At least 58 people have been killed in Idlib, Syria, as a result of a gas attack, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Syrian government jets were initially thought to be responsible for launching the attack. However, a Syrian military official has denied that the army is responsible. Approximately 60 others were wounded when air strikes hit the town of Khan Sheikhoun. "Most of the hospitals in Idlib province are now overflowing with wounded people," said Mounzer Khalil, head of Idlib's health authority. – REUTERS
The National Park Service has received a $78,333 donation from President Trump. It represents the president’s salary for his first months in office. During his campaign, he pledged to donate his $400,000 presidential salary during his tenure. “The National Park Service is proud and deeply honored by President Trump’s donation to support the preservation of battlefields in the National Park System,” said Acting National Park Service Director Michael T. Reynolds. Some conservationists have dismissed the president’s move as a publicity stunt. – NPR
A new study suggests that being overweight may shorten your lifespan. Researchers analyzed data from 225,000 adults over the age of 50 to determine how weight impacted lifespan. They found that there was a six percent increased risk of dying among individuals who have a history of being overweight. This contradicts a previous study published in 2013, which suggested that being overweight may decrease the risk of death by six percent. "Our findings confirm that there is no benefit of being overweight on risk of death, and indicate that [being] overweight is actually associated with an increased risk of dying," said study author Andrew Stokes. – NPR
A Kyrgyzstan native is suspected in yesterday’s bombing at a Russia metro station, which resulted in 14 deaths. The Russian Investigative Committee says that the bomb was set off by the suspect, “whose remains were found in the third car of the train.” Those remains are thought to belong to a 22 year-old man named Akbarzhon Jalilov, according to Kyrgyz intelligence. However, some witnesses said they saw a man leave a bag in the train before exiting the car, meaning the suspect would still be on the loose. Security camera footage is still being reviewed. – NPR
President Trump has sign a bill repealing FCC regulations that require internet service providers to enhance protection for consumers. The regulations were initially adopted by the Obama administration, but they had not gone into effect. Service providers would have been forced to ask for customer consent before utilizing information, such as web browsing history, for advertising purposes. FCC chairman Ajit Pai said the move “appropriately invalidated one part of the Obama-era plan for regulating the internet." – REUTERS
A common antibiotic may be able to treat the symptoms of PTSD, according to a group of British and Swiss scientists. The researchers looked at how doxycycline impacted 76 healthy volunteers. They discovered that those who received the drug had a 60 percent lower fear response, compared to their counterparts who received a placebo. "Based on what we know today ... doxycycline could probably already be used to dampen existing emotional memories -- if patients so desire," said lead author Dominik Bach. Doxycycline is an antibiotic typically used to treat conditions, such as urinary tract infections and acne. – NEWSMAX
Harrison Ford will keep his pilot license after the FAA investigated an incident involving the actor back in February. Ford had accidentally landed his plane on a taxiway at Orange County's John Wayne Airport in February. He flew over an American Airlines commercial jet in the process, but no one was injured in the incident. This is not the first time Ford has been involved in a plane-related accident. In March 2015, he crashed on a golf course in Santa Monica, California, damaging his plane and sustaining several injuries. – NPR
Attorney General Jeff Sessions has asked a federal judge in Baltimore, Maryland, to delay a hearing that would enact a new series of police reforms. The reforms would change how police transport individuals and use force following the death of Freddie Gray. "Local control and local accountability are necessary for effective local policing," Sessions said. "It is not the responsibility of the federal government to manage non-federal law enforcement agencies." Instead, the attorney general is encouraging federal authorities to promote more officer safety and morale. "The request for a delay is alarming and signals a retreat from the Justice Department's commitment to civil rights and public safety in Baltimore," says Vanita Gupta, former acting head of the Civil Rights Division at the U.S. Department of Justice. – NPR
Sigourney Weaver says that work on “Avatar 2” will begin this fall, but director James Cameron says the film will not debut in 2018. “What people have to understand is that this is a cadence of releases,” Cameron said. “So we’re not making Avatar 2. We’re making Avatar 2, 3, 4 and 5. It’s an epic undertaking.” Weaver recently confirmed that despite the lack of a release date, production will be starting soon. “We’re starting training, and we’re starting — hmm, I probably can’t say anything,” she said earlier this week. “We will be actually shooting it by the fall.” – THR
White House officials had closed-door meetings with members of the House Freedom Caucus on Monday in an attempt to resurrect the failed American Health Care Act. Under a new offer proposed by the White House, states could apply for waivers from coverage requirements under the Affordable Care Act. Members of the Freedom Caucus reportedly requested to see the revised guidelines in writing before considering the proposal. However, Caucus chairman Mark Meadows says that at the moment, there is still “no deal in principle." – CNBC
Mercedes-Benz and Hyundai have withdrawn their advertisements from airing during “The O’Reilly Factor” as Bill O’Reilly’s sexual harassment scandal continues. Last weekend, the New York Times published an investigation that highlighted sexual harassment allegations against O’Reilly from five women. The women received a total of $13 million in settlements. On Monday night, O’Reilly remained mum on the matter on his primetime show, discussing other topics throughout the program. – NYT
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan says he will keep referring to European countries as “Nazi remnants and fascists,” assuming they continue to prevent his ministers from speaking to Turkish voters. Ministers have been attempting to rally support for the upcoming referendum vote. The referendum could give President Erdogan the power to bypass parliament and introduce legislation as he sees fit. However, countries including Germany and the Netherlands have been holding back Turkish ministers from reaching out to voters. "They don't let my ministers make speeches in Europe,” Erdogan said at a rally. “Once the referendum on April 16 is over, we will consider, everything has a price.” – REUTERS
