E-cigarettes discourage young people taking up smoking

The study said that there was nothing to suggest in the research that youngsters see vaping as a 

stepping stone to smoking. 

E-cigarettesll are playing a key role in reducing the likelihood of young people 

smoking, in many cases acting as a 'roadblock' to combustible tobacco, a new study has 

claimed. 

In detailed qualitative interviews with young people aged 16 to 25 in the majority of 

participants viewed e-cigarettes as having reduced - not increased - the possibility of both 

themselves and other people smoking. 

"There was very little indication amongst the young people interviewed that e-cigarettes were 

resulting in an increased likelihood of young people smoking," said Neil McKeganey from 

Centre for Substance Use Research16 in Scotland, who led the research. 

"In fact the majority we interviewed, including those who were vaping, perceived smoking in 

very negative terms and saw vaping as being entirely different to smoking,- McKeganey said. 

Impoftantly, the overwhelming majority of participants - who collectively represented current 

and former smokers, non-smokers, and e-cigarette users - viewed tobacco as 'extremely 

harmful' and believed e-cigarettes offered smokers an alternative. 

Despite the acute awareness of the harms of tobacco however, it was evident that some young 

people remain confused about e-cigarettes and whether or not they are similarly harmful. 

Some mentioned they had seen media coverage reporting that e-cigarettes "are just as bad" as 

smoking and, as a result, they were uncertain and reluctant about using the devices. 

"It's more concerning, particularly for the young people who currently smoke, that inaccurate 

perceptions of e-cigarettes could result in the persistent use of combustible tobacco irrespective 

of the fact that Public Health England has concluded vaping is 95 per cent less harmful than 

conventional cigarettes," said McKeganey. 

"What was apparent is that this persistent view, expressed by some young people, that vaping 

was just as harmful as smoking, was resulting in some young people continuing to smoke when 

they might otherwise have quit," he said. 

There was nothing to suggest in the research that youngsters see vaping as a stepping stone to 

smoking - quite the opposite, he added. 




Response: This
article talks about a recent study on the effectiveness of e-smoking on
prevention of young people who would otherwise smoke. The study showed that
young people who use e-cigarettes are more opposed to regular smoking and think
that it is harmful. If this study is correct, it could be really helpful in
preventing smoking throughout the world. This may seem like a current issue
that isnt necessarily as big as many others but so many people are affected by
smoking and the harmful diseases it causes so it would be a great development
if e-cigarettes could be an alternative to that. This article is pretty biased
against smoking and towards the British health system but the idea seems
interesting. I do think that this is an issue that may be able to be fixed for
the most part with this new study and development.
citation: "E-cigarettes Discourage Young People Taking up Smoking - The Economic Times." The Economic Times. The Economic Times, 20 June 2016. Web. 20 June 2016. <http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/e-cigarettes-discourage-young-people-taking-up-smoking/articleshow/52827073.cms>.

The tragic but brutal truth, they are not real refugees

The enormous one-way flow of migrants to the West is changing Europe irretrievably and forever.

Twelve thousand migrants have been rescued from people-smugglers’ boats off the coast of Libya and heading for Italy in the past two weeks alone. And more – maybe a million more – who come from the Middle East, Africa and South Asia will soon be on their way there, too.

For more than 15 years now, I have reported on the steady flow of migrants heading for Europe. In countries across the continent, I have spoken to those who have travelled thousands of miles, and never ceased to be amazed by their resilience and determination to find a better life.

I have witnessed fatal tragedies as migrants make their way across perilous seas, despair and disappointment as their hopes turn to ashes, and resentment and anger from Europeans who feel their own countries and cultures are threatened by this relentless tide of incomers.

But two weeks ago, on the quayside of pretty Porto Empedocle in Sicily, I came across a scene that convinced me more than ever that the explosion in migration is completely out of control.

I watched as 540 Syrians, Libyans and Moroccans came ashore from the Italian naval ship that had plucked them from the sea after the boat taking them to a new life across the Mediterranean capsised.

Coming down the gangplank, they waved at the waiting crowd of TV crews, international charity workers, UN officials, police and Red Cross doctors, as if they were celebrities on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival. The crowds cheered back, shouting ‘bon giorno’ (good morning) and clapping as the arrivals set foot on dry land. Such was the surreal carnival atmosphere that it was almost impossible to comprehend that hours earlier these smiling migrants had been involved in a life-or-death struggle. Or that they were in Italy only because they had paid smugglers, now growing rich in chaotic Libya, for a place on a flimsy wooden boat to illegally enter Europe where they were now being accepted with open arms.

Crammed to the hilt, their boat sank after 240 of its passengers had already been taken off and ferried to safety on the Italian navy ship.

The remaining 300 passengers had then panicked and rushed to one side of the vessel, tipping it over. Only the best efforts of the navy, who threw scores of red lifebelts and rafts into the water, saved all but a handful of them.

The ship’s captain, Francesco Lavezzo, took his turn in front of the cameras in Porto Empedocle. He said an uplifting memory for him was when a rescued migrant girl smiled with excitement as she was given a white teddy bear by his crew on board the ship.

It was a tear-jerking story – and one that sugars and distorts the tragic but ugly truth about this sorry episode.

For whether we like it or not, large numbers of those coming ashore in Sicily were not refugees fleeing persecution or war. Many were economic migrants, who may have come from countries run by despots, or live on less in a year than most in the West get paid in a week – but who have now slipped into Europe illegally with few questions asked.

The port-side party atmosphere also seemed offensively incongruous. For next to the noisy quayside welcoming party stood a line of hearses waiting to take five bodies to a Sicilian morgue. They were the migrants who had drowned after the boat upturned – the ones who had not been so lucky. The hearses would be in use again shortly afterwards. A second boat full of migrants capsised the following day and up to 30 were feared drowned as another 88 were hoisted to safety.

But it’s not just Sicily. Across the water on Italy’s mainland, the southern port of Salerno yesterday received more than 1,000 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa who had been recovered by a Norwegian ship.

