| Scarborough leaves GOP: ‘You apologize for your party for so long…’ Posted: 12 Jul 2017 06:54 AM PDT  "Morning Joe" host Joe Scarborough, a former Republican congressman, announced Tuesday that he plans to leave the GOP to become an independent.
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| ‘We were both drunk’: How a top civil rights official describes most Title IX campus rape accusations Posted: 12 Jul 2017 01:26 PM PDT  A top civil rights official in the U.S. Department of Education characterized "90 percent" of campus sexual assault accusations that rise to the level of a federal Title IX investigation as amounting to "we were both drunk."
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| Iceberg four times the size of London breaks off from Antarctica ice shelf Posted: 12 Jul 2017 06:54 AM PDT  A trillion-tonne iceberg - one of the largest on record - has broken away from an ice shelf in Antarctica. Researchers have been monitoring a huge crack in the Larsen C Ice Shelf, which had left a vast iceberg more than four times the size of London or a quarter the size of Wales "hanging by a thread". Scientists announced on Wednesday that the rift had finally completed its path through the ice, causing the 2,200 square mile (5,800 square kilometre) iceberg to snap off. A massive section of Larsen-C ice shelf calving off the glacier in a satellite image released by the European Space Agency Credit: ESA The calving of the iceberg reduces the size of the Larsen C Ice Shelf by around 12 per cent and will change the landscape of the Antarctic Peninsula forever, the team from the Swansea University-led Midas project said. The iceberg, which is now likely to be named A68, broke away at some time between Monday and Wednesday. The final breakthrough was detected in data from Nasa's Aqua MODIS satellite instrument. Professor Adrian Luckman, of Swansea University, said: "We have been anticipating this event for months, and have been surprised how long it took for the rift to break through the final few kilometres of ice. An image from NASA shows the Antarctic Peninsula's rift in the Larsen C ice shelf Credit: AFP "We will continue to monitor both the impact of this calving event on the Larsen C Ice Shelf, and the fate of this huge iceberg. "The iceberg is one of the largest recorded and its future progress is difficult to predict. It may remain in one piece but is more likely to break into fragments. From 6 July to 12 July, #Sentinel1 caught the final days and eventual full break-off of the berg. #LarsenCpic.twitter.com/2kVVjx4Syk— ESA EarthObservation (@ESA_EO) 12 July 2017 "Some of the ice may remain in the area for decades, while parts of the iceberg may drift north into warmer waters." Although the iceberg weighs a trillion tonnes, it was already floating before it calved away so will have no immediate impact on sea level. While the researchers said the calving was a "natural event", it put the ice shelf in a vulnerable position. A huge crack had left the Larsen C Ice Shelf 'hanging by a thread', scientists said Credit: JOHN SONNTAG/AFP There are concerns that Larsen C could follow the example of its neighbouring ice shelf Larsen B, which disintegrated in 2002 after a similar event. Dr Martin O'Leary, a Swansea University glaciologist and member of the Midas project team, said: "Although this is a natural event, and we're not aware of any link to human-induced climate change, this puts the ice shelf in a very vulnerable position. Nasa Suomi VIIRS panchromatic image from July 12 2017, confirming the calving Credit: Nasa "This is the furthest back that the ice front has been in recorded history. We're going to be watching very carefully for signs that the rest of the shelf is becoming unstable." Prof Luckman added: "In the ensuing months and years, the ice shelf could either gradually regrow, or may suffer further calving events which may eventually lead to collapse - opinions in the scientific community are divided. "Our models say it will be less stable, but any future collapse remains years or decades away." If the shelf loses much more area, it could result in glaciers which flow off the land behind speeding up their path to the ocean, which could have an eventual impact on sea levels - though at a very modest rate, the scientists said. Larsen C Ice Break Growth of Larsen C's rift size
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| Iraq collectively punishing Islamic State families: rights group Posted: 13 Jul 2017 02:09 PM PDT  Human Rights Watch accused Iraqi security forces on Thursday of forcibly relocating at least 170 families of alleged Islamic State members to a closed "rehabilitation camp" as a form of collective punishment. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced victory over Islamic State in Mosul on Monday, three years after the militants seized the city and made it the stronghold of a "caliphate" they said would take over the world. Iraq's government now faces the task of preventing revenge attacks against people associated with Islamic State that could, along with Sunni-Shi'ite sectarian tensions, undermine efforts to create long-term stability in the country.
