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Footage of Islamic State militant group (ISIS) leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was included in a recent video depicting the graphic deaths of U.S. soldiers ambushed by jihadis last October in Niger, but the whereabouts and fate of the elusive cleric remained a mystery.

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Footage of Islamic State militant group (ISIS) leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was included in a recent video depicting the graphic deaths of U.S. soldiers ambushed by jihadis last October in Niger, but the whereabouts and fate of the elusive cleric remained a mystery.

The recently released ISIS video, titled "Assault of the Brave on the Army of the Americans," featured dramatic scenes of U.S. Special Forces attempting to fend off a surprise attack of up to 50 militants believed to be associated with ISIS near the Nigerien village of Tongo Tongo in Western Africa. The combat footage was captured with U.S. soldiers' own equipment and features footage of Baghdadi's first and only known public appearance in June 2014.
Related: U.S. Soldiers Killed in Niger Seen Battling ISIS In New Video Of Their Last Moments Alive
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On June 29, 2014, Baghdadi declared himself the ruler of a global caliphate in a speech delivered at the Grand al-Nuri mosque in Iraq's second city of Mosul, which was seized by ISIS earlier that month. ISIS managed to capture about half of Iraq and Syria at its height that year. As the group was defeated by various local and international forces, however, Baghdadi remained hidden and competing claims of his location, health and possible death have routinely arisen in his absence.

In one of the most recent official updates on Baghdadi, Abu Ali al-Basri, director of intelligence and counterterrorism at the Iraqi Interior Ministry and head of the elite Falcons Intelligence Cell, told state-run newspaper Al-Sabah that he knew exactly where the secretive ISIS head was hiding. Baghdadi "is still present today with the help of his collaborators in the Syrian region of Al-Jazeera," a span of desert flanked by the Euphrates river and Tigris River in Iraq.

Basri also said he had was suffering from severe "physical and psychological deterioration" due to injuries sustained in Iraqi air raids and may have been afflicted with diabetes as well. That same day, CNN cited unnamed U.S. officials who claimed that Baghdadi had been wounded by airstrikes, but said he had been hit in May near the former de facto ISIS capital of Raqqa, which was taken by the U.S.-led coalition and its partnered, mostly Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces last October.

The Russian Defense Ministry made a similar claim in June as its own allies, the Syrian military, led a cross-country offensive that also saw victories against the jihadis in parts of Raqqa province. The ministry said it believed Russian warplanes had actually killed the ultraconservative Sunni Muslim cleric in a May 28 airstrike targeting a meeting of ISIS officials in a southern Raqqa city suburb.

The U.S. remained skeptical of Russian claims, even as Moscow appeared to grow more certain of the assassination. Iran, which also backed efforts to defeat ISIS in Iraq and Syria, and elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps member Ali Shirazi said in June that " Baghdadi is definitely dead," but provided no details.

Summer 2017 also saw opposing claims by pro-Syrian opposition monitors, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently. The former, U.K.-based group told Newsweek in July that Baghdadi had been killed in the eastern Syrian ISIS stronghold of Deir Ezzor, but did not know how. The Raqqa-based monitor, however, said that same day that such rumors were "not true," citing ISIS sources in Raqqa.

As the U.S.-led coalition advanced in Raqqa city and the Syrian military broke a three-year siege of its forces trapped in Deir Ezzor, ISIS shocked the world with an audio tape purporting it to be a recent sermon by Baghdadi. While the audio could not be independently verified by Newsweek, Baghdadi discussed recent ISIS losses, as well as the increasingly tense nuclear standoff between President Donald Trump and North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong Un.

ISIS lost Raqqa the following month, followed by Deir Ezzor in November. As pro-Syrian goverment forces joined fellow Iraqi forces also battling ISIS on their mutual border, Baghdadi was no where to be seen, even as the Syrian military and its allies retook the final ISIS-held town of Al-Bukamal. Lebanese Shiite Muslim movement Hezbollah, a close partner of the Syrian military, claimed Baghdadi had been spotted in the border town prior to ISIS losing it.

Baghdadi's inclusion in the recent ISIS video depicting the October 4, 2017 ambush that killed four Green Berets and five Nigerien troops did little to answer questions about the missing ISIS leader, who has a $25 million U.S. bounty on his head. The clip, however, was surrounded by footage of members of West African Islamist militant coalition Jama Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin swearing allegiance to him, demonstrating the global audience his hardline brand of militant Islam enjoyed.

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ISIS chief Baghdadi appears in new video of U.S. soldier's deaths, but where is he?

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Footage of Islamic State militant group (ISIS) leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was included in a recent video depicting the graphic deaths of U.S. soldiers ambushed by jihadis last October in Niger, but the whereabouts and fate of the elusive cleric remained a mystery.

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breathing is but just one of many functions that we dont think about but yet its what controls sleeping,relaxation and even power boosting on energy.

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The best days begin the night before. And sleep, as it happens, is far more active than we may realize. It's during sleep that muscles repair themselves and grow. It's when the brain learns new things. Sleep is one side of the equilateral triangle of health-the necessary complement to good nutrition and fitness. A good night allows us to have the most high-performing waking hours possible. It sets us up for enlightenment.

Like all of us, Phil Torres and Silja Danielsen face countless choices each day. They have careers that take them all around the world, and schedules that don't always amount to routine. But the one constant in their no-two-days-are-the-same lifestyle: their choices. Beginning each day with natural light, focusing on fresh and beautiful foods that replenish the body, prioritizing energetic movement in both the gym and their natural environment-these are the choices they make during the day that make for their restorative, regenerative nights on their DUX bed. It's their unique life cycle. Watch the video above to hear more and be inspired.

Optimal health is an equilateral triangle of fitness, nutrition, and sleep. Furthermore and DUXIANA have partnered to bring you a series of articles helping you prioritize this triangle and optimize your performance as a result. Prepare for an awakening.

The Active State of Sleep

What many athletes see as passive recovery is actually a physically intense process.

"You might have a great exercise routine and eat well all the time, but if you're not getting enough sleep, it cancels out all your healthy behavior," says James Maas, Ph.D., a sleep expert and author of Sleep to Win. "Sleep is the most important thing we can do to reset our brain and body," he says.

But turning in at night doesn't mean you're turning off-sleep is actually one of your body's most active states. "A lot of really important things happen during sleep," says Jennifer Martin, Ph.D., clinical sleep psychologist and associate professor of medicine at UCLA. "Sometimes I hear athletes talk about sleep as a form of passive recovery when actually I think about it as active recovery."

There are four stages of sleep: non-rapid eye movement stage one, two, and three, and finally REM sleep. "Stage three is when our brain waves are slow and our body is active, and REM sleep is when our brain is active," says Martin. Matt Berenc, director of education at the Equinox Fitness Training Institute, adds: "Non-REM sleep is linked to physiological recovery like muscle repair and REM sleep is key in memory consolidation and cognitive ability and all the skills you need on a mental level."

Here's how busy your body is when it's unconscious:

1. Your muscles recover from tough workouts....
When your body enters non-REM deep sleep, it signals your pituitary gland to secrete growth hormones that stimulate tissue growth and muscle repair. At the same time, circulation increases so there's a boost in blood supply to your muscles, sending extra oxygen and nutrients to support growth and recovery. Says Berenc, "Sleep is essentially the cornerstone of the muscle recovery process."

2. ...and learn how to do new things.
"During sleep, the brain moves short-term muscle memory-like a new dance step or a tennis serve-into long-term muscle memory, where you can more easily retrieve it later," says Maas. "So the old saying 'practice makes perfect' only works if you get adequate rest afterward, meaning we should really be saying 'practice with sleep makes perfect.'"

3. Your immune system is strengthened.
"While you sleep, your immune system is bolstered. So, when you later encounter bacteria, being well-rested makes you more likely to fend it off," says Martin. In fact, a study found that people who slept fewer than six hours per night were four and a half times as likely to catch a cold when exposed to a virus compared to their counterparts who logged at least seven hours.

4. Cravings are controlled.
Research found that people who didn't get adequate sleep showed decreased levels of leptin (which manages feelings of satiety) and increased levels of ghrelin (which stimulates appetite). "When people are sleep deprived, they crave more high-fat, high-sugar, calorie-dense foods so that can make it really difficult to stick to a good nutrition plan, despite your best intentions," says Martin.

5. You'll get a healthy glow.
Your complexion can often give away whether you've had a fitful night (pale and sallow) or a solid eight hours (rosy and glowing). When you sleep, "blood flow and oxygen to the skin increases, aiding skin repair processes responsible for skin elasticity and youthful appearance," says Jeffrey Benabio, M.D., a dermatologist in San Diego, California. "It also helps repair some of the damage that has been done by UV light during the day. Sleep is a natural anti-inflammatory that can help with skin conditions such as acne, psoriasis, and eczema."

6. Toxins are flushed out.
" Research shows that during sleep our brain clears out metabolic waste including a toxic protein called beta-amyloid. This is important because beta-amyloids are one of the markers of Alzheimer's," says Martin. Sleep also strengthens the neurons that keep your memory sharp: A study found that skipping out on shut-eye can slow brain activity and stunt neural connectivity in the hippocampus.