As soon the Siem Pilot docked, those most unwell were taken on stretchers to makeshift medical tents set up on the quay. Among them, 173 were found to have scabies. The arrivals, including tens of pregnant women and at least 107 children, many clutching teddy bears, then lined up to fill in registration forms and have their photographs taken by immigration officers. Officials said they came from 20 countries, mostly Sub-Saharan, including Nigeria, Mali, Cameroon, Somalia, Gambia, and Senegal. They had departed from the Libyan city of Sabratha in dinghies.

What seems certain about the biggest migration crisis in Europe since the Second World War, is the extraordinary number of people who are prepared to risk their own lives, and even their children’s, to reach the West.

Yes, the risks are huge, but they understand that the odds of survival are stacked in their favour, and greedy people-traffickers in Libya encourage them by telling them so. And there is also an official safety net: under EU rules, member countries have a duty to send their navy to rescue anyone in peril on a vessel in their own territorial waters. These rescue vessels simply act as a magnet for more migrants to try the crossing. They know that if they reach Italian waters, they will most likely survive and be taken to their destination even if the smugglers’ craft in which they are sailing does not make it.

What is certain is that some of those brought to safety in Porto Empedocle this week will have vanished from Italy within weeks. They will simply walk out of the migrant hostels after taking a hot meal and a shower.

Last year, a staggering 47 per cent of the 153,000 migrants who arrived in the country did not even attempt to claim asylum. Many ran away, travelling to northern Europe to try their luck at getting into prosperous Britain, Germany or Sweden. Of course, some do stay in Italy. In the midst of economic woes, the country has been forced rapidly to extend its hospitality.

What a can of worms Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel opened when she invited in all Syrian refugees fleeing civil war and the horrors of the Islamic State. For countless numbers of those who took up her offer were not refugees from beleaguered Syria at all. Thousands upon thousands chanced their luck by pretending to be Syrians, while in fact they fact hailed from the Balkans, from Albania, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Morocco, Egypt, Iran, Iraq or from Africa. Today, safely in Germany, many don’t even bother to lie about their background and no sanctions are imposed on them for their deception.

Last year I did actually meet Syrian in Calais, a well-dressed man who had booked in to my hotel there. The 32-year-old was a civil servant who had reached Europe by sailing from Turkey to mainland Greece on a traffickers’ boat. ‘I am going to Britain. I am not going to wait with these other migrants in the mud of the camps. They are not Syrians. They are from Africa and Afghanistan where there is no big war like ours.’

Indeed, Syria accounted for only 2,500 of the total 34,687 UK applications. Last month, Frontex, the EU Border Force, warned that terrorists are infiltrating Europe by pretending to be refugees. It pointed out that two of the bombers in last November’s Paris attacks arrived on a smuggler’s boat from Turkey.

At the G7, Cameron said the migrant challenge would take time to solve. With more boats packed with eager passengers setting sail from Libya for Italy each day, time is what we have not got.

Response: This article depicts a different side of the Syrian Refugee Crisis that I had not heard about yet. It talks about how really very few of the people coming into Europe on smuggler's boats are actually refugees who are fleeing from war and violence. This is a sad fact that people would take advantage of something that is really meant to help those who need it. The author seems to have bias against those who are coming from countries other than Syria. This article even mentioned that two of the bombers from the Paris attacks came into Europe on a smuggler's boat. It is hard to know what to do in this situation because you don't want to stop helping people and it is incredibly hard to filter out who is actually in need. Overall, this article really opened my eyes to a new issue with the Syrian Refugee Crisis and the help that is being provided.

Citation: Reid, Sue. "The Tragic but Brutal Truth, They Are Not Real Refugees." The Star. The Star, 13 June 2016. Web. 13 June 2016. <http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2016/06/13/the-tragic-but-brutal-truth-they-are-not-real-refugees_c1366591?page=0%2C2>.

Kenya's tourist amvals increase by 14 per cent

Visitors into Kenya increased by 14 per cent in the first four months of the year, signaling recovery 

of tourism industry which has faced a four-year slump over insecurity. 

Total international arrivals between January and April were 263,284 compared to 231 ,038 in the 

same period in 2015. 

Tourism Cabinet secretary Najib Balala yesterday attributed the growth to aggressive marketing, 

which has helped restore confidence among key international markets. 

"The government has invested heavily in security. Since the Garissa attack on April 2 last year, no 

other incident has happened. We are optimistic 2016 will be a good year," Balala said. 

During the period under review, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport recorded 13.6 per cent more 

visitors totaling 229,594, compared to 202,071 in 2015. Mombasa's Moi International Airport had 

31 ,810 visitors from 28,967, a 9.8 per cent growth. Arrival by sea (cruise ship) were 1,880. 

Balala, however, warned that the ongoing anti-IEBC protests are threatening the sector's recovery, 

which could rebound fully by 2018 in a peaceful environment. 

"The last two weeks we have sent shivers to the markets. All the efforts I have done to reassure 

people that Kenya is safe are going to waste. Political instability and lack of understanding is going 

to kill our industry," Balala said. 

"If we continue with images of lyres burning, people getting shot, it is not going to be good for our 

economy. We can decide and behave well or misbehave in the name of democracy and lose," he 

added. 

The government has been on a charm offensive to win back international markets which dropped 

as a result of insecurity, mainly caused by al Shabaab terror group. Balala said the ministry will 

invest heavily in traditional markets among them the UK, the US and India to grow numbers. The 

ministry has been allocated Sh4 billion in the 2016-17 budget. "This year we have the best 

budget," The CS said. 

KTB acting CEO Jacinta Nzioka sard the marketing body is working with tour operators and 

airlines to market the country. 

International arrivals dropped last year to 1.18 million from 1.35 million in 2014, a 12.6 per cent 

contraction. Tourism earnings decreased to Sh84.6 million last year from Sh87.l billion in 2014, 

the Economic Survey 2016 shows. The number of visitors to Kenya was 1.5 million in 2013, 1.7 

million in 2012, and 1.8 million in 2011. 




Response: Thisarticle talks about the rise in tourism in Kenya. 

