upi--2020-05-07--Justice Dept. moves to dismiss case against Michael Flynn

May 7 ( UPI ) -- The U.S. Justice Department moved Thursday to dismiss the criminal case against former national security adviser Michael Flynn , who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI in a probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 election .
Prosecutors asked a U.S. District judge to dismiss the charge of making false statements to the FBI with prejudice against Flynn , a retired U.S. Army lieutenant general .
Flynn pleaded guilty in December 2017 to lying to the FBI in a January interview amid special counsel Robert Mueller 's probe into Russian meddling in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the false statement regarding his interactions with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak .
In January , the Justice Department changed its sentencing recommendation from probation for Flynn to six months in prison because it said he was unrepentant .
A week later , Flynn asked to withdraw his guilty plea , saying prosecutors broke the plea agreement when they requested jail time .
Handwritten notes in FBI documents , which a federal judge released last month , question whether the `` goal '' was `` to get him to lie , so we can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' The release of the FBI documents amplified conservative claims that prosecutors sought to entrap him .
The government `` is not persuaded that the Jan. 24 , 2017 interview was conducted with a legitimate investigative basis , '' the Justice Department said .
Prior to the filing being made public , prosecutor Brandon Van Grack , moved to withdraw from the case .
A couple of months ago , President Donald Trump said he was `` strongly considering '' pardoning Flynn , suggesting that the FBI and Justice Department lost records related @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday in the Oval Office , the president described Flynn as `` an innocent man , '' `` a great gentleman . ''
`` He was targeted by the Obama administration and he was targeted in order to try and take down a president , '' Trump said .
`` And I hope a lot of people are going to pay a big price because they 're dishonest , crooked people .
They 're scum and I say it a lot , they 're scum , they 're human scum .
This should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Trump also criticized the media coverage of Flynn 's case and the Russia investigation , calling on journalists to give back their Pulitzer Prizes .

The Justice Department Thursday moved to dismiss a charge of lying to the FBI against former national security adviser Michael Flynn. File Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI | License Photo
May 7 (UPI) -- The U.S. Justice Department moved Thursday to dismiss the criminal case against former national security adviser Michael Flynn, who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI in a probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 election. Prosecutors asked a U.S. District judge to dismiss the charge of making false statements to the FBI with prejudice against Flynn, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant general. Advertisement
Flynn pleaded guilty in December 2017 to lying to the FBI in a January interview amid special counsel Robert Mueller's probe into Russian meddling in the presidential election. Flynn said he made the false statement regarding his interactions with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak.
In January, the Justice Department changed its sentencing recommendation from probation for Flynn to six months in prison because it said he was unrepentant. A week later, Flynn asked to withdraw his guilty plea, saying prosecutors broke the plea agreement when they requested jail time.
Handwritten notes in FBI documents, which a federal judge released last month, question whether the "goal" was "to get him to lie, so we can prosecute him or get him fired."
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The release of the FBI documents amplified conservative claims that prosecutors sought to entrap him.
The government "is not persuaded that the Jan. 24, 2017 interview was conducted with a legitimate investigative basis," the Justice Department said.
Prior to the filing being made public, prosecutor Brandon Van Grack , moved to withdraw from the case.
A couple of months ago, President Donald Trump said he was "strongly considering" pardoning Flynn, suggesting that the FBI and Justice Department lost records related to the case.
Speaking to reporters Thursday in the Oval Office, the president described Flynn as "an innocent man," "a great gentleman."
"He was targeted by the Obama administration and he was targeted in order to try and take down a president," Trump said.
"And I hope a lot of people are going to pay a big price because they're dishonest, crooked people. They're scum and I say it a lot, they're scum, they're human scum. This should never have happened in this country."
Trump also criticized the media coverage of Flynn's case and the Russia investigation, calling on journalists to give back their Pulitzer Prizes.


upi--2020-05-07--Florida wildfire burns buildings, jumps to 2,000 acres

May 7 ( UPI ) -- A wildfire in Florida 's panhandle burned more than a dozen structures Thursday , one day after it erupted , local emergency officials said .
The Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners said the Five Mile Swamp Fire burned some 2,000 acres and was about 40 percent contained as of midday .
The blaze erupted in the southern part of the county Wednesday between Escambia Bay and Blackwater Bay , forcing the closure of parts of Interstate 10 .
A shift in winds and drop in humidity Wednesday made efforts to contain the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` Today 's weather is somewhat improved from yesterday 's weather in that the winds will be light and variable from the north at 3-7 mph , '' the FFS said Thursday .
`` But relative humidity will continue to be extremely low at approximately 20 percent . ''
Emergency officials asked residents south of I-10 and east of Avalon Boulevard to evacuate .
The county set up an emergency shelter at the Milton Community Center .
Some who had evacuated Wednesday were allowed to return to their homes Thursday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to dozens of homes without power .

The Five Mile Swamp Fire grew from about 250 acres Wednesday to more than 2,000 Thursday. Photo courtesy the Florida Forest Service
May 7 (UPI) -- A wildfire in Florida's panhandle burned more than a dozen structures Thursday, one day after it erupted, local emergency officials said. The Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners said the Five Mile Swamp Fire burned some 2,000 acres and was about 40 percent contained as of midday. Advertisement
The blaze erupted in the southern part of the county Wednesday between Escambia Bay and Blackwater Bay, forcing the closure of parts of Interstate 10. A shift in winds and drop in humidity Wednesday made efforts to contain the fire difficult, the Florida Forest Service said.
"Today's weather is somewhat improved from yesterday's weather in that the winds will be light and variable from the north at 3-7 mph," the FFS said Thursday. "But relative humidity will continue to be extremely low at approximately 20 percent."
Emergency officials asked residents south of I-10 and east of Avalon Boulevard to evacuate. The county set up an emergency shelter at the Milton Community Center.
Some who had evacuated Wednesday were allowed to return to their homes Thursday.
Damaged power poles in the area led to dozens of homes without power.


upi--2020-05-07--Digitizing financial services key to Africa's post-pandemic growth, experts say

The COVID-19 pandemic highlights Africa 's need to digitize , especially in the financial services sector , to protect the continent 's primarily cash-based societies from the spread of the disease , leaders from public and private African institutions said Thursday .
Speaking at an event hosted by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars , these leaders said a robust and inclusive African financial services sector also will help prepare the world 's second-most populous continent to leapfrog into the post-pandemic era .
`` It 's clear that the coronavirus pandemic is changing the way we work , changing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] changing the way we live , '' said Tim Kelly , the World Bank 's lead information and communications technology policy specialist .
Kelly , who is based in Kenya , said that while the COVID-19 pandemic has yet to fully take root in Africa , the continent 's myriad informal marketplaces would make it impossible to implement public safety practices like social distancing and physical isolation in many African cities .
`` I think a digital response to the coronavirus epidemic is so important for Africa , '' Kelly said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ can learn from the rest of the world , and an area where Africa has ... the chance to leapfrog through its digital transformation . ''
Musa Jimoh , director of the payment system management department at the Central Bank of Nigeria , agreed that transforming digital financial services is imperative to keep Africans safe in pandemics .
Markets across the continent currently work on primarily cash-based systems , and many Africans do not have formal bank accounts .
Accordingly , most Africans rely on cash-based , in-person transactions to conduct their shopping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's happened recently , we 've seen that digitization has become a major compelling imperative for all Nigerians , '' Jimoh said .
`` With social distancing , a lot of Nigerians do not want to touch physical devices .
... Everybody wants to do transactions without having physical interaction with bank branches and other financial touchpoints . ''
Maximizing electronic transactions through mobile money and other digital technologies would allow for safer shopping during the pandemic , Kelly and Jimoh said .
Improving and digitizing financial services in Africa would also benefit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Kennedy Mubita , who leads Standard Chartered Bank 's African ventures division .
Mubita said the supply chains of many African manufacturers and companies are tied to Europe , when , in reality , they could be tied to other African nations .
`` Digitization enables us to create new marketplaces and give new access to markets for people who are within the continent and [ would ] be able to find a product within the locality , '' Mubita said .
`` And in so doing increase the volume of sales @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put in their ventures . ''
Mubita added that before the arrival of digital financial services , many Africans and companies could not access credit from formal financial institutions .
Now , digital platforms allow these individuals to have financial histories and help them access the financial services they need to run and grow businesses .
Viola Llewellyn , co-founder and president of Ovamba Solutions , a company that provides short-term capital to businesses via mobile phone payments , echoed the sentiment that financial inclusion will be key to Africa 's post-pandemic development @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need for a uniform response to digitization from regulators and lawmakers .
Llewellyn said some regulators do n't accept PDFs and digital signatures as official documents , slowing down business .
She also said some laws need to be rewritten to eliminate roadblocks to digital commerce .
`` We have an issue with the way the legal frameworks operate within a contractual basis , '' Llewellyn said .
`` It would be very difficult to continue to digitize trade when entire regions do n't accept '' some documents in digital forms .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' to push innovation in Africa and empower the continent to emerge stronger in the post-coronavirus world .

