upi--2020-01-17--Watch: Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin joke about their arrests

Jan. 17 ( UPI ) -- Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin are poking fun at their respective arrests .
The Grace and Frankie co-stars guest co-hosted Friday 's episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show , where they discussed Fonda 's Fire Drill Fridays protests about climate change .
Fonda was arrested for a fifth time at the Dec. 20 rally in Washington , D.C. , while Tomlin was arrested at the Dec. 27 protest .
`` We 've been doing something called Fire Drill Fridays to call attention to the climate crisis , '' Fonda said .
`` We got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jokingly said she `` learned a lot in the slammer , '' with Fonda adding that Tomlin was only jailed for two hours .
`` I want to give a shoutout to my cellmate , Skittles , '' Tomlin said .
`` Hey , Skittles !
Yo mamma . ''
Speaking seriously , Fonda told the audience that `` nothing 's better '' than being a part of the climate change movement .
`` We march , we chant , we make our voices heard , '' she said .
Fonda and Tomlin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being led off stage by two police officers .
The pair later promoted the first Fire Drill Friday in Los Angeles , which will take place Feb. 7 at Los Angeles City Hall .
`` We 've brought it to California , and we 're bringing it all around the country , '' Fonda said .
Fonda started her Fire Drill Fridays campaign in October .
Actors Sally Field , Ted Danson , Diane Lane , Piper Perabo and Sam Waterston have also been arrested at the protests .
Fonda and Tomlin play @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Frankie Bergstein , in Grace and Frankie .
The series was renewed in September for a seventh and final season .

Jan. 17 (UPI) -- Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin are poking fun at their respective arrests.
The Grace and Frankie co-stars guest co-hosted Friday's episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, where they discussed Fonda's Fire Drill Fridays protests about climate change.
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Fonda was arrested for a fifth time at the Dec. 20 rally in Washington, D.C., while Tomlin was arrested at the Dec. 27 protest.
"We've been doing something called Fire Drill Fridays to call attention to the climate crisis," Fonda said. "We got arrested for civil disobedience."
Tomlin jokingly said she "learned a lot in the slammer," with Fonda adding that Tomlin was only jailed for two hours.
"I want to give a shoutout to my cellmate, Skittles," Tomlin said. "Hey, Skittles! Yo mamma."
Speaking seriously, Fonda told the audience that "nothing's better" than being a part of the climate change movement.
"We march, we chant, we make our voices heard," she said.
Fonda and Tomlin started a chant in the audience before being led off stage by two police officers. The pair later promoted the first Fire Drill Friday in Los Angeles, which will take place Feb. 7 at Los Angeles City Hall.
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"We've brought it to California, and we're bringing it all around the country," Fonda said.
Fonda started her Fire Drill Fridays campaign in October. Actors Sally Field, Ted Danson, Diane Lane, Piper Perabo and Sam Waterston have also been arrested at the protests.
Fonda and Tomlin play the title characters, Grace Hanson and Frankie Bergstein, in Grace and Frankie. The series was renewed in September for a seventh and final season.


upi--2020-01-17--Three million new flu cases reported in last week, CDC says

Jan. 17 ( UPI ) -- Despite a significant uptick in flu cases during the first week of the New Year , it seems the United States is not on the verge of a pandemic after all .
According to the latest FluView report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , 4.7 percent of all visits to healthcare professionals during the week ending January 11th were linked with flu-like symptoms -- down from 5.7 percent the previous week .
In all , 6 percent of deaths across the country during the most recent surveillance period were attributable to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agency 's pandemic threshold of 6.9 percent .
Still , the CDC estimates that at least 13 million Americans have been sickened by the virus so far this flu season -- with 3 million during the most recent seven day period reported alone .
To date , the flu has caused more than 120,000 to be hospitalized across the country .
In all , more than 6,600 have died from the virus , including 39 children .
Based on lab testing , approximately two-thirds of confirmed cases of influenza nationally are type B @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- form .
During the week ending January 11 , `` high '' flu activity was reported by New York City , Puerto Rico and 32 states -- Alabama , Arkansas , California , Colorado , Connecticut , Georgia , Illinois , Kansas , Kentucky , Louisiana , Maryland , Massachusetts , Mississippi , Nebraska , New Jersey , New Mexico , New York , North Carolina , North Dakota , Oklahoma , Oregon , Pennsylvania , Rhode Island , South Carolina , Tennessee , Texas , Utah , Virginia , Washington , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The relatively mild flu season in 2019-20 , at least to date , is likely down to the relative effectiveness of the vaccines currently in use .
The vaccines available for this winter cover at least two of the virus strains reported to be in circulation , which experts told UPI appear to be having some positive effect .
Vaccines are developed based on virus surveillance data and projections by epidemiologists .
Earlier this week , research published in the journal The Lancet Digital Health found that data from `` wearable devices '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to assist in influenza surveillance .
The authors noted that resting heart rate tends to spike during infectious episodes , a trend that may be spotted by smartwatches and other fitness trackers , that track heart rate .
Using data from 47,249 Fitbit users over a 60-day period , they were able to spot elevated resting heart rate and changes to routine sleep patterns , which may be indicators that they had fallen ill .
The data was compared to weekly estimates for influenza-like illness rates reported by the CDC , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abnormal resting heart rate was defined as half a standard deviation above normal and sleep more than half a standard deviation below .
`` Responding more quickly to influenza outbreaks can prevent further spread and infection , and we were curious to see if sensor data could improve real-time surveillance at the state level , '' study co-author Jennifer Radin , Scripps Research Translational Institute , said in a press release .
`` We demonstrate the potential for metrics from wearable devices to enhance flu surveillance and consequently improve public health responses .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and with access to 24/7 real-time data , it may be possible to identify rates of influenza on a daily instead of weekly basis . ''

Thirteen million people have had the flu this season, though experts say it has been a mild year so far. Photo by Claus Rebler/Flickr
Jan. 17 (UPI) -- Despite a significant uptick in flu cases during the first week of the New Year, it seems the United States is not on the verge of a pandemic after all. According to the latest FluView report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4.7 percent of all visits to healthcare professionals during the week ending January 11th were linked with flu-like symptoms -- down from 5.7 percent the previous week. Advertisement
In all, 6 percent of deaths across the country during the most recent surveillance period were attributable to pneumonia and influenza, far below the agency's pandemic threshold of 6.9 percent.
Still, the CDC estimates that at least 13 million Americans have been sickened by the virus so far this flu season -- with 3 million during the most recent seven day period reported alone. To date, the flu has caused more than 120,000 to be hospitalized across the country.
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In all, more than 6,600 have died from the virus, including 39 children.
Based on lab testing, approximately two-thirds of confirmed cases of influenza nationally are type B, the less virulent -- and contagious -- form.
During the week ending January 11, "high" flu activity was reported by New York City, Puerto Rico and 32 states -- Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
The relatively mild flu season in 2019-20, at least to date, is likely down to the relative effectiveness of the vaccines currently in use. The vaccines available for this winter cover at least two of the virus strains reported to be in circulation, which experts told UPI appear to be having some positive effect.
Vaccines are developed based on virus surveillance data and projections by epidemiologists. Earlier this week, research published in the journal The Lancet Digital Health found that data from "wearable devices" -- like Fitbit-- may be able to assist in influenza surveillance. The authors noted that resting heart rate tends to spike during infectious episodes, a trend that may be spotted by smartwatches and other fitness trackers, that track heart rate.
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Using data from 47,249 Fitbit users over a 60-day period, they were able to spot elevated resting heart rate and changes to routine sleep patterns, which may be indicators that they had fallen ill.
The data was compared to weekly estimates for influenza-like illness rates reported by the CDC, and the "closest alignment" was found when abnormal resting heart rate was defined as half a standard deviation above normal and sleep more than half a standard deviation below.
"Responding more quickly to influenza outbreaks can prevent further spread and infection, and we were curious to see if sensor data could improve real-time surveillance at the state level," study co-author Jennifer Radin, Scripps Research Translational Institute, said in a press release. "We demonstrate the potential for metrics from wearable devices to enhance flu surveillance and consequently improve public health responses. In the future as these devices improve, and with access to 24/7 real-time data, it may be possible to identify rates of influenza on a daily instead of weekly basis."


upi--2020-01-17--Watch: World's largest Snickers bar unveiled in Texas

Jan. 17 ( UPI ) -- Candy maker Mars Wrigley set a new Guinness World Record by producing a massive @ @ @ @ @ 4,728 pounds .
The company said the Snickers bar , unveiled Thursday at the Mars @ @ @ @ @ measures 12 feet long , 24 inches high and 26 inches wide .
The candy @ @ @ @ @ 43,000 regular-sized Snickers bars .
Guinness confirmed the gargantuan confection met the record-keeping organization 's @ @ @ @ @ for the world 's largest chocolate nut bar .
The requirements state the bar must @ @ @ @ @ chocolate and nuts and the entire bar must be fit for human consumption .
Mars @ @ @ @ @ bar will feature in an ad that will premiere during the Super Bowl Feb. 2 @

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Jan. 17 (UPI) -- Candy maker Mars Wrigley set a new Guinness World Record by producing a massive Snickers bar weighing in at 4,728 pounds.
The company said the Snickers bar, unveiled Thursday at the Mars Wrigley plant in Waco, measures 12 feet long, 24 inches high and 26 inches wide.
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The candy bar is the equivalent of 43,000 regular-sized Snickers bars.
Guinness confirmed the gargantuan confection met the record-keeping organization's requirements to capture the record for the world's largest chocolate nut bar. The requirements state the bar must be at least 80 percent chocolate and nuts and the entire bar must be fit for human consumption.
Mars Wrigley said the giant Snickers bar will feature in an ad that will premiere during the Super Bowl Feb. 2.