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| Michigan Official Says He Won't Apologize for Sharing Anti-Muslim Facebook Posts Posted: 12 Jul 2017 02:47 PM PDT  "I don't expect everyone to see things the way I do"
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| Canadian fisherman killed by whale after rescuing it from a net Posted: 12 Jul 2017 01:15 AM PDT  Joe Howlett, from Campobello Island, New Brunswick, has saved dozens of endangered whales after they became entangled in fishing nets. Soon after cutting the last piece of rope from the massive whale, Mr Howlett was struck by the mammal, Mackie Green, of the Campobello Whale Rescue Team, said. Mr Howlett has helped rescue around two dozen whales over the past 15 years, his family and friends said.
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| History Channel's Amelia Earhart Photo Possibly Discredited Posted: 12 Jul 2017 01:23 PM PDT  A predated image of Amelia Earhart in the History Channel's new documentary launches an investigation from the network.
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| Russia probe is not a ‘witch hunt,’ FBI nominee Wray tells senators Posted: 12 Jul 2017 08:50 AM PDT  FBI nominee Christopher Wray said that he does not view the federal investigation into ties between Russia and the Trump campaign as a "witch hunt."
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| New Photos the Grievous Damage Done to the USS Fitzgerald Posted: 13 Jul 2017 12:02 PM PDT  The USS Fitzgerald collided with a container ship three times its size.
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| MS-13 Member Narrated And Filmed Stabbing Of Teen: Report Posted: 12 Jul 2017 10:54 AM PDT  The victim was forced to strip before she was tortured and murdered.
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| Antarctica's fragile ice Posted: 12 Jul 2017 11:34 AM PDT ![Antarctica's fragile ice]( "Antarctica's fragile ice") A large portion of an ice shelf has broken off from the Antarctic mainland, creating one of the world's largest iceberg. Here's a look at the threatened ice shelves and glaciers of the South Pole.
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| Analysis: GOP confronts no-win situation on health care Posted: 11 Jul 2017 10:56 PM PDT  WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans find themselves in a no-win situation as they struggle to pass health care legislation in the Senate: Success could alienate a majority of the population, but failure could anger the crucial group of GOP base voters the party relies on to build election victories.
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| Natural History Museum unveils Dippy's replacement, a giant blue whale called Hope Posted: 13 Jul 2017 01:19 AM PDT  The Natural History Museum in London has unveiled its new star, a giant blue whale skeleton called Hope. The blue whale skeleton has been named 'Hope' Credit: John Nguyen for the Telegraph The 25.2 metre mammal suspended from the ceiling forms the main exhibit as visitors come through the front door and replaces the much-loved Diplodocus dinosaur, "Dippy", which will soon head out on a tour of the UK. 'Hope' has been installed as part of a revamp Credit: John Nguyen for the Telegraph The skeleton is from 1891 and originally went on display in 1934 and has been installed as part of a revamp at the South Kensington museum. The name "Hope" was given as a "symbol of humanity's power to shape a sustainable future". Credit: John Nguyen for the Telegraph Blue whales are now making a recovery following decades of exploitation that nearly drove them out of existence. The Museum's Patron, HRH The Duchess of Cambridge, and Sir David Attenborough will attend a gala launch reception this evening (July 13) ahead of the public opening at 10am tomorrow. The 25.2 metre real blue whale skeleton is from 1891 and originally went on display in 1934 Credit: John Nguyen for the Telegraph Sir Michael Dixon, director of the Natural History Museum, said: 'This is a landmark moment for the Museum and for the millions of people from all over the world who visit us. The transformation of Hintze Hall represents a new era for us as a natural history museum for the future. "Putting our blue whale, Hope, at the centre of the Museum, between living species on the West and extinct species on the East, is a powerful reminder of the fragility of life and the responsibility we have towards our planet." Sir Michael Dixon, director of the Natural History Museum, said: 'This is a landmark moment for the Museum' Credit: John Nguyen for the Telegraph Richard Sabin, the museum's leading whale expert, said: "Whales are incredibly mysterious and behaviourally complex creatures, as well as being the giants of the ocean. "I remember visiting the Museum as a child and being amazed when I came face to face with the blue whale skeleton we are now unveiling in Hintze Hall. "Until 2015 the skeleton was hung alongside a model whale in the mammals gallery and wasn't in full view, but in her stunning new home, where you are able to walk underneath and see her from all angles, she is even more spectacular. "It is impossible not to be struck by the sheer scale and majesty of this beautiful creature as she dives towards you when you enter the Museum. "My first encounter with the blue whale skeleton became a defining moment in my life, and I am sure Hope will inspire a new generation of visitors to discover the story of life on Earth and be encouraged to want to protect the natural world."