7. Your heart beat slows and blood pressure drops.
As you slip into stage three non-REM sleep, your blood pressure naturally drops about five to seven points, the way it does when we meditate, says Maas. And a study indicated that consistently getting adequate sleep can reduce blood pressure over time and prevent hypertension. Adds Maas, "One extra hour of sleep per night decreases the risk of artery calcification-a leading cause of heart disease-by 33 percent."

Optimal health is an equilateral triangle of fitness, nutrition, and sleep. Furthermore and DUXIANA have partnered to bring you a series of articles helping you prioritize this triangle and optimize your performance as a result. Prepare for an awakening.

THE LAST FITNESS FRONTIER: CHRONOTYPING

How to time your workout based on your circadian rhythm

You've found the workouts that work best for you. You've pinpointed your perfect eating plan. You've invested in a high-performance sleep system. But if you haven't identified your chronotype to optimize your health and fitness, you may be missing an important piece of the puzzle.

"Your chronotype is your genetically pre-determined sleep schedule," explains sleep expert Michael Breus, M.D., author of The Power of When. "By knowing your chronotype, you know your personal natural hormone schedule. Being aware of when your hormones are at the right level for a particular activity (i.e. workouts) will give you a significant advantage."

Joseph Geraghty, a Tier X manager at Equinox Sports Club Los Angeles, agrees. Determining your ideal time to sleep and exercise will make you most productive in all aspects of your life.

Indeed, this October three scientists-Jeffrey C. Hall, Ph.D., Michael Rosbash, Ph.D., and Michael Young, Ph.D.-were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their work on the body's circadian rhythm, which controls biological clocks that govern eating behavior, metabolism, and, of course, sleep. Using fruit flies (which are known to have similar circadian rhythms to humans), the team of researchers discovered the clocks' molecular mechanism. "We found that when we manipulate sleep artificially, if we induced it in some cases by tightly regulating their circadian clocks, we could extend sleep and life span in those flies." In other words, the scientists were able to understand how our biological clocks regulate all of our behaviors, particularly sleep.

How to Identify Your Chronotype

Your chronotype is determined by the PER3 gene (which stands for period circadian clocks 3) and new research shows that it varies widely among people and even changes a bit throughout your life. And while scientists used to think there were just morning or evening types, recent research has found that there are actually four chronotype categories. Most people should have a good idea of which category they fall into simply by identifying with the following patterns. (If you're not sure, though, you can head to your doctor or try an at-home test you can mail in for a full analysis. "Your chronotype can be determined with blood or saliva analysis," notes Breus.)

Often called Larks or Lions, these naturally early risers are ready to go before dawn, tend to be most productive between 10:00 a.m. and noon, and their energy declines throughout the day. Bedtime should be around 10:00 p.m.; workouts should be in the morning and late afternoon.

These people-whom scientists sometimes call Owls or Wolves-naturally stay up late and sleep in later. Their energy spikes when the sun goes down. Bedtime is likely around midnight; workouts should be in the evening, when they tend to be most productive.

About half of all people fall into this category: Energy ebbs and flows predictably with the sun so they're most productive in the daytime and have less mojo at night. Bedtime should be around 11:00 p.m. and workouts are best in the early to late morning. Overall, these people (Breus calls them Bears) are most alert from late morning (but they're not as energy-charged as morning types) to early afternoon and most productive just before noon.

If you wake with minimal noise, sometimes feeling unrefreshed after sleep, and experience fogginess off and on during the day, you might naturally have lower energy, a category that Breus calls Dolphins (because they sleep with half their brains still awake). Athletes who identify with this type should aim to work out about 90 minutes after rising for the day. While they tend to be most alert in the evening, their energy comes in unpredictable spurts throughout the day.

And while they've identified these types, scientists are still investigating why you're a certain chronotype. There are different theories, but an important one: Research indicates that levels of melatonin-the hormone that controls your sleep-wake cycle-varies widely in people and can change as you age, based on diet and lifestyle.

How to Optimize Your Chronotype

Geraghty has witnessed the effect of adapting your fitness routine to your genetic type first-hand: "I've seen people shift when they exercised based on their chronotype-and their energy, focus, and productivity have gone through the roof." Science agrees. As does Suhas Kshirsagar, M.D., author of the upcoming book Change Your Schedule, Change Your Life: How to Harness the Power of Clock Genes to Lose Weight, Optimize Your Workout, and Finally Get a Good Night's Sleep. Understanding the body's circadian rhythm will help you set a daily schedule that allows you to get the right amount of sleep, eat the right foods at the right time, and get enough daily exercise to keep you focused and fit," he says. His top tips to sync up with your chronotype:

Unplug from electronics by 9:30 p.m. Research has shown that blue light emitted from phones, tablets, and screens messes with your circadian rhythm and lowers the levels of natural melatonin in your system.

Go outside. "We get far too little natural light during the day. This confuses and delays the natural circadian rhythm and puts you in the path of insomnia. Take an outdoor walk; you will be able to fall asleep easier at night if you get more natural light during the day," says Kshirsagar.

Make lunch your largest meal. "Eating late at night could contribute to insomnia and interfere with your body's ability to produce serotonin and necessary hormones for the next day," says Kshirsagar. "Moving your largest meal to the midpoint of the day erases all of these problems for all chronotypes."

In some cases, people struggle with adjusting to their natural chronotype-say, people who have to travel across time zones regularly and suffer from jet lag. Breus often prescribes different variations of light, melatonin, caffeine, and napping to patients to help them adopt their natural schedules.

"Sleep is the entry point-If you can fix your sleep to adapt to your chronotype, you can make better decisions with nutrition and have more energy during your workouts so you see better results," Geraghty concludes.

Optimal health is an equilateral triangle of fitness, nutrition, and sleep. Furthermore and DUXIANA have partnered to bring you a series of articles helping you prioritize this triangle and optimize your performance as a result. Prepare for an awakening.

MEET SILJA DANIELSEN AND PHIL TORRES

The Brooklyn-based couple on their jet-setting, active lifestyle

MEET SILJA DANIELSEN AND PHIL TORRES

The Brooklyn-based couple on their jet-setting, active lifestyle

Los Angeles-turned-New York City residents Phil Torres and Silja Danielsen are truly citizens of the world. While the power couple may be currently based in Williamsburg, you're just as likely to find them hiking in the Amazonian rainforests, boating on the Norwegian fjords, or running along Nicaraguan beaches. As a biologist and conservationist, Torres goes where science takes him, whether it's studying bees up close at Elizabeth Garden in SoHo or leading treks in the Peruvian jungles. His fiancé, Danielsen, also travels the globe as a model and ensures the couple is well fed, with her healthy eating digital platform Silja From Scratch. Here, the couple shares how they fuel their packed days, prepare for long flights, and prioritize restful nights in their DUX bed.

Los Angeles-turned-New York City residents Phil Torres and Silja Danielsen are truly citizens of the world. While the power couple may be currently based in Williamsburg, you're just as likely to find them hiking in the Amazonian rainforests, boating on the Norwegian fjords, or running along Nicaraguan beaches. As a biologist and conservationist, Torres goes where science takes him, whether it's studying bees up close at Elizabeth Garden in SoHo or leading treks in the Peruvian jungles. His fiancé, Danielsen, also travels the globe as a model and ensures the couple is well fed, with her healthy eating digital platform Silja From Scratch. Here, the couple shares how they fuel their packed days, prepare for long flights, and more.

What do you do for recovery?

Phil: "I make sure to stretch. I've found it's extremely important as you get older. Doing 10- to 15-mile hikes in the Amazon carrying heavy photography gear is very taxing on the body, and it wouldn't be possible if I didn't spend time taking care of my body, foam rolling, and getting enough sleep."

Silja: "In addition to good sleep, infrared saunas have been a game-changer for me. They help relax and rejuvenate tired muscles and decrease inflammation. I like to go for a 30-minute session at HigherDOSE in SoHo, but I also have an infrared wrap (it looks like a sleeping bag) at home, which I'll hop into immediately after a long flight."

Optimal health is an equilateral triangle of fitness, nutrition, and sleep. Furthermore and DUXIANA have partnered to bring you a series of articles helping you prioritize this triangle and optimize your performance as a result. Prepare for an awakening.

5 SCANDINAVIAN FOOD ADVENTURES

Travel the world while sampling healthy, Nordic foods

When traveling, eating the local cuisine isn't just a great way to immerse yourself in the culture, it's also better for your health. You're more likely to get fresher, tastier produce that is minimally processed, which means the nutrient value is higher, says Christy Wilson, a Tucson, Arizona-based registered dietician. Ensuring that you consume high-quality foods while away is on par with staying active and acclimating your sleep schedule-essential to staving off travel-induced fatigue and returning home as fit as you were when you departed.

For adventure-seeking foodies, now is the time to book a trip to Scandinavia. In addition to stunning scenery, research suggests that eating the Nordic way has proven body benefits. Think of it as a cooler-temps take on the Mediterranean diet, says Dawn Jackson Blatner, a registered dietician based in Chicago. "The Nordic diet has lots of good fats and fish," she says. "The emphasis is on whole grains, berries, and cruciferous veggies like cabbage."

