Tag: breaking world news

Who was Jordan Edwards? Teen killed by police called a good student, athlete
“He might be the last person you’d expect to die in a police shooting.

Straight-A student. Talented athlete. Product of a two-parent home.
Yet 15-year-old Jordan Edwards is dead — the latest unarmed black male to be killed during an encounter with the police…” (CNN)

What’s inside the Republican health care bill?
“House GOP lawmakers have made some more changes to their bill aimed at repealing Obamacare … or major portions of it.
Leaders from the conservative and moderate wings of the Republican Party hashed out a deal over the April recess to try to get more votes for the legislation, which was shelved in late March after failing to get enough votes to pass. No vote has been scheduled yet on the revised bill…” (CNN)

N. Korea nuclear test site shows continued activity
“Recent satellite imagery showed continued activity at North Korea’s nuclear test site, such as water pumping from a test tunnel and personnel playing volleyball games, a website monitoring the North said…” (The Korea Times)

Parents allowing ‘hagwon’ to beat their kids for better grades
“Some parents are still condoning “hagwon,” or private academies, beating their children to achieve better grades, according to Korea’s private education industry…”
(The Korea Times)

Native Tribe in Brazil Attacked with Guns and Machetes
“SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL – Authorities in Brazil are still trying to piece together what exactly happened in the rural area of Viana, in the Northeastern state of Maranhão on Sunday, as members of the Gamera indigenous tribe clashed with men armed with machetes and firearms, according to CIMI (Indigenous Missionary Council)…” (The Rio Times)

Brazil Ex-Minister Dirceu Released from Prison by Supreme Court“SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL – The Supreme Court in Brazil voted three to two yesterday (May 2nd) to release former Minister José Dirceu from jail. Dirceu was arrested in August of 2015 by federal court judge Sérgio Moro in connection with Operação Lava Jato (Operation Car Wash)…” (The Rio Times)

Jordan welcomes UNESCO vote in favour of Palestine
“AMMAN — Jordan on Wednesday said UNESCO’s vote in favour of a Jerusalem item in the draft resolution “Occupied Palestine” reasserting previous decisions, shows growing world commitment to this very important issue…” (The Jordan Times)

King meets with EU representative over region, relations
“AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday discussed partnership between Jordan, France and the EU with Rapporteur of the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Josette Durrieu, according to a Royal Court statement…” (The Jordan Times)

Theresa May declares war on Brussels, urging: ‘Let me fight for Britain’
“Theresa May has launched an extraordinary attack on Brussels, accusing European Union politicians and officials of seeking to disrupt the general election and willing Brexit to fail in a combative address delivered from Downing Street…” (The Guardian)

Hospital waiting lists ‘will rise above 5 million’ as targets slide
“The number of people in England forced to wait more than 18 weeks for a non-urgent operation could more than double as a result of the NHS’s decision to relax the obligation on hospitals to treat 92% of them in that time, a leaked document has revealed…”
(The Guardian)

 

Photo: By Дмитрий Ванькевич, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link

Pope lifts spirits of Egypt’s persecuted Christians
“…Despite fears of another jihadist attack, thousands of Catholics waited for hours on Saturday to enter a heavily guarded stadium in the Egyptian capital to pray with Pope Francis…” (Middle East Online)

Turkish authorities block access to Wikipedia
“ANKARA – Turkey on Saturday blocked all access inside the country to the online encyclopedia Wikipedia, an internet monitoring group said, but it was not clear why the ban had been imposed…” (Middle East Online)

Nurses will see their pay ‘cut by 12% over a decade’
“NHS workers will have had their pay cut by 12% by the end of the decade because of a government-imposed wage restraint that is now exacerbating chronic understaffing, new research reveals…” (The Guardian)

Plans for British spaceports ‘in danger of being grounded by poor legislation’
“Ambitious plans to launch satellites from spaceports in Britain are in danger of being grounded by poor legislation that leaves operators open to crippling insurance costs, MPs have warned…” (The Guardian)

South Africa: Zuma and Guptas Top Alleged Assassination Plot List
“A highly-placed source has confirmed to News24 that President Jacob Zuma and members of the Gupta family are among a list of senior government officials that were the targets of an alleged assassination plot by Elvis Ramosebudi…” (AllAfrica / News24WIRE)

Kenya: Ex-Street Boy Wins Jubilee Ticket for Bulla Pesa Ward
“Residents of Bulla Pesa ward in Isiolo town have nominated a former street urchin to contest for the seat in the concluded Jubilee primaries.