This is something that is super beneficial for Kenya and even other areas of the world because of the
many nationalities that visit Kenya. Tourism is the main source of income and
support for Kenya. The reason that this growth of tourism is even being
discussed is that there was a major decrease in tourism after the Westgate mall
attack. This article does seem to have a bias towards Najib Balala, the tourism
cabinet secretary, as they cited his comments multiple times. Overall, this
article, and the statistics used in it, are hopeful for Kenya and many other
countries too.
Citation:Mwita, Martin. "Kenya’s Tourist Arrivals Increase by 14 per Cent." The Star Kenya. The Star, 7 

June 2016. Web. 8 June 2016. 

<http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2016/06/07/kenyas-tourist-arrivals-increase-by-14-per-cent_c1364470>.

Please do not kick out needy refugees from camps — UNHCR

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees yesterday warned Kenya over its 

decision to stop hosting refugees in Kenya. 

UNHCR said the safety of hundreds of thousands of Somalis, South Sudanese and other 

refugees living in Kenya hinged on the country's generosity and its willingness to be a 

leading beacon in the region for international protection. 

The agency said it was important that international asylum obligations prevail and are 

properly supported for 600,000 refugees hosted in the country just like 60 million 

refugees hosted globally. 

"In light of this, and because of the potentially devastating consequences for hundreds of 

thousands Of people that premature ending Of refugee hosting would have, UNHCR is 

calling on the Government of Kenya to reconsider its decision and to avoid taking any 

action that might be at odds with its international obligations towards people needing 

sanctuary from danger and persecution," the agency said in a statement. 

UNHCR said it recognises that Kenya played an extraordinary role over decades as the 

leading nation among countries hosting refugees, which has had numerous consequences 

on the country's security and economy. 

The refugee agency argued it has closely supported Kenya and the hosted refugees, 

helping the country address concerns raised. 

"UNHCR has been, and will continue to be, in touch with the Kenyan government to fully 

understand the implications of its statement," the statement reads. 

Government stands its ground saying refugees are a burden 

However, the government yesterday stood its ground maintaining that refugees will be 

kicked out as their stay is a burden to the growth Of the country. 

"We are not in a position to quantify the burden of indirect and direct burden to the 

country, but we have pressure from Other development projects, National Treasury CS 

Henry Rotich said yesterday. 

He spoke during the 66th celebration to mark Europe Day at the European Union Nairobi 

residency. 

Rotich said Kenya will at the same time continue engaging global partners for a lasting 

solution to address the civil wars in the region so that people in the horn Of Africa can 

settle down to focus on development projects. 

EU Ambassador Stefano Dejak said there were new challenges, following the increased 

number of refugees in the region that requires urgent attention. 

"We are aware of emerging challenges following the high numbers of refugees being 

hosted in Kenya but I am very confident that with renewed political dialogue, we IKenya 

and Europel will be in a position to address some of the issues raised," he said. 

Dejak thanked Kenya for hosting refugees for years and said Europe is also experiencing 

similar problems. 

Citation: Koech, Gilbert. "Please Do Not Kick out Needy Refugees from Camps – UNHCR." 

The Star, Kenya. The Star, Kenya, 10 May 2016. Web. 10 May 2016. <http://www.the-star.co.ke/

news/2016/05/10/please-do-not-kick-out-needy-refugees-from-camps-unhcr_c1347411>.

Response: This article talked about the current issue that Kenya is facing with the burden

of taking in refugees. The UNHCR has asked that Kenya not do this because some of the 

refugees may really struggle if turned out from the camps too early.  This article does not 

have a very clear bias, but many of the comments were upset with the UNHCR for asking 

Kenya to do more than what they have done over many years. I do understand that taking in 

refugees may be a big burden, but I don't think that the correct response is to just remove 

the camps all of the sudden. Overall, I think this article did give some good information on 

a couple of outsider's opinions on the matter but did not necessarily address Kenya's 

specific reasons for this decision. 

Italian surgeon to perform first human head transplant

An Italian surgeon claims he is ready to perform the first full human head 

transplant in 2017 and he already has a volunteer. Dr Sergio Canavero says his team have 

the ability to perform the complicated procedure thanks to technological advances. But 

experts have debunked his claims and insist that the operation is still many years from 

reality. Russian-born Valery Sprinidov, who suffers from Werdnig-Hoffmann disease that 

causes atrophy of the muscles, has reportedly agreed to be the first patient to undergo 

the procedure. According to The Independent, Canavero, now 51, announced he'd be able 

to do a human head transplant in a two-part procedure he dubs HEAVEN (head 

anastomosis venture) and Gemini (the subsequent spinal cord fusion). But many dismiss 

Canavero's plans as fantasy. According to Canavero the operation will be a 36-hour, $20 

million (E14 milion) procedure involving at least 150 people, including doctors, nurses, 

technicians, psychologists and virtual reality engineers. In a specially equipped hospital 

suite, two surgical teams will work simultaneously one focused on Spiridonov and the 

other on the donor's body, selected from a brain-dead patient and matched with the 

Russian for height, build and immunotype. Both patients anesthetized and outfitted with 

breathing tubes will have their heads locked using metal pins and clamps, and electrodes 

will be attached to their bodies to monitor brain and heart activity. Next, Spiridonov's 

head will be nearly frozen, ultimately reaching 12 to 15 degrees Celsius, which will make 

him temporarily brain-dead. Doctors will then drain his brain of blood and flush it with a 

standard surgery solution. Then the two teams, working in concert, will make deep 

incisions around each patient's neck and use color-coded markings to note all the 

muscles in both Spiridonov's head and that of the donor, to facilitate the 

reconnection.Next comes the most critical step Of all. Under an operating microscope, 

doctors will cleanly chop through both spinal cords - with a $200,000 diamond 

nanoblade, so thin that it is measured in angstroms, provided by the University Of Texas. 

Then the rush is on: Once sliced, Spiridonov's head will have to be attached to the 

donor's body and connected to the blood flow within an hour. (When the head is 

transferred, the main vessels will be clamped to prevent air from causing a blockage.) 

