Donald Trump assures Britain of 'unbreakable commitment' after bombing

US President Donald Trump telephoned Britain`s Prime Minister Theresa May Tuesday to assure her of America`s "unbreakable commitment" in the wake of a suicide bombing in England that killed 22 people.

The White House said Trump, who called May from Jerusalem, offered US assistance in the investigation of the attack late Monday at a packed pop concert in Manchester.

"The two leaders agreed that this attack --which targeted teenage children and their friends at a joyous event -- was particularly wanton and depraved," the White House said. 

"The president reassured the prime minister that Americans stand with the people of the United Kingdom and that our resolve will never waiver in the face of terrorism," it said.

The US statement said Trump looked forward to meeting May in person later this week to discuss "America`s unbreakable commitment to the United Kingdom and the ways both countries can work with allies and partners around the world to defeat terrorism."

British police arrested a 23-year-old man in connection with the attack, which the Islamic State group claimed was carried out by "one of the caliphate`s soldiers."

The suicide bomber detonated an explosive device near an exit to the 21,000-person capacity Manchester Arena where US pop star Ariana Grande was performing to a sold-out audience.

Emergency spacewalk outside ISS underway; NASA astronauts Peggy Whitson and Jack Fischer take the reigns

The failed relay box was installed in the space station truss March 30 during a spacewalk by Whitson and Expedition 50 commander Shane Kimbrough.

Spacewalks are events that science and space enthusiasts look forward to with the initiation of every consecutive expedition launch. This time, however, NASA astronauts were asked to conduct an unscheduled emergency spacewalk to replace a critical computer relay box – that failed on May 20.

NASA astronauts Peggy Whitson and Jack Fischer have begun the spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS).

The relay box, known as a multiplexer-demultiplexer (MDM), is one of two units that regulate the operation of radiators, solar arrays and cooling loops. They also route commands to other vital station systems.

The spacewalk is currently underway and the LIVE coverage can be viewed here!

While the cause of the MDM failure is not known, NASA says the crew on the station is in no danger, and the MDM failure – believed to be internal to the box itself – has had no impact on station activities. Because each MDM is capable of performing the critical station functions.

The failed relay box was installed in the space station truss March 30 during a spacewalk by Whitson and Expedition 50 commander Shane Kimbrough.

Whitson, who prepared a spare data relay box May 21 and tested components installed in the replacement, said that the spare MDM is ready to be brought outside to replace the failed unit.

During the spacewalk planned to last about 2.5 hours, Whitson will replace the MDM, while Fischer will install a pair of antennas on the US Destiny Laboratory module to enhance wireless communication capability for future spacewalks.

The spacewalk – the 10th for Whitson and the second for Fischer – will be the 201st in support of space station assembly and maintenance. It is also the sixth spacewalk conducted from the Quest airlock this year.

Whitson, who already is the leading female spacewalker in history, will be designated extravehicular crew member 1 (EV-1) wearing a suit with red stripes. Fischer will be designated as EV-2, wearing a suit with no stripes.

A similar MDM replacement spacewalk was conducted in April 2014 by Expedition 39 crewmembers Steve Swanson and Rick Mastracchio of NASA.

New planet alert! Scientists discover 'puffy planet' 320 light years from Earth – See pic

This “puffy planet” outside our solar system may hold opportunities for testing atmospheres that will be useful when assessing future planets for signs of life, researchers said.

 Scientists around the world have amassed such a huge number of data from the numerous studies and probes conducted on the universe, but that doesn't even comprise half the secrets that the world of space has to tell.

The mysteries of space are a forever metamorphosing phenomena, with something new and enchanting being revealed every day and a lot that is yet to be decoded.

In a new revelation, researchers have discovered a new 'blown up' giant planet orbiting an extremely bright star 320 light years from Earth that has the density of styrofoam.

This “puffy planet” outside our solar system may hold opportunities for testing atmospheres that will be useful when assessing future planets for signs of life, researchers said.