Despite all odds, Abdi Kasanya, 26 emerged winner after battling out with his three opponents…” (AllAfrica)

Protest over climate change, and Trump’s rejection of issue, stokes rallies
“Tens of thousands of demonstrators converged around the White House and in other cities Saturday to protest what they said was the Trump administration’s rejection of scientific claims on climate change and other environmental issues…”
(The Los Angeles Times)

‘It looks bad. It’s dangerous.’ Vacant lots dotting South L.A. a painful reminder of L.A. riots
“…But when riots engulfed South Los Angeles, spurred by the acquittal of four white police officers in the beating of black motorist Rodney King, the Western Avenue site went up in flames. Burned beyond repair, the building was torn down. And nothing has arisen since…” (The Los Angeles Times)

Cassini Just Sent Back Images From Its First-Ever Dive Through Saturn’s Rings, and They’re Incredible
“Scientists just got their first glimpse into the space between Saturn and its rings. And it’s pretty stunning.

On Wednesday, the NASA space probe Cassini performed the first of 22 planned dives through the rings around the planet…” (Science Alert)

US Yellow Fever Vaccine Supply Will Be Gone by This Summer, but the CDC Has a Plan”
US health officials on Friday warned of a new complication in the fight to contain mosquito-borne viruses spreading around the world: The country’s supply of yellow fever vaccine is dwindling and will likely be completely gone by this summer – with no way to make more because of a manufacturing problem…” (Science Alert)

 

Photo: By Korea.net / Korean Culture and Information Service (Photographer name), CC BY-SA 2.0, Link

Wildlife movie coproduction shows Americans another side of China
“Born in China, a Chinese-American wildlife documentary coproduction, has been offering US moviegoers a feast for the eyes and food for thought since opening in US theaters a day before Earth Day, April 22…” (China Daily)

China’s nuclear power technology goes global
“A recent cooperation deal between China and Kenya has become an important step for China’s nuclear power technology to go global…” (China Daily)

Trump scrambles to show progress as the 100-day mark approaches
“The final frenzy at the White House began Monday, with a private reception for conservative news publications, a tariff on softwood lumber imports from Canada and the late-night debut of a website highlighting President Trump’s “First 100 Days” achievements…” (The Washington Post)

House Freedom Caucus leaders back new health-care plan
“White House officials and several Republican lawmakers claimed Tuesday they were nearing a deal on health-care legislation with the House Freedom Caucus, with at least three leading figures in the hard-line group ready to support an overhaul after the dramatic collapse of talks last month…” (The Washington Post)

King meets Australian defence minister over military cooperation
“AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah and Australian Minister for Defence Marise Payne on Tuesday discussed means to enhance bilateral relations between Jordan and Australia, especially at the military and defence levels…” (The Jordan Times)

ANZAC Day commemorated at Amman Citadel
“AMMAN — The Australian Embassy on Tuesday hosted a dawn service at the Amman Citadel to commemorate the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand Army Corps during World War I, known as ANZAC Day…” (The Jordan Times)

ECB confirms review of child safety procedures
“The England and Wales Cricket Board has confirmed that it undertook a review of its child safeguarding procedures in the wake of the revelation that a child sex offender had worked at a children’s cricket association with the ECB’s written permission…”
(The Guardian)

MPs condemn free schools policy as incoherent and wasteful
“The government’s funding of its free schools programme has been denounced as “incoherent and too often poor value for money” in a hard-hitting report by a cross-party committee of senior MPs…” (The Guardian)