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| Ex-New York Assembly Speaker Silver has conviction voided, faces retrial Posted: 13 Jul 2017 08:48 AM PDT  By Jonathan Stempel and Joseph Ax NEW YORK (Reuters) - A federal appeals court on Thursday overturned the conviction of former New York state Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, citing a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision narrowing what kind of conduct can support corruption prosecutions. Acting U.S. Attorney Joon Kim in Manhattan said his office plans to retry Silver, 73, who has been free on bail.
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| Nigerian VP back in Abuja after Buhari meeting Posted: 12 Jul 2017 02:21 AM PDT  Nigeria's vice-president has returned from a whistlestop trip to meet ailing President Muhammadu Buhari in London and will chair Wednesday's weekly cabinet meeting, his spokesman said. Acting President Yemi "Osinbajo now back in Abuja from London & will be presiding over FEC (federal executive committee) this morning," tweeted Laolu Akande. Osinbajo, who has been acting president since Buhari left for medical treatment on May 7, flew to London on Tuesday.
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| Education Dept. official apologizes for comments on sexual assault Posted: 13 Jul 2017 07:48 AM PDT  The Education Department's top civil rights official has apologized for her characterization that 90 percent of campus sexual assault accusations investigated by the federal government under Title IX stem from drunken regret or the fallout of a broken romance.
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| Twitter Reacts To Good Morning America Hiding George Stephanopoulos' Legs Posted: 13 Jul 2017 07:11 AM PDT  "Just another type of body shaming," wrote one user.
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| The Latest: New wildfire brings destruction outside San Jose Posted: 11 Jul 2017 07:02 PM PDT  OROVILLE, Calif. (AP) — The Latest on wildfires across the U.S. West and Canada (all times local):
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| Who is Donald Trump Jr and why is he compared to Fredo Corleone in The Godfather? Posted: 12 Jul 2017 06:27 AM PDT  Donald Trump Jr has long been the brawler who has helped fuel the president's pugilistic instincts and stood firm as one of his fiercest defenders. Now the president's eldest son is at the centre of the firestorm over Russian connections swirling around his father's administration and trying to fight off charges that he was open to colluding with Moscow to defeat Hillary Clinton. Offered Russian help in defeating Hillary Clinton last year, Don Jr jumped at the offer: "I love it," he emailed. Donald Trump Jr watches his father leave the stage on the night of the Iowa Caucus, in February 2016 Credit: Reuters That was in an email chain the younger Trump released on Tuesday, and published in full here, in which an associate arranging a June 2016 meeting between the president's son and a Kremlin-linked lawyer promised damaging information about Clinton. "In retrospect I probably would have done things a little differently," he said in an interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity. "For me this was opposition research, they had something you know maybe concrete evidence to all the stories I'd been hearing about." Donald Trump Jr., left, is interviewed by host Sean Hannity on his Fox News Channel television programme Credit: AP The story has revived comparisons between Mr Trump Jr and Fredo Corleone, second son of mob don Vito Corleone in Francis Ford Coppola's classic Godfather films. Fredo is seen as the weak link of Vito's three sons, an insecure man whose power plays backfire and who ends up causing major damage to the crime family. Fredo Corleone, played by John Cazale, holds his brother Michael Corleone, played by Al Pacino, in The Godfather: Part II Credit: Corbis via Getty Images "Ever since the campaign, a popular, behind-his-back nickname for Trump Jr. among some in his father's political inner circle has been 'Fredo'," the Daily Beast reported, citing Team Trump veterans. Mr Trump Jr has barely posted the explosive email chain when Twitter latched onto to the similarities. Trump Jr, 39, was one of his father's loudest defenders throughout the campaign, his role ascendant at the time of the meeting last summer. Donald Trump Jr. finally proves he's the Fredo of the family in one NY Times article. "I can handle things! I'm shmaaart!" pic.twitter.com/Dwss3b5Llk— Matt Lipton (@mattliptoncomic) July 10, 2017 TFW you're suddenly the most talked-about Corleone and they're comparing you to Don Jr. pic.twitter.com/vuTzzWX8vF— Fredo Corleone (@real_fredo) July 11, 2017 Junior's campaign nickname was "Fredo" ... feels appropriate pic.twitter.com/Z8lY6NbgTc— Talia (@2020fight) July 11, 2017 After today's debacle, I can't help but see Donald Jr. is Fredo. Ivanka is probably the Michael Corleone of the Trump family.