rawstory--2020-01-07--Facebook bans deepfake videos but says parody clips still OK

Facebook will ban deepfake videos ahead of the US elections but the new policy will still allow heavily edited clips so long as they are parody or satire , the social media giant said Tuesday .
Deepfake videos are hyper-realistic doctored clips made using artificial intelligence or programs that have been designed to accurately fake real human movements .
In a blog published following a Washington Post report , Facebook said it would begin removing clips that were edited — beyond for clarity and quality — in ways that “ aren ’ t apparent to an average person ” and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ removed if they were “ the product of artificial intelligence or machine learning that merges , replaces or superimposes content onto a video , making it appear to be authentic , ” the statement from Facebook vice-president Monika Bickert said .
However , the statement added : “ This policy does not extend to content that is parody or satire , or video that has been edited solely to omit or change the order of words.
” US media noted the new guidelines would not cover videos such as the 2019 viral clip @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that appeared to show her slurring her words .
Facebook also gave no indication on the number of people assigned to identify and take down the offending videos , but said videos failing to meet its usual guidelines would be removed , and those flagged clips would be reviewed by teams of third-party fact-checkers — among them AFP .
The news agency has been paid by the social media giant to fact-check posts across 30 countries and 10 languages as part of a program starting in December 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Content labeled “ false ” is not always removed from newsfeeds but is downgraded so fewer people see it — alongside a warning explaining why the post is misleading .


rawstory--2020-01-08--Retired general fears Iran launched large surface-to-surface missiles at US troops

On MSNBC Tuesday , retired Gen. Barry McCaffrey registered his alarm in response to reports that Iran had struck a U.S. military installation with ballistic missiles .
“ I ’ m looking at AP wires from five minutes ago and it ’ s saying that Iran state TV says that Iran has launched tens of surface-to-surface missiles at the American air base .
I think this is truly alarming , ” said McCaffrey .
“ My instinct is it ’ s going to turn out that these were very large rockets to go the range , to target an air @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We do have incredibly effective protective measures , not just bunkers and concrete reinforced command centers all over these basis .
Afghanistan routinely , they ’ re rocketed every two , three days .
So we ’ ve learned to live with this .
With very few casualties .
But the large missiles are quite a different thing .
They ’ re horrifying .
You hear them coming in for miles .
And when they hit , it shakes the ground for a half mile around it .
So this could be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to wait and see what the casualty count is .
”

Trained in political science and the law, he has no formal education in disaster preparedness or response. And prior to his current role, he never held a full-time job dedicated to emergency management.
Instead, his main qualification was being chief of staff to then-mayor Alan Arakawa. But in that role, he told Civil Beat Tuesday, he assisted during emergency operations. And he said he participated in online FEMA trainings and workshops throughout the years.
In 2017, Andaya beat out 40 other applicants for the job, Maui Now reported at the time.
As the mayor’s administration was coming to a close, a panel of government officials – which said it was independent of the mayor – chose Andaya for the civil service role.
Civil Beat reviewed Andaya’s experience after historic Lahaina was swallowed by an inferno last week, killing scores of residents and visitors who never saw it coming.
The Maui Emergency Management Agency had the authority to issue siren warnings that might have alerted people. After Andaya’s agency decided not to sound them, many survivors reported they only became aware of the fire when they saw and smelled smoke.
Andaya said sounding the sirens wasn’t an option officials considered because they’re “mainly used for tsunamis.” That’s why they’re mostly located on the coast, he said.
But the state’s own website says the sirens are useful for many kinds of emergencies.
“The all-hazard siren system can be used for a variety of both natural and human-caused events; including tsunamis, hurricanes, dam breaches, flooding, wildfires, volcanic eruptions, terrorist threats, hazardous material incidents, and more,” the site states.
Andaya wasn’t on the island when the fires started, and he hasn’t made any appearances at press conferences since the disaster occurred.
Asked about Andaya’s resume, David Hafner, a retired telecommunications planner for the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, questioned whether his relative inexperience affected his agency’s performance in a crisis.
“It’s a good ol’ boy network,” Hafner said. “This time it cost lives.”
Hafner said it’s “absolutely essential” for emergency management leaders to have experience in the field so they make the right decisions both before and after disasters strike.
Not having it, he said, “can lead to grave mistakes in judgment.”
Andaya’s hiring came at a time when Hawaii’s counties had just taken on increased responsibility for disaster response, according to Hafner. State emergency management officials used to be the designated authority to respond to emergencies, he said, but an update to the law in 2014 put the counties in the driver’s seat.
Asked about Andaya’s LinkedIn resume, Colin Moore, a political scientist at the University of Hawaii, said he was shocked by the emergency administrator’s lack of relevant experience. He said the public is owed an explanation.
“It’s a legitimate question to ask why the person leading the county emergency services agency has no clear background in fire, police, public health, the usual emergency services backgrounds,” he said.
“Having that on-the-ground experience, you develop the instincts and the connections to be able to perform a job like this. And if you just have general government experience, there is just no opportunity to have that kind of on-the-ground knowledge that often is really useful in a crisis.”
Andaya said as a former member of the mayor’s cabinet, he was qualified for the job.
“Whenever there was an activation in the emergency operations center, we were involved,” he said. “To say that I have no experience or no background in emergency management is not correct.”
‘Political Influence’ A Concern
Andaya, 52, is from Maui and graduated from HP Baldwin High School.
He has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in political science from the University of Hawaii Manoa. He also has a law degree from the UH Richardson School of Law, although he never became a licensed attorney, according to the Hawaii State Bar Association’s online database.
He began his career clerking for Maui Judge Artemio Baxa. He then worked for the law office of Lynn Araki-Regan, an attorney who is the wife of Arakawa’s managing director, Keith Regan.
When Andaya vacated his position as chief of staff, it was filled by Araki-Regan, who was by then the county budget director. Regan said he had no involvement in Andaya’s hiring.
From the early 2000s onward, Andaya has held leadership positions in Maui’s Department of Housing and Human Concerns and worked as the assistant to the chancellor of UH’s Maui College, according to his LinkedIn resume. He is married to Rowena Dagdag-Andaya, a former elementary school teacher who served as Maui’s public works director and now works in Maui’s Office on Aging.
Andaya was Arakawa’s chief of staff from 2011 through 2017. That year, the mayor appointed him acting administrator of MEMA, and he became permanent by the end of that year.
In contrast, Honolulu’s emergency management director, Hiro Toiya, has technical training in emergency response, worked for years as a preparedness planner for the Hawaii health department and rose up the ranks of Honolulu’s Department of Emergency Management. He worked there for more than seven years before becoming the director.
Asked how he stood out among a pool of 40 job candidates, Andaya said Maui doesn’t have a lot of emergency management professionals to begin with. He noted that he had to take an exam and based on his score was determined to be a finalist.
“You would have to question the civil service process if you can believe that politics was involved,” he said. “This is something that my predecessors have to go through as well.”
Before Andaya was hired, there were concerns in Maui’s political scene that the county was considering someone who wasn’t qualified.
“In the past, this position has sometimes been filled by individuals without the proper emergency response background.”
Former Maui County Council Chairman Mike White
In July 2017, the chair of the Maui County Council at the time, Mike White, took the unusual step of writing a Maui News column warning that the job of emergency management was too important to be “subject to political influence.”
“In the past, this position has sometimes been filled by individuals without the proper emergency response background,” White wrote.
“The administration must search for well-qualified candidates who can make a seamless transition in leading our Emergency Management Agency. The stakes are too high and our community has grown to a point where emergency coordination has become quite sophisticated in its implementation.”
In his column, White praised the outgoing emergency management chief, Anna Foust, who had previously worked for years leading the Maui branch of the Red Cross. White emphasized her expertise.
“During her tenure, she used her emergency response experience and training to help guide the county to keep citizens safe during hurricane warnings and watches, flooding events and tsunami warnings,” White wrote.
Civil Beat wasn’t able to reach White for comment.
Panel Of Specialists Chose Andaya
On Tuesday, Arakawa’s former managing director, Keith Regan, said that politics was not a factor in Andaya’s hiring. Asked why Andaya was the best candidate, Regan said he didn’t know because he wasn’t on the hiring committee. But he was adamant there was “zero” political influence in the process.
“This was a straightforward civil service process,” said Regan, who is now the state comptroller.
When Regan ran for Maui County Council in 2015, Andaya was his campaign manager. This year, Andaya wrote a letter of support of Regan’s nomination to state comptroller.
Regan noted that the hiring panel included numerous experts in the field. Maui Now identified them at the time as then-Maui Police Chief Tivoli Faaumu; then-Maui Fire Chief Jeff Murray; Elton Ushio, administrator of the Kauai Emergency Management Agency; and Vern Miyagi, then-administrator of the Hawaii State Emergency Management Agency.
At the time, Ushio was quoted by Maui Now as saying Andaya’s “proven leadership abilities, executive level experience, and impressive knowledge of emergency management” made him a great fit for the job. Murray cited Andaya’s familiarity with government processes, his “institutional knowledge of the various emergency incidents” in recent years, and his then-recent work as acting leader of the department.
“These are not people that, you know, are just political people,” Regan said. “They’re people who understand emergency management and are going to make the right choice for the community.”
In a statement, former HI-EMA director Miyagi said the public’s focus should be on working together on response and recovery.
“Herman Andaya and his staff at MEMA are really good people,” he said. “They carried Maui successfully through numerous hurricanes, floods, and other disasters.”
He said the public should wait for the attorney general’s investigation before drawing conclusions.
Civil Beat left messages with the other hiring committee members on Tuesday, but they were not returned. Former mayor Arakawa also did not respond to a request for comment.
“Herman is a very skilled, experienced, knowledgeable, professional individual,” Regan said. “I trust that is making the right decisions … There is no question in my mind that he cares about that community, and he’s going to do everything he can to keep that community safe.”


