freedomdaily--2020-03-02--Humans domesticated horses – new tech could help archaeologists figure out where and when

In the increasingly urbanized world , few people still ride horses for reasons beyond sport or leisure .
However , on horseback , people , goods and ideas moved across vast distances , shaping the power structures and social systems of the premechanized era .
From the trade routes of the Silk Road or the great Mongol Empire to the equestrian nations of the American Great Plains , horses were the engines of the ancient world .
Where , when and how did humans first domesticate horses ?
Tracing the origins of horse domestication in the prehistoric era has proven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Horses – and the people who care for them – tend to live in remote , dry or cold grassland regions , moving often and leaving only ephemeral marks in the archaeological record .
In the steppes , pampas and plains of the world , historic records are often ambiguous or absent , archaeological sites are poorly investigated and research is published in a variety languages .
At the heart of the issue is a more basic struggle : How can you distinguish a “ domestic ” animal from its wild cousin ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ domesticated ” ?
And can scientists trace this process in archaeological sites that are thousands of years old and often consist of nothing more than piles of discarded bones ?
As an archaeozoologist , I work in a field that seeks to develop ways to do just this – and with the aid of new technologies , recent research is turning up some surprising answers .
Looking for traces of domestication Analyzing horse bones from archaeological sites across Eurasia , 20th-century scholars argued over whether changes in the size and shape of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ human control .
They debated whether management of a domestic herd would leave recognizable patterns in the ages and sex of horses in the archaeological record .
Without agreed-upon criteria for how to recognize horse domestication in the archaeological record , a staggering range of different ideas emerged .
In nearly every corner of the world with grassland ecosystems and wild horses , various researchers hypothesized domestication began in Anatolia , Iberia , China and even North America .
Some more outlandish models suggested an origin for horse domestication as far back as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years ago .
Toward the end of the 20th century , a key breakthrough in the debate came when researchers recognized that the use of bridle mouthpieces , known as a “ bit , ” can cause unique damage to the teeth of a horse , known as “ bit wear.
” Still the complicated nature of archaeological data has made the search for horse domestication a process of trial and error .
For example , one famous horse with bit wear , from the site of Derievka in Ukraine , seemed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early as around 4000 B.C .
– until scientific dating showed that this animal lived around 600 B.C .
In the late 2000s , a proliferation of scientific research seemed to narrow the field to a single , compelling answer for the first domestication of the horse .
Researchers zeroed in on a site called Botai , in northern Kazakhstan , dating back to around 5,500 years ago .
Nearly 100 % of the animal bones they identified there were from horses .
These animals were butchered and eaten , and their bones @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tools .
Some were buried in ritual pits .
Initially , skeptics argued that the age and sex patterns of Botai horses were inconsistent with a domestic herd .
Pastoral management involves culling young , mostly male animals , and far too many of these remains were from adults and females .
However , individual teeth found at Botai showed apparent bit wear .
And , in a dramatic discovery made in 2009 , a new technique that analyzes ancient fat residues suggested that the ceramic vessels recovered at Botai once contained horse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finding would indicate humans had raised and cared for the horses that produced it .
This new biomolecular evidence appeared to place horse domestication deep into the past , around 3500 B.C .
To some , if people were eating and milking horses , logic dictated that they must have also ridden them .
Many researchers took this thinking a step further , using this early timeline to argue that horse domestication kicked off the continent-wide dispersal of Indo-European peoples and language groups around five or six thousand years ago .
As the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ innovation in archaeology continues to accelerate .
And new archaeological data have begun to trickle in from understudied areas .
With improving methods , new information has triggered serious doubts about the Botai/Indo-European model about domestication .
In a shocking 2018 study , a French research team revealed that the horses of Botai were in fact not the domestic horse ( Equus caballus ) at all , but instead Equus przewalskii – the Przewalski ’ s horse , a wild animal with no documented evidence of management by human societies .
Another project @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Botai showed no genetic links between the area ’ s ancient residents and Indo-European groups , undermining the idea that horse domestication at Botai stimulated a continental dispersal on horseback .
In the ensuing chaos , researchers must now find a way to piece together the horse ’ s story , and find an explanation that fits these new facts .
Some , including the equine DNA researchers who published the new discoveries , now suggest that Botai represents a separate , failed domestication event of Przewalski ’ s horse .
Other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and historical records around the horse ’ s initial domestication with a more skeptical eye .
As of the writing of this story , the oldest clearly identified remains of the modern domestic horse , Equus caballus , date back only as far as about 2000 B.C .
– to the chariot burials of Russia and Central Asia .
From here , researchers are scrambling backwards in time , seeking to find the “ big bang ” of the human-horse relationship .
New data from places typically left out of the conversation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the holes in the story of horse domestication .
My colleagues and I , led by Shevan Wilkin , recently recovered ancient proteins from the teeth of Mongolia ’ s ancient herders that suggest these pastoralists who lived around 3000 B.C .
drank the milk of cattle or sheep or goats – with no evidence they drank milk from horses .
In fact , much of Central Asia may not have had domestic horses at all until well after 2000 B.C .
Another recent study suggests the late second millennium B.C .
saw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ horses across the continent – perhaps because the innovation of horseback riding occurred much later than researchers had commonly assumed .
The urgent question now becomes : Where did the first ancestors of the modern domestic horse first find themselves under human care ?
And what does this tell researchers about the rest of human history that followed ?
In the decades to come , the story of humans and horses is likely to be dramatically rewritten – maybe more than once .
Archaeologists must continue to use cutting-edge technology , constantly reevaluating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DNA and biomolecular data must be paired with other kinds of information , such as skeletal clues , that can tell us how horses were bridled , exerted or cared for .
That can help to distinguish wild horses from early domestic horses managed by humans .
Species identifications from archaeological sites must be made using DNA rather than assumed ( as at Botai ) – and each specimen must be directly radiocarbon dated to determine its age , rather than lumped in with other similar objects and dated through guesswork ( as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ archaeologists must continue to dive deeper into the archaeological record of the desert and grassland regions of the Old World – Eastern Europe , Russia , Central Asia , Mongolia and elsewhere – where the secrets of the past have not yet all been brought to light .
[ You ’ re smart and curious about the world .
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William Taylor receives funding from the National Science Foundation , the Fulbright Program , National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DAAD ) , and the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History .


freedomdaily--2020-03-02--Senate Panel Plans To Issue First Subpoena In Burisma-Biden Probe

Sen. Ron Johnson , the chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee , is preparing to issue the panel ’ s first subpoena as part of an investigation into Burisma Holdings , the Ukrainian energy company linked to Hunter Biden , he said in a letter on Sunday .
Johnson , a Wisconsin Republican , told Democratic Michigan Sen. Gary Peters of his plans to subpoena Andrii Telizhenko , a former Ukrainian embassy official and former consultant for Blue Star Strategies , a firm that Burisma hired to fight against corruption allegations .
Telizhenko , who was a consultant for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2017 , has provided some documents to the committee , according to Johnson .
But he says that he can not turn over others without a subpoena because they are protected by a non-disclosure agreement .
“ He can not provide this responsible information unless he is compelled to do so by subpoena , ” Johnson wrote to Peters in his letter , which was first reported by CBS News .
Republicans have been investigating whether Hunter Biden leveraged his father ’ s position as vice president to help Burisma , which has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Hunter Biden , who joined Burisma ’ s board in April 2014 , is reportedly who linked the energy company up with Blue Star Strategies .
Biden served on the board of the Truman National Security Project , a liberal national security think tank , with Sally Painter , one of Blue Star ’ s co-founders .
“ As part of the Committee ’ s ongoing investigation , it has received U.S. government records indicating that Blue Star sought to leverage Hunter Biden ’ s role as a board member of Burisma @ @ @ @ @ @ @ influence matters at , the State Department , ” Johnson said in the letter .
State Department records show that Painter and her Blue Star co-founder , Karen Tramontano , reached out to top State Department officials through 2016 to set up meetings to discuss Ukraine and Burisma .
In an email on June 27 , 2016 , Painter indicated that she spoke with Tony Blinken , who served as deputy secretary of state , at a Truman National Security Project event about “ troubling events ” in Ukraine .
Painter requested a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now a foreign policy adviser to Joe Biden ’ s presidential campaign .
Tramontano , who was deputy chief of staff in the Clinton White House , also contacted State Department officials seeking a meeting regarding Burisma on Feb. 24 , 2016 .
One of the officials that Tramontano contacted said that she wanted to meet in order to get “ a better understanding of how the U.S. came to the determination that [ Burisma ] is corrupt.
” Tramontano also mentioned that Hunter Biden was affiliated with Burisma , according to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has turned over some documents to his committee , but that the firm has said it will not be handing over any more records .
“ The Committee notified Blue Star that we consider their response to be incomplete , but they responded that they will not be producing any more documents , ” wrote Johnson .
It is unclear what work Telizhenko did for Blue Star or Burisma .
In recent months , Telizhenko has worked closely with Rudy Giuliani as he has pushed for deeper investigations into the Bidens and Burisma @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience .
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freedomdaily--2020-03-02--Coronavirus Kills Two in U.S., Over 3,000 World Wide

