npr--2020-01-07--Ukrainian Jetliner Crashes Near Tehran Airport, Killing All 176 Aboard

Updated at 4:50 a.m .
ET A Ukraine International Airlines jetliner reportedly carrying 176 passengers and crew has crashed near Tehran 's Imam Khomeini International Airport , according to Iran state television , which said all those aboard are dead .
Iranian officials said they believe one of the plane 's engines caught fire .
Ukraine 's foreign minister , Vadym Prystaiko , wrote in a tweet that the victims included 82 Iranians , 63 Canadians , 11 Ukrainians ( including the 9 crew members ) , 10 passengers from Sweden , four Afghans , three Germans and three from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most of the passengers were likely en route to make connecting flights in Kyiv , according to The Associated Press .
Flightradar24 , a website that tracks commercial aviation in real time , said flight 752 , a Boeing 737-800 , `` crashed shortly after takeoff from Tehran . ''
The website said the jetliner departed Wednesday at 6:12 a.m. local time ( 9:42 p.m. Tuesday ET ) .
The plane climbed to 7,350 feet about two minutes after takeoff and then telemetry was lost , according to FlightAware data .
The director-general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hassan Rezaeifar , said that the aircraft did not declare an emergency .
Exactly what happened to the airplane is not yet clear .
Iranian officials quickly attributed the crash to a mechanical issue .
Later , Qassem Biniaz , a spokesman for Iran 's Road and Transportation Ministry quoted by the state-run IRNA news agency , said one of the engines apparently caught fire and a witness on the ground was quoted by the AP as saying he heard `` a massive explosion . ''
Another witness quoted by the news agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the plane toward a soccer field and away from a residential area .
Reza Jafarzadeh , a ministry spokesman , said a team of investigators had been dispatched to the site on the southwestern outskirts of Tehran .
An Iranian emergency official told state TV that all those aboard the plane were killed in the crash and that rescuers were recovering remains .
The Associated Press reports that where the jetliner went down , its journalists saw a field littered with debris and that bodies were strewn among pieces of the plane .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ rescue workers wearing face masks as they retrieved bodies .
`` The fire is so heavy that we can not ( do ) any rescue ... we have 22 ambulances , four bus ambulances and a helicopter at the site , '' Pirhossein Koulivand , head of Iran 's emergency services , told Iran state television , according to Reuters .
Initially , Iran state television reported 180 passengers and crew were aboard the airplane , but later said the figure was 170 .
In a statement hours after the first reports , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the plane was carrying 167 passengers and 9 crew members .
He confirmed that all aboard the plane had been killed and that authorities were trying to clarify the circumstances of the crash .
`` My sincere condolences to the relatives and friends of all passengers and crew , '' Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said , according to Reuters .
The news agency quoted Zelenskiy as saying Ukraine 's consul in Iran was at the crash site .
Zelenskiy himself was on a visit to Oman but returning to the capital due to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement .
The crash came just hours after Iran launched missiles into Iraq to retaliate against a U.S. drone strike last week that killed Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani , the commander of Iran 's Quds Force , in Baghdad .
In addition , the crash occurred less than an hour after the Federal Aviation Administration prohibited U.S. civil aviation `` from operating in the airspace over Iraq , Iran , and the waters of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman . ''
According to aviation tracking sites , the plane @ @ @ @ @ @ @ twin-engine airliner that is in service around the world .
The plane that crashed was manufactured about 3 1/2 years ago and is an earlier generation than the troubled MAX aircraft that has been grounded globally after two deadly crashes in 2018 and last year .
Boeing 737-800s have been involved in other fatal accidents over the years , including in 2016 , when a FlyDubai 737-800 crashed in Russia , killing 62 people .
In 2010 , an Air India 737-800 crashed in southern India , killing 150 passengers and crew .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ maker was aware of the crash and was gathering more information .
This is a developing story .
Some things reported by the media will later turn out to be wrong .
We will focus on reports from officials and other authorities , credible news outlets and reporters who are at the scene .
We will update as the situation develops .

Ukrainian Jetliner Crashes Near Tehran Airport, Killing All 176 Aboard
Enlarge this image toggle caption Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Updated at 4:50 a.m. ET
A Ukraine International Airlines jetliner, reportedly carrying 176 passengers and crew, has crashed near Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport, according to Iran state television, which said all those aboard are dead. Iranian officials said they believe one of the plane's engines caught fire.
Ukraine's foreign minister, Vadym Prystaiko, tweeted that the victims included 82 Iranians, 63 Canadians, 11 Ukrainians (including the 9 crew members), 10 passengers from Sweden, four Afghans, three Germans and three from the United Kingdom.
Airline officials said most of the passengers were likely en route to make connecting flights in Kyiv, according to The Associated Press.
Flightradar24, a website that tracks commercial aviation in real time, said flight 752, a Boeing 737-800, "crashed shortly after takeoff from Tehran." The website said the jetliner departed Wednesday at 6:12 a.m. local time (9:42 p.m. Tuesday ET).
Enlarge this image toggle caption SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
The plane climbed to 7,350 feet about two minutes after takeoff and then telemetry was lost, according to FlightAware data.
The director-general of the Iran Civil Aviation Organization, Hassan Rezaeifar, said the aircraft did not declare an emergency.
Exactly what happened to the airplane is not yet clear. Iranian officials quickly attributed the crash to a mechanical issue.
Later, Qassem Biniaz, a spokesman for Iran's Road and Transportation Ministry quoted by the state-run IRNA news agency, said one of the engines apparently caught fire, and a witness on the ground was quoted by the AP as saying he heard "a massive explosion." Another witness quoted by the news agency said he believed the pilot had steered the plane toward a soccer field and away from a residential area.
Reza Jafarzadeh, a ministry spokesman, said a team of investigators had been dispatched to the site on the southwestern outskirts of Tehran.
An Iranian emergency official told state TV that all those aboard the plane were killed in the crash and that rescuers were recovering remains.
The Associated Press reports that where the jetliner went down, its journalists saw a field littered with debris and that bodies were strewn among pieces of the plane. Television footage showed burning plane parts and rescue workers wearing face masks as they retrieved bodies.
"The fire is so heavy that we cannot (do) any rescue ... we have 22 ambulances, four bus ambulances and a helicopter at the site," Pirhossein Koulivand, head of Iran's emergency services, told Iran state television, according to Reuters.
Initially, Iran state television reported 180 passengers and crew were aboard the airplane, but later said the figure was 170.
In a statement hours after the first reports, Ukraine Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk clarified that the plane was carrying 167 passengers and nine crew members. He confirmed that all aboard the plane had been killed and that authorities were trying to clarify the circumstances of the crash.
"My sincere condolences to the relatives and friends of all passengers and crew," Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said, according to Reuters.
The news agency quoted Zelenskiy as saying Ukraine's consul in Iran was at the crash site. Zelenskiy himself was on a visit to Oman but returning to the capital because of the crash, his office said in a statement.
We are following reports that a Ukrainian 737-800 has crashed shortly after takeoff from Tehran. #PS752 departed Tehran at 02:42UTC. Last ADS-B data received at 02:44UTC. https://t.co/qXWHUPGDTu pic.twitter.com/vuAi6TOqTp — Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) January 8, 2020
The crash came just hours after Iran launched missiles into Iraq to retaliate against a U.S. drone strike last week that killed Qassem Soleimani, the commander of Iran's Quds Force, in Baghdad.
In addition, the crash occurred less than an hour after the Federal Aviation Administration prohibited U.S. civil aviation "from operating in the airspace over Iraq, Iran, and the waters of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman."
According to aviation tracking sites, the plane is a 737-800, a common single-aisle twin-engine airliner that is in service around the world. The plane that crashed was manufactured about 3 1/2 years ago and is an earlier generation than the troubled Max aircraft that has been grounded globally after two deadly crashes in 2018 and last year.
Boeing 737-800s have been involved in other fatal accidents over the years, including in 2016, when a FlyDubai 737-800 crashed in Russia, killing 62 people. In 2010, an Air India 737-800 crashed in southern India, killing 150 passengers and crew.
We are aware of the media reports out of Iran and we are gathering more information. — The Boeing Company (@Boeing) January 8, 2020
A statement from Boeing said the aircraft-maker was aware of the crash and was gathering more information.
This is a developing story. Some things reported by the media will later turn out to be wrong. We will focus on reports from officials and other authorities, credible news outlets and reporters who are at the scene. We will update as the situation develops.