Climate change as genocide – Inaction equals annihilation
“Not since World War II have more human beings been at risk from disease and starvation than at this very moment. On March 10th, Stephen O’Brien, under secretary-general of the United Nations for humanitarian affairs, informed the Security Council that 20 million people in three African countries — Nigeria, Somalia, and South Sudan — as well as in Yemen were likely to die if not provided with emergency food and medical aid…”
(Le Monde diplomatique)

RT, Russia’s voice to the world
“The international television news channel RT was an attempt to promote Russian influence in the world. How far has it succeeded?” (Le Monde diplomatique)

 

U.S. hits ISIS targets in Afghanistan with largest non-nuclear bomb ever used in combat
“The commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan said the bomb was “the right munition” to use against the Islamic State because of the group’s use of roadside bombs, bunkers and tunnels…” (The Washington Post)

U.S.-led coalition accidentally bombs Syrian allies, killing 18
“Aircraft from a U.S.-led coalition accidentally bombed friendly Syrian forces fighting the Islamic State in northern Syria on Tuesday, killing 18, the Pentagon said Thursday. The bombing marks the worst confirmed friendly-fire incident in the nearly three-year-old war against the terrorist group…” (The Washington Post)

Turkey set for historic poll over presidential powers
“The proposed constitutional amendments seek to transform Turkey’s political system into an executive presidential one…” (Al Jazeera)

Turmus Aya’s Palestinians threatened by settlement plan
“Around 4000 Palestinians live in fear over recent encroachment from Israeli settlements…” (Al Jazeera)

Xi and Trump discuss Korean Peninsula, Syria over phone
“BEIJING, April 12 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday held a telephone conversation with his U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump, and discussed the situation on the Korean Peninsula and in Syria…” (XinhuaNet)

China, Japan, ROK hold 12th round of free trade talks
“TOKYO, April 13 (Xinhua) — Top negotiators from China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) met here Thursday on pushing forward trade in goods and services as well as investment at the 12th round of talks on a trilateral free trade agreement (FTA)…” (XinhuaNet)

Small Saturn moon has most conditions needed to sustain life, Nasa says
“A tiny moon of Saturn has most of the conditions necessary for life, Nasa announced on Thursday, unveiling a discovery from an underground ocean that makes the world a leading candidate for organisms as humans know them…” (The Guardian)

Westminster attack: Masood did act alone, police conclude
“Investigators now believe that the man responsible for the Westminster attack in March acted wholly alone in the planning and preparation for the first mass casualty terrorist atrocity to hit Britain in more than 10 years…” (The Guardian)

Hollande warns against ‘peril’ of leftist presidential candidate Mélenchon
“Hollande broke weeks of silence over France’s fast-approaching election during an interview published on Wednesday, telling conservative French magazine Le Point that Mélenchon was dangerous for the country, and pledging to reveal which candidate he would vote for before the second round ballot on May 7…” (France24.com)

Coppola, Haneke among filmmakers vying for top Cannes prize
“A Civil War film by Sofia Coppola, a Ukrainian road movie and a drama about AIDS activism are among 18 films competing for prizes at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, which organizers hope can help counter nationalist sentiment…” (France24.com)

These Are the First Images of the Web of Ghostly Dark Matter That Holds Galaxies Together
“Picture the Universe, and you might imagine a dark emptiness speckled with maybe trillions of galaxies, each containing many billions of stars.

The truth is a little weirder, with apparently separate galaxies connected into vast intergalactic webs by invisible filaments of dark matter. If you find it hard to imagine, at least now we can actually see some of those threads thanks to some clever use of gravitational lensing…” (Science Alert)

Scientists Have Created a Device That Sucks Water Out of Thin Air, Even in the Desert
“When it comes to future challenges, one of the biggest will be water scarcity – on a warming planet we’re going to have plenty of seawater, but not enough fresh, clean water in the right places for everybody to drink.

