International

Earth sets heat record in 2016 � for the third year in a row

It’s official: 2016 was the hottest year on record in 122 years of record-keeping, according to independent analyses by NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The 1.78-degree jump over the mid-20th-century average marks the third year in a row that global temperatures have reached record-shattering levels. Earth’s average surface temperature has risen about […]

Earth sets heat record in 2016 � for the third year in a row Read More »

The World We Share, USA

Obama’s parting message: Hope

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama closed his presidency on a note of optimism Wednesday, telling a room of reporters that, despite the worry felt by many of his fellow partisans about the incoming Trump administration, “we’re going to be OK.” In what was scheduled as the final news conference of his presidency, Obama said that

Obama’s parting message: Hope Read More »

USA

Donald Trump taps Sonny Perdue as his agriculture chief

ATLANTA — President-elect Donald Trump picked former Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue on Wednesday to be his agriculture secretary, tapping a veterinarian-turned-politician who was the state’s first Republican governor in more than a century to lead the sprawling department. Perdue, 70, had emerged as Trump’s leading contender to run the agriculture department in recent days, and

Donald Trump taps Sonny Perdue as his agriculture chief Read More »

USA

First freight train from China to London completes maiden journey

video video video A train traveling all the way from Yiwu on China’s east coast arrived in London’s Barking station on Wednesday afternoon, becoming the first direct freight train to link the UK and China, crossing the deserts, fields and mountains of Eurasia and ducking under the English channel on its epic 18-day, 12,451 km

First freight train from China to London completes maiden journey Read More »

International, Travel and Food

Congress looks to punish ‘sanctuary campus’ colleges that protect illegal immigrants

Forget sanctuary cities: The next heated congressional battle on immigration could be over “sanctuary campuses” – colleges and universities who say that unless they’re forced by law, they’ll resist any cooperation with federal immigration agents. Dozens of schools have already declared themselves sanctuaries and many more are debating the move, and Rep. Duncan Hunter, California

Congress looks to punish ‘sanctuary campus’ colleges that protect illegal immigrants Read More »

San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Decoding Trump’s Bizarre Inaugural Speechwriting Photo

Lost in all of the hype surrounding the last-minute artist bookings, boycotts and protest rallies is the fact that Trump will deliver a speech during Friday’s inauguration. According to reports, it will last about 20 minutes and focus on Trump’s nationalism, rather than specific policies. Related: These lawmakers will boycott Trump’s inauguration on Friday Trump

Decoding Trump’s Bizarre Inaugural Speechwriting Photo Read More »

USA

Israel haters try to shift blame for campus anti-Semitism

  By Richard L. Cravatts BOSTON, Massachusetts — In early December, a bipartisan Congressional bill, H.R. 6421/S. 10, the “Antisemitism Awareness Act,” took on a long-overdue task, namely, increasing “understanding of the parameters of contemporary anti-Jewish conduct and will assist the Department of Education in determining whether an investigation of anti-Semitism under title VI is

Israel haters try to shift blame for campus anti-Semitism Read More »

Middle East, Richard L. Cravatts, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Humoring the headlines: January 18, 2017

The Ignomination By Laurie Baron SAN DIEGO−An inauguration turns into an ignomination when: The new president is more corrupt than the opponent he derided as crooked. The new president can’t resist telling his predecessor that he’s fired. The new president strings together his “best” tweets rather than writing an inauguration speech. The new president offers

Humoring the headlines: January 18, 2017 Read More »

Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA

Obama ahead of Trump: “At my core, I think we’re going to be OK”

Washington (dpa) – US President Barack Obama reflected Wednesday on eight years in office and expressed optimism for the future of the United States, closing his last remarks to the press by declaring, “At my core, I think we’re going to be OK.” In his final press conference before Donald Trump is inaugurated as president

Obama ahead of Trump: “At my core, I think we’re going to be OK” Read More »

International, USA

McCain’s 300 Low-End Fighters A ‘Great Idea:’ CSAF Gen. Goldfein

WASHINGTON: A key part of Sen. John Mclain’s alternative defense budget proposal is the rapid purchase of 300 “low-cost, light-attack fighters that would require minimal work to develop.” I asked Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein today what he thought of McCain’s proposal, contained in Restoring American Power. “Great idea,” he said, pointing

McCain’s 300 Low-End Fighters A ‘Great Idea:’ CSAF Gen. Goldfein Read More »

International, USA

Moon Jae-in extends lead after Ban’s return: poll

Moon Jae-in, a former chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), extended his lead over former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in the latest poll on potential presidential candidates Wednesday, amid growing public calls for a judgment on the Park Geun-hye administration. The survey by Hankook Research at the request of the Hankook

Moon Jae-in extends lead after Ban’s return: poll Read More »

International

Trump Cabinet will be the first in decades without a Latino member

WASHINGTON — Donald Trump’s Cabinet is poised to become the first since 1988 without any Latino officials — a huge disappointment for members of the nation’s second-largest ethnic group — as reports indicate he’ll tap former Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue for secretary of agriculture. Two Latino Texans were under consideration for the post: former congressman

Trump Cabinet will be the first in decades without a Latino member Read More »

USA

Muslims ‘Convenient Scapegoats’ Says UN Head

Muslims have become “convenient scapegoats,” United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said Tuesday, addressing a forum to tackle the recent rise in discrimination against Muslims. The forum in New York City was co-organized by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Permanent Missions of the United States, Canada and the European Union Delegation. Speaking in

Muslims ‘Convenient Scapegoats’ Says UN Head Read More »

International, USA

Senators on key panel reject Donald Trump’s skepticism about vaccines

Most members of a key Senate committee are rejecting President-elect Donald Trump’s skepticism about the safety of vaccines, which suggests Trump could face significant backlash in Congress if he seeks to advance the anti-vaccine movement from the Oval Office. In the week following Trump’s controversial meeting with vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr., STAT contacted

Senators on key panel reject Donald Trump’s skepticism about vaccines Read More »

Science, Medicine, & Education, USA