Minnesota -- not Iowa -- the 1st state to start 2020 primary voting

Jan. 17 ( UPI ) -- The first primary votes in the United States for the 2020 elections were cast Friday -- not in Iowa or New Hampshire , but Minnesota , which has n't held such an event for nearly two decades .
Friday started the early voting period for the state 's Democratic presidential primary , due to Minnesota 's new early voting law .
Results , however , wo n't be known until Super Tuesday on March 3 .
This year 's is Minnesota 's first primary election since 1992 after years of staging local caucuses .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ back to a primary voting system .
One potential benefactor of the new law is Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Amy Klobuchar , who could use the `` home field advantage '' to springboard her campaign in the critical early primary period .
Rep. Ilhan Omar , also a Minnesota Democrat , is planning to stump in her home state for candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders .
Sen. Elizabeth Warren may be the candidate who benefits the most , as she has support from about a quarter of Minnesota voters , according to a recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The survey shows Klobuchar with 15 percent .
The state is , however , facing a legal challenge over privacy concerns about switching to primaries .
Since voters will have to identify party preference to cast a ballot -- information party chairs will have access to -- some worry it could become a de facto method of party registration .
Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon said the challenge could affect early voting , and he hopes to amend the law next month to limit how party leaders can use voter information .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to start voting early on the same day of the Iowa caucuses , Feb. 3 .
North Dakota will begin receiving requests for early mail ballots on Saturday .
New Hampshire will vote Feb. 11 , Nevada on Feb. 22 and South Carolina Feb. 29 .

Minnesota began early voting Friday for its March Democratic primary, which will be the state's first since 1992. File Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI | License Photo
Jan. 17 (UPI) -- The first primary votes in the United States for the 2020 elections were cast Friday -- not in Iowa or New Hampshire, but Minnesota, which hasn't held such an event for nearly two decades. Friday started the early voting period for the state's Democratic presidential primary, due to Minnesota's new early voting law. Advertisement
Results, however, won't be known until Super Tuesday on March 3.
This year's is Minnesota's first primary election since 1992 after years of staging local caucuses. State lawmakers voted in 2016 to move back to a primary voting system.
One potential benefactor of the new law is Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who could use the "home field advantage" to springboard her campaign in the critical early primary period. Rep. Ilhan Omar, also a Minnesota Democrat, is planning to stump in her home state for candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren may be the candidate who benefits the most, as she has support from about a quarter of Minnesota voters, according to a recent Kaiser Family Foundation-Cook Political Report poll. The survey shows Klobuchar with 15 percent.
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The state is, however, facing a legal challenge over privacy concerns about switching to primaries. Since voters will have to identify party preference to cast a ballot -- information party chairs will have access to -- some worry it could become a de facto method of party registration.
Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon said the challenge could affect early voting, and he hopes to amend the law next month to limit how party leaders can use voter information.
Voters in California will also be able to start voting early on the same day of the Iowa caucuses, Feb. 3. North Dakota will begin receiving requests for early mail ballots on Saturday. New Hampshire will vote Feb. 11, Nevada on Feb. 22 and South Carolina Feb. 29.


upi--2020-01-17--Barenaked Ladies: 'Last Summer on Earth' tour to return in June

Jan. 17 ( UPI ) -- Rock band Barenaked Ladies is reviving its Last Summer on Earth tour in 2020 .
The group shared plans Friday on Twitter for a new iteration of tour featuring the Gin Blossoms and Toad and the Wet Sprocket .
`` BNL 's Last Summer On Earth returns in 2020 !
!
Joining BNL are good friends @ ginblossoms and @ ToadWetSprocket , '' the post reads .
The tour begins June 3 in St. Augustine , Fla. , and ends July 23 in the band 's hometown of Toronto , Ontario .
Tickets go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tickets available via the band 's Barenaked Bytes app Jan. 21 at 10 a.m. local time .
2020 marks Barenaked Ladies ' sixth annual Last Summer on Earth tour .
Singer-guitarist Ed Robertson told Billboard the Gin Blossoms and Toad the Wet Sprocket have long been on the band 's radar for the tour .
`` We 're really looking for a full night of artists that touch a lot of moments in people 's lives and span many decades , and both of these bands do that , '' the musician said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where people come early and want to see all three bands .
It feels good as an artist going out with a package like that , '' he added .
Barenaked Ladies released its 12th studio album , Fake Nudes , in 2017 , and is working on a new album .
Here 's the full list of dates for the Last Summer on Earth tour : June 7 - Irving , Texas , at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory July 10 - Gilford , N.H. , at Bank of New Hampshire @

BNL's Last Summer On Earth returns in 2020!! Joining BNL are good friends @ginblossoms and @ToadWetSprocket! Pre-sale tickets on sale 01/21 exclusively on the new Barenaked Bytes App at 10am local! General sale 01/24. Don't miss out! #BNL2020 #LSOE2020 https://t.co/ZxrdpFKmQk pic.twitter.com/pI8QT6T3XU— Barenaked Ladies (@barenakedladies) January 17, 2020
Jan. 17 (UPI) -- Rock band Barenaked Ladies is reviving its Last Summer on Earth tour in 2020.
The group shared plans Friday on Twitter for a new iteration of tour featuring the Gin Blossoms and Toad and the Wet Sprocket.
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"BNL's Last Summer On Earth returns in 2020!! Joining BNL are good friends @ginblossoms and @ToadWetSprocket," the post reads.
The tour begins June 3 in St. Augustine, Fla., and ends July 23 in the band's hometown of Toronto, Ontario. Tickets go on sale Jan. 24, with pre-sale tickets available via the band's Barenaked Bytes app Jan. 21 at 10 a.m. local time.
2020 marks Barenaked Ladies' sixth annual Last Summer on Earth tour. Singer-guitarist Ed Robertson told Billboard the Gin Blossoms and Toad the Wet Sprocket have long been on the band's radar for the tour.
"We're really looking for a full night of artists that touch a lot of moments in people's lives and span many decades, and both of these bands do that," the musician said.
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"It's a rock-solid tour where people come early and want to see all three bands. It feels good as an artist going out with a package like that," he added.
Barenaked Ladies released its 12th studio album, Fake Nudes, in 2017, and is working on a new album.
Here's the full list of dates for the Last Summer on Earth tour:
June 3 - St. Augustine, Fla., at Saint Augustine Amphitheatre
June 4 - Atlanta, Ga., at Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park
June 6 - Houston, Texas, at Revention Music Center
June 7 - Irving, Texas, at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
June 11 - Phoenix, Ariz., at Arizona Federal Theatre
June 12 - Los Angeles, Calif., at Greek Theatre
June 13 - San Diego, Calif., at Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre
June 14 - Paso Robles, Calif., at Vina Robles Amphitheatre
June 16 - Saratoga, Calif., at The Mountain Winery
June 18 - Redmond, Wash., at Marymoor Amphitheater
June 19 - Troutdale, Ore., at Edgefield
June 20 - Airway Heights, Wash., at Northern Quest Resort & Casino
June 23 - Morrison, Colo., at Red Rocks Amphitheatre
June 25 - Kansas City, Mo., at Starlight Theatre
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June 26 - Prior Lake, Minn., at Mystic Showroom at Mystic Lake Casino
June 27 - Council Bluffs, Iowa, at Stir Concert Cove at Harrah's Council Bluffs
June 29 - Chicago, Ill., at Chicago Theatre
July 1 - St. Louis, Mo., at TBA
July 3 - Cleveland, Ohio, at Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica
July 4 - Clarkston, Mich., at DTE Energy Music Theatre
July 5 - Indianapolis, Ind., at Farm Bureau Insurance Lawn at White River State Park
July 7 - Lewiston, N.Y., at Artpark Amphitheater
July 8 - New York, N.Y., at Central Park SummerStage
July 10 - Gilford, N.H., at Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion
July 11 - Uncasville, Conn., at Mohegan Sun Arena
July 12 - Boston, Mass., at Rockland Trust Bank Pavilion
July 14 - Philadelphia, Pa., at The Met
July 15 - Vienna, Va., at Wolf Trap
July 17 - Charleston, S.C., at Volvo Car Stadium
July 18 - Raleigh, N.C., at Red Hat Amphitheater
July 19 - Baltimore, Md., at MECU Pavilion
July 21 - Cincinnati, Ohio, at PNC Pavilion at Riverbend
July 22 - Pittsburgh, Pa., at Stage AE
July 23 - Toronto, Ontario, at Budweiser Stage


upi--2020-01-17--Study: Fish oil boosts sperm count, semen volume

Jan. 17 ( UPI ) -- Men struggling with infertility may have an alternative to invasive treatments in the form of fish oil supplements , a new study suggests .
In an article published Friday in the Journal of the American Medical Association , researchers from Denmark found that men who used the nutritional supplement -- known for its key ingredient , omega-3 fatty acid -- had higher semen volumes and total sperm counts , as well as increased levels of free testosterone , compared to men who did n't use as frequently or at all .
According to study @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of public health and environmental medicine at the University of Southern Denmark , fish oil likely has these effects because `` a rich fatty acid content '' in the sperm cell membrane `` is critical for proper sperm function . ''
`` The sperm cell membrane plays a critical role in the key fertilization events , and omega-3 in the sperm membrane increases as the sperm matures , '' Jensen told UPI .
`` It can not be synthesized endogenously in humans and needs to come from diet . ''
This is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with male fertility , but it is perhaps the most comprehensive to date .
Michael L. Eisenberg , director of men 's health and male reproductive medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine , noted that research has historically been inconclusive as to how or why the supplement boosts sperm counts , although it has been suggested that its anti-inflammatory properties may play a role .
`` Prior studies have suggested associations between fish oil intake and semen quality , '' Eisenberg , who was not involved in the Denmark research , told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is limited . ''
Because of that , he added , fish oil supplementation is not `` routinely recommended '' as a treatment for male infertility , at least in the United States .
The analysis in Denmark included 1,679 adult males , 98 of whom reported use of fish oil supplements during the prior three-month period and 53 of whom said they used the supplement for 60 or more days over the course of that period .
Compared to men with no supplement intake , those who took a fish oil supplement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to one-third greater semen volumes , while those who used it for more than 60 days had semen volumes nearly two-thirds higher .
Fish oil users also had larger testicular size , and slightly -- up to 1 percent -- higher levels of free testosterone .
Those who took the supplement also had significantly lower levels of follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone -- 20 percent and 16 percent -- than the men who did n't .
As both hormones are considered crucial to sperm development , this suggests that fish oil may be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for them and still produce semen in sufficient supplies , the authors said .