rawstory--2020-01-08--READ IT: White House releases statement after reports multiple bases were targeted with ballastic mi

READ IT: White House releases statement after reports multiple bases were targeted with ballastic missiles

Multiple rockets were reportedly fired at one or more airbases housing American troops in Iraq following the funeral for Iranian @ @ @ @ @ News reported , “ A U.S. official confirms to ABC News that ballistic missiles have @ @ @ @ @ at multiple U.S. military facilities inside Iraq on Wednesday morning , local time .
The @ @ @ @ @ Iraq and Al Asad Air Base in western Iraq , the official said.
” White @ @ @ @ @ issued a statement , but did not offer a press briefing .
“ We are @ @ @ @ @ attacks on US facilities in Iraq .
The President has been briefed and is monitoring @ @ @ @ @ with his national security team , ” Grisham said .
The Islamic Republic of Iran @ @ @ @ @ “ The fierce revenge by the Revolutionary Guards has begun , ” Iran ’ s @ @ @ @ @ in a statement .


rawstory--2020-01-07--Iran state TV says the country has launched a ‘revenge operation’ on US troops at an Iraqi base

Iran state TV announced that the regime has launched an array of missiles at an airbase in Iraq where U.S. @ @ @ @ @ Associated Press reported Tuesday night .
The report described the attack as explicit retaliation after @ @ @ @ @ killing of Qassim Suleidmani , a top military leader in Iran .
Many experts had @ @ @ @ @ Trump administration ’ s claims that it was “ deescalating ” with Iran , the @ @ @ @ @ .
And according to the AP : “ State TV described it early Wednesday as @ @ @ @ @ over the killing of Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani.
” Liz Sly of the Washington @ @ @ @ @ “ The US military confirms an ongoing rocket attack on Al-Asad airbase where US troops @ @ @ @ @ s the one Trump said Iraq would have to pay for if the US leaves @ @


rawstory--2020-01-07--10 rockets hit airbase in Iraq where United States troops are based: report

Ten rockets hit an airbase where U.S. soldiers are based in Iraq , CNN reported Tuesday afternoon .
There is @ @ @ @ @ responsible , though they have been threatening to attack the United States after President Donald @ @ @ @ @ general .
The Associated Press reported that Iran state TV is also saying that it @ @ @ @ @ tens ” of surface-to-surface missiles .
CNN Pentagon reporter Barbara Starr said that officials are @ @ @ @ @ there was no way to get information .


rawstory--2020-01-07--Trump can be sued for defamation by sexual assault accuser in New York’s highest court: judges

On Tuesday , a panel of judges with the New York Supreme Court ruled that Summer Zervos ’ defamation lawsuit @ @ @ @ @ be heard by the New York Court of Appeals — the highest judicial body in @ @ @ @ @ a former contestant on “ The Apprentice , ” has alleged that Trump groped and @ @ @ @ @ 2007 .
She is one of over a dozen women who have made various accusations @ @ @ @ @ rape .
“ We remain confident that we will prove her defamation claim in court @ @ @ @ @ face responsibility for his actions , ” said Zervos ’ attorney , Beth Wilkinson , @ @ @ @ @ ’ s attorneys have argued that he is immune from all federal and state proceedings @ @ @ @ @ as long as he is in office .


rawstory--2020-01-07--‘Missiles and guns and stuff’: Fox host giddy as military-industrial complex stocks soar on war fear

‘Missiles and guns and stuff’: Fox host giddy as military-industrial complex stocks soar on war fears

Defense contractor stock prices have soared since President Donald Trump ordered the assassination of Iranian General Qassim Suleimani — and @ @ @ @ @ giddy .
Fox Business host Stuart Varney praise the grown in the military-industrial complex as @ @ @ @ @ started World War III .
“ Over the span of his three-hour morning show , @ @ @ @ @ in the explosive glow of the precision drone strike ’ s boost to Raytheon , @ @ @ @ @ Martin stocks , ” The Daily Beast reported Tuesday .
“ If you make missiles @ @ @ @ @ that , you ’ ll do well today , ” Varney told his audience .
@ @ @ @ @ fact .
”


rawstory--2020-01-07--Trump donor charged with obstruction after allegedly deleting evidence he sold favors for inaugural

Trump donor charged with obstruction after allegedly deleting evidence he sold favors for inaugural gifts

On Tuesday , Politico reported that federal prosecutors with the Southern District of New York are charging Imaad Zuberi , a California-based investor , with obstruction of justice related to his involvement with President Donald Trump ’ s inaugural fund .
Zuberi , who pleaded guilty last October to making illegal political contributions and failing to register as a foreign agent , has been a frequent donor to politicians in both parties , but the matter under investigation is a $ 900,000 contribution to the president ’ s inauguration , some of which allegedly came from a client that Zuberi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inaugural events.
” Prosecutors now allege that after Zuberi became aware he was under investigation for this contribution , he returned the money to his client , backdated the check to make it look like it was returned before he learned of the probe , and deleted emails that contained info about his finances — all in an attempt to obstruct the grand jury .
The Trump inaugural fund has been under criminal investigation for over a year , with prosecutors attempting to determine both whether some of the donors were promised political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money was improperly spent .


rawstory--2020-01-07--Hollywood actors threatened in response to Trump’s assassination of Iranian general

