Top hotels win our hearts with discriminating touches sheets with thread counts that can only be measured in scientific notation, majestic pools, private butlers, or monogrammed pillowcases awaiting your next visit. Above all, celebs cherish privacy. To learn which hotels wow even pampered stars, we asked around at multiple galas and premieres here, the hotel selections of the select few. We all love a good bathtub For designer Ariana Rockefeller , The Mark in New York is the ultimate hotel. "I almost feel like it's a little home away from home. When we have a suite for a press day or a trunk show, I normally take advantage and have a little staycation. They have these amazing marble bathtubs," she said, at The Museum of Modern Art for the Chanel-sponsored Cate Blanchett tribute. For Olivia Wilde , who spoke with Traveler at the recent Lunchbox Fund dinner, it's that same staycation aspect that makes a hotel blissful. "I love the Post Ranch Inn [in Big Sur], no shocker there. Who doesn't? And I just went to the Amanyara in Turks and Caicos; that was incredible. It was so peaceful. It's funny how later in life as if I'm really old you don't want the party hotel. You want the peaceful, beautiful hotel." Don't forget hotels that go the extra mile "We just stayed at an amazing hotel in Antigua, Guatemala, the Panza Verde Hotel ," said designer Nanette Lepore at the Cinema Society screening of Carol. "It's like an old colonial mansion, beautiful. ... And then the Hotel Villa Brunella in Capri. The waiters will take you into the kitchen and give you a cooking class just for the hell of it, and the views are to die for. It's just really fun." For talk show host and former NFL defensive end Michael Strahan, the safari experience is unlike any other. "My favorite place on the planet is the Royal Malewane in [Hoedspruit,] South Africa. You go there on safari, and it's out in the middle of nowhere. It's absolutely amazing. It's rough enough. You could get eaten I saw elephants, lions, jaguars, and monkeys. When you go out at night, you see the owls. And it has some of the best food and wine. It's just a great experience." All the greats stay at the Waldorf-Astoria It's no surprise legendary singer Tony Bennett has a soft spot for the Waldorf-Astoria , which he admits is his favorite hotel. "I lived there for a long time. I always stayed in the Cole Porter Suite. There is a lot of history there. The floors are dented from when Fred Astaire used to dance there." The SoHo House group, it seems, is the other crowd favorite. Both Nina Jacobson, producer of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2, and Todd Haynes, director of Carol, rave about the brand's 15 locations around the world. "I just stayed at ... the Soho House Berlin but I think they're all smashing, really unique and run really well," Haynes said. For Jacobson, and the whole cast of Mockingjay, including film darling Jennifer Lawrence, it's the Soho House Berlin that stands out. "It really has a great upstairs bar and pool, and they have record players in the rooms with records. We played a lot of David Bowie we were really into David Bowie then. The cast of Mockingjay was all together there, so that was fun," she said. The Seinfelds, on the other hand, head to holiday inn "We're not big hotel people, to be honest," Jessica Seinfeld told Traveler at the Baby Buggy gala. "Jerry stays in hotels all the time for work. He stays in Holiday Inns, places that people wouldn't expect him to stay in. He doesn't care." In fact, Jerry says he doesn't mind staying in less-than-luxe hotels most of the time. "I was at an Econo Lodge in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, over the summer. I was on a driving trip with a buddy of mine, and it was the only place we could find. How did that go? Not well. It wasn't good. I can see why they call it the Econo Lodge." When they're on vacation with their three kids, though, the hotel makes all the difference. "We love The Breakers Palm Beach , because there are a lot of kids from New York, so when we go there, our kids find playmates. They meet on the basketball court," Jessica said. Celebrities are just like us, after all. Well, the Seinfelds anyway. Cate Blanchett has great taste "I think one of the most beautiful hotels is the Amangiri in Utah ," the Carol star said at a Chanel event honoring her career. We see what she means. More from Condé Nast Traveler: The 2015 Friendliest and Unfriendliest Cities Around the World 100 Top Hotels & Resorts in the World 50 Things to Do in the U.S. Before You Die


The Clippers wanted Patrick Beverley back   he was the heart of the Clippers, the motivator, the guy who didn't take a night off and didn't let his teammates either. The Clippers don't make the playoffs without him and his leadership. That performance had a number of teams wanting to sign the scrappy point guard (including his hometown Chicago Bulls), but the Clippers stepped up and got the deal done, first reported Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN and them confirmed by Beverley himself. Free agent guard Patrick Beverley has agreed to a three-year, $40M deal to stay with the Clippers, his agent @KB_Sports tells ESPN.   Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2019 #CLIPPERNATION 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾❤❤❤💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰 https://t.co/oDNIUxQ0fL   Patrick Beverley (@patbev21) July 1, 2019 This does not impact the Clippers' cap space to sign Kawhi Leonard , whenever he gets around to making his decision . Beverley's raw numbers   7.6 points and 5 rebounds a game   do not speak to what he meant to Doc Rivers' team. Combine Beverley and Montrezl Harrell   with young stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Landry Shammet   and we know the Clippers are going to be a scrappy and entertaining team to watch next season. Whether or not a mercurial superstar decides to join them.


C.J. Anderson had a highly unusual year in 2018, getting cut three times and assuming his season was over before joining the Rams in December and suddenly filling in for running back Todd Gurley without missing a beat. But things could have gone quite a bit differently. That's because the Lions strongly considered picking up Anderson before the Rams brought him in. Anderson signed with the Lions this offseason after the Rams showed little interest in bringing him back, and Anderson says now that Lions General Manager Bob Quinn told him after a workout last year that the Lions liked him a lot but thought at the time that they'd go younger at the position. "Bob kept it real with me," Anderson told the Detroit Free Press . "Bob pretty much told me that he'd come get me during free agency and he was a man of his word. I went on with the Rams, had fun and then first call I got was the Lions, so it was a no-brainer." Anderson thinks he landed in the right place, playing for coach Matt Patricia. "I respect coaching and I respect staff, and I think this is one of the better staffs in the league. I'm saying that highly just because situational football, football IQ, scheme. Breaking down. Compared to the other teams that was looking me during free agency, I think this is one of the respects. And then like I said, I got a lot of respect for Matt. Me and him had a lot of battles," Anderson said. The Lions are the fifth team Anderson has been on in the last year and a half. Anderson is hoping to stay a while. Related Slideshow: Best photos from the 2019 NFL training camps (provided by imagn)


Another week has passed and it is time to again take a trip around the NFC West to see what is going on with the Arizona Cardinals' division rivals. What have the San Francisco 49ers been up to? Here are the stories from the last week Cardinals fans should know. Kicker Robbie Gould's holdout continues through minicamp Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports The 49ers used the franchise tag on Gould, who is 36 years old. He has not yet signed it. He wants a long-term deal or would like to sign somewhere in the Midwest. However, this isn't a normal holdout. He did not report to mandatory minicamp , but he technically doesn't need to be there because he isn't under contract. However, San Fran only has one kicker, second-year player Jonathan Brown, on their roster. View embedded content Both starting tackles sit out Day 1 of minicamp Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports While Gould has not reported, another pair of key players did not practice to start the week of minicamp. Tackles Joe Staley and Mike McGlinchey both did not practice at the start of minicamp but it wasn't out of any contract dispute. Both are recovering from injuries. McGlinchey has a knee issue and Staley is recovering from a pec strain. View embedded content TE Garrett Celek out 2 months after back surgery Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports Celek has been out with a back injury but now his return will be further delayed. He had back surgery and is expected to miss the start of training camp . He also is still under league concussion protocol and can't be tested again until training camp. View embedded content Deebo Samuel has hip injury Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports The Niners have had the injury bug hit their draft picks. First-round pick Nick Bosa has a hamstring injury that will keep him out until training camp. Now second-round pick Deebo Samuel, a receiver, has a minor hip injury. He did not practice the final two weeks of the offseason program. View embedded content Some good injury news for 49ers Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports The Niners have dealt with more than their share of injuries, even during the offseason. However, there is good news for some major injuries. The three players they have coming off ACL surgeries are on track to have full training camps . QB Jimmy Garoppolo, RB Jerick McKinnon and LB Kwon Alexander should all be good to go next month when training camp begins. Listen to the latest from Cards Wire's Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio . View embedded content MORE: What the Lakers' new roster looks like with Anthony Davis NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players From startup to NFL: Mark Myers can make history with Jets An ode to the Golden State Warriors, the team that ruined the game Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger on Antonio Brown: 'He made me a better quarterback'


Instagram influencer Julia Baessler has defended a trip she made to Chernobyl after she was criticised for posting images from the nuclear disaster zone. Baessler, who has 320,000 followers on Instagram, was attacked after she was featured in a viral tweet showing Instagram users "flooding" to Chernobyl following the successful HBO show. She told Business Insider that she visited because of her interest in nuclear physics and was given special access to the power plant because her boyfriend is an engineer. Baessler said it "really sucks" the people just see her as an Instagram model and "can't believe that I'm deeply interested in history or physics." Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories . An Austrian Instagram influencer has defended her trip to Chernobyl after she was attacked for posting from the nuclear disaster zone. Julia Baessler has 320,000 fans on the Facebook-owned social network - a following that has helped her unlock partnerships with companies like Monster Energy , alongside her twin sister, Stephanie. She has visited the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant and parts of the surrounding exclusion zone more than once in recent months, with her most recent trip coming in May. During this latter visit to Russia, Baessler was given access to the control room for the No. 4 reactor, which exploded with catastrophic consequences in April 1986. Read more : The writer of HBO's 'Chernobyl' asked people to stop taking raunchy or mocking Instagram photos at the nuclear disaster site As well as updates to her Instagram Stories, Baessler posted a carousel of four images of her standing in the fateful control room. But she deleted the images on Wednesday after one was featured in a viral tweet about influencers "flocking" to Chernobyl. The tweet, by user Bruno Zupan, sparked a wave of abuse in the comments on Baessler's photos, with people accusing her of exploiting the disaster for likes and reach. Zupan's post may have also sparked an intervention from Craig Mazin, the writer of HBO's hit series "Chernobyl." Mazin tweeted on Tuesday that he had "seen the photos going around" and urged people to remember that "a terrible tragedy" occurred at the Russian power plant. 'I don't want to be seen as an influencer going to Chernobyl because it's trendy now' But Baessler said her visit to Chernobyl was nothing to do with the HBO show - pointing to fact that she had been before it aired on TV - and that she was not there on a photoshoot. In a series of messages sent to Business Insider over Instagram, Baessler said she was visiting with her boyfriend who is an engineer and she has a genuine interest in nuclear physics. "I didn't come to visit Chernobyl as a tourist attraction or shooting spot because of the HBO series and I'm sick of reading this. I have been visiting Chernobyl for the first time long before the series came out because I'm really interested in history and nuclear physics itself," she said. Baessler added that she did not have a "photographer or lighting team" with her, but wanted to share the special access granted to her and her boyfriend with her followers. "Because of the engineering work of my boyfriend we were able to get a special admission to go inside control room 4 which is actually not accessible for visitors. I left those stories online because they are full of informations [sic] and I really want to spread them but I don't want to be seen as an influencer going to Chernobyl because it's trendy now. that's not true," Baessler said. She also said that there was a thread of sexism in some of the criticism she received. "It's sad that people only see me as an 'Instagram model' and can't believe that I'm deeply interested in history or physics. People are full just prejudices [sic] and that really sucks," she explained. British tabloid The Sun reported in 2017 that Baessler was using Instagram to help fund her way through law school at the University of Vienna in Austria.


ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) John Beilein called it a heck of a ride. That felt like a typical understatement from Michigan's outgoing coach. Beyond all the wins, the conference titles and the NCAA Tournament runs, Beilein's basketball team became an embodiment of the way so many Michigan fans like to feel about their athletic programs. Successful but unassuming. Competitive but free of scandal. Beilein had the respect of the college basketball world long before he took over in Ann Arbor, but for a dozen years, he and Michigan felt like a perfect match. The Wolverines had a coach who turned the program into a national title contender again, and Beilein had a chance to challenge himself on one of the sport's biggest stages. Now, he's headed to an even higher level of basketball, jumping from college to the NBA. The Cleveland Cavaliers hired Beilein to be their new coach Monday, and the outpouring from Michigan was as expected. ''I was saddened when John told me this morning of his decision to leave Michigan for a head coaching position in the NBA. However, I am incredibly thankful for his 12 years of service to this university,'' Wolverines athletic director Warde Manuel said. ''Above and beyond being our all-time winningest coach, John is a tremendous role model for the game of college basketball.'' By the time Cleveland announced the hire, Beilein had already tweeted his thanks to the Michigan community. ''It has been a heck of a ride,'' he wrote. This wasn't the first time Beilein's name surfaced in connection with a job in the pros. He had talks with the Detroit Pistons last year, but he said he was never offered that job. Beilein also had health issues last year, undergoing a double-bypass operation in August. His college career has included far more than just his success in Ann Arbor. He won 829 games in 41 seasons, reaching the NCAA Tournament with Canisius, Richmond, West Virginia and the Wolverines. Beilein went 278-150 in his 12 seasons with Michigan, and he would react to success with unflinching modesty. In 2017, CBS Sports asked over 100 coaches which high-major coach they believed ''does everything by the book and operates completely within the NCAA's rulebook.'' Beilein finished first in the poll. ''He's the blueprint for what you want in college basketball at the Division I level today,'' said Bill Martin, a former athletic director at Michigan and the man who hired Beilein in 2007. ''You really have to get somebody who is the right fit for your institution, and I followed John for a couple of years before I hired him. ... I loved not only his creativity and success on the basketball court, I liked the way he handled himself on the sidelines, his demeanor. I liked the way he handled himself in his press conferences.'' In many respects, Beilein's program became a model for what Michigan fans desperately want their football team to be again. Even after hiring Jim Harbaugh, the Wolverines haven't been able to beat Ohio State in football, and they've continued to lose their share to Michigan State. It became common for Beilein's basketball team to lift spirits in Ann Arbor after the end of football season. He seemed to have little trouble meeting or exceeding expectations. Beilein more than held his own against Michigan State's Tom Izzo while the two rival coaches maintained a healthy respect for each other. When he arrived at Michigan for the 2007-08 season, the Wolverines hadn't made the NCAAs since 1998. They made nine appearances under Beilein, reaching the Sweet 16 five times and the national championship game in 2013 and 2018. They lost to Louisville and Villanova in the title games. ''We have achieved great success together, and we could not have done it without the incredible support of our administration, coaches, players, staff, students, fans and the entire university community,'' Beilein said. ''We shared some of the best moments of my life together, and I will always be grateful for that.'' The Wolverines won Big Ten regular-season titles in 2012 - their first since 1986 - and 2014, plus conference tournament championships in 2017 and 2018. Toward the end of his run, Beilein shored up the Wolverines' only major deficiency after some changes to his staff: Michigan was one of the top teams in the country at the defensive end over the past couple seasons. The Wolverines were hurt by early departures to the NBA. Players like Trey Burke, Tim Hardaway Jr., Nik Stauskas and Moe Wagner all left with eligibility remaining. This offseason has been no different. Charles Matthews, Jordan Poole and Iggy Brazdeikis all declared for the draft. But now Michigan's challenge is much bigger than replacing a few players. Beilein never won a national title at Michigan, but the same could be said of Bo Schembechler. That one empty spot on his resume won't do much to detract from Beilein's legacy in the college game. Now the attention turns to Manuel, who has the difficult task of finding a suitable replacement. ''My priority now is to commence a full national search for our next basketball coach,'' Manuel said. --- Follow Noah Trister at www.Twitter.com/noahtrister --- More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/Collegebasketball and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25


If you're sipping a cup of tea while reading this, you're supporting just about every organ in your body. Unsweetened tea is rich in antioxidants, which prevent chronic diseases and help repair cells in the body. "Tea comes from the Camellia sinensis plant, which contains antioxidants known as catechins, most importantly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)," says Anthony Kouri, MD , an orthopedic surgeon in Toledo, Ohio. "These eliminate free radicals in the body and reduce inflammation." So pinkies up; it's time to learn about the amazing benefits (and just a few risks) of drinking tea. Your risk of certain cancers goes down The antioxidants and compounds found in tea have been linked to a lower risk of certain cancers. "Beneficial effects have been found in skin, prostate, lung, and breast cancers," says Uma Naidoo, MD , Director of Nutritional and Lifestyle Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital and Faculty at Harvard Medical School. "Different types of tea impact different cancers." Drinking tea is just one of the simple ways you can prevent cancer . Your skin will be healthier Drinking black tea regularly can significantly reduce your risk of skin cancer . Interestingly, how you prepare it makes a difference. "Hot black tea is helpful for squamous carcinoma of the skin," says Dr. Naidoo. Hot tea has been found to be more beneficial than the iced alternative and brewing time matters. Your risk of diabetes decreases Drinking black tea every day can lower your risk of type 2 diabetes by helping to control your blood sugar after meals. According to a study in the Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition , black tea can lower your blood sugar and after eating foods containing sucrose. If you're ready to do more, don't miss these 71 easy ways to prevent type 2 diabetes . Your teeth will be stronger While sipping tea throughout the day could slightly stain your teeth, it may be worth it. According to a study in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology , green tea has an antibacterial effect that could reduce cavity-forming bacteria in your mouth. Drinking green tea every day could also make cavities less severe. Your heart will thank you Tea's antiinflammatory properties can keep your blood vessels relaxed and clear, putting less stress on your heart. "Catechins reduce inflammation and thus inhibit plaque formation in vital arteries," says Dr. Kouri. Dr. Naidoo recommends drinking three cups of black tea per day to achieve the heart benefits. Your risk of Alzheimer's disease could decrease The thought of you or a loved one being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease is frightening. It's important to know the early warning signs and do what you can to prevent it. "Green tea can help you develop resistance against stress, and potentially Alzheimer's disease," says Dr. Naidoo. "The polyphenols protect cells from damage." Your sleep could improve If you spend your nights tossing and turning, try winding down with a cup of tea before bed. "East-Asian medicinal tea can improve insomnia," says Dr. Naidoo. According to a study in Integrative Medicine Research , drinking tea can help improve sleep and quality of life in those with mild-to-moderate insomnia. Your attention span may improve The caffeine in tea can improve your attention and alertness. "Theanine is an amino acid that is virtually unique to tea (apart from the fungus Bay bolete)," explains Dr. Naidoo. "It may also improve attention by relaxing the brain, but stimulating it when it is time to focus." If you ever find yourself having difficulty with focus or concentration, try steeping a warm cup of tea just before it's time to work or consider these other reasons you may not be able to focus . Your metabolism speeds up Ready to speed up your metabolism while sitting at your kitchen counter? "The caffeine in tea helps to improve mental acuity as well as increase metabolism and fat burning (up to 100 calories per day)," says Dr. Kouri. Just be sure you're not overdoing it in the caffeine department. One cup of green tea contains about 40 milligrams of caffeine, and Dr. Kouri recommends limiting your daily caffeine intake to no more than 300 to 400 milligrams. You may not absorb enough iron The catechins in tea can alter your body's ability to absorb iron. This means that even if you eat enough high-iron foods , you won't get the benefits and could become anemic. "Though most healthy people will not be affected by this, those who have iron deficiency or anemia should abstain from large amounts of green tea," recommends Dr. Kouri. This includes children, pregnant women, and anyone with a history of kidney disease. You could be at higher risk of bleeding Drinking a large amount of tea every day could put you at risk for bleeding from a minor cut or bump. "It makes you more prone to bruising, explains Michelle Lee, MD , a board-certified plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills, California. "I require all my patients to stop drinking tea two to three weeks before surgery." Your medication may not work While the benefits of tea seem unlimited, talk with your doctor and pharmacist before brewing a pot every day. "Catechins can interfere with some heart and blood pressure medications," warns Dr. Kouri. "It is important to discuss this with your doctor." How much tea should I drink? Studies vary on how many cups of tea to drink per day. You want to get the most benefits without overdoing the caffeine. "To get the maximum health benefits from green tea, it is most effective to drink three to five cups of green tea per day," recommends Dr. Kouri. Which tea is the healthiest? When choosing a tea, make sure it is unsweetened. Even if some flavored teas contain no calories, they could still have artificial sweeteners and preservatives. Opt for making your own tea as opposed to buying it already prepared. "The more tea leaves are processed, the less effective the catechins become, explains Dr. Kouri. "Green tea is minimally processed and has the greatest health benefits of the available teas." Pour a cup today While you can always have too much of a good thing, tea is a healthy choice for the vast majority of healthy adults. "In general, those who drink green tea regularly are healthier than those who do not," says Dr. Kouri. "It is very safe to drink and only has drawbacks when consumed in very large quantities." So claim those health benefits and get steeping today. Read on to find out what happens to your body when you drink coffee regularly. The post This is What Happens to Your Body When You Drink Tea Every Day appeared first on Reader's Digest . Gallery: 14 organic foods nutritionists don't waste their money on