"Nordic staples are generally locally sourced and seasonal, and many of the ingredients have anti-inflammatory properties," says Wilson. A recent study in the Journal of Nutrition showed that sticking to a Nordic diet can boost inflammation-fighting antioxidants in your bloodstream, while also tamping down compounds that increase your risk of diabetes.

No matter what part of Scandinavia you're visiting, there's an outdoor experience that will satisfy your appetite while putting you in touch with nature. And science has shown that physically interacting with soil can make you happier, just another reason to give foraging a try.

Optimal health is an equilateral triangle of fitness, nutrition, and sleep. Furthermore and DUXIANA have partnered to bring you a series of articles helping you prioritize this triangle and optimize your performance as a result. Prepare for an awakening.

How to Hydrate for Quality Sleep

A timeline for high-performing athletes

Along with exercise and good nutrition habits, experts agree that sleep is equally fundamental to an athlete's health and performance. But studies show that in addition to factors such as room temperature and light from electronics, hydration also plays a role when it comes to obtaining restorative shut-eye. According to the National Sleep Foundation, a lack of fluids can impair sleep, making you feel sluggish and irritable during the day.

"Even a slight level of dehydration will make you sleep lighter," adds Chris Winter, M.D., a sleep specialist based in Charlottesville, Virginia. Here, he weighs in on an ideal hydration timeline.

1. Drink a glass of water as soon as you wake up.
Through respiration we lose a significant amount of water when we sleep, explains Winter, who suggests reaching for a glass of cold or room temperature water first thing in the morning. "Your body has to use more effort to warm up the water to body temp, which helps boost your metabolism," he says. For extra energy, try adding a squeeze of lemon or an immunity-boosting tincture such as Echinacea.

2. Wait two to three hours after waking up to have coffee.
Winter advises holding off on the caffeine until after your morning workout, or at least a few hours after you wake up. It acts as a diuretic, and since you're already waking up having lost fluids, it's best to start the day rehydrating with water, he says. "Make sure you're hydrating with water before and during your workout," he adds. Then you can sip on your morning roast and opt for a lighter one, which is higher in antioxidants. "I like to make what I call Viking coffee after a HIIT workout," says New York City-based model and recipe developer Silja Danielsen. "It's prepared with collagen and cardamom, a spice that aids in digestion."

3. Drink water when you eat.
It's important to consume water at regular intervals, but especially with meals. Research shows that doing so aids digestion and helps your body absorb nutrients. Throughout the day, focus on foods like Brazil nuts and omega 3-rich fish, which contain nutrients such as selenium and magnesium that help promote sleep.

4. Try a golden latte in the afternoon.
After lunch, opt for a caffeine-free beverage since the substance can linger in your body for up to six hours and make it harder to wind down. Instead, try hydrating with this vegan recipe. "I like to have this drink in the afternoon or early evening because it gives me energy but still allows me to fall asleep," says Danielsen. This is a great choice since it's made with turmeric, an anti-inflammatory spice that can aid with muscle regeneration. Moreover, "turmeric can help bring down your body temperature and help you fall asleep more easily," points out Winter.

5. Have a glass of water right before bed.
Leg cramps due to dehydration can disturb your sleep, which is why drinking fluids before bed is a good idea. It's a misconception that you'll wake up and need to go to the bathroom if you hydrate before bed, adds Winter. "Unless you have a bladder condition, in the majority of cases you wake up from an external stimuli such as a room that's too humid. Then, because you're already up, you feel the need to use the bathroom."

Golden Latte
Turmeric in this dairy-free drink promotes hydration and sleep.
Serves 2

4 cups coconut milk or other nut milk

2 nobs of turmeric root

2 tablespoons ground ginger

1 teaspoon ground cardamom

3 tablespoons maple syrup or honey

1 pinch of Himalayan sea salt

1 pinch of cinnamon

1. Add all ingredients to a blender and blend on high for one minute.

2. Heat a medium-size stock pan and add the blended golden milk.

3. Bring to a simmer, then remove from heat and ladle into two mugs.

Optimal health is an equilateral triangle of fitness, nutrition, and sleep. Furthermore and DUXIANA have partnered to bring you a series of articles helping you prioritize this triangle and optimize your performance as a result. Prepare for an awakening.

Breath Work in Bed

Two exercises to harness relaxation and stimulation, respectively

Breathing-it's one of the thousands of bodily functions we don't have to think about. And that's a huge relief: Adults take around 25,000 breaths per day, so if we had to remind ourselves to do it, we wouldn't have time for anything else. But just because breathing comes easy doesn't mean that we can't improve or tweak it to help change our emotional or physical states. Breathing can bring on relaxation and sleep, or even boost your energy, depending on how you do it.

Here are two types of breath exercises ideal for before bed and when you wake up, respectively.

Type of breathing:
Deep breathing can help us relax, lower heart rate and blood pressure, and decrease anxiety. If you're searching for some zen, try the 4-7-8 technique, which is an easy and effective way to breathe deeply, says Matthew Berenc, director of education for the Equinox Fitness Training Institute.

How to do it:
To get started, find a comfortable position, sitting up straight or even lying down. Inhale through the nose for four counts, breathing so that your belly expands, not your chest. Hold for seven counts, then exhale for eight. You can hold the breaths for longer, just remember to keep the exhalation longer than the inhalation. "Doing so will activate your parasympathetic nervous system which propels the body to slow the heart rate, lower blood pressure, and relax," Berenc says.

Why it works:
Deep, slow breathing is great any time you are feeling stressed and it can also help you get to sleep, whether it's done before bed or during the day, says Susan Hart, a Tier X coach at Equinox in Boston and a certified yoga teacher. "Each time you're breathing deeply, you're quieting your inner chatter and conditioning your mind not to be in a million places. That adds up, so by the time you're going to bed, you naturally feel more centered and calm, and it becomes easier to fall asleep," she says.

Type of breathing:
If you're looking for a quick hit of energy during the day, you can try the Breath of Fire.

How to do it:
"During the Breath of Fire, which is common in Kundalini yoga practices, you're doing short, powerful exhales for around 30 seconds at a time," says Berenc. "These can be performed either through the nose or mouth and should be equal in length with no pause in between. You want to make sure that the driving force of the breath is your diaphragm." It's a tricky tactic to master, however. Hart adds that high-stress individuals, pregnant women, and people who have high blood pressure or asthma should skip it. "Breath of fire requires a lot of practice, so if you're interested in trying it, seek out a seasoned yoga teacher or breathing instructor who can help guide you," she says.

Why it works:
Although there hasn't been much research on this type of breathing, it's thought to increase circulation, replenish the lungs with fresh air, and tone the abdominal muscles.

Optimal health is an equilateral triangle of fitness, nutrition, and sleep. Furthermore and DUXIANA have partnered to bring you a series of articles helping you prioritize this triangle and optimize your performance as a result. Prepare for an awakening.

The Ideal Morning Workout

A three-part routine to capitalize on a good night's sleep

Working out is lauded for its natural energizing effects and can have a particularly strong impact when done in the a.m. "Morning exercise increases blood flow to brain, stimulating the central nervous system," says Susan Hart, a Tier X coach and yoga instructor at Equinox Franklin Street in Boston. "The resulting endorphin rush gives you energy to take on the day."

And while any type of fitness can be beneficial, it so happens that focusing on specific movement patterns and types can take a good workout to an ideal workout. The routine detailed below, created by Hart, incorporates all four quadrants of motion (linear loaded, linear unloaded, nonlinear loaded, and nonlinear unloaded) and is divided into three parts: The warm-up, with stimulating breathing exercises and mobility drills, increases internal body temperature and range of motion and primes the sympathetic nervous system; the high-intensity segment includes both cardio and strength exercises to help get your heart rate up and trigger exercise post oxygen consumption (EPOC), so your body will continue to burn calories long after you're done; and finally a cool-down with stretching and down-regulating breaths creates space for healthy breathing and movement throughout the hours to come.

Get inspired by the video above, demonstrated by biologist and conservationist Phil Torres and his fiancé Norwegian model-foodie Silja Danielsen. (Read more about the globe-trotting power couple here.) Then, get a good night's sleep and try this routine upon waking.

Complete two 2 rounds as described here.

Complete two 2 rounds as described here.

Complete each of the following exercises for 60 seconds. Move on from one to the next with little to no rest in order to keep your heart rate elevated.
Partner A will complete exercise 2a while partner B completes 2b. Then, switch. Do two rounds of each (make sure to switch sides on the deadlift for round 2).

Learn more about how to use the agility ladder here.

Come into a tall kneeling position with toes tucked under. Your partner will set up in a high plank position with their hands mounted on your ankles. Keeping glutes and abs engaged, focus on controlling your entire upper body to the floor by using your hamstrings. Once your hands hit the floor in a low push-up position, explode back up and return to the starting position. Continue for 60 seconds and then switch roles. Each person should complete both exercises two times before moving on.

Optimal health is an equilateral triangle of fitness, nutrition, and sleep. Furthermore and DUXIANA have partnered to bring you a series of articles helping you prioritize this triangle and optimize your performance as a result. Prepare for an awakening.