A woman selling tuber waits for customers at a market in Nigeria's commercial capital Lagos, on Monday. Experts say African countries would benefit from digitized financial services during the pandemic. Photo by Akintunde Akinleye/EPA-EFE
The COVID-19 pandemic highlights Africa's need to digitize, especially in the financial services sector, to protect the continent's primarily cash-based societies from the spread of the disease, leaders from public and private African institutions said Thursday. Speaking at an event hosted by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, these leaders said a robust and inclusive African financial services sector also will help prepare the world's second-most populous continent to leapfrog into the post-pandemic era. Advertisement
"It's clear that the coronavirus pandemic is changing the way we work, changing the way we do business [and] changing the way we live," said Tim Kelly, the World Bank's lead information and communications technology policy specialist.
Kelly, who is based in Kenya, said that while the COVID-19 pandemic has yet to fully take root in Africa, the continent's myriad informal marketplaces would make it impossible to implement public safety practices like social distancing and physical isolation in many African cities.
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"I think a digital response to the coronavirus epidemic is so important for Africa," Kelly said. "It's an area where Africa can learn from the rest of the world, and an area where Africa has ... the chance to leapfrog through its digital transformation."
Musa Jimoh, director of the payment system management department at the Central Bank of Nigeria, agreed that transforming digital financial services is imperative to keep Africans safe in pandemics.
Markets across the continent currently work on primarily cash-based systems, and many Africans do not have formal bank accounts. Accordingly, most Africans rely on cash-based, in-person transactions to conduct their shopping.
"When you think about what's happened recently, we've seen that digitization has become a major compelling imperative for all Nigerians," Jimoh said. "With social distancing, a lot of Nigerians do not want to touch physical devices. ... Everybody wants to do transactions without having physical interaction with bank branches and other financial touchpoints."
Maximizing electronic transactions through mobile money and other digital technologies would allow for safer shopping during the pandemic, Kelly and Jimoh said.
Improving and digitizing financial services in Africa would also benefit the region's economy overall, according to Kennedy Mubita, who leads Standard Chartered Bank's African ventures division.
Advertisement
Mubita said the supply chains of many African manufacturers and companies are tied to Europe, when, in reality, they could be tied to other African nations.
"Digitization enables us to create new marketplaces and give new access to markets for people who are within the continent and [would] be able to find a product within the locality," Mubita said. "And in so doing increase the volume of sales and optimize the fixed cost that they put in their ventures."
Mubita added that before the arrival of digital financial services, many Africans and companies could not access credit from formal financial institutions. Now, digital platforms allow these individuals to have financial histories and help them access the financial services they need to run and grow businesses.
Viola Llewellyn, co-founder and president of Ovamba Solutions, a company that provides short-term capital to businesses via mobile phone payments, echoed the sentiment that financial inclusion will be key to Africa's post-pandemic development. However, she also highlighted the need for a uniform response to digitization from regulators and lawmakers.
Llewellyn said some regulators don't accept PDFs and digital signatures as official documents, slowing down business. She also said some laws need to be rewritten to eliminate roadblocks to digital commerce.
Advertisement
"We have an issue with the way the legal frameworks operate within a contractual basis," Llewellyn said. "It would be very difficult to continue to digitize trade when entire regions don't accept" some documents in digital forms.
She called the pandemic an "important opportunity" to push innovation in Africa and empower the continent to emerge stronger in the post-coronavirus world.


upi--2020-05-07--Coffee won't harm your heart, study finds

Your doctor may have cautioned that the caffeine in coffee can set your heart racing and cause an abnormal heartbeat .
Well , that 's bunk , a new study finds .
`` We were unable to find any evidence that those who drank coffee had a higher risk of developing abnormal heart rhythms .
That 's especially relevant because a common reason that health care providers recommend avoiding coffee is precisely to avoid abnormal heart rhythms , '' said lead researcher Dr. Gregory Marcus .
In fact , coffee may reduce the risk for future atrial fibrillation ( a-fib @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a professor of atrial fibrillation research at the University of California , San Francisco .
Arrhythmia refers to an improper beating of the heart -- either too fast , too slow or erratically .
Untreated arrhythmias can lead to cardiac arrest and stroke , according to the American Heart Association .
For the study , Marcus and his colleagues collected data on nearly 300,000 people in the U.K. Biobank , a long-term study in Britain .
Average age of participants was nearly 57 .
Over five years of follow-up , more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ included more than 4,700 with atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter , nearly 800 with supraventricular tachycardia , nearly 400 with ventricular tachycardia , and more than 300 with premature ventricular complex .
Compared with not drinking coffee , having up to five or more cups a day actually lowered the risk for any of these arrhythmias , the researchers found .
Moreover , every additional cup lowered the risk 3 percent .
Marcus said that coffee might be good for you .
It contains antioxidants , improves metabolism , enhances exercise performance and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coffee habit may also lower the risk of heart disease and stroke .
Still , the study only observed an association .
And there may be exceptions , especially for someone with an existing heart rhythm abnormality .
`` It has been a concern for a long time that caffeine can cause heart rhythm problems , so reading this is reassuring in some ways , but I think what the lay public always needs to do is understand what research studies show and do n't show , '' said Dr. Laurence Epstein , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Manhasset , N.Y .
He was not part of the research .
What this study shows is that people who drank coffee had a lower risk of heart rhythm problems .
`` And that 's fine , but one of the things we know , and we found over the years , is that each patient is different , '' Epstein said .
`` There are some patients who can tell you triggers for atrial fibrillation , and there are others who ca n't , '' he said .
`` There are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ definite trigger that if they drink any coffee or chocolate or anything with caffeine , it produces atrial fibrillation , but for other people , it has no effect . ''
People need to know their own body , and it 's always best not to overdo , Epstein said .
`` Moderation is always the key , '' he said .
Marcus agreed that for those who already have an irregular heartbeat , caffeine could trigger a-fib .
Heart patients should watch their reaction to caffeine , he noted .
`` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an arrhythmia is to help them with their quality of life , to help them feel well to do the things they want to do , '' Marcus said .
`` If coffee is interfering with that , that 's a reason to cut back , but if coffee is helping them with that and they 're not experiencing any related adverse effects , then these data suggest it 's safe to go ahead and enjoy your coffee , '' he added .
The results of the study were scheduled for presentation at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which was canceled due to the coronavirus epidemic .
Data and conclusions released prior to peer review are generally considered preliminary .
For more on caffeine , see the Mayo Clinic .

Having up to five or more cups of coffee a day lowered the risk for arrhythmias, researchers found. Photo by acekreations/Pixabay
Your doctor may have cautioned that the caffeine in coffee can set your heart racing and cause an abnormal heartbeat. Well, that's bunk, a new study finds. "We were unable to find any evidence that those who drank coffee had a higher risk of developing abnormal heart rhythms. That's especially relevant because a common reason that health care providers recommend avoiding coffee is precisely to avoid abnormal heart rhythms," said lead researcher Dr. Gregory Marcus. Advertisement
In fact, coffee may reduce the risk for future atrial fibrillation (a-fib) and other arrhythmias, said Marcus, a professor of atrial fibrillation research at the University of California, San Francisco.
Arrhythmia refers to an improper beating of the heart -- either too fast, too slow or erratically. Untreated arrhythmias can lead to cardiac arrest and stroke, according to the American Heart Association.
For the study, Marcus and his colleagues collected data on nearly 300,000 people in the U.K. Biobank, a long-term study in Britain. Average age of participants was nearly 57.
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Over five years of follow-up, more than 13,000 people developed an arrhythmia. This included more than 4,700 with atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter, nearly 800 with supraventricular tachycardia, nearly 400 with ventricular tachycardia, and more than 300 with premature ventricular complex.
Compared with not drinking coffee, having up to five or more cups a day actually lowered the risk for any of these arrhythmias, the researchers found. Moreover, every additional cup lowered the risk 3 percent.
Marcus said that coffee might be good for you. It contains antioxidants, improves metabolism, enhances exercise performance and increases alertness and concentration.
A regular coffee habit may also lower the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Still, the study only observed an association. And there may be exceptions, especially for someone with an existing heart rhythm abnormality.
"It has been a concern for a long time that caffeine can cause heart rhythm problems, so reading this is reassuring in some ways, but I think what the lay public always needs to do is understand what research studies show and don't show," said Dr. Laurence Epstein, system director of electrophysiology at Northwell Health in Manhasset, N.Y. He was not part of the research.
What this study shows is that people who drank coffee had a lower risk of heart rhythm problems. "And that's fine, but one of the things we know, and we found over the years, is that each patient is different," Epstein said.
Advertisement
"There are some patients who can tell you triggers for atrial fibrillation, and there are others who can't," he said. "There are some people for whom caffeine is a definite trigger that if they drink any coffee or chocolate or anything with caffeine, it produces atrial fibrillation, but for other people, it has no effect."
People need to know their own body, and it's always best not to overdo, Epstein said.
"Moderation is always the key," he said.
Marcus agreed that for those who already have an irregular heartbeat, caffeine could trigger a-fib.
Heart patients should watch their reaction to caffeine, he noted.
"The primary goal when we treat patients with an arrhythmia is to help them with their quality of life, to help them feel well to do the things they want to do," Marcus said.
"If coffee is interfering with that, that's a reason to cut back, but if coffee is helping them with that and they're not experiencing any related adverse effects, then these data suggest it's safe to go ahead and enjoy your coffee," he added.
The results of the study were scheduled for presentation at the meeting of the Heart Rhythm Society, which was canceled due to the coronavirus epidemic. Data and conclusions released prior to peer review are generally considered preliminary.
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More information
For more on caffeine, see the Mayo Clinic.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-05-07--Experts skeptical that new strain of coronavirus is more infectious

