Freedom Caucus chairman: ‘Time is of the essence’ on tax reform – The Hill

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House Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) said Friday that Congress should have a "real proposal" on tax reform that lawmakers can start debating by the end of July.

We believe that time is of the essence, Meadows said at an event at The Heritage Foundation.

The conservative Freedom Caucus took a formal positionearlier this week, calling on the House to work through the August recess to advance GOP priorities such as tax reform.

Meadows said that Congress should cancel recess if there's no detailed tax proposal before August "to make sure that we put the priorities of the American people first on the legislative agenda."

Meadows said that he supports lowering the corporate tax rate as well as the tax rate for businesses whose income is taxed through the individual code. He also wants to allow businesses to have the option of repatriating their foreign earnings at an 8 percent rate over the course of 20 months.

Meadows praised House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin BradyKevin BradyFreedom Caucus chairman: 'Time is of the essence' on tax reform Overnight Healthcare: Conservatives push back on Senate changes to health bill GOP chairman: GOP should continue ObamaCare insurer payments MORE (R-Texas) and the White House for releasing tax reform plans.

But the Freedom Caucus chairman suggested that Congress move on from one part of Brady's plan the border-adjustment proposal to tax imports and exempt exports since it has faced a lot of pushback from lawmakers. Meadows said that Congress should acknowledge that "the political facts are there is not consensus to have a support for the border-adjustment tax.

The Freedom Caucus hasn't taken a formal position on the border-adjustment tax, and its membership is divided on it. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) blasted the provision during the event, while Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio) said that he could back legislation that includes the tax.

Brady continued to defend the border-adjustment tax this week, saying it helps to encourage companies to bring jobs back into the United States. He also said that those with concerns about it should "bring us their solutions on how we stop jobs from leaving and more importantly bring them back.

Congressional GOP leaders have said they want tax reform to be revenue neutral.

Jordan said he disagreed.

"Revenue neutral's a fancy way of saying the tax burden stays the same," he said.

Congressional Republicans want to pass tax reform legislation through the Senate with the reconciliation process, which would bypass a potential filibuster and avert the need to court Democratic votes. To do that, Congress first needs to pass a budget for fiscal 2018.

Jordan said that "right now, a budget cannot pass in the House of Representatives." The Freedom Caucus is discussing accepting a higher budget number if welfare reforms are included in a tax bill, he said.

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Freedom Caucus chairman: 'Time is of the essence' on tax reform - The Hill

Families ripped apart, freedom of expression under attack amid political dispute in Gulf – Amnesty International

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Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are toying with the lives of thousands of Gulf residents as part of their dispute with Qatar, splitting up families and destroying peoples livelihoods and education, Amnesty International said today.

The organizations researchers have interviewed dozens of people whose human rights have been affected by a series of sweeping measures imposed in an arbitrary manner by the three Gulf countries in their dispute with Qatar.

For potentially thousands of people across the Gulf, the effect of the steps imposed in the wake of this political dispute is suffering, heartbreak and fear, said James Lynch, Deputy Director of Amnesty Internationals Global Issues Programme, who was in Doha last week.

These drastic measures are already having a brutal effect, splitting children from parents and husbands from wives. People from across the region not only from Qatar, but also from the states implementing these measures risk losing jobs and having their education disrupted. All the states involved in this dispute must ensure their actions do not lead to human rights violations.

All the states involved in this dispute must ensure their actions do not lead to human rights violations

While Amnesty International takes no view on the political dispute itself, which also involves other countries including Egypt, Jordan and Yemen, the organization is seriously concerned about the impact of some of these steps on the rights to family life and education.

In a fresh blow to freedom of expression in the Gulf, people in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and UAE have also been threatened with harsh punishment if they dare to criticize these measures.

On 5 June all three states ordered Qatari nationals to leave their territories within 14 days, and announced that all of their nationals had to return from Qatar, threatening penalties for anyone who did not return within this timeframe. According to Qatars National Human Rights Committee, more than 11,000 nationals of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and UAE live in Qatar. Many Qataris also live in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and UAE. All are potentially affected by these measures.

People with relations from other Gulf states are particularly at risk. Amnesty International has documented several cases of people cut off from parents, children and spouses as a result.

One Qatari man, who has lived in the UAE with his family for more than 10 years, was refused entry and sent back to Qatar as he tried to return home to Dubai from Doha, just after the measures were announced on 5 June. His wife is an Emirati national and is therefore forbidden from travelling to Qatar, while his children are Qatari nationals and so are required to leave UAE. He is now separated from his family and does not know when he will next see them.

He described to Amnesty International how his wife had pleaded with the duty officer to see her husband one last time. The officer said, no way just go back, he said.

He told Amnesty International that he fears his employers in the UAE will dismiss him from his job since he cannot return and because of his nationality.

A Saudi Arabian man, who lives in Doha with his Qatari wife, told Amnesty International that he is unable to visit his mother, who is seriously ill in hospital in Saudi Arabia, because if he did he would not be able to return to Qatar to be with his wife and children:

I go home, I cant see my wife. I stay here, I cant see my mum.

I go home, I cant see my wife. I stay here, I cant see my mum

A newly-wed Qatari woman told researchers she had been in the process of moving to Bahrain to live with her husband, a Bahraini national, when the measures took force.

I was so happy to marry last year Before the ban, while I was looking for a job in Bahrain I would go there every weekend, to see my husband, my family, my house. When they did this, how could they not think of the people?

Amnesty International also interviewed several Qatari students concerned they could not continue their education in the UAE and Bahrain. One student said all her classes in the UAE for the rest of the year had been cancelled with immediate effect.

A states power to regulate and restrict immigration is constrained by international human rights law, and differences in treatment between different categories of non-citizens can only be justified if they are necessary to achieve a legitimate objective. Arbitrarily splitting up families as part of immigration policies violates the right to family life.

Ban on expressing sympathy Residents in Saudi Arabia, UAE or Bahrain have been warned they could face harsh penalties if they make comments in support of Qatar.

Citing existing, flawed legal provisions, the UAEs general prosecutor has announced that people who express sympathy for Qatar could face up to 15 years in jail; while state-controlled Saudi Arabian media stated that such expression could be considered a cybercrime offence. The Bahraini Ministry of Interior has also threatened anyone who shows sympathy or favouritism to the Qatari authorities either on or off line, with up to five years in prison and a fine under the Penal Code.

These statements from governments with a record of repressing peaceful expression are a flagrant attempt to silence criticism of these arbitrary policies. Prosecuting anyone on this basis would be a clear violation of the right to freedom of expression. No one should be punished for peacefully expressing their views or criticizing a government decision, said James Lynch.

Concerns over migrant workers in Saudi Arabia

There are also concerns that migrant workers employed by Qatari nationals to look after their properties in Saudi Arabia may find themselves stranded, unable to return to Qatar where they have residence permits and becoming undocumented in the process, at risk of exploitation or arrest and deportation. Amnesty International has spoken to workers in this situation, who have little information about what might happen to them.

Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states must protect any workers employed by Qatari nationals, including by facilitating the safe return of those who wish to return to their home countries or assisting those who wish to return to Qatar.

Political disputes between states must be handled in a manner that respects human rights. There can be no justification for tearing families apart, suppressing peaceful expression, and leaving migrant workers abandoned and at risk. Arbitrary measures should be suspended immediately, said James Lynch.

Background

Under the nationality laws in the countries involved, women are not able to pass on nationality to their children and as such children inherit their fathers nationality. This in itself is a violation of the rights to non-discrimination and equality. Holding dual nationalities is generally not permitted.

Amnesty International interviewed 35 people nationals of Bahrain, Bangladesh, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE affected by these measures. Researchers met the majority of these people in Qatar. Others, based in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, were interviewed remotely.

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Families ripped apart, freedom of expression under attack amid political dispute in Gulf - Amnesty International

Remarks by President Trump at the Faith and Freedom Coalition’s … – The White House (blog)

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Omni Shoreham Hotel Washington, D.C.

12:30 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, Ralph. He said we got 81 percent of the vote. I want to know, who are the 19 percent? Who are they? (Laughter.) Where do they come from?

Thank you, Ralph, for really kind introduction, and for your great leadership. Its wonderful to be back here with all of my friends. It is the fifth time. Who would have known this was going to happen? But we had a feeling, didnt we? (Applause.)

And, Ralph, I want to congratulate you and your wife, Jo Anne, and each and every person in the audience today. In just a few years, youve helped turn a small organization into a really nationwide, beautiful movement. (Applause.) Really, so true. And what you have achieved is extraordinary. Ive spoken to this group so much, so often -- Ill be back -- most recently one year ago this week when I came here to ask for your support, your help, and your prayers. And wow, did you deliver. (Applause.)