Surgeons will quickly sew the arteries and veins of Spiridonov's head to those of his new 

body. The donor's blood flow will then, in theory, re-warm Spiridonov's head to normal 

temperatures within minutes. 

Citation: "Italian Surgeon to Perform First Human Head Transplant." The Hans India. Hyderbad India House, 3 May 2016. Web. 3 May 2016. <http://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/International/2016-05-03/Italian-surgeon-to-perform-first-human-head-transplant/225754>.

 Response: This article talks about a recently proposed medical experiment to transplant a

head. The article seemed to biased with the confidence that this would work,
though I'm sure this is a very controversial issue. If this operation works,
then there will be an unbelievable amount of moral and medical issues to sort
out. I personally do not see any major benefits to this procedure that would
outweigh the amount of conflict produced by it. 
Overall, this article was pretty disturbing and the probability of this
procedure working seems pretty far fetched but would change the medical world a
great deal.

Fight World Malaria Day

 On World Malaria Day, the WHO said six African countries could be free of the disease by 

2020. Despite this ray of hope, the statistics are still grim and the disease deadly, especially in 

sub-Saharan Africa. 

At the Gache Gache clinic in the remote town Of Kariba, 360 kilometers (224 miles) 

northwest of Harare, Zimbabwe, nurse Gadzirai Matem is treating malaria patients. He 

told DW he has seen a drop in the number of malaria cases though they tend to rise in the 

rainy season. They have to ration mosquito nets because resources are limited. 

"Sometimes we are forced to screen patients and focus on children under the age Of five 

and pregnant mothers because they are at high risk of contracting malaria," he said. 

WHO report 

In a report marking World Malaria Day the World Health Organization 

(WHO) said six African countries - Algiera, Botswana, Cape Verde, Comoros, South Africa 

and Swaziland - could be free Of malaria by the end Of the decade. 

South Africa has seen a five-fold decline in the number of malaria cases since 2000 when 

the country registered 64,000 cases: By 2014 the number had fallen to 11,700. Most of the 

diagnoses came from areas bordering Swaziland, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. 

Zimbabwe has also said it wishes to eliminate malaria by 2020, though it is not on the 

WHO's list of African nations tipped to reach this target 

One local Kariba resident told DW that when you go to a hospital or clinic there "you are 

tested for everything including malaria because they know this area is malaria prone." 

Visiting a clinic is not always easy. Roads are inaccessible during the rainy season and 

health workers are forced to rely on boats to ferry patients across the lake to Kariba town. 

Selling free mosquito nets 

The central African nation of Cameroon is also struggling with malaria. Minister of 

Health Andre Mamma Fouda told DW that out Of 600,000 patients who sought 

consultation and treatment recently, 75 percent (450,000) were found to be suffering 

from malaria, "which shows the gravity of malaria in Cameroon.' 

He also explained what the country was doing to combat the disease. "We are now 

equipping our hospitals with rapid diagnostic testing and anti-malaria drugs at 

subsidized rates." Cameroon also says it is distributing mosquito nets treated with 

insecticide free of charge to stop people from becoming infected. But local media accuse 

hospital staff of selling the nets in Chad and Nigeria. 

Founda said that this year's fatalities from malaria in Cameroon included more than 

2,000 people, mostly women and children, who had fled to the north of the country 

hoping to escape the Boko Haram insurgency. 

Another instance of public health deteriorating while conflict rages is South Sudan. The 

medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said the country experienced an 

unprecedented malaria outbreak in 2015, worsened by shortages of anti-malarial drugs. 

Malaria is caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected 

female mosquitoes. The most deadly malaria parasite and the most prevalent in Africa is 

Plasmodium falciparum. The first symptoms - fever, headache, chills and vomiting - 

usually appear between 10 and 15 days after the mosquito bite. Without prompt 

treatment, Plasmodium falciparum malaria can progress to sever illness and death, the 

WHO says on its website. 

Response: This article was written in honor of Word Malaria Day and to raise awareness about
the disease. They talked a lot about the statistics on how they plan to
decrease the number of malaria cases in six African countries by the end of the
decade and the reasons that other African countries have not been able to
eradicate malaria. From what the article said, it sounds like the violence and
political unrest contributes to the issue of Malaria as well as the time of
year. This article addressed health issues as well as political and terror
issues that make up so much of the current problems in Africa. If they really
have come up with a solution to start defeating malaria, it will be a huge
change for the countries in Africa that suffer so greatly from this disease.

Citation: Caldwell, Mark. "Africa: World Malaria Day - Africa's Protracted Fight." 

All Africa. AllAfrica, 25 Apr. 2016. Web. 26 Apr. 2016. <http://allafrica.com/stories/201604260300.html>

Blood test gives early warning of melanoma relapse

By Stephen Feller 

Testing for circulating tumor DNA in the blood could help doctors detect mutations in a 

tumor, indicating resistance to drugs or an impending relapse Of melanoma. Photo by 

Photographee.eu/Shutterstock 

LONDON, March 7 (UPI) A blood test can detect changes in tumor DNA, potentially 

helping doctors detect melanoma relapse far earlier, according to a study in England. 

Scientists at Cancer Research UK found the blood test detects mutations in circulating 

tumor DNA indicating potential drug resistance or relapse, which would allow treatment 

to start earlier and increase the chance for a patient's survival. 

Although the study was small, and scientists say the test's accuracy needs to be tested in 

a much larger trial before it is used in clinics, any possibility of improving how cancer is 

tracked will improve treatment. 

"One of the sinister things about melanoma is that it can lay dormant for years and then 

suddenly re-emerge, probably as it escapes from the control Of the body's immune 

system," Dr. Peter Johnson12 chief clinician at Cancer Research UK, said in a press 

131. "Being able to track cancers in real time as they evolve following treatment has 

release 

huge potential for the way we monitor cancers and intervene to stop them growing back. 

For the study, published in the journal Cancer Discovery141 the scientists analyzed 364 

samples from 214 patients using whole exome sequencing and targeted sequencing of 

circulating tumor DNA. 

The scientists were able to use the test to observe treatment responses, as well as 

identify where tumors may be resisting the therapy. Within circulating tumor DNA, the 

researchers found mutations to genes such as NRA and P13K, which the scientists said 

can allow tumors to resist treatments. 