A young mother and her baby have been found alive five days after their plane crashed in the jungle of western Colombia. A Colombian Air Force chief described their survival as "a miracle". Maria Nelly Murillo, 18, and her one-year-old son were found by rescuers near to where their small Cessna plane crashed in Choco province. Ms Murillo had some injuries and burns while her baby appeared to be in good health. Contact lost The twin-engine Cessna plane, which was carrying fish and coconuts, had been flying from the town of Nuqui on the Pacific coast to Quibdo, the capital of Choco. Stories of miraculous plane crash survivals It disappeared from the radar of the civil aviation authorities 20 minutes into the flight. When the pilot did not respond to any calls, officials knew something was wrong and despatched a plane to search the area. It took the search team two days until they finally spotted a white dot in the dense jungle, which turned out to be the remains of the Cessna. It had crashed, for reasons not yet known, in the Alto Baudo region. When the search team reached the Cessna, they found its pilot, Carlos Mario Ceballos, dead in the cockpit. Glimmer of hope There was no trace of Ms Murillo or her baby, Yudier Moreno, which the passenger list said had been on board. But according to Col Hector Carrascal of the Colombian Air Force, rescuers took hope when they noticed that the cabin door was ajar. Search and rescue aircraft found the wreck of the plane. The cause of the crash is unclear "It could have opened on impact, but it could have been opened from the inside," he said. "But that's when we started to worry. We didn't have a clue what had happened to them: they could be lost in the jungle trying to survive or they could have died already." But then the rescuers found clues which led them to believe Ms Murillo and her baby could still be alive. Coconut shells near the plane and a discarded flip flop in the jungle lifted their hopes. They also found the baby's birth certificate near a tree, which convinced them that Ms Murillo was trying to leave a trace of her path through the jungle. Part of the search party scoured the jungle on foot while others flew over the area in a helicopter using a loudspeaker to shout Ms Murillo's name and urge her to return to the crash site. But for two days their search yielded no results. 'Miracle' Finally, on Wednesday, they located Ms Murillo about 500m from the site of the crash in a ravine on the banks of a river. Ms Murillo and her baby were taken by helicopter to a hospital in Quibdo. "It's a miracle. It is a very wild area and it was a catastrophic accident," Col Carrascal said. Of the baby, he said: "His mother's spirit must have given him strength to survive." The couple were airlifted to a hospital in Quibdo. Ms Murillo told medical staff that she had managed to open the cabin door and run into the jungle as fire was spreading in the cabin. She then reportedly went back for her baby, at which time she sustained burns to her face, an arm and a leg. Afraid the plane might explode, she walked into the jungle along the bank of a small river. Details of how she survived are still sketchy, but local media said she came across a couple of indigenous people who helped her. She was also able to drink coconut water from the coconuts the plane had been carrying, local media said. She reportedly heard the calls over loudspeaker from the rescue helicopter which prompted her to make her way back to the crash site. She is being treated for her injuries in hospital. Her baby son is said to be unharmed.


President Donald Trump admitted Tuesday he has no plan for how to get out of war with Iran if one breaks out, even though he campaigned on ending protracted American wars in the Middle East that he long has called "stupid." Hours after he responded to insults by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani by warning him of "obliteration" if a shooting conflict starts, CQ Roll Call asked Trump this during an unrelated event in the Oval Office: "Do you have an exit strategy for Iran, if war does break out?" Trump, who called off a retaliatory military strike Thursday following Iran's shootdown of an American spy drone in disputed waters, had his third hawkish warning for Iran of the day. [ U.S.-Iran confrontation escalates as Trump threatens 'obliteration' after Rouhani's insult ] "You're not going to need an exit strategy. I don't do exit strategies," he replied. His dismissal of a plan to avoid another long, costly Middle East conflict was curious. That's because Candidate Trump railed against the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations for starting and continuing post-9/11 military operations from Afghanistan to Iraq to Syria to Yemen and other hotspots. (U.S. military and independent strategists, echoed by lawmakers of each party, agreed a major lesson of the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts was to have a clear exit plan in mind before firing the first missile or rifle.) For instance, in September 2013, citizen Trump tweeted this: "Speaking of our very stupid war with Iraq, it is totally disintegrating and Iran (with Russia) will walk in and take it over (lots of oil)!" As a presidential candidate and as commander in chief, Trump has said U.S. military operations in the region are too costly   in terms of federal monies and military personnels' lost lives or life-altering injuries   and rarely achieve many of their intended policy objectives. "It is now time to start coming home and, after many years, spending our money wisely," he tweeted in February as he announced he was pulling most American forces out of Syria. At that time, he issued this criticism of some top GOP lawmakers, like Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , who wanted to keep thousands of U.S. troops there: "Certain people must get smart!" Speaking of our very stupid war with Iraq, it is totally disintegrating and Iran (with Russia) will walk in and take it over (lots of oil)!   Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 7, 2013 After patting himself on the back for several days for calling off the retaliatory strike about 10 minutes before the attack was supposed to start, Trump appeared perturbed by Rouhani's description of his White House as "mentally retarded." [ With Iran reversal, did Trump break pledge to never 'telegraph' military ops? ] Another reporter during the same event asked the president if he has a message for Iranian leaders. "There is no message. You know what, I'll tell you what the message is: When they're ready ... let us know. When they're ready, they'll let us know." Asked if that meant "ready to negotiate," the U.S. leader   who often uses tough rhetoric then backs off when it's time to back up the words with actions   again went hawkish. "Ready to do whatever. Doesn't make a difference," he said. "Whatever they want to do, I'm ready." Some of Trump's critics on Capitol Hill have taken to open fretting about the status of Iran-U.S. relations. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer , D-N.Y., on Tuesday warned on the floor that "without a steady hand at the helm, without a coherent plan or strategy, [a] thing this president has lacked since the moment he took office, the danger of bumbling into war is acute." Get breaking news alerts and more from Roll Call on your iPhone .


Southern California was hit by the wettest winter in years . The snowpack , an important measurement of the state's water supply, looks great. And in mid-May   two months after the official end of winter   the rain and snow just keep coming. California was clobbered this week by another storm, which dumped snow on the Sierra and set rain records in the Southland. More winter conditions are on tap for parts of Northern California this weekend, and the National Weather Service predicts colder-than-average temperatures for the entire state next week. There also is a chance of more showers in Southern California in the coming days, which could bring up to half an inch of precipitation to some areas, according to the weather service. What is going on? May storms are far from unheard of, but experts said what we saw this week was unusual. "In April, we'd have low-pressure systems move through and instead of bringing a lot of rain, they'd barely give us anything," said Lisa Phillips, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard. "This system is a little different in that we are getting significant moisture with it. It's definitely out of the norm." The low-pressure system comes on the heels of an extremely wet winter in California. A series of atmospheric river storms that hit during the winter months bolstered the snowpack, filled reservoirs and streams, and even left the state drought-free for the first time in nearly a decade. How unusual was the latest storm? Thursday's front wasn't just out of the norm, it was record-breaking, "clobbering" at least half a dozen rainfall tallies in Southern California including:   Downtown Los Angeles: 0.48 inches (previous record of 0.04 inches was set in 1996)   Burbank airport: 0.28 inches (previous record of 0.2 inches was set in 1995)   LAX: 0.29 inches (previous record of 0.05 inches was set in 1996)   Long Beach Airport: 0.25 inches (previous record of a trace amount was set in 2011)   Santa Ana: 0.22 inches (previous record of 0.12 inches was set in 1949)   Vista: 0.23 inches (previous record of 0.19 inches was set in 2011) The rain also tied three records in San Diego County, including at Oceanside Harbor, which received 0.13 inches of precipitation on Thursday, matching the record set in 1915. What's next? The weather service said that Friday and the beginning of Saturday will be clear in the L.A. area. But clouds will move in Saturday evening, with a 50% chance of rain. On Sunday, more rain is likely in the morning before conditions clear. Skies in Southern California will clear next week, but in Northern California, more storms are in the forecast. And it will be unseasonably chilly across the state. Cool winter-like conditions are expected over the weekend, forecasters said. "The main cold front will move through Saturday afternoon and night, bringing rain and mountain snow," the weather service reported, adding that unstable showery conditions are expected Sunday and "well-below normal" daytime temperatures are expected both days. A winter storm watch, warning of late-season snow that could result in travel delays, was issued for locations above 6,000 feet.


SINGAPORE (Reuters) - An earthquake of magnitude 6.1 struck northwest of the South Pacific island nation of Tonga, the United States Geological Survey said on Monday. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties from the quake, which the agency said hit at a depth of 49 km (30 miles), about 47 km (29 miles) northwest of the town of Neiafu.