You really did. Last year, you knocked on more than 1.2 million doors in the key battleground states where, as you remember, we focused. Supposed to be focusing on those states. You sent 22 million pieces of mail, shared 16 million videos, and made 10 million phone calls. Thats something. (Applause.)

And Im honored by your incredible support, and grateful for your commitment to our shared cause. Thank you for all that you do. Thank you very much. (Applause.) Thank you. You didnt let me down, and I will never, ever let you down. You know that. (Applause.)

We will always support our Evangelical community, and defend your right, and the right of all Americans, to follow and to live by the teachings of their faith. And as you know, were under siege. You understand that. But we will come out bigger and better and stronger than ever. You watch. (Applause.)

You fought hard for me, and now Im fighting hard for all of you. I have one goal as President: to fight for the American people and to fight for America and America first. (Applause.)

We are going to battle for every American who has lost a job, for every family who has lost a loved one, for every American of faith who has lost their rights and lost their freedom. The forgotten men and women will never, ever be forgotten again. You know about that. (Applause.) Remember they said, where did all these people come from? And you know what? Theyre still trying to figure it out. They dont get it. (Laughter.) They dont get it.

Your voices will resound across the halls of our Capitol, and across the world. We recite today the words of Isaiah Chapter 1, Verse 17: Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.

The entrenched interests and failed, bitter voices in Washington will do everything in their power to try and stop us from this righteous cause, to try to stop all of you. They will lie. They will obstruct. They will spread their hatred and their prejudice. But we will not back down from doing what is right. Because, as the Bible tell us -- (applause) -- we know that the truth will prevail, that Gods glorious wisdom will shine through, and that the good and decent people of this country will get the change they voted for and that they so richly deserve. (Applause.)

Nothing worth doing ever came easy, but we know how to fight better than anybody. And we never, ever would give up, and we dont give up. We are winners, and we are going to fight, and win, and have an unbelievable future. (Applause.) Unbelievable future. And its going to be together. (Applause.)

We are keeping the solemn promises that we made to the great citizens of our country. We are eliminating job-killing regulations, reversing government overreach, and returning power back to everyday Americans, the way the country started. (Applause.)

In just a short period of time, weve already added nearly one million new jobs, and approved historic increases in military spending. Weve achieved a record reduction in illegal immigration. Did you see at the southern border? Seventy-five percent. (Applause.) Seventy-five percent. If they do one percent in the past, it used to be, oh, were doing so well. Seventy-five percent. General Kelly is doing a great job.

And we are protecting our families, schools, and cities by removing the gang members -- MS-13. (Applause.) MS-13. Were spreading them out, the drug dealers and criminals from our country, and cracking down on the sanctuary cities that protect them. (Applause.) And we believe that people who come to our country should love our citizens and embrace our values -- our values, folks. (Applause.)

In my first 100 days -- and I dont think anybody has ever done more, or, certainly, not much more -- I appointed and confirmed a Supreme Court justice in the mold of the late, great Antonin Scalia -- (applause) -- and now Justice Gorsuch has a seat on the United States Supreme Court. (Applause.) Made a promise.

We have also proposed a historic tax cut -- biggest in the history of our country, by the way -- and we are fighting for fair trade that creates a level playing field for all of our American companies and our American workers. We are not on a fair playing field, but its getting fairer by the day. We are bringing back our jobs. (Applause.)

To protect those jobs, and the sovereignty and freedom of the United States, I followed through on my promise to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord. (Applause.) Thank you. You understand it. You understand how bad it was for our country. Its going to strip us of our jobs, our wealth, our companies. And they keep saying, oh, its non-binding -- so innocent. I figure between that deal, the Iran Deal, NAFTA -- weve got some beauties, dont we? (Laughter.) Dont worry, youre going to see some real good ones coming about very soon. Youre going to see some great ones coming about very soon.

America will continue to lead the world on environmental protection. Were going to have clean water -- crystal clean. Were going to have clean air. (Applause.) But what we wont do is let other countries take advantage of the United States anymore and dictate what we are doing and dictate our future. (Applause.)

From now on, we will follow a very simple rule: Every day I am President we are going to make America first -- not somebody else, not some other country. We are going to make America first. (Applause.) Thank you.

As I am sure you know, I have also reinstated the Mexico City policy first put into place by Ronald Reagan to protect the unborn. (Applause.) Thank you.

And, in a really beautiful ceremony at the White House, on the National Day of Prayer, I signed, as I promised I would, a new executive action to protect religious liberty in America, including protecting the rights of groups like yours -- the Little Sisters of the Poor. Thank you. Stand up. The Little Sisters of the Poor. (Applause.)

They fought so hard for so many years. All of sudden, they heard, "we won." (Laughter.) Right? They were tough. Dont want to mess with the Little Sisters, right? (Laughter.) They hung in, and they had a lot of losses. They sustained a lot of losses. But all of the sudden, one day, a few weeks ago, it was over. They won. So congratulations. Great toughness. Great. Great people. (Applause.) That executive order also followed through on my campaign promises to so many of you: to stop the Johnson Amendment from interfering with your First Amendment rights. (Applause.) It was my promise. This executive order directs the IRS not to unfairly target churches and religious organizations for political speech. So the people that you most respect can now feel free to speak to you, like my friends sitting right over here. I can now hear them and theyre unimpeded. So I just want to congratulate everybody in this room because that was a big deal, and it was a very important thing for me to do for you. And were not finished yet, believe me. Were not finished yet. So thank you very much. (Applause.)

No federal worker should be censoring sermons or targeting pastors. (Applause.) These are the people we want to hear from. How about the people we do hear from every night on television? You want to hear from them? I dont think so.

AUDIENCE: Booo --

THE PRESIDENT: No, no, we want to hear from the people that we want to hear from.

As long as I'm President, no one is going to stop you from practicing your faith or from preaching what is in your heart and from preaching -- and really, this is so important -- from the bottom of my heart -- from preaching from the people that you most want to hear and that you so respect. So we have taken a very, very strong position, and you picked a winner. (Applause.)

So we want our pastors speaking out. We want their voices in our public discourse. And we want our children to know the blessings of God. (Applause.) Schools should not be a place that drive out faith and religion, but that should welcome faith and religion with wide, open, beautiful arms. (Applause.) Faith inspires us to be better, to be stronger, to be more caring and giving, and more determined to act in selfless and courageous defense of what is good and what is right. It is time to put a stop to the attacks on religion. (Applause.) Thank you.

We will end the discrimination against people of faith. Our government will once again celebrate and protect religious freedom. (Applause.) Restoring freedom and opportunity also means repealing and replacing the disaster known as --

AUDIENCE: Obamacare!

THE PRESIDENT: That was easy. (Laughter.) Do you see how its failing? Okay. So Ive been saying 116 percent for so long -- it was Arizona. So yesterday, I have a new number -- 204 percent, in Alaska, increase. Its a catastrophe. Obamacare, as one of the big insurance companies had said, is in a spiral. Its in a death spiral. It is dead. Dead. Some of the states are losing their insurance companies. Yesterday, Ohio lost one of the big ones. And Ohio has got problems now. They all have problems -- Kentucky, Tennessee. Every place I go.

But were dealing with obstructionists. The Democrats are obstructionists. You know what, it would be great to get along with them, but it seems to be impossible. They are obstructionists. And they have a healthcare plan thats a disaster, called Obamacare. Again, the insurance companies are fleeing, the premiums are through the roof. The deductibles -- I mean, unless you die a long, horrible, slow death, those deductibles are so high -- sadly, folks, youll never get to use them. It is a disaster whats going on with Obamacare. Nobody wants to talk about it. But you take a look at the premiums, how high; you take a look at those deductibles. You have nothing.

And then, of course, the mandate. Lets pay to get out of it, okay? Were the only one -- we pay to get out of not paying. Thats how bad it is.

So Obamacare is dead. And dont let them pin it on the Republicans, by the way. Weve only been here for a short period of time, okay? But a good bill passed in the House. Something, I hope, great is going to come out through Mitch McConnell and the Senate. And were working very hard. I can tell you, were really working hard.

And if we had the best plan in the history of the world, we wouldnt get one Democrat vote. Just remember that. If we had a plan that gave you the greatest healthcare ever in history, you wouldnt get one Democrat vote because theyre obstructionists. Theyre bad, right now, for the country. Theyve gone so far left that I dont know if they can ever come back.