"Being able to spot the first signs of relapse, so we can rapidly decide the best treatment 

strategy, is an important area for research, " Dr. Richard Marais, a professor at the 

University of Manchester, said. "Our work has identified a way for us to do this but we 

still need to test the approach in further clinical trials before it reaches patients in the clinic." 

Citation: Feller, Stephen. "Blood Test Gives Early Warning of Melanoma Relapse."UPI. United Press International, Inc., 7 Mar. 2016. Web. 7 Mar. 2016. <http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2016/03/07/Blood-test-gives-early-warning-of-melanoma-relapse/4121457355254/>.

Response: This article explains the new developments in the health field where they have found
a test that can pretty much predict cancer relapses before they happen. This
would be a huge development for health care all over the world if it really
works. Cancer has become such a big issue all over the world and every little
development to fight the battle against cancer helps. This article did not seem
to have a very strong bias although it did sound very hopeful about the fact
that this test will probably work. Though this article was short, I think that
is gave the main facts about what this new test could mean for our world today
and how it could change the battle against cancer. To me, this article sounded
hopeful but may have been the author speaking more than the test itself.

US Says Cyber-Attacks Can Expose Islamic State Communications

US cyber-attackslll to disrupt the Islamic State's communications and overload their 

networks could force the militant group to use Older technologies that are easier for the 

US to intercept, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said Monday. 

Carter and Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, provided details 

about how the Pentagon is using its new, aggressive cyber campaign as part of military 

operations against the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. 

"As we disrupt the ISIL communications via cyber or other methods, sometimes we do 

drive them to Other means, " Carter told Pentagon reporters. "Sometimes, those Other 

means are easier for us to listen to. 

US officials told The Associated Press last week that the military had increased cyber 

operations against the group. The operations include efforts by US Cyber Command to 

prevent the group from using the Internet and social media to communicate and 

distribute propaganda aimed at attracting and inspiring recruits. The efforts could also 

force IS back to technologies like cell phones to communicate. 

Dunford said that using the computer-based attacks alongside bombings and other 

military actions allows the US to "both physically and virtually isolate" the group and 

limits its ability to command and control its fighters. 

That type Of coordinated offensive, he said, will be used to support Iraqi security forces 

as they try to retake the northern city of Mosul. 

The surge of computer-based military operations by US Cyber Command began shortly 

after Carter prodded commanders last month to accelerate the fight against the Islamic 

State group on the cyber front. 

Dunford and Carter didn't provide a lot Of details Monday. Dunford said the US doesn't 

want to reveal too much. 

"We don't want the enemy to know when, where and how we're conducting cyber 

operations," said Dunford. "We don't want them to have information that will allow them 

to adapt over time. We want them to be surprised when we conduct cyber operations." 




Citation:

"US Says
Cyber-Attacks Can Expose Islamic State Communications."

Gadgets 360 News. Red Pixels
Ventures Limited, 1 Mar. 2016. Web. 1 Mar. 2016. <http://gadgets.ndtv.com/internet/news/us-says-cyber-attacks-can-expose-islamic-state-communications-808439>.







Response: This
article talks about a new method that the US is trying to use against the
Islamic State. From what the article says, this seems to be a very reasonable
option that could completely change the war on terrorism. I think the article
has bias towards the US's plans and against the Islamic State and many readers
would share their bias. I think this article did not give a very large amount
of information on this topic because the US does not want to disclose much
information on the plans but there is enough in this article to give us an idea
of what is going on in this war on terrorism from the US side of things.
Overall, I think the article had some areas that could have been improved but
was also pretty well-written. 

Greek police remove people from border with Macedonia

Greek police have started removing people from the country's border with Macedonia after a snap decision to tighten border controls by the Balkan state left thousands stranded. 

Authorities said the mostly Afghan migrants and refugees were being put on buses bound for 

Athens, in the south of the country, where they will be temporarily housed in relocation camps. 

Police and empty buses had entered the Idomeni area before dawn. In one area seen from the 

Macedonian side Of the border, about 600 people had been surrounded by Greek police, a witness 

told Reuters. 

About 4,000 people were stranded on the frontier on Tuesday as the crossing of Syrians and Iraqis 

— who are allowed to pass — slowed considerably, Greek police said. 

On Monday Greece made frantic appeals to Macedonia to open its frontier. By midday up to 

10,000 men, women and children had been trapped in Greecew, with most marooned in the north. 

Another 4,000 people, newly arrived from islands off Turkey's Aegean coast, were stuck in 

Athens's port Of Piraeus. 

On Tuesday morning a further I ,250 people arrived in Athens from three Greek islands. Some of 

them had bus tickets to Idomeni, but it was unclear if they would be permitted to travel north from 

Athens. 

Macedonian police officers stand in front of a gate over as migrants wait behind at the Greek- 

Macedonian border. Photograph: Marko DjuricafReuters 

The backlog came after Macedonia refused entry to Afghan refugees 131 claiming it was reacting to 

a similar move by Serbia. 

Amid rising tension and fears of the collapse of the passport-free Schengen zone, Greece 

lambasted the policies being pursued by countries to its north. 

Speaking on state-run ERT television, the Greek migration minister, Yiannis Mouzalas, said: 

"Once again the European Union voted for something, it reached an agreement, but a number of 

countries lacking the culture of the European Union, including Austria, unfortunately violated this 

deal barely 10 hours after it had been reached." 

Neighbouring countries along the Balkan corridor had in turn become enmeshed in "an outburst of 

scaremongering' . 

A boy holds his baby brother at the port ofPiraeus on Tuesday. 

Photograph: Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP/Getty Images 

"The Visegråd countries have not only not accepted even one refugee; they have not sent even a 

blanket for a refugee," he added, referring to the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia. 

"Or a policeman to reinforce LEU border agencyl Frontex." 

Skopje said on Monday it had tightened restrictions after Austria imposed a cap on transit and 

asylum applications, triggering a domino effect down the migrant trail. 