Fish oil supplements may boost sperm counts and semen volume in men. File photo by frolicsomepl /Pixabay
Jan. 17 (UPI) -- Men struggling with infertility may have an alternative to invasive treatments in the form of fish oil supplements, a new study suggests. In an article published Friday in the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers from Denmark found that men who used the nutritional supplement -- known for its key ingredient, omega-3 fatty acid -- had higher semen volumes and total sperm counts, as well as increased levels of free testosterone, compared to men who didn't use as frequently or at all. Advertisement
According to study co-author Tina Kold Jensen, a professor of public health and environmental medicine at the University of Southern Denmark, fish oil likely has these effects because "a rich fatty acid content" in the sperm cell membrane "is critical for proper sperm function."
"The sperm cell membrane plays a critical role in the key fertilization events, and omega-3 in the sperm membrane increases as the sperm matures," Jensen told UPI. "It cannot be synthesized endogenously in humans and needs to come from diet."
This is not the first study to link fish oil with male fertility, but it is perhaps the most comprehensive to date. Michael L. Eisenberg, director of men's health and male reproductive medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine, noted that research has historically been inconclusive as to how or why the supplement boosts sperm counts, although it has been suggested that its anti-inflammatory properties may play a role.
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"Prior studies have suggested associations between fish oil intake and semen quality," Eisenberg, who was not involved in the Denmark research, told UPI. "However, the data is limited."
Because of that, he added, fish oil supplementation is not "routinely recommended" as a treatment for male infertility, at least in the United States.
The analysis in Denmark included 1,679 adult males, 98 of whom reported use of fish oil supplements during the prior three-month period and 53 of whom said they used the supplement for 60 or more days over the course of that period.
Compared to men with no supplement intake, those who took a fish oil supplement for less than 60 days had up to one-third greater semen volumes, while those who used it for more than 60 days had semen volumes nearly two-thirds higher. Fish oil users also had larger testicular size, and slightly -- up to 1 percent -- higher levels of free testosterone.
Those who took the supplement also had significantly lower levels of follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone -- 20 percent and 16 percent -- than the men who didn't.
As both hormones are considered crucial to sperm development, this suggests that fish oil may be able to help men with deficiencies compensate for them and still produce semen in sufficient supplies, the authors said.


upi--2020-01-17--South Korea politician under fire for remarks against disabled

Jan. 17 ( UPI ) -- A South Korean ruling party politician is taking heat from activists after making controversial remarks regarding the physically and mentally disabled .
Lee Hae-chan , chairman of the Democratic Party and a former prime minister under President Roh Moo-hyun , has denigrated South Korea 's disabled community by calling them `` weak-willed , '' the Korea Federation of Organizations of the Disabled said Friday , according to the Hankook Ilbo .
The activists said Lee 's comments demonstrate a pattern of consistent discrimination toward the disabled .
`` The continued remarks from Rep. Lee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in December 2018 provoke the disabled community , '' the group told reporters Friday .
`` To say that you 'll apologize 'if [ the disabled ] are hurt ' is clearly mockery . ''
Earlier in the week , Lee had said `` if [ the disabled ] have been hurt '' by his remarks , he is `` then sorry , '' suggesting his apology was being offered conditionally , according to Yonhap .
Controversy began after Lee 's party uploaded a video segment to YouTube introducing Choi Hye-young , an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ahead of general elections in April .
Lee had said , `` People born with disability are rather weak-willed because they have been like that since they were young .
`` But in the case of people becoming disabled from accidents after growing up , they know the normal life they used to have . ''
Choi was paralyzed following an automobile accident in 2003 , but went onto obtain advanced graduate degrees in social work .
On Friday activists said Lee has violated laws against discrimination , and that Lee was unfairly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disabilities .
Lee first came under fire in late 2018 for slandering the disabled .
`` There are so many mentally disabled people in the political arena , I wonder whether if there are any normal people around , '' Lee had said .
Lee and his rivals in the opposition Liberty Korea Party are preparing to face off in the April election for 300 seats in the National Assembly .

Lee Hae-chan, head of the ruling Democratic Party, has apologized to South Korea’s disabled community, a move that may be insufficient, according to local activists on Friday. File Photo by Yonhap/EPA-EFE
Jan. 17 (UPI) -- A South Korean ruling party politician is taking heat from activists after making controversial remarks regarding the physically and mentally disabled. Lee Hae-chan, chairman of the Democratic Party and a former prime minister under President Roh Moo-hyun, has denigrated South Korea's disabled community by calling them "weak-willed," the Korea Federation of Organizations of the Disabled said Friday, according to the Hankook Ilbo. Advertisement
The activists said Lee's comments demonstrate a pattern of consistent discrimination toward the disabled.
"The continued remarks from Rep. Lee that discriminate against the disabled that began in December 2018 provoke the disabled community," the group told reporters Friday. "To say that you'll apologize 'if [the disabled] are hurt' is clearly mockery."
Earlier in the week, Lee had said "if [the disabled] have been hurt" by his remarks, he is "then sorry," suggesting his apology was being offered conditionally, according to Yonhap.
Controversy began after Lee's party uploaded a video segment to YouTube introducing Choi Hye-young, an academic invited to join the ruling progressives ahead of general elections in April.
Lee had said, "People born with disability are rather weak-willed because they have been like that since they were young.
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"But in the case of people becoming disabled from accidents after growing up, they know the normal life they used to have."
Choi was paralyzed following an automobile accident in 2003, but went onto obtain advanced graduate degrees in social work.
On Friday activists said Lee has violated laws against discrimination, and that Lee was unfairly differentiating between people with acquired and congenital disabilities.
Lee first came under fire in late 2018 for slandering the disabled.
"There are so many mentally disabled people in the political arena, I wonder whether if there are any normal people around," Lee had said.
Lee and his rivals in the opposition Liberty Korea Party are preparing to face off in the April election for 300 seats in the National Assembly.


upi--2020-01-17--Lindsay Lohan to release new album in February

Jan. 17 ( UPI ) -- Lindsay Lohan says her new album is coming next month .
The 33-year-old singer and actress said in an Instagram comment Thursday that she will release her third studio album at the end of February .
Lohan spoke out after a fan account shared a throwback photo of her performing .
The fan account wrote the caption , `` Hope we get LL3 this year @ lindsaylohan ! ''
Lohan 's most recent album , A Little More Personal ( Raw ) , was released in 2005 .
She released the new single `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teased new music in June , sharing a since-deleted photo of herself in the studio .
She subsequently confirmed plans for new music by re-tweeting an article about the photo .
As an actress , Lohan most recently appeared in the film Among the Shadows .
She starred in Season 2 of the Netflix series Sick Note in 2018 .
During an episode of Lindsay Lohan 's Beach Club in January 2019 , Lohan credited Oprah Winfrey with helping her turn her life around .
Lohan said Winfrey gave her a `` different @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Lindsay Lohan said she will release her third studio album at the end of February. File Photo by Sven Hoogerhuis/UPI | License Photo
Jan. 17 (UPI) -- Lindsay Lohan says her new album is coming next month. The 33-year-old singer and actress said in an Instagram comment Thursday that she will release her third studio album at the end of February. Advertisement
Lohan spoke out after a fan account shared a throwback photo of her performing. The fan account wrote the caption, "Hope we get LL3 this year @lindsaylohan!"
"End of feb!" Lohan responded.
Lohan's most recent album, A Little More Personal (Raw), was released in 2005. She released the new single "Xanax" in 2019.
Lohan had teased new music in June, sharing a since-deleted photo of herself in the studio. She subsequently confirmed plans for new music by re-tweeting an article about the photo.
"Hard At Work," she wrote.
As an actress, Lohan most recently appeared in the film Among the Shadows. She starred in Season 2 of the Netflix series Sick Note in 2018.
During an episode of Lindsay Lohan's Beach Club in January 2019, Lohan credited Oprah Winfrey with helping her turn her life around. Lohan said Winfrey gave her a "different perspective" following her jail time.


upi--2020-01-17--Watch: Escaped horse rides city bus in Wales

Jan. 17 ( UPI ) -- A horse found running loose in the streets of the Welsh capital was captured @ @ @ @ @ a bus for a brief ride .
The South Wales Police Roads Policing Unit tweeted @ @ @ @ @ taking a ride on a Cardiff city bus after being found running loose in traffic @ @ @ @ @ Thursday evening .
Bystanders who helped police capture the horse said the bus driver had @ @ @ @ @ determined it would be awhile before they could get a horse trailer to the scene @ @ @ @ @ 5-minute ride on the bus and was reunited with its owners at a nearby parking @ @ @ @ @ taken for a thorough cleaning .

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Jan. 17 (UPI) -- A horse found running loose in the streets of the Welsh capital was captured by witnesses and loaded onto a bus for a brief ride.
The South Wales Police Roads Policing Unit tweeted a photo of the horse taking a ride on a Cardiff city bus after being found running loose in traffic on the busy A48 road Thursday evening.
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Bystanders who helped police capture the horse said the bus driver had offered his vehicle when police determined it would be awhile before they could get a horse trailer to the scene.
The horse took a 5-minute ride on the bus and was reunited with its owners at a nearby parking lot. The bus was taken for a thorough cleaning.


upi--2020-01-17--Neanderthals had the teeth to eat hard plants

Jan. 17 ( UPI ) -- Neanderthals were capable of chomping on hard plants , like nuts and seeds , according to a new study .
Several recent studies have highlighted the resourcefulness of Neanderthals , capable of diving for clams and starting their own fires .
But to take advantage of nuts , tough plants and other hardy food resources , Neanderthals would have needed resilient teeth .
To see what our early relatives might have been capable of consuming , scientists tested primate teeth in the lab .
Researchers studied how impacts with different food particles impacted enamel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ published this week in the journal Scientific Reports , suggests Neanderthal teeth were perfect capable of chomping on hard plants .
`` We found that hard plant tissues such as the shells of nuts and seeds barely influence microwear textures on teeth , '' lead study author Adam van Casteren , lecturer in biological anthropology at Washington University in St. Louis , said in a news release .
`` If teeth do n't demonstrate elaborate pits and scars , this does n't necessarily rule out the consumption of hard food items . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggested Neanderthals ate mostly meat , analysis of the jaw structures of early human relatives suggests hominins had the unique means to eat a variety of foods .
`` All these morphological attributes seem to indicate they had the ability to produce large bite forces , and therefore likely chomped down on a diet of hard or bulky food items such as nuts , seeds or underground resources like tubers , '' van Casteren said .
Scientists have previously measured the damaged caused by quartz abrasions on primate teeth , but never actual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , scientists affixed pieces of a seed shell to a probe and dragged it across the enamel from an orangutan tooth .
The dragging action replicated the forces of chewing .
Researchers attached different types of food particles to the probe .
The tests produced no significant pits , scratches or fractures -- no dental microwear .
The new findings , combined with previous analysis of the jaw structures of Neanderthals , suggests the early human relatives could have chewed large amounts of nuts and seeds without harming the structural integrity of their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ small hard seeds , large bite forces are likely to be required to mill all the grains , '' van Casteren said .
`` In the light of our new findings , it is plausible that small , hard objects like grass seeds or sedge nutlets were a dietary resource for early hominins . ''