As of Monday morning , the coronavirus has claimed the lives of over 3,000 persons worldwide , including two Americans .
Despite government-issued travel warnings and restrictions , the coronavirus continues to spread throughout the world .
Two people the United States have now died from the virus in Washington state , according to the Washington State Department of Health .
Democratic New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo announced Sunday that New York confirmed it ’ s first case of the coronavirus .
The Rhode Island Department of Health also announced the state ’ s first case of the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmed cases of the virus in the U.S. according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state health departments , CBS reports .
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has taken steps beginning Saturday to dramatically expand testing for the virus .
Government officials are preparing for a significant global impact from the virus , according to a Department of Defense document obtained by Newsweek .
Officials predict that the coronavirus will “ likely ” become a global pandemic within a month .
“ The DoD is concerned not only the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but the risk to inadvertently spread the virus to the U.S. by returning members who may have been exposed , ” a senior Pentagon official told Newsweek Sunday .
South Korea announced 599 new cases of the virus Monday – a number that is much higher than China ’ s daily tally and adds to the 4,335 confirmed cases of coronavirus in South Korea , the Washington Post reports .
The publication notes that South Korea , a country which has tested more than 100,000 people , has also confirmed at least 22 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more people than most countries .
There are more than 1,600 cases of coronavirus in Italy , and more than 1,500 cases in Iran where 66 people have died , WaPo reports .


freedomdaily--2020-03-03--Buying an Election: Sanders, Biden, Bloomberg Have Paid Combined $466,000 To Superdelegates

Leading Democratic presidential candidates Bernie Sanders , Joe Biden and Michael Bloomberg have paid a combined $ 466,000 to superdelegates that are likely to support their benefactors in the event of a contested convention , Federal Election Commission records show .
Sanders has spent the most so far on employing superdelegates , FEC records show .
His campaign co-chair , former Ohio state senator and Democratic National Committee member Nina Turner , has received $ 149,000 from the democratic socialist ’ s campaign .
The Vermont senator has also divvied out $ 53,000 to his California political director , DNC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are superdelegates by virtue of being members of the DNC .
The two surrogates would be able to cast ballots for their boss if a second round of voting is required at the Democratic National Convention in July , which would be triggered if no candidate wins at least 50 % of the delegates during the primaries and caucuses .
Some of Bloomberg ’ s highest-ranking staffers are superdelegates .
FEC records show that a consulting firm run by former Philadelphia mayor and current DNC member Michael Nutter has already received $ 45,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when Nutter signed on to be the former New York mayor ’ s national chairman .
Bloomberg ’ s campaign has also brought on Texas Democratic Party Vice Chair Carla Brailey and California Democratic Party Vice Chair Alexandra Rooker , both of whom are superdelegates , to serve as senior advisors to the former New York mayor , The Intercept reported .
DNC member Sierra Yamanaka has also received salary payments from Bloomberg ’ s campaign , FEC records show .
The Sanders , Biden and Bloomberg campaigns did not return requests for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ role in determining who becomes the Democratic nominee in July ’ s convention if no candidate receives over 50 % of the primary and caucus delegates , the likelihood of which has increased substantially since Biden ’ s victory in South Carolina on Saturday .
FiveThirtyEight ’ s forecasting model showed Monday that there ’ s a 67 % chance of a contested convention , up 17 points from before the South Carolina primary .
The Democratic presidential candidates still in the race seem to be bracing for a contested convention .
Sanders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 19 debate to say the person that enters the convention with the most , but not over 50 % , of the primary and caucus delegates should be the Democratic nominee .
Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar and former South Bend , Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg dropped out of the race and endorsed Biden after South Carolina .
But Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren , who is sitting in fourth place in the Real Clear Politics national polling average , believes she has a pathway to victory in the event of a contested convention and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Politico reported .


freedomdaily--2020-03-03--Why hand-washing really is as important as doctors say

As the threat from the coronavirus grows , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other public health officials are stressing the importance of hand-washing .
Prevention becomes essential to stopping the spread of the virus because there is no vaccine to prevent it and no anti-virals to treat it .
How can such a simple , low-tech solution make a difference ?
Remember – coronavirus spreads easily by droplets from breathing , coughing and sneezing .
As our hands touch many surfaces , they can pick up microbes , including viruses .
Then by touching contaminated hands to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pathogens can infect the body .
As a microbiologist , I think a lot about the differences between microbes , such as bacteria and viruses , and how they interact with animal hosts to drive health or disease .
I was shocked to read a study that indicated that 93.2 % of 2,800 survey respondents did not wash their hands after coughing or sneezing .
Let me explain how washing your hands decreases the number of microbes on your hands and helps prevent the spread of infectious diseases .
Bacteria and viruses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Bacteria are single-celled organisms that can reproduce on their own , while viruses constitute a core of genetic material encapsulated by a protein coat and can only reproduce by attaching themselves to host cells .
Because viruses don ’ t have the organelles to reproduce , they “ hijack ” the cellular machinery of host cells to make multitudes of new viruses .
These differences are why antibiotics can not kill viruses , which typically target specific structures in the cellular components of bacteria that are absent in viruses .
Despite their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to prevent the disease of bacterial and viral pathogens alike is to effectively wash your hands .
There are two strategies to decreasing the amount of microbes on your hands .
The first is to decrease the overall biomass of microbes – that is , decrease the amount of bacteria , viruses and other types of microorganisms .
We do this by lathering with soap and rinsing with water .
Soap ’ s chemistry helps remove microorganisms from our hands by accentuating the slippery properties of our own skin .
The second strategy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do this by using products with an antibacterial agent such as alcohols , chlorine , peroxides , chlorhexidine or triclosan .
However , the efficacy on these agents can be variable depending on a given microbe .
Is soap and water enough ?
Some academic work has shown that antibacterial soaps are more effective at reducing certain bacteria on soiled hands than soaps without them .
However , there ’ s a problem .
Some bacterial cells on our hands may have genes that enable them to be resistant to a given antibacterial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ antibacterial agent kills some bacteria , the resistant strains remaining on the hands can flourish .
Further , the genes that allowed the bacteria to be resistant could pass along to other bacteria , causing more resistant strains .
Even more important with respect to coronavirus , antibacterial agents , such as oral antibiotics , don ’ t kill viruses .
With this in mind , you may want to stick with plain old soap and water .
To clean our hands , the CDC recommends that we : • Apply soap and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hands for 20-30 seconds ( about the time to sing “ Happy Birthday ” twice ) During the 20-30 seconds of lathering the World Health Organization recommends incorporating six maneuvers to cover all parts of your hands .
If soap and water are not unavailable , the CDC recommends using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 % ethanol .
Alcohols have a broad-spectrum of antimicrobial activity and are less selective for resistance compared to other antibacterial chemicals .
Although alcohol-based hand sanitizers may not work on all classes of germs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an alcohol-based hand rub to kill viruses that may be on your hands .
Not all microbes are germs The presence of some microbes isn ’ t necessarily a bad thing .
In fact many of the microbes that live on or within us are essential for our health .
We live in a microbial world : Trillions of different microbes colonize our skin , gut and orifices .
Collectively , this consortium of bacteria , archaea , fungi and viruses are called our microbiota .
A plethora of exciting research suggests that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ microbiota are fundamentally important for the host ’ s biology .
Our microbiota can protect us from germs by training our immune system and by colonization resistance – the characteristic of the intestinal microbiota to block colonization of pathogens .
There is ample evidence suggesting that commensal bacteria regulate invading viruses , and in some cases have a suppressive role in their infections .
For example , bacteria can prevent influenza virus infection by binding or trapping them directly or by producing metabolites that decrease the stability of influenza virions .
Although more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the intricate interactions between microbial communities with host cells , consistent work illustrates that a diverse population of microbes and a balance of this community is important for our health .
So what is the take-home message ?
There is no doubt that washing our hands with liquid soap and water is effective in reducing the spread of infectious microorganisms , including those that are resistant to antimicrobial agents .
When you don ’ t have the opportunity to wash your hands after touching questionable surfaces , use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ your mouth , nose and eyes .
Furthermore , maintain a healthy microbiota by limiting stress , getting enough sleep and “ fertilizing ” your gut microbes with a diversity of plant-based foods .
It ’ s not only a small world , but a dirty one as well .
Editor ’ s note : This article contains updated information from an article that was published originally Dec. 17 , 2017 .
[ You ’ re too busy to read everything .
We get it .
That ’ s why we ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for good Sunday reading . ]
Michelle Sconce Massaquoi does not work for , consult , own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article , and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment .


freedomdaily--2020-03-03--Why public health officials sound more worried about the coronavirus than the seasonal flu