As ofT1cials scrambled to find accommodation for the newcomers, Athens's leftist-led government 

was engaged in desperate diplomatic efforts to ease the border controls. 

Greece's foreign ministry said a formal protest had been filed with Austria over its decision to call 

a meeting of Balkan states on the migrant crisis without including Greece. The move was a 

"unilateral and non-friendly act" towards Greece on a matter in which Athens had a direct interest, 

the ministry said. 

Vienna has invited Balkan states to a meeting on the migration crisis on Wednesday, following the 

country's move to limit asylum applicants last week. 

Response:

Identifies problem/question: This article talks more about the Syrian refugee crisis and how that has affected Greece and the other European countries. They are mainly looking at the issue of how the Syrian Refugee Crisis has created tensions between the different countries, especially between the countries that are accepting refugees and helping them out and the ones that aren't. There is a sense of resentment toward countries like the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia and the author even says that these countries have not taken in a single refugee or sent any supplies to help the countries that are involved in helping out with the Syrian refugees.

Identifies student's own perspective: I think that the countries that are helping out with the Syrian Refugee crisis are doing the right thing, but I do understand the other countries who may not have enough food, space, or money to accept a bunch of refugees and care for them adequately, however, I do believe that each country can and should do their part to help out by sending money or supplies even if they can't actually set up refugee camps. I also realize that Greece is doing much more for these refugees than many people may think. The country of Greece is setting up what will be the world's largest refugee camp and accepting the Syrians into their country as a safe haven.

Identifies other positions: As I mentioned before, I do understand that some of these countries that aren't accepting refugees have legitimate reasons for not helping out. It appears that many of the countries that are not accepting refugees are some of the poorer or less well-off countries and I can see how that would be a completely reasonable excuse for not helping out in this area. This view is different from my own, but I believe that the people in charge of these countries know what intake and aid they can and can't provide so I think that there is a reason for their denial of refugees into their countries.

Identifies assumptions: The author seems to assume that we have the same opinion about the Syrian refugee crisis and the countries that are not working on and helping this process. The assumed opinion seems to be spiteful and attacking of the other countries.

Identifies Evidence: The author seems to use the evidence of other countries having "bad motives" and excluding Greece from conferences about the Syrian refugee crisis as a fact rather than just his opinion of how bad things actually are. The author also emphasizes and may even over emphasize his opinion by using the extreme numbers to show how horrible the situation is.

Identifies Context: The context of this article is most likely written from the perspective of a person that is actually in Greece (or another European country) and is surrounded by the opinions and bias and even firsthand experience around them. I think this article is meant for pretty much any audience but specifically addresses European countries and their response to the Syrian refugee crisis.

Conclusions: I think that this article did give a pretty objective opinion and data about the Syrian refugee crisis in relation to the different European countries' responses. I think this article was informative about more than just the numbers and troubles of the Syrian refugee crisis like so many articles do these days. Overall, I think the author gave a very clear article to help us understand this issue in more depth.

Citation:  Smith, Helena. "Greek Police Remove People from Border with Macedonia."

The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 23 Feb. 2016. Web. 23 Feb. 2016. <http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/23/greece-implores-macedonia-to-reopen-border-to-refugees>.

More rescued two days after Taiwan quake; Toll could exceed 100

Rescue personnel work at the site where a 17 -storey apartment building collapsed after 

an earthquake hit Tainan, southern Taiwan February 7, 2016. 

Reutersfl'yrone Siu 

TAINAN, Taiwan Rescuers pulled out alive an eight-year-old girl and her aunt from the 

rubble of a Taiwan apartment block on Monday, more than 60 hours after it was toppled 

by a quake, as the mayor Of the southern city Of Tainan warned the death toll could 

exceed 100. 

The official death toll from the quake rose to 38, with more than 100 people missing. 

The girl, named as Lin Su-Chin, was conscious and had been taken to hospital, Taiwan 

television stations said. Her aunt, Chen Mei-jih, was rescued shortly after. 

The quake struck at about 4 a.m. on Saturday (2000 GMT Friday) at the beginning of the 

Lunar New Year holiday, with almost all the dead found in Tainan's toppled Wei-guan 

Golden Dragon Building. 

Rescue efforts are focused on the wreckage Of the 17-storey building, where more than 

100 people are listed as missing and are suspected to be buried deep under the rubble. 

Earlier, Wang Ting-yu, a legislator who represents the area, told reporters that a woman, 

identified as Tsao Wei-ling, was found alive, lying under her dead husband. Their two- 

year-old son, who was also killed, was found nearby. 

Another survivor, a man named Li Tsung-tian, was pulled out later, with Taiwan 

television stations showing live images of the rescues. Several hours later, Li's          girlfriend was found dead in the rubble. 



Tsao and Li were both being treated in hospital. 

Tainan Mayor William Lai said during a visit to a funeral home that rescue efforts had 

entered what he called the "third stage". 

"There are more fatalities than those pulled out (alive), and the number of fatalities will 

probably exceed 100," Lai told reporters. 

Rescuers continued to scramble over the twisted wreckage of the building as numbed 

family members stood around, waiting for news Of missing relatives. 

Taiwan's government said in a statement 36 Of the 38 dead were from the Wei-guan 

building, which was built in 1994. 

President-elect Tsai Ing-wen, who won election last month, said there needed to be a 

"general sorting out" of old buildings to make sure they were able to cope with disasters 

like earthquakes. 

"There needs to be a continued strengthening Of their ability to deal with disasters," she 

said. 

Outgoing President Ma Ying-jeou, speaking to reporters at a Tainan hospital, said the 

government needed to be a better job in ensuring building quality 

"In the near future, regarding building management, we will have some further 

improvements. We will definitely do this work well," Ma said. 

Reuters witnesses at the scene of the collapse saw large rectangular, commercial cans of 

cooking-oil packed inside wall cavities exposed by the damage, apparently having been 

used as building material. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping also conveyed condolences to the victims, state news 

agency Xinhua reported late on Sunday, and repeated Beijing's offer to provide help. 

China views self-ruled Taiwan as a wayward province, to be bought under its control by 

force if necessary.

