World News
Hundreds of migrants die in the Mediterranean
By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor Deeply shocking news has emerged that up to 500 people may have drowned in a failed attempt to enter Europe via the Mediterranean. However, there has been no official confirmation, which may never come. Only 41 survivors were rescued and were moved to another ship, as it sank during the night. Coastguards have been unable to confirm the survivors accounts, but the figure is astonishing. In another incident, six bodies were recovered and 108 migrants...
VIDEO – Canadian PM explains quantum computing, could Cameron?
By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor When a journalist half-asked Canadian PM Justin Trudeau to explain quantum computing, he probably didn’t expect an answer. However, he was surprised when the young left-wing PM gave clear and concise answer to the question, during a press conference at the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics. He replied: “Very simply…normal computers work, either there’s power going through a wire or not—a one, or a zero. They’re binary systems,” said Trudeau, triggering a wave of surprised...
Merkel allows criminal inquiry into comic’s Erdogan insult
By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor German Chancellor Angela Merkel has agreed to a criminal inquiry into a German comic who poked fun at the Turkish President. It is a move that will trouble many people across the world who believe in free speech. The comedian Jan Böhmermann read out a rude poem about the President Erdogan on German TV. However, under a little used section of Germany’s criminal code, they have to pursue a case against the comedian for insulting...
‘Huge rise’ in child suicide bombers by Boko Haram
By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor The use of child bombers has increased hugely over the last twelve months, by militant group Boko Haram. Now one in five suicide attacks are now carried out by children, according to the UN’s child agency. This news will sicken people across the world. Girls, who are in many cases drugged, are behind three-quarters of these attacks. The blood thirsty Islamist group causes havoc across Cameroon, Nigeria and Chad. There has been an astonishing 11-fold...
VIDEO -Snowboarder Girl Chased By Bear accused of being a fake
By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor A snowboarder has shared a video which shows a bear chasing her. Kelly Murphy said she was oblivious to the predator until she watched the video back. She posted the clip, entitled I Was Singing Rihanna Work And Didn't Know It Was Behind Me! "OMG! I was going through my snowboarding videos and I found a bear chasing me!!! I nearly got eaten!" she wrote. "Be careful people!" Her clip has gone viral - though...
Zari – Sesame Street’s new hijab-wearing muppet
By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor The world famous Sesame Street has launched a new muppet character “Zari” a feminist from Afghanistan. Zari will teach kids about “girl empowerment, social and emotional wellbeing.” She will appear in season 5 of Baghch-e-Simsim, which is the Afghani version of Sesame Street. The children’s show Twitter account went wild when the news was released this week. Saad Mohseni, the President of the MOBY group, that airs various TV shows for children in Afghanistan said:...
New Mississippi law means LGBT couples can be refused service
By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor In Mississippi the Governor has signed off a law that allows public and private businesses to refuse to their service to same-sex couples, as long as that couple’s existence conflicts with the “sincerely held religious beliefs or moral convictions” of the proprietor. The news has caused widespread outrage and civil rights groups have said it is “a sad day for Mississippi.” Governor Phil Bryant said the bill: “merely reinforces the rights which currently exist to...
‘Forced labour’ used at World Cup stadium – Qatar 2022
By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor Amnesty International has made worrying claims at Qatar, ahead of the 2022 World Cup in their country. The human rights group has accused Qatar of using forced labour at their flagship stadium, which is being constructed to host football matches during the 2022 tournament. Amnesty has made claims that workers at Khalifa International Stadium are forced to live in squalid accommodation, pay huge recruitment fees, have had wages withheld and passports confiscated. The issue has...
British forces training Bahraini army to fire sniper rifles
By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor British armed forces are training the Bahrain military to use sniper rifles. This news will worry human rights groups who have already accused the regime of targeting protestors during the Arab Spring. Elite Royal Navy commandos are running a training course for Bahraini army personnel, who were accused of using snipers to target protesters during protests back in 2011. Labour’s shadow Defence Secretary, Emily Thornberry said: “People will be rightly concerned to discover that our...