THE HEALTHY FINE-DINING REVOLUTION

Meet the chefs who are putting Scandinavia on the map

Previously, you might not have thought of Scandinavia as an epicenter of destination-worthy dining. But, spurred on by the overwhelming success of René Redzepi's game-changing Noma in Copenhagen, local acolytes of The New Nordic Food Manifesto (which Redzepi co-authored) have been opening restaurants across the region that consistently top world's best lists.

It's a movement that's dovetailed with renewed interest in Nordic nutrition. Research has shown that the diet, which emphasizes ingredients like whole grains, dark berries, root vegetables, and oily fish, could contribute to improved sleep and cardiovascular health.

And while eating mainly plant-based foods, seafood, and wild-foraged ingredients might not sound radical now, that just goes to show how much of an impact these Scandinavian chefs have had on the way we all think about food-not least because a stint interning at one of the region's best restaurants is practically a requirement for ambitious American cooks.

Though all very different, these six chefs share a common goal: to innovate fine-dining using hyper-local ingredients.

THE CHEF: SASU LAUKKONEN

THE CHEF: Christopher Haatuft

THE MENU:
Haatuft not only champions native Norwegian ingredients that were otherwise ignored, but also asks partners like fishermen to explore new ways of treating their catch. "Take mahogany clams, for instance. The seabed is littered with them, but no one here has ever used them. Now they are on all fine dining menus," says Haatuft.

THE RESTAURANT: RADIO IN COPENHAGEN, DENMARK
Co-founded by longtime Noma sous chef Jesper Kirketerp and another fine-dining alum, Rasmus Kliim, Radio is like Noma's quirky-yet-serious kid sister. With just three servers and rough-hewn furniture, the casual space belies a kitchen incredibly dedicated to seeking out the finest ingredients Denmark's now-thriving farming scene has to offer. The duo spends a great deal of time outside of the restaurant too, whether it's fishing, foraging for elderberries or chanterelles, or learning how to surf. "We wanted to create a place that is welcoming, modern, and urban, yet strongly connected to the surrounding landscape and people that hold great value to us," says Kirketerp.

THE MENU:
The three- or five-course tasting menus often feature brassica-derived rapeseed oil on tender lettuce leaves and a plate of lightly-cooked scallops. "Healthy fats are inherent in Nordic cuisine-especially the omega-3 fatty acids and polyunsaturated fats found in rapeseed oil," says Kirkpatrick. The duo's menu is also restrained when it comes to sugar, pairing dried beets with chocolate sorbet and olives and drizzling yogurt ice cream with light licorice syrup and salted pumpkin seeds. "Nixing added sugar and butter in favor of naturally-occurring sweets and sorbets can help fit bodies fall asleep more easily," notes Michelle Drerup, PsyD, sleep psychologist at Cleveland Clinic's sleep disorders center.

The Chef: Mathias Dahlgren

THE RESTAURANTS: Rutabaga and Matbaren in Stockholm, Sweden
Mathias Dahlgren points to his childhood experience of growing up on a farm in northern Sweden as the reason he is so passionate about foraging and cooking with authentic, regional produce. Now, the talented chef has two Michelin-starred restaurants located in Stockholm's luxe, celeb-favorite Grand Hotel. Matbaren is the more casual bistro while Rutabaga is a modern lacto-ovo-vegetarian concept. As Dahlgren explains, a fear of stagnation keeps him moving forward. "I have a strong desire to create a completely new dining concept. I want to play an active part in developing Swedish restaurant culture."

THE MENU:
Dahlgren is a proponent of local ingredients like Gotland truffles, rich black fungi grown on a Swedish island that are high in vitamin C and fiber. You can enjoy them tucked into a dish of molten poached eggs before heading upstairs for a restful night's sleep in a luxe DUXIANA bed. Dahlgren also experiments with dishes such as matjes herring with mustard seeds, salty lemon, and trout roe that are meant to be shared, or a tonka bean ice cream with dried cherries ( one of the natural sources of melatonin, which helps promote sleep).

THE CHEF: Ragnar Eiríksson

Optimal health is an equilateral triangle of fitness, nutrition, and sleep. Furthermore and DUXIANA have partnered to bring you a series of articles helping you prioritize this triangle and optimize your performance as a result. Prepare for an awakening.

TAKE ME BACK TO THE TOP

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The best days begin the night before. And sleep, as it happens, is far more active than we may realize. It's during sleep that muscles repair themselves and grow. It's when the brain learns new things. Sleep is one side of the equilateral triangle of health-the necessary complement to good nutrition and fitness.

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A tragic discovery

At about 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, police were called to a West Brookfield, Massachusetts, home, where they discovered the bodies of a mother and her three young children, the Worcester County District Attorney's Office said.

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Authorities in Massachusetts are pleading to the public for help as they search for the killer of a mother and her three young children.

Here is what we know about the mysterious quadruple killings:

A tragic discovery

At about 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, police were called to a West Brookfield, Massachusetts, home, where they discovered the bodies of a mother and her three young children, the Worcester County District Attorney's Office said.

WCVB

The victims were identified as Sara Bermudez, 38; Madison Bermudez, 8; James Bermudez, 6; and Michael Bermudez, 2. All were found in an upstairs bedroom, according to police.

ABC affiliate WCVB, citing sources, reported that some victims were stabbed and some were burned.

Prosecutors have not released how the victims died and have also not said if there are any suspects.

Bermudez's husband, Moses Bermudez, was in California on business at the time the bodies were discovered, authorities said.

Reached by phone Sunday, Moses Bermudez told ABC News he had no comment.

Allan Jung/Worcester Telegram & Gazette via AP

A community on edge

A community vigil for the victims was held Sunday at the First Congregational Church of West Brookfield, according to Stacey Kullgren, pastor of the church.

About 170 people attended, including first responders, according to a church statement.

West Brookfield is home to about 3,700 residents.

"There is a lot of fear in the community," Kullgren told ABC News. "We don't have answers. We don't know who did this."

A clue in the case

Rick Cinclair/Worcester Telegram & Gazette via AP

While no one has been arrested, investigators have zeroed in on one clue: a yellow, plastic fuel can that police say is missing from the home.

Investigators urge anyone who has seen a can that fits the description to call the State Police Dispatch Center at 508-867-1170, the district attorney's office said this weekend.

Anyone in the area with active home or business surveillance cameras or dashboard-mounted cameras are also asked to call the police dispatch center.

ABC News' Bill Hutchinson contributed to this report.

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What we know about mysterious quadruple killings of mother and her young children

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Authorities in Massachusetts are pleading to the public for help as they search for the killer of a mother and her three young children. Here is what we know about the mysterious quadruple killings: At about 3:30 p.m.

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Coco won a oscar for the best animated film 2018

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The Oscars have been around for a whopping 90 years now, and in that time only three animated films have been nominated for Best Picture: " Beauty and the Beast" (1991), "Up" (2009) and "Toy Story 3" (2010). That means such beloved movies as "The Lion King" (1994), "The Iron Giant" (1999) and "Spirited Away" (2001) were all snubbed for the coveted Best Picture prize. Now that the 2018 Oscar nominations have been announced, we can add another unfortunate soul to that list: Disney-Pixar's " Coco." Why do the Oscars hate animated films so much?

Okay, "hate" might be a strong word. But "obvious distaste" is certainly appropriate. Animated movies are rarely considered by Oscar voters to be worthy of the title of Best Picture, despite these films being huge money-makers for Hollywood. In fact, based on 2017 domestic box office tallies, "Despicable Me 3," "Coco," "The LEGO Batman Movie," "The Boss Baby" and "Cars 3" all numbered among the 20 highest-grossing films of the year.

SEE 2018 Oscar nominations: Full list of Academy Awards nominees in all 24 categories

"Coco" did receive two Oscar nominations on Tuesday morning, as Gold Derby predicted. It contends for both Best Animated Feature and Best Song for "Remember Me," written by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and EGOT winner Robert Lopez. But it deserved more.

A bonafide blockbuster, "Coco" earned $200 million at the U.S. box office and was one of best-reviewed films of the year, with a 97% score at Rotten Tomatoes. "Coco" also swept the Annie nominations with a leading 13 bids and won Best Animated Feature honors at the National Board of Review and the New York Film Critics Circle.

SEE Watch Oscar nominations live stream here Tuesday morning at 5:22 a.m. PT (8:22 a.m. ET)

We know what you're thinking. These films already have their own Best Animated Feature category, so who cares if they're included in the Best Picture lineup? Trust me: people care. Remember that iconic moment from the morning of February 19, 1992 when "Beauty and the Beast" was nominated for Best Picture? ( Watch below.) Journalists and publicists in the room shouted for joy, hardly able to contain their excitement. While "Up" and "Toy Story 3" were nominated in the two years when there was a mandatory of 10 Best Picture contenders, "Beauty and the Beast" got in back when there were only five nominees, which made that moment even more special.

"Coco" tells the story of Miguel ( Anthony Gonzalez), a young boy who's forbidden to play music by his family. After trying to steal the guitar of late Mexican musician Ernesto de la Cruz ( Benjamin Bratt), Miguel is transported to the Land of the Dead where he meets Hector ( Gael Garcia Bernal), a skeleton who has secrets of his own. If "Coco" prevails on Oscar night, it will be Pixar's ninth winner overall.
SIGN UP for Gold Derby's free newsletter with latest predictions

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Oscars tragically snub 'Coco' for Best Picture nomination: Why do they hate animated films so much?

