Astronaut Karen Nyberg captures Typhoon Haiyan from space

From CNN.

Floating high above the Earth, astronaut Karen Nyberg pointed her camera at a swirling white cloud spreading across the planet. Little did she know the devastation that was unfurling beneath.

This remarkable image of Super Typhoon Haiyan over the Philippines, was taken by the NASA astronaut during a five-month mission in space.

It was one of many specular photographs taken by Nyberg -- who in 2008 became the 50th woman in space -- and was retweeted thousands of times by her followers back on Earth.

9-Year old Girl helps mom deliver baby-sister on New Year Day at Home

January 1, 2014 -- A young Chicago girl got a real life lesson this week. She was at home in Little Village when her mother started to go into labor, and the 9-year-old jumped into action. "She said she felt the baby coming out and I told her to pushed the baby out and I'll catch the baby. She got scared. And I catched the baby, grabbed the towel and wrapped her around," said Alyssa Meza, 9.
Alyssa Meza says she had seen a medical TV show where a baby was born with an umbilical cord around its neck and she knew what to do.

Ex-Israeli Prime Minister Sharon's condition worsens

 

The medical condition of the comatose Ariel Sharon, the former prime minister of Israel, has sharply deteriorated, the hospital treating him said.

The 85-year-old Sharon, who is at the Tel Hashomer hospital in Tel Aviv, was suffering on Wednesday from "serious kidney problems" after undergoing surgery, according to the reports.

A hospital spokesman said that there had been a deterioration in Sharon's condition in the past few days.

Sharon had a stroke on January 4, 2006, slipping into a coma from which he has never recovered.

He has been getting medical care and receiving fluids through a feeding tube.

Former American First Lady Barbara Bush hospitalized.

Former first lady of America Barbara Bush remained hospitalized Wednesday with a respiratory-related issue, but her condition hasn't changed, a spokesman for her husband's office said and as reported.

Bush, 88, was admitted to Houston Methodist Hospital on Monday, though it wasn't announced until former President George H.W. Bush's office released a statement Tuesday night.
"She is in great spirits, has already received visits from her husband and family, and is receiving fantastic care," the statement read, promising to provide updates as warranted.
Jim McGrath, a spokesman for the former president, said there was "nothing new to report" on Wednesday.

My fear for Iheanacho - Keshi

From Vanguard...

Head coach of the Nigeria national team coach, Stephen Keshi is unhappy that the best player at the 2013 Fifa Under-17 World Cup, Kelechi Iheanacho will not be part of the Super Eagles side that will compete at the 2014 African Nations Championship (Chan) in South Africa.

Iheanacho was reportedly hurled off to Manchester City earlier this month to undergo trials with the Barclays English Premier League club.

However, nothing came out of the trip to Eastlands and the midfielder has now been left in limbo with Keshi declaring that the 17-year-old is no longer in his immediate plans.

Seeking for Peace: Isreal releases 26 Palestinian Prisoners

 

Twenty-six Palestinian prisoners have been released from Israeli jails, as part of a US-brokered deal to restart Middle East negotiations.

Tuesday's release comes a day before US Secretary of State John Kerry is set to return to the region in a bid to boost the faltering negotiations.

It is the third of four stages to free 104 inmates that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu committed to let go when the talks were renewed in July. They have been convicted of killing Israeli civilians or soldiers and have spent between 19 and 28 years in prison.

After departing on buses from Israeli jails overnight, the prisoners received hero's welcomes upon their return to the occupied West Bank and Gaza with officials and relatives lining up to greet them.

Train collision in North Dakota ignites Oil Tankers

A cargo train carrying oil in the US state of North Dakota collided with another train on Monday, setting off a series of explosions that left at least 10 cars ablaze, the latest in a string of incidents to raise concerns over oil-by-rail traffic.

Local residents heard several powerful explosions just a mile outside of the small town of Casselton after a westbound train carrying soybeans derailed, and an eastbound train hauling crude oil ran into it just after 2 pm CST (8 pm GMT), local officials said. There were no reports of any injuries.