upi--2020-10-16--Coca-Cola to discontinue diet cola Tab at year's end

Oct. 16 ( UPI ) -- The Coca-Cola Company announced Friday that it would discontinue Tab diet cola at the end of this year as part of a company streamlining effort to eliminate `` underperforming products . ''
`` We are taking the tough but important steps to identify those products that are losing relevance and therefore should exit the portfolio , '' said a statement from Cath Coetzer , global head of innovation and marketing operations .
Coca-Cola offered buyouts to 4,000 workers this summer due to the coronavirus pandemic , and hinted that more layoffs were coming .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ products such as Topo Chico Hard Seltzer , Coca-Cola Energy and AHA flavored sparkling water , the company said .
Tab , introduced as a women 's diet drink in 1963 , was the company 's first diet soda and initially was sweetened with saccharin .
After the sweetener was linked to cancer , cans of Tab were required to be printed with a health warning label until the company changed its sweetener to Nutrasweet in the mid 1980s .
The soda became an ironic pop-culture icon , appearing in movie scenes like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jerk , a part lonely holiday vodka concoction in Bill Murray 's Scrooged and a soda anachronism for Michael J .
Fox in Back to the Future .
Tab was overtaken by Diet Coke in 1982 as the company 's primary diet cola , but Tab has maintained a `` small but loyal '' following over the decades , the company said .
`` We 're forever grateful to Tab for paving the way for the diets and lights category , and to the legion of TaB lovers who have embraced the brand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kerri Kopp , group director for Diet Coke at Coca-Cola North America .
`` If not for Tab , we would n't have Diet Coke or Coke Zero Sugar .
Tab did its job . ''
Tab nostalgia for substitute teachers and mothers drinking the pink-canned diet pop filled Twitter on Friday .
`` I 'm going to have some VERY heartbroken family members today !
! ''
tweeted Georgia resident @ Colleenweather .
`` My mom has been a diehard Tab fan for decades ... then she got my daughter lovin ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Now , I 'm just waiting for friends who can still find Tab in their local grocery stores , '' Maryland State Sen. Cheryl Kagan tweeted .
Coca-Cola also said it would retiring other products , as well , at the end of the year , including ZICO coconut water , Coca-Cola Life and Diet Coke Feisty Cherry , plus regional offerings Northern Neck Ginger Ale and Delaware Punch .

The Coca-Cola Company will discontinue production of its first diet soft drink, Tab, at the end of this year, the company announced Friday. Photo courtesy of Coca-Cola
Oct. 16 (UPI) -- The Coca-Cola Company announced Friday that it would discontinue Tab diet cola at the end of this year as part of a company streamlining effort to eliminate "underperforming products." "We are taking the tough but important steps to identify those products that are losing relevance and therefore should exit the portfolio," said a statement from Cath Coetzer, global head of innovation and marketing operations. Advertisement
Coca-Cola offered buyouts to 4,000 workers this summer due to the coronavirus pandemic, and hinted that more layoffs were coming. The company is changing direction with new products such as Topo Chico Hard Seltzer, Coca-Cola Energy and AHA flavored sparkling water, the company said.
Tab, introduced as a women's diet drink in 1963, was the company's first diet soda and initially was sweetened with saccharin. After the sweetener was linked to cancer, cans of Tab were required to be printed with a health warning label until the company changed its sweetener to Nutrasweet in the mid 1980s.
The soda became an ironic pop-culture icon, appearing in movie scenes like Steve Martin's birthday meal in The Jerk, a part lonely holiday vodka concoction in Bill Murray's Scrooged and a soda anachronism for Michael J. Fox in Back to the Future.
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Tab was overtaken by Diet Coke in 1982 as the company's primary diet cola, but Tab has maintained a "small but loyal" following over the decades, the company said.
"We're forever grateful to Tab for paving the way for the diets and lights category, and to the legion of TaB lovers who have embraced the brand for nearly six decades," said Kerri Kopp, group director for Diet Coke at Coca-Cola North America. "If not for Tab, we wouldn't have Diet Coke or Coke Zero Sugar. Tab did its job."
Tab nostalgia for substitute teachers and mothers drinking the pink-canned diet pop filled Twitter on Friday.
"I'm going to have some VERY heartbroken family members today!!" tweeted Georgia resident @Colleenweather. "My mom has been a diehard Tab fan for decades ... then she got my daughter lovin' this vintage soda too!"
"Now, I'm just waiting for friends who can still find Tab in their local grocery stores," Maryland State Sen. Cheryl Kagan tweeted.
Coca-Cola also said it would retiring other products, as well, at the end of the year, including ZICO coconut water, Coca-Cola Life and Diet Coke Feisty Cherry, plus regional offerings Northern Neck Ginger Ale and Delaware Punch.


upi--2020-10-16--NFL reinstating former Dallas Cowboys DL David Irving

Oct. 16 ( UPI ) -- The NFL is conditionally reinstating former Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman David Irving after his one-season absence from the league .
Sources told ESPN and the Houston Chronicle on Friday that Irving will become a free agent once his reinstatement is finalized , and he can sign with an NFL team at any time .
According to ESPN , Irving has drawn interest from at least six teams this month .
The 27-year-old Irving announced in March 2019 that he was quitting football .
His announcement came shortly after the NFL suspended him indefinitely for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time in as many years .
Irving revealed his decision to step away from the league in an Instagram video where he appeared to be smoking marijuana , saying he was walking away due to the NFL 's restrictive policies on the substance .
But with players no longer being tested for marijuana use under the new collective bargaining agreement , Irving wants to return to the league .
`` I am very proud of David and his commitment to self-growth , '' Irving 's lawyer , Daniel Moskowitz , said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ story of redemption . ''
Irving , an undrafted free agent out of Iowa State , made his NFL debut with the Cowboys in 2015 .
He recorded 56 total tackles , 12.5 sacks , five forced fumbles and one fumble recovery in 37 career games with Dallas from 2015-18 .

Former Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman David Irving (95) will become a free agent and can sign with any NFL team. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 16 (UPI) -- The NFL is conditionally reinstating former Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman David Irving after his one-season absence from the league. Sources told ESPN and the Houston Chronicle on Friday that Irving will become a free agent once his reinstatement is finalized, and he can sign with an NFL team at any time. According to ESPN, Irving has drawn interest from at least six teams this month. Advertisement
The 27-year-old Irving announced in March 2019 that he was quitting football. His announcement came shortly after the NFL suspended him indefinitely for violating its substance-abuse policy for a third time in as many years.
Irving revealed his decision to step away from the league in an Instagram video where he appeared to be smoking marijuana, saying he was walking away due to the NFL's restrictive policies on the substance.
But with players no longer being tested for marijuana use under the new collective bargaining agreement, Irving wants to return to the league.
"I am very proud of David and his commitment to self-growth," Irving's lawyer, Daniel Moskowitz, said in a statement Friday. "This is a story of redemption."
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Irving, an undrafted free agent out of Iowa State, made his NFL debut with the Cowboys in 2015. He recorded 56 total tackles, 12.5 sacks, five forced fumbles and one fumble recovery in 37 career games with Dallas from 2015-18.


upi--2020-10-16--Sailors aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt removed after COVID-19 diagnosis

Oct. 16 ( UPI ) -- Two new cases of the COVID-19 virus were reported aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt , a Navy spokesman confirmed on Friday .
`` USS Theodore Roosevelt ( CVN 71 ) identified a small number of Sailors who tested positive for COVID-19 while conducting routine training at sea , Oct. 15 , 2020 , '' Cmdr .
Zachary Harrell of the Naval Air Forces told The Hill .
`` The sailors self-reported after experiencing symptoms , received immediate medical treatment , and were transported off the ship for isolation , '' Harrell told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported the new cases .
On Tuesday , the ship left its homeport of San Diego for sustainment exercises , to be followed by two deployments within the same readiness cycle , known as a `` double pump . ''
The names of the affected sailors were not released .
The Navy is also investigating the apparent suicide of a sailor assigned to the ship who shot himself Tuesday morning while standing security watch on a pier at Naval Air Station North Island , near San Diego .
The aircraft carrier spent several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , after a COVID-19 outbreak infected over one-fifth of the 5,000 sailors aboard the ship , one of whom died .
Capt .
Brett Crozier was fired after a letter he wrote , pleading for help with the outbreak , was discovered .
Thomas L. Modly , acting Navy secretary , was eventually fired as well .
Current Navy rules on handling the pandemic at sea , by which positive cases are isolated , were formed after the outbreak aboard the aircraft carrier , and have proven more effective .
Several sailors aboard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive for the virus in September and were flown off the ship to its homeport in Japan .

