Right To Try

From the BBC:

"Trump signs Right to Try Act for terminally ill patients"

President Donald Trump has signed a bill giving terminally ill patients the right to try experimental treatments not approved by the government. Patients were able to apply to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for access to non-approved drugs before, and most were granted permission The new bill does not mandate that drug makers give access to unapproved drugs to patients asking for them. Advocacy groups including the American Cancer Society had opposed the bill. "America is a nation of fighters. We never give up, right?" Mr Trump said to patients and their families during a bill signing ceremony at the White House on Wednesday. After signing the bill, Mr Trump handed his pen to nine-year-old Jordan McLinn, who has been diagnosed with a form of terminal muscular dystrophy. Jordan, who the bill is named for, has been accepted into a clinical programme in Chicago where he has been receiving weekly infusions. He and his mother, Laura, had travelled from Indianapolis for the White House event. The new Right to Try act allows patients with life-threatening diseases to bypass the FDA's application process for "compassionate use" of experimental drugs. Patients seeking access to "investigational drugs" now need only the approval of their physician and the drug manufacturer. The new bill protects doctors and companies from the legal risks of allowing unapproved treatments unless they intentionally harm a patient. The policy that patients must have exhausted all other approved treatments and clinical trial options remains. In Mr Trump's State of the Union address in January, he called upon Congress to pass the bill, saying "patients with terminal conditions, and terminal illness, should have access to experimental treatment immediately" and "should not have to go from country to country to seek a cure".  FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb, a physician and a cancer survivor, had expressed concerns to Congress last year even as he said the agency was ready to implement the bill. "The clinical trial process is crucial to the development of innovative new medical products that can improve or save patients' lives," he said to Congress.  Dr Gottlieb said there had to be a balance between giving patients access to investigational therapies and testing that ensures new products are safe and effective. Under the FDA's prior rules governing "compassionate use", 99% of patient applications have been granted since 2009. Most requests are granted within a few days, and in emergency situations, often immediately via phone.  Notably, going through the FDA allows the agency to modify experimental treatments to individuals to improve patient safety. Advocacy groups who opposed the bill claimed it gives patients false hope since pharmaceutical companies are not required to give terminally ill patients the experimental treatments they might request. In a letter addressed to Speaker Paul Ryan and Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, 38 groups said removing the FDA from the equation would "likely do more harm than good". Forty states have passed Right to Try laws of their own.  In order to be approved by the FDA, drugs must go through several phases of clinical trials. The process often means years of testing. First, the drug manufacturer must prove the drug is safe for humans. These trials can have as few as 30 patients, and 70% of drugs move to the next trial. Then, the manufacturer must prove the drug is an effective treatment for the condition it is being marketed for. Importantly, the drug cannot have severe side effects. Only 33% of drugs proposed make it through this stage. During the next phase, which can take up to four years, the company must test the drug on 300 to 3,000 patients with the disease the drug is designed to treat.

^ The terminally ill deserve to try any and all means and the Right To Try Act makes it just a little easier for them to do just that. People who are already dying should be afforded every opportunity to make their life as easy as it can be. ^

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-44305998

Water Barrier

From the DW:

"Israel erecting sea barrier to prevent Gaza infiltrators"

The barrier, a few kilometers north of Gaza, is expected to be a fortified breakwater topped with barbed wire. The "one-of-a-kind" blockade is expected to be finished by the end of this year.  Israel has begun working on a barrier off the Mediterranean coast to prevent infiltrations by sea from the Gaza strip, the Israeli Defense Ministry said on Sunday. The "impenetrable" barrier is expected to be completed by the end of this year, more than four years after a group of Hamas militants managed to enter Israel by sea during the last Gaza war in 2014. "This is a unique obstacle that will effectively prevent the possibility of penetrating Israel by sea," Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said in a statement. "This is another blow to Hamas, which will lose yet another strategic ability in which it invested vast amounts of money," he said.  The barrier is being built off the Zikim beach, a few kilometers north of Gaza. It is expected to be a fortified breakwater topped with barbed wire. The ministry did not provide any further details on the project. The sea fortification comes as Israel continues to secure its borders with reinforcements including an underground barrier meant to prevent infiltrations through tunnels. Tensions have worsened between Israel and the Palestinians in the aftermath of the US Embassy move to Jerusalem and the deaths of over 100 Palestinians by Israeli fire during mass protests along the Gaza border.  Separately, a coalition of protesters said on Sunday they would attempt to break Israel's naval blockade next Tuesday by sailing a protest boat beyond the designated fishing area. "We decided to take the initiative to lift the siege and emphasize the rights of our people," the coalition said. Israel restricts boats from Gaza sailing beyond a designated fishing zone that spans 6 nautical miles (11 kilometers, 7 miles). Israeli border guards have previously shot at Gazans on fishing vessels to enforce the naval blockade.