Now as a -- believe it or not -- politician -- I never would call myself a politician, but I guess thats what I am. I became President; I guess Im a politician. (Laughter.) Selfishly, I love where theyve gone because I think theyve taken the wrong path. But they have gone so far left, trying to appease a certain group, that I think theyve made a horrible mistake.

But what they have done is theyve tried to obstruct. And thats why, when it comes to the elections in 18, we have to get more, because were only up by two in the Senate and a pretty small number in the House. And we have to build those numbers up because were just not going to get votes.

Now, maybe times will change, and that could happen at some point. I remember when Republicans and Democrats would fight like hell, then theyd go out, have lunch together, have dinner together, go back, fight like hell, and get a lot of things done. Now the lunches and dinners dont take place. The level of hatred is beyond anything that Ive ever seen.

So theyre obstructionists, but were going to get healthcare done. Were going to get the tax cares done -- the tax cuts. We have the biggest tax cut and great tax reform. Were going to get it done, but sadly, were going to have to do it as Republicans because we wont get any Democrat votes. And thats a very, very sad, sad thing.

I have filled my administration and Cabinet with people who share our priorities and who want to deliver for the American people. And even that, as you know, its so hard -- the process -- because of the obstruction. Its so hard. You know, they say resist, but they really should say obstruct. But its so hard because you put -- when you hear that we have vacancies, its true. But take a look at whats going on. Getting the simplest appointment is a big deal that takes forever.

Our wonderful Vice President Mike Pence will be here later this week -- what a great guy he is -- (applause) -- great guy -- when Dr. James Dobson -- (applause) -- stand up, James -- stand up, James -- good -- great man, great guy -- thank you, James -- receives a Lifetime Achievement Award. But today I also want to congratulate Dr. Dobson and his wife, Shirley, who was with me at the beginning of the campaign -- right at the beginning of the campaign. And I called back -- she was substituting for James because he was so busy preaching. And I said, you know what, James, she may be better than you are. She was good. (Laughter.) She was good. We had a good time, right? And Ill tell you what, the audience -- they loved her.

So in advance on that recognition, James, and for everything they have both done to keep the Focus on the Family, I just want to congratulate you. Its just so amazing. Thank you. Great. Great people. (Applause.) Great people. Thank you. Thank you. Thanks, Shirley. Thanks, James.

Family is the foundation of American Life and we are proud to stand together with all of you to promote and protect family values. Were here today to celebrate two values that have always been linked together, and where Ralph, frankly, has done such a great job in linking them: faith and freedom.

They're linked together because liberty comes from our Creator. Our rights are given to us by a divine authority, and no earthly force can ever take those rights away. (Applause.) That is why my administration is taking power out of Washington and giving it back to the people where it belongs. Said right from the beginning. (Applause.)

For too long, politicians have tried to centralize authority among the hands of a small few in our nations capital. People are getting very rich. Bureaucrats think they can run your lives, overrule your values, and tell you how to live.

But we know that families and churches, not government officials, know best how to create a strong and loving community. (Applause.) We know that parents, not bureaucrats, know best how to raise children and create a thriving society. And above all else, we know this: In America, we dont worship government. We worship God. (Applause.) Right? We worship God. (Applause.)

Thank you. Our religious liberty is enshrined in the very First Amendment in the Bill of Rights. The American Founders invoked our Creator four times in the Declaration of Independence. Dont worry, were not going to let them change it. (Laughter and applause.) You see what goes on nowadays, right?

Benjamin Franklin reminded his colleagues at the Constitutional Convention to begin by bowing their heads in prayer. Inscribed on our currency are the words: In God We Trust. And we proudly proclaim that we are One Nation Under God, every time we say the Pledge of Allegiance.

You just heard a brave six-year-old patriot named Christian Jacobs beautifully recite that Pledge of Allegiance. I first met Christian last week, after the Memorial Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, where we honor and remember the American patriots who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

Christian was in perfect Marine dress blues, as a tribute to his dad - his beautiful dad. And he walked right up to me, in a big crowd of people. And without hesitation, he asked if I would like to come see where his daddy is resting. Next, he led me over to where Marine Sergeant Christopher Jacobs lies among his brothers-and-sisters-in arms, in Section 60, and showed me pictures of his fallen father who was so great and so important to him.

Not only does young Christian carry those photos, but he carries his fathers love in his heart, and his courage in his beautiful, beaming young face. With his mom, Brittany, by his side -- terrific mother -- I said, is your mother good or is she great? He said, shes great. I said, you better say that. (Laughter.) He looked me square in the eyes and gave me a firm handshake.

That six-year-old stood strong and tall and proud in front of the Commander-in-Chief, just as I am sure his dad would have wanted him to be. Hes extraordinary. (Applause.)

Christians father gave his life to defend our freedoms and our flag. Christian, your father was an American hero, and we are so proud of what you are doing every day to carry on his legacy. (Applause.) And, Christian, we hope to prove worthy of the sacrifices your family has made. And believe me, were going to work very hard to live up to your standard. Christian, stand up. Come on, Christian. (Applause.) Thanks, Christian. Good job. Good job. Special guy.

Every day, our brave men and women in uniform are risking their lives to keep this country safe from murderous groups like ISIS, al Qaeda, and so many more. We must confront this evil that plagues humanity, and eradicate it from our planet. (Applause.)

The vicious slaughters in Manchester and the streets of London underscore the depths of depravity that we face. But these atrocities only harden our resolve. Were getting better and better and tougher and tougher and smarter and smarter, Christian.

We cannot allow radical Islamic terrorism to spread in our country, or allow extremists to find sanctuary on our shores. (Applause.) We will protect our country, we will protect our families, and our ways of life will always be protected. We will crush this enemy that is waging war on all of civilization.

Last month, I traveled to Saudi Arabia to speak to the leaders of more than 50 Muslim and Arab countries, and to rally them in the common fight against the terrorism, which is a menace to people of all religions. There can be no coexistence with this violence. I told these leaders that they must drive out this enemy from the face of the Earth. Every child of God, no matter where they live, what language they speak, or what book they live by, deserves to be able to grow up in harmony, dignity, and peace.

In that summit, the likes of which there has never been any summit like it -- youve seen, you watched it -- we reached historic agreements to fight not only terrorism but the wicked ideology that really drives it -- I mean, its really driving it -- and to starve this enemy of the funds -- the billions and billions and billions of dollars thats being poured out into the enemy. I think it was one of the great, great summits. And I think its going to have a profound effect on terrorism. (Applause.)

Finally, because my administration is deeply committed to the right of religious believers everywhere to be free from persecution, I called on these leaders to protect Muslims, and Christians, and Jews, and people of all faiths. Because you know whats going on there. And its horrible -- horrible. Terrorism is a threat, and it is a big threat to religious liberty around the world. And all responsible nations must protect the right of people to live and worship according to their conscience. (Applause.)

Here in America, my administration is determined to work with you to protect your religious liberty not just for some but for everyone. Together, we can crush the horrors of terrorism. We can usher in a new era of faith, family, and freedom.

Because we understand that a nation is more than just a geography. A nation is the sum of its citizens, their hopes, their dreams, their values, and their prayers. America is a land rich with history and culture, and filled with people of courage, kindness, and strength. And though we have many stories we all share at home, the one thing we do share is one beautiful destiny. And whether we are black or brown or white, we all bleed the same red blood. (Applause.) We all salute the same great American flag. (Applause.) And we are all made by the same Almighty God. (Applause.)

We face many challenges. There are many hills and mountains to climb. But, one by one, we will scale those summits and we will get the job done and get the job done correctly. We will prove worthy of this very, very important moment in history. As long as we have pride in our beliefs, courage in our convictions, and faith in our God, then we will not fail. (Applause.)

And as long as our country remains true to its values, loyal to its citizens, and devoted to its Creator, then our best days are yet to come because we will make America great again.

Thank you. God bless you. (Applause.)

END 1:04 P.M. EDT

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Remarks by President Trump at the Faith and Freedom Coalition's ... - The White House (blog)

Freedom halt losing skid with dramatic walk-off win against Wild Things at UC Health Stadium – User-generated content (press release) (registration)

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After letting two separate leads slip away, the Florence Freedom, presented by Titan Mechanical Solutions, defeated the Washington Wild Things in walk-off fashion by a final score of 6-5 on Friday night at UC Health Stadium.

With the score tied and runners on first and second with two out in the bottom of the ninth, Garrett Vail hit a ground ball into center field off Zach Strecker (4-1), scoring Jordan Brower from second base and snapping a Freedom (17-8) three-game losing streak with the teams first walk-off victory of the season.

Vail emerged as the offensive hero for Florence, going 4-for-5 with two RBI in the game. Matt Pobereyko (1-1) earned the win after entering with one out in the ninth and pitching a season-high inning and two-thirds of scoreless relief.