— David Atchison (@DavidNAtchison) July 11, 2017 I haven't seen The Godfather, but based on all the comparisons to Donald Trump Jr., I assume "Fredo" was the name of like, a very dumb goat.— Josh Gondelman (@joshgondelman) July 11, 2017 But when his father was elected, Trump Jr stayed in New York to run the family's sprawling business along with his brother, Eric. And from that vantage point, he has been a loud and constant defender of his father, firing off broadsides on Twitter and never shying away from a fight against the "fake news" media. Just on Monday, he retweeted a video of a doctored clip in which the president's face is superimposed over a character shooting a Russian jet bearing a CNN logo. Trump Jr: I would have done things differently 01:01 "One of the best I've seen," Trump Jr tweeted of the video. In the email chain released on Tuesday, Mr Trump Jr seemed receptive to receiving damaging information from a foreign government. He released a statement in which he denied any wrongdoing. His father, conspicuously quiet as details of the meeting have rolled out over the last few days, issued a terse a statement on Tuesday in which he said: "My son is a high quality person and I applaud his transparency." Donald Trump with his children Eric, Ivanka and Donald Jr in 2008 Credit: AP Mr Trump Jr has vowed to push back against the charges of collusion, believing that an anti-Trump media is trumping up accusations against him as a way to damage his father and is willfully ignoring his claim that he did not receive any information from the Russian lawyer, according to several of the real estate heir's confidants. Donald Trump Jnr emails related content He has settled on a strategy out of his father's playbook: a strong counter-attack. He released the emails himself - although just minutes before they were set to be published by The New York Times - and appeared on Hannity's programme to defend himself in a typically Trump-friendly space. Mr Trump Jr and his father were not always close: The younger Trump, who admits to a wild post-college period before he cut back on his drinking, didn't speak to his father for a year after Mr Trump divorced his mother, Ivana. But he grew into an executive role at the Trump Organisation, was a co-star on "The Apprentice" and during his father's campaign was an active campaign presence, criss-crossing the country to speak in small towns and delivering a well-received speech at the national convention in Cleveland. Highlights: Tiffany Trump and Donald Trump Jr. praise their father at Republican convention 01:37 An avid big game hunter, he also was seen as the campaign's emissary to Mr Trump's most conservative followers, particularly those online, due to his aggressive pushbacks against Democrats and the media, as well as an embrace of the conservative fringe ethos of the alt-right. Last autumn, Mr Trump Jr tweeted images of Pepe the Frog, a cartoon character whose image has been used by white supremacists, as well as imagery which likened Syrian refugees to poisonous Skittles candy. And while he and his brother say they have instituted a firewall that separates his father's business from the White House, Mr Trump Jr has eagerly defended his father's presidency, live-tweeting attacks on ex-FBI Director James Comey's Senate testimony and amplifying his father's war on unfavourable news coverage. "Don was an asset to the campaign, a sportsman, an entrepreneur, a guy's guy," said Sam Nunberg, a former Trump campaign adviser. "And Don is a true conservative who really understood the movement his father started and its messages." In brief | Donald Trump's family
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| China’s Seen Globally As Gaining Ground on United States Posted: 13 Jul 2017 02:01 PM PDT  The world is souring on the U.S. and Trump and taking a shine to China despite all its struggles.
