
Tropical Storm Bertha approaching the Caribbean
Tropical  storm warnings have been issued for Puerto Rico, the U.S. and British  Virgin Islands and other nearby islands as Tropical Storm Bertha  approaches the Caribbean.  
CDC chief: Ebola 'could arrive in the U.S.'
Virus  'definitely not under control' as agency issues alert.  He said the  CDC, consequently, has issued a nationwide health alert to health-care  providers in the U.S., with instructions to isolate anyone suspected of  being infected.  
Court releases 'Fast and Furious' info withheld by Obama
A  federal court has ruled that the Obama Department of Justice must turn  over to the non-profit watchdog group Judicial Watch an index of  materials related to the “Fast and Furious” gun-running scandal that  were withheld by the White House under executive privilege claims.  
Key to aging immune system: Discovery of DNA replication problem
"We  have found the cellular mechanism responsible for the inability of  blood-forming cells to maintain blood production over time in an old  organism, and have identified molecular defects that could be restored  for rejuvenation therapies,"  
MINOR STORM WARMING
A  CME is heading for Earth. The cloud was hurled into space on July 30th  when a magnetic filament on the sun erupted, and it appears to be on  course to sideswipe Earth's magnetic field. NOAA forecasters estimate a  30% chance of polar geomagnetic storms on Aug. 2nd when the CME arrives.   
A Thank You Letter From Hamas to the Media
Dear  Members of the Mainstream Media, You've been awesome! Everyone knows that we start unwinnable wars with  Israel because the real victory happens when you predictably side with  us each time. And you've been so supportive of our strategy that we  really want to acknowledge your helpfulness. In particular, we thank you  for:  
Gallup: 'God Gap' Persists; Very Religious Are Mostly Republican; Non-Religious Are Mostly Democrat
The  so-called "God Gap" between Republicans and Democrats continues to play  an important role in partisan differences, according to a new Gallup  poll.  Among very religious Americans, about half, 49 percent, identify  as Republican or are likely to vote Republican. Among nonreligious  Americans, also about half, 52 percent, identify as Democrats or are  likely to vote for Democrats.  
Rosetta the comet hunter arrives at its target
The  space probe has spent a decade flying around the planets, gaining  enough speed and the right trajectory to rendezvous perfectly with the  icy mass of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. This week it moves into  position, and becomes the first man-made object ever to fly alongside a  comet as it speeds towards the Sun, grabbing some stunning photographs  and revealing science data in the process.  
Quake of 5.5 magnitude strikes near Algerian capital-USGS
A  magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck 9 miles (14 km) southeast of the  Algerian capital Algiers on Friday, the United States Geological Survey  said.  
Rouhani: ‘This Festering Zionist Tumor Has Opened Once Again’
Iranian  President Hassan Rouhani lashed out at Israel in vitriolic terms on  Wednesday, referring to Israel as a “festering Zionist tumor.”  Rouhani, who has been championed by Western media as a moderate reformer  who could change Iran’s extremist ways, appears to be adopting a  violent tone similar to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who has advocated  for the complete destruction of Israel in recent days.  
Russia enacts 'draconian' law for bloggers and online media
A  new law imposing restrictions on users of social media has come into  effect in Russia.  It means bloggers with more than 3,000 daily readers must register with  the mass media regulator, Roskomnadzor, and conform to the regulations  that govern the country's larger media outlets.  Internet companies will also be required to allow Russian authorities  access to users' information.  
Fighting in Gaza continues as truce collapses
The  72-hour cease-fire brokered by the United States and the United Nations  ended just hours after it went into effect, as fighting resumed on both  sides Friday morning.  Code Red sirens rang out in southern Israel around 10 a.m., just as  Palestinian media reports of Israeli artillery fire began to surface.  
Ebola crisis: Infected aid worker heads to US
A  hospital in Atlanta is preparing to receive a US aid worker infected  with the deadly Ebola virus in West Africa.  The unnamed patient will be flown to the US in the next few days for  treatment at a high-security ward at Emory University Hospital, medics  said.  The worst outbreak in history has swept through the region, killing 729  people.  
Israeli Iron Dome firms 'infiltrated by Chinese hackers'
The  BBC has seen evidence that appears to confirm hackers stole several  secret military documents from two government-owned Israeli companies  that developed the Iron Dome missile defence system.  
Gaza 72-hour humanitarian truce by Israel and Hamas begins
Israel and Hamas have begun an unconditional 72-hour humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.  The truce came into effect at 08:00 (05:00 GMT) on Friday. Talks on a more permanent truce are to start in Cairo.  Israel says it will continue to destroy tunnels built by Hamas into Israel.  
Gaza's Next Disaster: No Cement for Rebuilding
For  years before the latest hostilities, Hamas, the Palestinian political  organization, complained that Israeli restrictions on cement imports  into Gaza were preventing the population from constructing homes,  schools, and hospitals. As it turns out, a large share of the cement  that did reach Gaza went into building underground lairs and attack  tunnels for fighters from Hamas. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF)  estimate that each of the three dozen underground passages that troops  have found so far required 350 truckloads of building supplies.  
China confirms new generation long range missiles
China  has acknowledged the existence of a new intercontinental ballistic  missile said to be capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads as far  as the United States, state-run media reported Friday.