The spread of the new coronavirus , which has infected over 80,000 people worldwide and resulted in the death of more than 3,000 , has raised alarms around the world .
At the same time , the seasonal influenza , known as the flu , causes severe illness in between 3 million and 5 million people , with hundreds of thousands of deaths every year worldwide .
With so many fewer cases than the flu , what explains the dramatic response to COVID-19 and worry around the globe ?
And how would a person know whether seasonal influenza-like symptoms are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s how I look at these questions .
The first thing to realize is that the emergence of the novel coronavirus isn ’ t a rare “ black swan ” event .
Rather , this is a product of evolution ; there have been about 40 new , infectious diseases discovered globally since the 1970s , with pathogens often jumping from animals to humans .
Detecting who has this new virus becomes a key public health challenge , which is made harder because it ’ s the season for another virus – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there is a shortage of local laboratories able to test for the coronavirus virus in humans .
Influenza , by contrast , is far more familiar to public health researchers and doctors , and thus more predictable .
It can occur anytime during the year in the U.S. , but it typically begins in September and can go into May of the following year .
While the peak of cases in the U.S. fluctuates , it typically occurs in February when the disease is widespread across the country .
If a new disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signs and symptoms than the influenza , then it is easier to detect and track in the human population .
However , if the signs and symptoms overlap , as they do with flu and COVID-19 , detection is much more difficult for the public health , medical and the lay population .
COVID-19 produces signs and symptoms that are similar to influenza , which makes it difficult to distinguish between the two .
COVID-19 can cause fever , cough , body aches , fatigue and , occasionally , vomiting and diarrhea ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Currently one of the biggest differences between seasonal influenza and COVID-19 is the incubation period – that is , the time from exposure to development of signs and symptoms .
For seasonal influenza , the incubation period ranges from one to four days , but in some instances , people may be contagious a day before symptoms appear and as long as five to seven days after symptoms start .
COVID-19 ’ s incubation period ranges from 2-14 days , which is up to three times longer than influenza .
Also , COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The average person , even with mild symptoms , is likely to spread the disease to more than two people .
By contrast , the seasonal flu ’ s rate is roughly half .
Another significant challenge with influenza and COVID-19 is that they both can have mild infections .
People with more mild disease are less likely to seek diagnosis and care , but are still considered infectious and able to transmit the disease person to person .
The death rate of the seasonal flu varies year to year but is about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % for COVID-19 .
The disastrous 1918 influenza epidemic , known as the “ Spanish flu , ” had a death rate of about 2.5 % .
Finally , one of the biggest concerns for COVID-19 is asymptomatic infections .
People who are infected with the virus may be able to transmit the infection , and yet they themselves don ’ t have any signs or symptoms of disease .
This represents a challenge because it would be difficult to identify persons that need to be tested for the disease since they have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ability to transmit the disease would allow for amplification in a naive , or uninfected , population .
No vaccine available for COVID-19 Unlike influenza , COVID-19 does not have a vaccine or medication people can take to protect themselves and it is believed that everyone is susceptible .
There are a number of efforts to develop treatments for COVID-19 , but nothing is yet approved .
Vaccines are also being pursued , but a vaccine for COVID-19 will not be ready for several months .
Getting the vaccine for the seasonal flu @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Since the signs and symptoms are similar , if everyone were to be vaccinated against the flu , fewer people would have the flu , thus making it easier to detect another disease with similar symptoms .
The faster it is identified , the faster public health and the medical community can respond to minimize the spread of disease .
[ Insight , in your inbox each day .
You can get it with The Conversation ’ s email newsletter./ ] Tom Duszynski does not work for , consult , own shares @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or organization that would benefit from this article , and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment .


freedomdaily--2020-03-03--Predicting the coronavirus outbreak: How AI connects the dots to warn about disease threats

Canadian artificial intelligence firm BlueDot has been in the news in recent weeks for warning about the new coronavirus days ahead of the official alerts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization .
The company was able to do this by tapping different sources of information beyond official statistics about the number of cases reported .
BlueDot ’ s AI algorithm , a type of computer program that improves as it processes more data , brings together news stories in dozens of languages , reports from plant and animal disease tracking networks and airline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ algorithm that ’ s better at simulating disease spread than algorithms that rely on public health data – better enough to be able to predict outbreaks .
The company uses the technology to predict and track infectious diseases for its government and private sector customers .
Traditional epidemiology tracks where and when people contract a disease to identify the source of the outbreak and which populations are most at risk .
AI systems like BlueDot ’ s model how diseases spread in populations , which makes it possible to predict where outbreaks will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diseases will spread .
So while the CDC and laboratories around the world race to find cures for the novel coronavirus , researchers are using AI to try to predict where the disease will go next and how much of an impact it might have .
Both play a key role in facing the disease .
However , AI is not a silver bullet .
The accuracy of AI systems is highly dependent on the amount and quality of the data they learn from .
And how AI systems are designed and trained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be particularly troublesome when the technologies affect large swathes of a population about something as vital as public health .
It ’ s all about the data Traditional disease outbreak analysis looks at the location of an outbreak , the number of disease cases and the period of time – the where , what and when – to forecast the likelihood of the disease spreading in a short amount of time .
More recent efforts using AI and data science have expanded the what to include many different data sources , which makes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
With the advent of Facebook , Twitter and other social and micro media sites , more and more data can be associated with a location and mined for knowledge about an event like an outbreak .
The data can include medical worker forum discussions about unusual respiratory cases and social media posts about being out sick .
Much of this data is highly unstructured , meaning that computers can ’ t easily understand it .
The unstructured data can be in the form of news stories , flight maps , messages on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , video and images .
On the other hand , structured data , such as numbers of reported cases by location , is more tabulated and generally doesn ’ t need as much preprocessing for computers to be able to interpret it .
Newer techniques such as deep learning can help make sense of unstructured data .
These algorithms run on artificial neural networks , which consist of thousands of small interconnected processors , much like the neurons in the brain .
The processors are arranged in layers , and data is evaluated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passed onto the next layer .
By cycling data through the layers in a feedback loop , a deep learning algorithm learns how to , for example , identify cats in YouTube videos .
Researchers teach deep learning algorithms to understand unstructured data by training them to recognize the components of particular types of items .
For example , researchers can teach an algorithm to recognize a cup by training it with images of several types of handles and rims .
That way it can recognize multiple types of cups , not just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ characteristics .
Any AI model is only as good as the data used to train it .
Too little data and the results these disease-tracking models deliver can be skewed .
Similarly , data quality is critical .
It can be particularly challenging to control the quality of unstructured data , including crowd-sourced data .
This requires researchers to carefully filter the data before feeding it to their models .
This is perhaps one reason some researchers , including those at BlueDot , choose not to use social media data .
One way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the results of the AI models .
Researchers need to check the output of their models against what unfolds in the real world , a process called ground truthing .
Inaccurate predictions in public health , especially with false positives , can lead to mass hysteria about the spread of a disease .
AI holds great promise for identifying where and how fast diseases are spreading .
Increasingly , data scientists are using these techniques to predict the spread of diseases .
Similarly , researchers are using these techniques to model how people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pathogens as they go .
However , AI doesn ’ t eliminate the need for epidemiologists and virologists who are fighting the spread on the front lines .
For example , BlueDot uses epidemiologists to confirm its algorithm ’ s results .
AI is a tool to provide more advanced and more accurate warnings that can enable a rapid response to an outbreak .
The key is bringing AI ’ s forecasting and prediction prowess to public health officials to improve their ability to respond to outbreaks .
Even if all else was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bullet , the AI field would still face ethical challenges .
We have to be more vigilant against phenomena like digital redlining , the computerized version of the practice of denying resources to marginalized populations , that can creep into AI outcomes .
Entire regions or demographics could be sidelined , for example , from access to health care if the data used to train an AI system failed to include them .
In the case of AI models collating social media data , digital redlining can exclude entire populations with limited internet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ posting to social media or otherwise creating the digital fingerprints many AI models rely on .
This could lead AI systems to make flawed recommendations about where resources are needed .
While researchers are continuously creating new AI algorithms , some of the foundational issues like understanding what ’ s going on inside the models , minimizing false positives and identifying and avoiding ethical issues are not well understood and require more research .
AI is a powerful tool for predicting and forecasting disease spread .
However , it ’ s not likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statistics and epidemiology first used when John Snow tracked down and removed the handle from the pump of a cholera-ridden water supply in 1854 London .
[ You ’ re smart and curious about the world .
So are The Conversation ’ s authors and editors .
You can get our highlights each weekend . ]
Vandana Janeja recieves funding from the National Science Foundation .
The views reflected in this article are her own and do not reflect on the views or opinions of the organizations affiliated with her .


freedomdaily--2020-03-03--Super Tuesday Leans Bernie’s Way – But No Matter the Outcome, Dems are Screwed

I ’ ve spent the day on the phone , reading cross-tabs from the latest polls , and evaluating data from the most recent contests .
Nothing , absolutely nothing , indicates anything but a great night for the aged Bolshevik – Bernie Sanders .
With all the pull outs and endorsements over the last 48 hours , voter sentiment has helped both Crazy Bernie and Uncle Joe in most states , and not enough , except in Texas , to make it a contest .
In California ( 416 delegates ) , Sanders leads by 7 in a poll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2 point lead ( within the margin of error ) in a Texas ( 228 delegates ) poll that ended yesterday .
North Carolina ( 110 delegates ) is all Biden as it has been for while .
Virginia ( 99 delegates ) has also always been a Biden state , but Minnesota ( 75 delegates ) flipped from Klobuchar to Sanders in recent polling .
Michigan ( 125 delegates ) looks to go to Sanders while Florida ( 219 delegates ) will likely be Biden ’ s to take .
Georgia ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and should go to the former Vice President .
The problem with the polling data , even the ones that ended yesterday , is that it started gathering data on the 28th – before South Carolina .
Also , those polls can not indicate the preferences of those who voted early – before South Carolina .
So how does that map out delegate-wise ?
It ’ s not an easy call , but between everything I see in polling data , how my contacts tell me they see the SC result weighing and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s my guess on the results of Super Tuesday for the larger delegate states : So what does this mean for the Democrats ?
Nothing good .
If Bernie wins , the moderate Dems will turn Trump or stay home .
If Biden wins , the Bernie voters will just stay home .
Flame me in the comments .
I can take it .
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freedomdaily--2020-03-04--Checkpoint Inspection Yields an Impostor Claiming to be a U.S. Citizen aboard Greyhound Bus