New research suggests Neanderthals could have chewed up large amounts of nuts and seeds without harming their enamel. Photo by hairymuseummatt/Cleveland Museum of Natural History/ Wikimedia Commons
Jan. 17 (UPI) -- Neanderthals were capable of chomping on hard plants, like nuts and seeds, according to a new study. Several recent studies have highlighted the resourcefulness of Neanderthals, capable of diving for clams and starting their own fires. But to take advantage of nuts, tough plants and other hardy food resources, Neanderthals would have needed resilient teeth. Advertisement
To see what our early relatives might have been capable of consuming, scientists tested primate teeth in the lab. Researchers studied how impacts with different food particles impacted enamel's microscopic structures.
The findings, published this week in the journal Scientific Reports, suggests Neanderthal teeth were perfect capable of chomping on hard plants.
"We found that hard plant tissues such as the shells of nuts and seeds barely influence microwear textures on teeth," lead study author Adam van Casteren, lecturer in biological anthropology at Washington University in St. Louis, said in a news release. "If teeth don't demonstrate elaborate pits and scars, this doesn't necessarily rule out the consumption of hard food items."
While chemical analysis of ancient teeth has suggested Neanderthals ate mostly meat, analysis of the jaw structures of early human relatives suggests hominins had the unique means to eat a variety of foods.
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"All these morphological attributes seem to indicate they had the ability to produce large bite forces, and therefore likely chomped down on a diet of hard or bulky food items such as nuts, seeds or underground resources like tubers," van Casteren said.
Scientists have previously measured the damaged caused by quartz abrasions on primate teeth, but never actual hard food particles.
In the lab, scientists affixed pieces of a seed shell to a probe and dragged it across the enamel from an orangutan tooth. The dragging action replicated the forces of chewing. Researchers attached different types of food particles to the probe.
The tests produced no significant pits, scratches or fractures -- no dental microwear.
The new findings, combined with previous analysis of the jaw structures of Neanderthals, suggests the early human relatives could have chewed large amounts of nuts and seeds without harming the structural integrity of their molars.
"When consuming many very small hard seeds, large bite forces are likely to be required to mill all the grains," van Casteren said. "In the light of our new findings, it is plausible that small, hard objects like grass seeds or sedge nutlets were a dietary resource for early hominins."


upi--2020-01-17--Giants hire Alyssa Nakken as first female coach in MLB history

Jan. 17 ( UPI ) -- The San Francisco Giants have hired Alyssa Nakken , making the former softball standout the first female coach in Major League Baseball history .
San Francisco announced the hiring of Nakken and Mark Hallberg as assistant coaches Thursday .
Nakken , 29 , was a star first baseman at Sacramento State before earning a master 's degree in sports management from the University of San Francisco .
She joined the Giants in 2014 as an intern in the baseball operations department .
`` Alyssa and Mark are highly respected members of the organization and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ focus their talents on helping to build a winning culture in the clubhouse , '' Kapler said in a statement .
`` In every organization , environment affects performance , and baseball clubhouses are no different .
`` That 's why in addition to assisting the rest of the coaching staff on the field , Mark and Alyssa will focus on fostering a clubhouse culture that promotes high performance through , among other attributes , a deep sense of collaboration and team . ''
Nakken oversaw the Giants ' health and wellness initiatives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We just supported her and encouraged her and let her make her own decisions , but we knew she was something special , '' Nakken 's mother , Gaye Nakken , told CBS San Francisco Bay Area .
Hallberg joined the Giants in 2018 as a fundamentals coach .
The former Minor League Baseball infielder began his coaching career in the Cape Cod League .
Hallberg managed the Class A Salem-Keizer Volcanoes last year .
The Giants now have 13 coaches ahead of the 2020 season .
MLB rules allow just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told reporters Nakken will be in uniform before games when participating in batting and fielding practices .
Nakken was n't the only woman considered for a job on Kapler 's staff .
The Giants interviewed Rachel Balkovec for a coaching role , before she was hired by the New York Yankees as a Minor League Baseball hitting coach .

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Alyssa Nakken joined the San Francisco Giants in 2014 as an intern in the baseball operations department. Photo courtesy of Sacramento State Athletics
Jan. 17 (UPI) -- The San Francisco Giants have hired Alyssa Nakken, making the former softball standout the first female coach in Major League Baseball history. San Francisco announced the hiring of Nakken and Mark Hallberg as assistant coaches Thursday. Nakken, 29, was a star first baseman at Sacramento State before earning a master's degree in sports management from the University of San Francisco. She joined the Giants in 2014 as an intern in the baseball operations department. Advertisement
"Alyssa and Mark are highly respected members of the organization and I'm delighted that they will now focus their talents on helping to build a winning culture in the clubhouse," Kapler said in a statement. "In every organization, environment affects performance, and baseball clubhouses are no different.
"That's why in addition to assisting the rest of the coaching staff on the field, Mark and Alyssa will focus on fostering a clubhouse culture that promotes high performance through, among other attributes, a deep sense of collaboration and team."
Nakken oversaw the Giants' health and wellness initiatives in her previous role with the franchise.
"We just supported her and encouraged her and let her make her own decisions, but we knew she was something special," Nakken's mother, Gaye Nakken, told CBS San Francisco Bay Area.
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Hallberg joined the Giants in 2018 as a fundamentals coach. The former Minor League Baseball infielder began his coaching career in the Cape Cod League. Hallberg managed the Class A Salem-Keizer Volcanoes last year.
The Giants now have 13 coaches ahead of the 2020 season. MLB rules allow just seven coaches in dugouts, but Kapler told reporters Nakken will be in uniform before games when participating in batting and fielding practices.
Nakken wasn't the only woman considered for a job on Kapler's staff. The Giants interviewed Rachel Balkovec for a coaching role, before she was hired by the New York Yankees as a Minor League Baseball hitting coach.


