“UK scientists have been given the go-ahead by the fertility regulator to genetically modify human embryos. It is the first time a country has considered the DNA-altering technique in embryos and approved it… But the field is attracting controversy over concerns it is opening the door to designer—or GM—babies… In a world-first last year, scientists in China announced they had carried out gene editing in human embryos to correct a gene that causes a blood disorder” (BBC, February 1, 2016).

“The food shortage in Ethiopia is getting worse. Aid agencies say up to 15 million people could suffer because of the El Niño-induced drought. Officials fear donors are neglecting the country in favor of others… New figures released by humanitarian agencies… show that more than 2.5 million children are expected to drop out of school as a result of the drought, whereas 1.7 million children are in need of nutritional support.

Is North Korea planning a major attack on the United States? “North Korea, which conducted its fourth nuclear test last month and launched a long-range rocket on Saturday, could begin to recover plutonium from a restarted nuclear reactor within weeks…” (Reuters, February 10, 2016).