npr--2020-01-07--Study Finds Talcum Powder Not Likely A Risk For Ovarian Cancer

Study Finds Talcum Powder Not Likely A Risk For Ovarian Cancer In recent years , women have taken talcum powder manufacturers to court over concerns that the use of the product in the genital area could cause ovarian cancer .
Now , a new study finds no meaningful association between using talc-based or other powders and ovarian cancer .
Researchers from NIH 's National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Cancer Institute conducted the largest study to date of genital powder use and ovarian cancer .
The study , published Tuesday in JAMA , used data from 252,745 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used powder on their genitals .
This was a pooled analysis of four large studies gathering data about the frequency and length of time women used the powder .
According to epidemiologist Katie O'Brien who headed the study , women report applying the powder either directly on their genital area or on sanitary napkins , tampons , underwear or diaphragms .
O'Brien does n't know exactly which type of powder women used .
It could have been talcum powder alone , cornstarch alone or a combination of both .
The research finds that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an 8 % increased risk of ovarian cancer compared to those who never used it .
`` That is not a statistically significant increase '' says O'Brien .
And she adds that this increase needs to be understood in context .
Ovarian cancer is very rare and the lifetime risk of getting it is 1.3 % so an increase of 8 % to that is `` small . ''
O'Brien says it represents an estimated 0.09 % increase in risk by age 70 .
But among the subset of women who had their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increased risk of ovarian cancer from using powder in their genital area was 13 % — which is an estimated 0.15 % increase in risk by age 70 and is still considered a very small increase .
Unlike most other studies of talc and ovarian cancer , which focused on women already diagnosed with cancer , this study was prospective , and asked about powder use before study subjects had developed ovarian cancer .
This means the study is free from recall bias , says O'Brien .
It removes the likelihood that study @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have ovarian cancer , and may over-report certain things they have heard may be associated with it . ''
Rates of powder use have declined over the last 50 years , yet it remains a routine practice for some women , says Dr. Dana Gossett , a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of California , San Francisco .
She wrote an editorial accompanying the study but was not involved in the study itself .
`` Women have used powders for genital hygiene for decades to absorb odor and moisture , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an association between the use of talc-containing powders for genital hygiene and epithelial ovarian cancer risks have provided inconsistent results , says Gossett and have resulted in an `` ongoing controversy . ''
Concerns have been raised about possible contamination of mineral talc with asbestos , a known cancer risk .
Most powder products include some mineral talc .
Researchers say it 's been hypothesized that the powder could induce an inflammatory response by irritating epithelial ovarian tissue or fallopian tubes directly which , in turn , could set off a cascade of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and cell division , all of which could contribute to carcinogenesis .
Gossett says the new study finding `` does n't really support any association [ of powder use with ovarian cancer ] . ''
`` No study can ever say definitively what the cause of cancer is , but this study at least shows there 's not a substantial increase in ovarian cancer risk , '' she says .
The study has several limitations .
Researchers were not able to document how frequently or how long women used powder nor were they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the powder .
It also included mostly white women .
Anecdotally , black women are more likely to use baby powder .
Obstetrician Gossett says the study findings should be `` reassuring to women that if they are choosing to use powders on their genitals that they 're not doing something horrendous . ''
Gossett also notes that due to the very small number of cancer cases in the data , the study was `` underpowered . ''
She suggests that future analyses would be strengthened by focusing on women with intact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ timing and duration of exposure to powder in the genital area .
In the meantime , since there 's no medical reason to use talcum powder , researcher O'Brien suggests women weigh perceived benefit with possible risk .
Study participants will continue to be followed to track ovarian cancer development in the future , she says .

Study Finds Talcum Powder Not Likely A Risk For Ovarian Cancer
Enlarge this image toggle caption Phatharapol Nopharat/EyeEm/Getty Images Phatharapol Nopharat/EyeEm/Getty Images
In recent years, women have taken talcum powder manufacturers to court over concerns that the use of the product in the genital area could cause ovarian cancer. Now, a new study finds no meaningful association between using talc-based or other powders and ovarian cancer.
Researchers from NIH's National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Cancer Institute conducted the largest study to date of genital powder use and ovarian cancer. The study, published Tuesday in JAMA, used data from 252,745 women who answered questions about whether they used powder on their genitals. This was a pooled analysis of four large studies gathering data about the frequency and length of time women used the powder.
According to epidemiologist Katie O'Brien who headed the study, women report applying the powder either directly on their genital area or on sanitary napkins, tampons, underwear or diaphragms. O'Brien doesn't know exactly which type of powder women used. It could have been talcum powder alone, cornstarch alone or a combination of both.
The research finds that women who had ever used powder had an 8% increased risk of ovarian cancer compared to those who never used it. "That is not a statistically significant increase" says O'Brien. And she adds that this increase needs to be understood in context. Ovarian cancer is very rare and the lifetime risk of getting it is 1.3% so an increase of 8% to that is "small." O'Brien says it represents an estimated 0.09% increase in risk by age 70.
But among the subset of women who had their uterus and fallopian tubes intact, their increased risk of ovarian cancer from using powder in their genital area was 13% — which is an estimated 0.15% increase in risk by age 70 and is still considered a very small increase.
Unlike most other studies of talc and ovarian cancer, which focused on women already diagnosed with cancer, this study was prospective, and asked about powder use before study subjects had developed ovarian cancer. This means the study is free from recall bias, says O'Brien. It removes the likelihood that study subjects "search for reasons why they have ovarian cancer, and may over-report certain things they have heard may be associated with it."
Rates of powder use have declined over the last 50 years, yet it remains a routine practice for some women, says Dr. Dana Gossett, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of California, San Francisco. She wrote an editorial accompanying the study but was not involved in the study itself.
"Women have used powders for genital hygiene for decades to absorb odor and moisture," she says.
Earlier investigations of an association between the use of talc-containing powders for genital hygiene and epithelial ovarian cancer risks have provided inconsistent results, says Gossett and have resulted in an "ongoing controversy." Concerns have been raised about possible contamination of mineral talc with asbestos, a known cancer risk. Most powder products include some mineral talc.
Researchers say it's been hypothesized that the powder could induce an inflammatory response by irritating epithelial ovarian tissue or fallopian tubes directly which, in turn, could set off a cascade of increased oxidative stress levels, DNA damage and cell division, all of which could contribute to carcinogenesis.
Gossett says the new study finding "doesn't really support any association [of powder use with ovarian cancer]."
"No study can ever say definitively what the cause of cancer is, but this study at least shows there's not a substantial increase in ovarian cancer risk," she says.
The study has several limitations. Researchers were not able to document how frequently or how long women used powder nor were they able to identify exactly what ingredients were in the powder. It also included mostly white women. Anecdotally, black women are more likely to use baby powder.
Obstetrician Gossett says the study findings should be "reassuring to women that if they are choosing to use powders on their genitals that they're not doing something horrendous."
Gossett also notes that due to the very small number of cancer cases in the data, the study was "underpowered." She suggests that future analyses would be strengthened by focusing on women with intact reproductive tracts, with particular attention to timing and duration of exposure to powder in the genital area.
In the meantime, since there's no medical reason to use talcum powder, researcher O'Brien suggests women weigh perceived benefit with possible risk. Study participants will continue to be followed to track ovarian cancer development in the future, she says.


npr--2020-01-07--Iran Launches Missile Attacks On Military Bases Housing U.S. Troops In Iraq

Iran Launches Missile Attacks On Military Bases Housing U.S .
Troops In Iraq Iran has launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles against U.S. military and coalition forces , targeting at least two military bases in Iraq , the U.S. Defense Department announced late Tuesday .
The strikes on military and coalition personnel at the Ain al-Assad air base in Anbar province and in Irbil — at the center of Iraq 's Kurdistan region — began at approximately 5:30 p.m .
ET , according to a statement .
Iran 's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif defended the strike saying it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' `` Iran took & concluded proportionate measures in self-defense under Article 51 of UN Charter targeting base from which cowardly armed attack against our citizens & senior officials were launched , '' he wrote in a tweet .
The attacks come less than a week after a U.S. drone strike killed the top Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani in Iraq .
Iran had vowed to avenge the killing and Zarif suggested the Tuesday bombing may be the extent of Iran 's planned retribution .
`` We do not seek escalation or war @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aggression , '' Zarif said .
President Trump projected an air of cheerful calm on Tuesday night , tweeting : `` All is well !
Missiles launched from Iran at two military bases located in Iraq . ''
He said damage is being assessed but , `` So far , so good !
We have the most powerful and well equipped military anywhere in the world , by far !
I will be making a statement tomorrow morning . ''
In a statement , Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said officials are working to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There were no immediate reports of casualties .
White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said Trump has been briefed on the situation and is monitoring it closely with his national security team .
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary Mark Esper arrived at the White House late on Tuesday .
Hours earlier Esper had cautioned that the administration expected Iran would `` retaliate in some way shape or form , '' adding that it could come from proxy groups outside of Iran .
The Federal Aviation Administration has banned civilian flights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the waters of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman . ''
Iranian media outlets , meanwhile , report that Iran 's Islamic Revolutionary Guard claimed responsibility for the attack , saying it was carried out in `` hard revenge '' for Soleimani .
`` We are warning the US that if they take any further action , they will receive a harsher response , '' it said in a statement , according to state-run ISNA .
The organization also called on Americans to `` prevent more damage by asking for their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' `` They should n't let the lives of the military personnel be exposed to more potential danger because of the acts of their government . ''
Members of Congress , who have already expressed frustration with Trump for circumventing them before striking against Soleimani , are warning the U.S. can not afford to start a war with Iran .
`` We must ensure the safety of our service members , including ending needless provocations from the Administration and demanding that Iran cease its violence , '' House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wrote in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Iranian attacks by Vice President Pence earlier in the evening , her staff said .
Florida Republican Marco Rubio said , `` A full assessment is underway to determine an appropriate response . ''
Iran has used short-range ballistic missiles for attacks against ISIS , and also a deadly precision strike against Kurdish leaders in 2018 .
All of Iran 's ballistic missile forces are under the control of the IRGC Aerospace Force , Fabian Hinz , an expert on Iranian military and missile systems at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the Tuesday airstrike is not symbolic , but a serious attack .
This is a developing story .
Some things reported by the media will later turn out to be wrong .
We will focus on reports from officials and other authorities , credible news outlets and reporters who are at the scene .
We will update as the situation develops .

