Cortex Goes Through Vortex…
July 12, 2019
9th Circuit rules in favor of Trump admin in ‘sanctuary city’ case…
July 12, 2019
The ruling, a split 2-1 decision, said the Department of Justice (DOJ) was within its rights to withhold Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grants from sanctuary cities and states over their refusal to work with federal immigration enforcement authorities and instead prioritize agencies that focused on unauthorized immigration and agreed to give Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) access to jail records and immigrants in custody.
R. Kelly faces new federal charges of child pornography and obstruction of justice, which reportedly includes paying off a victim’s family…
According to CBS Chicago, The Sex Trafficking in NY is a separate federal indictment ...
July 12, 2019
Kelly was arrested on 13 counts of child pornography and obstruction of justice, the US Attorney's Office in Chicago said in a statement. However, they did not specify the number of each count of the indictment, which was handed down on Thursday. The New York Times reports that Kelly is accused of giving the family of one of his underage victims' money, expensive gifts, and a trip abroad to try to dissuade them from talking to law enforcement.
House Democrats unite to pass $733B defense bill..
July 12, 2019
House Democrats closed ranks to pass a massive $733 billion defense policy bill on Friday, teeing up a partisan clash with Senate Republicans over military funding and contentious foreign policy issues. The National Defense Authorization Act was approved 220 to 197, with all House Republicans opposing the bill — enough to sustain a promised veto from President Donald Trump.
House Hearing Featuring AOC on Child Separation and Detainment…
July 12, 2019
President Trump Delivers Remarks on Supporting the Passage of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement
July 12, 2019
“Storm Of Biblical Proportions”: Tropical Storm Barry About To Pound New Orleans With Up To 25 Inches Of Rain…
July 12, 2019
It is being projected that Tropical Storm Barry could officially become a hurricane before it makes landfall on Saturday, but in this case the wind speed is not really that important. Instead, the massive amount of rain that this immense storm will dump on southern Louisiana is the greatest danger, because the region is potentially facing flooding that is absolutely unprecedented. In fact, one weather expert is even warning that the flooding could be so dramatic that it might actually “change the course of American history”…
Trump’s Labor Secretary Alex Acosta is stepping down amid backlash over Jeffrey Epstein plea deal…
July 12, 2019
Labor Secretary Alex Acosta on Friday announced he's resigning just two days after a lengthy press conference in which he signaled he would not step down... Trump appeared with Acosta outside of the White House on Friday to announce his resignation. Trump said Acosta called him this morning and that the resignation is his decision, according to White House pool reports.
....Alex was a great Secretary of Labor and his service is truly appreciated. He will be replaced on an acting basis by Pat Pizzella, the current Deputy Secretary.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 12, 2019
Former Tesla employee admits uploading Autopilot source code to his iCloud – Tesla believes he stole company trade secrets and took them to Chinese startup, Xiaopeng Motors…
July 12, 2019
Why it matters: Not for the first time, an employee from a large US tech firm has been accused of stealing trade secrets and taking them to Chinese EV startup Xiaopeng Motors. On this occasion, the company in question is Tesla, and the data relates to its Autopilot feature...
Newly discovered molecule could cut cancer cells off at the source…
July 12, 2019
Based on earlier evidence, the scientists already suspected that their newly uncovered molecules could pose a threat to cancer stem cells, so they devised some experiments to put these inklings to the test. This involved engineering cells to behave like aggressive breast cancer cells and cancer stem cells, and pitting them against the new molecules in cell cultures to see how they fared.
The cancer stem cells proved very sensitive to the molecules, and the researchers say this is because the molecules appear to latch onto them and prevent them absorbing a nutrient that is key to their survival, an amino acid called cystine. This in turn causes them to die off, which the scientists believe is due to the lack of cystine resulting in shortages of glutathione, a molecule in the cell that is key to maintaining its defenses...
Jeffrey Epstein’s cell is 3 doors down from El Chapo…
July 12, 2019
Epstein — who was arrested on sex-crime charges last week — landed in cell No. 4, three doors down from Mexican drug kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo’’ Guzman, sources said. Chapo is in cell No. 1 in the notorious solitary-confinement unit of the Metropolitan Correctional Center known as “10 South.”
FTC Approves Roughly $5 Billion Facebook Settlement…
July 12, 2019
The 3-2 vote by FTC commissioners broke along party lines, with the Republican majority lining up to support the pact while Democratic commissioners objected, the people said. The matter has been moved to the Justice Department’s civil division and it is unclear how long it will take to finalize, the person said. Justice Department reviews are part of the FTC’s procedure but typically don’t change the outcome of an FTC decision.
A settlement is expected to include other government restrictions on how Facebook treats user privacy. The additional terms of the settlement couldn’t immediately be learned.
