In the News

Here is some stuff in the news today...

[Content Note: War] War, war, war, never-ending war: "Afghanistan and the US have signed a long-delayed agreement to allow international forces to stay in the country beyond 2014. In a low-key ceremony at the presidential palace, the Afghan national security adviser and the US ambassador signed the bilateral security agreement in the presence of the new Afghan president, Ashraf Ghani. ...Under the terms of the agreement, signed by national security adviser Mohammad Hanif Atmar and US ambassador James Cunningham, about 12,000 foreign troops are expected to stay to train and assist Afghan security forces after the US-led combat mission formally ends at the end of 2014." The "train and assist" plan has worked great in Iraq, so I don't see what could possibly go wrong.

The Secret Service is being called onto the carpet over the breach of the White House by a dude with a knife. Julia Pierson, the director of the Secret Service, told members of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: "What happened is unacceptable and it will never happen again." But how did it happen in the first place?! Isn't that literally the most basic function of the Secret Service?!

[CN: Natural disaster; death] Mount Sakurajima Volcano Erupts in Japan: "A second volcano erupted in Japan on Monday, days after a deadly eruption at Mount Ontake that killed at least 36 people. Mount Sakurajima, an active volcano that erupts frequently, is located about 31 miles from a controversial nuclear plant where Japan's government has announced plans to restart two reactors." My god. It has been a really rough couple of years for Japan. Fuck.

[CN: Misogyny] It Continues to Be a Real Mystery Why Republicans Aren't Connecting with a Majority of Female Voters: "On Friday and Saturday, conservative politicians and activists descended upon Washington, D.C.'s Omni Shoreham Hotel, for the Values Voter Summit... Though birth control is popular among, well, everyone, [members on a panel titled 'How Conservatives Can Win with Millennials and Women'] seemed indignant that anyone in the GOP would support over-the-counter birth control, as several Republican senatorial candidates have done. According to [Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life], birth control is carcinogenic and so the people providing these 'dangerous chemicals' to women are waging the real War on Women. ...Hawkins even found a way to paint men as the true sufferers in the abortion debate." Of course.

[CN: Animal abuse] This is awful: "The global loss of species is even worse than previously thought, the London Zoological Society (ZSL) says in its new Living Planet Index. The report suggests populations have halved in 40 years, as new methodology gives more alarming results than in a report two years ago. The report says populations of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish have declined by an average of 52%. Populations of freshwater species have suffered an even worse fall of 76%." Halved in the last 40 years. Halved.

[CN: Drones] If you are able to view video, I highly recommend watching John Oliver's segment on drones from his most recent episode.

Something something giant flag.

A perfect fit! "Former CNN host Piers Morgan will be joining the Daily Mail Online as the website's U.S. editor-at-large, according to an announcement on Tuesday."

Do you have a dog with hip dysplasia? Then you might be interested in this new harness that could help.

And finally! Here is a great story about Iris, a little girl with autism, and Thula, a cat who is Iris' BFF. ♥