Iran Launches Missile Attacks On Military Bases Housing U.S. Troops In Iraq
Enlarge this image toggle caption Nasser Nasser/AP Nasser Nasser/AP
Updated at 10:03 p.m. ET
Iran has launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles against U.S. military and coalition forces, targeting at least two military bases in Iraq, the U.S. Defense Department announced late Tuesday.
The strikes on military and coalition personnel at the Ain al-Assad air base in Anbar province and in Irbil — at the center of Iraq's Kurdistan region — began at approximately 5:30 p.m. ET, according to a statement.
Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif defended the strike, saying it was an act of "self-defense."
"Iran took & concluded proportionate measures in self-defense under Article 51 of UN Charter targeting base from which cowardly armed attack against our citizens & senior officials were launched," he wrote in a tweet.
The attacks come less than a week after a U.S. drone strike killed the top Iranian military commander, Qassem Soleimani, in Iraq.
Iran had vowed to avenge the killing, and Zarif suggested the Tuesday bombing may be the extent of Iran's planned retribution.
"We do not seek escalation or war, but will defend ourselves against any aggression," Zarif said.
President Trump projected an air of cheerful calm on Tuesday night, tweeting: "All is well! Missiles launched from Iran at two military bases located in Iraq."
He said damage is being assessed but, "So far, so good! We have the most powerful and well equipped military anywhere in the world, by far! I will be making a statement tomorrow morning."
In a statement, Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said officials are working to assess the extent of the damage.
Hoffman added:
"In recent days and in response to Iranian threats and actions, the Department of Defense has taken all appropriate measures to safeguard our personnel and partners. These bases have been on high alert due to indications that the Iranian regime planned to attack our forces and interests in the region. "As we evaluate the situation and our response, we will take all necessary measures to protect and defend U.S. personnel, partners, and allies in the region."
There were no immediate reports of casualties.
White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said Trump has been briefed on the situation and is monitoring it closely with his national security team.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary Mark Esper arrived at the White House late on Tuesday.
Hours earlier, Esper had cautioned that the administration expected Iran would "retaliate in some way shape or form," adding that it could come from proxy groups outside of Iran.
The Federal Aviation Administration has banned civilian flights over "Iraq, Iran, and the waters of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman."
Iranian media outlets, meanwhile, report that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was carried out in "hard revenge" for Soleimani.
"We are warning the US that if they take any further action, they will receive a harsher response," it said in a statement, according to state-run ISNA.
The organization also called on Americans to "prevent more damage by asking for their soldiers to be sent back home."
"They shouldn't let the lives of the military personnel be exposed to more potential danger because of the acts of their government."
Members of Congress, who have already expressed frustration with Trump for circumventing them before striking against Soleimani, are warning the U.S. cannot afford to start a war with Iran.
"We must ensure the safety of our service members, including ending needless provocations from the Administration and demanding that Iran cease its violence," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wrote in a tweet.
"America & world cannot afford war," she added.
Pelosi was briefed on the Iranian attacks by Vice President Pence earlier in the evening, her staff said.
Florida Republican Marco Rubio said, "A full assessment is underway to determine an appropriate response."
Iran has used short-range ballistic missiles for attacks against ISIS, and also a deadly precision strike against Kurdish leaders in 2018.
All of Iran's ballistic missile forces are under the control of the IRGC Aerospace Force, Fabian Hinz, an expert on Iranian military and missile systems at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, told NPR.
Hinz added that the Tuesday airstrike is not symbolic, but a serious attack.
This is a developing story. Some things reported by the media will later turn out to be wrong. We will focus on reports from officials and other authorities, credible news outlets and reporters who are at the scene. We will update as the situation develops.
NPR's Ayda Pourasad contributed to this report.


npr--2020-01-08--U.S. Army Alert: You Are Not Being Drafted

U.S. Army Alert : You Are Not Being Drafted The U.S. Army wants Americans to know they have not been selected for a military draft despite a rash of texts that falsely tells people they 're heading to fight a war against Iran .
The warning comes amid escalating tensions with Iran .
Last week , the U.S. launched a drone strike that killed top Iranian military leader , Gen. Qassem Soleimani , and in retaliation , Tehran launched more than a dozen missiles at two military bases in Iraq on Tuesday .
`` U.S. Army Recruiting Command has received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ text messages and wants to ensure Americans understand these texts are false and were not initiated by this command or the U.S. Army , '' officials said in a statement on Wednesday .
The notice clarified that the decision to enact a draft is not made at or by U.S. Army Recruiting Command .
It is made by the Selective Service System , a separate agency outside of the Department of Defense .
A screenshot of one of the messages claims Army officials have made repeated attempts to contact the individual .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mail several times and have had no response .
You 've been marked eligible and must come to the nearest branch in Jacksonville , Florida , for immediate departure to Iran , '' the text says .
It also threatens that the recipient will `` be fined and sent to jail for minimum 6 years if no reply . ''
A second version of the message states , `` You 've been marked eligible and must come to the nearest branch in New Jersey Area for immediate departure to Iran . ''
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immediately .
There does not seem to be any particular demographic that is being targeted by the messages .
`` It does seem pretty random , '' Lisa Ferguson , media relations chief for U.S. Army Recruiting Command , told NPR .
`` I spoke with a mom on Monday whose 14-year-old daughter had received the text and her friends had also received a text , '' Ferguson said .
`` We have no way of knowing , you know , why people are getting them or who 's being sent the text @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has not been held since 1973 and the military has been an all-volunteer force since then .
For now , Ferguson said , Army recruiting operations are proceeding as normal .

U.S. Army Alert: You Are Not Being Drafted
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mike Knaak/AP Mike Knaak/AP
The U.S. Army wants Americans to know they have not been selected for a military draft despite a rash of texts that falsely tell people they're heading to fight a war against Iran.
The warning comes amid escalating tensions with Iran. Last week, the U.S. launched a drone strike that killed the top Iranian military leader, Gen. Qassem Soleimani, and in retaliation, Tehran launched more than a dozen missiles at two military bases in Iraq on Tuesday.
"U.S. Army Recruiting Command has received multiple calls and emails about these fake text messages and wants to ensure Americans understand these texts are false and were not initiated by this command or the U.S. Army," officials said in a statement on Wednesday.
The notice clarified that the decision to enact a draft is not made at or by U.S. Army Recruiting Command. It is made by the Selective Service System, a separate agency outside of the Department of Defense.
A screenshot of one of the messages claims Army officials have made repeated attempts to contact the individual.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Lisa Ferguson/U.S. Army Recruiting Command Lisa Ferguson/U.S. Army Recruiting Command
"We've tried contacting you through the mail several times and have had no response. You've been marked eligible and must come to the nearest branch in Jacksonville, Florida, for immediate departure to Iran," the text says.
It also threatens that the recipient will "be fined and sent to jail for minimum 6 years if no reply."
A second version of the message states, "You've been marked eligible and must come to the nearest branch in New Jersey Area for immediate departure to Iran." It also instructs the recipient to contact officials immediately.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Lisa Ferguson/U.S. Army Recruiting Command Lisa Ferguson/U.S. Army Recruiting Command
There does not seem to be any particular demographic that is being targeted by the messages.
"It does seem pretty random," Lisa Ferguson, media relations chief for U.S. Army Recruiting Command, told NPR.
"I spoke with a mom on Monday whose 14-year-old daughter had received the text and her friends had also received a text," Ferguson said.
"We have no way of knowing, you know, why people are getting them or who's being sent the text," she added.
The draft has not been held since 1973 and the military has been an all-volunteer force since then.
For now, Ferguson said, Army recruiting operations are proceeding as normal.


npr--2020-01-08--California Governor Pushes $1.4 Billion Plan To Tackle Homelessness

As the homelessness crisis in California grows more acute , Gov .
Gavin Newsom is planning to ask lawmakers for $ 1.4 billion to pay monthly rents , build more shelters and provide treatment to those struggling with finding long-term housing , the governor 's office announced on Wednesday .
Newsom also signed an executive order directing agencies to locate public properties near state roads and highways that can be used for short-term emergency shelters .
The order additionally calls for using 100 camping trailers for temporary housing and the development of a multi-agency `` strike team '' to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Homelessness is a national crisis , one that 's spreading across the West Coast and cities across the country .
The state of California is treating it as a real emergency – because it is one , '' Newsom said in a statement , describing his budget proposal on homelessness a `` massive infusion of state dollars . ''
The ambitious plan comes in the context of a mounting homeless crisis in the state .
A report released Tuesday from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development issued a report underscored the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , finding that more than a quarter of the nation 's homeless population resides in the state , totaling about 151,000 people .
The report noted that while homelessness declined in most states over the past year , it went in the opposite direction in California , where the homeless population jumped 16 % in one year .
In a briefing with reporters , a HUD official said the response to homelessness in California is not at the scale of the problem .
`` Affordable housing problems are a massive and overwhelming contributor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , speaking on background .
`` Certainly any efforts to make housing more affordable and to increase the supply of affordable housing and to increase development of housing .
Those are all going to be important to turning the ship around and reducing homelessness . ''
The briefing came as the Trump administration doubled down on criticism of state leaders in California for not adequately dealing with the state 's swelling homeless ranks .
President Trump has repeatedly attacked state lawmakers ' inability to curb the state 's homelessness problem , vowing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if the crisis does not start turning the corner .
`` It 's a shame .
The world is looking at it , '' said Trump in September of the state 's struggles with homelessness .
The White House has blamed the `` overregulation of housing markets '' on the country 's homelessness issues .
Last year , Trump sent a team of aides to California on a fact-finding mission on solutions to homelessness in the state .
The administration is weighing a number of proposals , including moving those who do not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal facilities , but it is not clear how the idea would work in practice .
The Environmental Protection Agency , in October , issued a notice to San Francisco officials that they were violating the Clean Water Act for polluting ocean waters with homeless encampment drainage , an allegation one elected official in California called a `` fraudulent political attack . ''
Newsom is hopeful his proposal , expected to be sent to state lawmakers on Friday , will put a dent in rising homelessness in the country 's most populous state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the money in Newsom 's plan , or about $ 750 million , would be placed in a special fund to pay the rent of individuals facing homelessness and to spur the building of affordable housing .
The money would be drawn from a one-time fund of surplus tax revenue collections as the state expects another tax collection windfall in the coming year of about $ 7 billion .
Another large slice of funding – $ 695 million – to boost the state 's Medicaid programs to expand services for homeless individuals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health problems .
`` Californians have lots of compassion for those among us who are living without shelter .
But we also know what compassion is n't .
Compassion is n't allowing a person suffering a severe psychotic break or from a lethal substance abuse addiction to literally drift towards death on our streets and sidewalks , '' Newsom said .
Newsom hopes the taxpayer-funded plan begins to put a dent in the homeless crisis , but he is calling on philanthropy and the private sector to address California 's deep homelessness problem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Newsom is expected on Friday , and the legislature has until June 15 to pass a deal .