A new study suggesting that the new coronavirus has mutated to become even more infectious should be viewed with skepticism , multiple experts said Wednesday .
Earlier this week , researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory concluded that the new strain of the coronavirus started spreading in Europe in early February and then expanded to other parts of the world , becoming the dominant strain of the virus in the United States and Canada by the end of March , CNBC reported .
The team also concluded that the strain was more easily transmitted between people .
The study was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and has not been peer-reviewed .
The research `` does n't prove that this new strain is in fact more infectious , '' Gottlieb said Wednesday on CNBC 's `` Squawk Box . ''
`` The analysis could be confounded by the fact that this just became the dominant strain in Europe because it got into Europe early and then got into the United States from Europe , '' former U.S. Food and Drug Administration head Dr. Scott Gottlieb explained .
`` It really does n't prove anything . ''
He also noted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ computational analysis and more research is required , CNN reported .
`` We do n't have any other data to support it , including cell culture data , '' he noted .
`` We saw a change like this with Ebola and we initially thought that it also made Ebola more contagious , and we actually had cell culture data to support it at that time , '' Gottlieb said .
`` We found that when we put it into animal studies , in fact the change in the [ Ebola ] virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , did n't make it more infectious , '' he explained .
Speaking to The New York Times , evolutionary biologist Sergei Pond , of Temple University , agreed .
`` I do n't think they provide evidence to claim transmissibility enhancement , '' he said .
`` In order to establish this , you 'd need direct competition between strains in the same geographic area , '' and that has n't been shown , Pond explained .
There are different strains of the new coronavirus circulating , but mutation alone does n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` Just because it mutates does n't mean it 's changing in ways that 's going to make it more virulent or more infectious , '' he said .
`` It is going to drift over time .
Generally the drift should be in the direction of making it less virulent , less dangerous , not more , if it 's selected for , because it wants to keep its host [ people ] alive . ''
`` I think those [ Los Alamos ] claims are suspect , to say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an epidemiologist at the Harvard T.H .
Chan School of Public Health , added on Twitter , the Times reported .
Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for more on the new coronavirus .

A security guard checks the temperature of a woman, as a precaution for COVID-19, before granting her entrance to the Rami Levy Atarot Mall, north of Jerusalem, on Thursday. Photo by Debbie Hill/UPI | License Photo
A new study suggesting that the new coronavirus has mutated to become even more infectious should be viewed with skepticism, multiple experts said Wednesday. Earlier this week, researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory concluded that the new strain of the coronavirus started spreading in Europe in early February and then expanded to other parts of the world, becoming the dominant strain of the virus in the United States and Canada by the end of March, CNBC reported. Advertisement
The team also concluded that the strain was more easily transmitted between people.
The study was posted Thursday on the website BioRxiv, and has not been peer-reviewed.
The research "doesn't prove that this new strain is in fact more infectious," Gottlieb said Wednesday on CNBC's "Squawk Box."
"The analysis could be confounded by the fact that this just became the dominant strain in Europe because it got into Europe early and then got into the United States from Europe," former U.S. Food and Drug Administration head Dr. Scott Gottlieb explained. "It really doesn't prove anything."
He also noted that the study is only based on computational analysis and more research is required, CNN reported. "We don't have any other data to support it, including cell culture data," he noted.
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"We saw a change like this with Ebola and we initially thought that it also made Ebola more contagious, and we actually had cell culture data to support it at that time," Gottlieb said.
"We found that when we put it into animal studies, in fact the change in the [Ebola] virus didn't change its contours at all, didn't make it more infectious," he explained.
Speaking to The New York Times, evolutionary biologist Sergei Pond, of Temple University, agreed.
"I don't think they provide evidence to claim transmissibility enhancement," he said.
"In order to establish this, you'd need direct competition between strains in the same geographic area," and that hasn't been shown, Pond explained.
There are different strains of the new coronavirus circulating, but mutation alone doesn't mean it's more contagious, Gottlieb said.
"Just because it mutates doesn't mean it's changing in ways that's going to make it more virulent or more infectious," he said. "It is going to drift over time. Generally the drift should be in the direction of making it less virulent, less dangerous, not more, if it's selected for, because it wants to keep its host [people] alive."
"I think those [Los Alamos] claims are suspect, to say the least," Bill Hanage, an epidemiologist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, added on Twitter, the Times reported.
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More information
Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for more on the new coronavirus.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-05-07--Fortune cookie numbers earn $2 million lottery jackpot after 5 years

May 7 ( UPI ) -- A North Carolina man said the lottery numbers he took from a fortune cookie @ @ @ @ @ million jackpot after five years of using them to play Mega Millions .
Claude Guezodje @ @ @ @ @ Education Lottery officials the ticket he purchased from the BP Mini Mart in Gastonia bore @ @ @ @ @ been using for years .
`` Those numbers were from a Chinese fortune cookie and @ @ @ @ @ myself , '' Guezodje said .
`` I just liked those numbers and put them @ @ @ @ @ ticket matched all five white balls and his $ 1 million prize was doubled because @ @ @ @ @ and the 2X Megaplier was drawn .
`` The first thing I 'll do is @ @ @ @ @ try to find a small house -- nothing crazy , '' Guezodje said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ want to help my family back home . ''

A North Carolina man said a series of numbers he partially took from a fortune cookie earned him a $2 million jackpot after nearly five years of using them to play Mega Millions. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe May 7 (UPI) -- A North Carolina man said the lottery numbers he took from a fortune cookie earned him a $2 million jackpot after five years of using them to play Mega Millions. Claude Guezodje of Charlotte told North Carolina Education Lottery officials the ticket he purchased from the BP Mini Mart in Gastonia bore the same numbers he has been using for years. Advertisement
"Those numbers were from a Chinese fortune cookie and random numbers I picked for myself," Guezodje said. "I just liked those numbers and put them together."
Guezodje's ticket matched all five white balls and his $1 million prize was doubled because he selected the Megaplier option and the 2X Megaplier was drawn.
"The first thing I'll do is pay off my car and try to find a small house -- nothing crazy," Guezodje said. "And then of course I want to help my family back home."


upi--2020-05-07--HBO Max will launch with 17 anime series

May 7 ( UPI ) -- HBO Max announced Thursday that it teamed up with Crunchyroll to bring anime to the new streaming service .
When HBO Max launches May 27 , 17 anime titles will be live on the service .
According to a press release , Crunchyroll has chosen the following anime for HBO Max 's launch : The full series of Fullmetal Alchemist : Brotherhood and Ruroni Kenshin , Seasons 1 and 2 of Konosuba - God 's Blessing on this Wonderful World !
, The Testament of Sister New Devil and Berserk , Seasons 1 - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seasons of Re : Zero - Starting Life In Another World ( Director 's Cut ) , In/Spectre , Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken , Kabanari of the Iron Fortress , Kill la Kill , Your Lie in April , Erased , Kiznaiver , Schwarzes Marken , 91 Days and Rokka-Braves of the Six Flowers .
WarnerMedia owns both HBO Max and the Crunchyroll service , which streams anime series like One Piece and Naruto Shippuden .
Anime includes animated shows or movies from Japan , often inspired by their Manga comics .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ HBO Max every quarter .
They expect to bring the original Death Note and Hunter x Hunter to the streaming service in the future .
HBO Max subscribers can also access Crunchyroll 's archive , which totals over 1,000 titles .

"Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood" is coming to HBO Max on May 27. Photo courtesy of Crunchyroll
May 7 (UPI) -- HBO Max announced Thursday that it teamed up with Crunchyroll to bring anime to the new streaming service. When HBO Max launches May 27, 17 anime titles will be live on the service. According to a press release, Crunchyroll has chosen the following anime for HBO Max's launch: The full series of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood and Ruroni Kenshin, Seasons 1 and 2 of Konosuba - God's Blessing on this Wonderful World!, The Testament of Sister New Devil and Berserk, Seasons 1 - 3 of Bungo Stray Dogs and first seasons of Re: Zero - Starting Life In Another World (Director's Cut), In/Spectre, Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken, Kabanari of the Iron Fortress, Kill la Kill, Your Lie in April, Erased, Kiznaiver, Schwarzes Marken, 91 Days and Rokka-Braves of the Six Flowers. Advertisement
WarnerMedia owns both HBO Max and the Crunchyroll service, which streams anime series like One Piece and Naruto Shippuden. Anime includes animated shows or movies from Japan, often inspired by their Manga comics.
Crunchyroll will curate new anime titles for HBO Max every quarter. They expect to bring the original Death Note and Hunter x Hunter to the streaming service in the future. HBO Max subscribers can also access Crunchyroll's archive, which totals over 1,000 titles.


upi--2020-05-07--Blue Angels to fly over Jacksonville, Miami on Friday

May 7 ( UPI ) -- The U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron , the Blue Angels , will fly over Jacksonville and Miami , Fla. , Friday .
The flyover display is part of a nationwide tour to show appreciation for healthcare workers and other personnel directly involved in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic .
`` The America Strong initiative is a way for the Blue Angels to show appreciation to the thousands of nurses , doctors , firefighters , grocery store employees , military personnel and others who are at the front line of the pandemic response , '' Cmdr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Angels commanding officer and flight leader for the flyover , said in a press release .
`` This is our opportunity to salute each American in the fight against COVID-19 . ''
A formation of six F/A-18C/D Hornet aircraft will conduct the flyovers starting at 11:40 a.m. in Jacksonville , where they will fly for 20 minutes .
The Miami flyover will begin at 1 p.m. and last about 25 minutes .
Residents of both cities `` should observe the flyover from the safety of their home-quarantine and should refrain from traveling to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Blue Angels tweeted Thursday .
`` Social distancing should be practiced at all times . ''
Earlier this week the Blue Angels visited Houston , Dallas and New Orleans , and last week the Blue Angels -- along with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds -- conducted similar displays in several cities , including Washington , D.C. and New York .