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| Trump in Paris: Relaxed French locals dismiss US President as a 'fool' Posted: 13 Jul 2017 11:01 AM PDT  "Donald Trump is a real fool, but I'm not concerned by him coming here," says Maxime Adam, sitting on a park bench in central Paris. While thousands of Parisians were preparing to protest the US President's visit to France, the rest of the capital gave a collective shrug as life continued as normal. "I don't like him but if Emmanuel Macron decided to invite him it's for some reason," Mr Adam added.
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| This Is a Nearly Production-Ready Aston Valkyrie Posted: 12 Jul 2017 12:06 PM PDT  This is our first official look at a near-production ready Aston Martin Valkyrie. Wow.
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| Parents Slam 'Hollow Excuses' From Fraternity Members in Penn State Hazing Death Posted: 12 Jul 2017 10:25 AM PDT  'I don't want to go to jail for this,' fraternity members texted after the ritual
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| Tourist Killed By Jet Blast In Maho Beach Posted: 13 Jul 2017 04:50 AM PDT  The Maho Beach is adjacent to the Juliana International Airport and is frequented by extremely low-flying planes.
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| Military plane crash: Victims came from all over the country Posted: 13 Jul 2017 12:19 AM PDT  The 15 Marines and a Navy sailor killed in a military plane crash Monday in Mississippi came from all over the country. Six of the Marines and the sailor were from an elite Marine Raider battalion at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Nine were based out of Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, New York, home of a Marine Aerial Refueling and Transport Squadron.
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| Saudi crown prince discusses defense ties with Turkish minister Posted: 12 Jul 2017 11:37 AM PDT  Saudi Arabia's defense minister, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, discussed military ties in a telephone call with his Turkish counterpart, Saudi state news agency SPA reported, after a new contingent of Turkish troops arrived in Qatar. Ankara has backed Qatar in its dispute with four Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, which have imposed sanctions on Doha, accusing it of supporting terrorism.
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| China sends troops to its 'support base' in East Africa Posted: 12 Jul 2017 05:40 AM PDT  Ships carrying Chinese troops tasked with setting up the country's first overseas military base are steaming towards the East African nation of Djibouti. China calls its new facility a 'support base' and says it will have mainly logistical functions, however observers see it as a key part of Beijing's plans to expand its global reach through military might. India in particular views the base with suspicion as New Delhi is concerned that China is confronting it with a 'ring of pearls' – a series of assets and alliances across the Indian Ocean and into South-East Asia. A report from the Pentagon recently suggested that China is likely to open a military base in Pakistan, India's main rival in Asia. However, China dismissed this. Chinese sailors on parade China started building its base in Djibouti just over a year ago. It is stationed just a few miles from a US camp, and France and Japan also have bases in the nation, which is about the size of Wales. A report by China's official Xinhua news agency said the decision to set up the base was "made by the two countries after friendly negotiations". The report added: "The base will ensure China's performance of missions, such as escorting, peace-keeping and humanitarian aid in Africa and west Asia. "The base will also be conducive to overseas tasks including military cooperation, joint exercises, evacuating and protecting overseas Chinese and emergency rescue, as well as jointly maintaining security of international strategic seaways." The Chinese flag flies from the ship China's defence ministry said that a ceremony was held at a naval pier in the southern Chinese port of Zhanjiang presided over by navy commander Vice Admiral Shen Jinlong. Neither Xinhua or defence officials gave details on numbers or units of troops travelling to the new base. Foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a daily news briefing the facility would enable China to make "new and greater contributions" to peace in Africa and the world and would benefit Djibouti's economic development. The People's Liberation Army Daily said in a front-page commentary that the new base would help China fulfil its obligations in ensuring global peace, working with its huge UN peacekeeping force in Africa and its anti-piracy patrols. The Global Times, a newspaper which often takes a nationalist tone, said the new facility was indeed a military base. "We will base troops there," it said. "It's not a commercial resupply point. It makes sense there is attention on this from foreign public opinion." Additional reporting by Christine Wei.