– On Monday afternoon , Wellton Station Border Patrol agents performing immigration inspection duties at the I-8 immigration checkpoint , arrested a Mexican national claiming to be a U.S. citizen .
The illegal alien was traveling via Greyhound bus , and was in possession of both an impostor birth certificate and an impostor California state identification card .
At approximately 1:00 p.m. , agents referred a Greyhound bus to the secondary inspection area for an immigration inspection .
The agents performing the immigration inspection aboard the Greyhound encountered a male subject claiming to be a U.S. citizen who presented a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ card .
The subject did not resemble or appear to be the person pictured on the state identification card .
Agents removed the subject from the bus to conduct a further investigation while the bus was allowed to continue on its destination .
Upon questioning , the subject did not speak English and necessitated being taken in for biometric analysis for proper identification .
Agents determined the subject to be a different individual than the one depicted on the documents in his possession .
The subject then admitted to being illegally present in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the subject stated that he purchased the two fraudulent documents for the equivalent of $ 100 while the subject was in Mexico .
Furthermore , records checks revealed the subject had a prior immigration removal and , in October of 2019 , was found to be in possession of a stolen permanent resident card .
The illegal alien is a 32-year-old male from Michoacán , Mexico .
He is being charged for identity theft .
The arrest comes just after Greyhound announced that it would no longer allow the Border Patrol to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they have a warrant .
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freedomdaily--2020-03-04--Schumer Warns Gorsuch And Kavanaugh They Will ‘You Have Released The Whirlwind And You Will Pay The

Schumer Warns Gorsuch And Kavanaugh They Will ‘You Have Released The Whirlwind And You Will Pay The Price’

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer warned two Supreme Court justices Wednesday that they “ have released the whirlwind ” and that they “ will pay the price , ” adding that they “ won ’ t know what hit you ” if they rule the wrong way .
Schumer spoke Wednesday at a rally in front of the United States Supreme Court where justices heard June Medical Services v. Russo , a case in which an abortion provider challenges a 2014 Louisiana state law that requires abortion providers to have admitting privileges in a hospital within 30 miles of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would hinder and potentially eliminate abortion access in Louisiana .
Louisiana lawmakers and pro-life activists maintain that the law protects women from unsanitary or unsafe abortion clinic practices .
Both pro-abortion and pro-life activists gathered Wednesday at the Washington , D.C. rally where the New York senator warned Justice Brett Kavanaugh and Justice Neil Gorsuch against taking away “ fundamental rights ” related to abortion .
“ I want to tell you Gorsuch , ” Schumer said , video from the event shows , “ and I want to tell you Kavanaugh .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ you will pay the price.
” “ You won ’ t know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions , ” he added .
The senator ’ s comments referenced the political price Republicans “ will pay for putting them on the court ” as well as “ a warning that the justices will unleash major grassroots movement on the issue of reproductive rights against the decision , ” Schumer spokesman Justin Goodman told the Daily Caller News Foundation .
“ Let me ask you my friends , are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ woman ’ s right to choose , ” Schumer asked the crowd .
“ Are we going to stay quiet as they try to turn back the clock ?
Are we going to give up or waver when things get tough ?
” The pro-abortion activists in the crowd responded to each of these questions with a resounding “ No.
” “ No , we are going to stand together in one voice and take a stand on behalf of women and families throughout the country , ” Schumer said .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attempts to restrict a woman ’ s right to choose and we will win.
” Republican Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse slammed Schumer , saying that Schumer threatened Gorsuch and Kavanaugh .
“ The Democratic Party is so radicalized on abortion politics that today Chuck Schumer threatened Justice Gorsuch and Justice Kavanaugh if they didn ’ t strike down a simple , common-sense , pro-woman law that simply says that abortion doctors need to have admission privileges at a local hospital , ” Sasse said in a statement provided to the DCNF .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican threatened Supreme Court Justices Sotomayor or Ginsburg , “ it would be the biggest story not just in Washington but all across America.
” “ But , Chuck Schumer ’ s bully tactics aren ’ t getting much air time right now because there ’ s so many people in bed with his defense of abortion and his attack on an independent judiciary , ” Sasse added .
“ These bullying tactics need to stop.
” The case marks the first time the Supreme Court has reviewed an abortion case since Justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Supreme Court .
The Supreme Court justice ’ s confirmation was marked by anxiety from the pro-abortion movement that Kavanaugh would rule favorably for pro-life policies .
He was accused of sexual assault by Christine Blasey Ford , whose lawyer Debra Katz said Ford ’ s accusations were motivated by putting “ an asterisk next to ” Kavanaugh ’ s name before “ he takes a scalpel ” to Roe v. Wade .
“ In the aftermath of these hearings , I believe that Christine ’ s testimony brought about more good than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kavanaugh on the court , ” Katz says in a video exclusively obtained by the DCNF in September 2019 .
“ He will always have an asterisk next to his name , ” Katz continues .
“ When he takes a scalpel to Roe v. Wade , we will know who he is , we know his character , and we know what motivates him , and that is important ; it is important that we know , and that is part of what motivated Christine .
”


freedomdaily--2020-03-04--What really works to keep coronavirus away? 4 questions answered by a public health professional

Editor ’ s note : The World Health Organization has declared that COVID-19 , the disease caused by the new coronavirus , has a higher fatality rate than the flu .
As of March 4 , 2020 , nine deaths have been reported in the U.S. Brian Labus , a professor of public health , provides essential safety information for you , from disinfectants to storing food and supplies .
1 .
What can I do to prevent becoming infected ?
When people are sick with a respiratory disease like COVID-19 , they cough or sneeze particles into the air @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the virus could easily land on your eyes , nose or mouth .
These particles travel only about six feet and fall out of the air rather quickly .
However , they do land on surfaces that you touch all the time , such as railings , doorknobs , elevator buttons or subway poles .
The average person also touches their face 23 times per hour , and about half of these touches are to the mouth , eyes , and nose , which are the mucosal surfaces that the COVID-19 virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t stress this enough : Proper hand-washing is the best thing you can do to protect yourself from a number of diseases including COVID-19 .
While hand-washing is preferred , hand sanitizers with at least a 60 % alcohol concentration can be an effective alternative to always using soap and water , but only if your hands are not visibly soiled .
2 .
Wouldn ’ t it be easier just to clean surfaces ?
Not really .
Public health experts don ’ t fully understand the role these surfaces play in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could still be infected by a virus that landed directly on you .
We also don ’ t know how long the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 can survive on hard surfaces , although other coronaviruses can survive for up to nine days on hard surfaces like stair railings .
Frequent cleaning could remove the virus if a surface has been contaminated by a sick person , such as when someone in your household is sick .
In these situations , it is important to use a disinfectant that is thought to be effective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ products have not yet been tested against COVID-19 coronavirus , there are many products that are effective against the general family of coronaviruses .
Cleaning recommendations using “ natural ” products like vinegar are popular on social media , but there is no evidence that they are effective against coronavirus .
You also have to use these products properly in accordance with the directions , and that typically means keeping the surface wet with the product for a period of time , often several minutes .
Simply wiping the surface down with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus .
In short , it isn ’ t possible to properly clean every surface you touch throughout your day , so hand-washing is still your best defense against COVID-19 .
While people have turned to masks as protection against COVID-19 , masks often provide nothing more than a false sense of security to the wearer .
The masks that were widely available at pharmacies , big-box stores and home improvement stores – until a worried public bought them all – work well at filtering out large particles like dust .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the COVID-19 virus are small and easily move right through dust masks and surgical masks .
These masks may provide some protection to other people if you wear one while you are sick – like coughing into a tissue – but they will do little to protect you from other sick people .
N95 masks , which filter out 95 % of the small , virus-containing particles , are worn in health care settings to protect doctors and nurses from exposure to respiratory diseases .
These masks provide protection only if they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ensure that they provide a seal around your face and that air doesn ’ t leak in the sides , defeating the purpose of the mask .
People wearing the mask also must take special steps when removing the mask to ensure that they are not contaminating themselves with the viral particles that the mask filtered out .
If you don ’ t wear the mask properly , don ’ t remove it properly or put it in your pocket and reuse it later , even the best mask won ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general preparedness step , you should have a three-day supply of food and water in case of emergencies .
This helps protect from disruptions to the water supply or during power outages .
While this is great general preparation advice , it doesn ’ t help you during a disease outbreak .
There is no reason to expect COVID-19 to cause the same damage to our infrastructure that we Americans would see after an earthquake , hurricane or tornado , so you shouldn ’ t plan for it in the same way .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ run out of toilet paper , there is no reason to buy 50 packages .
A Wuhan-type quarantine is extremely unlikely , as a quarantine won ’ t stop the spread of a disease that has been found all over the world .
The types of disruptions that you should plan for are small disruptions in your day-to-day life .
You should have a plan in case you or a family member gets sick and you can ’ t leave the house for a few days .
This includes stocking up on basic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yourself , like food and medicines .
If you do get sick , the last thing you are going to want to do is run to the grocery store , where you would expose other people to your illness .
You shouldn ’ t wait until you are out of an important medication before requesting a refill just in case your pharmacy closes for a couple days because all their employees are sick .
You also should plan for how to handle issues like temporary school or daycare closures .
You don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a little common-sense preparation will go a long way to make your life easier if you or your loved ones become sick .
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Brian Labus has previously received funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health .


