (age 27)