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The Oscars have been around for a whopping 90 years now, and in that time only three animated films have been nominated for Best Picture: " Beauty and the Beast" (1991), "Up" (2009) and "Toy Story 3" (2010).

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Florida teacher 'removed from classroom' after alleged white-nationalist podcast

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A Florida middle school teacher was "removed" from classroom duties on Sunday after she was accused of hosting a secret white-nationalist podcast in which she allegedly bragged about touting her beliefs in the classroom, authorities said.

The Citrus County School District in northern Florida said it is investigating a Huffington post report that claimed Dayanna Volitich, a 25-year-old social studies teacher at Crystal River Middle School, had hosted the under the pseudonym "Tiana Dalichov."

The district did not mention Volitich by name, but it said it became aware of "a concerning podcast" on Friday when it was contacted by a Huffington Post reporter, according to a statement released Sunday. The district said it launched the investigation immediately.

"The reporter indicated they believed one of the persons participating in the podcast was a teacher at Crystal River Middle School," Superintendent Sandra Himmel said in the statement. "The teacher has been removed from the classroom and the investigation is ongoing."

"Pursuant to Florida Statute an open investigation and materials related to it are exempt from public record and cannot be discussed until the investigation is complete," Himmel added.

In its Friday report, the Huffington Post cited evidence including photographs, location information, occupation and age, that is said indicated that Volitich and Dalichov, the host of the "Unapologetic" podcast, were the same person.

In one of the podcasts, the host talks about putting on a "dog and pony show" for administrators during her first year when it came to teaching certain curriculum. In previous episodes, the host said Muslims should be eradicated from the earth.

"I get to talk about topics that people don't like to talk about. They don't want to be seen as a bigot, racist, whatever you want to call it. I honestly don't care," the host said in one clip.

ABC affiliate WFTS said it stopped by Volitich's apartment to talk with her, but no one answered the door. A neighbor told WFTS that he recognized a photo of her, but said he rarely spoke with her.

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Florida teacher 'removed from classroom' after alleged white-nationalist podcast

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A Florida middle school teacher was "removed" from classroom duties on Sunday after she was accused of hosting a secret white-nationalist podcast in which she allegedly bragged about touting her beliefs in the classroom, authorities said. The Citrus County School District in northern Florida said...

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What we know about mysterious quadruple killings of Massachusetts mother and her young children

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Authorities in Massachusetts are pleading to the public for help as they search for the killer of a mother and her three young children.

Here is what we know about the mysterious quadruple killings:

A tragic discovery

At about 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, police were called to a West Brookfield, Massachusetts, home, where they discovered the bodies of a mother and her three young children, the Worcester County District Attorney's Office said.

WCVB

The victims were identified as Sara Bermudez, 38; Madison Bermudez, 8; James Bermudez, 6; and Michael Bermudez, 2. All were found in an upstairs bedroom, according to police.

ABC affiliate WCVB, citing sources, reported that some victims were stabbed and some were burned.

Prosecutors have not released how the victims died and have also not said if there are any suspects.

Bermudez's husband, Moses Bermudez, was in California on business at the time the bodies were discovered, authorities said.

Reached by phone Sunday, Moses Bermudez told ABC News he had no comment.

Allan Jung/Worcester Telegram & Gazette via AP

A community on edge

A community vigil for the victims was held Sunday at the First Congregational Church of West Brookfield, according to Stacey Kullgren, pastor of the church.

About 170 people attended, including first responders, according to a church statement.

West Brookfield is home to about 3,700 residents.

"There is a lot of fear in the community," Kullgren told ABC News. "We don't have answers. We don't know who did this."

A clue in the case

Rick Cinclair/Worcester Telegram & Gazette via AP

While no one has been arrested, investigators have zeroed in on one clue: a yellow, plastic fuel can that police say is missing from the home.

Investigators urge anyone who has seen a can that fits the description to call the State Police Dispatch Center at 508-867-1170, the district attorney's office said this weekend.

Anyone in the area with active home or business surveillance cameras or dashboard-mounted cameras are also asked to call the police dispatch center.

ABC News' Bill Hutchinson contributed to this report.

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What we know about mysterious quadruple killings of mother and her young children

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Authorities in Massachusetts are pleading to the public for help as they search for the killer of a mother and her three young children. Here is what we know about the mysterious quadruple killings: At about 3:30 p.m.

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A 2-year-old girl has died after a mirror fell on top of her inside a Payless shoe store in Riverdale, Georgia.

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kills 2-year-old inside a payless - cnn video

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Mirror falls, kills 2-year-old inside a Payless - CNN Video

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A 2-year-old girl has died after a mirror fell on top of her inside a Payless ShoeSource store in Riverdale, Georgia.

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Kobe Bryant won an Oscar.

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VALERIE MACON/Getty Images
Add another accomplishment to Kobe Bryant's illustrious resume: Oscar winner.

Bryant took home an Academy Award in the animated short film category Sunday for his work as the executive producer of Dear Basketball. The piece journeys through Bryant's basketball career, starting when he was a child and venturing into his stardom with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
Kobe adds an Oscar to his legacy 👏 https://t.co/vIe3DhwK7c
2018-3-5 02:38:02

Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
Tonight, Kobe has a chance to add more hardware to his trophy case #Oscars https://t.co/95hqcZOBT8
2018-3-5 01:00:07

It was nominated for the 90th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, alongside Garden Party, Lou, Negative Space and Revolting Rhymes.

Bryant was nominated with animator Glen Keane, who is known for his work with Disney on films such as The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast.

Dear Basketball is based on the poem the Lakers great wrote in 2015 for the Players' Tribune.

Bryant expressed his appreciation on Twitter at the time of the nomination:

Kobe Bryant @kobebryant
What?? This is beyond the realm of imagination. It means so much that the @TheAcademy deemed #DearBasketball worthy of contention. Thanks to the genius of @GlenKeanePrd &amp; John Williams for taking my poem to this level. It's an honor to be on this team. #OscarNoms https://t.co/M2joyk9D1V
2018-1-23 13:40:38

There is no questioning Bryant's achievements on the basketball floor: He's a five-time NBA champion, the 2007-08 NBA MVP, a two-time NBA Finals MVP, a 15-time All-NBA selection, a two-time scoring champ and an 18-time All-Star. And he wasted little time finding success after his retirement.

Attention for the Oscar winner will now turn to what's next: ESPN announced in January it had teamed with Bryant's Granity Studios for a new basketball show called Detail, which Bryant will write, produce and host.

On Saturday, Bryant discussed his future projects with Kelley L. Carter of The Undefeated:
"They all center around sports. How do we take sports and tell beautiful tales, beautiful stories that connect to human nature? If you look at sports as a whole, it connects people worldwide, on a global scale. Much like music does. But what separates music from sports is that sports is something that unites people, something people do together."
Dear Basketball worked out well enough for Bryant, suggesting there may be more success to come for the future Hall of Famer.

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Kobe Bryant's 'Dear Basketball' Wins Oscar Award for Best Animated Short Film

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VALERIE MACON/Getty Images Add another accomplishment to Kobe Bryant's illustrious resume: Oscar winner. Bryant took home an Academy Award in the animated short film category Sunday for his work as the executive producer of Dear Basketball. The piece journeys through Bryant's basketball career, starting when he was a child and venturing into his stardom with the Los Angeles Lakers.

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First responder allegedly spit on child, used racial slur at Hooters restaurant

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Police say charges are pending against a person identified as a first responder who allegedly spit on and called a child by a racial slur in a suburban Kansas City restaurant.

The incident happened Monday night at a Hooters restaurant in Overland Park, Kansas.

Police Sgt. John Lacy told The Kansas City Star that the suspect is a first responder, but didn't say for which agency. Lacy says the person doesn't work in Kansas.

Police told KCTV that possible charges could include battery and making a criminal threat. Police haven't released the person's name.

Witnesses and family members of the child told police the suspect called the child, who is black, a slur while saying someone should get the child "up off the floor."

Police say the boy's family was at the restaurant celebrating a birthday.

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First responder allegedly spit on child, used racial slur at Hooters restaurant

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Police say charges are pending against a person identified as a first responder who allegedly spit on and called a child by a racial slur in a suburban Kansas City restaurant. The incident happened Monday night at a Hooters restaurant in Overland Park, Kansas. Police Sgt.

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A three-year-old girl has a neurological disorder,Moebius syndrome that causes facial paralysis which keeps her from smiling,her parents are trying to raise $125,000 for a surgery to see her smile for the first time.

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A couple is trying to raise $125,000 for a surgery that will allow their little girl to smile.

Three-year-old Addison Garvey has a neurological disorder, Moebius syndrome, that causes facial paralysis and prevents her from smiling.

During the operation, called facial reanimation, doctors would transfer the temporalis tendon from the top of Addison's face to the corners of her mouth, giving her the ability to smile for the first time in her life.

"We have never seen Addison smile, which has been so painful because she's such a happy girl, she has such a good attitude despite everything she's been through," her father James told news service SWNS.
ANGELINA JOLIE'S FACIAL PARALYSIS: WHAT IS BELL'S PALSY?
The pricey procedure would also help the 3-year-old with her speech, and her ability to swallow and chew. At the moment, she needs a ventilator and feeding tube to help her with those functions.