The people who bring our favorite characters to life on the silver screen were reported threated with a bombing on Tuesday .
“ The Screen Actors Guild buildings in L.A. and NY are on high alert after phone threats , one of which was related to President Trump and U.S. tensions with Iran , ” TMZ reported .
“ Law enforcement sources in NY tells TMZ … someone called SAG ’ s office in Manhattan just after noon PT and threatened an attack , saying something to the effect of … ‘ I ’ m going to blow up the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Iran ’ s film industry has garnered fame outside of the country ’ s borders and is an institution at international film festivals .
“ We ’ re told the phoned threat on the West Coast was less specific , though still plenty terrifying .
In L.A. , the caller said he was unhappy with POTUS and the situation with Iran … according to a law enforcement source — a clear reference to the drone attack that killed Iran ’ s Gen. Soleimani , ” TMZ reported .
The building in Los @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is on scene .


rawstory--2020-01-07--Advocates argue ‘it is ludicrous, and frankly offensive,’ to let impeached Trump continue right-wing

Advocates argue ‘it is ludicrous, and frankly offensive,’ to let impeached Trump continue right-wing takeover of courts

“ We can not allow a president who demanded foreign interference in our elections and obstructed Congress to pack our courts with lifetime appointees.
” A coalition of 29 national advocacy organizations argued Tuesday that “ as long as the cloud of impeachment exists , it would be a grave mistake for the Senate to allow the president to continue making lifetime appointments to the federal judiciary.
” The groups made their argument in a letter ( pdf ) to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham ( R-S.C. ) that came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House voted mostly along party lines to impeach President Donald Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress .
Progressive critics have repeatedly warned about the sweeping and long-term consequences of McConnell and Graham working with Trump to remake the federal court system by using the Senate ’ s GOP majority to rapidly confirm dozens of far-right appointees .
The letter notes that “ such appointments are nearly irrevocable ; federal judges serve for life and can be removed only through their own impeachment.
” “ Federal judges are appointed to positions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rule of law and the preservation of our constitutional democracy , ” the letter reads .
“ Federal judges have a unique role in protecting our most fundamental rights , including the right to vote .
A president under the cloud of impeachment for abusing his power and assaulting the legitimacy of our elections can not be trusted to appoint the judges who are supposed to protect our elections and the right to vote.
” Along with a call for the Senate ’ s GOP leaders to temporarily suspend judicial confirmations , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ live up to what the Constitution requires and conduct a full and fair trial , ” pointing out that McConnell has vowed to closely coordinate with the White House for impeachment proceedings .
Signatories of the letter include People For the American Way ( PFAW ) , the National Women ’ s Law Center , Alliance for Justice , the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People ( NAACP ) , MoveOn , Common Cause , Planned Parenthood Federation of America , NARAL Pro-Choice America , Service Employees International Union , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ludicrous , and frankly offensive , to suggest that a president who has been impeached because of his contempt for our elections and for the rule of law should continue to have his nominations to the federal bench move ahead as if all were well , ” PFAW executive vice president for policy and program Marge Baker said in a statement announcing the letter .
“ Senators McConnell and Graham need to show that they grasp this central fact , ” Baker continued .
“ These are not normal times or normal circumstances @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hitting pause—under such grave circumstances—on rubber-stamping this president ’ s lifetime appointments to the federal bench.
” Alliance for Justice president Nan Aron asserted that “ determining whether the president committed high crimes and misdemeanors should be the only issue the Senate addresses at this time .
It ’ s a grave matter of national importance.
” Anything less than a total suspension of judicial appointments “ would amount to a grave dereliction of constitutional duty , ” declared Vanita Gupta , president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human @ @ @ @ @ @ @ letter , Gupta added that “ we can not allow a president who demanded foreign interference in our elections and obstructed Congress to pack our courts with lifetime appointees.
” “ Our nation is in the middle of a constitutional crisis , ” said NAACP president and CEO Derrick Johnson .
“ Adding more judges to the courts can and must wait .
”


rawstory--2020-01-07--‘We were all told to do this’: US Border officer uses Nuremberg defense to explain involvement in se

‘We were all told to do this’: US Border officer uses Nuremberg defense to explain involvement in separating families

In a new Frontline documentary , a Border Patrol agent describes taking part in a pilot program to separate families nearly a year before the Trump administration officially unveiled the policy—saying that while he was unhappy about separating children from their parents , he and other agents were following orders .
Journalist Martin Smith interviews agent Wesley Farris in “ Targeting El Paso ” about the program Farris worked on in the summer of 2017 in El Paso , Texas .
Agents were instructed to separate families as the administration tested the theory that doing so would deter people from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ border city .
“ That was the most horrible thing I ’ ve ever done , ” Farris tells Smith in an excerpt released ahead of the documentary .
“ You can ’ t help but see your own kids .
Farris describes one experience in particular which caused him to ask his supervisor to take him out of the pilot program .
“ It was a young boy .
I think he was about two .
The world was upside down to that kid , ” Farris says .
“ So when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he reached for me and he climbed up on me again , and he was holding on to me .
So that that one got me a little bit.
” “ I said at that one , ‘ I ’ m not doing this anymore .
I won ’ t do it , ' ” he tells Smith .
“ I went back to the supervisor and I told him , ‘ Don ’ t assign me to do that anymore . '
” Farris “ wanted to ” take his complaint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says , but the Border Patrol agents who were separating families were required to do as they were told .
“ I mean , none of us were happy about it , ” Farris says .
“ We were all told to do this.
” Journalist Brooke Binkowski suggested in a tweet that Farris ’ s defense mirrored that of numerous war criminals who have invoked the “ Nuremberg defense , ” infamously used by Nazi official Adolf Eichmann in the Nuremberg trials after World War II .
“ So he was just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heard that defense before ?
” tweeted Binkowski .
The Trump administration announced six months after the pilot program ended that it would begin separating families on a much larger scale , eventually separating more than 5,000 children from their parents or guardians at the border .
As the program rapidly drew international outrage in the summer of 2018 , then-Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen scoffed at the suggestion that the administration was separating families as a deterrent to asylum-seekers and migrants—but “ Targeting El Paso ” presents new evidence that it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with my experience , in the times where we applied a consequence to people who cross the border illegally , we got less of them crossing the border illegally , ” Ronald Vitiello , former acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( ICE ) , tells Frontline .
“ And so when zero tolerance is discussed as a way forward , we knew that it was going to be a benefit to us.
” “ Targeting El Paso ” will premiere on PBS stations on Tuesday evening .


rawstory--2020-01-07--‘You know how women drive’: New York Republican busted for drunk driving tried to blame his wife

On New Year ’ s Eve , New York Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb , one of the most powerful Republicans in Albany , was arrested after he crashed his car into a ditch while allegedly driving under the influence .
The incident occurred literally hours before New York would have gone a whole year without any of its lawmakers being arrested — and in a greater twist of irony , Kolb had tweeted , “ There is no excuse for driving impaired this holiday season , ” five days prior .
But the incident was even messier than first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Post , when AAA tow truck driver Michael Scoville arrived on the scene , Kolb ’ s reaction was to frantically blame his wife .
According to Scoville ’ s sworn affidavit , Kolb was leaning on the still-running car , visibly intoxicated and apparently unable to stand up by himself , when he saw Scoville looking down at him .
He then put his hands up and cried “ My wife was driving !
You know how women drive.
” Kolb later said that his wife “ was up in the house @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one driving .
Kolb announced his resignation last week .
The GOP is scheduled to choose a new Minority Leader on Tuesday afternoon .


rawstory--2020-01-07--Trump is stuck in a ‘messaging fog of war’: MSNBC panel says nobody knows what he’s doing