Two sailors with COVID-19 symptoms were evacuated from the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt this week, the Naval Air Forces said. Photo courtesy of U.S. Navy
Oct. 16 (UPI) -- Two new cases of the COVID-19 virus were reported aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, a Navy spokesman confirmed on Friday. "USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) identified a small number of Sailors who tested positive for COVID-19 while conducting routine training at sea, Oct. 15, 2020," Cmdr. Zachary Harrell of the Naval Air Forces told The Hill. Advertisement
"The sailors self-reported after experiencing symptoms, received immediate medical treatment, and were transported off the ship for isolation," Harrell told the New York Times, which first reported the new cases.
On Tuesday, the ship left its homeport of San Diego for sustainment exercises, to be followed by two deployments within the same readiness cycle, known as a "double pump."
The names of the affected sailors were not released.
The Navy is also investigating the apparent suicide of a sailor assigned to the ship who shot himself Tuesday morning while standing security watch on a pier at Naval Air Station North Island, near San Diego.
The aircraft carrier spent several months in Guam, earlier this year, after a COVID-19 outbreak infected over one-fifth of the 5,000 sailors aboard the ship, one of whom died. Capt. Brett Crozier was fired after a letter he wrote, pleading for help with the outbreak, was discovered. Thomas L. Modly, acting Navy secretary, was eventually fired as well.
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Current Navy rules on handling the pandemic at sea, by which positive cases are isolated, were formed after the outbreak aboard the aircraft carrier, and have proven more effective.
Several sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan tested positive for the virus in September and were flown off the ship to its homeport in Japan.


upi--2020-10-16--Rain really does move mountains, study finds

Oct. 16 ( UPI ) -- Scientists have finally shown that precipitation and erosion rates influence the movement of mountains .
Researchers detailed the breakthrough in a new paper , published Friday in the journal Science Advances .
The role that rain -- and climate -- plays in the evolution of mountain changes has been debated for decades .
It seems intuitive that rain erodes mountains , altering a range 's topography , and even its tectonics , but the link has been difficult to prove .
`` Previously , many papers have brought together large datasets and found relationships @ @ @ @ @ @ @ correlation between rainfall and erosion rate , '' Byron Adams told UPI in an email .
`` The problem with the studies that suggested there was a strong correlation was that they did not provide a physical mechanism for why rainfall would affect erosion , '' said Adams , earth scientist and research fellow at the University of Bristol .
To establish a connection between climate patterns and erosion rates , researchers precisely dated and mapped quartz sand grains across the slopes of the central and eastern Himalaya in Bhutan and Nepal .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ relied on the precise measurement of a rare element , Berllyium-10 , in quartz samples .
`` Berllyium-10 is produced within quartz when cosmic radiation , mostly neutrons , from outer space travels through the atmosphere and strikes the nucleus of an Oxygen-16 or Silicon-28 atom in the mineral , '' Adams said .
`` When this interaction occurs , the atom breaks apart , or spalls , and new elements are formed including Berllyium-10 . ''
Berllyium-10 , or Be10 , is a very rare form of Berllyium , so scientists can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a measure of what 's called `` cosmogenic spallation . ''
`` Because we know the flux of cosmic radiation and the production rate of 10Be in quartz , we can use this technique to keep track of time , '' Adams said .
In other words , by counting Be10 atoms , scientists can measure how long quartz sands have been exposed to the heavens in any given place on mountain sides and in river valleys .
`` To make our erosion rate measurements we need to extract very small amount @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it very precisely with mass spectrometers , '' Adams told UPI .
For the study , researchers combined their precise erosion rate measurements with precipitation and elevation data , and then used sophisticated numerical models to make sense of it all .
The analysis allowed the research team to isolate the influence of rainfall on erosion rates .
The breakthrough helped researchers improve the accuracy of simulations for mountain tectonics .
`` We found that if we used our new understanding of how the rivers are responding to rainfall , we could more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the active faults in Bhutan , '' Adams said .
While researchers were able to confirm the influence of precipitation on erosion and local tectonic activity in the Himalayas , Adams suggests there is more work to be done to understand the true scope of this phenomena .
`` The question that remains is : Is this a big enough change to drive crustal flow ? ''
he said .
Researchers are currently working to expand their analysis across the entirety of the Himalayas and to use their findings to update risk models @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slips .

Researchers have shown in a new paper that precipitation and erosion play roles in the changes of mountains. Photo by Simon /Pixabay
Oct. 16 (UPI) -- Scientists have finally shown that precipitation and erosion rates influence the movement of mountains. Researchers detailed the breakthrough in a new paper, published Friday in the journal Science Advances. The role that rain -- and climate -- plays in the evolution of mountain changes has been debated for decades. It seems intuitive that rain erodes mountains, altering a range's topography, and even its tectonics, but the link has been difficult to prove. Advertisement
"Previously, many papers have brought together large datasets and found relationships ranging from a strong correlation to no correlation between rainfall and erosion rate," Byron Adams told UPI in an email.
"The problem with the studies that suggested there was a strong correlation was that they did not provide a physical mechanism for why rainfall would affect erosion," said Adams, earth scientist and research fellow at the University of Bristol.
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To establish a connection between climate patterns and erosion rates, researchers precisely dated and mapped quartz sand grains across the slopes of the central and eastern Himalaya in Bhutan and Nepal.
Researchers used a novel dating technique that relied on the precise measurement of a rare element, Berllyium-10, in quartz samples.
"Berllyium-10 is produced within quartz when cosmic radiation, mostly neutrons, from outer space travels through the atmosphere and strikes the nucleus of an Oxygen-16 or Silicon-28 atom in the mineral," Adams said. "When this interaction occurs, the atom breaks apart, or spalls, and new elements are formed including Berllyium-10."
Berllyium-10, or Be10, is a very rare form of Berllyium, so scientists can be confident that its presence in quartz is a measure of what's called "cosmogenic spallation."
"Because we know the flux of cosmic radiation and the production rate of 10Be in quartz, we can use this technique to keep track of time," Adams said.
In other words, by counting Be10 atoms, scientists can measure how long quartz sands have been exposed to the heavens in any given place on mountain sides and in river valleys.
"To make our erosion rate measurements we need to extract very small amount of Berllyium-10 from river sands and measure it very precisely with mass spectrometers," Adams told UPI.
Advertisement
For the study, researchers combined their precise erosion rate measurements with precipitation and elevation data, and then used sophisticated numerical models to make sense of it all.
The analysis allowed the research team to isolate the influence of rainfall on erosion rates. The breakthrough helped researchers improve the accuracy of simulations for mountain tectonics.
"We found that if we used our new understanding of how the rivers are responding to rainfall, we could more accurately constrain the geometry and velocity of the active faults in Bhutan," Adams said.
While researchers were able to confirm the influence of precipitation on erosion and local tectonic activity in the Himalayas, Adams suggests there is more work to be done to understand the true scope of this phenomena.
"The question that remains is: Is this a big enough change to drive crustal flow?" he said.
Researchers are currently working to expand their analysis across the entirety of the Himalayas and to use their findings to update risk models for landslides, dam breaches and fault slips.


upi--2020-10-16--Paris teacher beheaded in terrorist attack, French officials say

Oct. 16 ( UPI ) -- A Paris middle school teacher was killed and beheaded in an attack Friday after reportedly showing his classroom cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad , said police , who shot and killed the attacker .
The attack in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine , a suburban area in northwest Paris , is under investigation by France 's anti-terror prosecutor for `` murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise '' and `` criminal terrorist association , '' authorities said .
French President Emmanuel Macron visited the school and spoke with teachers .
`` One of our compatriots was murdered today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believe or not believe , '' Macron said .
`` We must stand all together as citizens . ''
Police said parents had threatened the history teacher after the teacher showed students caricatures of the Muslim prophet published in 2015 in the Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine as part of a discussion on free speech and blasphemy in France .
The suspect , identified as an 18-year-old immigrant from Chechnya , announced his plans on Twitter and posted a photo of the teacher , which has since been removed , French authorities said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the infidels , I executed one of your hellhounds who dared to belittle Muhammad , '' the tweet said , according to The Independent .
`` Tonight , the Republic [ of France ] is attacked with the despicable assassination of one of its servants , a professor , '' French Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer tweeted Friday .
`` I think tonight of him , of his family .
Our unity and steadfastness are the only answers to the monstrosity of Islamist terrorism .
We will face [ it ] , '' Blanquer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Charlie Hebdo tweeted their support to the teacher 's family , saying , `` Charlie Hebdo expresses its sense of horror and revolt after a teacher in the line of duty was murdered by a religious fanatic . ''
The attack was another act of violence in Paris since a trial began last month for 14 defendants accused of planning a violent shooting attack in 2015 at the magazine 's offices in which 17 people died .
Last month , Charlie Hebdo 's editors republished the cartoons of Muhammad to mark the trial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man was charged with stabbing two people outside the former offices of Charlie Hebdo in eastern Paris .
The Eiffel Tower was evacuated in September after a man claimed he had planted a bomb inside and threatened to blow it up .

French anti-terrorism authorities are investigating the killing of a Paris teacher Friday who was beheaded after reportedly showing his students cartoon images of the Prophet Muhammad. File photo by Mohammed Badra/EPA-EFE
Oct. 16 (UPI) -- A Paris middle school teacher was killed and beheaded in an attack Friday after reportedly showing his classroom cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad, said police, who shot and killed the attacker. The attack in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, a suburban area in northwest Paris, is under investigation by France's anti-terror prosecutor for "murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise" and "criminal terrorist association," authorities said. Advertisement
French President Emmanuel Macron visited the school and spoke with teachers.
"One of our compatriots was murdered today because he taught ... the freedom to believe or not believe," Macron said. "We must stand all together as citizens."
Police said parents had threatened the history teacher after the teacher showed students caricatures of the Muslim prophet published in 2015 in the Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine as part of a discussion on free speech and blasphemy in France.
The suspect, identified as an 18-year-old immigrant from Chechnya, announced his plans on Twitter and posted a photo of the teacher, which has since been removed, French authorities said.
"To Macron, the leader of the infidels, I executed one of your hellhounds who dared to belittle Muhammad," the tweet said, according to The Independent.
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Other French officials showed support Friday.
"Tonight, the Republic [of France] is attacked with the despicable assassination of one of its servants, a professor," French Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer tweeted Friday.
"I think tonight of him, of his family. Our unity and steadfastness are the only answers to the monstrosity of Islamist terrorism. We will face [it]," Blanquer wrote.
On Friday, editors at Charlie Hebdo tweeted their support to the teacher's family, saying, "Charlie Hebdo expresses its sense of horror and revolt after a teacher in the line of duty was murdered by a religious fanatic."
The attack was another act of violence in Paris since a trial began last month for 14 defendants accused of planning a violent shooting attack in 2015 at the magazine's offices in which 17 people died.
Last month, Charlie Hebdo's editors republished the cartoons of Muhammad to mark the trial.
Last month, a 25-year-old Pakistani man was charged with stabbing two people outside the former offices of Charlie Hebdo in eastern Paris.
The Eiffel Tower was evacuated in September after a man claimed he had planted a bomb inside and threatened to blow it up.


upi--2020-10-16--U.S. approves sale of missile defense system to Romania

Oct. 16 ( UPI ) -- The United States cleared Romania to purchase coastal defense missiles in a $ 300 million deal , the Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced Friday .
The State Department approved the sale of two Naval Strike Missile Coastal Defense Systems and related equipment .
The system includes missiles suited for land attack missions because they can climb and descend with the terrain as well as having sea-skimming capabilities .
It was successfully tested in a land-based mobile launcher configuration in 2018 as part of a multinational military exercise , its manufacturer , Raytheon , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Norwegian defense company Kongsberg Defence Aerospace .
In 2019 , the U.S. Marine Corps became a customer , integrating a land-based Naval Strike Missile into its force structure .
And in 2018 , the Navy selected the Naval Strike Missile for its over-the-horizon defense of littoral combat ships and future frigates .
The system is currently in use by Norway , Poland , the United States , Malaysia and Germany .
Romania has been a NATO member since 2004 .
The proposed sale will improve Romania 's maritime defense capabilities in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States , the DSCA statement said .