Mike Hill homered twice for the Wild Things (13-11)a solo home run in the second inning for the games first run, and a game-tying two-run shot in the top of the eighth off Kyle Doerr to make the score 5-5.

The Freedom overcame the early 1-0 deficit in the bottom of the third on a two-run homer to right field by Jose Brizuela, before a John Fidanza RBI-fielders choice grounder against rookie starter Enrique Zamora tied the game at 2-2. Florence would rally back with a three-run sixth inning, however, on a run-scoring base hit by Vail and a two-RBI single to right field by Daniel Fraga.

In his professional debut, Zamora struck out five batters and walked just one, limiting Washington to three hits over four and two-thirds innings.

Brower and Ozzy Braff also collected two hits each, as eight of the nine players in the starting lineup reached base safely at least once.

Washington starter Trevor Foss surrendered five runs on eight hits through five and two-thirds innings of work in his shortest outing of the season, getting no decision after leaving the game with the score tied in the bottom of the sixth.

The series continues Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 6:05 p.m. at UC Health Stadium. Right-hander Jordan Kraus (4-1) will pitch for the Freedom against Washington right-hander Aaron Burns (0-0).

The Florence Freedom are members of the independent Frontier League and play all home games at UC Health Stadium located at 7950 Freedom Way in Florence, KY.The Freedom can be found online at FlorenceFreedom.com, or by phone at 859-594-4487.

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Mandela Foundation remembers Namibian freedom fighter Toivo – Eyewitness News

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Mandela Foundation remembers Namibian freedom fighter Toivo

Namibian freedom fighter Andimba Toivo ya Toivo died on Friday at the age of 92 in Windhoek.

A screengrab of Namibian freedom fighter Andimba Toivo ya Toivo during an interview with Namibia Media Initiative in 2014. Picture: YouTube.

JOHANNESBURG - The Nelson Mandela Foundation has sent its condolences on the passing of Namibian freedom fighter Andimba Toivo ya Toivo, who died on Friday at the age of 92 in Windhoek.

The foundation notes the friendship Toivo shared with the late former president of South Africa Nelson Mandela while imprisoned during the apartheid years on Robben Island.

The foundations CEO Sello Hatang says Madiba often described him as a stubborn freedom fighter, who was determined to win independence for his people in Namibia.

Hatang says its important to note that their friendship was warm and heartfelt.

I remember seeing the two of them in 2010 Toivo was in town and he popped in to see Madiba. At the time, the two of them exchanged some really beautiful stories of Robben Island but also to check on each others health.

(Edited by Zamangwane Shange)

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‘Smell of freedom’ is ‘strong’ in Travis Co., sheriff’s office says to … – KVUE

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KVUE 5:25 PM. CDT June 09, 2017

Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez. (Photo: Travis County Sheriff's Office)

AUSTIN - In a press release titled, "The Smell of Freedom," the Travis County Sheriff's Office responded to comments Gov. Greg Abbott made about his feelings toward Austin.

According to KVUE's partners at the Austin American-Statesman, Abbott attended the Bell County Republican Party Dinner at the Bell County Expo Center outside of Austin. There, he told a crowd, "As I was coming up here from Austin, Texas, tonight, I got to tell you, it's great to be out of the People's Republic of Austin," the Statesman said.

"Once you cross the Travis County line, it starts smelling different," Abbott said, according to the Statesman. "And you know what that fragrance is? Freedom. It's the smell of freedom that does not exist in Austin, Texas."

Austin Mayor Steve Adler responded, saying that the "air is actually pretty sweet with an unemployment rate that is a point lower than the state's, a lower violent crime rate than the state's."

He also said, "the air is sweet with tacos."

The Travis County Sheriff's Office also responded. On Friday afternoon, the office released a statement saying, "the smell of freedom in Travis County and throughout this wonderful state is strong."

"As noted in previous press releases, the Travis County Sheriff's Office, led by Sheriff Sally Hernandez, strives to ensure all victims of crime have an equal voice, and all who are alleged to have committed criminal offenses are held to account through the criminal justice system," the press release said.

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Native plants help ecosystem – LancasterOnline

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Thanks for your article highlighting the commitment of the Friends of the Woods and Wetlands at Landis Homes (Back to nature, May 17). They are the retirees who are enhancing their campus by reintroducing native plants and removing invasive ones. They understand that insects, most notably our native bees whom we rely on to pollinate our food plants, need native flora to survive. These folks also know that non-native plants, such as teasel and garlic mustard, privets and burning bushes, crowd out plants that have lived here for millennia.

And these plants are the ones our hardworking insects and birds rely on for food and habitat.

Many of us love butterflies but need a reminder that these pretty summer creatures also rely on certain native flowers to keep them around. With the use of pesticides and herbicides and the loss of habitat, our useful insects and birds face an uphill battle to survive. Not only does this put our own food production at risk, it also diminishes our wondrous quality of life.

We need to learn from the example set by the Friends of the Woods and Wetlands. Homeowners with a patch of space can turn their properties into mini nature preserves simply by planting native trees, shrubs and flowers that support our friends in the animal kingdom. Simply Google native plants for Pennsylvania gardens to learn which species to grow. They are just as beautiful as the exotics from Asia that dominate our present landscape.

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Native plants help ecosystem - LancasterOnline

UVA-Wise to get $3.5 million for Wise Innovation Ecosystem | News … – Bristol Herald Courier (press release) (blog)

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WISE, Va. The University of Virginias College at Wise will receive $3.5 million from the University of Virginia to increase enrollment in programs at the college and to create a robust culture of entrepreneurship and innovation in the region, the college said Friday.

The Wise Innovation Ecosystem received the funding from the UVas Strategic Investment Fund, according to a news release from the college.

The Strategic Investment Fund is an extraordinary opportunity for the University of Virginia community to dream big and exercise creative license to design and implement high-impact, high-value initiatives, UVa-Wise Chancellor Donna P. Henry said.

She added that college officials are grateful for the award.

This is truly a transformative opportunity which will strengthen innovation and entrepreneurship in our curriculum while reinforcing student outcomes and economic development, Henry added.

Approval of the award was announced Friday by the Board of Visitors.

One of the Wise Innovation Ecosystems goals is to diversify the regions economy by boosting enrollment in the software engineering, computer science and management of information systems programs, said Shannon Blevins, assistant vice chancellor for economic development and engagement.

Another goal is to give students the skills needed to be relevant and competitive in the emerging economy by creating a center for innovation for students to collaborate and develop entrepreneurial skills through hands-on learning experiences, Blevins said.

The college will receive the funding over a five-year period. The majority of the funds will support a Center for Innovation, including the hiring of a professor of entrepreneurship, a professor of cyber-MIS, a center manager and operation costs, including start-up scholarships, student internships, an entrepreneurship boot camp, a cyber-security symposium, an entrepreneurial certificate program and the Student Innovation Center.

Jacob Somervell, chairman of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, said the award will bring more students to the computer science and software engineering programs.

Increasing enrollment and the number of graduates can have the ripple effect of attracting more technology companies to the region, Somervell added.

The funds will also support a retention program for students in various programs, including a mandatory summer program for entering students, highly monitored turbo classes in the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, early intervention for at-risk students and shared courses with the University of Virginia, the college said.

WISE, Va.The University of Virginias College at Wise will receive $3.5 million from the University of Virginia to increase enrollment in targeted programs at the College and to create a robust culture of entrepreneurship and innovation in the region.

The Wise Innovation Ecosystem received the funding from the University of Virginias Strategic Investment Fund, according to a written statement from the university.

The Strategic Investment Fund is an extraordinary opportunity for the University of Virginia community to dream big and exercise creative license to design and implement high-impact, high-value initiatives, UVa-Wise Chancellor Donna P. Henry said. The University of Virginias College at Wise is grateful for this award. This is truly a transformative opportunity which will strengthen innovation and entrepreneurship in our curriculum while reinforcing student out-comes and economic development.

Approval was announced Friday by the Board of Visitors, the release states.

One goal of the Wise Innovation Ecosystem is to diversify the regions economy by boosting enrollment in the software engineering, computer science and management of information systems programs, said Shannon Blevins, assistant vice chancellor for economic development and engagement. Another goal is to give students the skills needed to be relevant and competitive in the emerging economy by creating a center for innovation for students to collaborate and develop entrepreneurial skills through hands-on learning experiences.