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| Intense video shows elephant stranded at sea being saved by rescuers Posted: 13 Jul 2017 07:24 AM PDT  This wasn't your typical rescue mission. An intense video circulating the internet (a version of which was posted by the Daily Mirror Sri Lanka and embedded above) shows rescuers from the Sri Lanka navy towing an elephant stranded at sea back to shore. SEE ALSO: Elephants run to greet a rescued baby elephant because yes, they are better than us In the video, the elephant can be seen struggling to stay afloat and keep its trunk above water after being carried away by a strong current nearly 16km (9.9m) off Sri Lanka's north-eastern coast. Fortunately, the Sri Lankan navy picked up the elephant after it was spotted by a patrol boat, according to 9 News. Image: MEDIA UNIT HA/REX/ShutterstockThe island country's naval unit then dispatched a fast naval patrol craft and divers to secure the elephant with ropes. It was later safely pulled ashore with the help of two other boats, as well as Sri Lankan wildlife officials. The elephant was likely swept into the sea while trying to cross the Kokkilai Lagoon, which divides two areas of jungle. "They usually wade through shallow waters or even swim across to take a shortcut," navy spokesman Chaminda Walakuluge told AFP. Swimming out so far is definitely not a mammoth task for an elephant, who are good swimmers, with some reportedly swimming distances of up to 48 km (29.8 mi). "Swimming about 15km from the shore is not unusual for an elephant," Avinash Krishnan, a research officer with conservation group A Rocha, told the Guardian. But as elephants burn through a lot of energy swimming, it was plausible that the stranded elephant needed intervention. Elephants use their trunks as natural snorkels, so the fact that the elephant was struggling to keep it's trunk above water seemed to indicate that the animal was in distress. Asian elephants regularly traverse short distances through the water. They were trained to ferry logs between the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a chain of islands in the Indian Ocean, in the 19th century. Before that, elephants often crossed the short distances between islands in the island chain. WATCH: 7 more things you didn't know about 'Planet of the Apes'
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| US intelligence 'detected Russian officials discussing meetings with Trump associates in 2015' Posted: 12 Jul 2017 02:35 PM PDT  Newly revealed intelligence shows Russian officials discussed meeting with associates or advisers to Donald Trump in 2015 just months before he declared his candidacy to become president, the Wall Street Journal reports. At that time, intelligence analysts didn't really know what to make of the intercepted conversations, since Mr Trump was a global celebrity who had done business in Russia before. In light of recent emails posted on Twitter by Donald Trump Jr that detail a conversation to facilitate a meeting between himself and a Kremlin-connected lawyer in June of last year, intelligence officials are taking a second look.
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| iPhone 8 problems are reportedly causing ‘panic’ inside Apple Posted: 12 Jul 2017 06:17 AM PDT 
Over the weekend, word surfaced that the wireless charging accessory said to accompany the iPhone 8 might be subject to a slight delay. In a new bombshell report that seemingly corroborates this, Fast Company relays that development on the iPhone 8 is fraught with technical problems. In addition to issues involving wireless charging, the report adds that Apple engineers are also having a tough time with the iPhone 8's rumored 3D camera sensors. This is especially worrisome given reports that Apple with the iPhone 8 may abandon the venerable Touch ID sensor for a facial recognition system.