freedomdaily--2020-03-04--Vaccines without needles – new shelf-stable film could revolutionize how medicines are distributed w

Vaccines without needles – new shelf-stable film could revolutionize how medicines are distributed worldwide

The race is on to identify an effective vaccine for the COVID-19 virus .
Once discovered , the next challenge will be manufacturing and distributing it around the world .
My research group has developed a novel method to stabilize live viruses and other biological medicines in a rapidly dissolving film that does not require refrigeration and can be given by mouth .
Since the ingredients to make the film are inexpensive and the process is relatively simple , it could make vaccine campaigns much more affordable .
Large quantities could be shipped and distributed easily given its flat , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rates have improved over the past decade , but are still too low – 13.5 million children were not vaccinated in 2018 .
This new technology , recently published in the journal Science Advances , has the potential to dramatically improve global access to vaccines and other biological medicines .
My research team began developing this technology in 2007 , when the National Institutes of Health asked us to develop a needle-free , shelf-stable delivery method for a vaccine .
The idea of developing a film was inspired by a documentary about how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things can be preserved for millions of years in amber .
This got us thinking about hard candy , like my grandmother used to make .
It was a simple idea , yet no one had tried it .
So we went to work mixing a variety of formulations containing natural ingredients like sugars and salts and testing them for their ability to form a solid amber-like candy .
Initially , many of the preparations we tested either killed the organism as the film formed or crystallized during storage , shredding the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preserve .
But finally , after about 450 tries over the course of a year , we found a formulation that could suspend viruses and bacteria in a peelable film .
As we gained more experience with the production process , we worked to simplify it so extensive technical training would not be needed to make it .
Additionally , we tweaked the ingredients so they would dry faster , enabling one to make a batch of vaccine in the morning and ship it after lunch .
I ’ m involved with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ market within the next two years .
All stored vaccines lose their potency over time .
The rate at which they do so mostly depends on the temperature at which they are kept .
Keeping vaccines continuously refrigerated is difficult and expensive – and in some parts of the world , nearly impossible .
So creating a vaccine that can be stored and transported at room temperature is a huge advantage .
The biggest breakthrough for this project came when we were finishing up our Ebola vaccine project and found films containing virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a sealed container on the lab bench .
On a whim , we rehydrated them and tested them to determine if the vaccine was still capable of inducing an immune response .
To our surprise , more than 95 % of the viruses in the film were still active .
To achieve this kind of shelf-life for an unrefrigerated vaccine was astonishing .
The ecological footprint left by global immunization campaigns is not often considered .
The 2004 Philippine Measles Elimination Campaign , which immunized 18 million children in one month , generated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of sharps waste and nearly 80 tons of nonhazardous waste – empty vials , syringe wrappers , caps , cotton swabs and packaging .
The implications for a larger campaign are significant .
Our film , by contrast , can be distributed by health workers equipped with only an envelope containing the vaccine .
Once taken , it will leave no trace , except for a healthy global population .
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The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the College of Pharmacy , University of Texas at Austin , has been licensed to a new startup company based in Chapel Hill , North Carolina for which Dr. Croyle is a scientific advisor .
Dr. Croyle currently receives funding from the National Institutes of Health .


freedomdaily--2020-03-04--Breaking: Bloomberg Drops Out

Breaking: Bloomberg Drops Out

Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced Wednesday that he is suspending his campaign to become the Democratic Party @ @ @ @ @ in 2020 .
Bloomberg spent over a half billion dollars of his own money in @ @ @ @ @ to win the nomination .
Ultimately , he failed to buy his way into the @ @ @ @ @ of the running .
Bloomberg ’ s campaign says that the billionaire will endorse Joe @ @ @ @ @ “ I ’ ve always believed that defeating Donald Trump starts with uniting behind the @ @ @ @ @ to do it .
After yesterday ’ s vote , it is clear that candidate @ @ @ @ @ great American , Joe Biden , ” he wrote in a statement .
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freedomdaily--2020-03-04--ICE Catches Illegal Alien Accused Of Child Rape After NYC Authorities Released Him From Custody

An illegal alien charged with raping a child was released by New York City authorities because of the city ’ s sanctuary policies , but Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( ICE ) agents were able to apprehend him shortly afterward .
ICE agents on Monday apprehend Miguel Federico Ajqui-Ajtzalam , a 20-year-old illegal alien from Guatemala , according to a press release by the agency .
Ajqui-Ajtzalam was previously in New York Police Department custody for allegedly raping a person under 14 years of age , but local authorities did not honor the ICE detainer lodged against him , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the community .
“ It ’ s inconceivable that a individual who was arrested for local charges of rape and sexual abuse of a child , would be released back into the community instead of being transferred to ICE who had a detainer in place , ” ICE spokesman Thomas Decker said in a statement released Tuesday .
“ It ’ s frightening that our detainer was ignored and he was released onto New York City streets to possibly re-offend , ” he continued .
“ The safety of city residents , especially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a priority for ICE enforcement.
” Ajqui-Ajtzalam ’ s run in with U.S. authorities dates back several years .
The Guatemalan national was apprehended by Border Patrol in September 2016 after entering the country illegally .
He was processed as an unaccompanied alien child ( UAC ) and released from ICE custody the following month under an Order of Recognizance .
It ’ s not immediately clear where on the U.S. border he was found , or if he was ever ordered deported .
NYPD authorities arrested Ajqui-Ajtzalam on Feb. 27 of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the 2nd , sexual abuse in the 2nd for sexual contact with a person less than 14 yrs.
, and act in manner to injure a child less than 17 yrs , ” according to ICE .
Federal immigration authorities immediately lodged a detainer for him , which asked local law enforcement to hold onto him in order for ICE to assume custody , but that detainer was ignored .
The Guatemalan man was ultimately arraigned and released from New York City Department of Correction ’ s custody .
Nevertheless , agents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Operations located and arrested Ajqui-Ajtzalam on Monday , and he remains in ICE custody pending removal proceedings .
The incident marks the latest in the public relations war between New York City authorities and ICE .
New York City touts a strict sanctuary policy , prohibiting law enforcement officials from cooperating with ICE agents .
This includes a ban on honoring ICE detainer requests .
Such policies have resulted in deadly consequences for residents , including the brutal rape and murder of an elderly woman allegedly perpetrated by an illegal alien who was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an ICE detainer .
ICE acting director Matthew Albence wrote a letter to Mayor Bill de Blasio earlier in February , hoping to begin a conversation on how the Democratic mayor and ICE can work together to keep residents of New York City safe .
However , ICE agents say de Blasio has not attempted to engage them in any meaningful dialogue .


freedomdaily--2020-03-04--Why so many epidemics originate in Asia and Africa – and why we can expect more

The coronavirus disease , known as COVID-19 , is a frightening reminder of the imminent global threat posed by emerging infectious diseases .
Although epidemics have arisen during all of human history , they now seem to be on the rise .
In just the past 20 years , coronaviruses alone have caused three major outbreaks worldwide .
Even more troubling , the duration between these three pandemics has gotten shorter .
I am a virologist and associate director of the Animal Diagnostic Laboratory at Penn State University , and my laboratory studies zoonotic viruses , those that jump from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemics have at least one thing in common : They began their deadly work in Asia or Africa .
The reasons why may surprise you .
An unprecedented shift in human population is one reason why more diseases originate in Asia and Africa .
Rapid urbanization is happening throughout Asia and the Pacific regions , where 60 % of the world already lives .
According to the World Bank , almost 200 million people moved to urban areas in East Asia during the first decade of the 21st century .
To put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could form the eighth most populous country in the world .
Migration on that scale means forest land is destroyed to create residential areas .
Wild animals , forced to move closer to cities and towns , inevitably encounter domestic animals and the human population .
Wild animals often harbor viruses ; bats , for instance , can carry hundreds of them .
And viruses , jumping species to species , can ultimately infect people .
Eventually , extreme urbanization becomes a vicious cycle : More people bring more deforestation , and human @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kills off predators , including those that feed off rodents .
With the predators gone – or at least with their numbers sharply diminished – the rodent population explodes .
And as studies in Africa show , so does the risk of zoonotic disease .
The situation is only likely to get worse .
A major proportion of East Asia ’ s population still lives in rural areas .
Urbanization is expected to continue for decades .
Tropical regions , rich in host biodiversity , already hold a large pool of pathogens , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pathogen will emerge .
The farming system throughout Africa and Asia doesn ’ t help .
On both continents , many families depend on subsistence farming and a minuscule supply of livestock .
Disease control , feed supplementation and housing for those animals is extremely limited .
Cattle , chickens and pigs , which can carry endemic disease , are often in close contact with each other , a variety of nondomestic animals and humans .
And not just on the farms : Live animal markets , commonplace throughout Asia and Africa , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of multiple species , including humans .
This too plays a key role in how a killer pathogen could emerge and spread between species .
Another risk : bushmeat hunting and butchering , which is particularly widespread in sub-Saharan Africa .
These activities , as they threaten animal species and irrevocably change ecosystems , also bring people and wild animals together .
Bushmeat hunting is a clear and primary path for zoonotic disease transmission .
So is traditional Chinese medicine , which purports to provide remedies for a host of conditions like arthritis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no scientific evidence exists to support most of the claims , Asia is an enormous consumer of traditional Chinese medicine products .
Tigers , bears , rhinos , pangolins and other animal species are poached so their body parts can be mixed into these questionable medications .
This , too , is a major contributor to increasing animal-human interactions .
What ’ s more , demand is likely to go up , as online marketing soars along with Asia ’ s relentless economic growth .
The viruses , thousands of them , continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a matter of time before another major outbreak occurs in this region of the world .
All the coronaviruses that caused recent epidemics , including the COVID-19 , jumped from bats to another animal before infecting humans .
It ’ s difficult to predict precisely what chain of events cause a pandemic , but one thing is certain : these risks can be mitigated by developing strategies to minimize human effects which contribute to the ecological disturbances .
As the current outbreak has shown , an infectious disease that starts in one part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virtually no time whatsoever .
There is an urgent need for constructive conservation strategies to prevent deforestation and reduce animal-human interactions .
And a comprehensive global surveillance system to monitor the emergence of these diseases – now missing – would be an indispensable tool in helping us fight these deadly and terrifying epidemics .
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Suresh V Kuchipudi receives funding from the United States Department of Agriculture ( USDA )