^ The recent terrorist attacks on Israel from Gaza highlight the need to put a sea barrier up around the Gaza Strip. Only once the missiles stop being fired on Israel do the Palestinians have any hope of a better and peaceful life. ^

http://www.dw.com/en/israel-erecting-sea-barrier-to-prevent-gaza-infiltrators/a-43950834

Puppet Recognition

From the BBC:
"Syria recognises Russian-backed Georgia regions"

Syria has recognised two Russian-controlled regions of Georgia - Abkhazia and South Ossetia - as independent states, angering Georgia. The Georgian Foreign Ministry responded by saying it was breaking off diplomatic relations with Syria. Separatists in Abkhazia and South Ossetia broke away from Georgia in 2008 with massive help from Russian troops.  Besides Russia and Syria, only Venezuela, Nicaragua, Vanuatu and Nauru recognise them as independent. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has forged very close ties with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin since Russia sent a powerful force of aircraft and ships to bolster his war effort in September 2015. The Russian intervention swung the war dramatically in Mr Assad's favour, enabling his troops to recover much lost ground. Syria says it will set up embassies in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and the Russian-backed authorities there will also send diplomats to Syria. Soon after the Syrian announcement, Georgia said it had "started procedures to sever diplomatic relations" with Syria. "By doing so, the Assad regime supported Russia's military aggression against Georgia, unlawful occupation of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region (South Ossetia), and the ethnic cleansing that has been taking place for years," said Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister David Dondua.

^ This isn't that surprising since Abkhazia and South Ossetia are Russian puppet states the same way that Syria has become a Russian puppet state. Syria knows they have to do what their Russian overlords want otherwise the Russians would simply invade and occupy Syria and President Assad would no longer be in power. The Russians have done the exact thing in the past. ^

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-44291091

Full Danish Ban

From the DW:

"Denmark bans full-face veils in public"

Danish lawmakers have passed a ban on wearing items of clothing in public that conceal the face, which includes some forms of Islamic dress. The government says, however, that the law is not aimed at religions.  Denmark's parliament on Thursday approved a law forbidding the wearing of garments covering the face in public, joining a number of European countries that have already introduced such bans. The law is being seen by many as targeting the dress worn by some conservative Muslim women, such as the niqab or burqa, and is being introduced amid concerns about growing Islamophobia in Europe. 

What does the new law entail?

• The law, carried by a 75-30 vote, forbids the wearing of full-face veils such as the niqab, balaclavas, face-covering ski masks, face masks and fake beards.

• It does not include protective masks, winter clothing such as scarves or costumes, motorcycle helmets and masks often worn during Carnival or at Halloween.

• First-time offenses can incur a fine of 1,000 kroner (€134, $157), with repeat offenses carrying higher penalties up to 10,000 kroner or a jail sentence up to six months.

Justice Minister Soeren Pape Poulsen called on police officers to use "common sense" when applying the law, which will come into force on August 1. Human rights group Amnesty International has called the ban "a discriminatory violation of women's rights."  The law has popularly been called a "burqa ban," with critics seeing such legislation as an expression of a rising Islamophobia in many European countries amid a recent surge in largely Muslim refugees coming to the continent. Austria, Belgium and France now have similar laws, while Germany and several other nations ban full-face veils in some public contexts. A 2010 report estimated, however, that only some 200 women in Denmark used such veils.

^ I know that some people will cry and say it's discrimination, but most will do so only believing that it only targets Muslim face coverings when it does not. ^

http://www.dw.com/en/denmark-bans-full-face-veils-in-public/a-44021340

Sub Memorial

From Reuters:

"Florida undersea memorial to honor lost U.S. submariners"