The Denver Broncos signed wide receiver Juwann Winfree to a four-year contract Monday, the team announced. The Broncos traded their final two selections in the NFL draft to move up in the sixth round to select Winfree with the 187th overall pick in April. Winfree's contract is worth $2,791,104, according to KUSA-TV's Mike Klis . His four-year deal will also include $171,104 in guaranteed money. Winfree is now signed through the 2022 season and he's scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in 2023. Winfree (6-2, 210 pounds) battled through injuries during his time at the University of Colorado, limited him to just 21 appearances over the last three years. In those games, Winfree hauled in 60 receptions for 807 yards and six touchdowns. Denver still has to sign tight end Noah Fant, offensive lineman Dalton Risner, quarterback Drew Lock, defensive lineman Dre'Mont Jones and linebacker Justin Hollins. At the time of this writing, the Broncos have approximately $10,445,906 in remaining salary cap space. MORE: This video from behind the bench might be the best view of Kawhi Leonard's buzzer-beater NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players Video confirms reports of Chris Paul's attempt to sabotage Steph Curry Report: Chicago Bulls could offer top-6 pick for Lonzo Ball in trade Steelers looking mediocre in Peter King's latest NFL power rankings


The Jets are trying to find a General Manager to pair with Adam Gase, and they want to talk to a guy with ties to their coach from his days with Denver. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Jets have asked to speak with Bears assistant director of player personnel Champ Kelly. Kelly worked with Gase in Denver, and has been with the Bears the last two seasons. They've also asked for permission to speak with Eagles vice president of player personnel Joe Douglas, who was one of the first names linked to the job.


REIMS, France -- Two weeks into the World Cup, a third of the teams are gone and more are soon to follow. The United States and France have lived up to their pre-tournament hype, Italy took everyone by surprise and Thailand was both a debacle and a delight. Ratings show there is, indeed, a market for women's soccer, while FIFA remains behind the times   irritatingly so. With the knockout rounds beginning Saturday, a look at the winners and losers from the group stage: WINNERS UNITED STATES: Hard to believe, but there were some suggestions not long ago that the dynasty had entered its decline and this tournament would be the confirmation. The U.S. women had an untested goalkeeper and a new style of play that could leave her exposed, and they hadn't looked particularly sharp early in the year   including a 3-1 loss to France in January that ended their 28-game unbeaten streak. So much for that. The Americans opened with a 13-0 rout of Thailand that was the most lopsided win in World Cup history   men's or women's. Granted, Thailand was way, way, WAY overmatched, but the game showed just how explosive the U.S. could be with its new attacking formation. The U.S. finished the group stage with 18 goals, a record, and nine players were credited with scoring. Perhaps more impressive was that the Americans finished the group stage without conceding a goal, something it had never managed in the previous seven World Cups. Again, Thailand and Chile were far overmatched, but Alyssa Naeher and the defense were tested multiple times   and in multiple ways   by Sweden, and kept the shutout streak intact. The road for the Americans gets much tougher from here , with possible games against France and England before they would even reach the final. Still, it's going to be hard to bet against a squad this deep and this versatile. FRANCE: The knock on France has always been that it can't handle pressure, particularly on the biggest stages. The semifinals is the furthest it's gotten at a major tournament, and even that was six years ago. Add to that being the host, and carrying the expectations of fans who want to see France become the first country to hold the men's and women's World Cup titles simultaneously. But Les Bleues have embraced the spotlight. They showed no signs of nerves at the opener at Parc des Princes, even with President Emanuel Macron in attendance and some 45,000 fans belting out a full-throated version of the national anthem. They looked confident and composed, and were coolly efficient as they dismantled South Korea. WOMEN'S SOCCER: One of the recurring themes in the debate over equal pay has been that the men make more simply because their World Cup dwarfs the women's in terms of interest and, thus, revenue. The TV audiences show that isn't the whole truth. Ratings on Fox are, simply, stunning. They are up 13 percent overall from the 2015 World Cup, which was in time zone-friendlier Canada, and up 66 percent from 2011. Broadcasts of the U.S. women's games have seen a 3 percent increase from 2015, when all of the games were aired in prime time. There's a similar trend across the globe. Brazil's win over Italy in the group-stage finale was shown live and had a combined audience of 22.4 million viewers. For context, Game 6 of the NBA Finals was seen by 18.76 million in the United States while 8.76 million tuned in for Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals. And there was a title at stake in both of those games. THAILAND: It might seem odd to put Thailand in the Winners category, given that 13-0 thrashing by the United States in the Group F opener. Thailand looked increasingly hapless as the game   and goals   went on, and more than one player was in tears afterward. But the tears shed following a 5-1 loss to Sweden reflected emotions of a completely different sort. When Kanjana Sung-Ngoen scored in second-half stoppage time, Nualphan Lamsam, the insurance magnate who has bankrolled Thailand's program, jumped off the bench and hugged coach Nuengrutai Srathongvian. As Lamsam stood with her arm around the coach, she wiped her eyes. "Playing a great team like Sweden, (the goal) meant so much," Srathongvian said after the game. "This one goal made us laugh, made us smile and makes us happy." LOSERS VAR: Fortunately, sanity has prevailed and goalkeepers won't be penalized for encroachment on penalty kicks, which threatened to turn the knockout rounds into a fiasco. But that doesn't excuse the shoddy decision by FIFA and international rules officials to essentially make the World Cup a guinea pig for a rules change. A little background: VAR (video assistant referee) is soccer's version of instant replay. It was used at the men's World Cup last year, and professional leagues around the world are in the process of implementing it, so its use in France is not an issue -- even if some decisions have taken far too long. What is unacceptable is the International Football Association Board deciding in March to change the rule on the placement of a goalkeeper's feet during penalty kicks, decreeing it would take effect June 1   you know, six days before the World Cup began -- and then using VAR to make sure it was being enforced. Goalkeepers who were deemed to have encroached   stepping off their line before the penalty kick was taken -- were given a yellow card and the opponent allowed to retake the penalty kick. Cue the madness. "It's tough," U.S. goalkeeper Naeher acknowledged. "They're calling it very tight. I guess we didn't really know coming into the tournament how tight they were going to call it." If you want to curb encroachment, fine. But give everyone fair warning you'll now be doing so, and implement it at a time when players can adapt at lower-level competitions. Instead, it caused chaos in the group stage and cost Scotland a place in the knockout stages. After trailing Scotland 3-0, Argentina had a chance to tie its Group D finale Wednesday night after a penalty in stoppage time. But Scotland goalkeeper Lee Alexander made a clutch save   until she didn't. VAR said she had encroached   by all of about six inches -- and Argentina was allowed to retake the penalty. This time Argentina converted, and instead of finishing third in the group with a chance to advance, Scotland was out of the tournament. France beat Nigeria two days earlier under similar circumstances, but it didn't affect the Super Falcons' placement in the group. The concern with the knockout stages is that games that remain tied after regulation and overtime are decided by a shootout. With each team taking a minimum of five penalty kicks, the fear was goalkeepers could be tossed if they were called for encroachment twice. But the rules association announced Friday afternoon that it was granting FIFA a "dispensation" for the rest of the tournament. Teams may still be awarded a retake, but goalkeepers will not be penalized. COUNTRIES THAT DON'T FUND TEAMS: This tournament could well be a case study for what happens when federations   or deep-pocketed organizations like La Liga   invest in and support the women's game. And what happens when teams are ignored. Italy, which has seen its domestic league surge, returned to the tournament for the first time since 1999 and won its group after stunning Australia in its opener. Spain, where La Liga essentially took over the women's domestic league three years ago, reached the knockout rounds in its second World Cup appearance. Then there's Jamaica. Abandoned by its federation, it only made it to France because of the benevolence of Cedella Marley, Bob Marley's daughter. Its lack of development was apparent as Jamaica dropped all three games and was outscored 12 to 1. FIFA/ORGANIZERS: Where to begin? FIFA and local organizers act as if just having to put on this tournament is a bother. There is the separated ticket mess, which is still not fully resolved two weeks before the final. There is little, if any, signage in most of the host cities, and no transportation for fans. FIFA also has claimed matches were sold out when they most clearly were not, leading to empty seats at multiple games. Whether this is the fault of FIFA or local organizers, it's shameful. Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on Twitter @nrarmour. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Opinion: Two weeks in at World Cup, USWNT among winners, while FIFA remains a huge loser Related Slideshow: Best of the 2019 Women's World Cup (Provided by imagn)


The Atlanta Hawks have officially signed two rookies to their first NBA contracts, announcing today ( links here ) that they've finalized contracts with lottery selection De'Andre Hunter and second-rounder Bruno Fernando . Hunter, the No. 4 overall section in last month's draft, was traded to Atlanta from New Orleans as part of the trade that sent Anthony Davis to the Lakers. Locked in to the NBA's rookie scale, Hunter will make just under $7.07M in his rookie season. Should he play out his full four-year rookie contract he'll earn approximately $32.1M. The 21-year-old forward was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and All-ACC First Team en route to leading Virginia to the NCAA championship last season. He averaged 15.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 32.5 minutes per game while shooting an impressive 43.8 percent from three-point range. As for Fernando, the terms of his new contract are unclear. The Hawks still have a two-way contract slot open after coming to terms with fellow rookie Charlie Brown Jr. It's likely Fernando's signing would have been reported as a two-way contract if he was taking the other spot beside Brown. It's more likely the Hawks will use some of their substantial remaining cap space (about $14M) to accommodate a three to four-year contract with the Maryland big man. A three-year pact at the minimum would see Fernando earn nearly $4.2M.


