Pentagon misled Congress on sexual assault cases

An Associated Press investigation found that officials at the Pentagon misled Congress by giving vague or inaccurate information about sexual assault cases. The purpose of the misinformation was to prevent a Senate bill that would change the way the military handles sexual assault cases.

The AP conducted its own research and interviews in relation to cases the Pentagon presented to Congress. The Pentagon’s information portrayed commanders as being more interested than civilian district attorneys and local police forces in prosecuting offenders.

Additional research showed that these records, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, misconstrued steps taken by civilian authorities.

More: Light shed on military’s handling of sexual assaults

 

Birth defects officially connected to Zika virus

Overwhelming evidence led officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to announce an official connection between the Zika virus and microcephaly, according to The New York Times. The condition results in babies being born with abnormally small skulls.

Officials said this is the first time a mosquito bite has caused a potentially lethal malformation. The problem occurs when pregnant women contract Zika through a mosquito bite and consequently give birth to children with microcephaly.

More: Zika complications are unprecedented

 

Medical-assisted suicide may be legalized in Canada
New legislation introduced in Canada on Thursday would legalize medical-assisted suicide in the country, according to The Atlantic. It would only be allowed in cases with patients in advanced stages of incurable diseases for whom death is “reasonably foreseeable.”

The law would include a 15-day reflection period.

Last year, the Canadian Supreme Court ruled medical-assisted suicide legal. The law would exclude non-Canadians to prevent foreigners from taking advantage of the law.

More: Medical-assisted suicide in Canada

 

Many killed by earthquake in Ecuador

A 7.8-magnitude earthquake ripped through the coast of Ecuador on Saturday night. It was the strongest earthquake to hit the country in decades. At least 410 people were killed and more than 2,000 were injured, according to The New York Times.

Much of some coastal cities, including Portoviejo, were flattened. The Spanish Red Cross has estimated that 3,000 to 5,000 people have been left homeless, according to The New York Times.

Rescue crews from around the world have begun flying to Ecuador to help dig out more survivors.

More: Earthquake rips through Ecuador

 

Ethiopians sweep titles at Boston Marathon

For the first time in the Boston Marathon’s 120 years, Ethiopians claimed the top spot in both the men’s and women’s divisions. Lemi Berhanu Hayle won the men’s division and Atsede Baysa won the women’s division.

Adriana Haslett and Patrick Downes, two survivors of the 2013 terrorist attack on the annual Boston event, ran in the race. They each lost a leg in the bombing.

Tatyana McFadden, who won the women’s wheelchair race, competed in honor of Martin Richard, a victim of the bombing who was 8 years old when he died.

More: 2016 Boston Marathon

 

Brazilian legislative body votes to impeach president

Months of scandal and political drama in Brazil continued on Sunday when the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of the country’s Congress, voted to impeach President Dilma Rousseff. The Senate will have to vote by a simple majority to hold a trial.

Rousseff was accused of bolstering her campaign for re-election by using funds from state-owned banks to cover up a budget deficit, according to The New York Times.

Accusations of corruption have roiled the country and put some of the most important members of Rousseff’s party in the spotlight, including her predecessor Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. While many protesters are pleased with the steps taken toward impeachment, some experts say impeachment may cause irreparable damage to Brazil’s democracy.

More: Political turmoil in Brazil

 

Pope Francis brings refugees back to Italy

After a visit to the Greek island of Lesbos on Saturday, Pope Francis brought 12 Muslim refugees from Syria back to Italy.

The pope has made it a point to call for humanitarian aid and a compassionate resolution to the migrant crisis.

The families taken to Rome were from Damascus and Deir al-Zour in Syria. They had been pre-selected and will be placed in homes and jobs in Rome.

More: Pope rescues refugees from camp

 

Endangered tiger kills Florida zookeeper

A Malayan tiger killed a zookeeper in Palm Beach, Florida, on Friday. Stacey Konwiser worked for the Palm Beach Zoo and was working with the tiger in a restricted area when she was killed.

Konwiser was evacuated to a nearby hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. Zoo visitors were sheltered in the gift shop, but the tiger was never loose, according to the Sun Sentinel.

The Malayan tiger is considered by the World Wildlife Foundation to be an endangered species.

More: Florida zookeeper killed

 

Two earthquakes shake Japan

A 6.2-magnitude tremor struck Japan on Thursday and was followed by a 7.0-magnitude earthquake on Saturday, according to The New York Times. The shocks occurred on the Japanese island of Kyushu.

The death toll from the quakes has hit 45, according to Japan Today. Hundreds of aftershocks hit the island and caused numerous landslides and collapsing houses.

Saturday’s quake was the largest to hit Japan since the 2011 earthquake that triggered a deadly tsunami.

More: 7.0-magnitude quake hits Japan

Published on April 20, 2016 at 7:56 am

Contact Delaney: dovanwey@syr.edu