The funding will be received over a five-year period. The majority of the funds will support a Center for Innovation, including the hiring of a professor of entrepreneurship, a professor of cyber-MIS, a center manager and operation costs, including start-up scholarships, student internships, an entrepreneurship boot camp, a cyber-security symposium, an entrepreneurial certificate program and the student innovation center, the release states.

The College at Wise already has top-notch academic programs, including ABET accredited Computer Science and Software Engineering, said Jacob Somervell, chair of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science. These degrees are underutilized resources for the Commonwealth. The programs need more students and this SIF grant will support bringing more students to these degree programs.

Somervell explained that efforts to increase awareness of the programs and to attract more students would strengthen the mission of the college and provide much needed technology talent to the various technology companies across the commonwealth and beyond. Increasing enrollment and the number of graduates can have the ripple effect of attracting more technology companies to the region; potentially helping to shift the local economy from the struggling coal industry towards a more sustainable technology sector, he explained.

I thank the Board of Visitors and the review panel for their foresight and clarity of vision in recognizing the importance these degrees can have for the region and the Commonwealth, he said. My hope is that the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science can graduate significantly more majors with technology degrees and help Southwest Virginia become a competitive destination for myriad technology companies.

The funds would also support a retention program for students in various programs, including a mandatory summer program for entering students, highly monitored turbo classes in the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, early intervention for at-risk students and shared courses with the University of Virginia.

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UVA-Wise to get $3.5 million for Wise Innovation Ecosystem | News ... - Bristol Herald Courier (press release) (blog)

Cris Cyborg Blasts GRRRL Clothing for Failure to Pay Appearance Fee – MMAWeekly (blog)

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Following a well-publicized altercation between Cris Cyborg Justino and Angela Magana at the recent UFC Athlete Retreat, Cyborg has been leveled with a ton of backlash, the most recent being the loss of money from an appearance. Cyborg, however ...
Cristiane 'Cyborg' Justino Loses Sponsorship Due to Angela ...Sherdog.com
Women's clothing brand cancels sponsorship with 'Cyborg' after ...Bloody Elbow
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Expect Reduced Staffing at State Parks, Beaches, DEEP Says – NBC Connecticut

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The state agency that operates Connecticuts campgrounds and beaches says visitors should be ready to see similar conditions to 2016.

The directive from agencies includes limited hours for lifeguards, maintenance staff and others who work in the parks.

Further, the busiest state beaches along Connecticuts shoreline are expected to only have a maximum of five days of lifeguard coverage. That could dip down to four days due to budget cuts.

The parks are a casualty of an uncertain budget situation for the month of June. The states fiscal year ends June 30, and on July 1, if the state doesnt have a budget, then Governor Dannel Malloy said he has the legal authority to assert control of most spending.

In some respects, yes, but thats not without limitation and I will speak to that, what will guide us, not just legal precedent, but our own guiding principles so the people know how Ill operate the state without a state budget, Malloy said during a press conference Friday.

A spokesman for the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection said visitors can expect to see fewer people performing maintenance on the buildings that house food vendors and restrooms. He added that when it comes to campgrounds, the grass is expected to be mowed, but not as regularly as in years priors to 2016.

Three campgrounds are expected to close following July 4 because they typically dont see many visitors during the summer months. Those campgrounds are Devils Hopyard in East Haddam, Salt Rock in Baltic and Greens Falls in Voluntown.

DEEPs spokesman also said the agency is prepared for adequate staffing during the week of July 4, even though it is after the end of the fiscal year, but said after that week, funding levels become even more uncertain and further cutbacks could be expected.

Published at 10:42 PM EDT on Jun 9, 2017 | Updated at 11:15 PM EDT on Jun 9, 2017

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3 Pinellas Beaches Closed: How To Check On Other Beaches – Patch – Patch.com

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3 Pinellas Beaches Closed: How To Check On Other Beaches - Patch
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Clearwater, FL - With three Pinellas County beaches closed due to high bacteria levels, folks may want to check on other spots before they head out.
North Shore Park beach reopens, three area beaches remain closed ...WTSP 10 News

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Forest Service cancels astronomy programs at heliport – Union Democrat

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Planets, stars, constellations and galaxies in the night sky are one of the free benefits for people who spend nights high in the Central Sierra, and for people who work and live beyond the reach of urban lighting.

The Forest Service used to offer astronomy programs at Bald Mountain Heliport. Stargazers say its a high point with no trees that offers near-perfect 360-degree panoramas of the heavens after dark.

But staffing and budget constraints have prompted Stanislaus National Forest administrators to cancel the astronomy star parties they used to host at the heliport.

Among those who are disappointed is amateur astronomer Rich Combs, 66, a resident of Strawberry and Livermore. He began coming to the Pinecrest area when he was a youngster in the late 1950s and 1960s. He remembers being inspired by a satellite passing over him in the night sky.

His affinity for the stars and astronomy stayed with him. He eventually hosted astronomy star parties for the Forest Service for more than a decade. An invoice from last year shows he got paid $120 a night for star parties at the heliport.

Combs contacted The Union Democrat and said today he doesnt care about the money.

Over the years, theyve offered me as much as $400 per presentation, Combs said Thursday. Thats what they told me some of their presenters get, and they asked me what I wanted to charge.

He charged $100, and thats what the Forest Service paid him for about 10 years. A couple years ago he started charging $120 a night.

I would be happy to do it for free if that would make any difference, Combs said. I hope the public understands heres what your money is not getting spent on.

Space race

Combs was born in 1951, and he remembers when he was about 8 years old the first time he attended Camp Gold, also known as Lair of the Golden Bear, an alumni camp for the University of California system, near Pinecrest and the Summit District Ranger Station.

Camp Gold is a family camp for alumni and their families, Combs said. Families almost always went the same week each year. We made friends that way. Combs family went from about 1959 to 1963.

Camp Gold is still there, off of Dodge Ridge Road and within walking distance of the Summit Ranger Station.

The first time Combs went to Camp Gold was for a week in August 1959, with his family. His father attended UC Berkeley, and he was a qualified alumnus. Combs remembers stargazing at dark night skies from a baseball field at the camp.

I was interested in astronomy since grade school, Combs said. I remember at Camp Gold going up and looking at a satellite, easily visible to the eye. My dad took to the family to a dark area near Camp Gold and a satellite had been predicted to be visible. We saw it go overhead. I was maybe 10 years old.

Combs said the satellite was called Echo.

This was in the midst of the space race between the Soviet Union and the United States, and the Russians were beating the Americans.

In late 1957, the Russians launched Sputnik I, the first artificial satellite placed in orbit, and Sputnik II, which carried a small dog named Laika into orbit.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, created in 1958, was in its infancy. According to NASA historians, the agency launched an Echo I metalized balloon satellite Aug. 12 1960.

Echo satellites generated a lot of public interest in the early 1960s because they could be seen with the naked eye from the ground as they passed overhead.

In April 1961, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin orbited the Earth once and became the first human in space. Less than a month later, Mercury astronaut Alan Shepard became the first American in space.

Bald Mountain Heliport

Bald Mountain Heliport opened in 1962, said Dave Phillips, helibase manager. Its a Forest Service facility on Forest Service land. Phillips said helicopter crews with Cal Fire and contractor PHI Air Medical also use the base when needed.

Shawn Estes, an information assistant at the Summit District Ranger Station, said summer interpretive astronomy programs at Bald Mountain probably began in the summer of 1975.

Combs says hes been an active amateur astronomer since 1980.

He said he remembers going to Bald Mountain Heliport for the first time about 15 years ago, when he saw an ad in the Stanislaus Traveler newsletter distributed by the Forest Service. Combs said they were looking for someone to help with astronomy programs at Bald Mountain Heliport, because the person who did it for several years was retiring.

Im an observer of stars, galaxies and other objects in the heavens, Combs said. I share my enthusiasm for astronomy with others through my club and through programs at schools, including Summerville High School in Tuolumne.

In addition to leading astronomy programs at Bald Mountain Heliport until this year, Combs says he hosts star parties at Summerville High in October each fall.

We usually try to schedule it around a crescent moon, Combs said. A crescent moon is easy to view but does not overwhelm the dark night sky, so people can see the moon as well as stars.

He said he met a Summerville High science teacher, Karen Wessel, at a star party at Bald Mountain Heliport. At Summerville High star parties, Combs said he organizes star parties on the tennis court at the school. Each year, 20 to 30 people attend, including students and family members.

Its convenient, and its usually dark enough we can see a reasonable number of objects in the night sky, Combs said. Its not as good as Bald Mountain, but its close.

Combs says he is also currently president of the club Tri-Valley Stargazers, based in Livermore.

Staffing and budget

Combs said he went to Summit District Ranger Station about two weeks ago because he had not received his annual invitation to host star parties at Bald Mountain Heliport.