If Apple can't get a handle on the aforementioned issues -- which are reportedly software based -- the report adds that the iPhone 8 launch might be pushed back or ship without all of its features fully enabled. Speaking to the critical nature of the software problems Apple is currently facing, a source told Fast Company that "panic" was setting in. June was a tense month for the engineers and designers on Apple's iPhone team with "a sense of panic in the air," a source with knowledge of the situation tells me. ... If the company can't get the technology to work smoothly in time, my source said, it might ship the first phones with inoperable wireless charging hardware, then enable the feature later on.
Even more problematic than that, though, are indications that Apple's 3D camera sensors might not be ready for action by September. While wireless charging is a nice perk, an add-on if you will, the 3D sensors are said to be a key selling point for the iPhone 8. Without confirming that's what the front-facing 3D sensor is for, my source says Apple has been struggling to get the sensor to work reliably. Again, the sensor hardware is not the problem, but rather the accompanying software. The source believes Apple will likely have the 3D software working in time. But if not, the company could include the sensor in the phone anyway, and turn it on later on with a software update.
If there's any good news to be had here, Fast Company's source believes that the Touch ID sensor won't be going anywhere and will, in fact, be embedded into the display itself. This is encouraging news because the idea that Apple would remove Touch ID altogether would, by all accounts, seem to represent a huge step backwards as far as usability is concerned.
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| Prisoner aid cut could trigger Palestinian crisis: activists Posted: 12 Jul 2017 07:34 PM PDT  International pressure on the Palestinian Authority to halt payments to the families of Palestinians held in Israeli jails, including those convicted of attacks, could trigger political crisis, rights groups say. Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas is caught between pressure from US President Donald Trump's administration and a potential backlash from Palestinians, most of whom view their prisoners as heroes. Palestinian officials say some 850,000 people have spent time in Israeli prisons in the 50 years since Israel seized the Palestinian territories in the 1967 Six-Day War.
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| ‘Unbelonging’: A life split between countries Posted: 13 Jul 2017 10:35 AM PDT !['Unbelonging': A life split between countries]( "'Unbelonging': A life split between countries") The photos of Nigerian-born photographer Osaretin Ugiagbe document the beauty and sorrows witnessed during a life split between the South Bronx and Lagos, Nigeria.
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| Democrats snatch 2 statehouse seats in Oklahoma surprise Posted: 12 Jul 2017 03:12 PM PDT  OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma Democrats, who have taken routine beatings from the GOP over the last decade, unexpectedly snatched two state legislative seats from Republicans in special elections this week and are now hoping to carry momentum into grabbing bigger prizes in 2018, including congressional seats and the governor's mansion.
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| Vatican to hold trial of officials accused of using children's hospital funds for cardinal's luxury flat Posted: 13 Jul 2017 09:26 AM PDT  The Vatican is to put on trial two former officials who are accused of siphoning off nearly £400,000 from a Vatican-owned children's hospital and using it to renovate a luxurious apartment for a powerful cardinal. Giuseppe Profiti and Massimo Spina will face their first hearing in front of a Vatican tribunal next Tuesday, it was announced. Mr Profiti, the former president of the Bambino Gesu (Baby Jesus) Hospital in Rome, and Mr Spina, its former treasurer, are accused of diverting 422,000 euros (£372,000) of hospital funds towards the renovation of the property for Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone. Cardinal Bertone was Secretary of State – effectively the Vatican's prime minister - during the pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI. Cardinal Bertone served under Pope Benedict XVI but fell out of favour when Pope Francis was elected in 2013. Credit: Reuters He fell from favour under Benedict's successor, Pope Francis, and was removed from office just eight months after Francis was elected in 2013. During his seven years in office he was blamed for many of the gaffes and controversies of Benedict's papacy. In its statement, the Vatican accused the two men of having "used, in an illegal manner, money belonging to the Bambino Gesu Foundation, money to which they both had access due to their roles in the institution." The money was illicitly taken from the hospital's coffers between November 2013 and March 2014, and used for "completely extra-institutional purposes" in restructuring the cardinal's apartment, the Holy See said. The pair will be tried in a Vatican tribunal consisting of three judges. Cardinal Bertone has denied any wrongdoing and is not on trial. Credit: AP Mr Profiti has admitted that hospital money was used, but said the apartment was to be used for official fundraising events. In a letter he wrote in 2013 to the cardinal, he suggested hosting gatherings and meetings in "what is to be Your Eminence's residence". The flat is Vatican property but was assigned to Cardinal Bertone after he retired as Secretary of State in 2013. He has acknowledged that it is large but said he shared it with three nuns as well as a secretary. The property includes a library, several bedrooms and a broad terrace. After the allegations concerning the payments came to light Cardinal Bertone made a donation of €150,000 euros to the hospital foundation out of his own pocket in 2015. Bertone has always denied any knowledge of the payments and was not charged.