Romania was cleared to purchase Naval Strike Missiles from the United States in a $300 million sale, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced Friday. Photo courtesy of Kongsberg Defence
Oct. 16 (UPI) -- The United States cleared Romania to purchase coastal defense missiles in a $300 million deal, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced Friday. The State Department approved the sale of two Naval Strike Missile Coastal Defense Systems and related equipment. Advertisement
The system includes missiles suited for land attack missions because they can climb and descend with the terrain as well as having sea-skimming capabilities.
It was successfully tested in a land-based mobile launcher configuration in 2018 as part of a multinational military exercise, its manufacturer, Raytheon, said.
Raytheon builds the system in conjunction with Norwegian defense company Kongsberg Defence Aerospace.
In 2019, the U.S. Marine Corps became a customer, integrating a land-based Naval Strike Missile into its force structure. And in 2018, the Navy selected the Naval Strike Missile for its over-the-horizon defense of littoral combat ships and future frigates.
The system is currently in use by Norway, Poland, the United States, Malaysia and Germany. Romania has been a NATO member since 2004.
The proposed sale will improve Romania's maritime defense capabilities in the Black Sea and increase interoperability with the United States, the DSCA statement said.


upi--2020-10-16--Virginia man wins his second Cash 5 lottery jackpot in two years

Oct. 16 ( UPI ) -- A Virginia man collected a $ 200,000 jackpot from the state lottery 's Cash @ @ @ @ @ year after winning $ 100,000 from the same game .
The Virginia Lottery said Willie @ @ @ @ @ bought two identical tickets for the Sept. 28 Cash 5 day drawing at the Circle @ @ @ @ @ they matched the numbers from the drawing : 3-10-15-23-25 .
Harrison 's $ 200,00 payday @ @ @ @ @ $ 100,000 Cash 5 jackpot in May 2019 .
`` I was just trying to @ @ @ @ @ a heart attack , '' Harrison recalled of the moment he realized he had won @ @ @ @ @ time .

Willie Harrison, of Forest, Va., collected a $200,000 jackpot from a Cash 5 drawing a little over a year after he won a $100,000 prize. Photo courtesy of the Virginia Lottery
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Oct. 16 (UPI) -- A Virginia man collected a $200,000 jackpot from the state lottery's Cash 5 drawing just over a year after winning $100,000 from the same game. The Virginia Lottery said Willie Harrison, of Forest, bought two identical tickets for the Sept. 28 Cash 5 day drawing at the Circle K in Blairs, and they matched the numbers from the drawing: 3-10-15-23-25. Advertisement
Each ticket earned Harrison a $100,000 prize.
Harrison's $200,00 payday came after he collected a $100,000 Cash 5 jackpot in May 2019.
"I was just trying to stay calm and not have a heart attack," Harrison recalled of the moment he realized he had won Cash 5 for a second time.


upi--2020-10-16--U.S. budget deficit tripled to $3.1T this year due to COVID-19: Treasury Dept.

Oct. 16 ( UPI ) -- The U.S. budget deficit more than tripled to $ 3.13 trillion in fiscal year 2020 , mostly due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic rescue legislation passed in response , the Treasury Department said Friday .
Most of the excess spending came from the emergency $ 2.2 trillion CARES Act , which boosted unemployment compensation and issued loans to businesses to keep workers on the payroll , the statement from the department and White House Office of Management and Budget said .
The deficit in fiscal year 2019 was $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fiscal year begins Oct. 1 .
Federal outlays this year were $ 6.55 trillion , or $ 2.11 trillion more than in FY 2019 , a 47 % increase .
September 2020 had a monthly budget deficit of $ 125 billion compared with a surplus of $ 83 billion in September 2019 , the agency said .
Tax revenues totaled $ 3.42 trillion , about $ 42 billion lower than in fiscal year 2019 , which accounted for a decrease of about 1 % .
The losses were partially due to lower collections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ borrowing from the public increased by almost $ 4.22 trillion during 2020 to $ 21.02 trillion , the Treasury Department said .
The government borrowed $ 3.13 trillion to finance the deficit , along with $ 1.08 trillion in borrowing related to other transactions , the agency said .
Nevertheless , Steven Mnuchin , treasury secretary praised President Trump 's commitment to bring back the economy in `` an incredible comeback . ''
`` Thanks to President Trump 's pro-growth policies and the bipartisan CARES Act , we are experiencing a strong economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement .
`` The Administration remains fully committed to supporting American workers , families , and businesses and to ensuring that our robust economic rebound continues . ''
This year 's deficit amounted to 15.2 % of the U.S. gross domestic product , the greatest deficit as a percentage of the economy since 1945 , according to the Bipartisan Policy Center 's online deficit tracker .
`` Even in times of economic growth , the federal government ran large and growing budget deficits , near $ 1 trillion per year , '' the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the COVID-19 pandemic , it was an ominous trend .
Now that policymakers are enacting necessary , emergency measures to combat the crisis , federal budget deficits are escalating to levels not seen since World War II . ''
Mnuchin and U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif , have continued to negotiate a third COVID-rescue bailout bill that would need to pass the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate to become law .
Mnuchin said that it would be difficult for Congress to pass a measure before the election .
The White House most recently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pelosi said `` falls significantly short '' of what is required .

The U.S. deficit tripled in fiscal year 2020 due to COVID-19 rescue packages, the U.S. Treasury Department said Friday. File Photo by Chris Kleponis/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 16 (UPI) -- The U.S. budget deficit more than tripled to $3.13 trillion in fiscal year 2020, mostly due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic rescue legislation passed in response, the Treasury Department said Friday. Most of the excess spending came from the emergency $2.2 trillion CARES Act, which boosted unemployment compensation and issued loans to businesses to keep workers on the payroll, the statement from the department and White House Office of Management and Budget said. The deficit in fiscal year 2019 was $984 billion. The federal government's fiscal year begins Oct. 1. Advertisement
Federal outlays this year were $6.55 trillion, or $2.11 trillion more than in FY 2019, a 47% increase. September 2020 had a monthly budget deficit of $125 billion compared with a surplus of $83 billion in September 2019, the agency said.
Tax revenues totaled $3.42 trillion, about $42 billion lower than in fiscal year 2019, which accounted for a decrease of about 1%. The losses were partially due to lower collections of taxes and receipts.
Total federal borrowing from the public increased by almost $4.22 trillion during 2020 to $21.02 trillion, the Treasury Department said. The government borrowed $3.13 trillion to finance the deficit, along with $1.08 trillion in borrowing related to other transactions, the agency said.
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Nevertheless, Steven Mnuchin, treasury secretary praised President Trump's commitment to bring back the economy in "an incredible comeback."
"Thanks to President Trump's pro-growth policies and the bipartisan CARES Act, we are experiencing a strong economic recovery," Mnuchin said in a statement. "The Administration remains fully committed to supporting American workers, families, and businesses and to ensuring that our robust economic rebound continues."
This year's deficit amounted to 15.2% of the U.S. gross domestic product, the greatest deficit as a percentage of the economy since 1945, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center's online deficit tracker.
"Even in times of economic growth, the federal government ran large and growing budget deficits, near $1 trillion per year," the nonprofit think tank said. "Before the COVID-19 pandemic, it was an ominous trend. Now that policymakers are enacting necessary, emergency measures to combat the crisis, federal budget deficits are escalating to levels not seen since World War II."
Mnuchin and U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif, have continued to negotiate a third COVID-rescue bailout bill that would need to pass the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate to become law.
Mnuchin said that it would be difficult for Congress to pass a measure before the election.
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The White House most recently introduced a $1.8 trillion plan that Pelosi said "falls significantly short" of what is required.


upi--2020-10-16--Watch: Owl boards helicopter fighting California wildfire

Oct. 16 ( UPI ) -- A helicopter pilot helping to fight the Creek Fire in California snapped a photo @ @ @ @ @ '' scene -- an owl that boarded the chopper mid-flight .
Dan Alpiner , a @ @ @ @ @ Sky Aviation , said he was helping conduct water drops over the Creek Fire in @ @ @ @ @ an owl flew in through the window and perched calmly inside his helicopter .
`` @ @ @ @ @ an owl enter an aircraft , '' Sky Aviation said in a Facebook post .
@ @ @ @ @ to have it enter while the helo is in-flight .
It 's an unexplainable and @ @ @ @ @ stay with you for several water drops , then leave just as it arrived -- @ @ @ @ @ Alpiner said he was initially concerned the owl would fly dangerously around the cockpit , @ @ @ @ @ calmly for several minutes before flying back out the window .