Citation: Wu, J.R. "More Rescued Two Days after Taiwan Quake; Toll Could Exceed 100." Rueters. Thomson   Rueters, 8 Feb. 2016. Web. 8 Feb. 2016. <http://www.reuters.com/article/quake-taiwan-woman-idUSKCN0VH04Z>.

Response: This article talks about the recent earthquake in Taiwan and how devastating it was.

The death toll continues to rise and they are anticipating the final toll to be
more than 100, mostly from one building. The building seems to have been built in
a careless and unsafe manor which caused so much devastation. The article does
not seem to have much of a bias and the author seems to present the facts and
numbers well. I think that having this earthquake in Taiwan will cause the
government to make a change to their buildings and make sure they are much more
prepared if something as catastrophic as this ever happens again. 

WHO to decide whether Zika should be declared global emergency

The World Health Organization (WHO) is meeting in Geneva to discuss whether the Zika 

virus outbreak should be declared a global health emergency. 

Monday's meeting comes after warnings by the UN health agency that the mosquito- 

borne virus, which is linked to birth defects that have affected thousands across Latin 

America, was "spreading explosivelylll." WHO is expecting up to four million cases in the 

region this year. 

Senior WHO officials, joined by representatives Of affected countries and experts from 

around the globe, will meet behind closed doors to determine if Zika should be 

considered a "public health emergency of international concern." 

Tarik Jasarevic, a WHO spokesman, said that the meeting "will look really into what we 

know and will also see what level Of health emergency this represents. " 

A decision is not to be made public until Tuesday at the earliest 

WHO is under pressure to act quickly in the fight against Zika,after admitting it was slow 

to respond to the recent Ebola outbreak that ravaged parts Of West Africa and killed more 

than 11,000 people. 

Zika virus is a mosquito-transmitted infection related to dengue, yellow fever and West 

Nile virus. Symptoms are mild and include fever, rashes and joint pain. 

The disease is "strongly suspected to be linked to microcephaly, a birth defect 

characterized by incomplete brain development and an unusually small head. 

Brazil is the hardest-hit country and sounded the alarm in October, when a rash of 

microcephaly cases emerged in the northeast. Since then, there have been 270 confirmed 

cases of microcephaly and 3,448 suspected cases. 

Worries over Zika have spread beyond the affected areas to Europe and North America, 

where dozens of cases have been identified among people returning from vacation or 

business abroad. 

There is no vaccine or specific medicine currently available and treatment is normally 

focused on relieving the symptoms. Research is being done to develop a rapid test which 

could look for antibodies after a patient has recovered from the virus, making it possible 

to test for immunity. 

Only one in five people infected becomes ill, while treatment in hospital is uncommon 

and deaths are rare. 

Citation: "WHO to Decide Whether Zika Should Be Declared Global Emergency."WHO to Decide Whether to Call Zika Emergency. Al Jazeera America, 01 Feb. 2016. Web. 01 Feb. 2016. <http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2016/2/1/who-to-decide-whether-zika-should-be-declared-global-emergency.html>.

Response: This article talked about the recent outbreak of Zika in Latin America that has

caused so much panic. The World Health Organization is currently working on
deciding whether this should be considered a global emergency or not. The
reason for the panic and meetings with WHO is because it has started affecting
other countries and is expected to have many cases this year in Latin America
alone. This article does not seem to have any bias but clearly states the
severity of the problem. I think the author did a good job of presenting the
information clearly and I am very interested to find out what the World Health
Organization decides about the Zika virus.

Osborne: Malaria Eradication Will Create More Prosperous World

The Microsoft tycoon Bill Gates and the UK chancellor, George Osborne, have pledged to fight a war on the world’s deadliest disease, malaria, with the aim of eliminating it by 2040. Speaking at a conference at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, the pair announced £3bn in research funding in the UK to combat the mosquito-borne disease, which kills one child every minute.

Gates said the disease was holding back development in many countries, particularly in Africa. “We had setbacks in malaria where good drugs have built up a resistance. Deaths were as high as 2 million a year but to have them down to 600,000 a year is an amazing piece of progress.

“We have had this over-60% reduction by using bed nets, and one of the biggest projects that our foundation supports in Liverpool is coming up with new chemicals to cover those bed nets that mosquitoes are not resistant to.”

He said the aim was to shrink the area of the globe where the disease is rife. “We did get a consensus that we can complete this by 2040,” Gates said. “Eventually those 600,000 a year will go down to zero.”

Osborne has offered £500m a year for the next five years, which will come out of Britain’s international development budget. The Gates foundation will put up an additional £140m.

The money will go into the Ross Fund – named after Sir Ronald Ross, the British scientist who won a Nobel prize in 1902 for proving that mosquitoes transmitted malaria.

The government’s commitment is a significant increase on past expenditure. It is part of Osborne’s drive to prioritise aid programmes that may benefit the UK – such as by targeting illnesses that threaten to become global pandemics.

Advertisement

When questioned whether this was the best way to spend British taxpayers’ money at a time of austerity, he said both the Ebola epidemic and the Syrian refugee crisis had influenced his decision to pledge the aid.

He said: “Two events in the last year or so have shown the British people the value of commitment to tackling big international problems.

“First we had the Ebola outbreak and the second has been the Syrian crisis. If we had left Ebola unchecked it would have been potentially overwhelming in Europe and causing us all sorts of challenges here at home. Equally with the Syrian refugee crisis, you have to provide support to children and families in camps in places like Lebanon and Jordan.

“So in both those cases British aid is not just helping to improve our world but actually supports national interests, and it is overwhelmingly in Britain’s national interest to eradicate malaria.”

Osborne said eradicating malaria would lead to a more prosperous world, with African countries being able to spend money on their infrastructure rather than ploughing it into treating malaria cases.

He pointed out that “several thousand Britons” contracted the disease every year and this research would result in fewer cases.

The tropical medicine school, which is part of the University of Liverpool, houses the world’s largest mosquito collection and has pioneered research to stem the spread of the disease.

One of the school’s projects involves research into infusing bed nets with mosquito-repellent chemicals to make them even more effective in preventing children in Africa from being bitten in their sleep.