Almost exactly 50 years ago, the USS Scorpion became the last U.S. submarine to be lost at sea when it disappeared while on patrol in the North Atlantic in 1968, with the nearly 100 officers and crew lost and presumed killed.  This weekend, those who went down with the Scorpion - and nearly 4,000 others lost in dozens of U.S. submarines that have sunk or gone missing since 1900 - will be honored.  A ceremony will be held on Sunday at a park in Sarasota, Florida to dedicate the first-ever undersea memorial for U.S. submarines lost at sea and the men who gave their lives while serving aboard them.  A gathering of small watercraft at the site nine miles (14 km) off the Gulf Coast that was planned for Monday, Memorial Day, was postponed due to an approaching storm.  The On Eternal Patrol Memorial Reef will eventually consist of 66 concrete “reef balls,” one for each of the 65 U.S. submarines lost in battle or during peacetime, plus one in honor of submariners lost in non-sinking accidents. The 1,300-pound concrete globes, resembling giant whiffleballs, will sit on the ocean floor at a depth of 45 feet (14 meters) to form an artificial reef that will attract a rich array of marine life.  “Submariners who die go on eternal patrol,” said Navy veteran J. Al Smith, 89, in explaining the name of the memorial.  Eternal Reefs Inc, a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the undersea environment, is due to complete the project by the end of the summer, said spokeswoman Becky Peterson. “I think it’s great,” Smith said about the memorial’s location. “That’s where we submariners lived - under the water.”  Smith was a 20-year-old second-class gunner’s mate when his submarine, the USS Cochino, was lost in North Atlantic waters off Norway’s coast in August 1949, the early days of the Cold War.   The sinking of the Cochino took the life of a civilian engineer onboard to train the military to use reconnaissance equipment, according to the book “Blind Man’s Bluff: The Untold Story of American Submarine Espionage,” by authors Sherry Sontag and Christopher Drew. All 76 military personnel aboard survived.  The Navy did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the incident.  Decades later, Smith has vivid memories of what he called a “nerve wracking” day.  “All of a sudden I heard the alarm and the captain ordered people out,” he said, recalling the scramble to the surface amid 10-foot waves, near gale-force winds and freezing temperatures. “About 50 of us only had skivvies on because we had to get out so fast. We were getting wet and freezing to death. Scary? Hah - you have to go through it to understand,” Smith said.  A nearby submarine, USS Tusk, came to the rescue, losing six of its crewmen in the effort. As soon as the last man on the stricken submarine - Commander Rafael Benitez - stepped on the Tusk’s deck, the Cochino submerged completely, never to be seen again.  “It’s like watching your baby die,” Smith said. 

^ It's important to recognize the sacrifice of all the men and women in the military who lost their lives. That includes all the different branches of the military and all the different sub-branches (see what I did there?) ^

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-memorial-day-submarines/florida-undersea-memorial-to-honor-lost-u-s-submariners-idUSKCN1IS0BE

Gaza Attacks

From the BBC:

"Gaza mortar barrage fired at Israel heaviest in years"

Palestinian militants in Gaza have fired dozens of mortars at Israel in the heaviest such barrage in years. More than 30 were launched. Most were intercepted though one landed in the yard of a kindergarten, slightly wounding a worker. Israel responded with air strikes on militant positions in Gaza. There were no immediate reports of casualties. The latest flare-up follows weeks of Israel-Gaza violence which has seen more than 100 Palestinians killed. They were shot dead by Israeli snipers amid protests which saw thousands of Palestinians mass on the Gaza-Israel border in support of their refugee population. Israel said its snipers had opened fire on attackers or people attempting to infiltrate under cover of protests, but UN and human right officials have accused Israel of using disproportionate force. Sirens warning of incoming fire rang out in Israeli communities around the Gaza Strip on and off on Monday. The Israeli military said the biggest volley of mortar shells was fired at several sites in Israel in the early hours, with most intercepted by the Iron Dome anti-missile defence system. Some mortars landed, included one in the grounds of a kindergarten in the Eshkol region, which borders Gaza, shortly before pupils were due to arrive. More shells were launched in subsequent attacks, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Israeli military "will respond very forcefully" to the attacks, which he blamed on Gaza's ruling Hamas movement and the smaller Gaza-based militant group Islamic Jihad. Following the barrage, Israeli aircraft struck bases belonging to Hamas and Islamic Jihad, local residents said. The official news agency of the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority, Wafa, said Israel had also fired at least 10 artillery shells at sites east of Gaza City after the first mortar attack, causing damage but no injuries. Hours earlier, machine-gun fire from Gaza hit houses and vehicles in the Israeli border town of Sderot, though without causing injuries, the IDF said.  The upsurge in violence came after Israeli tank fire killed four militants in Gaza in two separate incidents at the start of the week.  A member of Hamas was killed on Monday after Israeli soldiers caught a group attempting to breach the border and carry out an attack, while on Sunday three members of Islamic Jihad were killed after placing an explosive device on the border fence, the IDF said. The latest cross-border violence is some of the heaviest since a 50-day war between Israel and militants in Gaza in 2014. That followed an upsurge of rocket fire into Israel, and the killing by Israel of the commander of Hamas's military wing.