MSNBC anchor Nicolle Wallace on Tuesday reported on the chaos within the Trump administration .
“ Donald Trump ’ s national security team today appearing to be wading through a messaging fog of war around their own shifting responses and explanations around questions about bombing Iran ’ s cultural sites , troop withdrawal from Iraq , and the intelligence that led up to the strike that killed Iran ’ s number two , ” Wallace reported .
Wallace , who served as White House communications director in the George W. Bush administration , observed that the “ Trump administration stumbles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ today forced to back down after his Secretary of Defense and Secretary of State openly contradicted his threat to target those Iranian cultural sites — which , of course , would be a war crime , ” she noted , introducing a clip of Trump complaining about international and federal laws banning war crimes .
Peter Baker , the chief White House correspondent for The New York Times , said that nobody can figure out why Trump is trying to do — and that confusion extends overseas .
“ Are we pulling out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — or expanding ?
” he wondered .
“ Because we need to.
” Now Vice President Pence , I think , is supposed to give a speech in the next week and it ’ ll be interesting to see what he has to say about it , ” he noted .
“ but there is real confusion out there.
” “ People overseas are trying to put the puzzle together and figure out where the United States is leading us at this point in the region and they can ’ t figure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .


rawstory--2020-01-07--‘No War With Iran’ marches set for Thursday across US

In communities nationwide , Americans “ will urge restraint and that the United States avoid yet another unnecessary , costly war of choice in the Middle East.
” A coalition of progressive groups have announced plans to come together this Thursday to lead marches across the U.S. against President Donald Trump ’ s push to wage war on Iran .
Win Without War , MoveOn , Indivisible , Vets About Face , and the National Iranian-American Council ( NIAC ) are among the groups leading the demonstrations .
“ Nearly 50 events around the country , more to come , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweeted Tuesday .
Conflict between Iran and the U.S. reached a new height last week when , on January 3 , a drone strike ordered by Trump assassinated Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani .
Iran has vowed to retaliate for the killing of the popular—and powerful—Soleimani , with Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif calling the attack “ rogue adventurism.
” According to a Tuesday press release from the coalition , Thursday ’ s marches will focus on beating back continuing White House threats to attack Iran .
“ In the wake of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iranian General Soleimani , and threats to escalate conflict , activists carrying a ‘ no war ’ message will urge restraint and that the United States avoid yet another unnecessary , costly war of choice in the Middle East , ” the group said .
At press time there were 66 marches and demonstrations planned , with more to come .
Find an event near you here .


rawstory--2020-01-07--GOP lawmaker who pleaded guilty to using campaign money on mistresses will resign next week: report

On Tuesday , the Washington Post reported that Rep. Duncan Hunter ( R-CA ) , who recently pleaded guilty to @ @ @ @ @ he and his wife used campaign funds for personal expenses , has announced he will @ @ @ @ @ He had already stated he would be resigning “ shortly after the holidays , ” @ @ @ @ @ his exit from Congress had been unclear .
One of the most egregious parts of @ @ @ @ @ prosecutors , was Hunter ’ s use of campaign funds on a series of sexual @ @ @ @ @ lobbyists and a staffer .
When Hunter was initially indicted , he tried to blame @ @ @ @ @ wife , but after the affairs surfaced , this became an untenable defense .


rawstory--2020-01-07--40 suspects in Mexico Mormon massacre: lawyer

Mexican authorities believe at least 40 people were involved in killing nine Mormon women and children in the north of the country in November , a lawyer for one of the families said Tuesday .
The three women and six children from a breakaway Mormon community with dual US-Mexican nationality were on a remote road in a lawless region between the states of Chihuahua and Sonora when gunmen attacked their cars , a crime that sparked outrage on both sides of the border .
The authorities have kept a tight lid on the investigation , but said last month they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspect many more people than that were involved , said lawyer Abel Murrieta , following a meeting between victims ’ relatives and Attorney General Alejandro Hertz in Mexico City .
“ At least 40 people took part on the ground , ” Murrieta told journalists after the meeting between Hertz and his clients , the LeBaron family .
“ They all come from Chihuahua… .
But they ’ ve only been identified by their nicknames , ” said Julian LeBaron , a relative of Rhonita Miller , one of the three mothers killed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who are cooperating with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation ( FBI ) on the case , say the attack was executed by the La Linea drug cartel .
Officials say they believe the cartel mistook the families for members of a rival gang .
But some relatives have rejected that theory , saying they believe they were deliberately targeted .
In the wake of the killings , President Donald Trump urged Mexico to wage “ war ” on its drug cartels with US help .
He later vowed to add Mexican cartels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador rejected that proposal , which Trump eventually backed away from .


rawstory--2020-01-07--Exxon being hit by Iran is a bigger risk than American bases being attacked: retired General

Americans around the world are bracing for possible attacks from Iran after President Donald Trump killed a top military general .
But retired Maj. Gen. James “ Spider ” Marks explained that military bases in the Middle East aren ’ t the targets that we should worry about .
In a panel discussion with CNN ’ s Jake Tapper , the host explained that intelligence shows that Iran is moving many of their weaponry .
Tapper explained that it ’ s either Iran fleeing and protecting its weapons or preparing to attack .
In the discussion with Tapper and former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explained that commercial sites and embassies are worse because they don ’ t have the infrastructure to protect and respond the way military bases do .
“ The military bases are frankly not at risk , because they are at high states of readiness and they are all of the time and they have probably ratcheted that up , ” the general said .
“ So , they are well protected , but I am more concerned about the businesses.
” “ Yes , that exist in Jordan and exist in the other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gen. Marks continued .
“ Those become very likely targets .
As do consulates and the embassies that might have a reduced level of readiness , certainly everybody ’ s on high alert , but a capability to respond.
” Former FBI Assistant Director for Counterintelligence Frank Figliuzzi similarly said that he is concerned Trump ’ s team isn ’ t prepared for a potential attack within the United States .
Watch the conversation on CNN below :


rawstory--2020-01-07--Dem looking to take Devin Nunes’ seat raises almost $1 million during impeachment hearings

California Democrat Phil Arballo wants to take Rep. Devin Nunes ’ seat , and he ’ s raised over $ @ @ @ @ @ of the year , McClatchy reports .
More than $ 700,000 of those funds came @ @ @ @ @ Nearly half of the Arballo ’ s funds were raised during the Democrats ’ impeachment @ @ @ @ @ saw Nunes emerge as one of President Trump ’ s most vocal defenders .
In @ @ @ @ @ and early December , Arballo raised a whopping $ 450,000 .
Arballo still hasn ’ @ @ @ @ @ as to whether or not he supports impeachment .
“ Phil believes Congress has a @ @ @ @ @ president accountable , but his focus is on replacing Nunes with an honest representative who @ @ @ @ @ quality , affordable health care , good jobs , clean air and water , ” @ @ @ @ @ Andrew Feldman said .
Read the full report over at McClatchy .


rawstory--2020-01-07--Trump isn’t protecting US against possible attacks: Ex-counterintelligence chief says ‘it’s a slow-m

Trump isn’t protecting US against possible attacks: Ex-counterintelligence chief says ‘it’s a slow-motion train wreck’