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Oct. 16 (UPI) -- A helicopter pilot helping to fight the Creek Fire in California snapped a photo of an "unheard of" scene -- an owl that boarded the chopper mid-flight.
Dan Alpiner, a pilot with aircraft charter company Sky Aviation, said he was helping conduct water drops over the Creek Fire in Fresno and Medera counties when an owl flew in through the window and perched calmly inside his helicopter.
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"It's odd to have an owl enter an aircraft," Sky Aviation said in a Facebook post. "It's unheard of to have it enter while the helo is in-flight. It's an unexplainable and magical miracle for it to stay with you for several water drops, then leave just as it arrived -- safe and unannounced."
Alpiner said he was initially concerned the owl would fly dangerously around the cockpit, but it rode with him calmly for several minutes before flying back out the window.


upi--2020-10-16--FDA: NSAID painkillers can raise risk for pregnancy complications

If you 're pregnant and you think popping nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , or NSAIDs , for your aches and pains is safe , think again .
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned on Thursday that taking these widely used painkillers -- which include Advil , Motrin , Aleve and Celebrex -- at 20 weeks or later in a pregnancy could raise the risk of complications .
Specifically , taking the medications can cause rare but serious kidney problems in the unborn baby that can lead to low levels of amniotic fluid , increasing the potential for pregnancy complications .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fetus 's kidneys begin producing most of the amniotic fluid , so kidney problems can cause low levels of this protective fluid .
Low levels of amniotic fluid usually resolve if a pregnant woman stops taking an NSAID , according to the FDA .
The agency said it has ordered that NSAID labeling warns women and their health care providers about this risk .
NSAIDs are prescription and over-the-counter , or OTC , drugs that include ibuprofen , naproxen , diclofenac and celecoxib , which are taken to treat pain and fever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but the new labeling rules do n't apply to the use of low-dose aspirin .
`` It is important that women understand the benefits and risks of the medications they may take over the course of their pregnancy , '' Dr. Patrizia Cavazzoni , acting director of FDA 's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research , said in an agency news release .
One ob-gyn noted that over-the-counter NSAIDs may pose the greatest danger to pregnant women .
`` Many female patients use ibuprofen regularly for headaches and menstrual cramps , '' said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hospital in New York City .
`` It is very important that these patients realize that ibuprofen and other NSAIDs pose a unique danger to pregnant patients .
`` The majority of patients get these medications over the counter and may even be using them at the prescription-strength level , '' Wu added .
`` While many prescription drugs come with the oversight of the pharmacist and a warning label , the over-the-counter medications lack all this .
Patients also often assume that over-the-counter necessarily means safe . ''
The FDA 's warning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and cases reported to the agency about low amniotic fluid levels or kidney problems in unborn babies associated with NSAID use during pregnancy .
For prescription NSAIDs , the new FDA warning recommends limiting use between about 20 weeks to 30 weeks of pregnancy .
A warning to avoid taking NSAIDs after about 30 weeks of pregnancy was already included in prescribing information due to a risk of heart problems in unborn babies .
If a health care provider believes NSAIDs are necessary between about 20 and 30 weeks of pregnancy , use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dose and shortest possible length of time , the FDA said .
Makers of OTC NSAIDs intended for adults will also make similar updates to their labeling , according to the agency .
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has more on NSAIDs .

If you're pregnant and you think popping nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, for your aches and pains is safe, think again.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned on Thursday that taking these widely used painkillers -- which include Advil, Motrin, Aleve and Celebrex -- at 20 weeks or later in a pregnancy could raise the risk of complications.
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Specifically, taking the medications can cause rare but serious kidney problems in the unborn baby that can lead to low levels of amniotic fluid, increasing the potential for pregnancy complications.
After about 20 weeks of pregnancy, the fetus's kidneys begin producing most of the amniotic fluid, so kidney problems can cause low levels of this protective fluid. Low levels of amniotic fluid usually resolve if a pregnant woman stops taking an NSAID, according to the FDA.
The agency said it has ordered that NSAID labeling warns women and their health care providers about this risk.
NSAIDs are prescription and over-the-counter, or OTC, drugs that include ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac and celecoxib, which are taken to treat pain and fever. Aspirin is also an NSAID, but the new labeling rules don't apply to the use of low-dose aspirin.
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"It is important that women understand the benefits and risks of the medications they may take over the course of their pregnancy," Dr. Patrizia Cavazzoni, acting director of FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in an agency news release.
One ob-gyn noted that over-the-counter NSAIDs may pose the greatest danger to pregnant women.
"Many female patients use ibuprofen regularly for headaches and menstrual cramps," said Dr. Jennifer Wu, from Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. "It is very important that these patients realize that ibuprofen and other NSAIDs pose a unique danger to pregnant patients.
"The majority of patients get these medications over the counter and may even be using them at the prescription-strength level," Wu added. "While many prescription drugs come with the oversight of the pharmacist and a warning label, the over-the-counter medications lack all this. Patients also often assume that over-the-counter necessarily means safe."
The FDA's warning comes after a review of medical literature and cases reported to the agency about low amniotic fluid levels or kidney problems in unborn babies associated with NSAID use during pregnancy.
For prescription NSAIDs, the new FDA warning recommends limiting use between about 20 weeks to 30 weeks of pregnancy. A warning to avoid taking NSAIDs after about 30 weeks of pregnancy was already included in prescribing information due to a risk of heart problems in unborn babies.
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If a health care provider believes NSAIDs are necessary between about 20 and 30 weeks of pregnancy, use should be limited to the lowest possible dose and shortest possible length of time, the FDA said.
Makers of OTC NSAIDs intended for adults will also make similar updates to their labeling, according to the agency.
More information
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has more on NSAIDs.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-10-16--Kate Hudson joins Season 2 of Apple Original series 'Truth Be Told'

Oct. 16 ( UPI ) -- Apple announced Friday that Kate Hudson has joined the cast of its Apple Original series Truth Be Told for Season 2 .
Production begins Oct. 26 in Los Angeles , Calif .
According to a press release , Hudson will play Micah Keith , a lifestyle guru friend of Poppy Parnell ( Octavia Spencer ) .
Season 2 's new mystery involves both women and tests their friendship .
Spencer starred in Season 1 of Truth Be Told as a true crime podcaster investigating a mysterious death herself .
It premiered Dec. 6 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Apple TV+ on Nov. 1 .
Truth Be Told will be Hudson 's first leading role in a television series .
She recurred on five episodes of Glee in the 2012-2013 season .
Hudson , the daughter of Goldie Hawn and Bill Hudson , began acting in 1996 with a guest role on Party of Five and another on EZ Streets .
She predominantly appeared in movies such as Dr. T & the Women , How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and most recently Mother 's Day , Marshall and Deepwater @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hudson was Oscar-nominated for her role as Penny Lane in Almost Famous .
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association awarded Hudson a Golden Globe for that role .
Spencer also executive produces Truth Be Told along with Reese Witherspoon 's Hello Sunshine , Chernin Entertainment and Endeavor Content .
Hello Sunshine also produces Apple TV+ 's The Morning Show , on which Witherspoon also stars .

Kate Hudson is joining the cast of "Truth Be Told" for Apple TV+. File Photo by Chris Chew/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 16 (UPI) -- Apple announced Friday that Kate Hudson has joined the cast of its Apple Original series Truth Be Told for Season 2. Production begins Oct. 26 in Los Angeles, Calif. According to a press release, Hudson will play Micah Keith, a lifestyle guru friend of Poppy Parnell (Octavia Spencer). Season 2's new mystery involves both women and tests their friendship. Advertisement
Spencer starred in Season 1 of Truth Be Told as a true crime podcaster investigating a mysterious death herself. It premiered Dec. 6, 2019, a month after Apple launched Apple TV+ on Nov. 1.
Truth Be Told will be Hudson's first leading role in a television series. She recurred on five episodes of Glee in the 2012-2013 season.
Hudson, the daughter of Goldie Hawn and Bill Hudson, began acting in 1996 with a guest role on Party of Five and another on EZ Streets. She predominantly appeared in movies such as Dr. T & the Women, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and most recently Mother's Day, Marshall and Deepwater Horizon.
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As a movie star, Hudson was Oscar-nominated for her role as Penny Lane in Almost Famous. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association awarded Hudson a Golden Globe for that role.
Spencer also executive produces Truth Be Told along with Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine, Chernin Entertainment and Endeavor Content. Hello Sunshine also produces Apple TV+'s The Morning Show, on which Witherspoon also stars.
Nichelle Tramble Spellman created Truth Be Told.


upi--2020-10-16--U.S. Army formally reactivates storied V Corps

Oct. 16 ( UPI ) -- The U.S. Army reactivated its famed Fifth Corps , or V Corps , on Friday in an effort to bring more command and control support to its mission in Europe .
Although the ceremonial aspects of the corps ' return took place during a ceremony Friday at its Fort Knox , Ky. , headquarters , V Corps has had a forward command presence in Poznan , Poland , since early September .
It 's mission has focused on conducting operational planning , as well as mission command and oversight of the rotational forces in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fort Knox headquarters , with a portion planned to be sent on a rotational basis to Poland .
Full rotations are expected to start in 2021 , likely around the time of the DEFENDER-Europe 21 exercise planned for the Balkan and Black Sea regions , according to the Army .
Sen. Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , and Gov .
Andy Beshear , D-Ky. , were among those who spoke at Friday 's ceremony , which included celebratory cannon fire and flag-hoisting .
V Corps was first activated in 1918 , and fought in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaigns of World War I , earning the nickname `` Victory Corps . ''
In World War II it participated in the D-Day invasion and liberation of Europe and later defended served in Europe during the Cold War .
V Corps also saw service in the Balkans , Iraq and Afghanistan before it was deactivated in 2013 .
The corps ' return makes it one of only four three-star headquarters elements in the U.S. Army .