freedomdaily--2020-03-04--A simple way to promote HPV vaccination among Asian American women: Storytelling

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders – what demographers call AAPIs – are the nation ’ s fastest-growing minority .
Close to 20 million now live in the U.S .
But you wouldn ’ t know it from our public health data , where AAPIs are underrepresented .
Nowhere is that more apparent than in the data on cervical cancer screenings .
In the U.S. , AAPI women have the lowest risk of cervical cancer .
However , when separating cancer statistics by subgroups , it shows the incidence and mortality rates of cervical cancer are two or three times higher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Vietnamese women than in non-Hispanic white women .
At the same time , one subgroup , Korean American women , has the lowest rates of cervical cancer screening in the U.S .
Breaking it down further , English-speaking , college-educated Korean American women have particularly low awareness and knowledge of HPV , the HPV vaccine and cervical cancer .
As a Korean immigrant , and a transcultural nurse implementation scientist , I want to expand awareness of the need for HPV education among AAPI women .
International HPV Awareness Day , March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to remind all women that the human papillomavirus can cause cancer and that cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccination are the best ways to prevent those cancers .
The cause of cervical cancer Nearly all cervical cancers – over 99 % – are caused by HPV infection .
HPV is the most common sexually-transmitted infection in the U.S. that strikes both men and women , and the only STI that causes cancer , including cervical , oral , anal , vulvar and penile cancers .
Studies show HPV infection is more prevalent in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more likely to have persistent , high-risk HPV infection that may lead to cervical cancer , the second-leading cause of cancer death among women ages 20 to 39 .
Currently , cervical cancer is the only HPV cancer with a recommended screening test to detect it an early stage .
After the introduction of the Papanicolaou ( Pap ) test , the incidence and mortality rates of cervical cancer decreased significantly .
But not all women are getting regular Pap tests , and not all cervical cancer rates are declining .
Moreover , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ types of cervical cancer .
HPV vaccination provides the best protection against cervical and other HPV-associated cancers .
Prevention is not always a priority Why do so many AAPI women know so little about HPV ?
We set out to answer this question by interviewing Asian American ethnic groups and conducting surveys .
Our findings suggest their knowledge and attitudes toward HPV prevention are closely tied to health beliefs and cultural or language barriers .
What ’ s more , we discovered preventive health care is not a top priority for immigrant populations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only when already sick .
Our studies also suggest many of them are skeptical about participating in research .
One woman who participated in our study said , “ Guys don ’ t have a cervix , so I thought this vaccine is for women only.
” But HPV is a sexually transmitted infection .
Both men and women can have it , and the vaccine works for both sexes .
One reason for the misunderstanding is that the HPV vaccine is often advertised as “ cervical cancer vaccine.
” This occurs in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Korea .
Some of the AAPI women told us their doctor did not recommend the vaccine because Asian women are less prone to cervical cancer .
This is not true ; doctors saying this are not familiar with how the data might mask differences in AAPI subgroups .
Other women said they were confused by medical terminology or the way the U.S. health care system worked – hardly a singular experience , no matter what your nationality or ethnicity .
Another problem is the sheer number of the subgroups of AAPI women .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ them , hundreds of languages and dialects , and with little or no accurate population-based data outlining their vaccination rates .
We discovered in our study that narrative storytelling – that is , mothers and their children sharing their experiences and having conversations about HPV vaccination – can increase HPV vaccination rates .
From that , we ’ ve developed what we call a storytelling intervention for young Korean American women using a “ peer-paired ” approach .
Because the storytellers are about the same age as the participants , a meaningful conversation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women are less shy about sharing their personal experiences , feelings and fears .
In our study , three pairs of young Korean women told their stories about the HPV vaccination experience .
They also discussed their cultural attitudes toward vaccines .
We also produced an educational video that addressed common misconceptions about HPV , along with a research manual and a web-based interface where participants could watch storytelling video interviews .
A comparison group received basic written information about HPV , but it was non-narrative .
In other words , dry facts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conclusive : The storytelling intervention group was twice as likely to schedule an appointment for the HPV vaccine than the comparison group .
Simple storytelling – human-centered , interactive , culture-specific and group-tailored – led to positive health outcomes .
We are now expanding our research to include both men and women and other underserved or understudied populations .
Our storytelling intervention strategy , which leverages today ’ s technologies , can now be replicated to reach diverse groups and promote health , and prevent cancers and other diseases .
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freedomdaily--2020-03-05--Cruise Ship Held Off California with Coronavirus Victims Aboard

Princess Cruise ’ s Grand Princess cruise ship is being held off the California coast as at least 21 people aboard are feared to have contracted Novel Coronavirus and a man that came off the ship last month has now died from the disease .
Two people who traveled on the ship last month have been confirmed with coronavirus and a 71-year-old man who was on the ship during a Mexico cruise became California ’ s first fatality from the disease on Wednesday .
The ship was returning from Hawaii when an additional 11 passengers and 10 crew members reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the two victims from the previous cruise , or were on the previous cruise have also been quarantined as health officials investigate a small cluster of coronavirus victims in California that were associated with the Grand Princess ’ previous trip to Mexico .
California Governor Gavin Newsom said that testing kits are being flown out to the ship and that the Grand Princess will not be allowed to dock until everyone aboard has been assessed .
The ship is currently about 400 miles off the coast and is due to arrive in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ industry is already suffering from massive cancellations due to fears of contracting the disease and this latest cruise-ship outbreak is unlikely to change that .
Last month over 700 passengers and crew contracted the virus on the Princess Cruise Lines Diamond Princess ship .
The close proximity of travelers on aircraft and cruise ships give a highly-contagious virus , like Novel Coronavirus , the perfect breeding ground .
Only about 130 people in the United States have contracted coronavirus compared to the more than 15 thousand that have been hospitalized for influenza .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ some content syndicated through CDN is available for re-publication without charge under the Creative Commons license .
Visit our syndication page for details and requirements .
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freedomdaily--2020-03-05--Chief Justice Roberts Condemns Schumer For ‘Dangerous’ And ‘Threatening Statements’

Schumer spoke Wednesday at a rally in front of the United States Supreme Court where justices heard June Medical Services v. Russo , a case in which an abortion provider challenges a 2014 Louisiana state law that requires abortion providers to have admitting privileges in a hospital within 30 miles of the abortion facility .
“ I want to tell you Gorsuch , ” Schumer said , video from the event shows , “ and I want to tell you Kavanaugh .
You have released the whirlwind , and you will pay the price.
” “ You won ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forward with these awful decisions , ” he added .
Roberts denounced Schumer ’ s comments in a Wednesday afternoon statement , according to Bloomberg Supreme Court reporter Greg Stohr .
“ Justices know that criticism comes with the territory , but threatening statements of this sort from the highest levels of government are not only inappropriate , they are dangerous , ” Roberts said .
“ All members of the Court will continue to do their job , without fear or favor , from whatever quarter , ” Roberts added .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ price Republicans “ will pay for putting them on the court ” as well as “ a warning that the justices will unleash major grassroots movement on the issue of reproductive rights against the decision , ” Schumer spokesman Justin Goodman told the Daily Caller News Foundation before Roberts produced a statement .
Schumer did not yet respond to a request for comment regarding Robert ’ s remarks .
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freedomdaily--2020-03-05--DoD Translator Charged as Spy for Islamic Terrorists