House approves amendment to reverse transgender military ban…
July 12, 2019
The amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) would enshrine in law that any person who meets gender-neutral occupational standards can serve in the military regardless of race, color, national origin, religion or sex, including gender identity or sexual orientation... The amendment passed 242-187, largely along party lines. Ten Republicans voted with all Democrats in support of the bill: Republican Reps. Susan Brooks (Ind.), Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.), Trey Hollingsworth (Ind.), Will Hurd (Texas), John Katko (N.Y.), Tom Reed (N.Y.), Elise Stefanik (N.Y.), Steve Stivers (Ohio), Fred Upton (Mich.) and Greg Walden (Ore.).
Former JonBenét Ramsey photographer indicted in Lane County on child porn charges…
July 12, 2019
The children's photographer accused of accessing child pornography via the wireless internet network of an Oakridge restaurant appears to be the same man who photographed 6-year-old beauty queen JonBenét Ramsey in June 1996 - and sold a portfolio of the images shortly after her death. Police in Oregon arrested Randall D. Simons, 66, on July 2, 2019, on 16 counts of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse.
House approves measure to block Trump from launching military strike against Iran…
July 12, 2019
If Trump really wanted to do it, he still could. Congress gave him that authority, and it trumps the house "measure" at the moment. This is all for show.
Mueller testimony could be delayed amid ‘breakdown in negotiations’…
July 12, 2019
... yet others indicated it could still go forward next week as planned. Internal talks over the structure of the hearings originally scheduled for July 17 have been heating up for days, with some members complaining they might not have enough time carved out to ask questions. Sources said Friday morning the hearings will be pushed back to July 24... Yet the Democratic majority on the House Judiciary Committee maintained: "At this moment we still plan to have our hearing on the 17th and we will let you know if that changes.”
US Prepares Response As Video Confirms Russian S-400 Delivery To Turkey in challenge to NATO…
July 12, 2019
#BREAKING: #Turkish media (#Erdogan's Anadolu Agency) released video of the first S-400 SAM battery of #Turkey which were delivered by two #Russia Air Force's An-124-100 transport airplanes, RA-82038 and RA-82013 from 224th Flight Unit at #Akinci AB, #Ankara few hours ago. pic.twitter.com/nT1HX7PKwV
— Babak Taghvaee (@BabakTaghvaee) July 12, 2019
Russia began delivery of an advanced missile defense system to Turkey on Friday, a move expected to trigger U.S. sanctions against a NATO ally and drive a wedge into the heart of the Western military alliance.
[...]
Washington says the S-400s could compromise its Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighter jets, an aircraft Turkey is helping to build and planning to buy. Turkey could also face expulsion from the F-35 program under the sanctions. Erdogan has dismissed that possibility, but Washington has already started the process of removing Turkey from the program, halting training of Turkish pilots in the United States on the aircraft.
[...]
The S-400 acquisition is one of several issues which have frayed ties between the two allies, including a dispute over strategy in Syria east of the Euphrates River, where the United States is allied with Kurdish forces that Turkey views as foes. The detention of U.S. consular staff in Turkey has also strained relations, along with disagreements over Iran, Venezuela and Middle East policy. Turkey has long demanded Washington hand over a Muslim cleric which Ankara holds responsible for an attempted coup in 2016.We've been anticipating this moment for awhile. Let's see what happens.
Yep, human workers are listening to recordings from Google Assistant, too. Including audio recorded by mistake…
July 12, 2019
It’s the latest story showing how our interactions with AI assistants are not as private as we may like to believe. Earlier this year, a report from Bloomberg revealed similar details about Amazon’s Alexa, explaining how audio clips recorded by Echo devices are sent without users’ knowledge to human contractors, who transcribe what’s being said in order to improve the company’s AI systems.
Worse, these audio clips are often recorded entirely by accident. Usually, AI assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant only start recording audio when they hear their wake word (eg, “Okay Google”), but these reports show the devices often start recording by mistake...
China unveils high-tech stealth drone concept. Chinese fighter jet manufacturer Shenyang Aircraft Corporation offered a glimpse into the future of what a flying wing stealth drone might look like for use with aircraft carriers…
July 12, 2019
That thing is huge, and almost a direct copy of the X-47 the US Navy was testing 6 years ago. The X-47 was taking off and landing autonomously.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kw3m7bqrQ64The reason the US Navy didn't go forward with production is the usefulness of subsonic UCAV (unmanned combat aerial vehicle) wasn't working, the NAVAIR pilots didn't want to have anything to do with piloting them remote control, and they were costing as much as a fighter plane, the F/A-18 back then. The US Navy is re-evaluating the possibility of a swarm of autonomous aircraft with a piloted escort.
China has finished building the Mars rover it plans to use when it begins exploring the Red Planet in 2020. The main aim of the mission is to look for signs of life and learn more about Mars…
July 12, 2019
Ouyang added, saying useful information could include that about the planets' magnetosphere, ionosphere, atmosphere and underground water distribution to look at long-term possibilities of it becoming a second home to humans...