The Navy's Blue Angels and U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds fly over the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Saturday. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
May 7 (UPI) -- The U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, will fly over Jacksonville and Miami, Fla., Friday. The flyover display is part of a nationwide tour to show appreciation for healthcare workers and other personnel directly involved in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. Advertisement
"The America Strong initiative is a way for the Blue Angels to show appreciation to the thousands of nurses, doctors, firefighters, grocery store employees, military personnel and others who are at the front line of the pandemic response," Cmdr. Brian Kesselring, U.S. Navy Blue Angels commanding officer and flight leader for the flyover, said in a press release. "This is our opportunity to salute each American in the fight against COVID-19."
A formation of six F/A-18C/D Hornet aircraft will conduct the flyovers starting at 11:40 a.m. in Jacksonville, where they will fly for 20 minutes. The Miami flyover will begin at 1 p.m. and last about 25 minutes.
Residents of both cities "should observe the flyover from the safety of their home-quarantine and should refrain from traveling to see the flyover tomorrow," the Blue Angels tweeted Thursday. "Social distancing should be practiced at all times."
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Earlier this week the Blue Angels visited Houston, Dallas and New Orleans, and last week the Blue Angels -- along with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds -- conducted similar displays in several cities, including Washington, D.C. and New York.


upi--2020-05-07--Watch: Utah man reunited with class ring 38 years after it was lost in Germany

May 7 ( UPI ) -- A Utah man who lost his high school class ring in Germany in 1982 was reunited with the ring thanks to a man who found it on a beach in the United States .
Scott Sanders said he accidentally left his ring on top of a paper towel dispenser in Bitburg , Germany , in 1982 , and he never expected to see the ring again .
Dan Thomander said he found the ring in the sand at a park in New Jersey or New York nearly 30 years ago .
He said his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for decades before giving it back to him and inspiring him to attempt to find its original owner .
Thomander said his online research revealed Sanders ' high school had put all of their old yearbooks online , making it easy for him to determine the identity of the ring 's owner .
He searched for Sanders ' current location and discovered he lives in Utah -- only 5 miles from where Thomander 's son lives .
Sanders was reunited with his long-lost ring Monday .
A Maine woman who lost her then-boyfriend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ring took a similar globe-trotting adventure before returning to her .
Debra McKenna , 63 , said she left the ring in a bathroom at a department store and the ring turned up 47 years later buried in a park in Finland .

A Utah man who lost his class ring in Germany in 1982 had the item returned to him by a man who found the ring on the east coast of the United States. Photo by violey/Pixabay.com
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe May 7 (UPI) -- A Utah man who lost his high school class ring in Germany in 1982 was reunited with the ring thanks to a man who found it on a beach in the United States. Scott Sanders said he accidentally left his ring on top of a paper towel dispenser in Bitburg, Germany, in 1982, and he never expected to see the ring again. Advertisement
Dan Thomander said he found the ring in the sand at a park in New Jersey or New York nearly 30 years ago. He said his father-in-law kept the ring in a safe for decades before giving it back to him and inspiring him to attempt to find its original owner.
Thomander said his online research revealed Sanders' high school had put all of their old yearbooks online, making it easy for him to determine the identity of the ring's owner. He searched for Sanders' current location and discovered he lives in Utah -- only 5 miles from where Thomander's son lives.
Sanders was reunited with his long-lost ring Monday.
A Maine woman who lost her then-boyfriend's class ring in 1973 said the ring took a similar globe-trotting adventure before returning to her. Debra McKenna, 63, said she left the ring in a bathroom at a department store and the ring turned up 47 years later buried in a park in Finland.


upi--2020-05-08--Bryce Harper calls MLB 'dumb' to keep stars out of Olympics

May 8 ( UPI ) -- Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper thinks Major League Baseball is `` dumb '' for its policy that makes the Olympics off-limits for baseball 's best players .
Harper commented on the rule this week on Barstool Sports 's Starting 9 podcast .
`` It is such a travesty to me , '' Harper said .
`` I 'm not saying this as disrespect to minor-leaguers -- the [ 2021 ] Olympics are in Tokyo , and you 're not sending big-league guys ?
Are you kidding me ?
`` You wan na grow the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're not gon na let us play in the Olympics because you do n't wan na cut out on money for a two-week period ?
Like , OK , that 's dumb . ''
Baseball had been on a hiatus from the Olympic sports lineup since 2008 .
The sport was set to return this summer in Tokyo before the Summer Games were pushed to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic .
Team USA -- composed mostly Minor League Baseball players and a few veteran MLB free agents -- has yet to qualify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ participation in the Games by its players because franchises fear diminished attendance and potential injuries to key players during the Olympics , which coincides with the U.S. professional baseball season .
Star players sometimes feel the same way , particularly about avoiding injuries that could affect their entire season or even their careers .
MLB stars take place in another global competition -- the World Baseball Classic -- but that tournament occurs during the off-season .
`` The 2021 Olympics are next year , '' Harper said .
`` Why not shock the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in it ? ''
Harper also made a pitch to fellow baseball stars on Thursday on Instagram to gauge their interest .
He tagged MLB , President Donald Trump , USA Baseball , Mike Trout , Mookie Betts , Cody Bellinger , Christian Yelich and Aaron Judge .
`` Who 's in ?
Olympics 2021 ?
Let 's get it , '' Harper wrote .
`` Let 's get it done fellas ! ''

Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper thinks Major League Baseball's best players should participate in the 2021 Summer Games in Tokyo. File Photo by Kevin Dietsh/UPI | License Photo
May 8 (UPI) -- Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper thinks Major League Baseball is "dumb" for its policy that makes the Olympics off-limits for baseball's best players. Harper commented on the rule this week on Barstool Sports's Starting 9 podcast. Advertisement
"It is such a travesty to me," Harper said. "I'm not saying this as disrespect to minor-leaguers -- the [2021] Olympics are in Tokyo, and you're not sending big-league guys? Are you kidding me?
"You wanna grow the game as much as possible and you're not gonna let us play in the Olympics because you don't wanna cut out on money for a two-week period? Like, OK, that's dumb."
Baseball had been on a hiatus from the Olympic sports lineup since 2008. The sport was set to return this summer in Tokyo before the Summer Games were pushed to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Team USA -- composed mostly Minor League Baseball players and a few veteran MLB free agents -- has yet to qualify for the Summer Games.
MLB shuns participation in the Games by its players because franchises fear diminished attendance and potential injuries to key players during the Olympics, which coincides with the U.S. professional baseball season.
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Star players sometimes feel the same way, particularly about avoiding injuries that could affect their entire season or even their careers.
MLB stars take place in another global competition -- the World Baseball Classic -- but that tournament occurs during the off-season.
"The 2021 Olympics are next year," Harper said. "Why not shock the world and put all your big-leaguers back in it?"
Harper also made a pitch to fellow baseball stars on Thursday on Instagram to gauge their interest. He tagged MLB, President Donald Trump, USA Baseball, Mike Trout, Mookie Betts, Cody Bellinger, Christian Yelich and Aaron Judge.
"Who's in? Olympics 2021? Let's get it," Harper wrote.
"Let's get it done fellas!"


upi--2020-05-08--Donald Trump is turning American presidency into a dictatorship

May 8 ( UPI ) -- Since taking office more than three years ago , President Donald Trump has consistently shown a complete lack of understanding of the fundamental precepts of our constitutional system .
He does n't fathom the doctrine of separation of powers , the limitations placed on a president through the Constitution 's checks and balances .
And he does n't comprehend the foundation upon which all of it rests -- the rule of law .
All of which raises the question : Will Trump become an unaccountable dictator ?
Last year , Trump asserted he could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's investigation into possible Russian influence in the 2016 election and his own role in it `` if I wanted to . ''
Emboldened after being acquitted by the Senate on the House 's impeachment charges , he said , `` I 'm actually , I guess , the chief law enforcement officer of the country . ''
And he has claimed that , as president , the Constitution gives him `` the right to do whatever I want . ''
Most Americans had never considered an American president would speak such words @ @ @ @ @ @ @ monarch from centuries ago , or a dictator ruling in a banana republic .
It 's doubtful the president came up with these constitutional perversions by himself .
Assistance was surely provided by his White House counsel , Patrick Cipollone , and Attorney General William Barr .
Both are leading proponents of what 's known as the unitary theory of the executive , an extreme doctrine of presidential power that has no legal boundaries .
It is radical , wrong , undemocratic -- and dangerous .
This theory is as obscure as it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that proponents argue is found in Article II of the Constitution : `` The executive power shall be vested in a president of the United States of America . ''
Those words have been variously interpreted to theoretically invalidate any statute passed by Congress that denies the president `` exclusive control '' over a `` purely executive '' power -- and thus violating the principle of the separation of powers in the Constitution .
Other supporters of the theory take a more extreme view .
They consider independent federal regulatory agencies as illegitimate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insulated from presidential control .
They believe Congress has no power to demand information from any part of the executive branch .
And they assert that executive authority , under the Constitution , gives a president whatever powers are left specifically unchecked by either Congress or the courts .
Advocates of the theory posit that Congress can not compel executive branch personnel to appear on Capitol Hill , even under subpoena .
Not surprising , these were the same arguments put forth by Trump 's lawyers in several court cases brought by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ served as a cornerstone of Trump 's defense in the Senate impeachment trial .
While not the first presidential proponent of the theory -- George W. Bush referred to it in more than 161 bill-signing statements -- Trump has taken it to a significantly higher level .
Consider if Trump really has all the powers he thinks he should have .
If only the president could determine what presidential powers exist , then a president could do more than act whenever Congress had not set specific parameters on a given topic .
Under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , even in the face of explicit congressional opposition , would be nonetheless constitutional .
This is precisely the issue now before the federal Court of Appeals for the D.C .
Circuit .
Is it appropriate for the House to challenge Trump 's decision to build a wall on the southern border with funds not appropriated for that purpose ?
Richard Nixon pretty well summed up the essence of the unified theory of the executive this way : `` When the president does it , that means it 's not illegal . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ crackpot theory to justify his governing decisions , it will have historical consequences for our nation .
He would end our democracy based on the rule of law and replace it with an unaccountable dictatorial king .
The proponents of the unitary theory of executive power have constructed an alternative Constitution in much the same way Trump has used what his aides describe as `` alternative facts '' to conjure an alternate reality .
If that sounds scary , well , it is .
This president believes he has found the keys to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ constitutional theory .
It makes him , effectively , a king .
To overcome and reverse Trump 's actions , we are encouraged by the wise counsel of Justice Robert Jackson , who came up with a famous test for evaluating claims of presidential power in a 1952 opinion preventing President Harry Truman from taking over the steel mills to avoid a strike during the Korean War .
`` With all its defects , delays and inconveniences , men have discovered no technique for long preserving free government except that the executive be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law be made by parliamentary deliberations , '' he wrote .
It 's time for Congress and the courts -- and the voters -- to act accordingly , before it 's too late .
Tom Coleman served as an assistant Missouri attorney general and later a Republican member of the House of Representatives from 1976 to 1993 .
Now retired as a lobbyist , he is an adviser to the Protect Democracy Project , an anti-authoritarian watchdog group .
This article originally appeared at The Fulcrum .