And while a lot of research has focussed on desalination, a team of scientists have now come up with another possible solution – a device that pulls fresh water out of thin air, even in places with humidity as low as 20 percent. All it needs is sunlight…”
(Science Alert)

 

Photo: By US. Army (Flickr) [CC BY 2.0 or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Don Rickles, legendary insult comic, dead at 90
“Don Rickles, a comedian and actor known for his abrasive humor, died Thursday from kidney failure at his Los Angeles home, according to his publicist, Paul Shefrin…” (CNN)

Trump launches military strike against Syria
“The United States launched a military strike Thursday on a Syrian government target in response to their chemical weapons attack that killed dozens of civilians earlier in the week…” (CNN)

Syrian National Coalition hails US strike on Homs base
“A Syrian opposition group has welcomed a US strike on a government-controlled air base, hailing Washington’s direct military involvement as a major milestone in Syria’s long-running civil war…” (Al Jazeera)

Syria denies using chemical weapons in Idlib
“The Syrian government says its military “did not and will not” use chemical weapons, denying accusations it was behind an attack on a rebel-held town in Idlib province that sparked widespread international outrage…” (Al Jazeera)

Silent on Gas Attack, Assad Blames Israel, Blasts Trump
“Syrian President Bashar Assad told a Croatian newspaper in an interview published on Thursday that his government has no choice other than to defeat what he described as terror…” (Haaretz)

Putin to Netanyahu: Unacceptable to Make ‘Groundless Accusations’ on Syria Chemical Attack
“Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that it was unacceptable to make “groundless” accusations over this week’s suspected chemical weapons attack in a Syrian province…” (Haaretz)

Record number of GP closures force 265,000 to find new doctors
“A record number of GP practices closed last year, forcing thousands of patients to find a new surgery, in spite of government attempts to stop local doctors shutting their doors…” (The Guardian)

Gay clergyman passed over seven times for promotion to bishop
“Jeffrey John, a gay senior Anglican churchman, has been passed over for promotion to a bishopric for a seventh time since the Church of England rescinded his appointment as bishop of Reading in 2003 amid homophobic protests…” (The Guardian)

Germany investigating 20 alleged Turkish spies
“The German Interior Ministry is looking into people allegedly spying on Fethullah Gulen supporters. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has blamed last year’s attempted coup on Gulen followers…” (DW.com)

A kiss for your tie? Why Carnival kicks off with gender power games
“Women take charge of men on the Thursday before Carnival, cut off their ties and give them a kiss. It’s a tradition that hails from an era when women’s rights were non-existent…” (DW.com)

 

 

Photo: By Joseph Scandore-management (eBay itemphoto frontphoto back) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Trump University $25 million settlement approved
“Thousands of former Trump University students will get most of their money back, with a judge on Friday approving a $25 million settlement…” (CNN)

Trump backers on CNN: We aren’t worried about Russia
“…That’s what first met CNN’s Alisyn Camerota when she asked a group of loyal President Donald Trump supporters if they were bothered by allegations of connections between his associates and Russia…” (CNN)

Iran and Turkey at odds over refugee crisis
“Exactly 38 years ago — on April 1, 1979 — Iran officially became an Islamic republic. The change of the system in the country — which marked the creation of the world’s first Islamic Republic — upset all the balances in the Middle East…” (Arab News)

Balance of power in Syria is changing once again
“Two coordinated surprise offensives by Syrian rebels last week have rattled the Damascus regime and threatened to derail the start of the fifth round of political talks in Geneva…” (Arab News)

South Sudanese rebel group frees three foreign oil workers
“South Sudanese rebels said on Thursday they had freed three oil workers from Pakistan and India that their fighters had seized earlier this month…” (Africa News)

Kenya arrests most wanted Islamic State militant who trafficked recruits
“Kenya has arrested a suspected Islamic State militant on the country’s “most wanted” list who allegedly helped send recruits to Libya and Somalia, police said on Thursday.