Former FBI Assistant Director for Counterintelligence , Frank Figliuzzi cautioned that there should be some key steps the United States is taking to secure the country against possible Iranian attacks , even inside the country .
In an MSNBC interview with Nicolle Wallace , Figliuzzi explained that what is supposed to happen is that ahead of decisions like taking out an Iranian general , decision-makers are supposed to contact the intelligence community and law enforcement .
“ I ’ ve experienced this in my own career , ” he recalled .
“ You have the ability to get — to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FBI , for example , would under normal circumstances be advised that you should prepare for potential retaliation from Hezbollah inside of the United States.
” He said that the FBI would identify suspected Hezbollah cells , identify sources and reach out to them .
After that , the FBI should “ hunker down ” and “ get ready , ” he said .
“ There is no indication that any of that happened , ” Figliuzzi said of Trump ’ s decisions .
“ In fact , watching this administration try to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dangerous scenario they ’ ve ever faced is like watching a slow-motion train wreck .
You know the train is going to crash and it has disaster written all over it , you just don ’ t know how bad it will be and it looks like this train has lost its brakes .
It looks like there is no one around this president who could convince him that he ’ s doing something really , really dangerous.
” He went on to say that it ’ s made things worse with U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lost the hearts and minds of the Iranian people.
” “ From my counterintelligence perspective , that ’ s kind of the worst part of this , ” he said .
“ We had them on the ropes and we had the government of Iran where we wanted them and now we ’ ve come in and injected adrenalin into them , whereby the country is unified against us .
It is the opposite of what we should have been doing .
”


rawstory--2020-01-07--Trump mocked for ‘reluctantly agreeing not to commit war crimes’ after saying ‘I like to obey the la

Trump mocked for ‘reluctantly agreeing not to commit war crimes’ after saying ‘I like to obey the law’

President Donald Trump is appearing to back away from his repeated threats of destroying Iranian cultural and religious sites should @ @ @ @ @ assassinating one of their top generals .
In a short Oval Office presser the president @ @ @ @ @ carry out his war crimes threat , said , ” I like to obey the @ @ @ @ @ , according to various laws , supposed to be very careful with their cultural heritage @ @ @ @ @ press pool .
“ And you know what , if that ’ s what the @ @ @ @ @ to obey the law.
” Many on social media were quick to point out he @ @ @ @ @ history of not obeying the law .

David Badash, The New Civil Rights Movement


rawstory--2020-01-07--Facebook executive says he doesn’t want to tilt the scales against Trump with ban on false info

An executive at the social media site Facebook decided that the site shouldn ’ t try to hurt President Donald Trump ’ s efforts on Facebook even if they didn ’ t want him to win .
Facebook decided in the past that they will not police deepfake videos and false information , as they had previously promised .
By Tuesday , however , Facebook had reconsidered , presumably after an overwhelming backlash .
The problem , however , is that it doesn ’ t ban all doctored videos .
“ The tech giant ’ s new guidelines do not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that went viral on the social network last year , prompting criticism from Democratic leaders and digital experts , ” wrote The Post .
An internal memo from executive Andrew “ Boz ” Bosworth explained that he didn ’ t want Trump to win in 2020 , but warned others against tilting the scale .
“ I find myself thinking of the Lord of the Rings at this moment , ” Bosworth wrote , citing the novel by JRR Tolkien .
“ Specifically when Frodo offers the ring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power righteously , at first , but knows it will eventually corrupt her .
As tempting as it is to use the tools available to us to change the outcome , I am confident we must never do that or we will become that which we fear.
” The memo went on for 2,500 words and detailed the difficulties the site is facing as they come under fire for allowing false information to blossom .
Facebook had promised that it would regulate false news , hiring several news and fact-checkers , but what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the false information go ignored or are too slow to stop the information from taking hold on the platform .
By the time Facebook ultimately shuts down the false information , it has already spread and been fact-checked by the 24-hour cable news community .
See the details on the memo at The New York Times .


rawstory--2020-01-07--Study shows Medicare for All could save US $600 billion annually on paperwork and other ‘useless bur

Study shows Medicare for All could save US $600 billion annually on paperwork and other ‘useless bureaucracy’

“ Industry wants you to think universal healthcare is too expensive .
In reality , it ’ s our current system that ’ s a wasteful , unsustainable disaster.
” Insurers and healthcare providers in the United States spent a staggering $ 812 billion on paperwork and other administrative burdens in 2017 alone , bureaucratic costs that could be dramatically reduced by switching to a single-payer system like Medicare for All .
That ’ s according to a study published Monday in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine , which found that administrative costs amounted to 34.2 percent of total @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amount Canada spent on healthcare administration that same year .
“ Medicare for All could save more than $ 600 billion each year on bureaucracy , and repurpose that money to cover America ’ s 30 million uninsured and eliminate co-payments and deductibles for everyone.
” —Dr .
Steffie Woolhandler , Physicians for a National Health Program The study ’ s authors noted that U.S. healthcare providers impose “ a hidden surcharge ” on patients “ to cover their costly administrative burden.
” U.S. insurers and providers spent $ 2,497 per person on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just $ 551 per capita , the study found .
“ The average American is paying more than $ 2,000 a year for useless bureaucracy , ” said Dr. David Himmelstein , lead author of the study and co-founder of Physicians for a National Health Program ( PNHP ) .
“ That money could be spent for care if we had a Medicare for All program.
” If the U.S. brought spending on healthcare administration to Canadian levels , the study found , it could save $ 600 billion a year on total @ @ @ @ @ @ @ All could save more than $ 600 billion each year on bureaucracy , and repurpose that money to cover America ’ s 30 million uninsured and eliminate co-payments and deductibles for everyone , ” Dr. Steffie Woolhandler , a senior author of the study and co-founder of PNHP , said in a statement .
Himmelstein echoed that point in an interview with TIME .
“ The difference [ in administrative costs ] between Canada and the U.S. is enough to not only cover all the uninsured but also to eliminate all the copayments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home care for the elderly and disabled.
” The study , which is the first comprehensive analysis of administrative costs in the U.S. since 1999 , was published as the debate over healthcare reform continues to feature prominently in the 2020 Democratic presidential race .
Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) , the leading advocate of Medicare for All in the 2020 race , has repeatedly emphasized the administrative savings single-payer would deliver .
“ Under a Medicare for All system , ” the senator wrote in an op-ed last May , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exorbitant CEO compensation packages , or the absurdly high administrative costs in the private insurance system.
” Sanders has also touted the simplicity of universal programs compared to means-tested alternatives .
“ One of the crises in America today is people are sick and tired of filling out forms , ” Sanders said during the Democratic presidential debate in Los Angeles last month .
Former Vice President Joe Biden and former South Bend , Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg have both proposed maintaining the private health insurance system and creating a public option to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t afford private coverage .
Woolhandler said that by leaving the inefficiencies of the current healthcare system largely intact , the public option alternatives offered by Biden and Buttigieg would not deliver anywhere near the administrative savings of Medicare for All .
“ Reforms like a public option that leave private insurers in place can ’ t deliver big administrative savings , ” Woolhandler said .
“ As a result , public option reform would cost much more and cover much less than Medicare for All.
” Consumer advocacy group Public Citizen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noted that it undercuts insurance industry fearmongering about the supposedly enormous costs of implementing Medicare for All .
“ Industry wants you to think universal healthcare is too expensive , ” Public Citizen tweeted .
“ In reality , it ’ s our current system that ’ s a wasteful , unsustainable disaster .
”


rawstory--2020-01-07--Trump whines impeachment is diverting attention from Iran as he goes on an extended Oval Office rant

