Weekly World Headlines
In this Dec. 23, 2015 photo, Dejailson Arruda holds his daughter Luiza at their house in Santa Cruz do Capibaribe, Pernambuco state, Brazil. Luiza was born in October with a rare condition, known as microcephaly. Luiza’s mother Angelica Pereira was infected with the Zika virus after a mosquito bite. Brazilian health authorities are convinced that Luiza’s condition is related to the Zika virus that infected her mother during pregnancy. (Felipe Dana/AP Images)
1) First case of Zika virus in Puerto Rico
The first case of mosquito-borne virus, Zika, was reported by health officials in Puerto Rico. The virus was recently linked the rise of a serious neurological disorder among newborns in Brazil. While Puerto Rico Congressman Pedro Pierluisi stated on Thursday that “there is no reason for alarm,” the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has asked U.S. tourists traveling to Puerto Rico (especially pregnant women) to protect themselves from mosquito bites.
Zika is transmitted when a mosquito bites an infected person then spreads the virus by biting others. There is no vaccine to prevent it and once infected there is no medicine to treat the virus. Symptoms are usually felt three to seven days after being bitten and can include fever, rash, joint pain, headache, pain behind the eyes, and vomiting. Zika has recently made news when it was linked to a rise in microcephaly, a neurological disorder that can result in incomplete brain development in newborns. The CDC has urged tourists to wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants, to stay and to sleep in air-conditioned rooms with screens on windows and to use insect repellent approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/01/health/zika-mosquito-virus-puerto-rico/index.html
Chip Kelly answering questions from the media. Chris Szagola/AP
2) Eagles release head coach Chip Kelly
The Philadelphia Eagles announced the release of head coach Chip Kelly Tuesday evening. This spontaneous decision was spearheaded by owner and CEO of the team, Jeffrey Lurie, who said the following regarding the decision:
“I have made a decision to release Chip Kelly this evening. I spent the last three seasons evaluating the many factors involved in our performance as a team. As I watched this season unfold, I determined that it was time to make a change. As we move forward, the search for a new head coach will begin and will be led by myself, Don Smolenski and Howie Roseman. To the extent that we are able, we will try to keep you informed as we go through this process.”
Kelly, who formerly coached the NCAA Oregon Ducks, joined the Eagles’ coaching staff in 2013 and stayed for three seasons. Although coaching the Eagles to the playoffs by a wild card berth during his first season, turning Nick Foles into a Pro Bowler, and molding LeSean McCoy into the NFL’s leading rusher in 2013, Kelly did make a few controversial moves like cutting wide receiver DeSean Jackson, which left many fans angry and upset. He made the following statement after his release:
“I’m grateful to Jeffrey Lurie for allowing me to coach his Philadelphia Eagles for the past three seasons. I deeply regret that we did not bring this great city and its fans the championship they deserve. I was blessed to work with a gifted and hard-working coaching staff every day, and they will succeed wherever they go. Finally, my players mean the world to me. I will miss them very much and I will be rooting for them to achieve their dreams. Life is all about responding to challenges and seizing opportunities.”
As for Sunday’s matchup against the New York Giants, the Eagles will be led by offensive coordinator and interim coach Pat Shurmur to finish off the season.
3) Bill Cosby arraigned
On Wednesday afternoon, actor and comedian Bill Cosby was arraigned on three counts of aggravated indecent assault after being accused by at least 50 women of sexual assault. Cosby, 78, was first accused by former Temple University basketball coach Andrea Constand in 2004. She accused him of giving her a mix of pills and wine before proceeding to engage in non-consensual sexual activity while she slipped in and out of unconsciousness. A year after she accused him, prosecutors declined to charge Cosby due to lack of evidence, but last month, new district attorney Kevin Steele decided to reopen the case. This, along with a controversial stand-up comedy routine by Hannibal Buress about Cosby, sparked a flood of accounts made by numerous women, many whose accusations matched the same pattern of being drugged followed by sexual activity without their consent. After a judge unsealed the Constand case, new evidence was spilled which corresponded the women’s accounts. Documents revealed that Cosby admitted to giving prescription medications to women he wanted to engage in sexual activity with but he did not admit to the sexual assault. Wednesday afternoon the actor and comedian entered Montgomery County Courthouse right here in Pennsylvania where he was arraigned. His bail is set at $1 million and he is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing on January 14th, 2016.
http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/31/us/bill-cosby-sexual-assault-charges-pennsylvania/index.html
4) Goodbye 2015, hello 2016
Cue the weight-loss program and gym commercials. As New Year’s resolutions were set and New Year’s babies were born, the world screamed “Happy New Year!” as everyone welcomed 2016. People around the world celebrated seeing another year and recounted many of 2015’s most memorable moments and events. Many wore their 2016-shaped glasses as they crowded Times Square for the annual New Year’s celebration to await the iconic ball drop and share that special New Year’s kiss. Unfortunately for students, with New Year’s comes the end of winter break and remembering to write “16” instead of “15” when dating papers.
5) Obama to discuss new executive action on gun control
On Monday, President Barack Obama is to meet with Attorney General Loretta Lynch to discuss options for tougher gun restrictions. President Obama is expected to announce a new executive action on gun control, focusing on unilateral steps that can be taken to help curb gun deaths. The White House wouldn’t comment on the exact timing or content of the executive orders but gun control advocates are anticipating the new actions to be revealed during President Obama’s State of the Union address, which is scheduled for January 12th, 2016.
http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/31/politics/obama-to-announce-new-executive-action-on-guns/index.html