Syria Crisis: Aleppo’s Few Remaining Doctors Plead With Obama for Help
Fifteen of the last remaining doctors in rebel-controlled areas of the war-torn Syrian city of Aleppo challenged President Barack Obama on Thursday to intervene and “prove that you are the friend of Syrians.” The letter stated that U.S. “inaction” meant the United States shared responsibility “for the crimes of the Syrian government and its Russian ally.” Elizabeth Trudeau, a spokeswoman for the State Department, said Washington was working through the United Nations and was seeking to engage with Russia to find a diplomatic solution to “allow unimpeded lifesaving humanitarian assistance into areas like Aleppo.”
Donald Trump Suggests ‘Second Amendment People’ Could Act Against Hillary Clinton
Donald J. Trump on Tuesday appeared to raise the possibility that gun rights supporters could take matters into their own hands if Hillary Clinton is elected president and appoints judges who favor stricter gun control measures. Repeating his contention that Mrs. Clinton wanted to abolish the right to bear arms, Mr. Trump warned at a rally here that it would be “a horrible day” if Mrs. Clinton were elected and got to appoint a tiebreaking Supreme Court justice.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/10/us/politics/donald-trump-hillary-clinton.html
Simone Biles wins all-around gold at Rio Games in US one-two
Simone Biles took gold ahead of US teammate Aly Raisman and Russia’s Aliya Mustafina after finishing off with a stunning floor routine. By the time she left the floor after recording the highest score of the night, 15.933, Biles had become the first woman in 20 years to win back-to-back world and Olympic all-around titles.
http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/11/sport/simone-biles-usa-gymnastics-rio/?sr=google_news
Thailand blasts: More explosions target tourist towns
A series of coordinated blasts across Thailand has targeted tourist towns leaving four dead and many injured, with reports of more explosions. In the popular resort town of Hua Hin four bombs exploded over the last 24 hours. Several blasts also hit the island of Phuket on Friday. No group has said it carried out the attacks, but suspicion is likely to fall on separatist insurgents.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-37046943
U.S. affirms its prohibition on medical marijuana
In an announcement in the Federal Register and a letter to petitioners, the Drug Enforcement Administration turned down requests to remove marijuana from “Schedule I,” which classifies it as a drug with “no currently accepted medical use” in the United States and precludes doctors from prescribing it. The agency announced one policy change that could increase the amount of research conducted on marijuana: the DEA will expand the number of places allowed to grow marijuana for studies of its value in chronic pain relief, as a treatment for epilepsy and for other purposes.