upi--2020-01-17--Scabbard favored in Kentucky Derby prep in weekend horse racing

Jan. 17 ( UPI ) -- The road to the Kentucky Derby dips down to Louisiana this weekend with Scabbard favored in the Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds , while some heavyweights slug it out in Sunshine Millions races in Florida and California .
On the world scene , Beauty Generation tries to get back to his best -- and earn a trip to Dubai -- as the Hong Kong Jockey Club hosts a pair of Group 1 events .
Already in the books , two more thrilling finishes in Dubai .
And in Saudi Arabia , the list of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and its undercard races reads like a `` Who 's Who '' of international horse racing .
The Road to the Roses This week 's official Kentucky Derby prep is the $ 200,000 Grade III Lecomte at Fair Grounds in New Orleans , a 1 1/16-miles event offering 10 Derby qualifying points to the winner .
The favorite on Mike Dilibero 's morning line is Scabbard , a More Than Ready colt trained by Eddie Kenneally .
Scabbard , once known as Noose , won at first asking in June at Churchill Downs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Grade II Saratoga Special and the Grade III Iroquois at Churchill Downs before a fourth-place showing in the Breeders ' Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita .
`` He did n't care for the surface too much , '' Kenneally said of the Breeders ' Cup effort .
`` He 's a closer and that track was n't playing well to closers that day . ''
On paper , Scabbard would n't seem to have much to worry about Saturday other than the layoff since the Breeders ' Cup .
But that 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are some others in the 14-horse field who could compete with a modest step forward .
And , could there be a filly on the Road to the Roses ?
Maybe .
Trainer Brad Cox says Taraz , his Juddmonte Farms homebred daughter of Into Mischief , could take a swing at the 3-year-old males if she shows well in the Martha Washington Stakes Feb. 1 at Oaklawn Park .
`` Look , she 's special , '' Cox said this week .
`` Everything has to line up .
Everything has to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she gives you that amount of confidence to think about things like that , bottom line . ''
The filly won her first two starts by 7 1/2 and 11 1/4 lengths , the latter in the Letellier Memorial at the New Orleans track .
The Martha Washington is 1 mile around two turns .
Finite is a convincing 6-5 favorite on the morning line for the $ 150,000 Silverbulletday Stakes on Saturday at Fair Grounds .
The Munnings filly , trained by Steve Asmussen , broke her maiden on the Kentucky @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Rags to Riches and the Grade III Golden Rod , both at Churchill Downs .
Among the others in the Silverbulletday , Portrait , a Tapizar filly , got into the win column with a 12 1/2-lengths score at Ellis Park and was third in the Grade II Pocahontas at Churchill .
The winner gets 10 points toward a start in the Kentucky Oaks with 4 , 2 and 1 points to the next three .
In other U.S. weekend racing action : Saturday 's $ 150,000 Grade III Toboggan Stakes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drew a field of nine .
Mind Control , the early favorite , got gate No .
8 with the other well-regarded duo of Sunny Ridge and American Anthem parked No .
1 and No .
2 so a good break and early tactics will be important .
Saturday 's $ 100,000 Grade III Louisiana Stakes at 1 1/16 miles drew some useful sorts .
Among them , Silver Dust was second in last year 's running and followed that with a victory in the Grade III Mineshaft Handicap ; Blended Citizen won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Park two years ago , fell on hard times on both dirt and turf and may be on the rebound ; and former Mexican champion Kukulkan exits a 6-lengths victory at Gulfstream Park that may set him straight again .
N.B .
-- Silver Dust and Blended Citizen are both cross-entered in the Col. E.R .
Bradley on the turf later in the same program .
Saturday 's $ 100,000 D.F .
Kenner at 6 furlongs is not graded and drew only five entries .
But those include Hog Creek Hustle , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sprint last time out and a Grade I winner at Belmont Park this spring , and Bobby 's Wicked One , second in the Grade I Churchill Downs Stakes on Derby weekend and most recently winner of the Thanksgiving Classic over the course and distance .
Saturday 's Sunshine Millions program includes the $ 200,000 Classic , the $ 150,000 Turf , the $ 150,000 Filly & Mare Turf and the $ 100,000 Sprint -- all for state-breds .
The standout on the entire card is Starship Jubilee in the Filly & Mare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a multiple graded stakes winner and took the Grade I E.P .
Taylor at Woodbine two starts back .
She , understandably , is the 3-5 favorite on the morning line .
The other events are well-subscribed and competitive .
State-breds take center stage Saturday at The Great Race Place , too .
The Gulfstream program is complemented by the $ 150,000 Sunshine Millions Filly/Mare Sprint .
Also on the card are the $ 200,000 California Cup Derby on the dirt and $ 200,000 California Cup Oaks on the turf ( I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the $ 200,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic and the $ 150,000 California Cup Sprint .
There are a couple in the Derby who could move up to open company with a good showing , notably Big Returns , a Mr. Big colt making his first start after moving to Doug O'Neil 's barn , and Bettor Trip Nick , making his first start on dirt after going 4-for-5 on the Golden Gate all-weather .
Check back to see what happens in this one .
Sunday it 's the $ 100,000 Grade III @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 1/2 miles on the turf .
The thrilling finishes just keep coming in the Dubai World Cup Carnival .
In Thursday 's chapter , it was Magic Lily , under James Doyle , edging Nisreen and Pierre-Charles Boudot by a short head after a rather desperate stretch run in the Group 2 Cape Verdi .
Beyond Reason was a somewhat unlucky third , another 2 1/2 lengths back .
Magic Lily , after saving ground early , launched a bid early in the stretch run and took every step of the way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 1 mile on good turf in course-record time of 1:34.84 .
`` I had my head down to ride and did n't think we 'd got up , '' Doyle said .
`` But she 's tough and very game .
It did n't go entirely our way .
The plan was to lead or , if not , be very close , which is what happened .
When ( Dubai Blue ) went by me , it sort of set her alight .
She was over-racing a little bit .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We think she 's a nine or ten-furlong filly . ''
Magic Lily , a 5-year-old New Approach mare racing for Godolphin , was coming off a sixth-place finish on the Lingfield all-weather course in England but , prior to that , made the frame in three turf affairs .
Among those was a third , beaten only 1/2 length behind Laurens and September , in the Group 1 bet365 Fillies Mile at Newmarket in October .
Magical was fourth in that race , after which Magic Lily went to the sidelines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ injuries .
Suedois , making his second start in two weeks , also eked out a narrow win in Thursday night 's finale , a 1-mile handicap on the grass , emerging from the pack to score by a nose over Epic Hero .
The 9-year-old son of Le Havre , reported in 1:35.54 with Daniel Tudhope in the kip .
Suedois was third in his seasonal debut at Meydan Jan. 2 -- his first race since a third-place finish in the Grade I Shadwell Turf mile at Keeneland in October .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's program at Sha Tin will help determine the future course of some of Hong Kong 's stars , including two-time Horse of the Year Beauty Generation .
Beauty Generation , after three straight third-place finishes , faces the question whether he is over the hill at age 7 .
If so , his career could wind down over the next few months .
But if he steps up again in Sunday 's 1,600-meters Stewards ' Cup -- well , he is entered for the Group 1 Dubai Turf on the World Cup @ @ @ @ @ @ @ John Moore , citing a successful barrier trial a week ago under Zac Purton and a nice gallop Thursday , said Beauty Generation seems to have at least some of his mojo back .
`` He 's jumping out of his skin at the present moment so that 's a good sign , '' the trainer said .
`` We 've changed a few things -- work patterns and the like -- so taking into consideration the barrier trial last week and the feedback after the trial from Zac , we 're pleased @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stewards ' Cup include Furore , who cuts back from a fourth-place finish in the 2,000-meters Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Cup , and Waikuku , who was second behind Japanese victor Admire Mars and Beauty Generation in the Longines Hong Kong Mile .
The other Group 1 heat on Sunday , the Centenary Sprint Cup , finds old foes Beat the Clock and Mr Stunning at each other again over 1,200 meters .
Last month , Beat the Clock denied Mr Stunning a third consecutive victory in the Group 1 Longines Hong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beat Mr Stunning in last year 's Centenary Sprint Cup .
Trainer Frankie Lor said this week he thinks his 7-year-old Exceed and Excel gelding still has what it takes to turn the tables on Beat the Clock now that he 's fully recovered from a hairline fracture in his shoulder .
`` We 'll see him close to his best in this race , '' Lor said .
`` I think he can win . ''
Lor said Hugh Bowman , who jets in from Australia to ride Mr Stunning in his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rosy picture .
`` Hugh said after his last race that he was much better than his first run , he was happy with him and said he 'd be happy to ride him this time , '' Lor said .
Eight are set to go in the Centenary Sprint Cup .
Rainbow Dreamer extended his all-weather record to four wins from four starts with a dominant display in the Betway Conditions Stakes at Wolverhampton Monday .
The exended 2-miles affair was a Fast-Traqck qualifier for the Betway All-Weather Marathon Championship at Lingfield @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Rainbow Dreamer tracked pacesetter Raymond Tusk to the half-mile marker , surged to the lead and was well in command .
Funny Kid mounted a challenge but settled for second , 3 1/2 lengths in arrears .
Deal A Dollar ran third with Raymond Tusk fading to report fourth .
Trained by Alan King and ridden by Hollie Doyle , the 7-year-old now has victories on all three UK all-weather surfaces , earlier scoring at Kempton Park and Southwell .
`` That was great , '' Doyle said after Monday 's effort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right way and seems to love the All-Weather .
Shortly after the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia announced the creation of the Saudi Cup as the world 's richest horse race , American trainer Bob Baffert mused , `` If you put up $ 20 million , you 'll get good horses in your starting gate . ''
The list of nominations to the Feb. 29 race , released Tuesday , proved him right as 143 horses were nominated to the 12-horse field , including Baffert 's own McKinzie .
The list also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mare Midnight Bisou , trained by Steve Asmussen , and Grade I Cigar Mile ( G1 ) winner and four-time Grade I star , Maximum Security , conditioned by Jason Servis .
While the big names are American , the 143 nominations to the Saudi Cup represent more than 60 trainers from 16 countries spread over four continents .
Only 14 will be chosen to run in the first edition of the race with $ 10 million going to the winner .
The winner of the Grade I Pegasus World Cup Invitational at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gains automatic entry to the Saudi Cup .
And there is an opportunity for supplemental nominations -- at a cost of $ 200,000 -- on Feb 18 .
Original entries were free .
The undercard races at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh , including three to be run on a new turf course , drew an equally powerful contingent , with representation from around the globe including Investec Derby and Melbourne Cup winners .
The featured turf event is the $ 2.5 million Neom Turf Cup , to be run at 10 1/2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ miles .
The entries for that include 2019 Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck and Magic Wand .
Both are trained in Ireland by Aidan O'Brien and the latter , a confirmed globetrotter , captured the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes in Australia in November .
The Neom Turf Cup also attracted Japanese star Deirdre , winner of the Group 1 Nassau Stakes at Goodwood last year .
Benbatl , representing Dubai 's ruler , Sheik Mohammed Bin Rashid al Maktoum , is cross-entered in the Neom Turf Cup and The Saudi Cup .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for stayers at 1 7/8 miles drew 2018 Melbourne Cup winner , Cross Counter , also from Sheik Mohammed 's Godolphin operation , as well as Prince of Arran and O'Brien 's Kew Gardens .
`` The response to the Saudi Cup from the international racing community has been fantastic , '' said Tom Ryan , Director of Strategy and International Racing for the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia .
`` We could n't be happier with the entries that we 've received and we are now fully focused on putting on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ live up to the caliber of these entries . ''
Entries will now be whittled down to final fields based on ratings allocated by former British Horseracing Authority senior handicapper Phil Smith .
The fatal injury sustained by Mongolian Groom in the 2019 Breeders ' Cup Classic resulted from pre-existing conditions in both hind legs which escaped notice despite extensive new safety protocols , according to a report released Wednesday by Breeders ' Cup 's Board of Directors .
The report , compiled by Dr. Larry Bramlage , said pre-existing stress fractures to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ led to his break down but were so minor that it is understandable the were overlooked pre-race .
He said , however , more can be done to prevent future injuries and Breeders ' Cup pledged to look into that .
The report also said drug use was not a factor in the breakdown .