A celebratory firing of cannons marked the return of the U.S. Army's Fifth Corps, or V Corps, in a ceremony on Friday at Fort Know, Ky. Screenshot courtesy of V Corps/Facebook
Oct. 16 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army reactivated its famed Fifth Corps, or V Corps, on Friday in an effort to bring more command and control support to its mission in Europe. Although the ceremonial aspects of the corps' return took place during a ceremony Friday at its Fort Knox, Ky., headquarters, V Corps has had a forward command presence in Poznan, Poland, since early September. Advertisement
It's mission has focused on conducting operational planning, as well as mission command and oversight of the rotational forces in Europe.
About 600 soldiers comprise the Fort Knox headquarters, with a portion planned to be sent on a rotational basis to Poland. Full rotations are expected to start in 2021, likely around the time of the DEFENDER-Europe 21 exercise planned for the Balkan and Black Sea regions, according to the Army.
Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky., were among those who spoke at Friday's ceremony, which included celebratory cannon fire and flag-hoisting.
V Corps was first activated in 1918, and fought in the Lorraine, St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne campaigns of World War I, earning the nickname "Victory Corps."
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In World War II it participated in the D-Day invasion and liberation of Europe and later defended served in Europe during the Cold War.
V Corps also saw service in the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan before it was deactivated in 2013.
The corps' return makes it one of only four three-star headquarters elements in the U.S. Army.


upi--2020-10-16--Severe morning sickness linked to depression before and after birth

Women who suffer severe morning sickness may have higher risk of depression during and after pregnancy , according to a new British study .
It enrolled 214 women in London during the first trimester of pregnancy .
Half had severe morning sickness half did not .
None had been treated for mental health conditions during the previous year .
The women 's mental health was assessed in their first trimester and six weeks after giving birth .
Nearly half of the women with severe morning sickness had depression in the first trimester and nearly 30 % had depression after delivery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the rates were 6 % and 7 % , respectively .
Half of the women with severe morning sickness had to take four or more weeks off work during or after pregnancy , according to findings published this week in the journal BMJ Open .
Severe morning sickness , also known as hyperemesis gravidarum , is one of the most common reasons for hospitalization during pregnancy .
Women with the condition are often severely nauseated with persistent vomiting .
They can be bedridden for weeks , suffer dehydration and weight loss , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for their other children .
But lead author Dr. Nicola Mitchell-Jones , a specialist registrar in obstetrics and gynecology at Imperial College London , said many healthcare providers do n't take the mental health impact of severe morning sickness seriously enough .
Women with severe morning sickness are about eight times more likely to suffer depression before giving birth and four times more likely to be depressed afterward , she said .
`` Some women in the study even had thoughts of self-harm whilst suffering HG [ hyperemesis gravidarum ] , '' Mitchell-Jones @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` These figures are shocking and should be reflected in the treatment women receive .
We need to do much more than simply treat the physical symptoms of HG assessment for mental health support should also be routine for any woman with the condition . ''
The U.S. National Library of Medicine has more on severe morning sickness .

Nearly half of women with severe morning sickness had depression in the first trimester and nearly 30% had depression after delivery, a new study found. Photo by DigitalMarketingAgency/Pixabay
Women who suffer severe morning sickness may have higher risk of depression during and after pregnancy, according to a new British study. It enrolled 214 women in London during the first trimester of pregnancy. Half had severe morning sickness half did not. None had been treated for mental health conditions during the previous year. Advertisement
The women's mental health was assessed in their first trimester and six weeks after giving birth.
Nearly half of the women with severe morning sickness had depression in the first trimester and nearly 30% had depression after delivery. Among the women without morning sickness, the rates were 6% and 7%, respectively.
Half of the women with severe morning sickness had to take four or more weeks off work during or after pregnancy, according to findings published this week in the journal BMJ Open.
Severe morning sickness, also known as hyperemesis gravidarum, is one of the most common reasons for hospitalization during pregnancy. Women with the condition are often severely nauseated with persistent vomiting. They can be bedridden for weeks, suffer dehydration and weight loss, and often can't work or care for their other children.
But lead author Dr. Nicola Mitchell-Jones, a specialist registrar in obstetrics and gynecology at Imperial College London, said many healthcare providers don't take the mental health impact of severe morning sickness seriously enough.
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Women with severe morning sickness are about eight times more likely to suffer depression before giving birth and four times more likely to be depressed afterward, she said.
"Some women in the study even had thoughts of self-harm whilst suffering HG [hyperemesis gravidarum]," Mitchell-Jones said in a college news release. "These figures are shocking and should be reflected in the treatment women receive. We need to do much more than simply treat the physical symptoms of HG assessment for mental health support should also be routine for any woman with the condition."
More information
The U.S. National Library of Medicine has more on severe morning sickness.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-10-16--Study: Blood test identifies melanoma patients who will benefit most from immunotherapy

Oct. 16 ( UPI ) -- Cancer patients with high levels of cancer cells in their blood may benefit from receiving more aggressive drug treatment for melanoma , a study published Friday by Clinical Cancer Research found .
The cancer cells , called circulating tumor DNA , could be used as a biomarker -- an indicator of bodily processes -- to help select the most effective treatment for melanoma , the researchers , from Edith Cowan University in Australia , said .
`` Selecting the right course of drugs and therapies to treat melanoma is extremely complex and relies on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ characteristics of the tumor and how it has spread throughout the body , '' study co-author Elin Gray , an assistant professor at the school , said in a statement .
The discovery could improve melanoma survival rates , she said .
About 80,000 people are diagnosed with malignant melanoma , an aggressive form of skin cancer , every year , according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
Most melanomas are treated by surgically removing tumor cells , at least initially , followed by radiation therapy , which is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prevent disease recurrence , patient information site Cancer.net says .
However , researchers are exploring ways to use immunotherapy , in which drugs called biologics are administered intravenously to boost the immune system so that it can fight the cancer , as first-line treatment .
For the study , Gray and her colleagues examined levels of the circulating tumor DNA in the blood of 125 metastatic melanoma patients at Fiona Stanley Hospital and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth , Australia , before they received immunotherapy .
The findings in these patients were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the Melanoma Institute Australia and Peter MacCallum Cancer Center .
In addition to finding that those with elevated circulating tumor DNA in their blood `` could ... have better outcomes if we hit the cancer with an aggressive combination immunotherapy first , '' the researchers found that the biomarker was less effective predicting a patient 's prognosis if immunotherapy were given after surgery and radiation , Gray said .
Biomarkers are increasingly being used as a measurable medical sign of the presence of a disease .
In the case of melanoma , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ test called a liquid biopsy , which is less invasive than a standard biopsy , she and her colleagues said .
Previous studies have shown that circulating tumor DNA is useful in predicting patient survival before the first-line of treatment .
The new research builds on the growing body of evidence supporting the use of markers of cancer in the blood in diagnosis and treatment selection .
`` We have been battling to find new drugs and therapies to treat melanoma , but if we can find evidence that a particular drug can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , this could allow us to use existing drugs in a more targeted and precise way , '' Gray said .
`` It 's important to know when we should be targeting the cancer with certain types of drugs and which patients would benefit the most as aggressive treatments often result in more serious side effects . ''

Oct. 16 (UPI) -- Cancer patients with high levels of cancer cells in their blood may benefit from receiving more aggressive drug treatment for melanoma, a study published Friday by Clinical Cancer Research found.
The cancer cells, called circulating tumor DNA, could be used as a biomarker -- an indicator of bodily processes -- to help select the most effective treatment for melanoma, the researchers, from Edith Cowan University in Australia, said.
Advertisement
"Selecting the right course of drugs and therapies to treat melanoma is extremely complex and relies on a number of factors, including the characteristics of the tumor and how it has spread throughout the body," study co-author Elin Gray, an assistant professor at the school, said in a statement.
The discovery could improve melanoma survival rates, she said.
About 80,000 people are diagnosed with malignant melanoma, an aggressive form of skin cancer, every year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Most melanomas are treated by surgically removing tumor cells, at least initially, followed by radiation therapy, which is intended to kill remaining cancer cells and prevent disease recurrence, patient information site Cancer.net says.
Advertisement
However, researchers are exploring ways to use immunotherapy, in which drugs called biologics are administered intravenously to boost the immune system so that it can fight the cancer, as first-line treatment.
For the study, Gray and her colleagues examined levels of the circulating tumor DNA in the blood of 125 metastatic melanoma patients at Fiona Stanley Hospital and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth, Australia, before they received immunotherapy.
The findings in these patients were compared to those from 128 patients recruited from the Melanoma Institute Australia and Peter MacCallum Cancer Center.
In addition to finding that those with elevated circulating tumor DNA in their blood "could ... have better outcomes if we hit the cancer with an aggressive combination immunotherapy first," the researchers found that the biomarker was less effective predicting a patient's prognosis if immunotherapy were given after surgery and radiation, Gray said.
Biomarkers are increasingly being used as a measurable medical sign of the presence of a disease. In the case of melanoma, they can be measured using a blood test called a liquid biopsy, which is less invasive than a standard biopsy, she and her colleagues said.
Previous studies have shown that circulating tumor DNA is useful in predicting patient survival before the first-line of treatment.
Advertisement
The new research builds on the growing body of evidence supporting the use of markers of cancer in the blood in diagnosis and treatment selection.
"We have been battling to find new drugs and therapies to treat melanoma, but if we can find evidence that a particular drug can work for a tumor with particular characteristics, this could allow us to use existing drugs in a more targeted and precise way," Gray said.
"It's important to know when we should be targeting the cancer with certain types of drugs and which patients would benefit the most as aggressive treatments often result in more serious side effects."