“It is highly inflated, so that while it is only a fifth as massive as Jupiter, it is nearly 40 percent larger, making it about as dense as styrofoam, with an extraordinarily large atmosphere,” said Joshua Pepper, assistant professor at Lehigh University in the US. Styrofoam is a kind of expanded polystyrene used especially for making food containers.

“The planet’s host star is extremely bright, allowing precise measurement of the planet’s atmosphere properties and making it an excellent test-bed for measuring the atmospheres of other planets,” Pepper said.The planet, called KELT-11b, is an extreme version of a gas planet, like Jupiter or Saturn, but is orbiting very close to its host star in an orbit that lasts less than five days.

The star, KELT-11, has started using up its nuclear fuel and is evolving into a red giant, so the planet will be engulfed by its star and not survive the next hundred million years. The KELT (Kilodegree Extremely Little Telescope) survey uses two small robotic telescopes, one in Arizona, US and the other in South Africa. The telescopes scan the sky night after night, measuring the brightness of about five million stars.

“The KELT project is specifically designed to discover a few scientifically valuable planets orbiting very bright stars, and KELT-11b is a prime example of that,” Pepper said.The star, KELT-11, is the brightest in the southern hemisphere known to host a transiting planet by more than a magnitude and the sixth brightest transit host discovered to date.

Though researchers are debating the cause of KELT-11b’s inflation, further study of the planet could provide additional information about the mechanism that causes inflated planets, Pepper said. The planet’s large atmosphere also provides good opportunities for developing techniques needed to identify chemicals to assess habitability or products of life in the atmospheres of other planets.

Parents Under Fire For Killing Their Infant By Feeding It An All-Vegan Diet

A 7-month-old baby in Belgium tragically passed away as a result of the strict diet his parents fed him, which was entirely glutton and  lactose free. The parents, identified only as Peter S., 34, and Sandrina V., 30, self-diagnosed their child with food allergies without ever  consulting a doctor. According to public prosecutors: 

The  parents determined their own diagnosis that their child was gluten intolerant and had a lactose allergy. Not a single doctor had a dossier about Lucas and child protection services did not know about them. 

In court, the parents claimed they never took their child to a doctor because they never noticed anything wrong. The mother added that  sometimes Lucas (the child) would gain a little weight, then lose it, which "she thought was natural." Van Meirvenne, the parents' attorney, told the court: 

Lucas had an eating disorder. He got cramps when he was fed with a bottle and his parents tried out alternatives. 

The 7 month old weighed just 9.47 pounds when he died in 2014, which is  half the size of the average baby his age. The child's autopsy revealed his stomach was completely empty, and his official cause of death was ruled dehydration and malnutrition.

The mother and father ran a natural food store in the town of Beveren in Belgium, and insisted on putting their son Lucas on an alternative diet that included quinoa milk. Doctors warn that such a diet is generally unsuitable for such young children.

In the days leading up to his death, Lucas was gasping desperately for air. Finally beginning to suspect something was wrong, his parents drove him to a homeopathic doctor on the other side of the country instead of the nearest hospital. Seeing the child's condition, the homeopathic physician told them to take Lucas to a real hospital immediately. The child was pronounced dead upon arrival.

Both parents are now facing up to 18-months in prison for their role in the death of their son. A message to parents: if you suspect your child has an allergy, get a second opinion. From a doctor.

H/T - AOL, The Independent, The Daily Mail 

Reputed White Supremacist Allegedly Brutally Stabs And Murders Young Black U.S. Army Lieutenant

On Saturday, a reputed racist and supposed member of a white-supremacist Facebook group allegedly stabbed to death a young black second lieutenant in the U.S. Army who was standing with friends on the campus of the University of Maryland.

Richard Collins III, a senior at Bowie State University who was going to graduate on Tuesday, was at a bus stop with two friends near the University of Maryland's Montgomery Hall on Regents Drive about 3 a.m. He and his friends realized the shuttle bus they were awaiting had stopped its service, and called for an Uber.

According to court documents, the group heard Sean Christopher Urbanski, 22, screaming. Urbanski approached them, and reportedly threatened, “Step left, step left if you know what's best for you.” As Urbanski neared the group, Collins refused to move.