Magic Lily (No. 3) edges Nisreen in Thursday's Group 2 Cape Verdi at Meydan in Dubai, breaking the course record for 1 mile on the grass. Photo by Erika Rasmussen, courtesy Dubai Racing Club
Jan. 17 (UPI) -- The road to the Kentucky Derby dips down to Louisiana this weekend with Scabbard favored in the Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds, while some heavyweights slug it out in Sunshine Millions races in Florida and California. On the world scene, Beauty Generation tries to get back to his best -- and earn a trip to Dubai -- as the Hong Kong Jockey Club hosts a pair of Group 1 events. Already in the books, two more thrilling finishes in Dubai. Advertisement
And in Saudi Arabia, the list of nominations for the Feb. 29 Saudi Cup and its undercard races reads like a "Who's Who" of international horse racing.
Here's the "what's what":
The Road to the Roses
This week's official Kentucky Derby prep is the $200,000 Grade III Lecomte at Fair Grounds in New Orleans, a 1 1/16-miles event offering 10 Derby qualifying points to the winner. The favorite on Mike Dilibero's morning line is Scabbard, a More Than Ready colt trained by Eddie Kenneally.
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Scabbard, once known as Noose, won at first asking in June at Churchill Downs, and then finished second in both the Grade II Saratoga Special and the Grade III Iroquois at Churchill Downs before a fourth-place showing in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita.
"He didn't care for the surface too much," Kenneally said of the Breeders' Cup effort. "He's a closer and that track wasn't playing well to closers that day."
On paper, Scabbard wouldn't seem to have much to worry about Saturday other than the layoff since the Breeders' Cup. But that's why they run the races and there are some others in the 14-horse field who could compete with a modest step forward.
And, could there be a filly on the Road to the Roses? Maybe. Trainer Brad Cox says Taraz, his Juddmonte Farms homebred daughter of Into Mischief, could take a swing at the 3-year-old males if she shows well in the Martha Washington Stakes Feb. 1 at Oaklawn Park.
"Look, she's special," Cox said this week. "Everything has to line up. Everything has to go right. The way she trains, she gives you that amount of confidence to think about things like that, bottom line."
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The filly won her first two starts by 7 1/2 and 11 1/4 lengths, the latter in the Letellier Memorial at the New Orleans track. The Martha Washington is 1 mile around two turns.
Kentucky Oaks preps
Finite is a convincing 6-5 favorite on the morning line for the $150,000 Silverbulletday Stakes on Saturday at Fair Grounds. The Munnings filly, trained by Steve Asmussen, broke her maiden on the Kentucky Downs turf in September, then won the Rags to Riches and the Grade III Golden Rod, both at Churchill Downs. Among the others in the Silverbulletday, Portrait, a Tapizar filly, got into the win column with a 12 1/2-lengths score at Ellis Park and was third in the Grade II Pocahontas at Churchill. The winner gets 10 points toward a start in the Kentucky Oaks with 4, 2 and 1 points to the next three.
In other U.S. weekend racing action:
Aqueduct
Saturday's $150,000 Grade III Toboggan Stakes, 7 furlongs on the main track, drew a field of nine. Mind Control, the early favorite, got gate No. 8 with the other well-regarded duo of Sunny Ridge and American Anthem parked No. 1 and No. 2 so a good break and early tactics will be important.
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Fair Grounds
Saturday's $100,000 Grade III Louisiana Stakes at 1 1/16 miles drew some useful sorts. Among them, Silver Dust was second in last year's running and followed that with a victory in the Grade III Mineshaft Handicap; Blended Citizen won the Grade III Peter Pan at Belmont Park two years ago, fell on hard times on both dirt and turf and may be on the rebound; and former Mexican champion Kukulkan exits a 6-lengths victory at Gulfstream Park that may set him straight again. N.B. -- Silver Dust and Blended Citizen are both cross-entered in the Col. E.R. Bradley on the turf later in the same program.
Saturday's $100,000 D.F. Kenner at 6 furlongs is not graded and drew only five entries. But those include Hog Creek Hustle, a close sixth in the Breeders' Cup Sprint last time out and a Grade I winner at Belmont Park this spring, and Bobby's Wicked One, second in the Grade I Churchill Downs Stakes on Derby weekend and most recently winner of the Thanksgiving Classic over the course and distance.
Gulfstream Park
Saturday's Sunshine Millions program includes the $200,000 Classic, the $150,000 Turf, the $150,000 Filly & Mare Turf and the $100,000 Sprint -- all for state-breds. The standout on the entire card is Starship Jubilee in the Filly & Mare Turf. The 7-year-old Indy Wild mare is a multiple graded stakes winner and took the Grade I E.P. Taylor at Woodbine two starts back. She, understandably, is the 3-5 favorite on the morning line. The other events are well-subscribed and competitive.
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Santa Anita
State-breds take center stage Saturday at The Great Race Place, too. The Gulfstream program is complemented by the $150,000 Sunshine Millions Filly/Mare Sprint. Also on the card are the $200,000 California Cup Derby on the dirt and $200,000 California Cup Oaks on the turf (I know, what?) as well as the $200,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic and the $150,000 California Cup Sprint.
There are a couple in the Derby who could move up to open company with a good showing, notably Big Returns, a Mr. Big colt making his first start after moving to Doug O'Neil's barn, and Bettor Trip Nick, making his first start on dirt after going 4-for-5 on the Golden Gate all-weather. Check back to see what happens in this one.
Sunday it's the $100,000 Grade III Astra Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/2 miles on the turf.
On the international scene:
Dubai
The thrilling finishes just keep coming in the Dubai World Cup Carnival. In Thursday's chapter, it was Magic Lily, under James Doyle, edging Nisreen and Pierre-Charles Boudot by a short head after a rather desperate stretch run in the Group 2 Cape Verdi. Beyond Reason was a somewhat unlucky third, another 2 1/2 lengths back. Magic Lily, after saving ground early, launched a bid early in the stretch run and took every step of the way to get the job done, finishing the 1 mile on good turf in course-record time of 1:34.84.
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"I had my head down to ride and didn't think we'd got up," Doyle said. "But she's tough and very game. It didn't go entirely our way. The plan was to lead or, if not, be very close, which is what happened. When (Dubai Blue) went by me, it sort of set her alight. She was over-racing a little bit. She'll definitely be better going another furlong. We think she's a nine or ten-furlong filly."
Magic Lily, a 5-year-old New Approach mare racing for Godolphin, was coming off a sixth-place finish on the Lingfield all-weather course in England but, prior to that, made the frame in three turf affairs. Among those was a third, beaten only 1/2 length behind Laurens and September, in the Group 1 bet365 Fillies Mile at Newmarket in October. Magical was fourth in that race, after which Magic Lily went to the sidelines for just short of two years with injuries.
Suedois, making his second start in two weeks, also eked out a narrow win in Thursday night's finale, a 1-mile handicap on the grass, emerging from the pack to score by a nose over Epic Hero. The 9-year-old son of Le Havre, reported in 1:35.54 with Daniel Tudhope in the kip.
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Suedois was third in his seasonal debut at Meydan Jan. 2 -- his first race since a third-place finish in the Grade I Shadwell Turf mile at Keeneland in October.
Hong Kong
A pair of Group 1 races on Sunday's program at Sha Tin will help determine the future course of some of Hong Kong's stars, including two-time Horse of the Year Beauty Generation.
Beauty Generation, after three straight third-place finishes, faces the question whether he is over the hill at age 7. If so, his career could wind down over the next few months. But if he steps up again in Sunday's 1,600-meters Stewards' Cup -- well, he is entered for the Group 1 Dubai Turf on the World Cup program March 25 at Meydan.
Trainer John Moore, citing a successful barrier trial a week ago under Zac Purton and a nice gallop Thursday, said Beauty Generation seems to have at least some of his mojo back.
"He's jumping out of his skin at the present moment so that's a good sign," the trainer said. "We've changed a few things -- work patterns and the like -- so taking into consideration the barrier trial last week and the feedback after the trial from Zac, we're pleased."
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The other six in the Stewards' Cup include Furore, who cuts back from a fourth-place finish in the 2,000-meters Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Cup, and Waikuku, who was second behind Japanese victor Admire Mars and Beauty Generation in the Longines Hong Kong Mile.
The other Group 1 heat on Sunday, the Centenary Sprint Cup, finds old foes Beat the Clock and Mr Stunning at each other again over 1,200 meters. Last month, Beat the Clock denied Mr Stunning a third consecutive victory in the Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint. Beat he Clock also beat Mr Stunning in last year's Centenary Sprint Cup.
Trainer Frankie Lor said this week he thinks his 7-year-old Exceed and Excel gelding still has what it takes to turn the tables on Beat the Clock now that he's fully recovered from a hairline fracture in his shoulder. "We'll see him close to his best in this race," Lor said. "I think he can win."
Lor said Hugh Bowman, who jets in from Australia to ride Mr Stunning in his Group 1 races, also sees a rosy picture. "Hugh said after his last race that he was much better than his first run, he was happy with him and said he'd be happy to ride him this time," Lor said.
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Eight are set to go in the Centenary Sprint Cup.
England
Rainbow Dreamer extended his all-weather record to four wins from four starts with a dominant display in the Betway Conditions Stakes at Wolverhampton Monday. The exended 2-miles affair was a Fast-Traqck qualifier for the Betway All-Weather Marathon Championship at Lingfield Park on Good Friday, April 10.
Rainbow Dreamer tracked pacesetter Raymond Tusk to the half-mile marker, surged to the lead and was well in command. Funny Kid mounted a challenge but settled for second, 3 1/2 lengths in arrears. Deal A Dollar ran third with Raymond Tusk fading to report fourth.
Trained by Alan King and ridden by Hollie Doyle, the 7-year-old now has victories on all three UK all-weather surfaces, earlier scoring at Kempton Park and Southwell.
"That was great," Doyle said after Monday's effort. "Rainbow Dreamer is going the right way and seems to love the All-Weather.
Saudi Arabia
Shortly after the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia announced the creation of the Saudi Cup as the world's richest horse race, American trainer Bob Baffert mused, "If you put up $20 million, you'll get good horses in your starting gate."
The list of nominations to the Feb. 29 race, released Tuesday, proved him right as 143 horses were nominated to the 12-horse field, including Baffert's own McKinzie. The list also includes, as expected, Grade 1-winning mare Midnight Bisou, trained by Steve Asmussen, and Grade I Cigar Mile (G1) winner and four-time Grade I star, Maximum Security, conditioned by Jason Servis.
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While the big names are American, the 143 nominations to the Saudi Cup represent more than 60 trainers from 16 countries spread over four continents. Only 14 will be chosen to run in the first edition of the race with $10 million going to the winner.
The winner of the Grade I Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park in Florida Jan. 25 also gains automatic entry to the Saudi Cup. And there is an opportunity for supplemental nominations -- at a cost of $200,000 -- on Feb 18. Original entries were free.
The undercard races at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh, including three to be run on a new turf course, drew an equally powerful contingent, with representation from around the globe including Investec Derby and Melbourne Cup winners.
The featured turf event is the $2.5 million Neom Turf Cup, to be run at 10 1/2 furlongs or just more than 1 1/4 miles. The entries for that include 2019 Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck and Magic Wand. Both are trained in Ireland by Aidan O'Brien and the latter, a confirmed globetrotter, captured the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes in Australia in November.
The Neom Turf Cup also attracted Japanese star Deirdre, winner of the Group 1 Nassau Stakes at Goodwood last year. Benbatl, representing Dubai's ruler, Sheik Mohammed Bin Rashid al Maktoum, is cross-entered in the Neom Turf Cup and The Saudi Cup.
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The $2.5 million Red Sea Turf Handicap for stayers at 1 7/8 miles drew 2018 Melbourne Cup winner, Cross Counter, also from Sheik Mohammed's Godolphin operation, as well as Prince of Arran and O'Brien's Kew Gardens.
"The response to the Saudi Cup from the international racing community has been fantastic," said Tom Ryan, Director of Strategy and International Racing for the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia. "We couldn't be happier with the entries that we've received and we are now fully focused on putting on a spectacular first Saudi Cup race day to live up to the caliber of these entries."
Entries will now be whittled down to final fields based on ratings allocated by former British Horseracing Authority senior handicapper Phil Smith.
News and notes:
The fatal injury sustained by Mongolian Groom in the 2019 Breeders' Cup Classic resulted from pre-existing conditions in both hind legs which escaped notice despite extensive new safety protocols, according to a report released Wednesday by Breeders' Cup's Board of Directors.
The report, compiled by Dr. Larry Bramlage, said pre-existing stress fractures to both hind legs compromised the horse and led to his break down but were so minor that it is understandable the were overlooked pre-race. He said, however, more can be done to prevent future injuries and Breeders' Cup pledged to look into that.
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The report also said drug use was not a factor in the breakdown.