upi--2020-10-16--Lebanon marks first year of uprising, sees long road to change

BEIRUT , Lebanon , Oct. 16 ( UPI ) -- A year after protests broke out against the government in Lebanon , activists have raised hope for change and shaken the political leadership -- but not enough to bring down the ruling elite .
`` This is a long road , which will not succeed only by going to the streets once or twice or even for a year , '' Makram Rabah , an activist and lecturer of history at the American University of Beirut , told UPI .
The demonstrations were triggered by a government decision to impose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soon turned into an unprecedented popular uprising before being slowed by the COVID-19 pandemic .
Anger , frustration and despair over the country 's deterioration and the leaders ' failure to address the acute economic crisis and financial collapse deepened after the Aug. 4 blast at the Beirut port , which killed nearly 200 people and left 300,000 homeless .
`` After everything we have seen , including the port explosion massacre , it is a matter of life and death for us .
Throwing rocks and wishing the politicians sickness or death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resistance , '' Nizar Hassan , a political activist , told UPI .
`` When all channels of change are blocked , you just wish your oppressor would vanish from existence . ''
Although the uprising attracted people from all sectarian backgrounds , breaking the confessional system in place and foiling the leaders ' counterrevolution attempts to revive sectarianism will take more .
Hassan noted that the pressures exerted by the protesters in the streets , including the disruption of institutions and economic activity , were temporary .
`` We are dealing with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its continuity over the survival of Lebanon and its people , '' Hassan said .
`` It is clear that the political leaders have no problem in accelerating the country 's crises and financial meltdown by hanging to the status quo and refusing to pass the urgently needed laws and reforms . ''
Adopting reforms is the only way out for the bankrupt country .
Without them , donor countries and the International Monetary Fund will not provide financial aid .
`` It is true that the ruling establishment still holds all links @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important has been achieved , which is basically destroying the idea that the system is too big to fail or that there is an invisible safety net that can always catch the economy of this country , '' Rabah said .
The uprising , which some still prefer to call a revolution , has created a strong desire for change , according to many activists .
Pierre Issa , Secretary-General of the National Bloc Party , referred to a recent study , which revealed that 74 % of the Lebanese population oppose the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percentage that has increased after the Beirut explosion .
However , creating an organized political opposition front that would challenge the well-established traditional ruling parties , headed by former warlords of the 1975-90 civil war , is no easy task .
`` They have been in power for 45 years , abused everything and prevented any opposition , '' Issa told UPI .
`` Would it be possible to have an opposition and create a credible and trustworthy alternative [ to the ruling power ] in just one year ? ''
Some groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organizing their ranks ; others need more time , he said .
`` We want an effective democracy , a new social-economic system that secures social justice and creates job opportunities , a fair distribution of wealth , a new foreign policy that guarantees sovereignty and stability as well as a supervised early parliamentary elections , '' Issa said .
To Hassan , the infrastructure of political opposition is still in its infancy , and a lot of groups remain informal or based around a few individuals .
`` With only a handful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear political alternative is hard , '' he said .
But the country is running out of time to avoid total collapse and another cycle of violence that would push the people again to seek protection from their own sectarian leaders .
`` We are not heading to a civil war because Lebanon is no longer as important as it was in 1975 , '' Rabah said .
`` Certainly , there is always such a risk because simply the political parties will get a kind of a bailout if a civil war @ @ @ @ @ @ @ versed in using sectarian identities and collective memories to mobilize their own community .
At the moment , the only people who can actually benefit from a civil war is Iran and Hezbollah . ''
Feeding a population of 2.7 million poor Lebanese and more than 1.7 million Syrian and Palestinian refugees will be a challenge to those who are still in power .
`` They do n't have the luxury of time .
Wait and see how they will provide food for all those people , '' Issa said .

Protesters throw stones at riot police during clashes in central Beirut, Lebanon, on December 15. The uprising has been going on for a year, with no government reform in sight. File Photo by Nabil Mounzer/EPA-EFE
BEIRUT, Lebanon, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- A year after protests broke out against the government in Lebanon, activists have raised hope for change and shaken the political leadership -- but not enough to bring down the ruling elite. "This is a long road, which will not succeed only by going to the streets once or twice or even for a year," Makram Rabah, an activist and lecturer of history at the American University of Beirut, told UPI. Advertisement
The demonstrations were triggered by a government decision to impose a new tax on WhatsApp calls and soon turned into an unprecedented popular uprising before being slowed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Anger, frustration and despair over the country's deterioration and the leaders' failure to address the acute economic crisis and financial collapse deepened after the Aug. 4 blast at the Beirut port, which killed nearly 200 people and left 300,000 homeless.
Advertisement
"After everything we have seen, including the port explosion massacre, it is a matter of life and death for us. Throwing rocks and wishing the politicians sickness or death... this is a simple act of resistance," Nizar Hassan, a political activist, told UPI. "When all channels of change are blocked, you just wish your oppressor would vanish from existence."
Although the uprising attracted people from all sectarian backgrounds, breaking the confessional system in place and foiling the leaders' counterrevolution attempts to revive sectarianism will take more.
Hassan noted that the pressures exerted by the protesters in the streets, including the disruption of institutions and economic activity, were temporary.
"We are dealing with an extremely stubborn ruling class who prioritizes its continuity over the survival of Lebanon and its people," Hassan said. "It is clear that the political leaders have no problem in accelerating the country's crises and financial meltdown by hanging to the status quo and refusing to pass the urgently needed laws and reforms."
Adopting reforms is the only way out for the bankrupt country. Without them, donor countries and the International Monetary Fund will not provide financial aid.
"It is true that the ruling establishment still holds all links to power. However, something really important has been achieved, which is basically destroying the idea that the system is too big to fail or that there is an invisible safety net that can always catch the economy of this country," Rabah said.
Advertisement
The uprising, which some still prefer to call a revolution, has created a strong desire for change, according to many activists.
Pierre Issa, Secretary-General of the National Bloc Party, referred to a recent study, which revealed that 74% of the Lebanese population oppose the ruling elite and support change; a percentage that has increased after the Beirut explosion.
However, creating an organized political opposition front that would challenge the well-established traditional ruling parties, headed by former warlords of the 1975-90 civil war, is no easy task.
"They have been in power for 45 years, abused everything and prevented any opposition," Issa told UPI. "Would it be possible to have an opposition and create a credible and trustworthy alternative [to the ruling power] in just one year?"
Some groups within the uprising have been active and organizing their ranks; others need more time, he said.
"We want an effective democracy, a new social-economic system that secures social justice and creates job opportunities, a fair distribution of wealth, a new foreign policy that guarantees sovereignty and stability as well as a supervised early parliamentary elections," Issa said.
To Hassan, the infrastructure of political opposition is still in its infancy, and a lot of groups remain informal or based around a few individuals. "With only a handful of serious political organizations, creating a clear political alternative is hard," he said.
Advertisement
But the country is running out of time to avoid total collapse and another cycle of violence that would push the people again to seek protection from their own sectarian leaders.
"We are not heading to a civil war because Lebanon is no longer as important as it was in 1975," Rabah said. "Certainly, there is always such a risk because simply the political parties will get a kind of a bailout if a civil war breaks out. They are very much versed in using sectarian identities and collective memories to mobilize their own community. At the moment, the only people who can actually benefit from a civil war is Iran and Hezbollah."
Feeding a population of 2.7 million poor Lebanese and more than 1.7 million Syrian and Palestinian refugees will be a challenge to those who are still in power.
"They don't have the luxury of time. Wait and see how they will provide food for all those people," Issa said.


upi--2020-10-16--Joe Biden tops Donald Trump in town hall viewers, early ratings show

Oct. 16 ( UPI ) -- Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden edged out President Donald Trump in viewership of their dueling town hall meetings held simultaneously Thursday on different networks , early ratings show .
According to Nielsen ratings , Biden 's town hall on ABC averaged 13.9 million television viewers , compared with about 13 million who tuned in to watch Trump 's town hall on NBC .
That includes those who watched the event on MSNBC and CNBC .
Those numbers do n't include viewers who watched the events live streamed to phones , computers and other devices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ YouTube channels also showed an advantage for Biden , with 507,445 viewers at the end of Biden 's town hall and 153,660 at the end of Trump 's town hall , Newsweek reported .
NBC drew criticism for scheduling its town hall at the same time as ABC 's previously scheduled event .
The network said its decision was a matter of fairness .
Democrats called for a boycott of NBC 's coverage .
The ratings results came as a surprise to some .
Jason Miller , Trump 's senior campaign adviser , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ draw a `` much bigger audience than Joe . ''
Trump often touts TV ratings , including after the first presidential debate in September , when Trump tweeted , `` HIGHEST CABLE TELEVISION RATINGS OF ALL TIME .
SECOND HIGHEST OVERALL TELEVISION RATINGS OF ALL TIME .
Some day these Fake Media Companies are going to miss me , very badly !
!
! ''

1/2
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden speaks during a campaign event in Florida on Tuesday. Pool Photo by Jim Watson/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 16 (UPI) -- Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden edged out President Donald Trump in viewership of their dueling town hall meetings held simultaneously Thursday on different networks, ratings show. According to Nielsen ratings, Biden's town hall on ABC averaged 14.1 million television viewers, compared with about 13.5 million who tuned in to watch Trump's town hall on NBC. That includes those who watched the event on MSNBC and CNBC. Advertisement
Those numbers don't include viewers who watched the events live streamed to phones, computers and other devices. However, the two networks' YouTube channels also showed an advantage for Biden, with 507,445 viewers at the end of Biden's town hall and 153,660 at the end of Trump's town hall, Newsweek reported.
NBC drew criticism for scheduling its town hall at the same time as ABC's previously scheduled event. The network said its decision was a matter of fairness. Democrats called for a boycott of NBC's coverage.
The ratings results came as a surprise to some. Jason Miller, Trump's senior campaign adviser, predicted before the events that Trump would draw a "much bigger audience than Joe."
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Trump often touts TV ratings, including after the first presidential debate in September, when Trump tweeted, "HIGHEST CABLE TELEVISION RATINGS OF ALL TIME. SECOND HIGHEST OVERALL TELEVISION RATINGS OF ALL TIME. Some day these Fake Media Companies are going to miss me, very badly!!!"


upi--2020-10-16--Look: Sale of Notorious B.I.G.'s plastic crown sets Guinness record

Oct. 16 ( UPI ) -- Guinness World Records has announced the sale of a plastic crown worn by rapper @ @ @ @ @ an iconic photo shoot set a new world record when it sold for almost $ @ @ @ @ @ rapper , born Christopher Wallace and also known as Biggie Smalls , wore the plastic @ @ @ @ @ `` King of New York '' photo shoot for Rap Pages Magazine .
A photo @ @ @ @ @ the shoot became one of the most famous images of the performer .
Sotheby 's @ @ @ @ @ would sell for $ 200,000 to $ 300,000 , but it far exceeded expectations and @ @ @ @ @ selling for $ 594,750 .
Guinness said the plastic crown , signed by the rapper @ @ @ @ @ a record for the most expensive fancy-dress/costume crown sold at auction .
The Notorious B.I.G @ @ @ @ @ and died at age 24 in 1997 .