President Donald Trump doesn't fathom the doctrine of separation of powers, the limitations placed on a president through the Constitution's checks and balances. Photo by Doug Mills/UPI | License Photo
May 8 (UPI) -- Since taking office more than three years ago, President Donald Trump has consistently shown a complete lack of understanding of the fundamental precepts of our constitutional system. He doesn't fathom the doctrine of separation of powers, the limitations placed on a president through the Constitution's checks and balances. And he doesn't comprehend the foundation upon which all of it rests -- the rule of law. All of which raises the question: Will Trump become an unaccountable dictator? Advertisement
Last year, Trump asserted he could personally take over special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into possible Russian influence in the 2016 election and his own role in it "if I wanted to." Emboldened after being acquitted by the Senate on the House's impeachment charges, he said, "I'm actually, I guess, the chief law enforcement officer of the country." And he has claimed that, as president, the Constitution gives him "the right to do whatever I want."
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Most Americans had never considered an American president would speak such words. They are the musings of a monarch from centuries ago, or a dictator ruling in a banana republic.
It's doubtful the president came up with these constitutional perversions by himself. Assistance was surely provided by his White House counsel, Patrick Cipollone, and Attorney General William Barr. Both are leading proponents of what's known as the unitary theory of the executive, an extreme doctrine of presidential power that has no legal boundaries. It is radical, wrong, undemocratic -- and dangerous.
This theory is as obscure as it is controversial. It is a viewpoint that proponents argue is found in Article II of the Constitution: "The executive power shall be vested in a president of the United States of America." Those words have been variously interpreted to theoretically invalidate any statute passed by Congress that denies the president "exclusive control" over a "purely executive" power -- and thus violating the principle of the separation of powers in the Constitution.
Other supporters of the theory take a more extreme view. They consider independent federal regulatory agencies as illegitimate, since they are structured to be insulated from presidential control. They believe Congress has no power to demand information from any part of the executive branch. And they assert that executive authority, under the Constitution, gives a president whatever powers are left specifically unchecked by either Congress or the courts.
Advertisement
Advocates of the theory posit that Congress cannot compel executive branch personnel to appear on Capitol Hill, even under subpoena. Not surprising, these were the same arguments put forth by Trump's lawyers in several court cases brought by the House against the president. They also served as a cornerstone of Trump's defense in the Senate impeachment trial.
While not the first presidential proponent of the theory -- George W. Bush referred to it in more than 161 bill-signing statements -- Trump has taken it to a significantly higher level.
Consider if Trump really has all the powers he thinks he should have. If only the president could determine what presidential powers exist, then a president could do more than act whenever Congress had not set specific parameters on a given topic. Under this extreme theory, his unilateral actions, even in the face of explicit congressional opposition, would be nonetheless constitutional.
This is precisely the issue now before the federal Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Is it appropriate for the House to challenge Trump's decision to build a wall on the southern border with funds not appropriated for that purpose?
Richard Nixon pretty well summed up the essence of the unified theory of the executive this way: "When the president does it, that means it's not illegal."
Advertisement
If Trump continues to lean on this crackpot theory to justify his governing decisions, it will have historical consequences for our nation. He would end our democracy based on the rule of law and replace it with an unaccountable dictatorial king.
The proponents of the unitary theory of executive power have constructed an alternative Constitution in much the same way Trump has used what his aides describe as "alternative facts" to conjure an alternate reality.
If that sounds scary, well, it is. This president believes he has found the keys to the kingdom made possible by this discredited constitutional theory. It makes him, effectively, a king.
To overcome and reverse Trump's actions, we are encouraged by the wise counsel of Justice Robert Jackson, who came up with a famous test for evaluating claims of presidential power in a 1952 opinion preventing President Harry Truman from taking over the steel mills to avoid a strike during the Korean War.
"With all its defects, delays and inconveniences, men have discovered no technique for long preserving free government except that the executive be under the law, and that the law be made by parliamentary deliberations," he wrote.
It's time for Congress and the courts -- and the voters -- to act accordingly, before it's too late.
Advertisement
Tom Coleman served as an assistant Missouri attorney general and later a Republican member of the House of Representatives from 1976 to 1993. Now retired as a lobbyist, he is an adviser to the Protect Democracy Project, an anti-authoritarian watchdog group. This article originally appeared at The Fulcrum.


upi--2020-05-08--Peyton Manning trash talks Tom Brady before May 24 golf match

May 8 ( UPI ) -- Former star quarterback Peyton Manning delivered some trash talk to Tampa Bay Buccaneers star Tom Brady while they promoted their May 24 charity golf match .
Manning and Tiger Woods will battle Brady and golfer Phil Mickelson in Capital One 's The Match : Champions for Charity at 3 p.m. EDT May 24 at the Medalist Golf Club in Hobe Sound , Fla .
The event will raise money for COVID-19 relief efforts .
It will air on TNT , TBS , truTV and HLN .
The foursome did a video conference Thursday to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be in Florida , after Tom 's breaking-and-entering arrest , '' Manning joked , in reference to Brady walking into the wrong house after he moved to Tampa , Fla. , and Brady being asked to leave a public park due to a stay-at-home order .
`` He could n't leave the state , so it had to be in Florida .
Tiger and I talked to the sheriff in Tampa .
...
I would have loved to play this tournament in a place where they do n't like Tom very much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after he just betrayed them and broke their hearts . ''
Manning also said he thinks the teams for the match-up are `` fair '' before he again jabbed Brady .
The former Indianapolis Colts quarterback used Woods ' 15 major championships to his advantage to say his duo has been more successful .
`` Phil chose the right partner in Tom , '' Manning said .
`` Together they have 11 championships .
Tiger and I have 17 , the way I counted . ''
Manning won two Super Bowls during his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ titles , while Mickelson has five major championships .
Manning 's jabs came after Brady posted trash talk about Manning and Woods April 23 on Instagram .
The post included a photo of Brady and Mickelson as they stood on the green alongside a shrunken version of Woods and Manning .
`` I never had much of a hard time beating the Colts or a Tiger , '' Brady wrote .
`` I do n't see this time being much different . ''
Mickelson beat Woods in their last version of a head-to-head @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Las Vegas .

May 8 (UPI) -- Former star quarterback Peyton Manning delivered some trash talk to Tampa Bay Buccaneers star Tom Brady while they promoted their May 24 charity golf match.
Manning and Tiger Woods will battle Brady and golfer Phil Mickelson in Capital One's The Match: Champions for Charity at 3 p.m. EDT May 24 at the Medalist Golf Club in Hobe Sound, Fla. The event will raise money for COVID-19 relief efforts. It will air on TNT, TBS, truTV and HLN.
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The foursome did a video conference Thursday to promote the event.
"It had to be in Florida, after Tom's breaking-and-entering arrest," Manning joked, in reference to Brady walking into the wrong house after he moved to Tampa, Fla., and Brady being asked to leave a public park due to a stay-at-home order.
"He couldn't leave the state, so it had to be in Florida. Tiger and I talked to the sheriff in Tampa. ... I would have loved to play this tournament in a place where they don't like Tom very much: Indianapolis, Denver, Boston, after he just betrayed them and broke their hearts."
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Manning also said he thinks the teams for the match-up are "fair" before he again jabbed Brady. The former Indianapolis Colts quarterback used Woods' 15 major championships to his advantage to say his duo has been more successful.
"Phil chose the right partner in Tom," Manning said. "Together they have 11 championships. Tiger and I have 17, the way I counted."
Manning won two Super Bowls during his decorated NFL tenure. Brady has six titles, while Mickelson has five major championships.
Manning's jabs came after Brady posted trash talk about Manning and Woods April 23 on Instagram. The post included a photo of Brady and Mickelson as they stood on the green alongside a shrunken version of Woods and Manning.
"I never had much of a hard time beating the Colts or a Tiger," Brady wrote. "I don't see this time being much different."
Mickelson beat Woods in their last version of a head-to-head match-up on Nov. 23, 2018, in Las Vegas.


upi--2020-05-08--Watch: Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Schwartz read texts from their moms on 'Kimmel'

May 8 ( UPI ) -- Gwyneth Paltrow , Ben Schwartz and other celebrities read text messages from their mothers on Jimmy Kimmel Live in honor of Mother 's Day .
Paltrow , who is neighbors with her mother , actress Blythe Danner , read a series of texts she received .
`` Can I come swim ?
My pool is 72 burr .
Do n't have to eat .
I have plenty .
Actually , going for a walk .
Maybe tomorrow .
No , fine .
I changed my mind , '' Paltrow 's mother said .
Schwartz @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his entire family in a group chat asking , `` Can you talk ? ''
`` You 're writing this to the whole family .
Name a family member you want to talk to and we can figure this out , '' Schwartz replied .
His mom responded with , `` I want to talk to everyone !
!
! ''
January Jones , meanwhile , was asked a random question from her mother .
`` Were you ever contacted to be in the South Dakota anti meth campaign ?
Their slogan is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Will Arnett , Lakeith Stanfield , Elle Fanning , Don Lemon , Renee Zellweger , Emily Blunt and Aidy Bryant also took part in the segment .
Kimmel honored a mother and daughter nurse duo from Arkansas who traveled to New York to help out with the COVID-19 pandemic .
Courteney Cox surprised the nurses through video chat .
The mother and daughter were then gifted pizza from Brooklyn and $ 10,000 each to spend however they want .