upi--2020-01-17--Watch: Vanessa Hudgens praises 'Bad Boys' co-stars on 'GMA'

Jan. 17 ( UPI ) -- Vanessa Hudgens has nothing but praise for her Bad Boys for Life co-stars .
The 31-year-old actress discussed working with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence during Friday 's episode of Good Morning America .
Hudgens plays Kelly , a new member of the police squad , in Bad Boys for Life , which opens in theaters Friday .
Smith and Lawrence reprise their iconic roles as detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett .
`` It was the best , '' Hudgens said of working with Smith and Lawrence .
`` I mean , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Like , genuinely care about everyone on set .
Just come to work with such energy and positivity .
It was such a lovely work environment ; I could n't have asked for anything better . ''
Smith and Lawrence previously played Lowrey and Burnett in Bad Boys ( 1995 ) and Bad Boys II ( 2003 ) .
Hudgens reflected on the films ' lasting legacy , calling the franchise part of the `` zeitgeist . ''
`` It 's something that 's a part of the zeitgeist , '' she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of the culture that it 's such an honor to be part of it . ''
Hudgens previously discussed Smith and Lawrence in an interview with Entertainment Tonight in November .
`` They 're just amazing , '' the actress said .
`` Like , Martin is such a sweetheart .
He 's always just so kind and warm and welcoming . ''
`` And then Will is just like a burst of energy , '' she added .
`` Like , he 's full of life .
He 's full of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gifts to my trailer on the weekly and I was like , this is not normal .
This is just too sweet . ''
Bad Boys for Life is directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah and co-stars Alexander Ludwig , Charles Melton and Paola Núñez .
Hudgens came to fame as Gabriella Montez in Disney Channel 's High School Musical movies .
She reflected on her 2007 nude photo leak , which happened at the height of her Disney fame , in the February issue of Cosmopolitan U.K .

Jan. 17 (UPI) -- Vanessa Hudgens has nothing but praise for her Bad Boys for Life co-stars.
The 31-year-old actress discussed working with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence during Friday's episode of Good Morning America.
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Hudgens plays Kelly, a new member of the police squad, in Bad Boys for Life, which opens in theaters Friday. Smith and Lawrence reprise their iconic roles as detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett.
"It was the best," Hudgens said of working with Smith and Lawrence. "I mean, they are so kind, so caring. Like, genuinely care about everyone on set. Just come to work with such energy and positivity. It was such a lovely work environment; I couldn't have asked for anything better."
Smith and Lawrence previously played Lowrey and Burnett in Bad Boys (1995) and Bad Boys II (2003). Hudgens reflected on the films' lasting legacy, calling the franchise part of the "zeitgeist."
"It's something that's a part of the zeitgeist," she said. "It's just such a part of the culture that it's such an honor to be part of it."
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Hudgens previously discussed Smith and Lawrence in an interview with Entertainment Tonight in November.
"They're just amazing," the actress said. "Like, Martin is such a sweetheart. He's always just so kind and warm and welcoming."
"And then Will is just like a burst of energy," she added. "Like, he's full of life. He's full of love. They were like, sending gifts to my trailer on the weekly and I was like, this is not normal. This is just too sweet."
Bad Boys for Life is directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah and co-stars Alexander Ludwig, Charles Melton and Paola Núñez.
Hudgens came to fame as Gabriella Montez in Disney Channel's High School Musical movies. She reflected on her 2007 nude photo leak, which happened at the height of her Disney fame, in the February issue of Cosmopolitan U.K.


upi--2020-01-17--South Korea president’s office reprimands U.S. ambassador for remarks

Jan. 16 ( UPI ) -- South Korea 's presidential Blue House rebuked U.S .
Ambassador Harry Harris on Friday for making `` inappropriate remarks '' to Seoul 's foreign press pool regarding inter-Korea cooperation .
In a meeting with local reporters , a Blue House official said Harris ' remarks on North-South projects , including Seoul 's proposal to allow South Koreans to travel individually to the North , are not suitable for the top U.S. envoy to Seoul , Seoul Shinmun reported .
`` For an ambassador to make a public comment on the host country 's president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inappropriate , '' the Blue House representative said Friday .
`` The issue of inter-Korea cooperation is a decision for the Korean government . ''
On Thursday Harris had said South Korea 's North Korea initiatives `` should be done in consultation with the United States . ''
`` Not because we 're in a position to approve or disapprove -- that 's not our role -- but we are Korea 's only ally , we do have 28,500 American troops here , and the American taxpayer does spend billions of dollars to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an interest in inter-Korean dialogue , '' Harris said .
The Blue House 's assessment of Harris ' remarks as inappropriate is receiving support among members of the ruling Democratic Party .
Song Young-gil , a lawmaker who chairs the party 's committee on Northeast Asian peace and cooperation , told MBC radio the U.S. ambassador 's comments should be evaluated as `` personal opinion . ''
`` While it 's fine to air your opinions , if we do everything the ambassador tells us to do , what , is the ambassador @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Song said .

U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Harry Harris (L) made "inappropriate" remarks to the media, the office of President Moon Jae-in (C) said Friday. File Photo by Yonhap/EPA-EFE
Jan. 16 (UPI) -- South Korea's presidential Blue House rebuked U.S. Ambassador Harry Harris on Friday for making "inappropriate remarks" to Seoul's foreign press pool regarding inter-Korea cooperation. In a meeting with local reporters, a Blue House official said Harris' remarks on North-South projects, including Seoul's proposal to allow South Koreans to travel individually to the North, are not suitable for the top U.S. envoy to Seoul, Seoul Shinmun reported. Advertisement
"For an ambassador to make a public comment on the host country's president's statement before the media is extremely inappropriate," the Blue House representative said Friday. "The issue of inter-Korea cooperation is a decision for the Korean government."
On Thursday Harris had said South Korea's North Korea initiatives "should be done in consultation with the United States."
"Not because we're in a position to approve or disapprove -- that's not our role -- but we are Korea's only ally, we do have 28,500 American troops here, and the American taxpayer does spend billions of dollars to defend this country, so we have an interest in inter-Korean dialogue," Harris said.
The Blue House's assessment of Harris' remarks as inappropriate is receiving support among members of the ruling Democratic Party.
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Song Young-gil, a lawmaker who chairs the party's committee on Northeast Asian peace and cooperation, told MBC radio the U.S. ambassador's comments should be evaluated as "personal opinion."
"While it's fine to air your opinions, if we do everything the ambassador tells us to do, what, is the ambassador the governor-general" of colonial Korea? Song said.


upi--2020-01-17--Look: Dove Cameron spends birthday with beau Thomas Doherty

Jan. 17 ( UPI ) -- Dove Cameron spent her birthday with her boyfriend , actor Thomas Doherty .
The actress and singer shared a photo with Doherty , 24 , Friday on Instagram after celebrating her 24th birthday Thursday .
The picture shows Cameron reclining in Doherty 's arms as they relax on a boat .
Cameron gave thanks for Doherty in the caption , calling him an `` angel . ''
`` only photo evidence of an UNbelievable birthday of adventure & surprises orchestrated by this earth angel .
17 hours of cake , crepes , balloons , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boat/lake , arcades , pizza , ice cream , a whole laser tag course to ourselves ( surprising me with loads of my friends/family , some of which i had n't seen in a year or more ) , '' Cameron wrote .
`` finishing the day at my favorite little ( secret ) late night cafe for apple cider & pool .
drove me all over LA , keeping me in the dark until the very last min , organized to the very last detail , '' she said .
`` i @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ever did to deserve this kinda love , i 'll spend my whole life wondering . ''
Cameron and Doherty co-star as Mal and Harry Hook in Disney Channel 's Descendants movies and started dating in December 2016 .
Cameron told Entertainment Tonight in November that she 's open to marriage with Doherty .
`` I think , if I 'm going to marry anyone , it 's going to be him , '' she said .
Cameron celebrated her birthday Thursday just hours after her ex-fiancé , actor Ryan McCartan , accused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A on Instagram Stories .
McCartan made the claim after a fan asked him to name his proudest moment .
`` Within two weeks , my fiancée cheated on me and left me , I almost died from food poisoning , and Donald Trump was elected president .
I truly did n't think I would be able to make it through that part of my life .
I 'm proudest of the light that came from that darkness , '' he said .
Following McCartan 's post , Cameron reflected on the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` it 's been years since i 've felt this good , this capable , this strong and connected , in general and in terms of my relationship with myself .
i 've been so disillusioned and lost , so dark and so sad , and i only now feel like i 'm beginning to find the magic again , '' she said .
Cameron and McCartan ended their engagement in October 2016 after three years of dating .

Jan. 17 (UPI) -- Dove Cameron spent her birthday with her boyfriend, actor Thomas Doherty.
The actress and singer shared a photo with Doherty, 24, Friday on Instagram after celebrating her 24th birthday Thursday.
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The picture shows Cameron reclining in Doherty's arms as they relax on a boat. Cameron gave thanks for Doherty in the caption, calling him an "angel."
"only photo evidence of an UNbelievable birthday of adventure & surprises orchestrated by this earth angel. 17 hours of cake, crepes, balloons, flowers, water sports on a private boat/lake, arcades, pizza, ice cream, a whole laser tag course to ourselves (surprising me with loads of my friends/family, some of which i hadn't seen in a year or more)," Cameron wrote.
"finishing the day at my favorite little (secret) late night cafe for apple cider & pool. drove me all over LA, keeping me in the dark until the very last min, organized to the very last detail," she said. "i mean, whatta guy. what i ever did to deserve this kinda love, i'll spend my whole life wondering."
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Cameron and Doherty co-star as Mal and Harry Hook in Disney Channel's Descendants movies and started dating in December 2016. Cameron told Entertainment Tonight in November that she's open to marriage with Doherty.
"I think, if I'm going to marry anyone, it's going to be him," she said.
Cameron celebrated her birthday Thursday just hours after her ex-fiancé, actor Ryan McCartan, accused her of cheating during a Q&A on Instagram Stories. McCartan made the claim after a fan asked him to name his proudest moment.
"Within two weeks, my fiancée cheated on me and left me, I almost died from food poisoning, and Donald Trump was elected president. I truly didn't think I would be able to make it through that part of my life. I'm proudest of the light that came from that darkness," he said.
Following McCartan's post, Cameron reflected on the new year and new decade on Instagram Stories.
"it's been years since i've felt this good, this capable, this strong and connected, in general and in terms of my relationship with myself. i've been so disillusioned and lost, so dark and so sad, and i only now feel like i'm beginning to find the magic again," she said.
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Cameron and McCartan ended their engagement in October 2016 after three years of dating.


upi--2020-01-17--Watch: Camila Cabello, James Corden have '1999 vs. 2019 Riff-Off' on 'Late Late Show'

Jan. 17 ( UPI ) -- Camila Cabello defended the music of 2019 against Corden 's favorite year of 1999 @ @ @ @ @ .
The pair settled their argument by having a Riff-Off , performing hit songs from @ @ @ @ @ The Filharmonic .
Cabello performed `` Old Town Road '' by Lil Nas X and @ @ @ @ @ Have You '' by Shawn Mendes while Corden sang `` Livin ' La Vida Loca @ @ @ @ @ `` Smooth '' by Santana .
The late night host eventually admitted defeat and joined @ @ @ @ @ her duet with Mendes , `` Senorita . ''
Cabello set to perform at the @ @ @ @ @ take place on Jan. 26 .
The Jonas Brothers , Tyler the Creator , H.E.R.
@ @ @ @ @ , Run-D.M.C .
and Charlie Wilson will aslo be taking the stage .