California Governor Pushes $1.4 Billion Plan To Tackle Homelessness
Enlarge this image toggle caption Chris Carlson/AP Chris Carlson/AP
As the homelessness crisis in California grows more acute, Gov. Gavin Newsom is planning to ask lawmakers for $1.4 billion to pay monthly rents, build more shelters and provide treatment to those struggling with finding long-term housing, the governor's office announced on Wednesday.
Newsom also signed an executive order directing agencies to locate public properties near state roads and highways that can be used for short-term emergency shelters. The order additionally calls for using 100 camping trailers for temporary housing and the development of a multiagency "strike team" to help get people off the streets.
"Homelessness is a national crisis, one that's spreading across the West Coast and cities across the country. The state of California is treating it as a real emergency — because it is one," Newsom said in a statement, describing his budget proposal on homelessness a "massive infusion of state dollars."
The ambitious plan comes in the context of a mounting homelessness crisis in the state.
A report released Tuesday from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development underscored the depth of the homelessness problem in California, finding that more than a quarter of the nation's homeless population resides in the state, totaling about 151,000 people.
The report noted that while homelessness declined in most states over the past year, it went in the opposite direction in California, where the homeless population jumped 16% in one year.
In a briefing with reporters, a HUD official said the response to homelessness in California is not at the scale of the problem.
"Affordable housing problems are a massive and overwhelming contributor," said a top HUD official, speaking on background. "Certainly any efforts to make housing more affordable and to increase the supply of affordable housing and to increase development of housing — those are all going to be important to turning the ship around and reducing homelessness."
Trump's feud with California officials over homelessness problem
The briefing came as the Trump administration doubled down on criticism of state leaders in California for not adequately dealing with the state's swelling homeless ranks.
President Trump has repeatedly attacked state lawmakers' inability to curb the state's homelessness problem, vowing to enlist the federal government to get involved if the crisis does not start turning the corner.
"It's a shame. The world is looking at it," Trump said in September of the state's struggles with homelessness.
The White House has blamed the "overregulation of housing markets" on the country's homelessness issues.
Last year, Trump sent a team of aides to California on a fact-finding mission on solutions to homelessness in the state. The administration is weighing a number of proposals, including moving those who do not have permanent, stable housing into refurbished federal facilities, but it is not clear how the idea would work in practice.
In October, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a notice to San Francisco officials that they were violating the Clean Water Act for polluting ocean waters with homeless encampment drainage, an allegation one elected official in California called a "fraudulent political attack."
A $1.4 billion plan to combat homelessness
Newsom is hopeful his proposal, expected to be sent to state lawmakers on Friday, will put a dent in rising homelessness in the country's most populous state.
According to California officials, most of the money in Newsom's plan, or about $750 million, would be placed in a special fund to pay the rent of individuals facing homelessness and to spur the building of affordable housing.
The money would be drawn from a one-time fund of surplus tax revenue collections as the state expects another tax collection windfall in the coming year of about $7 billion.
Another large slice of funding — $695 million — is to boost the state's Medicaid programs to expand services for homeless individuals whose housing struggles are directly linked to health problems.
"Californians have lots of compassion for those among us who are living without shelter. But we also know what compassion isn't. Compassion isn't allowing a person suffering a severe psychotic break or from a lethal substance abuse addiction to literally drift towards death on our streets and sidewalks," Newsom said.
Newsom hopes the taxpayer-funded plan begins to put a dent in the homeless crisis, but he is calling on philanthropy and the private sector to address California's deep homelessness problem.
The formal state budget proposal from Newsom is expected on Friday, and the legislature has until June 15 to pass a deal.
NPR's Pam Fessler contributed to this report.


npr--2020-01-08--Raising The Minimum Wage By $1 May Prevent Thousands Of Suicides, Study Shows

Raising The Minimum Wage By $ 1 May Prevent Thousands Of Suicides , Study Shows A new study suggests that raising the minimum wage might lower the suicide rate — especially when unemployment is high — and that doing so might have saved tens of thousands of people from dying by suicide in the last quarter century .
The minimum federal minimum wage is $ 7.25 , though many states have set it higher .
Between 1990 and 2015 , raising the minimum wage by $ 1 in each state might have saved more than 27,000 lives , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health .
An increase of $ 2 in each state 's minimum wage could have prevented more than 57,000 suicides .
`` This is a way that you can , it seems , improve the well-being of people working at lower-wage jobs and their dependents , '' says John Kaufman , the lead author on the study and an epidemiology doctoral student at Emory University .
Crucially , researchers found that raising the minimum wage appears to reduce the suicide rate more when it 's harder to find @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same $ 1 increase could save more people than it might during good times .
`` The higher unemployment is , the stronger that potential protective effect appears to be , '' says Kaufman .
The researchers found that 26,000 deaths could have been prevented following the 2009 peak in unemployment during the last recession had the minimum wage been $ 2 higher .
The report focused on less educated adults because that group is more likely to earn the minimum wage .
That group is also at a higher risk of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Raising the minimum wage did not seem to affect whether college graduates would die by suicide .
A number of other researchers are exploring the connections between the economy and our well-being.The study is the third in less than a year to show that raising the minimum wage may lower suicide rates , says Dr. Alexander Tsai , an associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard 's Massachusetts General Hospital , who was not involved with the current research .
A working paper published by the National Bureau of Economic Research in April 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the Earned Income Tax Credit by 10 % each could prevent 1,230 people from dying by suicide each year .
What 's new about the study led by Kaufman , says Tsai , is its discovery that the wage hikes lower the suicide rates more when unemployment is high .
These papers are part of a surge in interest in the link between health and the minimum wage , he says .
Of around 30 studies linking the raises to a range of better health outcomes , Tsai estimates that most were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tsai also researches how economic opportunity affects health .
He is a senior author on a study , published in JAMA Internal Medicine , that found opioid overdoses increased by 85 % in counties five years after an automotive plant closed .
`` In a lot of areas around the country we 're seeing that the American dream is really not panning out for a lot of people , '' he says .
To figure out whether the minimum wage was related to suicide rates , Kaufman and his coauthors looked at both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month between 1990 to 2015 .
They ran the numbers through a mathematical model which showed , on average , that for every $ 1 increase in the minimum wage , the suicide rate lowered by somewhere between 3.5 % to 6 % .
When they added unemployment rates into the model , they found that the effect of each $ 1 increase appeared to be greater when more people were out of work .
Because the study looked at state-level data and not at individuals , `` it is not able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reduce suicide rates , '' Kaufman said via email .
But without knowing exactly why , there is n't enough evidence to justify raising the minimum wage , says Aparna Mathur , an economist at the conservative American Enterprise Institute .
`` On the face of it I think the idea makes sense , '' she says , but `` the analysis is at such an aggregate level that we do n't understand what the link is . ''
The study also needs more detailed data before it can rule out the potential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Assistance Benefits , or food stamps , which she says could possibly help protect against suicide .
( Kaufman says his study controls for the effect of another low income program , Aid to Families with Dependent Children/Temporary Assistance for Needy Families . )
Focusing the study on suicide may also mask other impacts that are less harmful but still serious , Mathur says .
Minimum wage hikes could cause an employer to cut someone 's job or hold off on hiring new staff .
In that case , `` they may not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be worse off [ economically ] , '' she says .
In the absence of a direct answer to why there is a relationship between increasing the minimum wage and lower suicide rates , Kaufman is planning future work to see whether depression , a risk factor for suicide , also decreases with wage hikes .
`` There 's a lot of information that we would like to have to fill in the gaps , '' but the data they do have suggests raising the minimum wage could be an intervention to prevent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brings up other questions about how raising the minimum wage might affect mental health , says Tsai .
He speculated that suicide attempts , which occur 20 to 30 times for every completed suicide , may also be found to decrease with higher minimum wages .
Similarly , higher wages could help parents create more economic stability for their children .
This , in turn , make them less likely to face adverse childhood events , such as intimate partner violence and child abuse , which can harm their physical and mental health @ @ @