One member of the group saw Urbanski brandishing a 3- to 4-inch silver blade before Urbanski plunged it into Collins’ chest. The friend then ran to call 911; she also asked the Uber driver to call 911 while other friends attempted to help Collins, who died later at a hospital.

Urbanski, sitting on a bench at a bus stop about 50 feet from the stabbing, was apprehended by two police officers; witnesses identified him as the suspect. Police said he had been drinking; they did not know whether he was also under the influence of drugs.

Police authorities said surveillance cameras showed  the attack. Urbanski, 22, has been charged with first and second-degree murder and first-degree assault.

On Sunday, University of Maryland Police Chief David Mitchell confirmed he is working with the FBI, as Urbanski is reputedly a member of a Facebook group called "Alt Reich: Nation," where racist remarks are posted. He stated, "Suffice it to say that it's despicable. It shows extreme bias against women, Latinos, members of the Jewish faith and especially African Americans … I'm not aware of any increase in threats here on campus, but certainly and increase in fear," Mitchell said. "If I'm a person of color, I would certainly look at this as something that could happen to me. In fact, I know on Facebook our students are saying that.'' He stated, “It never gets any worse than this. I sat with the victim’s father, who is a military veteran, and his pastor and we shed tears together. I can tell you, it rips your heart out.”

Gordon Johnson, special agent in charge of the FBI field office in Baltimore, added, "We are here to evaluate that as an ongoing concern with respect to whether or not this was a hate crime.”

The Rev. Darryl L. Godlock, pastor at Calvert County Baptist Church in Prince Frederick, Md., is the family’s spokesman. He said, “The parents are totally devastated that their young son, that was at the peak of his career about to take off, and his life was taken away senselessly.” He added that Bowie was a member of ROTC andwas airborne-certified. Collins had been commissioned last week as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army in the intelligence branch. Godlock said sadly, “Richie was a fun, loving young man. He loved his family and he loved his God. He also said, "He wanted to make his parents proud of him so he went into the military to serve his country. It was a great opportunity for him to advance forward and make the most out of his career.”

Artie L. Travis, vice president for student affairs at Bowie State, said, “Hate has no place in America. Hate has no place on a college campus where young minds are coming together to try to change the world. They can’t change the world if they are not here. We are looking forward to the quickest investigation as possible.”

Reputed White Supremacist Allegedly Brutally Stabs And Murders Young Black U.S. Army Lieutenant

screenshot from Twitterscreenshot from Twitter

BY: HANK BERRIEN MAY 22, 2017

On Saturday, a reputed racist and supposed member of a white-supremacist Facebook group allegedly stabbed to death a young black second lieutenant in the U.S. Army who was standing with friends on the campus of the University of Maryland.

Richard Collins III, a senior at Bowie State University who was going to graduate on Tuesday, was at a bus stop with two friends near the University of Maryland's Montgomery Hall on Regents Drive about 3 a.m. He and his friends realized the shuttle bus they were awaiting had stopped its service, and called for an Uber.

According to court documents, the group heard Sean Christopher Urbanski, 22, screaming. Urbanski approached them, and reportedly threatened, “Step left, step left if you know what's best for you.” As Urbanski neared the group, Collins refused to move.

One member of the group saw Urbanski brandishing a 3- to 4-inch silver blade before Urbanski plunged it into Collins’ chest. The friend then ran to call 911; she also asked the Uber driver to call 911 while other friends attempted to help Collins, who died later at a hospital.

Urbanski, sitting on a bench at a bus stop about 50 feet from the stabbing, was apprehended by two police officers; witnesses identified him as the suspect. Police said he had been drinking; they did not know whether he was also under the influence of drugs.

Police authorities said surveillance cameras showed  the attack. Urbanski, 22, has been charged with first and second-degree murder and first-degree assault.