Basically, I was told they were not going to be having the program this year due to a lack of staffing and a lack of funding, Combs said.

Estes confirmed that interpretive astronomy programs at Bald Mountain Heliport this summer have been canceled.

A night program like that, we have to have staff up there, Estes said. Its on a locked firefighting aviation facility. There needs to be supervision up there for public safety.

Like numerous other federal agencies, the Forest Service has faced a hiring freeze and budget cuts since President Donald J. Trumps inauguration in January.

In Tuolumne County, public affairs staff with the Stanislaus National Forest announced that, beginning this week, the front desk at the Mi-Wok Ranger District will be open just one day a week, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. each Friday.

The decision to open the Mi-Wok Ranger District front desk only on Fridays stems in part from staffing challenges and budget constraints, said Diana Fredlund with Stanislaus National Forest public affairs.

Asked for more details, Fredlund responded, Regarding the staffing challenges, the hiring freeze limits our ability to fill behind departures, whether its retirements or relocations. Flat or declining budgets for the past many years eventually impact our ability to provide services and reducing Mi-Woks front desk operating hours is one of those impacts. We cant discuss anything about future budgets until they have been voted on and announced by Congress and the White House.

In 2016 the overall budget for Stanislaus National Forest was about $20 million, Fredlund said. The 2017 overall budget is about $19.5 million. These numbers do not take into account special funding sources, like recovery from the Rim Fire, which may only be spent on recovery or management efforts directly related to the Rim Fire, or other grants that are designated for a specific purpose.

Combs said, I understand, but I kind of feel our government priorities are not in order. Were losing the chance to educate the public with a free resource, the night skies.

Contact Guy McCarthy at gmccarthy@uniondemocrat.com or (209) 588-4585. Follow him on Twitter @GuyMcCarthy.

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Artificial Intelligence Will Put Spies Out of Work, Too – Foreign Policy (blog)

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If Robert Cardillo has his way, robots will perform 75 percent of the tasks currently done by American intelligence analysts who collect, analyze, and interpret images beamed from drones, satellites, and other feeds around the globe.

Cardillo, the director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, known by the acronym NGA, announced his push toward automation and artificial intelligence at a conference this week in San Antonio. The annual conference, hosted by the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation, brings together technologists, soldiers, and intelligence professionals to discuss national security threats, changes in technology, and data collection and processing.

Artificial intelligence is on the rise; former President Barack Obamas White House released a white paper on its potential future impacts in the final months of the administration. Police officers are using preliminary programs to predict the likelihood someone will commit a crime in a specific neighborhood based on crime statistics data. And companies like Amazon and Netflix use machine learning to calculate what movie you will want to watch or which book you may buy.

Yet this sort of automation is also seen as a threat to workers, who fear being put out of jobs, particularly in the private sector.

The fear that artificial intelligence will take over jobs, or fail catastrophically along the way, is palpable in the intelligence community as well, and Cardillo admitted that the workforce is skeptical, if not cynical or downright mad, about the prospect of automation intruding on their day-to-day lives, potentially replacing them.

The coming revolution in artificial intelligence has been hyped for years, often falling short of expectations. But if it does happen, analysts worry theyll become obsolete.

Cardillo, who called it a transforming opportunity for the profession, said hes working on showing the workforce that artificial intelligence is not all smoke and mirrors. The message hes sending to workers at the agency is that the goal of automation isnt to get rid of you its there to elevate you. Its about giving you a higher-level role to do the harder things.

In Cardillos eyes, the profession of geospatial intelligence monitoring and exploiting commercial and proprietary video and imagery feeds around the world is on the precipice of a data explosion similar to when the internet took off. At that point, the National Security Agency, which is responsible for collecting and analyzing digital communications, had to figure out ways to vacuum up and glean specific conclusions from an explosion of communications traveling back and forth on the web.

Just as the NSA employs algorithms to trawl through millions of messages, Cardillo wants machine learning to help with large volumes of imagery. Instead of analysts staring at millions of images of coastlines and beachfronts, computers could digitally pore over images, calculating baselines for elevation and other features of the landscape. NGAs goal is to establish a pattern of life for the surfaces of the Earth to be able to detect when that pattern changes, rather than looking for specific people or objects.

NGA is responsible for tracking potential threats, such as military testing sites in North Korea. When something at a site changes, like large groups of people or cars arriving, it may indicate preparations for a missile test. We dont have a higher priority, Cardillo told Foreign Policy. We put everything we can into North Korea.

But the number of sensors, images, and video feeds is exploding and will continue to grow in the coming years, he predicted. A significant chunk of the time, I will send [my employees] to a dark room to look at TV monitors to do national security essential work, Cardillo told reporters. But boy is it inefficient.

The agency is also turning to academia and the private sector for help. Cardillo hired Anthony Vinci, the founder and former CEO of Findyr, a company that crowdsources data from countries around the world, to head up the agencys machine-learning efforts within NGA.

Companies exhibiting at the conference were clearly on the artificial bandwagon, boasting flashy datasets and advanced algorithms. But not everyone was convinced relying on computers for the bulk of data crunching and analysis was such a great idea for intelligence work.

Justin Cleveland, a former intelligence official who works for the security company Authentic8 which created a secure browser called Silo that also allows intelligence professionals to disguise their cybertracks was skeptical of the automation boom. It can be helpful, he said in an interview at the conference. But you could have one bad algorithm and youre at war.

Taking humans out of the bulk of the process is bound to lead to errors. At the end of the day, you have to trust the person who wrote the algorithm over the analyst, Cleveland said.

Jimmy Comfort, a deputy director at the National Reconnaissance Office, was enthusiastic about certain applications for artificial intelligence in some areas like facial recognition. There are so many parallels with what the commercial guys are doing, he said in an interview.

But for his agency, which works mainly with satellites, the needs are different. Satellites take fewer images, from much farther away. Theres challenges for us doing that stuff from space, Comfort said.

Photo credit: CHIP SOMODEVILLA/Getty Images

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Artificial Intelligence Will Put Spies Out of Work, Too - Foreign Policy (blog)

Half Of People Who Encounter Artificial Intelligence Don’t Even Realize It – Forbes

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Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer in the future. It's not science fiction. It's here. It's now. It's happening all around us, and actually has been for more years than most of us even know. For the past two years, I've been writing about IBM's ...

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Half Of People Who Encounter Artificial Intelligence Don't Even Realize It - Forbes

EILENBERG: Artificial intelligence will transform health care – Indianapolis Business Journal

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The race is on for dominance in the artificial intelligence industry. Driven by deep-learning technology that allows AI systems to teach themselves, the overall industry is projected to be worth $16 billion by 2022. The health care AI market is projected to grow from $667 million in 2016 to nearly $8 billion by 2022. Jostling for position is expected to be fast and furious over the next five years.

The current big players (Intel, Microsoft, Google, Facebook, Canada, the United Kingdom) and up-and-comer (China) were all at the AI Summit in London last month. Google, already a heavyweight in AI, announced a new AI chip and the forthcoming launch of AI in the Cloud at its recent Google IO developer conference. The cloud service will be accessible to researchers and developers to build and operate software via the internet. No word yet on the price for AI as a service. But speculation is that, if the cost is low enough, customers will come.

Industries that do high volumes of human interactions, such as banking and health care, are expected to begin adopting AI to automate customer service. The anticipated shift will result in job losses in customer service but increases in customer satisfaction. As chatbot technology that simulates conversations with humans improves, additional health care applications, such as AI doctors, are expected. Babylon Health recently raised nearly $60 million for a smartphone chatbot that diagnoses illness.

AI is expected to disrupt health care beyond chatbots. The exact form of the disruption is not yet clear. On the floor of the AI summit in London, bold visions were in abundance.

Philips, a partner in pilot projects being carried out by Englands National Health Service, envisions wearables, including smart watches and other technology, working in concert with AI to provide 24/7 monitoring.

IBM Watson foresees cognitive assistants to augment physician expertise and ultimately the ability to diagnose and treat diseases well before symptoms arise.

IBM researchers estimate that 90 percent of health care data is in the form of images. Because deep learning does best with lots and lots and lots of data, AI initially is likely to cause the most profound disruption in imaging.

Medical startups and research centers are beginning to automate the analysis of MRIs, CT scans and X-rays. Google is using artificial intelligence with the NHS to spot eye disease using eye-scan images.

Artificial Intelligence analysis of medical images might significantly extend the reach of medical specialists to remote areas. Google is building an interface in India for doctors to input retinal images and receive a grade for diabetic retinopathy. The screening tool could save the vision of scores of people in a country where there is a shortage of 127,000 eye doctors and most patients suffer vision loss before they see a doctor.