^ Even the Palestinians in the West Bank have cut ties with the Palestinians in Gaza because Gaza is governed by the internationally-recognized terrorist group - Hamas. Regardless of who is in charge you would think that the Palestinians (and everyone else) would learn after 70 years that you can not bomb Israel into submission. Israel has the Iron Dome and several other missile defense systems that shoot down missiles which proved itself in 2012 when it was first used and has proven itself ever since. ^

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-44287594

Arizonia Memorial Closed

From MSN:
"USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor closed indefinitely"

Damage to the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu was worse than expected and it will remain closed indefinitely, officials said. Boat transportation to the attraction was suspended May 6 after one of the vessel operators noticed a crack on the outside of the memorial, Hawaii News Now reported . Tourists were allowed to disembark at the memorial after crews completed interim repairs. But the cracks reappeared hours later, indicating a more serious issue. "There is a brow or an edge where the visitor ramp meets the memorial, and at that point, there's been some fissures located on the exterior," said Jay Blount, a spokesman for the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument. "After further investigation on the interior, it was determined that the structure is not supporting the loading ramp the way that we need." Engineers are working to figure out possible long-term solutions. "The amount of time needed to implement the repairs is unknown, but the (National Park Service) will continue to provide information to the public as our team of specialists works together to restore access as soon as possible," memorial staff said Friday in a news release. Other areas of the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center remain open. 

^  This is sad because it is an important memorial to our military and our modern history. I hope it can be fixed and reopened soon. ^

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/uss-arizona-memorial-at-pearl-harbor-closed-indefinitely/ar-AAxQg7p?li=BBnbfcL

Memorial Day!

Hurricane Start

From USA Today:

"Hurricane season starts soon, and 'you need to start preparing now'"

Buckle up for another wild ride. The federal government predicts a near- or above-average 2018 hurricane season for the Atlantic Basin, where five to nine hurricanes are expected to form. Overall, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasts 10 to 16 named tropical storms will develop in the region, which includes the Atlantic, the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, the agency announced Thursday. The season officially begins June 1 and runs through Nov. 30. Of the hurricanes, one to four could be major, with wind speeds of 111 mph or higher and rated Category 3, 4 or 5 on the Saffir-Simpson Scale of Hurricane Intensity. An average season typically spawns six hurricanes and peaks in August and September. A tropical storm contains wind speeds of 39 mph or higher and becomes a hurricane when winds reach 74 mph. Even before the official season kicks into gear, forecasters are watching a system predicted to spin up in the Gulf of Mexico over the Memorial Day weekend. “There are no climate signals that suggest this season will be extremely active like last season or extremely weak,” said Gerry Bell, lead seasonal hurricane forecaster at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center.  As it does each year, NOAA reminds that it takes only one hurricane to cause a catastrophic season: "Millions of people need to know that hurricane season is coming, and that you need to start preparing now," Bell said.  The possibility of a weak El Niño developing — along with near-average ocean temperatures in the tropical Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea — are two of the factors driving this year's outlook. El Niño, a natural warming of the central Pacific Ocean, often acts to tamp down Atlantic hurricanes. "If an El Niño develops, it could shut down the latter part of the season," Bell said. According to NOAA, these factors are set against a backdrop of long-term climate conditions that have produced stronger Atlantic hurricane seasons since 1995. This year, meteorologist Phil Klotzbach and other experts from Colorado State University — the nation's top seasonal hurricane forecasters — said 14 named tropical storms will form, of which seven will become hurricanes.  The first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season will be Alberto, followed by Beryl, Chris, Debby and Ernesto, the National Hurricane Center said. Last year, NOAA predicted 11 to 17 named tropical storms would spin up, of which five to nine would be hurricanes. In all, 17 named storms formed, of which 10 were hurricanes.

^ The first storm is already going to hit the US before June 1st. Hopefully, we won't get too many storms and the ones we do get won't be devastating. ^

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2018/05/24/hurricane-season-forecast-noaa/640674002/

MD: Day 3

Honoring Military Dogs

From Market Watch:

"Four U.S. Military Dogs Receive Nation's Top Honors for Valor at the 2018 American Humane Lois Pope K-9 Medal of Courage Awards "

