A proposed $85-billion merger between AT&T and Time Warner has been blocked by the US government. The Justice Department argued that the melding of major cable television networks such as HBO and CNN with an online and paid television company was a recipe for consumer disaster. AT&T announced that it would be legally challenging the ruling. Reports have indicated that the government may approve the deal if Trump-critical CNN is divested as a by-product. 

President Donald Trump defined North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism on Monday, sharply contrasting with Rex Tillerson’s statements indicating a willingness for diplomacy. In reaction, North Korean newspapers called Trump a “mentally deranged money-grabber”. In a rare case of international relations, both Trump and Pyongyang may be correct in their assertions.

While Zimbabweans are busy overthrowing their president, Argentina has been frantically searching for a submarine that went missing six days ago. New information revealed by Argentinian navy sources is that the sub surfaced and issued a warning that it had suffered a mechanical breakdown. No further message has been received. Brazil, Britain, Chile, the United States and Uruguay have all joined Argentina in the search for the missing sub and its 44 crew.

Whale I’ll be damned! Scientists have established that blue whales, the world’s largest animals, are largely right-handed. This truly ground-breaking research was established by researchers in a report in the journal Current Biology. On certain occasions, however, the whales will favour a left-dominant approach when feeding on krill in shallow water. This is the first time such behaviour has been observed in animals.

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