There is already plenty of hype surrounding Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Parris Campbell and how he fits in the new offense. How they utilize their new weapon remains to be seen entirely, but screen passes are likely to be in the mix. It's no secret that Campbell worked primarily from the slot at Ohio State. He's likely to do more of the same with the Colts, though they have plans to work him on the outside as well. Regardless, Campbell can do a lot of damage for the offense on screen routes, which was his highest-graded route by Pro Football Focus. It's been widely documented that Campbell barely saw targeted passes more than 10 yards downfield and so it should come as no surprise that his highest-graded route was on screen passes. He hauled in all 24 of his screen targets and gained 337 yards after the catch. His quicks and shiftiness paid dividends in Ohio State's short-area passing attack in 2018, as he averaged 12.3 yards per reception on screen passes and 10 of his 24 screen receptions moved the chains. When looking at Campbell's tape, it's easy to find examples as to why he can be used effectively on short routes. This is especially true on screens where Campbell does most of his damage after the catch. The Colts emphasized getting the ball out of Andrew Luck's hands in a much quicker fashion during the 2018 season. They can continue that with the addition of Campbell, who continues to show why he's elite after the catch. Of course, NFL defenses won't miss tackles as often as college teams, but Campbell's vision and balance through contact shouldn't be taken away. One type of screen the Colts can use with success is the slip screen, shown above. Campbell's speed will already have cornerbacks favoring the deep ball. This will allow him to get separation on the screen while working back to the ball. Give him the slightest of open field, and he can do damage. The Colts struggled with the screen game out of the backfield for the majority of 2018, but they might be able to find some success using Campbell either from the slot or on the outside. The Colts won't be limited in which screens they can use. The bubble screen shown above is likely one Indy can use often. With Campbell likely working from the slot, Luck can get his receiver the ball quickly while allowing him to create yards after the catch. The Colts will be looking to use Campbell in a variety of ways, but there is a high chance they can find some success on screen passes given the skill set of the second-rounder. MORE: This flying-knee KO just 10 seconds into a PFL fight had the MMA world in awe Great News: Jimmy Butler Wants to be a Laker Spurs' DeMar DeRozan 'possibly could be on the trade block' to Lakers Kyrie Irving spotted hanging out with LeBron James in Los Angeles Jon Gruden ready for Raiders, new WR corps to stretch the field


Vice President Mike Pence said the U.S. still plans to impose tariffs on Mexico next week over the flow of undocumented migrants from Central America, but talks between the two nations continue. "At this point the tariffs are going to be imposed on Monday," Pence said Thursday in Pennsylvania. Pence, who took part in negotiations Wednesday, said he would talk to President Donald Trump later Thursday and over the weekend about Mexico's proposals, including developments during a second day of talks Thursday. "I'm encouraged they came today with more but it will be a matter for the president to consider," Pence added. The U.S. is considering delaying the tariffs as talks continue, according to people familiar with the matter. One U.S. official said the most likely outcome is still that a 5% tariff goes into effect. But the official said U.S. negotiators recognize that Mexico is taking the talks seriously and working quickly to address Trump's concerns. If the 5% tariff is triggered but Mexico follows through on promises to crack down on migration, the duties could be short-lived, the official said. Mexico has proposed to send about 6,000 national guard troops to its southern border with Guatemala to help stem migration as part of a deal to avert the tariffs, according to two people familiar with the matter. Pence's comments came after a meeting of U.S. and Mexican officials at the White House wrapped up Thursday afternoon. Mexico is pushing for more time to negotiate over concerns the two sides won't be able to reach agreement on the steps Mexico would have to take to avert the tariffs, one person said. Trump has said the tariffs will be enacted on Monday. U.S. stock indexes jumped to session highs on the news, while Mexico's peso strengthened against the dollar. Trump is traveling in Europe this week. Pence and Secretary of State Michael Pompeo took part in discussions with Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard on Wednesday, but neither was present at meetings Thursday. Ebrard said earlier Thursday that there were unspecified "advances" after meeting with officials at the State Department. A staff-level meeting at the White House on Thursday ended shortly before 3:30 p.m. Washington time, an administration official said. Those discussions didn't include cabinet secretaries. No deal was expected to come from it. The White House didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Read More: Ebrard Cites Advances in Mexico Talks After State Meetings While Trump said progress was made during Wednesday's 90-minute meeting and that "something pretty dramatic could happen" in the coming days, he continued to hold out the threat that the U.S. will follow through with tariffs. Mexico's proposal to delay the implementation matches comments by top Republican lawmakers. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told administration officials that Trump should hold off on imposing tariffs on Mexico until the president can personally make his argument to Republicans in Congress, according to people briefed on the conversation. "We've told Mexico the tariffs go on" if no deal is made, Trump told reporters in France, where he spoke at a commemoration of the 75th anniversary of D-Day. "They have to step up to the plate." Chart: All-Out Trade War Could Cost Global Economy $800 Billion "If no agreement is reached, Tariffs at the 5% level will begin on Monday, with monthly increases as per schedule," Trump tweeted Wednesday. "The higher the Tariffs go, the higher the number of companies that will move back to the USA!" Trump last month announced a 5% tariff on all imports from Mexico unless the country takes "decisive measures" -- as judged by his administration -- to stem migrants entering the U.S. He said the tariffs would begin June 10 and scale up incrementally until they reach 25% on Oct. 1. Mexico is the second largest source of U.S. imports after China. --With assistance from Josh Wingrove.


Following the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway in April, the NASCAR Research & Development Center based out of Concord, North Carolina, did an analysis on the late-race rollover incident involving Kyle Larson and his No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet. NASCAR officials looked through various camera angles using freeze frame photos and determined that the No. 24 of driver William Byron made contact with the No. 42 behind the right front tire. As a result of the contact, damage from the collision caused the lift when Larson's car slid sideways toward the inside retaining wall. NASCAR's wind tunnel data shows that an undamaged car would lift off only at speeds greater than 250 mph. The damage sustained on Larson's car, the analysis showed, would have decreased the liftoff speed by 70 mph. "Cars getting airborne for us is a big deal. We've done a lot of work in wind tunnels and (simulators) to mitigate the ability of the car to get airborne," Senior Vice President of Racing Innovation John Probst said Saturday at Charlotte Motor Speedway. "At this point, our conclusion is the reason that car got off the ground is from that contact with the 24 that led to the spin to the right." After many hours and simulator tests, NASCAR officials are not requiring any changes to the cars. "From our side, we plan no changes to the car based on this," Probst said. "To get it to where there is a 0% chance of a car getting off the ground, the cars would be going very slow. We're not recommending any changes to the car or the track. I will say, we have personnel that regularly visit the tracks to look at those sorts of things." ]]>


Southern California was left rattled by the second major earthquake in two days   this time a 7.1 magnitude quake -centered near the town of Ridgecrest   rocked the city of Los Angeles. CBS LA news anchors Juan Fernandez and Sara Donchey were live on the air when the violent tremors hit. "We are experiencing quite a bit of shaking if you bear with us a moment," Donchey said. "We're making sure nothing is going to come down in the studio here." Visibly scared, Donchey grabbed Fernandez's arm. "This is a very strong earthquake," she said. "8:21 here and we're experiencing very strong shaking. I think we need to get under the desk Juan." Donchey proceeded to take cover as the network abruptly paused for commercial break. Watch the video below: WATCH: @CBSLA anchors seek shelter under desk during live broadcast when 6.9 magnitude Southern California earthquake strikes pic.twitter.com/hB7wyWulQD   Evan Rosenfeld (@Evan_Rosenfeld) July 6, 2019 Sign up for Variety's Newsletter . For the latest news, follow us on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram .


The Philadelphia Eagles drafted Miles Sanders with the hopes that he could provide some dynamic playmaking ability to the offense, but as the season inches closer, the expectations rise for the former Nittany Lions star. Sanders has already been mentioned in fantasy football circles as a player to watch, he's widely considered a rookie of the year candidate and now according to NFL.com's Dan Parr, Sanders is among the top 25 rookies in the league, poised for successful first seasons. 18) Miles Sanders, RB, Philadelphia Eagles: It is a crowded backfield in Philly, with Jordan Howard, Corey Clement, Josh Adams, and Wendell Smallwood vying for snaps. So, what is Sanders doing on this list? Well, he's the most complete back of the bunch, which should lead to plenty of playing time, and he'll have one of the league's best O-lines creating lanes for him. I like the potential here. If Sanders can pick up the Eagles scheme, excel in picking up the blitz and show an ability to run between the tackles and flourish in the passing game, he could be the Eagles main guy by week 10. It'll be interesting to see if the Eagles slowly implement Sanders into the offense, or replicate the Giants usage rate for Saquon Barkley, and let the young kid flourish from the beginning. With Jordan Howard on the roster, the Eagles control the pace of play for the rookie. MORE: This photo of Kyler Murray led to more speculation about his height VIDEO: Magic Johnson Calls Out Rob Pelinka for Backstabbing on First Take Kyle Rudolph could be a late offseason acquisition Cowboys need Patriots will prove Super Bowl LIII shutdown defense was no fluke NCSA: Five common recruiting myths


Pregnant women who consume too much caffeine could risk damaging their baby's liver, according to scientists who studied rats. Consuming caffeine was found to disrupt the development of the liver before and after birth, revealed the authors of a study published in the Journal of Endocrinology . This could be because the babies of the rats exposed to caffeine had lower levels of a liver hormone and higher levels of the stress hormone corticosteroid when they were born. The scientists believe this could trigger non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in offspring later in life. Scientists gave pregnant rats a dose of caffeine equivalent of two to three coffees or a dose the same as six to nine coffees. The team examined the liver function and hormone levels of the rats' babies. The equivalent of two to three cups of coffee appeared to raise the risk of the rats' offspring developing liver disease later in life by affecting growth hormones. Yinxian Wen, co-author of the study at Wuhan University in China, explained that compensatory mechanisms kick in after birth that speed up growth and restore normal liver function. "Our work suggests that prenatal caffeine is not good for babies and, although these findings still need to be confirmed in people, I would recommend that women avoid caffeine during pregnancy," Wen said. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists says evidence suggests it is safe for women to consume 200mg or less of caffeine per day. That's around 2 cups of instant coffee. Ling-Wei Chen of the School of Public Health at University College Dublin, who has also studied the effects of consuming caffeine during pregnancy but wasn't involved in this paper, told Newsweek : "Animal studies are useful for deciphering the potential mechanisms as it is not ethical to subject the human fetus to putative harmful substances." However, he said the research was limited because the team only followed up on the pregnant rat group given a very high, human-equivalent dose of caffeine. "Given the current caffeine recommendation guidelines for human pregnancy, perhaps it will be more useful to investigate whether a low-to-medium dose of prenatal caffeine exposure also induces similar metabolic abnormalities/changes in offspring during the postnatal period," said Chen. Anne Lise Brantsaeter, a senior scientist at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, who has worked on several epidemiological studies on prenatal caffeine exposure and health outcomes in children, told Newsweek : "This research is a valuable contribution to the current knowledge and adds support to the recommendations to limit or avoid caffeine in pregnancy." She added: "The study adds supporting evidence to the recommendation to limit or avoid caffeine intake during pregnancy. This includes coffee, tea and caffeinated drinks and dietary supplements containing caffeine. Caffeine is also present in chocolate, but the amount is small. Green tea and herb tea also contain little or no caffeine." Video: Five Things You Didn't Know About Pregnancy Sign up to our newsletter and get Newsweek stories delivered to your e-mail