While AI seems to hold endless possibilities for health care, for now the who, what, where and when? is up in the air. In the United States, electronic health records lack what AI needs: machine-learning capabilities and outcome data. Ultimately, the extent of adoption of artificial intelligence in health care might depend less on its potential and more on the quality of current health care options.

A recent report by PwC found that emerging markets were most open to artificial intelligence and robotics in health care. It found that, due to clinical shortages and a young, digitally savvy population, the Middle East could leap frog other countries.

__________

Eilenberg is CEO of Indianapolis-based Lodestone Logic, a global pharmaceutical and health care consultancy.

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Are you lying about your identity? Artificial intelligence can tell by how you use your mouse – Science Magazine

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By tracking cursor movement, lie detection becomes a game of cat and mouse.

DeanDrobot/iStock Photo

By Matthew HutsonJun. 9, 2017 , 3:30 PM

Every year, millions of people have their identities stolen. Theres no foolproof way to pinpoint fakers, but thanks to Italian researchers, investigators may soon have another tool at their disposala way to suss out frauds and other liars online with just a few clicks of a mouse.

Traditional methods of lie detection include face-to-face interviews and polygraphs that measure heart rate and skin conductance. But they cant be done remotely, or with large numbers of people. Researchers have come up with effective computer-based tests that measure reaction time in response to true and false personal information. For the tests to work, though, experimenters have to know the truth in advance.

To get around this obstacle, a team of Italian researchers has come up with an innovative way of figuring out the truth. They asked 20 volunteers to memorize the details of a fake identity and assume it as their own. The subjects then answered a set of yes-or-no questions using a computer, as did 20 truth-telling volunteers. Questions included things like: Is Giulia your name? and Were you born in 1995? Researchers recorded each answer and measured how the subjects mouse cursors moved, from the bottom middle of the screen to yes and no buttons in the top two corners.

Because liars can get to be as good as the rest of us at telling the truth, the researchers threw a wrench into their experiment. In addition to the 12 expected questions, they asked 12 unexpected questions based on the volunteers new identities. For example, they asked about a persons zodiac sign, based on their birth date. And they asked about the capital city of the subjects presumed region. A fraud might have memorized a fake birthday, but not known the corresponding zodiac sign, or been able to calculate it quickly enough. Weve found that if people rehearse lies, lying can be as easy as telling the truth, says Bruno Verschuere, a forensic psychologist at the University of Amsterdam who was not involved in the research, except when you ask unexpected questions.

The experimenters trained a computer to sort liars from truth tellers using the number of incorrect answers they gave. The teams four machine-learning algorithms ranged in accuracy from 77.5% to 85%. But when the researchers included features of the mouse pathssuch as deviation from a straight linein their training materials, computers were able to successfully pick out the liars 90% to 95% of the time, the researchers reported last month in PLOS ONE.

They also trained and tested the algorithms using only questions that the liars answered truthfully, such as whether they were Italian. The algorithms could still identify the fibbers with 77.5% to 80% accuracy. Jumping back and forth between telling the truth and lying seems to have a broad effect on peoples behavior, the scientists say. Having to tell a lie changes the way people tell the truth.

But would such a method work in the real world? Giuseppe Sartori, a forensic neuroscientist at the University of Paduain Italyand an author of the paper, says it could be used as a first screen to check peoples alibis in criminal investigations, verify identities online, or even cull terrorists from refugees at border checkpoints. It likely wont have the same accuracy it does in the lab, but he calls the study a good proof of concept.

Its a clever idea, says Giorgio Ganis, a cognitive neuroscientist at Plymouth University in the United Kingdom. But its not obvious that its going to be super useful. Ganis notes that in the real world, fraudsters would likely spend more time researching their backstories, making surprising questions harder to find. Youre going to catch the dumb criminals and dumb terrorists, he says, which is better than nothing, I guess. Sartori adds that even though impostors might learn their purported zodiac sign, other unexpected questions are practically unlimited. Do they know the cross streets of their purported home address? Do they know the layout of the restaurant where they say they were on the night of a crime? The study brings a whole new meaning to the game of cat and mouse.

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Are you lying about your identity? Artificial intelligence can tell by how you use your mouse - Science Magazine

New Study: Artificial Intelligence Is Coming For Your Job, Millennials – Forbes

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New Study: Artificial Intelligence Is Coming For Your Job, Millennials
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Research released by Gallup on Thursday indicates a collision between technology and business as usual is coming soon, and the fallout will be ugly, especially for Millennials. Automation and artificial intelligence (AI) are among the most disruptive ...

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New Study: Artificial Intelligence Is Coming For Your Job, Millennials - Forbes

Harmonize conflicting regulations for genetically engineered plants and animals – Nature.com

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Gene-edited cattle such as these hornless cows may come under scrutiny by the US Food and Drug Administration.

In January this year, two US agencies proposed the first substantial overhaul in 30 years of how they regulate genetically altered crops and livestock. Some plant scientists expressed relief. Some animal researchers used more colourful language.

The proposals one to govern plants, the other to govern animals came to wildly different conclusions. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) suggests that many plants whose genomes have been altered by a single DNA letter change should not need approval before being released in the field. However, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) contends that animals whose genomes have been similarly changed might have to go through a rigorous evaluation before being released onto the market.

For the two agencies to evaluate the same problem and come to opposite conclusions is worrisome. The deadline for public comment is 19June researchers should seize this chance to push for a scientific and harmonized approach.

The USDA oversees the transport and release of plants that could pose a threat to the nations agricultural system. The agency used that remit to cover plants that have been genetically altered using molecular tools harvested from plant pathogens. A form of the bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens, for example, was often used to shuttle genes into plant genomes. But even as the regulations were being crafted, technology was marching ahead. Researchers developed ways to express foreign genes in plants without using a pest. By 2011, the USDA found itself unable to oversee a host of new crops because they were engineered by other techniques and could not be classified as potential plant pests.

The FDA, meanwhile, has co-opted regulations that are designed to govern the approval of animal drugs. FDA oversight is triggered by the genetic engineering of an animal (generally taken to mean the splicing together of DNA sequences from different sources). This has left researchers in industry and academia uncertain as to whether the FDA would regulate animals that have been developed using modern gene-editing techniques, which dont necessarily insert foreign DNA. Such techniques are already being used in the lab to develop disease-resistant pigs, among other animals. One company, Recombinetics of St Paul, Minnesota, which is hoping to bring its hornless dairy cattle to market, filed a notification to the FDA a month before the proposals were released.

Almost any gene-edited livestock could be encompassed by the FDAs regulations. Yet gene-edited plants would be regulated only if they are pests or noxious weeds.

It might be asking too much to demand complete consistency across agencies. USDA or FDA staffers are not free to conjure regulations as they see fit: they are also confined by agency-specific statutes. This is why some definitions differ, and some approaches such as treating the engineered genome of a goat as an animal drug do not seem intuitive.

Gene-editing and other technologies clearly pose a challenge for regulators. Legislative definitions can quickly expire with the next technological development. Regulators in Europe, for example, have been struggling for years to incorporate new technologies into their framework. Canada, which regulates its crops on the basis of their attributes rather than the process used to generate them, is one of the few countries with a system that is able to adapt to advances. Meanwhile, it is still hard to tell how consumers will view gene-edited foods when they reach the market.

For the two agencies to evaluate the same problem and come to opposite conclusions is worrisome.

But both the solutions proposed in the United States have the potential to err, albeit in opposite directions. Regulating all gene-edited animals may make little sense for a change that merely reproduces a DNA sequence found in nature, or that could be recreated by using chemicals to randomly mutate DNA. Conversely, waving through many edited crops could under-regulate some with the potential to alter agricultural ecosystems. For example, a herbicide-tolerant plant could lead to changes in spraying that generate herbicide-resistant weeds.

It is unclear whether or how President Donald Trumps appointees will influence the development of these regulations. But researchers should take the opportunity to be heard, to scrutinize proposed definitions, look for loopholes and suggest alternatives to reduce the likelihood that the regulations will soon become outdated. Above all, they should push for regulations that are consistent across agencies, with an emphasis on evaluating the risks posed by the final product. Some researchers may feel that simple gene edits, such as those that reproduce a naturally occurring mutation, deserve no scrutiny. Others may have reservations about those same products. Let all of those voices be heard or endure another 30 years of ill-fitting regulations.