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Sept. 15 in New York. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | The crown worn by The Notorious B.I.G., aka Biggie Smalls, during a 1997 photo shoot broke a Guinness World Record when it sold for $594,750 at a Sotheby's auctionin New York. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Oct. 16 (UPI) -- Guinness World Records has announced the sale of a plastic crown worn by rapper The Notorious B.I.G. during an iconic photo shoot set a new world record when it sold for almost $600,000 at auction. The rapper, born Christopher Wallace and also known as Biggie Smalls, wore the plastic crown in 1997 during a "King of New York" photo shoot for Rap Pages Magazine. A photo taken by Barron Claiborne during the shoot became one of the most famous images of the performer. Advertisement
Sotheby's auction house predicted the crown would sell for $200,000 to $300,000, but it far exceeded expectations and broke a world record by selling for $594,750.
Guinness said the plastic crown, signed by the rapper and the photographer, set a record for the most expensive fancy-dress/costume crown sold at auction.
The Notorious B.I.G. was born in 1972 and died at age 24 in 1997.


upi--2020-10-16--Trump national security adviser confirms U.S. troop withdrawal in Afghanistan

Oct. 16 ( UPI ) -- The U.S. military presence in Afghanistan will be reduced to 2,500 troops by early 2021 , National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien announced on Friday .
O'Brien told the Aspen Institute in a videoconference that President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to initiate the drawdown .
Before reports of the reduction , Trump expressed an interest in having all troops removed by Christmas , and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley said the plan to reduce the troop level to 2,500 was `` speculation '' on O'Brien 's part .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the drawdown a `` guarantee '' according to `` the order of the commander in chief , '' adding that Defense Secretary Mark Esper approves of implementing the plan .
A Pentagon statement in September said between 4,000 and 5,000 troops would be in Afghanistan in November , a figure down from 8,600 in February .
The issue of troop strength has demonstrated a divide between the White House and the Pentagon .
After O'Brien suggested on Oct. 7 that he supported a drawdown to 2,500 troops , Milley said the figure did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think that Robert O'Brien or anyone else can speculate as they see fit .
I 'm not going to engage in speculation , '' Milley said in an interview with NPR earlier this week .
The same day as Milley 's comments , Trump tweeted , `` We should have the small remaining number of our BRAVE Men and Women serving in Afghanistan home by Christmas ! ''
On Friday , O'Brien said that Trump 's Christmas suggestion was more of a wish than an order .
`` There 'd be nothing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Christmas , '' O'Brien said .
`` If the conditions permit it , we 'd love to get people out earlier and I think that 's the desire the president was expressing

A U.S. Army soldier mans a .50 caliber machine gun in Afghanistan. On Friday, National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien confirmed a drawdown of 2,500 troops in Afghanistan, in early 2021. Photo by Spc. Keith Henning/U.S. Army
Oct. 16 (UPI) -- The U.S. military presence in Afghanistan will be reduced to 2,500 troops by early 2021, National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien announced on Friday. O'Brien told the Aspen Institute in a videoconference that President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to initiate the drawdown. Advertisement
Before reports of the reduction, Trump expressed an interest in having all troops removed by Christmas, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley said the plan to reduce the troop level to 2,500 was "speculation" on O'Brien's part.
In his address on Friday, O'Brien called the drawdown a "guarantee" according to "the order of the commander in chief," adding that Defense Secretary Mark Esper approves of implementing the plan.
A Pentagon statement in September said between 4,000 and 5,000 troops would be in Afghanistan in November, a figure down from 8,600 in February.
The issue of troop strength has demonstrated a divide between the White House and the Pentagon. After O'Brien suggested on Oct. 7 that he supported a drawdown to 2,500 troops, Milley said the figure did not conform to ongoing negotiations.
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"I think that Robert O'Brien or anyone else can speculate as they see fit. I'm not going to engage in speculation," Milley said in an interview with NPR earlier this week.
The same day as Milley's comments, Trump tweeted, "We should have the small remaining number of our BRAVE Men and Women serving in Afghanistan home by Christmas!"
On Friday, O'Brien said that Trump's Christmas suggestion was more of a wish than an order.
"There'd be nothing greater than to have our troops home by Christmas," O'Brien said. "If the conditions permit it, we'd love to get people out earlier and I think that's the desire the president was expressing


upi--2020-10-17--'Star Trek: Discovery' renewed for Season 4

Oct. 17 ( UPI ) -- CBS All Access announced it has renewed Star Trek : Discovery for a fourth @ @ @ @ @ back !
# StarTrekDiscovery Season 4 production begins November 2 , '' the show 's @ @ @ @ @ .
The post included a video of cast members Sonequa Martin-Green and Doug Jones , @ @ @ @ @ Michelle Paradise , celebrating the renewal news in their respective homes .
Co-starring Anthony Rapp @ @ @ @ @ Cruz , Season 3 of the space drama debuted on the streaming service this week @

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Sonequa Martin-Green arrives at the "Star Trek: Discovery" Season 2 premiere in New York in 2019. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 17 (UPI) -- CBS All Access announced it has renewed Star Trek: Discovery for a fourth season. "We are back! #StarTrekDiscovery Season 4 production begins November 2," the show's Twitter feed said on Friday. Advertisement
The post included a video of cast members Sonequa Martin-Green and Doug Jones, and co-showrunners Alex Kurtzman and Michelle Paradise, celebrating the renewal news in their respective homes.
Co-starring Anthony Rapp, Mary Wiseman and Wilson Cruz, Season 3 of the space drama debuted on the streaming service this week.


upi--2020-10-17--21 Savage's 'Savage Mode II' tops the U.S. album chart

Oct. 17 ( UPI ) -- 21 Savage & Metro Boomin 's Savage Mode II is the No .
1 @ @ @ @ @ this week .
Coming in at No .
2 on the Billboard 200 chart dated @ @ @ @ @ Album , followed by Pop Smoke 's Shoot For the Stars Aim for the Moon @ @ @ @ @ YG 's My Life 4Hunnid at No .
4 and Bryson Tiller 's ANNIVERSARY at @ @ @ @ @ out the top tier are Machine Gun Kelly 's Tickets to My Downfall at No @ @ @ @ @ Mama 's Boy at No .
7 , Juice WRLD 's Legends Never Die at @ @ @ @ @ Never Broke Again 's Top at No .
9 and Lil Baby 's My Turn @ @ @ @ @

Oct. 17 (UPI) -- 21 Savage & Metro Boomin's Savage Mode II is the No. 1 album in the United States this week.
Coming in at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart dated Saturday is BLACKPINK's The Album, followed by Pop Smoke's Shoot For the Stars Aim for the Moon at No. 3, YG's My Life 4Hunnid at No. 4 and Bryson Tiller's ANNIVERSARY at No. 5.


upi--2020-10-17--New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern wins second term

Oct. 17 ( UPI ) -- New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Saturday won a landslide victory for a second term .
The Labor Party leader won 49 % of the vote compared to nearly 27 % for the National Party 's Judith Collins , according the to Electoral Commission .
The percentage of the vote Ardern received is the most any party has received since the Mixed-Member Proportional representation voting system was introduced in 1996 .
It means the Labor Party was projected to win 64 of 120 seats , enough for a clear majority .
The National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which is 20 fewer than the last election .
`` New Zealand has shown the Labor Party its greatest support in almost 50 years , '' Ardern told supporters .
`` For those amongst you who may not have supported Labor before ... to you I say 'thank you . '
We will not take your support for granted , '' she continued , adding that party would work for `` every New Zealander . ''
The Labor Party 's platform emphasized infrastructure , 100 % renewable electricity , the environment and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the COVID-19 pandemic .
`` Over the next three years there is much work to do do , '' Ardern said .
`` We will build back better from the COVID crisis ; better stronger with the answers to the [ things ] New Zealand already faces . ''
Ardern led New Zealand through the shootings at two Christchurch mosques in March 2019 that killed 51 people .
Justice Cameron Mander sentenced Brenton Tarrant to life in prison in August of this year and called him a `` terrorist . ''
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zealand 's handling of the coronavirus .
New Zealand has reported 1,883 cases and 25 deaths from the coronavirus that was first diagnosed in the country in late February , according to Johns Hopkins University data .
Earlier this month , New Zealand announced it had eliminated local transmission of COVID-19 for the second time amid a surge in cases in Europe .