"It's so important for her social skills to be able to smile and move her face and to be able to do things we take for granted, like the ability to open and close her mouth," her father said.

"Addison's so bright, she's just 3 but she knows hundreds of signs and that's how she communicates," her mother Jennifer told SWNS.

"Intellectually she's above average, and it's difficult to watch how frustrated she gets because I know she just has so much to say," she explained.
PARENTS RACING TO SAVE TODDLER FROM 'CHILDHOOD ALZHEIMER'S'
The mother added how Addison and their 19-month-old son, Jackson, are able to communicate with each other. "It's amazing to see how much she and her brother love each other. They communicate in sign language which is amazing to watch."

The parents want Addison to have the surgery in 2019, before she starts kindergarten. The couple has started a GoFundMe page to raise money for the surgery.

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Toddler needs 125G surgery in order to smile for the first time

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A couple is trying to raise $125,000 for a surgery that will allow their little girl to smile. Three-year-old Addison Garvey has a neurological disorder, Moebius syndrome, that causes facial paralysis and prevents her from smiling.

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A study published Monday in the journal Pediatrics found five cancer-causing toxins in the urine of 16-year-olds who inhaled e-cigarette vapor, and a second study found, yet again, that e-cigarettes encourage teens to begin smoking traditional cigarettes.

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Story highlights

E-cigarettes are increasingly being used as a nicotine alternative as smokers seek ways to kick their habit. They work by heating a pure liquid called e-juice - composed of flavorings, propylene glycol, glycerin and often nicotine - until it vaporizes. The resulting vapor is much less offensive to both smokers and non-smokers.

But their use has become controversial due to a lack of evidence on their efficacy as anti-smoking aids, warnings about possible long-term health effects and numerous studies showing that teen use is a direct gateway to traditional cigarette smoking.

The latest salvo: Concerned with an "epidemic" surge in e-cigarette use by adolescents, the Food and Drug Administration took regulatory action against more than 1,300 US retailers and five major manufacturers for their roles in perpetuating youth access to e-cigarettes.

Calling it "the largest coordinated enforcement effort in the agency's history," the FDA told Juul and four other major manufacturers to provide plans to control sales to minors within 60 days or face potential criminal or civil action. The agency also plans to look closely at how kid-friendly e-juice flavors may be contributing to the spike in use.

"E-cigs have become an almost ubiquitous - and dangerous - trend among teens," FDA commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb said. "The disturbing and accelerating trajectory of use we're seeing in youth, and the resulting path to addiction, must end. It's simply not tolerable."

Science and public policy have bounced back and forth for over a decade, as different studies produce different - and sometimes contradictory - results. Let's take a look at the debate over the years:

2003 headline: Invention of e-cigarettes

Three pack-a-day smoker Hon Lik, a 52-year-old Beijing pharmacist, created the first successful electronic cigarette after his father, another heavy smoker, died of lung cancer. By 2007, e-cigarettes were marketed in Europe and the United States by manufacturer Ruyan as a way to safely stop smoking tobacco.

Hon was not the first person on record to have the idea for an electronic non-tobacco option. Herbert A. Gilbert filed for a patent in 1963, in an era when tobacco smoking was widely accepted and the health risks were less apparent.

In September 2008, the World Health Organization announced that marketers should immediately remove any claims that e-cigs are a "safe and effective smoking cessation aid" because there is "no scientific evidence to confirm the product's safety and efficacy."

2008 headline: WHO slams e-cigarette marketing

Soon after, a study funded by e-cigarette manufacturer Ruyan declared the product to be 100 to 1,000 times less dangerous than smoking tobacco, adding that when using its device, nicotine is "apparently not absorbed from the lung, but from the upper airways."

2010 headline: The battle heats up

In May 2009, the Food and Drug Administration released the results of a test of two US e-cig brands, NJOY and Smoking Everywhere, that found "very low" amounts of nicotine in cartridges labeled as nicotine-free. In July, an FDA news release discouraged the use of e-cigarettes, saying they contain carcinogens and an ingredient used in antifreeze, diethylene glycol.

Another concern of the FDA's: E-cigarettes are often marketed and sold to youngsters who, intrigued by the many flavors such as chocolate, bubble gum and mint, might easily adopt a smoking habit as a result of trying the devices.

Vape supporters counter that diethylene glycol was found at a very low, nontoxic level of 1% and that the carcinogens are at the same levels as other FDA-approved nicotine cessation products, like patches and gum.

By the end of the year, Amazon and Paypal restricted the sale of e-cigs on their websites.

2011 headline: Interest in vaping for smoking cessation is high

Science began to ramp up studies on the topic. Several studies found that interest in e-cigarettes was high among the American public: Google searches for e-cigs were higher in the US than any other nation.

A questionnaire of 3,500 e-cigarette users found that most vaped because they though it less toxic and cheaper than tobacco, and would help them quit or cut down on tobacco smoking. Most ex-smokers (79%) in the study were afraid they would relapse if they stopped using e-cigarettes. The study didn't examine the safety of the product.

Another, much smaller email study of 216 e-cigarette users found that 31% were tobacco-free at six months, and 66% were able to cut back on the number of conventional cigarettes they smoked. A still smaller study of 40 smokers also found that adding e-cigarettes helped smokers reduce the number of traditional cigarettes they smoked each day.

2012 headline: E-cigarette use doubles in adolescents

The US Centers for Disease Control announced that e-cigarette use among middle and high school students doubled between 2011 and 2012, mirroring a similar increase in adult use. Most alarming for policy makers: CDC concerns that vaping among adolescents may serve as a gateway to tobacco use.

To measure nicotine delivery, United Kingdom researchers tested 16 e-cigarettes with an automatic smoking machine and found wide variations in nicotine levels per puff, ranging from 0.5 to 15.4 milligrams. In contrast, the typical level from a tobacco puff ranges from 1.54 to 2.60. The wide variation between e-cigarette brands led researchers to question how well they can function as a nicotine replacement device.

2013 headline: Do e-cigs really help smokers quit?

Several 2013 publications showed minimal evidence that e-cigarettes help smokers quit. A cross-sectional study of 1,836 tobacco smokers found a significant association with e-cig use and "unsuccessful quitter" status but none with "quitter" status.

Another study of callers to state tobacco quitlines found e-cigarette users significantly less likely to be tobacco-free seven months after they first tried vaping, compared with participants who never tried e-cigarettes.

A New Zealand Health Research Council study of 657 smokers found e-cigarettes modestly effective in helping smokers quit. Interestingly enough, it didn't seem to matter whether they contained nicotine. But the results were similar to FDA-approved nicotine patches.

Some researchers worried that e-cigarette use might distract smokers from proven safe and effective methods for kicking their tobacco habit. "It's filter tipped, low tar, déjà vu all over again," Dr. Frank Leone and Dr. Ivor Douglas wrote in their essay "The Emergence of E-Cigarettes: A Triumph of Wishful Thinking over Science."

2014 headline: Poison center calls skyrocket

The CDC released data showing that the number of calls about nicotine e-juice to poison centers rose from a scant one call per month in 2010 to 215 calls per month in 2014. More than half of the calls involved children under the age of 5 ingesting, inhaling or getting the substance in their eyes or on the skin.

A study of over 75,000 Korean adolescents found e-cigarette use to be strongly associated with current and heavy traditional cigarette smoking. Data from the CDC found that the use of e-cigarettes among US high school students grew from 4.5% in 2013 to 13% in 2014. In that same period, use grew among middle-schoolers from 1% to 4%.

In regard to safety, a study found that e-cigarettes contain tobacco-specific nitrosamines and heavy metals like cadmium, nickel and lead but that the levels were nine to 450 times lower than traditional cigarettes. The effect on lung function of glycol derivatives found in e-cigarettes was also much less than conventional cigarettes.

Still, researchers weren't convinced. "Although these data suggest that e-cigarettes may be a safer alternative to conventional cigarettes," reviewers Bradley Drummond and Donna Upson said, "there are no data regarding the long-term cancer risk associated with low-level exposure to the detected carcinogens. Similar to cancer risk, there are no published data describing the long-term lung function or cardiovascular effects of e-cigarettes."

2015 headline: Vaping could be dangerous but perhaps a quitting aid

A New England Journal of Medicine study set off alarm bells by reporting that some e-cigarettes release formaldehyde, a probable carcinogen, when heated by high-voltage batteries.

Another study looked at 51 of the nearly 7,000 e-cigarette flavors currently marketed to check for a flavoring chemical called diacetyl that has been shown to be associated with a disease called popcorn lung. The study found diacetyl at higher than laboratory normal levels in 39 of the tested flavors. Researchers called for "urgent action" to evaluate the "potentially widespread exposure."

In December, a San Diego Veterans Affairs lab investigation found that two e-cigarette products damaged cells in ways that could lead to cancer, even when nicotine-free. Creating an extract from e-cig vapor, the researchers exposed cells in Petri dishes. The exposed cells showed breaks in DNA strands, which can lead to cancer, and a greater tendency toward cell death.

