Food aid for Syrian refugees being cut due to a lack of funding.
Syrian refugees in the camp. (Image courtesy of NATO council of Canada)
After more than three years of a bloody civil war, millions of Syrian people are escaping to surrounding countries to escape bombing and murder at home. Leaving with almost nothing but the clothes on their backs, the situation for these refugees is desperate, and will continue to worsen. The World Food Program (WFP) announced that they are cutting back on food aid for almost six million refugees in Syria and surrounding countries due to lack of funding. Food packages to Syria are being reduced to less than 1500 calories a day, and Turkey’s monthly food voucher program will stop aid in October for 170 000 people. In Jordan, aid will be cut from $34 to $16 (U.S.) a month per person, and food aid to new arrivals and Palestinian refugees will be discontinued. The overwhelming number of global crises has drained WFP’s budget. As months go on, food aid delivered to the Middle East will steadily decrease.
Source and more information can be found here.
As the Pluto debate reemerges, astronomers puzzle over the definition of a planet .
Pluto may be declared a planet again. (Image courtesy of Planets for Kids)
As new discoveries of other planets come to light, astronomers are faced with a problem: what is the definition of a planet? Currently, a planet is defined as “a spherical celestial object that orbits a star, and has cleared its neighbourhood (is not surrounded by any stable, similar object).” However, with more and more new planets being discovered outside our solar system, it is becoming apparent that the definition of a planet needs to be modified. Some new planets don’t orbit stars, orbit several stars simultaneously, or cross orbits with other planets. Astronomers need a distinct definition of a planet that works in the context of all planets, both inside and outside our solar system. This new definition will change how we view the solar system.
Source and more information can be found here.
Firechat, the new innovative mobile app, allows its users to chat without any cellular or internet connections.
People logging on to the Firechat app. (Image courtesy of Business Insider.)
Developed by a company called Open Garden in San Francisco, Firechat is an iOS/Android app that enables “off-grid-communication” to anyone nearby. This app uses Bluetooth to connect with devices within 60 metres, and allows live group discussions of up to 10 000 people at a time. Firechat was created for public communications that can be used at a special event or warning others about an emergency nearby, rather than for private communications. However, according to CitizenLab, Firechat is insecure for sensitive communications, and it is extremely easy to impersonate other people using the app. Firechat has posted that these problems will be soon fixed.
Source and more information can be found here.
Scientists have found a way to completely eliminate”HIV-1 virus from human DNA for the first time.
HIV virus cell magnified to examine the shape. (Image courtesy of University of Iowa.)
HIV is a disease that requires the infected to take medical treatment for the rest of their lives in order to survive. However, a team at Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia have produced successful results in permanently eliminating the HIV-1 virus using a method that could be a cure for other latent infections as well. Globally, over 33 million people have HIV infections, with one million of those cases in the US.
Source and more information can be found here.
Germany has abolished its University and College tuition fees for all students.
German Chancellor, Angela Merkei, talks to college students. (Image courtesy of ThinkProgress.)
German universities and colleges are no longer charging students any tuition fees. Tuition fees only began to be charged in 2006 when they were ruled not to conflict with Germany’s commitment to universal education. However, the fees proved unpopular, and began to drop consistently until they were completely abolished again. According to government officials, tuition fees are unjust, and discourage young people who do not have wealthy family backgrounds from obtaining post-secondary education. The majority of Germans are in favour of this move.
Source and more information can be found here.