On Sunday, University of Maryland Police Chief David Mitchell confirmed he is working with the FBI, as Urbanski is reputedly a member of a Facebook group called "Alt Reich: Nation," where racist remarks are posted. He stated, "Suffice it to say that it's despicable. It shows extreme bias against women, Latinos, members of the Jewish faith and especially African Americans … I'm not aware of any increase in threats here on campus, but certainly and increase in fear," Mitchell said. "If I'm a person of color, I would certainly look at this as something that could happen to me. In fact, I know on Facebook our students are saying that.'' He stated, “It never gets any worse than this. I sat with the victim’s father, who is a military veteran, and his pastor and we shed tears together. I can tell you, it rips your heart out.”

Gordon Johnson, special agent in charge of the FBI field office in Baltimore, added, "We are here to evaluate that as an ongoing concern with respect to whether or not this was a hate crime.”

The Rev. Darryl L. Godlock, pastor at Calvert County Baptist Church in Prince Frederick, Md., is the family’s spokesman. He said, “The parents are totally devastated that their young son, that was at the peak of his career about to take off, and his life was taken away senselessly.” He added that Bowie was a member of ROTC andwas airborne-certified. Collins had been commissioned last week as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army in the intelligence branch. Godlock said sadly, “Richie was a fun, loving young man. He loved his family and he loved his God. He also said, "He wanted to make his parents proud of him so he went into the military to serve his country. It was a great opportunity for him to advance forward and make the most out of his career.”

Artie L. Travis, vice president for student affairs at Bowie State, said, “Hate has no place in America. Hate has no place on a college campus where young minds are coming together to try to change the world. They can’t change the world if they are not here. We are looking forward to the quickest investigation as possible.”

"I can tell you, it rips your heart out.”

University of Maryland President Wallace D. Loh led graduates and their families in a moment of silence during commencement ceremonies Sunday at Xfinity Center. He stated after the commencement, “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends, and with the entire Bowie State University community. We want to get to the heart of this matter. It is number one, it is justice for Second Lieutenant Collins. Number two, the sense of safety. Our students, our faculty, our staff are understandably concerned and apprehensive.

College Apologizes After Hacker Tweets Out Anti-Black Lives Matter Message (6 Pics)

A series of racist tweets were sent out by the Salem State University's Twitter page  after someone hacked the account. The tweets were sent out a day before Gov. Charlie Baker spoke at the university's graduation.

The messages started around 10:30 p.m. and involved a series of racist tweets. Boston25News reports the tweets continued for about two hours until the university regained control of the Twitter account and deleted the messages.

 The hack comes just hours before the school’s undergraduate commencement.

 Boston 25 News reached out to school officials for comment:

"We are appalled by the hateful nature of these tweets, which in no way represent the views of Salem State University. We have notified our social media followers of this compromise and are working with IT to implement additional security safeguards. It is incredibly unfortunate that such a hateful incident occurred on the eve of our commencement, and we hope to move forward as a community and not let it detract attention from the incredible accomplishments of more than 1,400 students graduating today."

Salem State’s Facebook page says none of the tweets represent the university’s views. The school also apologized on Twitter.

Journalists Spread Fake News About Ivanka Trump (13 Pics)

Journalists and pundits alike spread fake news on Twitter Sunday that Ivanka Trump was engaged in pay-to-play with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates

The false story started with a Wall Street Journal reporter Rebecca Ballhaus misrepresenting an article from her own outlet. The story, “Saudi Arabia, U.A.E. Pledge $100 Million To Word Bank’s Women Entrepreneurs Fund,” says that the president’s daughter proposed the creation of the fund, but “Ms.Trump doesn’t control it or raise money for it.”

Ballhaus, however, said in a tweet that it was “Ivanka’s Women Entrepreneurs Fund.” Reporters ended up picking up on the tweet, and CNN’s Jim Sciutto wrote, “This is virtually identical to what Trump and others in GOP criticized Clinton Foundation for.” His tweet received nearly 10,000 retweets.

One MSNBC analyst, Malcolm Nance, went as far as to say, “Good lord. Trumps do Literal Pay-to-Play. This is grounds for immediate dismissal [from] government.”