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Harmonize conflicting regulations for genetically engineered plants and animals - Nature.com

FBI gets synthetic biology crash course at CSU – Source

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For one week in May, 11 agents and analysts from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation were on campus for an intensive training program spearheaded by one of the universitys preeminent biotechnologists. The goal: giving the law enforcement personnel foundational knowledge and insight into the rapidly evolving field of synthetic biology.

Jean Peccoud, the Abell Endowed Chair in Synthetic Biology in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, organized the session with the FBI. Peccoud is a computational and cell biologist whose research is in the development of novel DNA molecules, and improving the manufacture of bio-based drugs and vaccines.

At first glance, a relationship between synthetic biology researchers and the nations top law enforcement agency might seem incongruous. Consider, though, the rapid development of genetic engineering techniques over the last several years. The agents who visited campus were part of the FBIs Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate, whose purview includes preventing and responding to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidents.

The WMD Directorate is working to build relationships with universities and industry partners to become educated on trends in biological research from the manufacture of living organism-based vaccines, to the synthesis of new genes in the lab, said William So, Policy and Program Specialist with the FBIs Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorates Biological Countermeasures Unit.

The emergence of big data within the life sciences, and the digitized stores of data that could be vulnerable to cyberattacks, has also pushed the agency to become better versed in these areas. Ultimately, the agency is charged with protecting such systems against terrorism, espionage, or the leaking of proprietary information.

The amount of research and information in the biotechnology fields is increasing exponentially, So said. Its important for us to have hands-on experience to better understand how biological experimentation occurs.

The workshop was the first of its kind at CSU; Peccoud previously led a scaled-down pilot workshop at his former university, Virginia Tech. The CSU workshop consisted of lectures on research trends by Peccoud and other CSU experts. It also included blocks of lab time for training participants to perform typical synthetic biology techniques, such as assembling DNA molecules.

For example, the trainees used Gibson Assembly to make DNA and transfer it to E. coli cells for manufacturing insulin. This lab work was led by Neil Adames, a research scientist in Peccouds lab.

This experiment gave the participants insight into a foundational method of producing biologic drugs within the pharmaceutical industry. It illustrated the aspirations of both scientists and DIYBio communities to engineer genes with powerful new properties.

Our motivation here is to help people working in the field to critically analyze information they are getting about breakthroughs and trends in biological engineering and research, Peccoud said. It is one thing to talk to scientists at conferences or read papers, but it is another to get hands-on training and to have an understanding of what certain concepts mean in practice.

Other activities included a talk about CRISPR and genome editing by University Distinguished Professor Jan Leach; a visit to the biochemistry protein purification facility; a tour of BioMARC, the universitys biologics manufacturing research facility; and an overview of CSUs biosafety policies led by Bob Ellis of the Office of the Vice President for Research.

Peccoud envisions the weeklong training to be offered regularly, and possibly to become available to other federal agencies and corporate partners

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FBI gets synthetic biology crash course at CSU - Source

Ecologists protest sudden end of NSF dissertation grants – Science Magazine

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NSF grants for doctoral dissertations have helped researchers address a wide range of questions, including how land use affects insects that pollinate economically important cotton plants.

By Jeffrey MervisJun. 9, 2017 , 1:00 PM

A grants program at the National Science Foundation (NSF) that has helped launch the careers of thousands of U.S. biologists and environmental scientists is ending after becoming a victim of its own popularity.

On 6 June, NSFs biology directorate shocked the scientific community by announcing it would no longer fund Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grants (DDIGs). The small awards help support work, typically field studies or large-scale data analyses, by students pursuinggraduate degrees. The agency said managing the program had become too labor intensive and was making it harder for program officers to do other parts of their job.

Biologys decision to pull out of the long-running programthe funding mechanism remains in place for students in the social and behavioral scienceshas raised a hue and cry throughout the ecological community. This program generates one of the greater returns on investment of anything NSF does, says Casey Dunn, an associate professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at Brown University. His 2003 DDIG laid the groundwork for research that, 8 years later, helped him win NSFs top award for young scientists, and he now encourages his students to apply. They may be small amounts of money, but they can have an extraordinary impact on someones career.

In a letter yesterday to directorate officials, the 10,000-member Ecological Society of America, based in Washington, D.C., asks the Arlington, Virginiabased NSF to preserve the dissertation grants within biology and offers to help it find ways to reduce high workloads and meet changing program priorities. The letter highlights the multiple benefits of the dissertation grants: They not only allow graduate students to go beyond their advisers research expertise, but they also teach them important career skills, including how to write a grant proposal and manage a budget.

Senior managers in the biology directorate said they terminated the program reluctantly, with the hope that it will ease a growing workload on program officers in the two divisionsenvironmental biology (DEB) and integrated organismal systems (IOS)now offering them. At roughly $20,000 each, dissertation awards are much smaller than bread-and-butter research grants, which average $230,000 a year across the entire directorate. But they require the same level of scrutiny by NSFs vaunted peer-review system, meaning program officers must put in the same effort in selecting reviewers, running panels, and processing the paperwork for every grant thats made. In the last 2 years DEB has handed out nearly the same number of DDIGsas full awards, roughly 130 a year in each category.

The time needed to manage the DDIGs has impinged on the other things program officers are expected to do, say NSF senior managers, including staying abreast of developments in their field, developing new research initiatives, and remaining active scientists. Something had to give, they concluded, and the ax fell on DDIGs. Nobody doubts the value of this program, but it was a necessity, says Heinz Gert de Couet, head of IOS.

Despite their budget of less than $3 million a year, the biology DDIGs have made a remarkable impression on the community over the decades they have been awarded. Hopi Hoekstra, an evolutionary biologist at Harvard University, says that applying for a DDIG is practically a rite of passage in her lab. Ive had nine students who have had them, says Hoekstra, who boasts that at one point her lab enjoyed a 100% success rate in nabbing the awards.

She, too, is a former recipient. As a graduate student, she recalls, she explored the evolution of sex chromosomes in mammals while her adviser worked with birds. Although both were doing population genetics, she says, My project was completely independent of his work. A DDIG gives students the freedom to chart their own scientific path, says Hoekstra, who studies the genetic basis of adaptation in wild mice and other vertebrates, and thats a big part of what makes doing science so much fun, right?

Dunn worries that ending the DDIG program could have a negative impact across the entire field of biology. Now, when a student says to their adviser, I want to do this new thing that youre not doing, they can apply for a DDIG, he says. Its a chance to explore all the nooks and crannies, and who knows what they might discover. Without the program, the acorn will have to stay closer to the tree.

NSFs directorate for the social, behavioral, and economic (SBE) sciences has run a nearly identical program for decades and administrators remain pleased with the results. We think its a very sound investment, says Thomas Baerwald, a senior science adviser within SBEs division of behavioral and cognitive sciences. It has allowed us to support high-quality work, and we see top-notch papers appearing soon after the students complete their dissertation. Baerwald says that hes made grants to four generations of scientists in the 29 years hes worked at NSF, which he regards as testament to their lasting value.

With a fiscal storm brewingthe 2018 budget submitted last month by President Donald Trump proposes an 11.3% cut to NSFsome scientists have speculated that the biology directorate is battening down the hatches. But senior managers say the presidents budget request played no part in their decision. In a word, its a workload issue, says Paula Mabee, head of DEB.

At the same time, they acknowledge that the additional work stems in part from insufficient resources. The number of proposals in DEB has doubled over the last 10 years, and theres been no growth in staffing for more than 20 years, Mabee notes. Weve done all the streamlining we can do without compromising the quality of merit review.

NSFs abrupt announcement has left the ecological community scrambling to find a way to address the workload problem without sacrificing the dissertation grants. Its important for us to recognize the constraints on NSF and then think about how to step up, Dunn says. Maybe this is an opportunity to think about new strategies for reviewing across NSF.

One idea being floated would have professional societies manage the DDIG peer review through a grant from NSF, which would continue funding the actual dissertation projects. Youd need some type of NSF support, plus the collaboration of several major societies to ensure there would be sufficient breadth of scientific expertise to review all the relevant proposals, says Dean Adams, executive vice president of the 670-member Society of Systematic Biologists.

Adams, a professor of theoretical ecology at Iowa State University in Ames who studies phenotype variation in salamanders, says the society is still reeling from this weeks NSF announcement, but that he expects its governing council to discuss ideas for responding later this month. The need to preserve the grants should be obvious, he says, calling them one of the most cost-effective ways for NSF to foster the next generation of ecologists.

But Adams worries that losing the NSF imprimatur could reduce their value. The grants might take a hit in terms of prestige, he says. Right now its a huge feather in their cap for a student to get a DDIG.

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Ecologists protest sudden end of NSF dissertation grants - Science Magazine