Police seized Ali Hussein Ali, who is nicknamed “Trusted One”, and two accomplices in the coastal town of Malindi on Monday…” (Africa News)

Mysterious disease blamed on Kogi deaths in Colombia’s Sierra Nevada
“A mysterious disease affecting the indigenous Kogi people, who inhabit the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, has resulted in eleven fatalities raising serious concerns among health authorities in the departments of Magdalena and César…” (The City Paper Bogotá)

Colombia’s IDEAM issues “red alert” for floods after unseasonable heavy rains
“Colombia’s meteorological agency IDEAM has issued its highest alert for flooding after heavy rainfall and persistent storms are affecting large areas of the country…”
(The City Paper Bogotá)

‘Trump declares war on the Vespa’: Alarm in Italy over US trade plans
“Italy on Friday voiced alarm over Donald Trump’s plans to target imports responsible for the US trade deficit, amid fears products like Vespa scooters could be hit by punitive duties…” (The Local)

Rare happy ending in Mediterranean migrant drama
“Most members of a group of 146 migrants reported missing, feared dead, this week in the Mediterranean were rescued and safely brought to Italy, it emerged on Thursday…”
(The Local)

NASA’s Juno Probe Just Sent Back Breathtaking New Images of Jupiter
“A probe the size of a basketball court has taken unprecedented new images of Jupiter. NASA’s US$1 billion Juno spacecraft, launched in August 2011, took five years to reach and settle into orbit around the gas giant, which is more than 415 million miles (670 kilometres) from Earth…” (Science Alert)

Scientists Have Discovered a Brand New Tyrannosaur With a Super-Sensitive Face
“Scientists have discovered a new tyrannosaur species that lived 75 million years ago on the plains of what is now Montana, and it’s given us a brand new perspective on what the faces of tyrannosaurs looked like, including the iconic Tyrannosaurus rex…”
(Science Alert)

 

Photo: By Wikipietime (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Senate hearing: Russian meddling did not stop at the election
“The Senate intelligence committee opened its first public hearing on Russian meddling in the US election Thursday with calls for nonpartisanship, citing ongoing foreign interference that threatens “the heart of our democracy…” (CNN)

Federal judge in Hawaii extends ruling halting travel ban indefinitely
“A federal judge in Hawaii granted the state’s request for a longer-term halt of the revised travel ban executive order Wednesday…” (CNN)

Coyne: Micro-terrorism emerges as new threat in wake of Ottawa, Quebec attacks
“Since Sept. 11, 2001, authorities across the West have been bracing themselves for the second act, the big kill, the spectacular slaughter of hundreds or even thousands at a time. And though many attempts have been made, they have by and large been successfully intercepted. The worst terrorist attack on western soil since then was the London Transport bombings of 2005, which killed 56…” (Canada.com)

Ryerson University president apologizes for student film that portrays Niagara Falls as a slum
“NIAGARA FALLS, Ont. — The president of Ryerson University in Toronto has apologized to Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati for a student film depicting the city in a harsh light.

The four-minute documentary As Niagara Falls is listed as a “Ryerson University Production” on the Facebook page of its student filmmakers, known collectively as Mayday Pictures…” (Canada.com)

Rio de Janeiro Registers Spike in Violence in February 2017
“RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Data released by Rio de Janeiro’s Instituto de Segurança Publica – ISP (Public Security Institute) shows that February of 2017 was one of the most violent months in the state’s history, with violent death rates increasing by 28.1 percent and vehicle thefts by 40.3 percent in relation to February of 2016..” (The Rio Times)

Death Toll has Reached 162 from Yellow Fever in Brazil
“SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL – Health officials in Brazil continue to monitor closely the current outbreak of yellow fever in several states in the country. The latest data from the Ministry of Health shows over 2,000 suspected cases and at least 162 reported deaths. The outbreak is already considered the largest in Brazil since 1980, when the Ministry began gathering data…” (The Rio Times)

First Tehran marathon: ‘Let’s build bridges, not walls’
“Over a thousand runners from more than 50 countries including the US, UK expected to join 42km April 7 race in Iran…” (Al Jazeera)

Egypt ‘one of the biggest prisons for journalists’
“One hundred days after the arrest of Mahmoud Hussein, Egyptian authorities continue to crackdown on the media…” (Al Jazeera)