May 8 (UPI) -- Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Schwartz and other celebrities read text messages from their mothers on Jimmy Kimmel Live in honor of Mother's Day.
Paltrow, who is neighbors with her mother, actress Blythe Danner, read a series of texts she received.
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"Can I come swim? My pool is 72 burr. Don't have to eat. I have plenty. Actually, going for a walk. Maybe tomorrow. No, fine. I changed my mind," Paltrow's mother said.
Schwartz's mother, meanwhile, was texting his entire family in a group chat asking, "Can you talk?"
"You're writing this to the whole family. Name a family member you want to talk to and we can figure this out," Schwartz replied.
His mom responded with, "I want to talk to everyone!!!"
January Jones, meanwhile, was asked a random question from her mother.
"Were you ever contacted to be in the South Dakota anti meth campaign? Their slogan is controversial," her mother asked.
Will Arnett, Lakeith Stanfield, Elle Fanning, Don Lemon, Renee Zellweger, Emily Blunt and Aidy Bryant also took part in the segment.
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Kimmel honored a mother and daughter nurse duo from Arkansas who traveled to New York to help out with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Courteney Cox surprised the nurses through video chat. The mother and daughter were then gifted pizza from Brooklyn and $10,000 each to spend however they want.


upi--2020-05-08--Moderate earthquake in Iran hits near Tehran; 2 dead

May 8 ( UPI ) -- At least two people died and more than a dozen were hurt Friday when @ @ @ @ @ Iran .
The Iranian Seismological Center said the earthquake registered a magnitude of 5.1 , @ @ @ @ @ said the strength was 4.6 .
The northern city of Damavand , near Tehran , @ @ @ @ @ said a 60-year-old man in Damavand died of a brain injury and a 21-year-old woman @ @ @ @ @ arrest .
The shaking , which lasted for several moments , could be felt as @ @ @ @ @ Alborz , Mazandaran and Zanjan provinces .
Friday 's was the strongest earthquake to hit @ @ @ @ @ quake hit the Tehran area more than two years ago .
A powerful 7.3-magnitude quake @ @ @ @ @ hundreds .
Jalal Maleki , a spokesman for Tehran 's Fire Department and Safety Services @ @ @ @ @ of building collapses or other heavy damage .
He said some firefighters and medical emergency @ @ @ @ @ as some alarmed residents spilled into the streets .

May 8 (UPI) -- At least two people died and more than a dozen were hurt Friday when a moderate earthquake struck in Iran.
The Iranian Seismological Center said the earthquake registered a magnitude of 5.1, while the U.S. Geological Survey said the strength was 4.6. The northern city of Damavand, near Tehran, was the epicenter.
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Officials said a 60-year-old man in Damavand died of a brain injury and a 21-year-old woman died after going into cardiac arrest. The shaking, which lasted for several moments, could be felt as far away as Qom, Alborz, Mazandaran and Zanjan provinces.
Friday's was the strongest earthquake to hit the area since a 5.2-magnitude quake hit the Tehran area more than two years ago. A powerful 7.3-magnitude quake in November 2017 and killed hundreds.
Jalal Maleki, a spokesman for Tehran's Fire Department and Safety Services, there were no reports of building collapses or other heavy damage. He said some firefighters and medical emergency staff were put on alert as some alarmed residents spilled into the streets.


upi--2020-05-08--Subdued ceremonies in Europe mark 75th anniversary of VE Day

May 8 ( UPI ) -- French President Emanuel Macron led a series of events in Europe Friday that commemorate the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day , with a small ceremony in Paris .
Macron , accompanied by Prime Minister Edouard Philippe , several political leaders and former Presidents Nicolas Sarkozy and Francois Hollande , attended a remembrance of the May 8 , 1945 , Allied World War II victory over Nazi Germany at the Arc de Triomphe , which was nearly empty due to the coronavirus pandemic .
Macron laid a wreath at a statue of former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Strict social distancing protocols were followed during the small gathering .
The ceremony set the tone for other VE Day events planned in Europe on Friday .
All were to be modest as large gatherings are still prohibited .
VE Day is the anniversary of the day when the Allied leaders formally accepted Nazi Germany 's unconditional surrender , ending the war in Europe .
In Britain , the Royal Air Force Red Arrows team performed flyovers to mark the anniversary .
Queen Elizabeth II was scheduled to address the nation from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same time her father , King George VI , gave a radio address in 1945 .
Historic new material released by British intelligence officials to commemorate the anniversary included the last recorded message intercepted from a German military communications network .
The message , sent on May 7 , 1945 , said : `` British troops entered Cuxhaven at 1400 on 6 May -- from now on all radio traffic will cease -- wishing you all the best .
Lt .
Kunkel . ''
In Germany , Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Frank-Walter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Neue Wache war memorial in Berlin .
In Washington , D.C. , President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump will participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the World War II memorial on the National Mall .

French President Emanuel Macron (C) and Prime Minister Edouard Philippe lay a wreath during a ceremony Friday marking the 75th anniversary of VE Day in Paris, France. Photo by Charles Paltiau/EPA-EFE
May 8 (UPI) -- French President Emanuel Macron led a series of events in Europe Friday that commemorate the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, with a small ceremony in Paris. Macron, accompanied by Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, several political leaders and former Presidents Nicolas Sarkozy and Francois Hollande, attended a remembrance of the May 8, 1945, Allied World War II victory over Nazi Germany at the Arc de Triomphe, which was nearly empty due to the coronavirus pandemic. Advertisement
Macron laid a wreath at a statue of former President and WWII Gen. Charles de Gaulle. Strict social distancing protocols were followed during the small gathering.
The ceremony set the tone for other VE Day events planned in Europe on Friday. All were to be modest as large gatherings are still prohibited.
VE Day is the anniversary of the day when the Allied leaders formally accepted Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender, ending the war in Europe.
In Britain, the Royal Air Force Red Arrows team performed flyovers to mark the anniversary. Queen Elizabeth II was scheduled to address the nation from Windsor Castle at 9 p.m., the same time her father, King George VI, gave a radio address in 1945.
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Historic new material released by British intelligence officials to commemorate the anniversary included the last recorded message intercepted from a German military communications network.
The message, sent on May 7, 1945, said: "British troops entered Cuxhaven at 1400 on 6 May -- from now on all radio traffic will cease -- wishing you all the best. Lt. Kunkel."
In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier were scheduled to lay wreaths at the Neue Wache war memorial in Berlin.
In Washington, D.C., President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump will participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the World War II memorial on the National Mall.
"Today, we celebrate the forces of freedom who defeated tyranny and emerged victorious," Trump said in a statement.
"As we reflect ... we are reminded that no challenge is greater than the resolve of the American spirit. Over the past months, our nation has faced remarkable adversity during the coronavirus pandemic. But just as we have so many times before, America will triumph, and we will emerge from this a stronger and more united country."


upi--2020-05-08--Google brings back 'Pac-Man' game in latest Doodle

May 8 ( UPI ) -- Google brought back arcade classic Pac-Man in the latest Doodle .
Google 's homepage @ @ @ @ @ '' in the company 's logo relaxing in a chair before it becomes the iconic @ @ @ @ @ usethe arrow keys on their keyboard to navigate Pac-Man through a maze that is in @ @ @ @ @ logo .
Players , as always , must eat all of the dots in the @ @ @ @ @ ghosts .
The signature music and sound effects from Pac-Man are also present .
Google @ @ @ @ @ on May 21 , 2010 in celebration of the game 's 30th anniversary .
Google @ @ @ @ @ Doodle games as many stay indoors due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
The company recently @ @ @ @ @ from 2017 .
`` As COVID-19 continues to impact communities around the world , people @ @ @ @ @ more time at home .
In light of this , we 're launching a throwback @ @ @ @ @ some of our popular interactive Google Doodle games , '' Google said .