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaks at the Labor Party election night event in Auckland, New Zealand, on Saturday. Photo by David Rowland/EPA-EFE
Oct. 17 (UPI) -- New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Saturday won a landslide victory for a second term. The Labor Party leader won 49% of the vote compared to nearly 27% for the National Party's Judith Collins, according the to Electoral Commission. The percentage of the vote Ardern received is the most any party has received since the Mixed-Member Proportional representation voting system was introduced in 1996. Advertisement
It means the Labor Party was projected to win 64 of 120 seats, enough for a clear majority. The National Party was projected to win 35 seats, which is 20 fewer than the last election.
"New Zealand has shown the Labor Party its greatest support in almost 50 years," Ardern told supporters.
"For those amongst you who may not have supported Labor before ... to you I say 'thank you.' We will not take your support for granted," she continued, adding that party would work for "every New Zealander."
The Labor Party's platform emphasized infrastructure, 100% renewable electricity, the environment and supporting those at risk for economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.
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"Over the next three years there is much work to do do," Ardern said. "We will build back better from the COVID crisis; better stronger with the answers to the [things] New Zealand already faces."
Ardern led New Zealand through the shootings at two Christchurch mosques in March 2019 that killed 51 people. Justice Cameron Mander sentenced Brenton Tarrant to life in prison in August of this year and called him a "terrorist."
She has also been internationally lauded for New Zealand's handling of the coronavirus.
New Zealand has reported 1,883 cases and 25 deaths from the coronavirus that was first diagnosed in the country in late February, according to Johns Hopkins University data.
Earlier this month, New Zealand announced it had eliminated local transmission of COVID-19 for the second time amid a surge in cases in Europe.


upi--2020-10-17--Michigan appeals court overturns expanded mail-in ballot count

Oct. 17 ( UPI ) -- A Michigan appeals court has overturned a lower court 's ruling requiring elections officials to accept mail-in ballots for two weeks after the 2020 election .
The state Court of Appeals said Friday that absentee ballots must be in the hands of local clerks by 8 p.m. on Election Day -- Nov. 3 -- or else they wo n't be counted .
The ruling came in response to one by Michigan Court of Claims Judge Cynthia Stephens , who said ballots received up to two weeks after Election Day must be counted as long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Her decision was the result of a lawsuit filed by the Michigan Alliance for Retired Americans .
The ruling also included a ban on certain third parties collecting and turning in mail-in ballots from voters in the three days before Election Day .
Traditionally only close family members or a local elections clerk could help deliver an absentee ballot , but Stephens had expanded the rule to let anyone of the voter 's choice submit the ballot .
In response to Friday 's ruling , Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballots by Monday at the latest to make sure it 's counted .
Those who miss that deadline can submit their ballots at a local clerk 's office or at a ballot drop-off box .

The Michigan secretary of state's office advised voters with absentee ballots to mail them by Monday to ensure they're counted. File Photo by Gary I Rothstein/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 17 (UPI) -- A Michigan appeals court has overturned a lower court's ruling requiring elections officials to accept mail-in ballots for two weeks after the 2020 election. The state Court of Appeals said Friday that absentee ballots must be in the hands of local clerks by 8 p.m. on Election Day -- Nov. 3 -- or else they won't be counted. Advertisement
The ruling came in response to one by Michigan Court of Claims Judge Cynthia Stephens, who said ballots received up to two weeks after Election Day must be counted as long as they are postmarked by Nov. 3.
Her decision was the result of a lawsuit filed by the Michigan Alliance for Retired Americans.
Republicans in Michigan's legislature appealed the ruling.
The ruling also included a ban on certain third parties collecting and turning in mail-in ballots from voters in the three days before Election Day.
Traditionally only close family members or a local elections clerk could help deliver an absentee ballot, but Stephens had expanded the rule to let anyone of the voter's choice submit the ballot.
In response to Friday's ruling, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson's office advised voters to mail their absentee ballots by Monday at the latest to make sure it's counted. Those who miss that deadline can submit their ballots at a local clerk's office or at a ballot drop-off box.
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upi--2020-10-17--Famous birthdays for Oct. 17: Wyclef Jean, Ernie Els

Oct. 17 ( UPI ) -- Those born on this day are under the sign of Libra .
-- Astronaut @ @ @ @ @ African-American woman in space , in 1956 ( age 64 )

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Wyclef Jean stands on a float on the parade route at the 91st Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City on November 23, 2017. The musician turns 50 on October 17. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 17 (UPI) -- Those born on this day are under the sign of Libra. They include: Advertisement
-- Jupiter Hammon, America's first published black poet, in 1711
-- Pope John Paul I in 1912
-- Playwright Arthur Miller in 1915
-- Actor Rita Hayworth in 1918
-- Football Hall of Fame member Don Coryell in 1924
-- Diet developer Dr. Robert Atkins in 1930
-- Newspaper columnist Jimmy Breslin in 1930
-- Astronaut William Anders in 1933 (age 87)
-- Daredevil Robert "Evel" Knievel in 1938
-- Singer Jim Seals in 1941 (age 79)
-- Singer Gary Puckett in 1942 (age 78)
-- Olympic gold medal-winning pole vaulter Bob Seagren in 1946 (age 74)
-- Actor Michael McKean in 1947 (age 73)
-- Actor Margot Kidder in 1948
-- Actor George Wendt in 1948 (age 72)
-- Astronaut Mae Jemison, the first African-American woman in space, in 1956 (age 64)
File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
-- Country singer Alan Jackson in 1958 (age 62)
-- Actor/writer Mark Gatiss in 1966 (age 54)
-- Musician Ziggy Marley in 1968 (age 52)
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-- Golf Hall of Fame member Ernie Els in 1969 (age 51)
File Photo by Nell Redmond/UPI
-- Singer Wyclef Jean in 1969 (age 51)
-- Rapper Eminem, born Marshall Mathers, in 1972 (age 48)
-- MMA fighter Holly Holm in 1981 (age 39)
-- Actor Felicity Jones in 1983 (age 37)
-- Actor Max Irons in 1985 (age 35)
-- Actor Jacob Artist in 1992 (age 28)
File Photo by Phil McCarten/UPI


upi--2020-10-17--On This Day, Oct. 17: Loma Prieta earthquake rattles California

Oct. 17 ( UPI ) -- On this date in history : In 1931 , gangster Al Capone was convicted of income tax evasion .
It took jurors four days to decide whether the mobster had cheated the Internal Revenue Service out of $ 215,000 .
In 1933 , German-born theoretical physicist Albert Einstein fled Nazi Germany , settling in the United States and becoming an American citizen in 1940 .
In 1945 , Juan Peron became dictator of Argentina .
He remained in power for 11 years before being overthrown .
In 1949 , British steamer Anhui reported taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it sailed for Hong Kong with 1,400 passengers aboard .
Ship 's officers said the vessel was under fire for 15 minutes , resulting in three dead and 25 injured .
In 1964 , reconnaissance flights made by the U-2 played a role in obtaining for the United States advance information on Red China 's first nuclear blast .
In 1965 , following a two-year run that saw more than 51 million people walk through its gates , the 1964/1965 New York World 's Fair closed its doors .
With a theme of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fair was a showcase for science and technology and lives on in the Unisphere , a 12-story high model of the world which dominates Flushing Meadow .
In 1973 , the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries declared an oil embargo on countries supporting Israel in its war with Egypt , Syria and Jordan .
The ensuing energy crisis drove up gasoline prices and created a shortage in the United States , prompting long lines at the pump .
In 1979 , Mother Teresa of Calcutta , a Roman Catholic nun who cared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ awarded the Nobel Peace Prize .
In 1986 , Congress passed a landmark immigration bill , the first U.S. law authorizing penalties for employers who hire undocumented immigrants .
In 1989 , the most powerful California earthquake since the legendary tremblor of 1906 struck the San Francisco Bay area at the evening rush hour .
At least 63 people were killed and hundreds of others injured.The quake hit just before the scheduled start of Game 3 of the World Series in San Francisco between the Giants and the Oakland A 's .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sweeps after 321 staff members and police officers tested positive for exposure to anthrax .
In 2010 , at least 60 people died and 50 others were hurt in violence that preceded special parliamentary elections in Karachi , Pakistan .
In 2017 , the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said it cleared Raqqa , the Islamic State 's de facto Syrian capital , of all militant fighters .
In 2018 , recreational marijuana became legal to buy from licensed retailers in Canada , making it the second country in the world to legalize the @ @ @ @

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A man watches as a car, which plunged down due to collapsed San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, is being hoisted up after the October 17, 1989, Loma Prieta earthquake. UPI File Photo | License Photo
Oct. 17 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1931, gangster Al Capone was convicted of income tax evasion. It took jurors four days to decide whether the mobster had cheated the Internal Revenue Service out of $215,000. Advertisement
In 1933, German-born theoretical physicist Albert Einstein fled Nazi Germany, settling in the United States and becoming an American citizen in 1940.
In 1945, Juan Peron became dictator of Argentina. He remained in power for 11 years before being overthrown.
In 1949, British steamer Anhui reported taking fire from Communist China's army as it sailed for Hong Kong with 1,400 passengers aboard. Ship's officers said the vessel was under fire for 15 minutes, resulting in three dead and 25 injured.
In 1964, reconnaissance flights made by the U-2 played a role in obtaining for the United States advance information on Red China's first nuclear blast.
In 1965, following a two-year run that saw more than 51 million people walk through its gates, the 1964/1965 New York World's Fair closed its doors. With a theme of "Peace Through Understanding," the fair was a showcase for science and technology and lives on in the Unisphere, a 12-story high model of the world which dominates Flushing Meadow.
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In 1973, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries declared an oil embargo on countries supporting Israel in its war with Egypt, Syria and Jordan. The ensuing energy crisis drove up gasoline prices and created a shortage in the United States, prompting long lines at the pump.
In 1979, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, a Roman Catholic nun who cared for the sick and poor, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
In 1986, Congress passed a landmark immigration bill, the first U.S. law authorizing penalties for employers who hire undocumented immigrants.
In 1989, the most powerful California earthquake since the legendary tremblor of 1906 struck the San Francisco Bay area at the evening rush hour. At least 63 people were killed and hundreds of others injured.The quake hit just before the scheduled start of Game 3 of the World Series in San Francisco between the Giants and the Oakland A's.
File Photo by Rod Lamkey/UPI
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In 2001 the U.S. Congress closed for security sweeps after 321 staff members and police officers tested positive for exposure to anthrax.
In 2010, at least 60 people died and 50 others were hurt in violence that preceded special parliamentary elections in Karachi, Pakistan.
In 2017, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said it cleared Raqqa, the Islamic State's de facto Syrian capital, of all militant fighters.
In 2018, recreational marijuana became legal to buy from licensed retailers in Canada, making it the second country in the world to legalize the drug after Uruguay.