Mariam Taha Thompson , 61 , formerly of Rochester , Minnesota , was charged today in the District of Columbia with transmitting highly sensitive classified national defense information to a foreign national with apparent connections to Hizballah , a foreign terrorist organization that has been so designated by the Secretary of State .
According to the affidavit filed in support of a criminal complaint , the information Thompson gathered and transmitted included classified national defense information regarding active human assets , including their true names .
By compromising the identities of these human assets , Thompson placed the lives of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in grave danger .
“ While in a war zone , the defendant allegedly gave sensitive national defense information , including the names of individuals helping the United States , to a Lebanese national located overseas , ” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers .
“ If true , this conduct is a disgrace , especially for someone serving as a contractor with the United States military .
This betrayal of country and colleagues will be punished.
” “ The conduct alleged in this complaint is a grave threat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk , and represents a betrayal of our armed forces .
The charges we ’ ve filed today should serve as a warning to anyone who would consider disclosing classified national defense information to a terrorist organization , ” said U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Shea for the District of Columbia .
“ This case shows the value of cooperation across the U.S. Government .
Working closely with the Department of Defense , the FBI was able to investigate this willful disregard for keeping national defense information safe and partnered to bring the defendant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face justice , ” said Acting Assistant Director of the FBI ’ s Counterintelligence Division Robert Wells .
“ Today ’ s announcement is a testament to the U.S. government ’ s commitment to protecting the U.S. from the unauthorized disclosure of classified information that can put our country at serious risk of damage – damage to people and damage to our country ’ s capabilities , ” said Timothy R. Slater , Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI ’ s Washington Field Office .
“ Human assets are the core of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and they have our assurance that we will go above and beyond to protect them .
I want to thank the men and women at the FBI and our partners here and abroad who answered the call to assist on this fast-moving investigation .
The FBI is charged with protecting our nation ’ s security and information for a safe and secure tomorrow for all Americans – we take this duty seriously and will not stand by while supposedly trusted individuals violate that trust in such an egregious way.
” Thompson was arrested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 2020 , at an overseas U.S. military facility , where she worked as a contract linguist and held a Top Secret government security clearance .
The investigation leading to this arrest revealed that starting on or about December 30 , 2019 , a day after U.S. airstrikes against Iranian-backed forces in Iraq , and the same day protesters stormed the U.S. embassy in Iraq to protest those strikes , audit logs show a notable shift in Thompson ’ s network activity on United States Department of Defense classified systems , including repeated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to access .
Specifically , during a six-week period between December 30 , 2019 , and February 10 , 2020 , Thompson accessed dozens of files concerning human intelligence sources , including true names , personal identification data , background information , and photographs of the human assets , as well as operational cables detailing information the assets provided to the United States government .
A court-authorized search of Thompson ’ s living quarters on February 19 , 2020 , led to the discovery of a handwritten note in Arabic concealed under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contained classified information from Department of Defense computer systems , identifying human assets by name , and warning a Department of Defense target who is affiliated with a designated foreign terrorist organization with ties to Hizballah .
The note also instructed that the human assets ’ phones should be monitored .
Thompson transmitted the classified information in the handwritten note to a co-conspirator , in whom she had a romantic interest .
The FBI ’ s investigation revealed that Thompson knew the co-conspirator was a foreign national whose relative worked for the Lebanese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the co-conspirator has apparent connections to Hizballah .
Further investigation revealed that , in a separate communication , Thompson also provided information to her co-conspirator identifying another human asset and the information the asset had provided to the United States , as well as providing information regarding the techniques the human assets were using to gather information on behalf of the United States .
In today ’ s Criminal Complaint , Thompson was charged with Delivering Defense Information to Aid a Foreign Government in violation of 18 U.S.C .
§ 794 ( a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violation of 18 U.S.C .
§ 794 ( c ) .
Thompson is scheduled to make her initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Robin M. Meriweather later this afternoon .
A Criminal Complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct for purposes of establishing probable cause , not evidence of guilt .
The defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty .
If convicted , Thompson faces a maximum sentence of life in prison for violating § 794 .
The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offense , the sentencing of a defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors .


freedomdaily--2020-03-05--Senate Panel Will Soon Release A Report on Biden-Burisma Connections

Sen. Ron Johnson , the chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee , told reporters Wednesday he will soon release an interim report on his panel ’ s investigation into Hunter Biden ’ s work for Ukrainian energy firm Burisma Holdings .
Johnson said that the report , which will also focus on what Joe Biden knew about his son ’ s links to Burisma , will be released within the next month or two .
“ These are questions that Joe Biden has not adequately answered , ” Johnson told reporters , according to Politico .
“ And if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ d want these questions satisfactorily answered before I cast my final vote.
” Johnson and his fellow Senate Republican , Chuck Grassley , have for months been investigating several Ukraine-lated matters , including Hunter Biden ’ s work for Burisma .
Biden joined the firm as a director in April 2014 , despite having no experience in the energy business .
The hire drew some attention at the time , in large part because Joe Biden had just taken over as the Obama administration ’ s chief liaison to the Ukrainian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s private equity firm , Rosemont Seneca , more than $ 80,000 per month , according to bank records .
Biden left the board in April 2019 , just before his father began running for president .
On Sunday , Johnson said he intends to subpoena a former consultant for Blue Star Strategies , a Democrat-linked consulting firm that worked for Burisma .
Hunter Biden reportedly put Burisma in touch with Blue Star , which was founded by two Bill Clinton White House officials .
Biden was on the board of directors of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Painter , one of Blue Star ’ s founders .
Johnson is seeking documents from Andrii Telizhenko , who worked for Blue Star after leaving a position with the Ukrainian embassy .
Telizhenko has in recent months worked with Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani , who has led the allegations that Joe Biden pressured the Ukrainian government in order to help Burisma .
Trump allies , led by Giuliani , have accused Joe Biden of pressuring Ukraine ’ s president in 2016 to fire a prosecutor in order to stop an investigation into Burisma @ @ @ @ @ @ @ denied the allegation .
Giuliani ’ s theories about the Bidens served as a catalyst for impeachment proceedings against President Trump .
Democrats accused Trump of abusing the office of the president by asking Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a July 25 , 2019 phone call to consider investigating whether Joe Biden put pressure on Ukraine to help Burisma .
Democrats also accused Trump of withholding military assistance to Ukraine in order to force Zelensky to open a Biden-related investigation .
House Democrats impeached Trump , but he was acquitted by the Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigation is not focused on Joe Biden , who surged to the head of the Democratic presidential field with a strong showing on Super Tuesday .
“ My investigations are not focused on the Bidens .
They ’ re just not .
But I can ’ t ignore them because they ’ re part of the story .
They made themselves part of the story , ” he said , according to Politico .
“ If there ’ s wrongdoing , the American people need to know it .
If there is no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people need to understand that as well .
”


freedomdaily--2020-03-05--Trump’s EPA Makes Big Changes To Rule Banning ‘Secret Science,’ Obama-Era Officials Call It ‘Egregio

Trump’s EPA Makes Big Changes To Rule Banning ‘Secret Science,’ Obama-Era Officials Call It ‘Egregious’

The Environmental Protection Agency is making some critical changes to a rule designed to keep so-called secret science out of regulatory crafting process — Obama-era officials say the changes are “ egregious.
” The agency walked back an element of the rule Tuesday that sought to restrict the EPA from considering research that is not publicly available .
EPA ’ s changes require the agency to now give preference to studies with public data rather than research that is hidden from view .
Former EPA Chief Scott Pruitt proposed in 2018 reversing the practice of relying on secretive data in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ studies , noting that such “ secret science ” has been used to craft billions of dollars worth of environmental regulations .
EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler told The Daily Caller News Foundation in March 2019 that he intended on moving forward on the proposal after replacing Pruitt , who resigned in 2018 after reports suggested he used the agency to further his own political and private ambitions .
The agency has since shifted course slightly .
“ Other things being equal , the agency will give greater consideration to studies where the underlying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manner sufficient for independent validation , ” EPA wrote in the new proposal .
Wheeler addressed the changes .
“ These additions and clarifications to the proposed rule will ensure that the science supporting the agency ’ s decisions is transparent and available for independent validation while still maintaining protection of confidential and personally identifiable information , ” he said in a statement Tuesday .
The EPA has not responded to the DCNF ’ s request for comment explaining why the agency is now only giving greater consideration to publicly available data .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ change is just as bad as the initial proposal .
“ Now is not the time to play games with critical medical research that underpins every rule designed to protect us from harmful pollution in our air and in our water , ” Gina McCarthy , a former EPA chief during the Obama administration , said in statement Tuesday responding to the news .
Environmentalists say going to battle against secretive science prevents the EPA from using studies that often rely on private medical information .
Researchers often use anonymous data from private @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chemical exposure .
McCarthy added : “ This move is even more egregious than the last proposal , which the administration ’ s own hand-picked scientists criticized.
” McCarthy joined the National Resources Defense Council in January .
Past reports showed the NRDC , which has roughly $ 349.4 million in net assets , worked as a shadow staff for the EPA while the agency worked to implement former President Barack Obama ’ s climate legacy .
Other former Obama acolytes chimed in on the change as well .
“ Rather than fixing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rule , this supplemental notice compounds the damage done , ” Betsy Southerland , a career EPA official who left in 2017 , said in a statement .
She was director of the Office of Science and Technology at the EPA ’ s Office of Water during the Obama-era .


freedomdaily--2020-03-05--U.S. Colleges And Universities Cancel Study Abroad Programs Amid Coronavirus Fears