However, a 2015 report by Public Health England encouraged the medical licensing of e-cigarettes in the UK as nicotine replacement therapy, stating that the use of vaping is "95% safer than smoking" and "can help people to quit smoking and reduce their cigarette consumption" even "among those not intending to quit and rejecting other support."

And research from France's Health Baromete r, which conducted telephone interviews with over 15,000 people, found that e-cigs "could have helped several hundreds of thousands" quit smoking, at least temporarily.

2016 headline: Vaping a gateway to tobacco use for teens

In late January, BMJ published a study that quizzed more than 2,000 Hawaiian ninth- and 10th-graders about their e-cigarette and traditional cigarette use, then followed up a year later. Nearly all of the teens knew about vaping, and 68% considered e-cigarettes to be healthier than smoking.

They found that vapers were more than three times as likely to have begun smoking cigarettes by the next year compared with "never smokers."

In mid-June, the CDC released data about e-cigarette use among working adults, showing that about 5.5 million Americans use the devices but also tend to continue to smoke conventional tobacco products. Over 16% were still smoking cigarettes, 15% used other types of combustible tobacco, and nearly 10% used snuff or other smokeless tobacco.

On the same day, the CDC released information from the National Youth Risk Behavior Survey showing that while cigarette smoking was at an all-time low for high school students since 1991, 24% of them reported using e-cigarettes during the previous 30 days.

A study published in Pediatrics looked at cigarette use over a 20-year period by Southern California 11th- and 12th-graders and found that e-cigarettes were "recruiting a new group of users who would not likely have initiated combustible tobacco product use in the absence of e-cigarettes."

Another study showed that teens using flavored versions were less likely to see tobacco smoking as dangerous and therefore more likely to take up cigarette smoking. Quoting Department of Health and Human Services data, the study also said an estimated 5.6 million youth could die early from cigarette smoking-related illness unless youth smoking rates drop dramatically.

In August, the Food and Drug Administration announced that it would regulate all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, cigars, hookah tobacco and pipe tobacco, and would prohibit the sale to youth under the age of 18.

But the regulations didn't address the role of trendy flavorings, which some said help adults trying to kick their smoking habit. Critics say that leaves these alluring flavors on the market to entice kids to try e-cigarettes.

2017 headline: E-cigarettes may be safer than conventional cigarettes

Former smokers who replaced standard cigarettes with e-cigarettes substantially reduced their intake of cancer-causing chemicals, according to a study published in Annals of Internal Medicine in February.

And data released in the UK showed a decline in smoking rates simultaneous with a rise in people taking up vaping, with half of them reporting to switch to e-cigarettes to help them quit. Unlike some countries, such as Finland, the UK has supported the promotion of e-cigarettes as an aid to quitting.

In July, the Food and Drug Administration announced a "multi-year roadmap " for regulatory action on tobacco products, with a focus on cutting nicotine levels in traditional cigarettes.

But the agency stopped short of announcing expected regulations regarding e-cigarettes. Instead, it provided extensions to makers of new and existing vaping products, giving them until August 2022 to submit information to support their products' safety and efficacy as anti-smoking aides.

2018 headline: E-cig use a teen 'epidemic'

The year started out badly for smokers trying to use e-cigs to kick their habit. In February, a study of nearly 70,000 people found that daily e-cigarette use can double the risk for heart attack. If the user continues to smoke regular cigarettes each day along with e-cigarettes, the combined risk goes up five times.

But the big news in 2018 highlighted the growing risk of e-cig use among youth. A study published in Pediatrics found that e-cigarette vapor can contain up to five cancer-causing toxins. Researchers found significantly higher levels of benzene, ethylene oxide, acrylonitrile, acrolein and acrylamide in the saliva and urine of teens 13 to 18 who had smoked e-cigarettes recently; if they also smoked cigarettes, the levels were even higher.

Another study in Pediatrics found that youth who experiment with e-cigarettes were nearly two times more likely to become established smokers of regular tobacco cigarettes.

In April, the FDA launched the Youth Tobacco Prevention Plan, designed to address the growing use of e-cigarettes in preteens and teens. The agency started slowly, asking manufacturers for information on youth trends and cracking down the marketing of on e-liquids that resembled kid-friendly foods like juice boxes, candy and cookies.

In early September, the FDA took the "historic action" of sending over a thousand warning letters and administering 131 fines to stores for the illegal sale of e-cigarettes to minors.

Again, the agency stopped short of prohibiting the manufacture and sales of e-juice flavorings, asking the manufacturers to take a hard look at the practice and make needed changes.

"They say they've changed from the days of Joe Camel," Gottlieb said. "But look at what's happening right now. They must demonstrate that they're truly committed to keeping these new products out of the hands of kids, and they must find a way to reverse this trend."

Stay tuned: The FDA is promising additional action soon.

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us department of health and human services

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centers for disease control and prevention

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E-cigarettes are increasingly being used as a nicotine alternative as smokers seek ways to kick their habit. They work by heating a pure liquid called e-juice - composed of flavorings, propylene glycol, glycerin and often nicotine - until it vaporizes. The resulting vapor is much less offensive to both smokers and non-smokers.

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Animals stolen from Florida wildlife sanctuary

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Authorities say dozens of animals have been stolen from a Florida wildlife sanctuary.

WSVN reports seven lemurs, five marmosets, four monkeys, seven birds and 13 tortoises were taken from We Care Wildlife Sanctuary near Miami between Saturday night and Sunday morning.

Volunteer Cindy Robert said some of the animals are in need of medication and because of that may die.

She said someone made the false claim in a post on Craigslist that the sanctuary was going out of business and giving up its exotic animals. The ad told people to "just go around back and take what you want."

Robert is asking people to bring the animals back. Authorities say the owner of the sanctuary recently moved and did not have surveillance cameras installed.

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Animals stolen from Florida wildlife sanctuary

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Authorities say dozens of animals have been stolen from a Florida wildlife sanctuary. WSVN reports seven lemurs, five marmosets, four monkeys, seven birds and 13 tortoises were taken from We Care Wildlife Sanctuary near Miami between Saturday night and Sunday morning. Volunteer...

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Toronto police find 7th set of remains connected to serial killer.

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In addition, police took the extraordinary step of releasing a photo of a bearded man who they believe is a deceased victim of the alleged serial killer, and they asked the public for help in identifying the John Doe.

"We need to put a name to this face and bring closure to his loved ones," said Detective Sgt. Hank Idsinga.

Bruce McArthur, 66, was arrested earlier this year and has been charged with six counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Selim Esen, Andrew Kinsman, Majeed Kayhan, Dean Lisowick, Soroush Mahmoudi and Skandaraj Navaratnam.

The human remains, discovered in planters on a property connected to McArthur, were all dismembered body parts in various stages of decomposition, Idsinga said.

Of the seven sets of human remains discovered in planters, three have been identified as belonging to Kinsman, Mahmudi and Navaratnam. The other four sets of remains are still unidentified, officials said.

Idsinga said he was releasing the image of the John Doe because they had not yet found anyone who knew him.

"I do not want to release this picture and I'm doing so as a last resort," Idsinga said.

The arrest of McArthur, a self-employed landscaper who sometimes worked as a mall Santa, has roiled the LGBTQ community in Toronto. All of the six named victims are men, and McArthur had relationships with each of them, some of which were sexual, Toronto Police Service spokeswoman Meaghan Gray said.

Paul Ciantar, 54, told CNN last month that he had seen McArthur around Toronto's Gay Village. He did not personally know McArthur, but he knew people who did.

"They all said that they never would have suspected him," Ciantar told CNN. "He looks like Santa Claus. He looks harmless. That probably really helped him."

CNN's Mayra Cuevas and Tony Marco contributed to this report.

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toronto police find 7th set of remains connected to serial killer - cnn

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Toronto police find 7th set of remains connected to serial killer

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In addition, police took the extraordinary step of releasing a photo of a bearded man who they believe is a deceased victim of the alleged serial killer, and they asked the public for help in identifying the John Doe. "We need to put a name to this face and bring closure to his loved ones," said Detective Sgt.

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Conservatives -- including House Speaker Paul Ryan -- are striking back after President Donald Trump announced last week he planned to raise tariffs on aluminum and steel coming into the US. "We are extremely worried about the consequences of a trade war and are urging the White House to not advance with this plan," Ryan spokeswoman AshLee Strong said in a statement Monday morning. "The new tax reform law has boosted the economy and we certainly don't want to jeopardize those gains."

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"We are extremely worried about the consequences of a trade war and are urging the White House to not advance with this plan," Ryan spokeswoman AshLee Strong said in a statement Monday morning. "The new tax reform law has boosted the economy and we certainly don't want to jeopardize those gains."

Earlier Monday, Ryan's office blasted out a CNBC article that linked a drop in the markets to Trump's planned levies on steel and aluminum.

"Stocks opened lower on Monday as investors mulled over potential US steel and aluminum tariffs," the lead sentence of the story stated. The article has since been updated to reflect the most recent movements in the stock market, but the move underscores just how frustrated conservatives are.

In recent days, the President's actions on trade have stunned the GOP in new ways. In the wake of the announcement, Republicans haven't been shy about their displeasure with the Trump administration's decision. Many lawmakers have issued strong rebukes of Trump's plans and outside conservative groups have also spoken out.