Arab Summit: ‘Arabs lost confidence in their leaders’
“Arab leaders are convening near the Jordanian Dead Sea for the 28th annual summit of the Arab League, as the region faces distressing turmoil and political challenges…”
(Al Jazeera)

BBC urged to stand firm against accusations of Brexit bias
“More than 80 senior politicians have written to the BBC urging it to stand firm against allegations of bias over its Brexit coverage…” (The Guardian)

Poorest UK families struggle to put food on the table, survey finds
“One in four low-income households struggles to eat regularly or healthily because of a lack of money, according to the first substantial survey into the scale of food insecurity in the UK…” (The Guardian)

The World’s Largest Solar Geoengineering Study Is About to Be Launching in the US
“Scientists are ready to send aerosol injections 20 kilometres (12.4 miles) up into the stratosphere to assess the technique’s feasibility as a technical fix for global warming…” (Science Alert)

This Palaeontologist Says We Might Have Been Wrong About Dinosaur Sexes
“When it comes to identifying which dinosaur remains come from a male or a female, palaeontologists often rely on the size and shape of the bones.

But one palaeontologist thinks researchers might have been a little hasty in their assessments, claiming that a lack of evidence supporting sex differences in many previously studied dinosaurs could mean we have it all wrong…” (Science Alert)

 

 

Photo: By en.wiki: Aivazovskycommons: Aivazovskybased on this map (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

The House just voted to wipe away the FCC’s landmark Internet privacy protections
“Congress sent proposed legislation to President Trump on Tuesday that wipes away landmark online privacy protections, the first salvo in what is likely to become a significant reworking of the rules governing Internet access in an era of Republican dominance…” (The Washington Post)

House panel’s Russia probe effectively put on hold
“The House Intelligence Committee’s probe of alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 elections, including potential ties between the Trump team and the Kremlin, is effectively on hold, after its chairman said the panel would not interview more witnesses until two intelligence chiefs return to Capitol Hill for a still-unscheduled private briefing…”
(The Washington Post)

AKIM REPORT SHOWS ISRAELIS ACCEPTING BUT NOT INCLUSIVE OF INTELLECTUALLY DISABLED
“While there is an improvement in how Israeli society perceives people with cognitive disabilities, there is still a prominent belief that this group should live their lives within frameworks separate from the rest of the population, according to AKIM, the National Organization for Habilitation of Children and Adults with Intellectual Disabilities…”
(The Jerusalem Post)

GLICK FILES SUPREME COURT PETITION TO ALLOW MK VISITS TO TEMPLE MOUNT
“Mk Yehudah Glick (Likud) submitted a petition to the High Court of Justice on Tuesday asking it to permit Knesset members to visit the Temple Mount…” (The Jerusalem Post)

Updated-The Syrian Arab Republic delegation meets Gatilov and Iran’s UN Representative
“Geneva , SANA_ The Syrian Arab Republic delegation headed by Dr. Bashar al-Jaafari met Tuesday with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov and Director of the Middle East and North Africa Department at the Russian Foreign Ministry Sergey Vershinin and the accompanying delegation…” (Syrian Arab News Agency)

Army establishes control over mountains in Palmyra, kills scores of terrorists in Deir Ezzor and Hama
“Provinces, SANA – Army and Armed Forces units established control over a number of mountains in Palmyra area in the eastern countryside of Homs province after eliminating the last ISIS gatherings in the area, according to a military source…”
(Syrian Arab News Agency)

Ex-governor declared fugitive from justice
“The ex-governor Chihuahua is now considered a fugitive from justice, his successor said this afternoon.

César Duarte has fled to El Paso, Texas, to avoid possible corruption charges, said Governor Javier Corral, telling a press conference that procedures have begun to have Duarte arrested and extradited to Mexico…” (Mexico News Daily)

Costume on Amazon ‘racist, anti-Latino’
“A costume bearing the inscription “Mexico will pay!” has been described as racist by the man who helped develop the “Make Mexico America Again!” baseball hats.

