Peter "Just Loves Flying"

Fresh hope for blind girl after stem-cell therapy – National News – Independent.ie.

 BLIND schoolgirl has been able to see shadows up to 10 inches away after just one round of stem-cell treatment in China, her mum said last night.

Hamish McRae: Seven billion — and the world’s population just keeps on rising – Analysis, Opinion – Independent.ie.

SEVEN billion. Next week the world’s population will, according to the UN, reach seven billion and a baby born somewhere in the world will be designated the seven-billionth baby — just as Adnan Nevic, now a healthy 11-year-old living in Bosnia, became the six-billionth when he was born just after midnight on October 11, 1999.

We’re growing and growing: World’s population to reach 7 billion this month – Europe, World News – Independent.ie.

In Western Europe , Japan and Russia, the milestone comes amid worries about low birthrates and aging populations. In Chinaand India, the two most populous nations, it’s an occasion to reassess policies that have already slowed once-rapid growth.   But in sub-Saharan Africa, the demographic news is mostly sobering as the region staggers under the double burden of the world’s highest birthrates and deepest poverty. The regional population of nearly 900 million could reach 2 billion in 40 years at current rates, accounting for about half of the projected global population growth over that span.

World’s top 10 universities – Lifestyle – Independent.ie.

Livni visits U.K. for first time after war crimes jurisdiction amended – Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News.

Israeli opposition leader Tzipi Livni met with British Foreign Secretary William Hague in London on Thursday morning, in her first visit to the U.K. since 2009 when an arrest warrant was issued against her over her role in Operation Cast Lead.  Livni was invited to the meeting by Hague following an amendment to British law that prevents private citizens from seeking arrest warrants against Israeli officials in Great Britain.

Egyptian women, long allowed to vote, see little progress from revolt | McClatchy.

Thousands of Egyptian women fought in the 18-day uprising that unseated longtime President Hosni Mubarak. They hurled stones at pro-regime attackers, delivered meals to hungry protesters, and drew global attention to the struggle through their blogs and Twitter accounts. At least 15 women died in the uprising, according to official figures. Hundreds were wounded. And still, complain prominent Egyptian feminists, women are being sidelined from post-Mubarak politics…

Source: UN won’t advance Palestinian statehood bid until diplomacy option exhausted – Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News.

United Nations panel considering Palestinian application for full UN membership will drag on dealing with technical matters for several weeks, says a senior Western diplomat.

Hamas: ‘Resistance’ against Israel is only option left for Palestinians – Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News.

Hamas leader Khaled Meshal told an international conference in Iran on Saturday that “resistance” was the only option left for the Palestinians.   Meshal was addressing the “5th International Conference in Support of the Palestinian Intifada” in Iran’s capital Tehran..