American colleges and universities are bringing home students in study abroad programs over fears of the coronavirus .
Collegiate institutions across the country call for students to leave their study abroad programs and return to the U.S. as the virus escalates , killing over 3,000 people worldwide .
The University of Dallas , a Catholic school based in Texas , announced on Monday that the school would begin repatriating students from its study abroad program in Rome , Italy .
“ We are confident our students remain safe on our Rome campus due to its remoteness from affected areas .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ situation in Italy , we will begin to repatriate students immediately , ” the university president Thomas Hibbs said in a release .
The University of Texas at San Antonio similarly announced that all students studying abroad in Italy had returned to the U.S. after being recalled by the school .
Other colleges and universities suspending or cancelling study abroad programs in Italy include the University of Notre Dame , Villanova University , Gonzaga University , Fairfield University , Florida International University , Syracuse University , Boston College , and Elon University , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of America called for all students in university study abroad programs to return to the United States .
The University of Tennessee , Florida International University , University of Colorado Boulder , and the University of Georgia are cancelling spring study abroad programs in South Korea and calling for students to return to the United States , CNN reports .
The publication notes that Florida International University ’ s study abroad programs in Singapore and Japan have also been cancelled , and the University of Colorado Boulder and the University of Tennessee have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .


freedomdaily--2020-03-05--Trump’s Remain In Mexico Program To Be Blocked On Section Of US Border

A federal appeals court has said it will block the Migrant Protection Protocols program within its jurisdiction next week , unless the Supreme Court chooses to wade in .
In the latest back-and-forth between the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals and the Trump administration , the appeals court announced late Wednesday that it will block Migrant Protection Protocols — more popularly known as the “ Remain in Mexico ” program — in California and Arizona , the two states that are within the court ’ s jurisdiction .
In its order , the court deemed that asylum officers are placing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they are not asking whether they have a fear of being sent to Mexico to await their court dates .
“ Uncontradicted evidence in the record shows not only that asylum officers implementing the MPP do not ask whether asylum seekers fear returning to Mexico .
It also shows that officers actively prevent or discourage applicants from expressing such a fear , and that they ignore applicants who succeed in doing so , ” the order read .
“ Uncontradicted evidence also shows that there is extreme danger to asylum seekers who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continued .
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday blocked the Remain in Mexico program for the entire southern border .
However , the court suspended the order after the Trump administration filed an emergency motion requesting a stay .
Since launching Remain in Mexico in January 2019 , the program has become the administration ’ s most effective tool at controlling the U.S immigration crisis .
The program requires most non-Mexican nationals who claim asylum at the U.S. southern border to wait in Mexico for the entirety of their court proceedings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Protocols has sent tens of thousands of migrants across the border to wait in Mexico , mostly eliminating the possibility for them to be released into the interior of the U.S .
The administration , including immigration enforcement leaders , have lauded the program for effectively ending the border crisis .
However , immigration-rights advocates and other opponents argue Remain in Mexico is inhumane in that it forces migrants to stay in purportedly unsafe and unsanitary conditions .
The appeals court ultimately ruled on Wednesday that the program will not be in effect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12 .
“ We grant the Government ’ s request and extend our administrative stay entered on Friday , February 28 , until Wednesday , March 11 , ” read a section of the court ’ s conclusion .
“ If the Supreme Court has not in the meantime acted to reverse or otherwise modify our decision , our partial grant and partial denial of the Government ’ s request for a stay of the district court ’ s injunction , as described above , will take effect on Thursday , March 12 @ @ @ @ @


freedomdaily--2020-03-05--Bill De Blasio: Biden Won The Black Vote Due To Ignorance

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio suggested Thursday that black people voted for former Vice President Joe Biden on Super Tuesday because they ’ re ignorant of his record outside of his association with former President Barack Obama .
“ You had a whole lot of candidates , ” de Blasio said on MSNBC ’ s “ Morning Joe.
” “ The information that I think people received about Joe Biden was some of his historic connection , which understandably means something to people.
” Biden won black voters by 41 points across Super Tuesday states , according to exit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ De Blasio , who endorsed Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in February after ending his own presidential bid in September , said that Biden ’ s record wasn ’ t fully examined by the electorate when there was a more crowded field .
“ The one-on-one race , I think this is pure political science , one-on-one race brings out a whole different set of information , a whole different set of comparisons , ” de Blasio said .
“ Joe Biden ’ s record , I think this is a fair statement , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when there ’ s eight candidates.
” Geist pushed back , asking if de Blasio was suggesting that “ all those voters in South Carolina , all those voters across Super Tuesday states who voted for Joe Biden overwhelmingly didn ’ t know enough about him after 50 years in the public square ?
” De Blasio doubled-down on his stance that the formerly-crowded Democratic field prevented Biden ’ s record from being properly analyzed .
“ There ’ s three people who can be president of the United States now .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Joe Biden , ” de Blasio said .
“ Now the public gets deadly serious in its estimations and those comparisons really , really matter at this point.
” “ If black voters , and I ’ m someone who has had the blessing of tremendous support in my campaigns in the black community , ” the New York mayor continued .
“ I ran as a candidate of change because black voters certainly do not like the status quo .
If Joe Biden can not present to black voters a vision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a one-on-one matchup we start to have a different discussion .
”


freedomdaily--2020-03-05--DHS To Allow 35,000 More Seasonal Workers Into The Country

The Department of Homeland Security ( DHS ) is raising the cap on H-2B visas by 35,000 and pledged to add extra security provisions for the guest worker system .
In a press release on Thursday , DHS announced it ’ s raising the cap on H-2B visas — which applies to seasonal guest workers — by 35,000 this year .
While the move placates concerns by the business community , which has lobbied to raise the cap in order to fill vacant jobs , the announcement will irk those that oppose cheaper foreign labor entering the U.S. market .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was determined after extensive consultation with stakeholders — including members of Congress and the Department of Labor — and is intended to strike a careful balance that benefits American businesses and American workers , ” a DHS statement on Thursday read .
Congress has set the annual cap on H-2B visas at 66,000 , giving temporary legal status to non-agricultural workers in industries such as service and landscaping .
However , DHS is also authorized to raise this cap by as much as 64,000 a year .
While the 35,000 extra visas mark @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the floor that Congress set , it ’ s also far from the ceiling that lawmakers afforded the Department .
“ The supplemental visas will be made available in two batches to prevent a small handful of employers from using all the visas : 20,000 for start dates beginning April 1 , and 15,000 for start dates beginning May 15 .
Adding a second batch will address specific congressional concerns about late-season filers , ” DHS explained .
Of the new H-2B visas to be doled out , there will be 10,000 “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Guatemalan nationals , with DHS noting that this designation is meant to help stem the flow of illegal immigration from those Central American countries .
The Department called on Congress to help fix the integrity fo the guest worker system .
In the meantime , DHS said it is implementing new measures to prevent fraud .
Reforms to the H-2B system include : matching start dates on an H-2B petition and employers ’ state date of need ; increased collaboration with the Department of Labor on higher employer site visits ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are known to abide by U.S. immigration laws .


freedomdaily--2020-03-05--Spy Court Sidelines FBI And DOJ Officials Who Wiretapped Carter Page

FBI and Justice Department employees involved in the process of wiretapping Carter Page were barred Wednesday from taking part in other investigations involving surveillance warrants while they are under disciplinary or criminal review .
The order , from Judge James Boasberg , who presides over the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court ( FISC ) , is the latest fallout from a Justice Department watchdog ’ s report on FBI and Justice Department abuses of the surveillance process against Page .
“ There is thus little doubt that the government breached its duty of candor to the Court with respect to those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Justice Department ’ s inspector general said in a report released on Dec. 9 , 2019 that the FBI made 17 “ significant ” errors and omissions in applications to conduct electronic surveillance against Page .
On Dec. 17 , the FISC ordered the FBI to develop reforms to how the bureau handles and verifies information included in surveillance orders , saying that the bureau ’ s handling of the Page case called into question the validity of surveillance orders in other investigations .
In January , the Justice Department conceded that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were invalid .
Most of the errors in the Page investigation involved the FBI withholding information from the FISC that undercut the bureau ’ s theory that Page was a Russian agent .
FBI agents and Justice Department lawyers also failed to tell the FISC about flaws in the Steele dossier , which the FBI cited extensively in its four spy applications against Page .
FBI Director Christopher Wray testified on Feb. 5 that all FBI employees discussed in the IG report have been referred for disciplinary review to the bureau ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one former FBI attorney , Kevin Clinesmith , was referred for potential criminal prosecution .
Boasberg ’ s order suggests that those employees still working for the FBI and Justice Department are effectively banned from handling surveillance cases until the disciplinary reviews are resolved .
“ FBI personnel under disciplinary review in relation to their work on FISA applications accordingly should not participate in drafting , verifying , reviewing , or submitting such applications to the Court while the review is pending , ” Boasberg said .
“ The same prohibition applies to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as well as any DOJ or FBI personnel who are the subject of a criminal referral related to their work on FISA applications.
” That group would seemingly include Stephen Somma , an FBI counterintelligence investigator who has been identified as “ Case Agent 1 ” in the IG report .
The report said that the agent was “ primarily responsible ” for at least six significant errors and omissions in the surveillance process .
Somma failed to disclose in the FISA applications that Page had a prior connection to the CIA .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Page and fellow Trump campaign aide George Papadopoulos told Stefan Halper , who was working as an undercover FBI informant .
Somma also met in January 2017 with Steele ’ s primary source of information for the dossier .
The IG report said that the source disputed much of what was in the dossier , including information about Page , but that the information was not disclosed in wiretap applications presented to the FISC .