And Jerónimo Saldaña wants Amazon to stop selling it…” (Mexico News Daily)

 

Photo: By Martin Falbisoner (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Hosni Mubarak walks free after six-year detention
“Six years after his ouster, Egypt’s ex-President Hosni Mubarak has been released from detention after being cleared of inciting the killings of hundreds of protesters in 2011…” (Al Jazeera)

Jordanians in Karak find unity in wake of tragedy
“New initiatives aim to strengthen the town’s sense of community, after a December ISIL attack that killed 10 people…” (Al Jazeera)

Israel shuts down Arab primary school in East Jerusalem
“Israeli occupation authorities shut down the private school a month ago, alleging an affiliation with Hamas…” (Al Jazeera)

PALESTINIANS, JORDANIANS AND ISRAELIS TEAM UP TO COMBAT EARTHQUAKE RISK
“The area along the Israel-Jordan border is highly susceptible to earthquakes. Israelis, Jordanians and Palestinians joined forces to provide the best possible response in case such a disaster strikes…” (Jerusalem Post)

PARTING SHOT: LOSING THE RATIONAL ISRAELI
“…Along with a contingent of Jerusalem Post editors and reporters, I was in the Palestinian city to meet with PA strongman Jibril Rajoub, who has been part of the Israeli-Palestinian landscape since the beginning of the Oslo Accords over two decades ago….”
(Jerusalem Post)

Trump’s art of no deal: Find someone to blame
“…Speaking soon after accepting defeat, Trump didn’t shoulder the responsibility himself, nor did he pin the blame on House GOP leadership or any of the warring Republican factions’ whose competing demands ultimately sunk any chance of a consensus bill.
Instead, he blamed Democrats and vowed to let Obamacare “explode.”…” (CNN)

Missing black girls in DC spark outrage, prompt calls for federal help
“Two months ago, the Washington Metropolitan Police Department’s new commander, Chanel Dickerson, made a pledge: Let’s find our missing girls.

Now, as the department posts profiles of missing black and Latina girls in the nation’s capital on its Twitter feed almost daily, members of the Congressional Black Caucus are calling for a federal investigation…” (CNN)

Westminster attack: police scramble to piece together past of London killer
“Counter-terrorism investigators have been investigating Khalid Masood’s life and associations across Britain as they raced to discover what led him to kill four people and injure more than 50 in Wednesday’s murderous attack in Westminster…” (The Guardian)

Woman photographed in hijab on Westminster Bridge responds to online abuse
“A woman whose image became an Islamophobic meme after the Westminster terror attack has told of her horror and distress at the incident and the abuse she suffered afterwards…” (The Guardian)

Vancouver is the 39th most expensive city in the world, according to The Economist
“ancouver, the city of unaffordable homes and disappearing millennials, ranks as the 39th most expensive major city in the world, according to The Economist’s Worldwide Cost of Living Report 2017…” (Canada.com)

Canadian-developed Ebola vaccine licensed to Merck
“The small U.S. company that holds the rights to a Canadian-developed Ebola vaccine has agreed to licence it to vaccine giant Merck, which should speed the development of the product that scientists hope will eventually end the outbreak in West Africa…” (Canada.com)

It’s Happening: Scientists Can Now Reverse DNA Ageing in Mice
“Researchers have identified a cellular mechanism that allows them to reverse ageing in mouse DNA and protect it from future damage.

They’ve shown that by giving a particular compound to older mice, they can activate the DNA repair process and not only protect against future damage, but repair the existing effects of ageing. And they’re ready to start testing in humans within six months…” (Science Alert)

Two-Thirds of Cancer Mutations Are Random and Unavoidable, Scientists Claim
“Almost two-thirds of cancer mutations are caused by random DNA-copying errors during cell division and are impossible for us to avoid, regardless of lifestyle and the genes we inherit from our parents, according to new research…” (Science Alert)

 

 

Photo: This image is a work of an employee of the Executive Office of the President of the United States, taken or made as part of that person’s official duties. As a work of the U.S. federal government, the image is in the public domain.