Crooked Bough News Round-up

— How James Earl Jones’ iconic voice became our voice of conscience

 

at 9/9/24 6:51pm

James Earl Jones’s legacy as a voice of reason is a reminder of what we might overcome when we face our trauma and find our purpose. His voice was a well of dignity, a reservoir of resonance that not only echoes from his career, but in all of us who heard him as well.

— East Africa’s mpox responders fight stigma with ‘love and dignity’

 

at 9/9/24 3:32pm

Drawing on lessons from past epidemics like HIV and COVID-19, communities in East Africa are fighting stigma around mpox to stop the disease’s spread.

— Macron finally picked a prime minister. But can he govern France?

 

at 9/9/24 2:32pm

The end of the Olympics also closed out the feel-good limbo that had frozen French politics. Now President Emmanuel Macron and his newly chosen prime minister will have to figure out how to govern a France that looks on the verge of ungovernability.

— Ukraine’s push into Russia did wonders for morale. But will it change the war?

 

at 9/9/24 2:27pm

History will judge whether Ukraine’s bold incursion into Russian territory will pay off in military terms, but it has cheered the public mood.

— Afghan women sing freedom

 

at 9/9/24 1:51pm

The Taliban’s harsh laws that even command women not to sing at home have led many women to sing on social media – with a melody of equality and dignity.

— Air conditioning gets expensive. Here’s how to save money – and help the planet.

 

at 9/9/24 1:31pm

Increased air-conditioning demand, alongside rising energy prices in some places, is causing some consumers to feel strained. Here are charts on AC usage in the U.S. and tips on how to lower costs.

— Students return to campus while affirmative action does not. What’s the impact?

 

at 9/9/24 11:20am

The first freshman class since a Supreme Court ruling ended affirmative action in higher education is starting college. Experts say it will take years to see the full impact on enrollment, but some colleges are reporting fewer incoming Black students.

— Maduro retains two-decades-long rule as opposition leader flees to Spain

 

at 9/9/24 10:43am

Edmundo González, considered by several foreign governments to be the winner of the July presidential election, landed in Madrid Sept. 8. There, he joins at least four former presidential hopefuls who are victims of Nicolás Maduro’s brutal rule.

— In a surprise twist, Algeria’s president-elect disputes his own election victory. Why?

 

at 9/9/24 10:04am

President Abdelmadjid Tebboune jointly issued a statement alongside his two main opponents criticizing the country’s election chairman. His victory, totaling 94.7% of the vote, contradicted initial turnout figures and local tallies.

— Why Harris has more at stake in Tuesday’s debate than Trump

 

at 9/9/24 4:00am

The Harris-Trump debate, hosted by ABC News, comes as polls show a neck-and-neck race in the states that will determine who wins in November.

— Judge delays Trump’s hush-money sentencing until after November election

 

at 9/6/24 3:52pm

A New York judge agreed to delay the sentencing of former President Donald Trump in a criminal case involving falsified records on hush money.

— Human smuggling is on the rise. International collaboration is key to halting it.

 

at 9/6/24 1:58pm

Despite efforts to crack down on immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border, human smugglers adapt quickly to new laws and regulations in how they market their “services” to desperate migrants. Human trafficking is on the rise. International collaboration is key to halting it.

— Why China’s rock music is here to stay

 

at 9/6/24 1:25pm

A new textbook warns that rock ‘n roll is a security threat. Yet China’s vibrant rock scene is mainly a source of creative freedom.

— In the shadow of war, life begins anew in a Congolese maternity ward

 

at 9/6/24 12:39pm

A maternity ward in eastern Congo is a testament to both the trauma of war and how, in spite of it, life carries stubbornly on.

— Backdrop for Georgia mass shooting: Both gaps and progress on school safety

 

at 9/6/24 12:38pm

A school shooting in Georgia has left four people dead. It also highlights how efforts to prevent and respond to threats are improving but incomplete.

— Backdrop for Georgia mass shooting: Both gaps and progress on school safety

 

at 9/6/24 12:38pm

A school shooting in Georgia has left four people dead. It also highlights how efforts to prevent and respond to threats are improving but incomplete.

— Think moving day is hard? How African vets brought a grumpy elephant to his new home.

 

at 9/6/24 9:59am

The last aging captive elephant in South Africa showed signs of deep unhappiness after his partner died in 2020. Veterinarian Amir Khalil and his team, experts at coaxing elephants, were called to move 4-ton Charley to a wild elephant reserve.

— As X sinks in Brazil, many users find refuge on Threads and Bluesky

 

at 9/6/24 9:50am

After Brazil’s Supreme Court’s decision to suspend X – with a hefty fine for those who evade the ban – users are moving to Bluesky or Threads. While X was not the largest platform in Brazil, it played an outsized role in politics, academia, and journalism.

— ‘1992’ says something important about race in America – and Tyrese Gibson

 

at 9/6/24 9:37am

The new film “1992” is a reminder of America’s cycles of racism and rebellion. Actor Tyrese Gibson stands out as a portrait of hope.

— ‘I will not subject my family to more pain’: Hunter Biden pleads guilty to tax charges

 

at 9/6/24 9:15am

Hunter Biden’s winding legal saga may soon be over. On Sept. 5 he pled guilty to tax evasion charges to avoid going to trial. He now awaits sentencing with the possibility of prison time. Here’s how the story has played out so far.

— Parent stress is a national health issue: Asking for help is a strong first step

 

at 9/5/24 3:39pm

Stress is now considered a major health risk for parents. The U.S. surgeon general says asking for help is the first line of defense.

As of 9/9/24 9:52pm. Last new 9/9/24 7:10pm.