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| Long-term, surgery for localized prostate cancer offers little extra benefit Posted: 12 Jul 2017 02:10 PM PDT ![Long-term, surgery for localized prostate cancer offers little extra benefit]( "Long-term, surgery for localized prostate cancer offers little extra benefit") By Gene Emery (Reuters Health) - A large new study that has followed prostate cancer patients for up to two decades concludes that surgery is probably not the best option for most men with localized tumors. For every 100 men diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer who underwent surgery, only four fewer died from the disease compared with those who were just kept under observation and treated for symptoms. For every 100 men with low-risk disease who had a radical prostatectomy, no more than one was saved by surgery, a statistically insignificant difference, the researchers report in the New England Journal of Medicine.
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| Police: Man sought in Alabama triple slaying kills himself Posted: 12 Jul 2017 05:45 PM PDT  GARDENDALE, Ala. (AP) — A man believed to have fatally shot three relatives, including an ex-wife who had taken out a protective order against him, killed himself Wednesday as officers closed in to arrest him in Florida, police said.
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| Donald Trump says 'something could happen with the Paris Agreement' Posted: 13 Jul 2017 11:16 AM PDT  Donald Trump has opened the door to a reversal of his decision on the Paris Agreement on climate change saying that "something" could happen regarding the deal during his trip to France for Bastille Day. Mr Trump withdrew the US from the global climate agreement which nearly 200 countries signed in December 2015 in an effort to combat global warming and help poorer countries adapt to an already-changed planet. "If it happens that will be wonderful and if it doesn't that will be ok too," Mr Trump said at a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron, appearing to leave the matter open-ended.
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| Scientists warn of ‘biological annihilation,’ say mass extinction event is currently happening on Earth Posted: 12 Jul 2017 07:45 AM PDT 
When you hear the term "mass extinction" you probably imagine something like the space rock that smacked Earth and led to the demise of the dinosaurs, but according to a new research paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, we're currently experiencing an extinction event of our very own. After monitoring the populations of nearly 200 species, scientists are now sounding the alarm and insist that the dramatic changes in their numbers could threaten humanity as we know it.
Among the tens of thousands of species studied for the paper, the researchers surveyed the population figures of 177 mammal species across all continents, comparing the population and distribution data from as far back as 1900 to the current numbers. What they found is that of the mammal species monitored, nearly half of them have lost over 80% of their distribution since their earliest monitoring. "The resulting biological annihilation obviously will have serious ecological, economic and social consequences," the researchers say "Humanity will eventually pay a very high price for the decimation of the only assemblage of life that we know of in the universe." The scientists pin the destruction of these species on human overpopulation, which has led to the mass destruction of natural habitats as well as an influx of pollution. Human effect on the climate of the planet has also not done nature any favors, as changing temperatures have pushed and pulled species into and out of various regions, causing overlaps and a spike in invasive species in many areas.
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| Iran and Oman to strengthen ties amid Gulf crisis Posted: 12 Jul 2017 03:33 AM PDT  Iran and Oman will work to boost their ties, the Islamic republic's President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday, as a diplomatic crisis persists in the Gulf. "Iran and Oman have for years had fraternal relations and the best must be made of these good relations to reinforce them," Rouhani said as he met Oman's foreign minister.
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| Ukraine Keen To Begin NATO Entry Process, Russia worried Posted: 12 Jul 2017 02:52 AM PDT  Moscow is worried about the development because if Ukraine in inducted into NATO, Russia would lose control over Crimea.
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