Jan. 17 (UPI) -- Camila Cabello defended the music of 2019 against Corden's favorite year of 1999 on The Late Late Show.
The pair settled their argument by having a Riff-Off, performing hit songs from both years with help from The Filharmonic.
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Cabello performed "Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X and "If I Can't Have You" by Shawn Mendes while Corden sang "Livin' La Vida Loca" by Ricky Martin and "Smooth" by Santana.
The late night host eventually admitted defeat and joined Cabello for a rendition of her duet with Mendes, "Senorita."
Cabello set to perform at the 62nd annual Grammy Awards which take place on Jan. 26. The Jonas Brothers, Tyler the Creator, H.E.R., Bonnie Raitt, Rosalia, Run-D.M.C. and Charlie Wilson will aslo be taking the stage.


upi--2020-01-17--College students opt for pot over booze in states where it's legal

Are college students choosing marijuana instead of booze when both are legal ?
New research suggests they are : In states where pot is legal , college kids use it more , but binge-drink less .
In states with legal marijuana , college students were 18 percent more likely to use it in the past month than in states where it 's illegal , Oregon State University researchers report .
From 2012 to 2018 , the rate of pot users rose from 14 percent to 17 percent in states where it was illegal and from 21 percent to 34 percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Using the National College Health Assessment survey from 2008 to 2018 , researchers examined data on more than 850,000 students from 135 colleges in seven states where marijuana was legalized in 2018 and 454 colleges in 41 states where it was not .
They found that older students , ages 21 to 26 , were 23 percent more likely to use marijuana than their peers in states where pot was n't legal .
The effect was also stronger among women and students living off-campus .
That might be because schools honor federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illegal drug .
The team 's report was published Jan. 13 in the journal Addiction .
A second study published recently in Addictive Behaviors by the same researchers found that after pot was legalized , there was a greater drop in binge drinking among students 21 and older than among similar students where pot was illegal .
Why binge drinking went down is n't clear , the researchers noted .
`` So in these two studies we saw changes after legalization that really differed by substance , '' said research leader David Kerr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State University 's School of Psychological Science .
`` For marijuana , we saw state-specific increases that went beyond the nationwide increases , whereas binge drinking was the opposite : a greater decrease in the context of nationwide decreases , '' Kerr explained in a university news release .
For more on marijuana , see the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse .

Are college students choosing marijuana instead of booze when both are legal?
New research suggests they are: In states where pot is legal, college kids use it more, but binge-drink less.
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In states with legal marijuana, college students were 18 percent more likely to use it in the past month than in states where it's illegal, Oregon State University researchers report.
From 2012 to 2018, the rate of pot users rose from 14 percent to 17 percent in states where it was illegal and from 21 percent to 34 percent in the states where it was legal.
Using the National College Health Assessment survey from 2008 to 2018, researchers examined data on more than 850,000 students from 135 colleges in seven states where marijuana was legalized in 2018 and 454 colleges in 41 states where it was not.
They found that older students, ages 21 to 26, were 23 percent more likely to use marijuana than their peers in states where pot wasn't legal.
The effect was also stronger among women and students living off-campus. That might be because schools honor federal drug laws that classify marijuana as an illegal drug.
The team's report was published Jan. 13 in the journal Addiction.
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A second study published recently in Addictive Behaviors by the same researchers found that after pot was legalized, there was a greater drop in binge drinking among students 21 and older than among similar students where pot was illegal.
Why binge drinking went down isn't clear, the researchers noted.
"So in these two studies we saw changes after legalization that really differed by substance," said research leader David Kerr, director of graduate education at Oregon State University's School of Psychological Science.
"For marijuana, we saw state-specific increases that went beyond the nationwide increases, whereas binge drinking was the opposite: a greater decrease in the context of nationwide decreases," Kerr explained in a university news release.
More information
For more on marijuana, see the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-01-17--U.S. housing starts surge to 13-year high, gov't figures show

Jan. 17 ( UPI ) -- Housing starts in the United States surged to a 13-year high last month , @ @ @ @ @ The Commerce Department said December saw about a 17 percent increase in new home construction @ @ @ @ @ annualized rate .
The figure was a substantial improvement over the revised November rate of @ @ @ @ @ percent higher than it was in December 2018 .
The U.S. housing market has n't @ @ @ @ @ new construction since 2006 .
December 's rate , which easily beat economists ' expectations @ @ @ @ @ month-to-month improvement in three years .
The department said building permits , however , declined @ @ @ @ @ of future construction , the number of permits fell nearly 4 percent last month but @ @ @ @ @ higher than they were a year ago .
The strong U.S. housing market is also @ @ @ @ @ .
Mortgage lender Fannie Mae said Thursday it lent $ 70 billion in financing for @ @ @ @ @ the highest volume in the 31-year history of its specialized multifamily program .

Housing starts in the United States surged nearly 17 percent in December, the report said. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo
Jan. 17 (UPI) -- Housing starts in the United States surged to a 13-year high last month, government figures showed Friday. The Commerce Department said December saw about a 17 percent increase in new home construction, to a 1.6 million annualized rate. Advertisement
The figure was a substantial improvement over the revised November rate of 1.4 million, and 41 percent higher than it was in December 2018.
The U.S. housing market hasn't seen such a level for new construction since 2006.
December's rate, which easily beat economists' expectations, was also the greatest month-to-month improvement in three years.
The department said building permits, however, declined in December. An indicator of future construction, the number of permits fell nearly 4 percent last month but were still almost 6 percent higher than they were a year ago.
The strong U.S. housing market is also reflected in the rental sector.
Mortgage lender Fannie Mae said Thursday it lent $70 billion in financing for apartment construction in 2019, the highest volume in the 31-year history of its specialized multifamily program.


upi--2020-01-17--Mets fire manager Carlos Beltran less than 3 months after hire

Jan. 17 ( UPI ) -- The New York Mets have fired Carlos Beltran , less than three months after hiring him as their manager .
Beltran was dismissed amid Major League Baseball 's investigation into the Houston Astros ' sign-stealing practices in 2017 .
He was implicated in an MLB report as a person who had knowledge of the scheme .
MLB suspended former Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow and former manager A.J .
Hinch Monday , before both were fired by the team .
Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora -- another Astros coach at the time of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon and executive vice president and general manager Brodie Van Wagenen met with Beltran Wednesday and Thursday before making the decision .
Van Wagenen and Wilpon also met with the MLB Commissioner 's office Wednesday in New York City to discuss Beltran 's status .
`` This was not an easy decision , '' the Mets said in a statement .
`` Considering the circumstances , it became clear to all parties that it was not in anyone 's best interest for Carlos to move forward as manager @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We believe that Carlos was honest and forthcoming with us .
We are confident that this will not be the final chapter in his baseball career . ''
Beltran , 42 , had a decorated playing career before spending his final season with the Astros in 2017 .
The nine-time All-Star and 2017 World Series champion was hired to manage the Mets in November .
`` I 'm grateful to them for giving me the opportunity , but we agreed this decision is in the best interest of the team , '' Beltrán @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could n't let myself be a distraction for the team .
I wish the entire organization success in the future . ''
Beltran was the only player implicated in the MLB report .
`` Approximately two months into the 2017 season , a group of players , including Carlos Beltran , discussed that the team could improve on decoding opposing teams ' signs and communicating the signs to the batter , '' the MLB report said .
Beltran worked in the New York Yankees front office before signing a three-year contract to manage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to find a new manager less than a month before spring training .

Jan. 17 (UPI) -- The New York Mets have fired Carlos Beltran, less than three months after hiring him as their manager.
Beltran was dismissed amid Major League Baseball's investigation into the Houston Astros' sign-stealing practices in 2017. He was implicated in an MLB report as a person who had knowledge of the scheme.
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MLB suspended former Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow and former manager A.J. Hinch Monday, before both were fired by the team. Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora -- another Astros coach at the time of the scheme -- was fired Tuesday.
Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon and executive vice president and general manager Brodie Van Wagenen met with Beltran Wednesday and Thursday before making the decision. Van Wagenen and Wilpon also met with the MLB Commissioner's office Wednesday in New York City to discuss Beltran's status.
"This was not an easy decision," the Mets said in a statement. "Considering the circumstances, it became clear to all parties that it was not in anyone's best interest for Carlos to move forward as manager of the New York Mets.
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"We believe that Carlos was honest and forthcoming with us. We are confident that this will not be the final chapter in his baseball career."
Beltran, 42, had a decorated playing career before spending his final season with the Astros in 2017. The nine-time All-Star and 2017 World Series champion was hired to manage the Mets in November.
"I'm grateful to them for giving me the opportunity, but we agreed this decision is in the best interest of the team," Beltrán said in a statement. "I couldn't let myself be a distraction for the team. I wish the entire organization success in the future."
Beltran was the only player implicated in the MLB report.
"Approximately two months into the 2017 season, a group of players, including Carlos Beltran, discussed that the team could improve on decoding opposing teams' signs and communicating the signs to the batter," the MLB report said.
Beltran worked in the New York Yankees front office before signing a three-year contract to manage the Mets. The Mets now need to find a new manager less than a month before spring training.