Google is again featuring classic game 'Pac-Man' in the latest Doodle. Image courtesy of Google
May 8 (UPI) -- Google brought back arcade classic Pac-Man in the latest Doodle. Google's homepage features the letter "o" in the company's logo relaxing in a chair before it becomes the iconic video game character. Advertisement
Players usethe arrow keys on their keyboard to navigate Pac-Man through a maze that is in the shape of the Google logo.
Players, as always, must eat all of the dots in the maze while avoiding the colorful ghosts. The signature music and sound effects from Pac-Man are also present.
Google added Pac-Man to their homepage on May 21, 2010 in celebration of the game's 30th anniversary.
Google has started to re-release old Doodle games as many stay indoors due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The company recently re-released its hip-hop music game from 2017.
"As COVID-19 continues to impact communities around the world, people and families everywhere are spending more time at home. In light of this, we're launching a throwback Doodle series looking back at some of our popular interactive Google Doodle games," Google said.


upi--2020-05-08--South Korea sees new cluster of COVID-19 cases tied to nightclubs

SEOUL , May 8 ( UPI ) -- Just days after South Korea loosened its social distancing guidelines , a new COVID-19 cluster of infections has sprung up in the capital city of Seoul tied to several nightclubs and bars .
Health officials announced 13 additional cases on Friday that have been connected to a 29-year-old man who visited five nightlife venues in Seoul 's multicultural Itaewon neighborhood last weekend and warned that there would likely be more to come .
`` We believe we will have another community infection , '' Vice Health Minister Kim Gang-lip said at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread took place in enclosed and crowded spaces .
Transmission with no known source of infection can lead to a widespread cluster infection and that is why the government is not letting its guard down . ''
Authorities said the man visited clubs and bars late last week before noticing any symptoms of the respiratory illness .
He tested positive on Wednesday and was admitted to a hospital in Suwon , south of Seoul .
Fifteen cases overall have been connected to the man , including himself , a co-worker and 12 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same night .
Officials estimate that he may have come into contact with more than 1,500 people across the five venues last weekend , adding to concern that there could be a significant number of new infections on the horizon .
Health authorities are continuing to track down visitors at the clubs and publicly urged anyone who attended the venues on the same night to self-isolate and report any COVID-19 symptoms .
Seoul city officials said at a separate briefing Friday that they would use CCTV and credit card records to help identify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreak , the government issued a nationwide health advisory that encourages bars and nightclubs to suspend operations for another month .
The country began a period of `` everyday life quarantine '' on Wednesday , which eased social distancing guidelines and allowed an increase in social and economic activity .
Authorities were closely watching for any outbreaks tied to a long holiday weekend last week that led to heavy domestic travel .
Friday 's newly announced cases tied to the spreader came in addition to a regular daily update of 12 new cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overseas arrivals .
South Korea 's total number of infections rose to 10,822 with 256 deaths , according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
While South Korea was the first country after China to see widespread local transmission of the coronavirus , with a February outbreak centered around the southeastern city of Daegu , officials managed to dramatically flatten the curve of new infections through early and aggressive testing and contact tracing .
As new cases have declined , South Korea has allowed venues like recreational facilities , nightclubs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopen .
Professional baseball returned Tuesday without fans as the Korean Baseball Organization kicked off its 2020 season .
Schools will also start reopening next week , with high school seniors returning to class on Wednesday and other grades resuming in a phased process throughout the rest of the month .

South Korea saw a new local outbreak of COVID-19 cases tied to nightclubs in Seoul, with more than a dozen new infections reported Friday. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI
SEOUL, May 8 (UPI) -- Just days after South Korea loosened its social distancing guidelines, a new COVID-19 cluster of infections has sprung up in the capital city of Seoul tied to several nightclubs and bars. Health officials announced 13 additional cases on Friday that have been connected to a 29-year-old man who visited five nightlife venues in Seoul's multicultural Itaewon neighborhood last weekend and warned that there would likely be more to come. Advertisement
"We believe we will have another community infection," Vice Health Minister Kim Gang-lip said at a press briefing on Friday. "The spread took place in enclosed and crowded spaces. Transmission with no known source of infection can lead to a widespread cluster infection and that is why the government is not letting its guard down."
Authorities said the man visited clubs and bars late last week before noticing any symptoms of the respiratory illness. He tested positive on Wednesday and was admitted to a hospital in Suwon, south of Seoul.
Fifteen cases overall have been connected to the man, including himself, a co-worker and 12 people who were out at clubs on the same night. Officials estimate that he may have come into contact with more than 1,500 people across the five venues last weekend, adding to concern that there could be a significant number of new infections on the horizon.
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Health authorities are continuing to track down visitors at the clubs and publicly urged anyone who attended the venues on the same night to self-isolate and report any COVID-19 symptoms.
Seoul city officials said at a separate briefing Friday that they would use CCTV and credit card records to help identify visitors.
In response to the new outbreak, the government issued a nationwide health advisory that encourages bars and nightclubs to suspend operations for another month.
The country began a period of "everyday life quarantine" on Wednesday, which eased social distancing guidelines and allowed an increase in social and economic activity. Authorities were closely watching for any outbreaks tied to a long holiday weekend last week that led to heavy domestic travel.
Friday's newly announced cases tied to the spreader came in addition to a regular daily update of 12 new cases Thursday, most of which originated from overseas arrivals. South Korea's total number of infections rose to 10,822 with 256 deaths, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
While South Korea was the first country after China to see widespread local transmission of the coronavirus, with a February outbreak centered around the southeastern city of Daegu, officials managed to dramatically flatten the curve of new infections through early and aggressive testing and contact tracing.
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As new cases have declined, South Korea has allowed venues like recreational facilities, nightclubs, places of worship and museums to reopen.
Professional baseball returned Tuesday without fans as the Korean Baseball Organization kicked off its 2020 season. Schools will also start reopening next week, with high school seniors returning to class on Wednesday and other grades resuming in a phased process throughout the rest of the month.
World moves to reopen amid COVID-19 pandemic


upi--2020-05-08--U.N. chief Antonio Guterres: COVID-19 has caused 'tsunami' of hate

May 8 ( UPI ) -- U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on world leaders , news media and the public Friday to put forth efforts to end hate speech worldwide .
Guterres tweeted that the pandemic has caused a `` tsunami of hate and xenophobia , scapegoating and scaremongering , '' and urged an `` all-out effort to end hate speech globally . ''
Political leaders should work to create social cohesion , news media should do more to flag and remove hateful content and civil society should strengthen outreach to vulnerable people , he said in a video message @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everywhere , to stand up against hate , treat each other with dignity and take every opportunity to spread kindness , '' he said .
`` As we combat the pandemic , we have a duty to protect people , end stigma and prevent violence . ''
The appeal came two weeks after he warned the coronavirus pandemic was `` fast becoming a human rights crisis '' and advised governments against using the pandemic as an excuse to impose repressive measures .
Worldwide , there have been almost 4 million coronavirus cases and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic , according to Johns Hopkins University .
In Russia , clusters of the virus continues to grow at a quick pace on Friday with 10,700 new cases .
The tally moved Russia ahead of France as the fifth-most number of cases worldwide .
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Thursday the city lockdown will be extended to May 31 and industry and construction work may resume Tuesday , when public transit passengers will be required to wear face coverings and gloves .
In Australia , Prime Minister Scott Morrison detailed a three-step plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and society '' by the end of July .
The nation has been experiencing a drop in cases since a peak of hundreds per day in March , and has been recording about 20 cases or fewer a day since mid-April .
Australian states have eased restrictions and Morrison said last week national measures could soon be relaxed .
Six of the nation 's eight states have had multiple days recording no new cases .
Morrison said Friday the next step is to restart the economy at a gradual pace .
`` In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ run , '' he said at a news conference .
`` We know we need to be careful to preserve our gains , but we also know that if we wish to reclaim the ground we have lost , we can not be too timid . ''
Morrison expects 850,000 jobs will be restored in the coming months .
Step one will see schools , highways , restaurants , cafes , pools and playgrounds reopen .
Under step two , gatherings of around 20 will be permitted and gyms , indoor fitness , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopen .
In step three , Australians can gather in groups of up to 100 and most workers will be able to return .
He does n't expect international travel , however , to resume soon .
`` There is nothing on our radar which would see us opening up international travel in the foreseeable future , '' he said .

1/2
Britons applaud during the "Clap For Our Carers" campaign in support of the National Health Service outside the Chelsea and Westminster hospital in London on Thursday. Photo by Will Oliver/EPA-EFE
May 8 (UPI) -- There are no major changes coming to Britain's current coronavirus lockdown orders anytime soon, a government official said Friday as health officials reported 626 more deaths from COVID-19. British Environment Secretary George Eustice, delivering the government's daily coronavirus pandemic update, dampened speculation that Prime Minister Boris Johnson will announce an easing of restrictions in an address scheduled for Sunday. Advertisement
"There isn't going to be any dramatic overnight change," Eustice said. "We will be very, very cautious as we loosen the restrictions we have. As the data that we're outlining on a daily basis shows, we are not out of the woods, there are still major challenges with this virus for sometime to come."
The country's overall toll rose to 31,241 with the new deaths -- the most of any European nation during the health crisis.
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Worldwide, there have been almost 4 million coronavirus cases and 270,000 deaths since the start of the pandemic, according to Johns Hopkins University.
In Spain, the national government on Friday rejected a request by the Madrid region to advance to the next phase of a coronavirus reopening plan.
Local officials in the epicenter of Spain's pandemic argued Madrid should be among areas of the country allowed to move on to a new phase of the lockdown starting next week in which restrictions on social mobility will be eased.
The request was made over strong objections from health officials in the Spanish capital.
National health officials rejected Madrid's petition, opting to wait until the region's testing capabilities are "more robust."
At the United Nations, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on world leaders, news media and the public Friday to put forth efforts to end hate speech worldwide.
Guterres tweeted that the pandemic has caused a "tsunami of hate and xenophobia, scapegoating and scaremongering" and urged an "all-out effort to end hate speech globally."
Political leaders should work to create social cohesion, news media should do more to flag and remove hateful content and civil society should strengthen outreach to vulnerable people, he said in a video message.
Advertisement
"I ask everyone, everywhere, to stand up against hate, treat each other with dignity and take every opportunity to spread kindness," he said. "As we combat the pandemic, we have a duty to protect people, end stigma and prevent violence."
In Russia, clusters of the virus continued to grow at a quick pace Friday with 10,700 new cases. The tally moved Russia ahead of France as the fifth-highest number of cases worldwide.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Thursday the city lockdown will be extended to May 31 and industry and construction work may resume Tuesday, when public transit passengers will be required to wear face coverings and gloves.
In Australia, Prime Minister Scott Morrison detailed a three-step plan Friday to achieve "a COVID-safe economy and society" by the end of July.
The nation has been experiencing a drop in cases since a peak of hundreds per day in March and has been recording about 20 cases or fewer a day since mid-April.
Australian states have eased restrictions and Morrison said last week national measures could soon be relaxed. Six of the nation's eight states have had multiple days recording no new cases.
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Morrison said Friday the next step is to restart the economy at a gradual pace.
"In this plan, we walk before we run," he said at a news conference. "We know we need to be careful to preserve our gains, but we also know that if we wish to reclaim the ground we have lost, we cannot be too timid."
World moves to reopen amid COVID-19 pandemic


upi--2020-05-08--House probe: Trump admin failed to adequately screen travelers from South Korea, Italy for COVID-19