Bart Starr died two weeks ago at the age of 85. The MVP of the first two Super Bowls was remembered at a public memorial event in his native Alabama on Sunday, Greg Garrison of al.com reports. Starr's family also plans a private funeral. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was among those who spoke at the event attended by several hundred people Sunday. Goodell called Starr "the most decent man I ever met," recalling the hand-written letters he received from the Hall of Fame quarterback before the start of every season. "Bart Starr will always be the league's true north ," Goodell said, via Garrison. David Baker, the president of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, said the NFL has never "had a greater hero than Bart Starr." "This is a man who made history every time he stepped on a field and every time he had a conversation off it," Baker said. Starr's wife, Cherry, and son, Bart Starr Jr., were among others who spoke at the memorial. The Packers have announced plans for tributes to Starr during the 2019 season. Starr led the Packers to six division titles, five NFL championships and wins in the first two Super Bowls. He was a four-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time All-Pro.


SEATTLE (AP) Seattle Mariners manager Scott Servais sat pitcher Roenis Elias down at the beginning of the season and delivered a powerful message: You belong here. The long reliever showed again Tuesday why Servais had such confidence in him, pitching the Mariners out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh inning with a strikeout to preserve Mike Leake's win, then ending the game with another strikeout seven outs later in a 4-3 victory over the Oakland Athletics. ''We sat down with him early and tried to simplify some things with him,'' Servais said. ''And we flat out told him, `Hey, you're on the team, just go pitch.' It's amazing when guys hear that, because he's never had that happen before. He's taken it and has got a lot of confidence and has continued to grow.'' Elias showed how much on Tuesday. He recorded his 300th career strikeout and earned his fifth save - the first save of at least 2 1/3 innings in a one-run game by a Mariners pitcher since Bob Wells did it in 1997. The performance helped Leake (3-4) earn the win and sent the A's to their third straight loss and fourth in their last six games. ''That's when he's at his best, when you can run him out there and let him face nine, 10 hitters,'' Servais said. "He really saved the game for us - literally.'' The Mariners built a home run-powered 4-2 lead through six innings on solo homers by Daniel Vogelbach and Tim Beckham in the second inning and a two-run, tie-breaking homer in the fifth inning by Mitch Haniger. The outfielder's 11th home run wiped out a two-run throwing error by Beckham in the top of the inning that allowed the A's to tie the game 2-2. Leake was extremely efficient, allowing five hits while striking out six with one walk. But he gave up a weak one-out double to Stephen Piscotty that dropped in front of right fielder Jay Bruce in the seventh, then an RBI single to Robbie Grossman to put the game in jeopardy. Reliever Corey Gearin gave up a single, then walked a batter on four straight pitches to load the bases before Elias was called to the mound. He struck out pinch-hitter Chad Pinder on three pitches to end the threat and had no intention of sitting down after that. ''I felt that once I came in to get that out in the seventh inning, I knew the rest of the game would be up to me,'' Elias said. A's starter Brett Anderson (4-3) gave up just six hits and struck out five in six innings. But the Mariners hit him hard, sending several balls to the warning track in addition to their three homers. Seattle improved to 15-7 when hitting at least two home runs and has scored more than half its runs (125 of 240) on its league-best 82 homers. In the end, though, it wasn't the home runs that bothered Anderson. It was the walk he issued to ninth hitter J.P. Crawford - one batter before Haniger put the game away. ''The biggest thing is the one walk to Crawford,'' he said. ''Even if I give up a solo homer to Haniger there I feel like the offense has a good chance to make up the one run, and ultimately they did, but there was a guy on base. That's the most frustrating part is the one walk came back to haunt me in the end.'' TRAINER'S ROOM Mariners 3B Kyle Seager will play third base Wednesday for the first time since hand surgery in a rehab assignment for Triple-A Tacoma in Las Vegas. Seager was 1 of 4 as the designated hitter in his first appearance for the club on Tuesday. He's eligible to return from the injured list on May 25. . Servais expects 2B Dee Gordon to return to the starting lineup on Thursday against Minnesota. Gordon, hit by a pitch on the right hand May 9 against the Yankees, was available to pinch hit in Tuesday's game. . Utility player Dylan Moore fielded the ball and was expected to take batting practice Tuesday for the first time since a wrist contusion caused by a pitch put him on the injured list May 10. He's eligible to return May 20. UP NEXT Athletics: Oakland takes Wednesday off before sending RHP Chris Bassitt (1-1, 2.55) to the mound against Detroit. The A's have scored two or fewer runs in three of Bassitt's four starts this season. Mariners: Seattle takes Wednesday off before sending RHP Erik Swanson (1-4, 6.35) to the mound against Minnesota. Swanson was brought in to replace injured pitcher Wade LeBlanc and will likely stay in the rotation now that Felix Hernandez is expected to miss four to six weeks with a right lat strain. --- More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports


Overtourism concerns have officials in Paris eyeing a ban on tourist buses in the City of Lights' crowded city center, according to the U.K.'s Independent . The city's deputy mayor, Emmanuel Gregoire told French newspaper, Le Parisien , that "buses are no longer welcome in the very heart of the city." "Tourists can do like everyone else does and switch to environmentally-friendly mobility options or take public transport. We need change," added Gregoire, who encouraged guides to conduct their tours by bike or on foot. The new legislation would likely apply to hop-on, hop-off buses traveling between major attractions as well as international tourist coaches. E-scooters have also become an issue in Paris as Mayor Anne Hidalgo recently unveiled plans to place a cap on the number of scooters available throughout the city, cut down on the number of operators and limit speeds in areas with large numbers of tourists to prevent injuries. France is the most visited country in the world, hosting nearly 90 million tourists in 2018, with a whopping 50 million descending on Paris. Recent data from Hipmunk found that the French capital is the most popular destination for Labor Day weekend 2019. However, airfare to Paris for the unofficial end of summer is down significantly from last year.


Former Miami Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder will always be remembered on the field for his fun-loving personality and vocal leadership. Crowder has since turned that vocal personality into a living off the field as well. He's found success in South Florida as a radio host in life after football. Crowder, who participated in fellow former Dolphin Vernon Carey's charity golf tournament over the weekend, still has plenty to say about the Dolphins - starting with him liking what he sees from the new regime . "A total rebuild from Chris Grier all the way down. Chris Grier to Flores, bringing in Reggie McKenzie, the entire new regime, and the Dolphins actually haven't done that - a total rebuild … in a long time," said Crowder during Friday's event. But it isn't just the 'what' that Crowder praised, it's the 'why' - the 'why' being why it was so important for Miami to fully flush its system of holdovers. The obvious exceptions are the two men at the top, owner Stephen Ross and general manager Chris Grier. Remember, Grier reported to Ross before this year but he also technically served under Mike Tannenbaum; the team's leadership dynamics were complicated, to say the least. But now? There's no confusion on who answers to who and the building is full of like-minded people - because they've all been hired in the same hiring cycle. And that's the biggest change according to Crowder. "… You have to almost hire people in a hierarchy where they can hire people underneath them so it can be a real pyramid of the same goal, the same thought of what success looks like," said Crowder. "When you start knocking people off the pyramid and then you're hiring people or there's someone over you that you don't really agree with and I think that happened a lot in the past, even from when I played." Crowder's tenure in Miami overlapped with Randy Mueller and Jeff Ireland as the general managers and Nick Saban, Cam Cameron and Tony Sparano as the teams' head coaches. The power struggles between all parties involved have been well documented and the last time the Dolphins had a full reset was after the 2007 season, when the team fired Cam Cameron and Randy Mueller under the direction of Bill Parcells. Needless to say, the fact that the Dolphins spent as much time as they have chasing their own tails for the sake of mediocrity proves Crowder's point. At some point, real change is the only option. That time for Miami is right now. MORE: NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players This video from behind the bench might be the best view of Kawhi Leonard's buzzer-beater Roundup: Bill Nye's Comments; Seinfeld Finales Ranked; The Office's Streaming Future Matt Patricia not 'drinking from the fire hose' in his second offseason Report: Chicago Bulls could offer top-6 pick for Lonzo Ball in trade