Raising The Minimum Wage By $1 May Prevent Thousands Of Suicides, Study Shows
Enlarge this image toggle caption Matt Rourke/AP Matt Rourke/AP
A new study suggests that raising the minimum wage might lower the suicide rate — especially when unemployment is high — and that doing so might have saved tens of thousands of people from dying by suicide in the last quarter century.
The minimum federal minimum wage is $7.25, though many states have set it higher. Between 1990 and 2015, raising the minimum wage by $1 in each state might have saved more than 27,000 lives, according to a report published this week in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health. An increase of $2 in each state's minimum wage could have prevented more than 57,000 suicides.
"This is a way that you can, it seems, improve the well-being of people working at lower-wage jobs and their dependents," says John Kaufman, the lead author on the study and an epidemiology doctoral student at Emory University.
If you or someone you know may be considering suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (En Español: 1-888-628-9454; Deaf and Hard of Hearing: 1-800-799-4889) or the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741.
Crucially, researchers found that raising the minimum wage appears to reduce the suicide rate more when it's harder to find a job. In bad times, the same $1 increase could save more people than it might during good times.
"The higher unemployment is, the stronger that potential protective effect appears to be," says Kaufman.
The researchers found that 26,000 deaths could have been prevented following the 2009 peak in unemployment during the last recession had the minimum wage been $2 higher.
The report focused on less-educated adults because that group is more likely to earn the minimum wage. That group is also at a higher risk of depression and suicide, says Kaufman. Raising the minimum wage did not seem to affect whether college graduates would die by suicide.
A number of other researchers are exploring the connections between the economy and our well-being. The study is the third in less than a year to show that raising the minimum wage may lower suicide rates, says Dr. Alexander Tsai, an associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard's Massachusetts General Hospital, who was not involved with the current research.
A working paper published by the National Bureau of Economic Research in April 2019 estimated that raising the minimum wage and the earned income tax credit by 10% each could prevent 1,230 people from dying by suicide each year.
What's new about the study led by Kaufman, says Tsai, is its discovery that the wage hikes lower the suicide rates more when unemployment is high.
These papers are part of a surge in interest in the link between health and the minimum wage, he says. Of around 30 studies linking the raises to a range of better health outcomes, Tsai estimates that most were published in the past five years.
Tsai also researches how economic opportunity affects health. He is a senior author on a study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, that found opioid overdoses increased by 85% in counties five years after an automotive plant closed.
"In a lot of areas around the country, we're seeing that the American dream is really not panning out for a lot of people," he says.
To figure out whether the minimum wage was related to suicide rates, Kaufman and his coauthors looked at both numbers, by state, for every month between 1990 to 2015. They ran the numbers through a mathematical model which showed, on average, that for every $1 increase in the minimum wage, the suicide rate lowered by somewhere from 3.5% to 6%. When they added unemployment rates into the model, they found that the effect of each $1 increase appeared to be greater when more people were out of work.
Because the study looked at state-level data and not at individuals, "it is not able to show why the wage hike appeared to reduce suicide rates," Kaufman said via email.
Without knowing exactly why, there isn't enough evidence to justify raising the minimum wage, says Aparna Mathur, an economist at the conservative American Enterprise Institute.
"On the face of it, I think the idea makes sense," she says, but "the analysis is at such an aggregate level that we don't understand what the link is."
The study also needs more detailed data before it can rule out the potential impact of programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or food stamps, which she says could possibly help protect against suicide. (Kaufman says his study controls for the effect of another low-income program, Aid to Families with Dependent Children/Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.)
Focusing the study on suicide may mask other impacts that are less harmful but still serious, Mathur says. Minimum wage hikes could cause an employer to cut someone's job or hold off on hiring new staff. In that case, "they may not be committing suicide, but they still could be worse off [economically]," she says.
In the absence of a direct answer to why there is a relationship between increasing the minimum wage and lower suicide rates, Kaufman is planning future work to see whether depression, a risk factor for suicide, also decreases with wage hikes.
"There's a lot of information that we would like to have to fill in the gaps," but the data they do have suggest raising the minimum wage could be an intervention to prevent suicides, says Kaufman.
The study brings up other questions about how raising the minimum wage might affect mental health, says Tsai. He speculated that suicide attempts, which occur 20 to 30 times for every completed suicide, may also be found to decrease with higher minimum wages. Similarly, higher wages could help parents create more economic stability for their children. This, in turn, makes them less likely to face adverse childhood events, such as intimate partner violence and child abuse, which can harm their physical and mental health as adults.
Graison Dangor is a journalist in Brooklyn.


npr--2020-01-08--Reduce Health Costs By Nurturing The Sickest? A Much-Touted Idea Disappoints

Improving health and lowering costs for the sickest and most expensive patients in America is a dream harder to realize than many health care leaders had hoped , according to a study published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine .
Researchers tested whether pairing frequently hospitalized patients in Camden , N.J. , with nurses and social workers could stop that costly cycle of readmissions .
The study found no effect : Patients receiving extra support were just as likely to return to the hospital within 180 days as those not receiving that help .
The results are a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers , the organization he founded nearly 20 years ago .
`` It 's my life 's work .
So , of course , you 're upset and sad , '' says Brenner , who now does similar work with health insurance giant UnitedHealthcare .
The model of care , pioneered in part by Brenner and profiled in a widely read 2011 article in The New Yorker , has inspired dozens of similar projects across the country and attracted millions in philanthropic funding .
`` This is the messy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who won a MacArthur Foundation `` Genius Grant '' for his efforts .
`` Sometimes things work the way you want them to work and sometimes they do n't . ''
Many hospital and insurance executives have pinned their hopes on this research because it promised to solve a common problem : when patients ' lives are so complicated by social factors like poverty and addiction that their manageable medical conditions , like diabetes and asthma , lead to expensive , recurring hospital stays .
Writer and physician Atul Gawande introduced Brenner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the `` worst-of-the-worst patients '' in the New Yorker piece , titled `` The Hot Spotters . ''
( Gawande , who now heads Haven , a joint venture of Amazon , Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan Chase , declined to be interviewed for this article . )
Brenner 's prescription : Pair these patients with front-line care workers who would shepherd them to the social and medical services they needed .
Early evidence was promising , the anecdotes inspiring .
Brenner boiled the model 's potential down to four words and two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ costs .
As word spread , breathless headlines popped up like `` Health Care 's Best Hope , '' and `` Could Camden Coalition Save U.S. Health Care ? ''
`` Lots of organizations make claims that their programs work and they 've never been rigorously tested , '' Brenner says .
Instead , Brenner took the unusual step of inviting the scrutiny of respected researchers .
In 2014 , Massachusetts Institute of Technology economist Amy Finkelstein began a randomized controlled trial , the same rigorous method used to evaluate new drugs .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 800 patients ; all had been recently hospitalized and all struggled with social problems .
Half received the usual care patients get when leaving the hospital .
The other half got about 90 days of intensive social and medical assistance from the coalition .
And the result : The 400 patients who received the intensive help were just as likely to return to the hospital as the patients who did n't .
In both groups , nearly two-thirds of people were readmitted within 180 days .
So why did the Coalition fail , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Why did the savings touted in their early data , which Gawande had declared `` revolutionary '' in The New Yorker nearly a decade ago , disappear when put to this rigorous test ?
The experience of Larry Moore , one of the patients in the MIT study , reveals a road map as to why the Coalition missed its mark .
Moore , who has hypertension , alcohol addiction , chronic seizures and difficulty walking , was one of the first people to enroll in the Coalition 's trial .
His @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , medical appointments attended , Social Security benefits claim in process .
The 47-year-old even started to trust the team with the details of his deep-seated addiction — confiding about how he sometimes would consume mouthwash , vanilla extract and even hand sanitizer .
He `` could n't keep anything with alcohol in it '' around , Moore says of his dependency in those days .
`` That 's addiction . ''
But all the progress he 'd started to make with the social workers suddenly stopped when Moore disappeared from the Coalition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see Mr. Moore after November , '' says nurse Jeneen Skinner .
`` We went to the house .
We sent text messages .
We [ made ] phone calls . ''
The Coalition has since learned that , for people living in poverty and with poor health , a single hiccup — in Moore 's case , a missed rent payment — can spiral into a major setback .
Missing that rent payment led to Moore 's spending the next 2½ years mostly homeless , completely out of touch with the Coalition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to place .
I [ would ] sleep on a bench or a rock until the next day when the liquor store [ opened ] , '' Moore remembers .
`` That was my daily routine . ''
Seventy emergency room visits and six hospital admissions later , Moore reconnected with Skinner .
He told her the one thing that would keep him out of the hospital : housing .
Too many times , during the research study , people ended up back in the hospital despite the intervention .
But the Coalition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much as the larger social safety net did .
`` The bottom line is , we built a brilliant intervention to navigate people to nowhere , '' says Brenner .
Coalition staff and their patients usually knew what was needed — evidence-based addiction treatment , housing , mental health services — but resources were often in short supply .
Over the past three years , the Coalition has set out to fill in those gaps — and , along the way , undergone a kind of metamorphosis .
`` We think of ourselves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ steering away from the `` health care providers '' part of the name , says Kathleen Noonan , who succeeded Brenner as head of the organization .
The Coalition has forged partnerships with jails , lawyers and legislators , and started its own housing program .
Many of these efforts began toward the end of the clinical trial — a sign the Coalition was seeing the handwriting on the wall .
`` I would have never imagined this , '' says Moore , sweeping his arm around the one-bedroom apartment he lives in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sunshine .
A stuffed animal decorates the bed .
`` When I first moved in here , '' Moore explains , `` it took me about a month to even sleep in my bed .
I slept on a couch . ''
Housing also made it easier to face his other problem — drinking .
Moore chose to try the drug naltrexone , a long-acting injection to treat alcohol addiction .
Today , Moore is nearly two years sober .
He meets with a Coalition support group on Wednesdays , and is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his church .
In the 22 months he has lived in an apartment , Moore 's trips to the hospital have plummeted : just one admission and one ER visit .
`` I kid you not , when I saw Mr. Moore probably a month ago , I was standing next to him and did not recognize him , '' says nurse Skinner .
`` He looked at me , and said , 'Jeneen , it 's me .
And I was like , 'My God , you look amazing ! '
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — one story .
Yet it represents a larger trend .
Insurers — including UnitedHealthcare under Brenner 's direction — hospitals and many state Medicaid agencies have begun spending millions to meet patients ' social needs .
Still , the study published Wednesday backs up the skepticism of other researchers that , when it comes to saving money at least , these approaches do n't work well .
For one , programs are expensive and hard to scale .
The Coalition 's housing effort currently serves only 50 people and costs about $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's an expensive proposition that may not pencil out .
`` Despite what people would like to believe , there 's not a lot of evidence you can reduce health spending by spending more in other areas , '' cautions Boston University economist Austin Frakt .
Finkelstein says that as health care companies move further beyond the four walls of a hospital , the need for rigorous evaluation grows .
`` I think a lot of well-intentioned people in health care ca n't handle the truth , '' she says .
`` They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they do n't have the courage to say , 'Let 's do a gut check on ourselves . '
'' Eighteen years ago , Brenner hypothesized the Coalition — with some savvy navigation and hard-earned trust — could guide the most complicated patients towards better health and cut spending .
Finkelstein 's randomized controlled trial shows that idea fell short .
Coalition CEO Kathleen Noonan , considers it progress , even if it 's not the progress so many had wanted .
`` People like stories about success and they like stories about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I 'm really hoping that this is a story about complexity — and about courage . ''
Dan Gorenstein is the creator and co-host of Tradeoffs podcast and Leslie Walker is a producer on the show , which features the study on the Camden Coalition in episode 7 .
Kaiser Health News is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation .

Reduce Health Costs By Nurturing The Sickest? A Much-Touted Idea Disappoints
Enlarge this image Katie Edwards/Ikon Images/Getty Images Katie Edwards/Ikon Images/Getty Images
Improving health and lowering costs for the sickest and most expensive patients in America is a dream harder to realize than many health care leaders had hoped, according to a study published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Researchers tested whether pairing frequently hospitalized patients in Camden, N.J., with nurses and social workers could stop that costly cycle of readmissions. The study found no effect: Patients receiving extra support were just as likely to return to the hospital within 180 days as those not receiving that help.
The results are a blow to Dr. Jeffrey Brenner and the Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers, the organization he founded nearly 20 years ago.
"It's my life's work. So, of course, you're upset and sad," says Brenner, who now does similar work with health insurance giant UnitedHealthcare.
The model of care, pioneered in part by Brenner and profiled in a widely read 2011 article in The New Yorker, has inspired dozens of similar projects across the country and attracted millions in philanthropic funding.
"This is the messy thing about science," says Brenner, who won a MacArthur Foundation "Genius Grant" for his efforts. "Sometimes things work the way you want them to work and sometimes they don't."
The hope
Many hospital and insurance executives have pinned their hopes on this research because it promised to solve a common problem: when patients' lives are so complicated by social factors like poverty and addiction that their manageable medical conditions, like diabetes and asthma, lead to expensive, recurring hospital stays.
Writer and physician Atul Gawande introduced Brenner as a brash visionary crusading on behalf of the "worst-of-the-worst patients" in the New Yorker piece, titled "The Hot Spotters." (Gawande, who now heads Haven, a joint venture of Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan Chase, declined to be interviewed for this article.)
Brenner's prescription: Pair these patients with front-line care workers who would shepherd them to the social and medical services they needed. Early evidence was promising, the anecdotes inspiring. Brenner boiled the model's potential down to four words and two tantalizing goals: better care, lower costs.
As word spread, breathless headlines popped up like "Health Care's Best Hope," and "Could Camden Coalition Save U.S. Health Care?"
"Lots of organizations make claims that their programs work and they've never been rigorously tested," Brenner says.
Instead, Brenner took the unusual step of inviting the scrutiny of respected researchers.
In 2014, Massachusetts Institute of Technology economist Amy Finkelstein began a randomized controlled trial, the same rigorous method used to evaluate new drugs. Over four years, the Coalition enrolled 800 patients; all had been recently hospitalized and all struggled with social problems. Half received the usual care patients get when leaving the hospital. The other half got about 90 days of intensive social and medical assistance from the coalition.
And the result: The 400 patients who received the intensive help were just as likely to return to the hospital as the patients who didn't. In both groups, nearly two-thirds of people were readmitted within 180 days.
So why did the Coalition fail, at least in its initial cost-saving goal? Why did the savings touted in their early data, which Gawande had declared "revolutionary" in The New Yorker nearly a decade ago, disappear when put to this rigorous test?
The experience of Larry Moore, one of the patients in the MIT study, reveals a road map as to why the Coalition missed its mark.
'My daily routine'
Moore, who has hypertension, alcohol addiction, chronic seizures and difficulty walking, was one of the first people to enroll in the Coalition's trial.
His first months were promising: prescriptions filled, medical appointments attended, Social Security benefits claim in process. The 47-year-old even started to trust the team with the details of his deep-seated addiction — confiding about how he sometimes would consume mouthwash, vanilla extract and even hand sanitizer.
He "couldn't keep anything with alcohol in it" around, Moore says of his dependency in those days. "That's addiction."
But all the progress he'd started to make with the social workers suddenly stopped when Moore disappeared from the Coalition's radar.
"We didn't see Mr. Moore after November," says nurse Jeneen Skinner. "We went to the house. We sent text messages. We [made] phone calls."
The Coalition has since learned that, for people living in poverty and with poor health, a single hiccup — in Moore's case, a missed rent payment — can spiral into a major setback.
Missing that rent payment led to Moore's spending the next 2½ years mostly homeless, completely out of touch with the Coalition.
"I was going from place to place. I [would] sleep on a bench or a rock until the next day when the liquor store [opened]," Moore remembers. "That was my daily routine."
Seventy emergency room visits and six hospital admissions later, Moore reconnected with Skinner.
He told her the one thing that would keep him out of the hospital: housing.
The 'Camden Coalition'
Too many times, during the research study, people ended up back in the hospital despite the intervention. But the Coalition is convinced it didn't fail as much as the larger social safety net did.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Dan Gorenstein/Tradeoffs Dan Gorenstein/Tradeoffs
"The bottom line is, we built a brilliant intervention to navigate people to nowhere," says Brenner.
Coalition staff and their patients usually knew what was needed — evidence-based addiction treatment, housing, mental health services — but resources were often in short supply.
Over the past three years, the Coalition has set out to fill in those gaps — and, along the way, undergone a kind of metamorphosis.
"We think of ourselves now as the Camden Coalition" — steering away from the "health care providers" part of the name, says Kathleen Noonan, who succeeded Brenner as head of the organization.
The Coalition has forged partnerships with jails, lawyers and legislators, and started its own housing program. Many of these efforts began toward the end of the clinical trial — a sign the Coalition was seeing the handwriting on the wall.
'I kid you not'
"I would have never imagined this," says Moore, sweeping his arm around the one-bedroom apartment he lives in today.
A green houseplant sits in the sunshine. A stuffed animal decorates the bed.
"When I first moved in here," Moore explains, "it took me about a month to even sleep in my bed. I slept on a couch."
Housing also made it easier to face his other problem — drinking. Moore chose to try the drug naltrexone, a long-acting injection to treat alcohol addiction.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Dan Gorenstein/Tradeoffs Dan Gorenstein/Tradeoffs
Today, Moore is nearly two years sober. He meets with a Coalition support group on Wednesdays, and is in training to become a deacon at his church. In the 22 months he has lived in an apartment, Moore's trips to the hospital have plummeted: just one admission and one ER visit.
"I kid you not, when I saw Mr. Moore probably a month ago, I was standing next to him and did not recognize him," says nurse Skinner. "He looked at me, and said, 'Jeneen, it's me. And I was like, 'My God, you look amazing!' "
Larry Moore's story is just that — one story. Yet it represents a larger trend. Insurers — including UnitedHealthcare under Brenner's direction — hospitals and many state Medicaid agencies have begun spending millions to meet patients' social needs.
Still, the study published Wednesday backs up the skepticism of other researchers that, when it comes to saving money at least, these approaches don't work well. For one, programs are expensive and hard to scale. The Coalition's housing effort currently serves only 50 people and costs about $14,000 per person per year.
It's an expensive proposition that may not pencil out. "Despite what people would like to believe, there's not a lot of evidence you can reduce health spending by spending more in other areas," cautions Boston University economist Austin Frakt.
Finkelstein says that as health care companies move further beyond the four walls of a hospital, the need for rigorous evaluation grows. "I think a lot of well-intentioned people in health care can't handle the truth," she says. "They're trying to do good, but they don't have the courage to say, 'Let's do a gut check on ourselves.'"
Eighteen years ago, Brenner hypothesized the Coalition — with some savvy navigation and hard-earned trust — could guide the most complicated patients towards better health and cut spending. Finkelstein's randomized controlled trial shows that idea fell short.
Coalition CEO Kathleen Noonan, considers it progress, even if it's not the progress so many had wanted. "People like stories about success and they like stories about failure. They just love extremes. I'm really hoping that this is a story about complexity — and about courage."
Dan Gorenstein is the creator and co-host of Tradeoffs podcast and Leslie Walker is a producer on the show, which features the study on the Camden Coalition in episode 7. Kaiser Health News is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.


npr--2020-01-08--Family Court Judge Suspended Over Sex And Misconduct Accusations In Kentucky

Family Court Judge Suspended Over Sex And Misconduct Accusations In Kentucky Kentucky 's Judicial Conduct Commission has suspended Kenton County Judge Dawn Gentry from her official duties , as it investigates numerous accusations of professional and sexual misconduct .
Among other things , Gentry is alleged to have had sex with her lover and another woman while at work .
Gentry appeared before the judicial commission last Friday for a hearing to determine whether she should continue to serve on the bench while her case is working through the panel 's review process .
Issuing their decision this week , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the best interest of justice , '' Gentry is now `` suspended temporarily from acting in her official capacity as a judge . ''
While details that Gentry allegedly allowed sex , alcohol and loud music in courthouse offices have drawn national headlines , the judge also faces other serious charges of professional misconduct , from the way in which she handled cases to allegations that she coerced colleagues to support her election campaign .
Gentry was also accused of making inappropriate advances toward an attorney who worked as an advocate for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the counts against Gentry accuse her of retaliating against that attorney and others who displeased her .
The state commission says Gentry will be suspended with pay `` until final adjudication of the pending formal proceedings . ''
As part of her suspension , Gentry is barred from the Kenton County Courthouse – where she is alleged to have hired her lover , a former pastor named Stephen Penrose , with whom she had sex along with her secretary while the three were at work .
The Kentucky panel also says the trio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occasions , '' leaving her family court office unstaffed .
Gentry , a Republican who recently concluded a divorce , won election to the family court bench in 2018 .
In doing so , she retained the seat to which she 'd been appointed by then-Kentucky Gov .
Matt Bevin in 2016 , when the spot was vacant .