Advertisement

“Bill Gates can go anywhere in the world – he is one of the most successful people in our lifetime and he has chosen to come here,” said Osborne. “He is a smart guy who has chosen to invest in the work that you are doing in Liverpool and you should take this as a massive endorsement of what you do.”

Five British universities will be carrying out research for the project.

During the press conference, the footballer Kolo Touré spoke about his own battle against malaria after contracting the disease four times.

Touré, who plays for Liverpool, said he had suffered from the potentially deadly illness many times after being bitten by mosquitoes in his home country of Ivory Coast.

The 34-year-old most recently contracted the disease before the World Cup in Brazil and said he had been “totally wiped out”. He also told of friends who were currently suffering from the disease.

“Malaria is tough,” he said. “It makes you really, really tired. You feel like you have no power at all. As a footballer, if you have it, you can lose all your fitness in two days. Imagine that for a child, it’s even worse.”

He added: “I have friends right now who are suffering from this disease and I am very happy about all this funding. I want to say thank you to all the people who are trying to eradicate this disease.”

The Ross Fund was set up in November to invest in global health research to support the fight against the disease and other neglected and emerging infectious illnesses.

At the time Osborne pledged a one-off contribution of £1bn to the fund. That undertaking has since been expanded to £2.5bn over five years.

There were 438,000 malaria deaths in 2015, most of them of children aged under five, and the majority in Africa, according to the World Health Organisation.

Citation:

"Osborne: Malaria Eradication Will Create More Prosperous World." 

The Gaurdian. Guardian News and Media Limited, 25 Jan. 2016. Web. 25 Jan. 2016. <http://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/jan/25/bill-gates-george-osborne-pledge-eliminate-malaria>.

Response: This article talks about the recent plan to eradicate Malaria completely by the year 2040. This would change the world, especially third world countries, in incredible ways. If Bill Gates, George Osborne, and the universities that are researching this all keep up their ends of the deal, things are predicted to go very well. This article seems to have a bias towards Gates and Osborne along with Britain because of their major contribution to this research.  Overall, I think that this article was very informational and very helpful in understanding the plans that they have to eradicate Malaria and improve life for people all over the world. 

Bomb kills 12 children after hitting Syrian classroom

Bombs dropped by suspected Russian warplanes killed at least 12 Syrian schoolchildren
on Monday when they hit a classroom in a rebel-held town in Aleppo 1 province, the
Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.
The air strike hit the town of Injara some 15 km west of Aleppo city. A teacher also died
and there were reports Of others wounded, some critically, the monitor said.
Social media footage released by opposition activists showed a classroom with destroyed
benches and textbooks lying on the floor stained with blood. The footage could not be
independently verified.
There was no immediate from the Russian defence ministry.
In Geneva, a spokesman for the UN children's fund UNICEF said it was looking into the
reports of the raid.
The Kremlin launched air strikes over Syria in September saying it wanted to help
President Bashar al Assad, its main Middle East ally, defeat Islamic State and Other
militant groups.
Rescue workers and rights groups say the bombings have killed scores of civilians at busy
market places and in residential areas away from the frontlines. Russia denies this.
Amnesty Internationa said last month that Moscow's actions had violated
humanitarian law. US officials say Russia used fewer precision-guided munitions than
the United States and its allies.

Citation: "Bomb Kills 12 Children after Hitting Syrian Classroom." 

The Irish Times. The Irish TImes, 11 Jan. 2016. Web. 11 Jan. 2016<http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/middle-east/bomb-                                                                     kills-12-children-after-hitting-syrian-classroom-1.2492655>.

Response: This article is focused on the recent bombings in Syria. They suspect that it was Russia who bombed the school near the rebel-run town but they don’t know for sure yet. So far 12 children are pronounced dead and at least one teacher. This is a good example of the constant fighting and trouble that goes on in Syria. These children have not known a peaceful life but a life of war and conflict. This kind of thing is also a major reason for the Syrian refugee crisis. If they have the option to get out, that's what they'll surely do. This article is more heartbreaking than anything else but also shows the immense amount of conflict between the middle eastern countries and their allies. 

Britain denounces ISIS video showing 'spies' shot

A video made by Islamic State in Syria and Iraq (ISIS), showing a young boy in military fatigues and an older masked militant who both spoke with British accents, is "desperate"     propaganda from an organization that is losing ground, Prime Minister David Cameron said onMonday. 

The undated video, which could not be independently verified, also shows the killing of    five men accused of spying for the West. 

The masked man threatens Cameron and vows that Islamic State will one day occupy Britain 
before shooting one of the alleged spies in the head. 

The footage revived memories of "Jihadi John", a British Islamic State member who appeared in several videos in which hostages were killed before his own death was reported in an airstrike late last year. 

"It's desperate stuff from an organisation that really does do the most utterly despicable and ghastly acts and people can see that again today, " Cameron told reporters. 

A screen grab from undated footage reportedly released by ISIS militants shows a boy with aBritish accent. He appears in the same video that shows the execution of five men accused  of spying for the West. 

"This is an organisation that's losing territory, it's losing ground Britain will never be cowed by 

this sort ofte1Torism, our values are so much stronger than theirs. It may take a very longtime but they will be defeated." 

In the latest fighting in Iraq, Islamic State has largely been pushed out of the city of Ramadi, its biggest prize of last year. 

Citation: Reuters, Thomson. "ISIS Video of Boy, Executioner 'desperate Propaganda,' U.K.'s Cameron Says." CBCnews. CBC/Radio Canada, 04 Jan. 2016. Web.04 Jan. 2016. <http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/isis-video-boy-1.3388386>.






Response: This article talks about the ongoing
problem with ISIS and the western world. In the article, the British say that
this is largely propaganda and not necessarily a real threat. I think this can
tie into what we are talking about in class about letting our emotions get in
the way of thinking rationally. I think Britain was trying to look beyond the
emotionally side of things but they also made some pretty strong statements
about beliefs. Overall, I see a big bias towards Britain and the rest of the
western world and against ISIS and their threats.