President Donald Trump whined in the White House Tuesday that his attacks on Iran haven ’ t distracted people away from impeachment .
Pundits and political analysts have speculated that the reason Trump attacked Iran when he did was a means of spurring his image and reelection .
“ It really is a shame that we can ’ t focus on all of the things , ” Trump said about Iran and impeachment .
“ You know , we talked today about Iran , Iraq , economic development .
We have the greatest stock market we ’ ve ever had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The greatest economy we ’ ve ever had in the history of our country .
We ’ re setting records , unemployment records , employment records , we ’ re going to have almost 160 million people working .
And we have to work on this partisan scam — is really a shame , that we have to take time is a shame .
All right .
That ’ s about it.
” MSNBC host Ali Velshi then had to step in to fact-check Trump ’ s comments .
In 2011 and 2012 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barack Obama would bomb Iran so he could win reelection .
He also posted a video about it in 2011 saying that Obama had no ability to negotiate .
It obviously never happened and Obama instead formed a treaty with the country .
Trump , by contrast , has left Iranian attacks to slide until the election year began .
Republican political operative Steve Schmidt explained that Trump was willing to spill blood so he could get reelected in 2020 .
“ We ’ re in a dangerous hour in this country .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump , ” Schmid said .
“ What ’ s predictable — looking at the Ukraine issue , every issue is he , over and over again acts in his own political interests.
” “ Looking at impeachment , what he did , for sure , is survey the situation and understood that with this action , with this strike , that he would create a giant smokescreen that clouds and distracts around the issue of impeachment , ” he later suggested .
Watch the video of Trump below :


rawstory--2020-01-07--Trump’s Pentagon chief insists withdrawal letter was just ‘a draft’ — but Iraq’s prime minister says

Trump’s Pentagon chief insists withdrawal letter was just ‘a draft’ — but Iraq’s prime minister says it’s official policy

Dismissing a letter Iraq ’ s prime minister says he received from US headquarters , Defense Secretary Mark Esper insisted this Tuesday that the US has no intentions of withdrawing from Iraq in the near future , POLITICO reports .
According to Esper , the letter suggesting the US would withdraw troops from Iraq merely “ a draft ” that wasn ’ t meant to be circulated .
“ A draft , unsigned letter that was an acquired by an Iraq official has no import .
It has no value whatsoever , ” Esper said in an interview on CNN @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would take it seriously or respond to it , I would say this : The United States is not withdrawing from Iraq.
” Esper ’ s comments mark the second time he ’ s tried to clear up the confusion .
Nevertheless , Iraq ’ s Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi is reportedly considering the letter an official notice of the US ’ s impending withdrawal .
The letter came after Iraq ’ s parliament passed a non-binding resolution calling for the US military to withdraw from the country in the wake of last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani .


rawstory--2020-01-07--Trump’s administration tries to claim kicking people off of disability will actually help them

For former soldiers , handicapped people and those facing terminal diseases , disability benefits can be crucial in helping them live their lives with dignity .
President Donald Trump is trying to take that away for some people , the Huffington Post reported Tuesday .
“ Under the proposed change , the government would look more closely at whether certain disability insurance recipients still qualify as ‘ disabled ’ after they ’ ve already been awarded those benefits , ” said HuffPo .
“ While recipients already have to demonstrate their continuing disability every few years , the proposal would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still-eligible beneficiaries out of the program.
” The additional reviews will force disabled Americans to navigate additional red tape at a time some are struggling in their daily lives .
But the White House said such reviews will help “ maintain appropriate stewardship of the disability program.
” It ’ s another move that the Trump team has made without Congress to gut social programs that make it easier for people to survive without labor income .
It also doesn ’ t save the government much money in the ballooning deficits Republicans have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hefty tax cuts to corporations and the wealthy .
“ Democrats and disability advocates said the proposed new regulation would only hurt disabled people , that it hasn ’ t been vetted and that the rule-making process should be delayed .
More than 8 million Americans receive disability benefits based on past employment and a loss of wage income due to the onset of a severe disability , ” said HuffPo .
“ We are concerned that under the proposed rule , some individuals subject to review will be simply unable to navigate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , lose their benefits even though there is no medical improvement , ” Senate Democrats said in a letter they released in December .
Trump ’ s team tried to claim that kicking people off of disability will actually help them .
“ We believe that there may be positive employment effects as a result of these proposed rules , although we can not currently quantify them , ” the Social Security Administration said in a notice .
The new Trump rules could affect hundreds of thousands of Americans and the proposal will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years .
Read the full report at the Huffington Post .


rawstory--2020-01-07--‘I like to obey the law’: Trump backtracks on plan to ‘blow up’ Iranian cultural sites

President Donald Trump on Tuesday backed away from a threat to bomb Iranian cultural sites , which would be considered @ @ @ @ @ made the remarks while speaking to reporters from the White House Oval Office .
“ @ @ @ @ @ our people , ” the president complained .
“ They are allowed to maim our @ @ @ @ @ to blow up everything that we have and there ’ s nothing that stops them.
@ @ @ @ @ various laws , we are supposed to be very careful with their cultural heritage , @ @ @ @ @ And you know what ?
If that ’ s what the law is — I @ @ @ @ @ ” The president seemed disturbed that Iran can “ kill our people and we have @ @ @ @ @ their cultural institutions.
” “ But I ’ m okay with it , ” he @ @ @ @ @ below from CNN .


rawstory--2020-01-07--‘All cults come to an end’: Journalist outlines what will ultimately befall Trump’s lapdogs

President Richard Nixon , like President Donald Trump , had his share of unwavering loyalists and supporters — and no matter how damning the Watergate scandal became in 1974 , they refused to say a word against Nixon .
Those Nixon loyalists , journalist Frank Rich stresses in an essay for New York Magazine , offer some valuable insights on what will ultimately befall Trump ’ s “ toadies.
” There are some crucial differences between the Republican Party under Nixon in 1974 and the GOP under Trump in 2020 .
When Nixon resigned from the presidency on August 8 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that many prominent Republicans had turned against him — including Arizona Sen. Barry Goldwater , considered an intellectual leader of the conservative movement ( Sen. John McCain proudly called himself a “ Goldwater Republican ” ) .
But despite all the evidence against Trump methodically presented by House Democrats during their recent impeachment inquiry , most Republicans in Congress continue to insist that he did nothing wrong .
“ Rather than being the end of American history as we know it , the Trump presidency may prove merely a notorious chapter in that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Heedless lapdogs like ( Louisiana Sen. John ) Kennedy , Devin Nunes and Lindsey Graham are acting now as if there is no tomorrow , but tomorrow will come eventually , whatever happens in the near future — and Judgment Day could arrive sooner than they think .
That judgment will be rendered by an ever-more demographically diverse America unlikely to be magnanimous toward cynical politicians who prioritized pandering to Trump ’ s dwindling all-white base over the common good.
” Rich points to Rep. Charles Sandman of New Jersey and Florida Sen. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loyalists who paid a stiff price politically .
“ The New Jersey congressman Charles Sandman , a House Judiciary Committee impeachment holdout until a few days before Nixon ’ s resignation , lost a seat he had held since 1966 in the subsequent 1974 midterms — 48 other GOP members of Congress were wiped out as well — and would wind up the decade dishing out steamed crabs at a joint on the Jersey Shore and losing a jury trial on the charge of slandering a police officer , ” Rich recalls .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gurney of Florida , a vocal Nixon defender on Sam Ervin ’ s Watergate Committee , died in 1996 , his family tried to keep his death a secret — presumably to avoid renewed attention to his past.
” Rich goes on to explain that although “ some Nixon loyalists on Capitol Hill escaped oblivion ” — including Rep. Trent Lott of Mississippi — there “ aren ’ t any diehard Nixon supporters in either chamber of Congress who are now remembered as patriots , no matter what else they did with their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidency.
” Ultimately , Rich stresses , Trump sycophants who rally around the president will be treated like pariahs for rallying around him so slavishly .
“ All cults come to an end , often abruptly , and Trump ’ s Republican Party is nothing if not a cult , ” Rich warns .
“ While cult leaders are generally incapable of remorse — whether they be totalitarian rulers , sexual Svengalis or the self-declared messiahs of crackpot religions — their followers almost always pay a human and reputational price once the leader @ @ @ @


rawstory--2020-01-07--Major Trump donor charged with obstructing inquiry into shady inauguration donations