Family Court Judge Suspended Over Sex And Misconduct Accusations In Kentucky
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kentucky Administrative Office of the Courts Kentucky Administrative Office of the Courts
Kentucky's Judicial Conduct Commission has suspended Kenton County Judge Dawn Gentry from her official duties as it investigates numerous accusations of professional and sexual misconduct. Among other things, Gentry is alleged to have had sex with her lover and another woman while at work.
Gentry appeared before the judicial commission last Friday for a hearing to determine whether she should continue to serve on the bench while her case is working through the panel's review process. Issuing their decision this week, the commission's judges said that "in the best interest of justice," Gentry is now "suspended temporarily from acting in her official capacity as a judge."
While details that Gentry allegedly allowed sex, alcohol and loud music in courthouse offices have drawn national headlines, the judge also faces other serious charges of professional misconduct, from the way in which she handled cases to allegations that she coerced colleagues to support her election campaign.
Gentry was also accused of making inappropriate advances toward an attorney who worked as an advocate for children in her court. Three of the counts against Gentry accuse her of retaliating against that attorney and others who displeased her.
The state commission says Gentry will be suspended with pay "until final adjudication of the pending formal proceedings."
As part of her suspension, Gentry is barred from the Kenton County Courthouse — where she is alleged to have hired her lover, a former pastor named Stephen Penrose, with whom she allegedly had sex along with her secretary while the three were at work. The Kentucky panel also says the trio left the courthouse together "on numerous occasions," leaving her family court office unstaffed.
Gentry, a Republican who recently concluded a divorce, won election to the family court bench in 2018. In doing so, she retained the seat to which she'd been appointed by then-Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin in 2016, when the spot was vacant.


npr--2020-01-08--Canada 'Shocked And Saddened' After Jet Crash Kills 63 Canadians

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered his `` deepest condolences '' to those mourning the 176 people — including 63 Canadians — who died in a plane crash Wednesday morning in Iran .
The jetliner , operated by Ukraine International Airlines , plummeted shortly after taking off from Tehran 's Imam Khomeini International Airport .
Everyone on board was killed .
The crash was one of the worst aviation disasters involving Canadian loss of life in the nation 's history .
`` I was deeply shocked and saddened , '' Trudeau said in a statement Wednesday .
`` On behalf @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I offer our deepest condolences to those who have lost family , friends , and loved ones in this tragedy , '' Trudeau said on behalf of himself and his wife .
`` I assure all Canadians that their safety and security is our top priority .
We also join with the other countries who are mourning the loss of citizens . ''
The cause of the crash is still unknown , but it appears that one of the plane 's engines caught on fire , an eyewitness told The Associated Press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a little after 6 a.m. local time , according to the commercial aviation tracking website Flightradar24 .
It was bound for Ukraine 's capital , Kyiv .
According to a tweet from Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko , the victims were 82 Iranians , 63 Canadians , 11 Ukrainians ( including the nine crew members ) , 10 passengers from Sweden , four Afghans , and three each from Germany and the United Kingdom .
Francois-Philippe Champagne , Canada 's minister of foreign affairs , tweeted Wednesday morning that he had been in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Tragic news regarding Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 .
Our hearts are with the loved ones of the victims , including many Canadians , '' Champagne said .
`` I have been in touch with the government of Ukraine .
We will continue to keep Canadians informed as the situation evolves . ''
Canada 's CBC reports that several of the Canadians killed are thought to be from Alberta 's capital city , Edmonton , including two faculty members at the University of Alberta .
Canadian authorities have not released the names @ @ @ @ @ @ @ An NPR request for comment to University of Alberta was not immediately returned , but the university did post a pair of tweets asking for patience and respect .
`` The University of Alberta extends our deepest condolences to all those affected by last night 's tragic events in Iran .
Thank you for your patience as we work to confirm the impact on our community . ''
Payman Parsayan , an Iranian-Canadian living in Edmonton , says he knew several people on the doomed jetliner .
He told reporter David McGuffin that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were among the dead .
`` One of my friends , him , his wife , and two young girls were killed , '' Payman Parsayan told McGuffin , a freelance reporter working for NPR in Ottowa .
`` His girls were 9 and 14 .
How can someone put words to that ?
I ca n't imagine what their families are going through . ''
As McGuffin reports , `` Canada 's ability to handle the aftermath of this crash is complicated .
It does not have an embassy or diplomats in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2012 over Iran 's human rights record and its support of international terrorism .
Italy handles consular issues in Iran for Canadians . ''
On Wednesday , Canada issued new alerts to its citizens , warning travelers to `` avoid non-essential to Iran '' because of an unstable security situation and threat of terrorism .
`` Canadians , particularly dual Canadian-Iranian citizens , are at risk of being arbitrarily questioned , arrested and detained , '' it added .
`` Iran does not recognize dual nationality and Canada will not be granted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' The Edmonton Journal reports that at least 30 Edmontonians are among the dead .
Reza Akbari , president of Iranian Heritage Society of Edmonton , told the newspaper that members of the Edmonton Iranian community have been communicating via a mobile app to try to confirm victims in the crash .
`` It 's been a shock .
I know some of these people in person , '' Akbari told the Journal .
He adds , `` I had a chance to see them at different parties , gatherings , I 'm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pretty much every Iranian in Edmonton knew some of them .
So it 's very devastating . ''
Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson echoed those sentiments , tweeting , `` Our community has suffered a terrible loss . ''
`` While no words can erase the pain this crash has caused , I , on behalf of Edmontonians and your City Council , would like to offer the families and friends who have lost a loved one in this tragedy our deepest condolences .
Edmonton is mourning today – our community has suffered a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Boeing aircraft that crashed in Tehran is a different model from the aerospace giant 's troubled 737 MAX series , which has been grounded for nearly a year after deadly crashes in 2018 and 2019 .
In a tweet Wednesday , Boeing said that it was in touch with Ukraine International Airlines and that it vowed to `` stand by them in this difficult time .
We are ready to assist in any way needed . ''

Canada 'Shocked And Saddened' After Jet Crash Kills 63 Canadians
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ebrahim Noroozi/AP Ebrahim Noroozi/AP
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered his "deepest condolences" to those mourning the 176 people — including 63 Canadians — who died in a plane crash Wednesday morning in Iran.
The jetliner, operated by Ukraine International Airlines, plummeted shortly after taking off from Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport. Everyone on board was killed. The crash was one of the worst aviation disasters involving Canadian loss of life in the nation's history.
"I was deeply shocked and saddened," Trudeau said in a statement Wednesday. "On behalf of the Government of Canada, Sophie and I offer our deepest condolences to those who have lost family, friends, and loved ones in this tragedy," Trudeau said on behalf of himself and his wife.
"I assure all Canadians that their safety and security is our top priority. We also join with the other countries who are mourning the loss of citizens."
The cause of the crash is still unknown, but it appears that one of the plane's engines caught on fire, an eyewitness told The Associated Press.
The Boeing 737-800 departed from Tehran a little after 6 a.m. local time, according to the commercial aviation tracking website Flightradar24. It was bound for Ukraine's capital, Kyiv.
According to a tweet from Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko, the victims were 82 Iranians, 63 Canadians, 11 Ukrainians (including the nine crew members), 10 passengers from Sweden, four Afghans, and three each from Germany and the United Kingdom.
Francois-Philippe Champagne, Canada's minister of foreign affairs, tweeted Wednesday morning that he had been in contact with the government of Ukraine.
"Tragic news regarding Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752. Our hearts are with the loved ones of the victims, including many Canadians," Champagne said. "I have been in touch with the government of Ukraine. We will continue to keep Canadians informed as the situation evolves."
Canada's CBC reports that several of the Canadians killed are thought to be from Alberta's capital city, Edmonton, including two faculty members at the University of Alberta.
Canadian authorities have not released the names of the dead to the public. An NPR request for comment to University of Alberta was not immediately returned, but the university did post a pair of tweets asking for patience and respect.
"The University of Alberta extends our deepest condolences to all those affected by last night's tragic events in Iran. Thank you for your patience as we work to confirm the impact on our community."
Payman Parsayan, an Iranian-Canadian living in Edmonton, says he knew several people on the doomed jetliner. He told reporter David McGuffin that a friend and the friend's family were among the dead.
"One of my friends, him, his wife, and two young girls were killed," Payman Parsayan told McGuffin, a freelance reporter working for NPR in Ottawa.
"His girls were 9 and 14. How can someone put words to that? I can't imagine what their families are going through."
As McGuffin reports, "Canada's ability to handle the aftermath of this crash is complicated. It does not have an embassy or diplomats in Iran. It severed ties with Tehran in 2012 over Iran's human rights record and its support of international terrorism. Italy handles consular issues in Iran for Canadians."
On Wednesday, Canada issued new alerts to its citizens, warning travelers to "avoid non-essential to Iran" because of an unstable security situation and threat of terrorism.
"Canadians, particularly dual Canadian-Iranian citizens, are at risk of being arbitrarily questioned, arrested and detained," it added. "Iran does not recognize dual nationality and Canada will not be granted consular access to dual Canadian-Iranian citizens."
The Edmonton Journal reports that at least 30 Edmontonians are among the dead. Reza Akbari, president of Iranian Heritage Society of Edmonton, told the newspaper that members of the Edmonton Iranian community have been communicating via a mobile app to try to confirm victims in the crash.
"It's been a shock. I know some of these people in person," Akbari told the Journal.
He adds, "I had a chance to see them at different parties, gatherings, I'm in shock. I can tell you pretty much every Iranian in Edmonton knew some of them. So it's very devastating."
Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson echoed those sentiments, tweeting, "Our community has suffered a terrible loss."
"While no words can erase the pain this crash has caused, I, on behalf of Edmontonians and your City Council, would like to offer the families and friends who have lost a loved one in this tragedy our deepest condolences. Edmonton is mourning today – our community has suffered a terrible loss," Iveson said.
The Boeing aircraft that crashed in Tehran is a different model from the aerospace giant's troubled 737 MAX series, which has been grounded for nearly a year after deadly crashes in 2018 and 2019.
In a tweet Wednesday, Boeing said that it was in touch with Ukraine International Airlines and that it vowed to "stand by them in this difficult time. We are ready to assist in any way needed."