May 8 ( UPI ) -- The Trump administration failed to conduct effective screening of passengers from South Korea and Italy for the coronavirus when those countries were experiencing rapid expansion in COVID-19 cases , House investigators said .
In early March when South Korea and Italy were combating ballooning COVID-19 infections , Vice President Mike Pence announced `` we are now screening 100 percent '' of travelers from those countries for the coronavirus before entering the United States .
However , a report released Thursday by the committee on oversight and reform states this was not the case as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South Korean screeners to check passengers , of which almost none were barred from flying to the United States .
`` This investigation reveals another opportunity the administration missed to limit the impact of the coronavirus , '' said Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi , chairman of the subcommittee on economic and consumer policy .
According to the report , the subcommittee was briefed by staff from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Customs and Border Protection , the Department of Homeland Security 's Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office and the Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ directive for all passengers from those two countries on March 3 .
The probe found that between March 3 and March 14 when President Donald Trump 's sweeping travel restrictions went into effect for European nations , a total of only 13 passengers on two U.S.-bound flights from Italy were barred from boarding due to the screening process .
Similarly for South Korea , only 56 passengers were denied flying to the United States during this period .
Those who did enter the United States from Italy and South Korea , however , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ airports despite the CDC issuing in late February its highest level travel advisory for those countries .
`` Not until March 14 , 2020 , were travelers returning from Italy subjected to enhanced health screening , and travelers from South Korea never received enhanced health screening when arriving in the U.S. , '' the report said .
`` Prior to March 14 , passengers did not even receive travel health advisory handouts with information about coronavirus and about how to self-isolate for 14 days . ''
The report accuses the Trump administration of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it said it was performing but chose not to , stating such screenings had been performed since Jan. 17 for passengers arriving from Wuhan , China , where the virus emerged late last year , before being expanded to all passengers from the Asian nation in early February .
The only passengers currently being subjected to enhanced screenings for the coronavirus are those returning from China , Iran , Britain , Ireland and the Schengen Europe region , it added .
After Trump issued the sweeping travel restrictions on March 14 , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for coronavirus symptoms , the probe found .
According to government data , of the 250,000 passengers entering the United States from travel-restricted countries between Jan.17 and March 29 , fewer than 1,500 passengers , or 0.6 percent , were referred to the CDC for public health screenings .
Krishnamoorthi launched the probe mid-March after the committee received letters from five U.S. citizens who had recently returned from either Italy or South Korea and raised concerns about the screening process after they were allowed to enter the country without being checked .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration lost critical time it could have used to prepare and build up capacity to mitigate -- a capacity we are no struggling to build while the virus wreaks havoc in our hospitals and homes , '' Krishnamoorthi said .

Officers with U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations screen international passengers arriving at Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Va., on March 13. Photo by Glenn Fawcett/U.S. Customs and Border Protection/UPI | License Photo
May 8 (UPI) -- The Trump administration failed to conduct effective screening of passengers from South Korea and Italy for the coronavirus when those countries were experiencing rapid expansion in COVID-19 cases, House investigators said. In early March when South Korea and Italy were combating ballooning COVID-19 infections, Vice President Mike Pence announced "we are now screening 100 percent" of travelers from those countries for the coronavirus before entering the United States. Advertisement
However, a report released Thursday by the committee on oversight and reform states this was not the case as the White House relied upon Italian and South Korean screeners to check passengers, of which almost none were barred from flying to the United States.
"This investigation reveals another opportunity the administration missed to limit the impact of the coronavirus," said Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, chairman of the subcommittee on economic and consumer policy.
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According to the report, the subcommittee was briefed by staff from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Customs and Border Protection, the Department of Homeland Security's Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office and the Department of State, which issued the screening directive for all passengers from those two countries on March 3.
The probe found that between March 3 and March 14 when President Donald Trump's sweeping travel restrictions went into effect for European nations, a total of only 13 passengers on two U.S.-bound flights from Italy were barred from boarding due to the screening process.
Similarly for South Korea, only 56 passengers were denied flying to the United States during this period.
Those who did enter the United States from Italy and South Korea, however, did not receive health screenings at U.S. airports despite the CDC issuing in late February its highest level travel advisory for those countries.
"Not until March 14, 2020, were travelers returning from Italy subjected to enhanced health screening, and travelers from South Korea never received enhanced health screening when arriving in the U.S.," the report said. "Prior to March 14, passengers did not even receive travel health advisory handouts with information about coronavirus and about how to self-isolate for 14 days."
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The report accuses the Trump administration of having the ability to conduct the screenings it said it was performing but chose not to, stating such screenings had been performed since Jan. 17 for passengers arriving from Wuhan, China, where the virus emerged late last year, before being expanded to all passengers from the Asian nation in early February. The only passengers currently being subjected to enhanced screenings for the coronavirus are those returning from China, Iran, Britain, Ireland and the Schengen Europe region, it added.
After Trump issued the sweeping travel restrictions on March 14, the administration did not "robustly screen" for coronavirus symptoms, the probe found.
According to government data, of the 250,000 passengers entering the United States from travel-restricted countries between Jan.17 and March 29, fewer than 1,500 passengers, or 0.6 percent, were referred to the CDC for public health screenings.
Krishnamoorthi launched the probe mid-March after the committee received letters from five U.S. citizens who had recently returned from either Italy or South Korea and raised concerns about the screening process after they were allowed to enter the country without being checked.
"Due to denials and delays, the administration lost critical time it could have used to prepare and build up capacity to mitigate -- a capacity we are no struggling to build while the virus wreaks havoc in our hospitals and homes," Krishnamoorthi said.


upi--2020-05-08--Blood vessels in obese teens age prematurely, study says

Obesity , type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure increase teens ' risk of premature blood vessel aging , a new study finds .
`` Our study demonstrates that the slow changes in blood vessels that lead to the development of atherosclerosis narrowing of the arteries begins early in life , '' said lead author Justin Ryder .
He 's an assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Minnesota Medical School , in Minneapolis .
The study included 141 teens with normal weight , 156 obese teens , and 151 teens with type 2 diabetes who were followed for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ age was nearly 18 when the study began .
After five years , the teens with either obesity , type 2 diabetes or high systolic blood pressure were much more likely to have thicker and stiffer carotid arteries than teens with normal weight .
The carotid artery is the main blood vessel that leads to the brain .
Obesity , type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure are major risk factors for heart attack and stroke later in life , noted the study authors .
The findings were published May 6 in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Having obesity , type 2 diabetes or high systolic blood pressure were each independently associated with and equally predictive of having thicker and stiffer arteries among this group of young people , '' Ryder said in a journal news release .
`` What surprised our team the most was that participants with higher systolic blood pressure compared to their peers in the study had a very similar risk as those with obesity or type 2 diabetes for thicker and stiffer blood vessels over time , '' he added .
Systolic blood pressure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pressure reading .
Ryder said obesity needs to be tackled seriously .
`` Although type 2 diabetes is treated aggressively in the U.S. , obesity needs to be treated just as vigorously because it has the same increased risk for premature aging of the blood vessels , which is an early sign of cardiovascular dysfunction and a precursor to cardiovascular diseases in adulthood , '' he said .
The U.S. National Library of Medicine has more on teen health .

Obesity, type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure increase teens' risk of premature blood vessel aging, a new study finds.
"Our study demonstrates that the slow changes in blood vessels that lead to the development of atherosclerosis narrowing of the arteries begins early in life," said lead author Justin Ryder. He's an assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Minnesota Medical School, in Minneapolis.
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The study included 141 teens with normal weight, 156 obese teens, and 151 teens with type 2 diabetes who were followed for five years. The teens' average age was nearly 18 when the study began.
After five years, the teens with either obesity, type 2 diabetes or high systolic blood pressure were much more likely to have thicker and stiffer carotid arteries than teens with normal weight. The carotid artery is the main blood vessel that leads to the brain.
Obesity, type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure are major risk factors for heart attack and stroke later in life, noted the study authors. The findings were published May 6 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
"Having obesity, type 2 diabetes or high systolic blood pressure were each independently associated with and equally predictive of having thicker and stiffer arteries among this group of young people," Ryder said in a journal news release.
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"What surprised our team the most was that participants with higher systolic blood pressure compared to their peers in the study had a very similar risk as those with obesity or type 2 diabetes for thicker and stiffer blood vessels over time," he added. Systolic blood pressure is the first number in a blood pressure reading.
Ryder said obesity needs to be tackled seriously.
"Although type 2 diabetes is treated aggressively in the U.S., obesity needs to be treated just as vigorously because it has the same increased risk for premature aging of the blood vessels, which is an early sign of cardiovascular dysfunction and a precursor to cardiovascular diseases in adulthood," he said.
More information
The U.S. National Library of Medicine has more on teen health.
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