Two nutritionists reveal what not to eat in the morning. In the age of hectic commutes and crazy work schedules, the most important meal of the day can be easily overlooked. More and more doctors are stressing the need for a healthy breakfast . But what exactly is healthy? We know pancakes and waffles and other syrupy treats should be avoided - but some of the worst breakfast foods are often the ones we consider good for us. We interviewed two nutritionists: Bonnie Taub-Dix , RDN, creator of BetterThanDieting.com and author of " Read It Before You Eat It - Taking You from Label to Table" and Lisa DeFazio, a registered dietitian nutritionist. Both gave us the skinny on the most surprising foods you shouldn't be eating for breakfast. Click through the slideshow above to see what to avoid in the morning. Granola bars are often just as bad as candy bars. As is the case with most processed foods, checking the ingredient list is essential - and this couldn't be truer for granola bars. Many bars are a good source of protein, but it's where nutrients like this come from that matters. According to Taub-Dix, "If [the fat is] coming from nuts, then that would be a good source of fat. If the grains that are in that bar are whole grains, versus the carbs coming from sugar, then that would be something more positive." Good alternative: Unprocessed oats, or KIND bars. Jam is loaded with sugars and transfats. Though it seems harmless, toast with jam is actually a trap for trans fats and can cause rebound hunger . Most store-bought breads are processed and contain refined sugar, which leaves you with fewer nutrients and fiber. Since making homemade bread can be a hassle, this is hard to avoid. But what you can change is the jelly, jam, or margarine. These are loaded with sugars and transfats that are highly inflammatory and increase risk for disease. Good alternative: Almond butter. According to Taub-Dix, the protein in almond butter makes it very filling, too. "If, for example, in your smoothie you put something like a tablespoon of almond butter - that's going to last longer in your system even though it's in a more liquefied form because of the fat that would be in there, and the protein," she says. "It'll last longer and make you feel like you've had something more solid to consume." Protein shakes can have a deceptive amount of sugar in them. Many protein shakes market themselves as weight loss guarantors . But swapping a solid meal- like breakfast - for liquid isn't always the best idea. Sure, doing so will lessen your daily calorie count . But when you eventually start eating solid foods in the morning again, if you're not careful, you could start to gain that weight right back. For DeFazio, it's all about the ingredients - and that goes for any kind of shake or smoothie in the morning. "Some ready-made shakes have a lot of added sugar and artificial I ingredients," she says. "Having a shake with a lot of fruit may be a lot of sugar at once for your body to process." Good alternative: DIY smoothie. Breakfast sandwiches can be sodium-heavy. When you're in a rush in the mornings, it's so easy to grab a breakfast sandwich on the way to work. They're undeniably delicious, and they seem to have all the necessary components to fill you up: carbs, protein, etc. But the challenge comes in making sure each of these categories is healthy. Like most foods, the sodium-laden options at fast food chains are ones to skip in the AM. Homemade is the only way to know what's truly in your sandwich, in this case. Good alternative: According to Taub-Dix, "Two pieces of whole grain bread, for example, with eggs and a little avocado - you're not looking for a mid-morning snack when you have a breakfast like that." Breakfast cereal can harbor a lot of added sugar. Breakfast cereal is one of the most commonly consumed foods in the country - many eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Food & Wine's recent ranking of the top breakfast cereals by state shows Oreo O's, Life, and Trix as the top contenders. One cup of Oreo O's cereal contains 120 calories - which would take 32 minutes of walking to burn off - and a whopping 13 grams of sugar. Good alternative: Not all cereals are bad. DeFazio recommends "a high fiber, whole grain cereal with five grams of sugar or less per serving." She adds that there are plenty of gluten free cereals to choose from, and that steel cut oats are another good option. Dangerously high in sugar, fruit juice can leave you hungrier than before. Orange juice is synonymous with breakfast. But unless it's fresh-squeezed, it probably contains a lot of high-fructose corn syrup . Even real juice can be too much for our bodies in the morning - consumed in excess, it makes our blood sugar rise quickly and then crash, leaving us shaky and tired. Taub-Dix cautions against smoothies that include fruit juices, like apple juice, saying that this means you "could be really getting something that has a lot more sugar than [you] bargained for." Good alternative: Tea, or hot water with lemon. Bagels are super high in carbs, but what's on them can be even worse. Bagels are super dense and high in carbohydrates . So, naturally, if you eat too many of them, they can lead to weight gain. But the real danger comes when toppings are added to bagels. For instance, an everything bagel contains dried onion, garlic, poppy seeds, toasted sesame seeds, and a lot of salt, which adds a ton of calories and sodium - and that's not even including cream cheese, which can lead to over 100 more . Good alternative: A multigrain bagel with peanut butter, though Taub-Dix says that regular multigrain bread with peanut butter is ideal. "You don't have to have it on a 600 calorie bagel, a sandwich can be really satisfying." You might think flavored yogurt is healthy, but it is often riddled with sugar. Fat-free flavored yogurts are often riddled with sugar - which goes to prove that just because something labels itself as "fat-free," it may still contain other harmful ingredients. And removing the fat from yogurts, like many brands do, leaves you feeling less full and simply allows the sugar to affect your body more quickly. "When you consume a lot of sugar in the morning, you can end up feeling like laying down on your desk by 10 o'clock," Taub-Dix said. "The best breakfast would include that trifecta of protein, a good whole-grain carbohydrate, and some sort of healthy fat. And that combination could keep you going until lunchtime, if you do it the right way." Good alternative: Plain Greek yogurt with fresh fruit. Muffins are actually packed with sugar and fat. There's nothing quite like a delicious muffin top. But those tops - and the rest of the muffin, really - are loaded with fat and grease. It's because muffins are essentially cake with bits of fruit and nuts mixed in. NBC estimates that muffins can have anywhere between 340 to 630 calories . Good alternative: A cup of fresh fruit with toast and peanut butter, for protein. Taub-Dix says the secret is in the combination. "Just carbohydrates alone - only fruit, or only vegetables - is a nice afternoon pick-me-up, but not as a breakfast," she says. Gluten-free doesn't necessarily mean sugar-free   GF breakfast options are often extremely processed. The "gluten-free" craze has been a source of contention - is it really that good for us to eliminate a naturally occurring part of the human diet? According to many nutritionists, no. And unless you have Celiac - an autoimmune disease that prevents those affected from digesting gluten properly - there are really no perks to going gluten-free. "Unless you need gluten-free, it is really no benefit to you. A lot of those foods can be lower in fiber content because they're not made with wheat, and you could be missing out on fiber," Taub-Dix explains. In fact, many products that are gluten-free contain large amounts of sugar, salt, and other potentially risky ingredients . Again: just because it's free of something, doesn't mean it's free of everything. Good alternative: Anything with gluten, in moderation. Visit INSIDER's homepage for more.


In 2019, the small factory with 31 workers produced 500,000 flags. Dan Earls mounts American flags to wooden sticks at The National Flag Company in the West End Tuesday, July 2, 2019. Earls has been working at The National Flag Company for 44 years. The National Flag Company has been making flags for 150 years. Rita Howard sews American flag bunting or fan drapes at The National Flag Company in the West End Tuesday, July 2, 2019. Howard has worked at The National Flag Company for 38 years. Rows of wooden sticks wait for flags to be mounted to them at the The National Flag Company in the West End Tuesday, July 2, 2019. Spools of thread line the walls of The National Flag Company in the West End Tuesday, July 2, 2019. Donna Barnes stacks sheets of mini American flags at The National Flag Company in the West End Tuesday, July 2, 2019. Barnes has worked at The National Flag Company for 32 years. Steve Braswell glues small American flags to wooden sticks at The National Flag Company in the West End Tuesday, July 2, 2019. Braswell has worked at The National Flag Company for 25 years. The National Flag Company has been making flags for 150 years. Lisa Behanan gathers an American flag to repair at The National Flag Company in the West End Tuesday, July 2, 2019. The National Flag Company has been making flags for 150 years. Lisa Behanan repairs an American flag at The National Flag Company in the West End Tuesday, July 2, 2019. The National Flag Company has been making flags for 150 years. The National Flag Company has been making flags for 150 years. Spools of thread line the walls of The National Flag Company in the West End Tuesday, July 2, 2019. Dan Earls mounts American flags to wooden sticks at The National Flag Company in the West End Tuesday, July 2, 2019. Earls has been working at The National Flag Company for 44 years. The National Flag Company has been making flags for 150 years.


Ahead of the season-opening race to be held Memorial Day weekend, Motorsport.com will feature drivers from each team that were drafted earlier this year. The drivers, one each selected to participate in the PlayStation and Xbox divisions for all 14 participating NASCAR teams, will compete in the 16-race season. race team and their two first draft picks Jordan McGraw and Joey Stone. For more information on eNASCAR Heat Pro League please visit eNASCAR Heat Pro League. eNASCAR Heat Pro League Driver Bios Jordan McGraw Age: 31 Hometown: Bridgeport, Texas Team: Richard Childress Racing Console: Xbox How much has gaming expanded or added to your interest in NASCAR? I've played NASCAR games since the Nintendo 64 days, so I've definitely turned a lot of virtual laps in my time. That ability to insert myself into the world, even if it's been in a fictional sense, has absolutely expanded on both my knowledge of and my interest in the sport. It's a way to learn about drivers and paint schemes, the differences between each track -- however major or subtle -- that make each location unique, and even how setup options and in-race adjustments change the balance of the car. Racing games a very unique learning experience on top of allowing myself to channel my competitive spirit in a fun and engaging manner, and that just builds upon my fandom for the racing on the weekends. Why do you prefer using Xbox? I started out SIM racing on the Xbox 360, so that's where the online friends I've made along the way and the folks I enjoy racing with are. (Also, that's where all my gamerscore is, but that reason is probably a little silly). I do own a PS4, but I use it exclusively for, well, the console's exclusives. What made you decide to try out for the eNASCAR Heat Pro League? It was just a fun way to compete against folks I normally don't race with a lot, or ever. It was also a much needed opportunity to learn how to make setups, and that gained knowledge and experience has made me far better at the game than I was six months ago. A 16-race season is a long one. How do you plan to approach the races and get yourself in position to make the playoffs and eventually win the first eNASCAR Heat Pro League Championship? The very first goal is to have fun and enjoy myself. This is an awesome opportunity to compete against the very best drivers the NASCAR Heat community has to offer, and my hyper-competitive nature is just itching to get out on the track with these guys. At the same time, I still have a lot of room to grow as a racer and as a setup maker, so I feel it's important for me to stay humble, hungry, grounded, and to just continue raising the bar on what I'm capable of. But that all begins with understanding what a cool experience this is going to be and appreciate it; considering I'm getting to sim race professionally while representing a race team I've admired and cheered for since I was ten years old, how could I not? Any other interesting facts you'd like to share about yourself? Well, for one, I'm slowly inching my way toward the group of people who believe seasons seven and eight of Game of Thrones are a total disaster. Seriously, though, I have a few things to offer. I played basketball in high school, I spent ten years in Lubbock attending Texas Tech University and looking for work. In the early 2010s, back when they were a website for bloggers and amateur writers, I wrote some pieces about NASCAR for Bleacher Report. I have a (probably) strange appreciation for movie trailer music, which is the perfect background sound for working in my opinion. However, I regret to admit I am NOT related to either Tim McGraw or Dr. Phil McGraw. Or Quickdraw McGraw, for that matter. From the editor, also read: Get to know eNASCAR Heat Pro League JR Motorsports drivers Get to know the eNASCAR Heat Pro League Ganassi drivers Get to know the eNASCAR Heat Pro League Team Penske drivers Get to know the eNASCAR Heat Pro League JTG drivers Get to know the eNASCAR Heat Pro League Wood Brothers drivers The green flag has dropped on NASCAR's first esports venture Joey Stone Age: 23 Hometown: Canton, GA Team: Richard Childress Racing Console: PlayStation How much has gaming expanded or added to your interest in NASCAR? Gaming only influenced my passion for the sport. It makes me want to be the best esports NASCAR driver. Why do you prefer using PlayStation 4? I love using playstation because I have more comfort in the controller than xbox when it comes to driving. What made you decide to try out for the eNASCAR Heat Pro League? My dreams of becoming a NASCAR driver never came full. I knew this would be my opportunity to prove what I can do behind the wheel even it's not a real stock car. I knew I could make an impact on the NASCAR Gaming world. A 16-race season is a long one. How do you plan to approach the races and get yourself in position to make the playoffs and eventually win the first eNASCAR Heat Pro League Championship? 16? I wish it was 36! I'm going to schedule out to not over work myself. Even when its gaming, eye coordination and fitness is a benefit for myself. I plan to do coordination exercises and stay fit so my mind can be at the top of its game while on the track. Any other interesting facts you'd like to share about yourself? I owned and ran my first ever racing league at the age of 15. I am a Twitch Affiliate. I marched for the University of Alabama Drumline.


