Greetings, TicToc readers! In this edition: The semantics of a cease-fire, a quid pro quo takeback, and we remember a towering political figure.  Brexit faces uphill battle at homeU.K. PM Boris Johnson's Brexit deal with the EU was barely greenlit in Brussels before it hit a snag at home, where it must still be OK'd by Parliament. MPs from the Democratic Unionist Party rejected the plan over how it treats the Ireland-Northern Ireland border, and opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn said Johnson had "negotiated an even worse deal than Theresa May's, which was overwhelmingly rejected." A House of Commons vote is set for Saturday, as Johnson seeks to deliver Brexit on Oct. 31. More: - Johnson said he was "confident about his capacity to convince a majority" of MPs to vote for the deal.
- European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker called it "a fair and balanced agreement" and ruled out another extension before snapping at a reporter who interrupted him.
- The other 27 EU nations must also approve the deal.
$ignificant figures120 hours. The U.S. and Turkey agreed to a 5-day cease-fire in Syria, Vice President Mike Pence announced in Ankara. Minutes later, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu insisted it was merely a "pause." 25,000. How many Chicago teachers went on strike after failing to reach a contract deal in a dispute that canceled classes for more than 360,000 students. $500,000. How much Americans need to earn per year to enter the 1%. Highly quotable"Get over it." Top White House aide Mick Mulvaney acknowledged Trump offered Ukraine a quid pro quo for military aid but tied it to the Russian election meddling probe—not Joe Biden. He later denied it. "Stood up to lawlessness and tyranny." Rep. Elijah Cummings, a fierce Trump critic and key figure in the Democrats' impeachment inquiry, died at age 68 from long-standing health issues. This is the legacy he leaves behind. "People should decide what's credible, not tech companies." Mark Zuckerberg defended Facebook's policy of not fact-checking political ads, touting free expression as the "fifth estate." This is not normalElusive culprit. Vaping-related deaths and illnesses in the U.S. are still on the rise—and no one knows why. The CDC released new, bigger stats for the mysterious outbreak, reporting 1,479 cases and at least 33 deaths.  The future is nowUnprecedented. At almost 20 hours, Qantas is set to clock the world's longest flight this weekend direct from New York to Sydney. But passengers on board can think of it more as a science experiment aimed at reducing jet lag that'll be helped by bright lights and spicy food.  What's goodQuicker than Usain Bolt. Scientists recorded one of the fastest bugs in the world blazing across the hot sands of Tunisia. The Saharan silver ant can run 855 mm, or 108 times its body length, every second. That's equivalent to a human running 400 mph.  Now that you're caught up... Tell your friends to sign up here to receive our newsletter five days a week, and follow us on Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook. Today's recommendation: Need a change of music? Celebrate the 56th anniversary of The Beetles recording "I Want to Hold Your Hand" with this live version. Thanks for reading!
-Andrew Mach | 
Post a Comment