On Monday, the Club for Growth, an outside conservative group, announced opposition to the planned tariffs.

"The idea of imposing steel or aluminum tariffs of any kind is an affront to economic freedom," stated Club for Growth President David McIntosh said in a statement. "First and foremost, it's bad for the American worker. For every steel worker job that might be saved because of a tariff, our country will lose even more American jobs in auto plants, construction, and so many other industries."

Sen. Pat Roberts, the chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, told reporters last week that Trump's decision on tariffs was the wrong one.

"Every time you do this, you get a retaliation. And agriculture is the number one target. I think this is terribly counterproductive for the (agriculture) economy and I'm not very happy," Roberts said.

CNN's Ted Barrett contributed to this report.

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other conservatives fear trade war from trump's tariffs - cnnpolitics

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Ryan, other conservatives fear trade war from Trump's tariffs

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"We are extremely worried about the consequences of a trade war and are urging the White House to not advance with this plan," Ryan spokeswoman AshLee Strong said in a statement Monday morning. "The new tax reform law has boosted the economy and we certainly don't want to jeopardize those gains."

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Utica college on lockdown due to 'credible threat' no confirmed shots or injuries.

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Utica College in upstate New York is on lockdown "due to a real, credible threat," the school said, adding that there are no confirmed shots fired and no reported injuries.

There is also no suspect in custody, the school said.

Everyone on campus is asked to shelter in place, the school said, adding that "law enforcement continues to investigate [the] threat."

Google Maps

Armed police officers are on campus and are evacuating buildings and helping students and staff to safe locations, the school added.

According to ABC affiliate WUTR-TV in Utica, the lockdown was initiated after two phone calls were made threatening "to take some sort of action" at the school's Gordon Science Center.

WUTR

The school, located in Utica, New York, is about 50 miles east of Syracuse.

This story is developing. Please check back for more updates.

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Upstate NY college locked down due to threat; no confirmed shots fired or injuries

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Utica College in upstate New York is on lockdown "due to a real, credible threat," the school said, adding that there are no confirmed shots fired and no reported injuries. There is also no suspect in custody, the school said.

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Indonesian villagers kill rare tiger after believing it was a shapeshifter

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Remote Indonesian villagers who were becoming increasingly fearful that a shapeshifter was hiding out in their community killed and disemboweled a rare Sumatran tiger on Sunday because they thought it harnessed supernatural powers, conservation officials say.

The bloodied carcass of the critically endangered big cat was photographed Sunday hanging from beams covering a public gathering space in Hatupangan in north Sumatra.

"Unfortunately they would not listen. They insisted on killing the tiger," Hotmauli Sianturi, the regional head of Indonesia's Natural Resources Conservation Agency, told Sky News. "After killing the animal, the locals hung up its body for display. It's very regrettable."

Authorities investigating the killing have discovered that the tiger is missing canine teeth, claws and skin off its face and tail - all body parts that can be used in medicine or sold in the black market, according to Reuters.

Activists said the tiger had been prowling in the area for more than a month and injured one person before it was tracked down and executed, the news agency added.

"The tiger was sleeping under a resident's stilt house when the people struck him repeatedly in the abdomen with a spear," Lion Muslim Nasution, an official in the Batang Natal subdistrict- where the village is located - told the Jakarta Post.
MEXICAN OFFICIALS FIND TIGER CUB IN MAIL PACKAGE
The attack on Sunday reportedly left two villagers seriously injured and happened despite repeated warnings from conservation officials to leave the tiger alone.

Nasution said the locals were aware of the tiger's endangered status but were overcome by rumors and fears that a shapeshifter was lurking in the village.

It was not immediately clear why the villagers believed the tiger was anything more than an animal. Only around 400 of the big cats are estimated to be left in the wild, according to the World Wildlife Fund.

"In Indonesia, anyone caught hunting tigers could face jail time and steep fines," the organization says in a section of its website devoted to the animal. "But despite increased efforts in tiger conservation-including strengthening law enforcement and anti-poaching capacity-a substantial market remains in Sumatra and the rest of Asia for tiger parts and products."
REMARKABLE VIDEO SHOWS TIGER AND BEAR LOCKED IN FEROCIOUS FIGHT
Sianturi was quoted by Reuters as saying that officials will "prove that its body parts are being traded.

"We explained to the villagers that the tiger is an endangered animal," she said, noting that conservation officials had set up a trap for it, "but they didn't like our way of handling this situation."

Police in the leafy Southeast Asian country have found a number of other killed animals in recent months following conflicts with farmers and plantation workers, Reuters reported.

On Borneo, officers have arrested at least two people for two separate incidents in which orangutans were decapitated and shot more than 130 times with an air rifle.

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Indonesian villagers kill rare tiger after believing it was a shapeshifter, conservation officials say

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Remote Indonesian villagers who were becoming increasingly fearful that a shapeshifter was hiding out in their community killed and disemboweled a rare Sumatran tiger on Sunday because they thought it harnessed supernatural powers, conservation officials say. The bloodied carcass of the critically endangered big cat was photographed Sunday hanging from beams covering a public gathering space in Hatupangan in north Sumatra.

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Authorities in Massachusetts are pleading to the public for help as they search for the killer of a mother and her three young children. At about 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, police were called to a West Brookfield, Massachusetts, home, where they discovered the bodies of a mother and her three young children, the Worcester County District Attorney's Office said

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Authorities in Massachusetts are pleading to the public for help as they search for the killer of a mother and her three young children.

Here is what we know about the mysterious quadruple killings:

A tragic discovery

At about 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, police were called to a West Brookfield, Massachusetts, home, where they discovered the bodies of a mother and her three young children, the Worcester County District Attorney's Office said.

WCVB

The victims were identified as Sara Bermudez, 38; Madison Bermudez, 8; James Bermudez, 6; and Michael Bermudez, 2. All were found in an upstairs bedroom, according to police.

ABC affiliate WCVB, citing sources, reported that some victims were stabbed and some were burned.

Prosecutors have not released how the victims died and have also not said if there are any suspects.

Bermudez's husband, Moses Bermudez, was in California on business at the time the bodies were discovered, authorities said.

Reached by phone Sunday, Moses Bermudez told ABC News he had no comment.

Allan Jung/Worcester Telegram & Gazette via AP

A community on edge

A community vigil for the victims was held Sunday at the First Congregational Church of West Brookfield, according to Stacey Kullgren, pastor of the church.

About 170 people attended, including first responders, according to a church statement.

West Brookfield is home to about 3,700 residents.

"There is a lot of fear in the community," Kullgren told ABC News. "We don't have answers. We don't know who did this."

A clue in the case

Rick Cinclair/Worcester Telegram & Gazette via AP

While no one has been arrested, investigators have zeroed in on one clue: a yellow, plastic fuel can that police say is missing from the home.

Investigators urge anyone who has seen a can that fits the description to call the State Police Dispatch Center at 508-867-1170, the district attorney's office said this weekend.

Anyone in the area with active home or business surveillance cameras or dashboard-mounted cameras are also asked to call the police dispatch center.

ABC News' Bill Hutchinson contributed to this report.

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What we know about mysterious quadruple killings of mother and her young children

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Authorities in Massachusetts are pleading to the public for help as they search for the killer of a mother and her three young children. Here is what we know about the mysterious quadruple killings: At about 3:30 p.m.

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Invasive rodent threatens California wetlands and there's talk about eating them.

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If you can't beat them, eat them?

Wildlife officials in California are asking residents to report any sightings of nutria - an invasive rodent that threatens wetlands-- and at least one report raises the question of whether or not the rodents should be eaten.

There is no indication that the rodent is anywhere close to being on the menus at Craig's or the Polo Lounge, but The Verge's report said other states that have grappled with nutria have turned to eating them.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife said Thursday it is trying to eradicate the rodents from the state because once established, nutria could cause loss of wetlands, damage to agricultural crops and levees, dikes and roadbeds.

It says more than 20 nutria have been found in wetlands, rivers and canals and in Merced, Fresno and Stanislaus counties. The Verge reported that they were eradicated in the state in the 1970s. The worry is that they are prolific reproducers.

A female nutria can give birth to more than 200 offspring within a year of reaching reproductive maturity. They are found in 18 U.S. states, including Louisiana. The Verge's report links out to the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries website that offers recipes for soups and salads. They apparently taste great in jambalaya.

Native to South America, nutria can reach up to 2.5 feet in body length and 20 pounds in weight. It is considered healthier than turkey and has a similar taste to wild rabbit. The Verge's report pointed out that on nutria comes with four drumsticks.

Nutria were introduced to the U.S. in 1937 by an entrepreneur hoping to raise them for their fur. But some escaped from captivity and began to thrive in the Louisiana wetlands. By 1955, there were an estimated 20 million wild nutria in the state, devouring the grasses that kept coastal marshes from becoming free water. They were kept in check only by a flourishing trade in their pelts.

But by the 1990s the fur market dried up, and the nutria multiplied.
The Associated Press contributed to this report

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Invasive rodent threatens California wetlands and there's talk about eating them

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If you can't beat them, eat them? Wildlife officials in California are asking residents to report any sightings of nutria - an invasive rodent that threatens wetlands-- and at least one report raises the question of whether or not the rodents should be eaten.