 Four heroic military dogs were recognized with the nation's highest honor for canine service to our country in a special ceremony on Capitol Hill Tuesday with top military leaders and members of Congress.  The courageous canines were the 2018 recipients of the American Humane Lois Pope K-9 Medal of Courage, presented annually to a select few outstanding military dogs for their extraordinary valor and service. Created under the aegis of American Humane, the country's first national humane organization, which has worked with the U.S. military for 100 years, and internationally renowned philanthropist and veterans advocate Lois Pope, the awards were conferred upon the courageous canines with the help of U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Thomas Kearney (Ret.) and U.S. Marine Corps Colonel Zachary White.  Some 200 members of Congress, their staff, and the media attended the packed event.  "These remarkable dogs have given us their best.  They have put their own lives on the line to protect us, to defend us, and to save us," said Mrs. Pope, who conceived and spearheaded the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial, which was dedicated in Washington D.C. in October 2014 as the nation's first and only permanent public tribute to the four million living disabled American veterans and all those who have died.  "Working side-by-side with the men and women of our Armed Forces while putting their own lives on the line for our country, these dogs have taken loyalty to a whole new level through their service and, by doing so, have saved countless thousands of lives.  Today is the perfect time to properly recognize their valiant sacrifices and contributions to our nation at the highest levels." "Soldiers have been relying on these four-footed comrades-in-arms since the beginning of organized warfare and today military dogs are more important than ever in keeping our service men and women safe," said American Humane President and CEO Dr. Robin Ganzert. "At American Humane, which has been working with the U.S. military and military animals for 100 years, we feel it is time to recognize and honor the extraordinary feats and acts of devotion these heroic animals perform every day."

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Meet this year's medal winners

Jag: Specialized Search Dog Jag met Army Sergeant Dennis Dow more than a decade ago, when they were paired together on the first day of training. With Sergeant Dow at his side, Jag learned to detect deadly explosive devices and identify other threats to his platoon. The pair deployed to Afghanistan and Germany, where Jag worked to locate lethal bombs and other security threats. On their very first mission together, Jag sniffed out a hidden weapons cache of deadly artillery rounds, alerting Dow of the immediate danger. His tireless bravery and keen sense of detection was put to the test during thousands of searches and hundreds of missions… but Jag tirelessly defended his fellow comrades. Jag, now twelve, retired after seven years of courageous military service—that's almost five decades in dog years. Sergeant Dow, who is now retired, adopted his best friend and today the pair volunteer at their local fire department, helping provide comfort to the community after fires and other tragic incidents. 

Taba: Taba is a nine-year-old Dutch Shepherd who served with the U.S. Army's Special Forces Group 10 as a Multi-Purpose Canine specializing in explosives detection, patrol, and tracking during her two years of service. Taba was adept at locating deadly IEDs and bravely participated in many dangerous raids during her deployment to Afghanistan, saving an unknown number of lives.  After Taba returned from service, she was adopted by a former K-9 police dog handler and his family. As the family helped Taba adjust to retirement, a previous injury in her rear leg began to flare up, eventually requiring amputation. Taba is healing from the recent surgery and this warrior is now living out the rest of her days free of pain, just as she deserves. 

Taker: Taker is a 12-year-old Labrador Retriever who served with United States Marine Corps Sergeant Kevin Zuniga in Iraq and in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom where he worked as an Explosives-Detection Dog. During that time, he saved uncounted lives while risking his own under harsh environmental and psychological conditions. Taker is retired from military service, but he continues to serve in another capacity. He now acts as a life-changing service dog, helping his longtime Battle Buddy cope with Post-Traumatic Stress, which affects so many of our brave warriors. In so many ways, a war dog truly is a warrior's best friend.

Summer: Explosives Specialized Search Dog Summer is a seven-year-old Labrador Retriever who courageously served with the U.S. Marines Corps, conducting routine patrols, finding numerous weapon caches and IEDs, clearing routes and coming under fire several times during her years of service. Summer never stopped serving her country. Summer retired from the military but continues her selfless dedication to protecting our country. Today, she works as a member of a TSA K-9 team for the Amtrak Police Department in Washington, D.C., with her partner, retired U.S. Air Force Sergeant Micah Jones. The inseparable pair has provided coverage and security for VIPs and foreign dignitaries and works each day to play a vital role in the war against terrorism.

About American Humane: American Humane is the country's first national humane organization, founded in 1877. They began working with the American military in 1916 when the U.S. Secretary of War requested they help rescue some 68,000 wounded war horses each month on the battlefields of World War I Europe. Following World War II, American Humane helped pioneer the use of animal-assisted therapy to aid returning veterans. Today, through its Lois Pope LIFE Center for Military Affairs, the organization works to help active-duty members of the military and military animals.  

^ This seemed fitting on Memorial Day weekend. ^

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/four-us-military-dogs-receive-nations-top-honors-for-valor-at-the-2018-american-humane-lois-pope-k-9-medal-of-courage-awards-2018-05-24