npr--2020-01-08--Former French President Sarkozy To Face Trial For Alleged Graft

Former French President Sarkozy To Face Trial For Alleged Graft A French court is sending former French president Nicolas Sarkozy to trial over allegations that he attempted to unlawfully obtain confidential information from a court official .
The trial is set to run from Oct. 5 to Oct. 22 , according to Agence France-Presse .
Sarkozy , who led France from 2007 to 2012 , stands accused in multiple separate legal actions .
He has denied wrongdoing .
The information that he allegedly tried to obtain from the magistrate – resulting in this corruption trial — was about another case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been dismissed , the wire service reported .
Sarkozy is accused of seeking the information from the former court official , Gilbert Azibert , in exchange for helping him obtain a job in Monaco , AFP says .
Sarkozy allegedly made the offer through lawyer Thierry Herzog .
Azibert and Herzog are also accused in the case , which is expected to be the first of the legal actions against Sarkozy to go to trial .
Sarkozy will be the second recent French former president to go on trial .
In 2011 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of misusing public funds during the time he was mayor of Paris .
He was found to have paid salaries to political allies who where doing fake jobs .
A court ruled last year that Sarkozy must also stand trial for illegal campaign financing when he unsuccessfully ran for office in 2012 .
`` Sarkozy and members of his center-right party are accused of working with a PR company to hide the true cost of his reelection bid , '' reporter Jake Cigainero in Paris told NPR in October .
`` An investigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of false invoices issued by the now-defunct PR company Bygmalion . ''
The former leader allegedly spent far more than $ 24 million dollars , the limit in France for presidential campaign spending .
Sarkozy has also faced investigation for illegal financing of his 2007 campaign – in that case , tens of millions of dollars allegedly provided by ousted Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi .
One of the dictator 's sons , Saif al-Islam , made the allegations in 2011 .
French authorities started tapping Sarkozy 's phone in 2013 to investigate the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Then , the former president was `` found to be using a mobile phone registered to another name to have discussions with Herzog , '' his lawyer .
Sarkozy 's legal team has described the phone taps as illegal .
As AFP notes , `` the wiretaps were ruled allowable by an appeals court in 2016 but could still fuel a bitter legal battle at trial . ''

Former French President Sarkozy To Face Trial For Alleged Graft
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ludovic Marin/AP Ludovic Marin/AP
A French court is sending former French president Nicolas Sarkozy to trial over allegations that he attempted to unlawfully obtain confidential information from a court official.
The trial is set to run from Oct. 5 to Oct. 22, according to Agence France-Presse.
Sarkozy, who led France from 2007 to 2012, stands accused in multiple separate legal actions. He has denied wrongdoing.
The information that he allegedly tried to obtain from the magistrate – resulting in this corruption trial — was about another case that he was involved in that has been dismissed, the wire service reported.
Sarkozy is accused of seeking the information from the former court official, Gilbert Azibert, in exchange for helping him obtain a job in Monaco, AFP says. Sarkozy allegedly made the offer through lawyer Thierry Herzog. Azibert and Herzog are also accused in the case, which is expected to be the first of the legal actions against Sarkozy to go to trial.
Sarkozy will be the second recent French former president to go on trial. In 2011, former President Jacques Chirac was found guilty of misusing public funds during the time he was mayor of Paris. He was found to have paid salaries to political allies who where doing fake jobs.
A court ruled last year that Sarkozy must also stand trial for illegal campaign financing when he unsuccessfully ran for office in 2012.
"Sarkozy and members of his center-right party are accused of working with a PR company to hide the true cost of his reelection bid," reporter Jake Cigainero in Paris told NPR in October. "An investigation opened in 2014 revealed a complex system of false invoices issued by the now-defunct PR company Bygmalion."
The former leader allegedly spent far more than $24 million dollars, the limit in France for presidential campaign spending.
Sarkozy has also faced investigation for illegal financing of his 2007 campaign – in that case, tens of millions of dollars allegedly provided by ousted Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. One of the dictator's sons, Saif al-Islam, made the allegations in 2011.
French authorities started tapping Sarkozy's phone in 2013 to investigate the claims about Gadhafi, as Bloomberg reported. Then, the former president was "found to be using a mobile phone registered to another name to have discussions with Herzog," his lawyer.
Sarkozy's legal team has described the phone taps as illegal. As AFP notes, "the wiretaps were ruled allowable by an appeals court in 2016 but could still fuel a bitter legal battle at trial."


npr--2020-01-08--Meghan And Prince Harry To 'Step Back' As Senior Royals

Meghan And Prince Harry To 'Step Back ' As Senior Royals The Duke and Duchess of Sussex — also known as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle — have announced that they will step back from their duties as senior members of the British royal family .
The intrigue may be only beginning , amid reports that Queen Elizabeth II and the rest of the royal family were not given advance notice of the move .
The couple , who welcomed a son in May 2019 , say they intend to become financially independent .
Harry is sixth in the line @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after his father , Charles ; his older brother , William ; and William 's three children .
In a statement on their website and Instagram , Harry and Meghan explained their decision .
`` After many months of reflection and internal discussions , we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution , '' they wrote .
`` We intend to step back as 'senior ' members of the Royal Family , and work to become financially independent , while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Queen .
It is with your encouragement , particularly over the last few years , that we feel prepared to make this adjustment . ''
They say they plan to split their time between the United Kingdom and North America , `` continuing to honour our duty to The Queen , the Commonwealth , and our patronages . ''
`` This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born , while also providing our family with the space to focus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ launch of our new charitable entity . ''
Buckingham Palace followed shortly with its own terse statement on the matter .
`` We understand their desire to take a different approach but these are complicated issues that will take time to work through , '' the palace said , according to Reuters .
`` Discussions with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are at an early stage . ''
The BBC reports that no other member of Buckingham Palace was consulted before the couple issued their statement and that the royals are `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May 2018 .
Their wedding did nothing to dampen the intense public scrutiny of the pair .
Meghan is an American actress , and she has repeatedly faced racist comments in some media and from online trolls .
A step back from royal duties has been anticipated since the couple returned from a six-week sojourn in Canada this month .
The speculation grew when Queen Elizabeth gave her Christmas address with family photos prominently displayed on her desk — but no such photo of Harry , Meghan and their son , Archie .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a narrowing of the royals who appear in official capacities .
As The Guardian noted , at the queen 's 2012 diamond jubilee celebrations , extended family members were on a separate boat from the queen , Prince Charles and their immediate families .

Meghan And Prince Harry To 'Step Back' As Senior Royals
Enlarge this image toggle caption Chris Jackson/Getty Images Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Updated at 3:55 p.m. ET
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex — also known as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle — have announced that they will step back from their duties as senior members of the British royal family.
The intrigue may be only beginning, amid reports that Queen Elizabeth II and the rest of the royal family were not given advance notice of the move.
The couple, who welcomed a son in May 2019, say they intend to become financially independent. Harry is sixth in the line of succession to the British throne, after his father, Charles; his older brother, William; and William's three children.
In a statement on their website and Instagram, Harry and Meghan explained their decision.
"After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution," they wrote. "We intend to step back as 'senior' members of the Royal Family, and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen. It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment."
They say they plan to split their time between the United Kingdom and North America, "continuing to honour our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages."
"This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity."
Buckingham Palace followed shortly with its own terse statement on the matter.
"We understand their desire to take a different approach but these are complicated issues that will take time to work through," the palace said, according to Reuters. "Discussions with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are at an early stage."
The BBC reports that no other member of Buckingham Palace was consulted before the couple issued their statement and that the royals are "disappointed."
The couple married in May 2018. Their wedding did nothing to dampen the intense public scrutiny of the pair. Meghan is an American actress, and she has repeatedly faced racist comments in some media and from online trolls.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Steve Parsons/POOL/AFP via Getty Images Steve Parsons/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
A step back from royal duties has been anticipated since the couple returned from a six-week sojourn in Canada this month. The speculation grew when Queen Elizabeth gave her Christmas address with family photos prominently displayed on her desk — but no such photo of Harry, Meghan and their son, Archie.
In recent years, there has been a narrowing of the royals who appear in official capacities. As The Guardian noted, at the queen's 2012 diamond jubilee celebrations, extended family members were on a separate boat from the queen, Prince Charles and their immediate families.