California-based venture capitalist Imaad Zuberi , a major donor to President Donald Trump ’ s inaugural committee , has been @ @ @ @ @ investigation into whether the inauguration accepted illegal donations from foreign sources .
The Associated Press @ @ @ @ @ that Zuberi took “ numerous ” steps to illegally thwart their probe into Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ backdating a $ 50,000 check and deleting relevant emails .
Prosecutors have also said that @ @ @ @ @ donation to Trump ’ s inauguration that “ was in fact funded using money obtained @ @ @ @ @ although it did not name the specific sources of the donation .
The Trump inaugural @ @ @ @ @ not been charged with any wrongdoing and prosecutors say that members of the committee were @ @ @ @ @ s donation actually came from other sources .
Zuberi last year agreed to plead guilty @ @ @ @ @ illegal campaign contributions from non-U.S. sources .


rawstory--2020-01-07--No link between talcum powder and ovarian cancer, finds major study

A new study published Tuesday examining data from over 250,000 women across the United States found no link between the use of talcum powder in the genital area and ovarian cancer .
It comes after Johnson & Johnson was ordered in 2018 to pay out $ 4.7 billion to 22 women who had claimed that asbestos in the company ’ s talcum powder products caused them to develop ovarian cancer .
An appeal is underway .
Four in ten US women say they have used the powder , either through direct application or via underwear , sanitary pads or a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ older generations but persists among some younger women too .
In the 1970s , concern began to arise over the contamination of the mineral talc with asbestos , which often form alongside each other in nature .
Some studies showed a higher risk of ovarian cancer among users of talcum powder , which was suspected of entering the ovaries via the vagina and uterus .
The link remained contested because of the low number of studies carried out over five decades , and some had statistically weak results .
The effect is also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are rare : only 1.3 percent of all women risk being affected in their lifetimes .
In the new paper published in the Journal of the American Medical Association , researchers from various centers across the US therefore synthesized the data from four large studies which followed a quarter of a million women from 1982 to 2017 .
The studies surveyed participants every year or two on a diverse set of questions related to health , including the use of talcum powder .
The hope was that by scaling up the number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discern with statistical validity weak effects that on a smaller population would not be detectable .
Among the 252,745 women followed for a median period of 11.2 years , 2,168 developed ovarian cancer .
No statistically significant association was found when comparing women who had used powder and those who had never used it .
Nor was any significant association found when comparing frequent against infrequent use and long time use against short .
But , although the study is the largest of its kind with the longest follow-up time , the authors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ included that two of the four data sets missed information on frequency and duration of use .
There are also inherent limitations associated with so-called observational studies of the population at large — as opposed to controlled clinical trials for drugs — including failure to account for all possible external factors .


rawstory--2020-01-07--‘Disturbing’: Trump’s White House blasted for being less transparent than Saudi Arabia

President Donald Trump and Jared Kushner met with Saudi Arabia ’ s Vice Minister of Defense Khalid bin Salman on Monday , but the Saudis released the information to the press nearly 12 hours before the president acknowledged the meeting on Twitter .
The White House Correspondents ’ Association flattened the president for his lack of transparency .
“ It is disturbing to see the government of Saudi Arabia have more transparency than the White House about a meeting with the President in the Oval Office , ” said Jonathan Karl , the president of the WHCA .
“ President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vice Minister of Defense at the White House yesterday , but the public did not learn about the meeting until the Saudi government released a statement about it today .
The Saudi government also released photographs of the President and his senior advisers meeting with the Vice Minister of Defense in the Oval Office .
A meeting with a foreign leader in the Oval Office should , at the very least , be on the public schedule with a read-out of the meeting released after it is over .
This has been the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political parties , ” the statement also said .
Trump ’ s White House has gone underground hiding its activities from public view for the past few years .
They have refused to release official readouts of calls with international leaders , instead , placing them in a secret NSA server that monitors who looks at them .
The White House has also refused to release information about anyone visiting the White House and Trump ’ s team has also refused to indicate who is meeting with Trump while he ’ s at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out , Trump tweeted about the meeting : You can see the full statement from Karl below :


rawstory--2020-01-07--‘We have the votes’: McConnell taunts Pelosi as he moves to begin Senate trial without impeachment a

‘We have the votes’: McConnell taunts Pelosi as he moves to begin Senate trial without impeachment articles

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) announced on Tuesday that he will leverage the votes of Republican senators to move forward with a trial of President Donald Trump even though House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-CA ) has not provided articles of impeachment to the Senate .
While speaking to the press Tuesday afternoon , McConnell confirmed reports that he has enough support from Republicans to begin the trial .
“ We have the votes , ” McConnell said , adding that he hoped Pelosi would send the articles of impeachment prior to the trial .
McConnell also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ move forward with a “ phase one ” of the trial before deciding whether or not to call witnesses .
Just last week , McConnell said that he would be willing to wait out Pelosi .
“ We can not hold a trial without the articles , ” McConnell said in a Friday floor speech .
“ The Senate ’ s rules don ’ t provide for that.
” McConnell argued on Tuesday that the impeachment trial rules would be based on the trial of President Bill Clinton .
But in that case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the House provided articles of impeachment to the Senate in a timely manner .


rawstory--2020-01-08--Chess queens battle for king’s ransom as prize money rises

Two of the sharpest minds in women ’ s chess are doing battle this week in Shanghai with a world champion title on the line and a record prize fund as the game seeks to close the gender gap .
The 500,000 euros on the table in the showdown between holder Ju Wenjun and challenger Aleksandra Goryachkina is the largest prize fund in the nearly 100-year history of the Women ’ s World Championship .
The International Chess Federation ( FIDE ) says it is a significant moment for women ’ s chess , which has long lagged behind the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ men .
The winner between the grandmasters from China and Russia — which will be determined over 12 game days in Shanghai and Vladivostok — takes home 300,000 euros .
The total purse is a 150-percent hike on the previous women ’ s championship match , according to FIDE , and the format of the competition has been changed to mirror the World Chess Championship , which is theoretically open to all but has been dominated by men .
“ We are trying to increase the prestige of the women ’ s game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the men , ” said Nigel Short , once one of the top-ranked players in the world and now FIDE vice president .
“ It ’ s something that we are concerned about and we are trying to do our best to improve the conditions in particular for women ’ s chess , ” the 54-year-old Briton said .
AFP / STR Goryachkina called the changes to the women ’ s tournament “ very positive ” but said she was motivated by winning the title , not the cash Moves to boost women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Arkady Dvorkovich as FIDE president in October 2018 .
He is a former deputy prime minister of Russia .
Speaking on the eve of Sunday ’ s opening game , rising star Goryachkina , 21 , called the changes “ very positive ” but said she was motivated by winning the title , not the cash .
Shohreh Bayat , chief arbiter for the match between Goryachkina and the 28-year-old Ju , laughed off the notion that this is chess ’ s # MeToo moment .
But the Iranian said : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the format of tournaments , such as this one , and the prize money.
” Bayat hopes that one day women will earn the same as the likes of Magnus Carlsen , the world champion and best-known name in chess .
“ In chess right now , if you compare their ratings , men are better players than women , there ’ s a big difference , ” said Bayat .
The effort to improve the standing of women ’ s chess extends to having more female tournaments and more women as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But the 500,000 euros for the Women ’ s World Championship match is still only half of the World Chess Championship prize fund .
And some believe that female-only tournaments hinder rather than promote equality .
“ Perhaps there is an argument for scrapping girls-only sections and best girl prizes in junior tournaments , ” said David Cox , a freelance journalist and contributor to the website Chess.com .
“ After all , chess is a sport where men and women can compete on a level playing field , and that would push @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to improve to be the best player overall , rather than the best girl.
” There are various theories why men dominate the top 100 in the FIDE ratings .
Cox and Bayat believe a major factor is simply that there are significantly more men than women playing .
Shahade , women ’ s programme director at US Chess , said : “ Building a strong base of female players is crucial to developing the game .
“ I think chess is particularly crucial in a time of constant distraction , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the immediate and the visual , ” she added .
“ Men , kids , and especially women and girls , need the benefits of chess right now more than ever .
”


rawstory--2020-01-08--MSNBC’s Morning Joe wonders if Putin’s pulling the strings on Trump’s actions against Iran