Longtime NBA big man J.J. Hickson will resume his professional career in Puerto Rico. As Nicola Lupo of Sportando relays, Puerto Rican club Leones de Ponce announced ( via Instagram ) that it has signed Hickson to a contract and he's set to make his debut for the team. The 19th overall pick in the 2008 draft, Hickson appeared in 534 regular-season games for the Cavaliers, Kings, Trail Blazers, Nuggets and Wizards from 2008-16, averaging 9.5 PPG and 6.8 RPG in 22.2 minutes per contest for his career. The 30-year-old's last appearance in the NBA came for Washington on April 13, 2016. Since 2016, Hickson has continued his career in international leagues, suiting up for multiple teams in China and for Champville SC in Lebanon. Before signing with Leones de Ponce, the North Carolina State product had yet to play anywhere during the 2018-19 season.


Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site. For a tick bite to make you sick, the tick must be attached to you and feeding for a certain amount of time. For some diseases, this can take a day or more. For others, it takes just minutes. We spoke with experts in tick biology to find out why there's so much variation, and what you need to know to protect yourself. How a Tick Infects You First, it's important to understand that ticks can transmit bacteria, viruses, and parasites, and all of these behave a little differently. When it comes to the transmission of tick-borne disease, scientists arguably know the most about how this works for Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium that causes Lyme disease , which (in the U.S.) is transmitted by blacklegged ticks (or deer ticks) as well as Western blacklegged ticks. That depth of knowledge is at least in part because so much research has been conducted into developing a vaccine against Lyme, explains Jean Tsao, Ph.D., associate professor at Michigan State University in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife and the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences. A 2018 review of all of this evidence published in the journal Ticks and Tickborne Diseases confirmed that it most likely takes more than 24 hours and closer to 48 hours of tick feeding time for the Lyme pathogen to pass from tick to human. (Your chance of getting Lyme disease from a tick that has been attached for less than 24 hours is "extremely small," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.) And why does it take so long? It has to do with the way ticks transmit disease, which is generally not a one-step process. Blacklegged ticks pick up Lyme bacteria from a host, commonly a white-footed mouse. Those bacteria, also called spirochetes, settle in the tick's gut. When the tick finds its next host possibly a human like you it breaks the skin and starts injecting saliva into the wound, says Lars Eisen, Ph.D., research epidemiologist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Division of Vector-Borne Disease, and author of the 2018 review. "Over several days, the tick alternates between injecting saliva and ingesting blood." When the first of your blood enters the tick's gut, it signals the bacteria to begin reproducing, and eventually to travel up into the tick's salivary glands. Once the bacteria are there, they can enter your body via the tick's saliva. That whole process is complicated, notes Eisen, which is one reason it takes such a long time. Also, in order for an infection to take hold, a sufficient number of bacteria have to enter the host's body. If only a few bacteria make it in, then the human or animal immune system may be able to fight them off and prevent an infection, according to Tsao. How Long Do Other Pathogens Take to Infect You? A number of other tick-borne diseases similarly may take up to a day or longer to get themselves from the tick into the human or animal host, according to scientists' estimates. The tick-borne bacteria that cause anaplasmosis and Borrelia miyamotoi disease (discovered in the U.S. only in the last few years) likely take more than 24 hours to be transmitted. Babesiosis, a tick-borne disease caused by a parasite, isn't likely to be transmitted until a tick is attached for 36 hours. And it usually takes at least 24 hours for a tick to transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever to a host. (See our guide to tick-borne diseases .) For certain other infections, however, it's a different story. Notably, studies have shown that Powassan virus, which is also transmitted by blacklegged ticks and can cause severe symptoms such as brain or spinal cord inflammation, can be transmitted from a tick to a person in as little as 15 minutes. How? Saravanan Thangamani, Ph.D., a professor in the department of microbiology and immunology at SUNY Upstate Medical University, says it has to do with a difference in how viruses behave inside ticks, compared with bacteria. Instead of camping out in the tick's gut, as bacteria generally do, viruses multiply in the salivary glands, "ready to be transmitted to the human or animal the next time the tick feeds on them." Studies have demonstrated this for Powassan virus, he says, as well as for tick-borne encephalitis virus, a common tick-borne infection in Europe and Asia. And he says his lab has been generating data to suggest transmission times for Heartland virus, another recently discovered tick-borne pathogen in the U.S., are similar to those of Powassan. There's an exception to Thangamani's rule of thumb that bacteria generally take longer than viruses to transmit from tick to host. It's a disease called tick-borne relapsing fever, which is caused by another type of Borrelia bacteria, distantly related to the Borrelia that cause Lyme. Tick-borne relapsing fever is transmitted by soft ticks, which lack the hard shield of the ticks that transmit diseases such as Lyme. And these soft ticks only feed for a few minutes, usually less than half an hour, according to the CDC. "The relapsing fever bacteria that they spread therefore have, by necessity, evolved to be transmitted very quickly," Eisen says. The good news is that soft ticks, which make their homes in the burrows of hosts (often rodents), have less contact with humans. When people do contract tick-borne relapsing fever, it's usually because they've spent the night in a rodent-infested cabin in a rustic or mountainous area. What Tick Transmission Times Mean for You It's important to remember that the infections that can be transmitted from a tick to you very quickly, like Powassan and tick-borne relapsing fever, are rare. The CDC estimates that 300,000 people contract Lyme disease every year while just 34 cases of Powassan virus were reported to the CDC in 2017 and just 504 cases of tick-borne relapsing fever between 1990 and 2011. For pathogens that generally take a longer time to transmit, there's time to act before an attached tick causes a disease. Think of it as a "grace period," Tsao says, that gives you time to thoroughly check for ticks and remove any that you find attached to you. ( Here's how to remove a tick .) The CDC recommends showering within a few hours of any potential tick exposure that will wash off any ticks that may be crawling on you but that haven't attached yet, and gives you an opportunity to do a thorough check for any ticks that did find a place to bite. But given that the risk of a quick-transmitting disease, although rare, isn't zero, it's also important to take precautions against getting bitten in the first place. Avoid tick habitat if you can by staying out of wooded or grassy areas; when you're on a hike, stick to the center of the trail and dress in long pants, long sleeves, and closed-toe shoes. Use an EPA-registered insect repellent on any exposed skin (see a few of our top-rated picks below), and consider buying permethrin-treated clothing or treating clothes with permethrin yourself. Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Gallery: Ticks Are More Dangerous Than You Think (Provided by Active Times)


WASHINGTON (AP)   A White House initiative spearheaded by Ivanka Trump to help women in developing countries get ahead economically is announcing its first batch of grants, $27 million for 14 projects in 22 countries, mostly in Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia. The Women's Global Development and Prosperity Initiative was launched in February with an initial investment of $50 million from the U.S. Agency for International Development. A little more than half of that amount, $27 million, went to an "incentive" fund for partnerships with private businesses and other partners. The first 14 projects receiving a share of that $27 million were chosen from over 120 entries, administration officials said Wednesday. The projects are meant to help women with employment and entrepreneurship, and provide women in business with access to financing and other assistance. They range from an effort in Rwanda to help 1,400 women get into the African country's fast-growing energy sector, to a Latin American initiative that aims to equip 8,700 women with the skills needed to work tech sector jobs in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru, to supporting 5,000 women working in Indonesia's poultry industry. USAID Administrator Mark Green and Ivanka Trump were to discuss the partnerships Wednesday at a Washington event. Ivanka Trump, daughter of President Donald Trump and a senior White House adviser, welcomed the "enthusiastic" response to the program and the range of commitments to the initiative, whose goal is to help empower 50 million women in developing countries by 2025. "We are just getting started, but we are committed to delivering real results that create transformational change for women in developing countries by helping them prosper in the workforce, succeed as entrepreneurs, and legislative change," she said in a statement to The Associated Press. Ivanka Trump has made economic empowerment for women a focus of her White House tenure and has highlighted the issue during trips abroad, including to Africa this year. The budget Trump has proposed for 2020 asks Congress for another $100 million for the initiative, even as he has proposed cuts to other foreign aid. ___ Follow Darlene Superville on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dsupervilleap