MSNBC ’ s Joe Scarborough wonders whether President Donald Trump had coordinated with Russian president Vladimir Putin on the escalating conflict with Iran .
The “ Morning Joe ” host speculated early in a segment on the Iran missile strike that Trump had gotten advice from a “ third party ” on the assassination of Iranian general Qassim Suleimani , which then prompted an attack on U.S. troops at an airbase in Iraq .
“ As I woke up this morning and replayed the events in my mind , and , by the way , I hope this is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very choreographed about everything that happened last night , ” Scarborough said .
“ You had the president , the vice president , members of his Cabinet sitting in the White House in the late afternoon knowing an attack was coming , ” he continued .
“ The Iranians launched those attacks , they struck an American base , so they are seen as the winner by their people , announced incorrectly that 30 Americans had been killed immediately , but reports , initial reports , again , suggest no Americans were killed.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( said ) we do not seek escalation , they said we seek no escalation , this is done , ” he added .
“ Donald Trump responded likewise .
I just — it does seem very choreographed , and I just wonder if a third party got involved and may have called the president or someone else.
” Later in the segment , after historian Jon Meacham described the parallels between the Iran escalation and the Cuban missile crisis , Scarborough made clear what he had previously hinted .
“ It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Scarborough said , “ because when I said I suspected that the president spoke to a third party , it would be hard to believe that Donald Trump would launch attacks into Iran without speaking first to Vladimir Putin , considering that he has deferred to the Russian president on Syria , he has deferred to the Russian president on removing troops from that area , he has deferred to the Russian president on Ukraine , he has deferred to the Russian president on most geopolitical questions that impacted the Russians.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heart of Vladimir Putin ’ s interests , ” he added , “ since Iran has long been seen by Putin as a client state of Russia.
” Scarborough said he doesn ’ t believe the situation is quite as dire as the Cuban missile crisis , but he said the risk of war remains high .
“ The stakes may not have been quite as high last night , but if things had gone badly last night — and , again , they still can today as we ’ re all saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consequences , ” he said .


rawstory--2020-01-08--2019 second hottest year on record: EU

2019 second hottest year on record: EU

2019 was the second hottest year on record and ended the hottest decade in history , the European Union ’ s climate monitoring service said Wednesday .
Data released by the Copernicus Climate Change Service ( C3S ) showed that worldwide temperatures last year were second only to 2016 , in which temperatures were boosted 0.12 degrees Celsius by an exceptionally strong El Nino natural weather event .
The average temperature in 2019 was only a few hundredths of a degree below the 2016 level .
The five last years have been the hottest on record , and the period @ @ @ @ @ @ @ records began , C3S said .
Globally temperatures in 2019 were 0.6 Celsius warmer than the 1981-2010 average .
Earth ’ s temperature over the last five years was 1.1C-1.2C warmer than pre-industrial times .
Last year was Europe ’ s hottest ever .
“ 2019 has been another exceptionally warm year , in fact the second warmest globally in our dataset , with many of the individual months breaking records , ” said Carlo Buontempo , head of C3S .
2019 was just 0.04C cooler than 2016 , which saw temperatures boosted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ C3S also said that atmospheric carbon concentrations continued to rise in 2019 , reaching their highest levels on record .
The United Nations said last year that manmade greenhouse gas emissions needed to tumble 7.6 percent each year to 2030 in order to limit temperature rises to 1.5C .
Current pledges by countries to cut their emissions put Earth on a path of several degrees warming by the end of the century .
The first week of 2020 has seen climate-related disasters such as the fires ravaging southeastern Australia and flooding kill dozens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such catastrophes will become more frequent and more intense as temperatures climb .
“ The past five years have been the warmest on record ; the last decade has been the warmest on record , ” said Copernicus director Jean-Noel Thepaut .
Last year saw the most pronounced warming in Alaska and other parts of the Arctic , as well as large swathes of eastern and southern Europe , southern Africa , and Australia .
In Europe all seasons were warmer than average , with several countries registering both summer and winter temperature @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than the 1981-2010 reference period , C3S said .


rawstory--2020-01-08--Fake texts order Americans to report for military service in Iran — or face jail

Cell phone users have received text messages ordering them to report for a military draft or face jail — but the military says they ’ re fake .
Fraudulent text messages went out this week following the assassination of Iranian general Qassim Suleimani notifying individuals they had been selected for the draft , as President Donald Trump ordered the emergency deployment of 3,500 paratroopers to Kuwait , reported the Army Times .
“ ( We have ) received multiple calls and emails about these fake text messages and wants to ensure Americans understand these texts are false and were not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Army , ” the U.S. Army Recruiting Command said in a statement posted on its website .
The Selective Service System , which operates outside the Department of Defense , manages registration for the draft , not Army Recruiting Command , and did not authorize the messages .
“ The Selective Service System is conducting business as usual , ” the agency posted on Facebook .
“ In the event that a national emergency necessitates a draft , Congress and the President would need to pass official legislation to authorize a draft.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but they haven ’ t identified where the phony messages originated .
Recipients were instructed to call the sender before reporting to the nearest recruiting station “ for immediate departure to Iran , ” and at least one recipient reported threats of jail time if they did not reply .
All men 18 and older must register for the draft , which was abolished in 1973 , but registering for the the Selective Service does not enlist a person into the military .


rawstory--2020-01-08--Iraq says Iran informed it of imminent missile attack on US forces

Iraq ’ s prime minister ’ s office said Wednesday it had received “ an official verbal message ” from Iran informing it that a missile attack on US forces stationed on Iraqi soil was imminent .
Iran launched 22 missiles at Iraqi bases housing US and other coalition troops early Wednesday in response to the killing of senior Revolution Guards commander Qasem Soleimani in a US drone strike in Baghdad last week .
In its first statement hours later , premier Adel Abdel Mahdi ’ s office said it had been warned .
“ We received an official verbal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the Iranian response to the assassination of Qasem Soleimani had begun or would begin shortly , and that the strike would be limited to where the US military was located in Iraq without specifying the locations , ” it said .
The prime minister ’ s office said it was simultaneously contacted by the US , as the missiles slammed into the Ain al-Asad base in western Iraq and Harir further north .
“ We immediately warned Iraqi military commanders to take the necessary precautions , ” it said , adding that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the attack .
“ Iraq rejects any violation of its sovereignty and attacks on its territory , ” the premier ’ s office added , without specifically condemning the missile strikes .
It said Abdel Mahdi was in talks with domestic and foreign partners to prevent an “ open war.
” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo earlier said he had spoken to Masrour Barzani , the prime minister of the autonomous Kurdish region in northern Iraq .
But it remained unclear if there was any contact between Pompeo or any other top US @ @ @ @ @