July 2015

There were 1,576 posts published in July 2015 (this is page 44 of 158).

Ethiopia’s Human Rights Activists See Scant Hope in Obama’s Visit


During the first visit to the country by a sitting American president, issues like investment and terrorism are expected to take precedence.

Mr. Obama’s two-day trip to Ethiopia, which started Sunday night, highlights a complex relationship with the country, which has a strong defense partnership with the United States but has been criticized for its human rights record by organizations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.

The State Department later expressed concern about the results of the May election, in which the ruling coalition and allied parties won every seat in Parliament. A statement from the department mentioned “continued restrictions on civil society, media, opposition parties, and independent voices and views.”

Published: July 27, 2015 at 12:00AM

Read more at: NYT World

Fact: Myotis escalerai

Myotis escalerai is a European bat, found in Spain (including the Balearic Islands), Portugal, and far southern France. Although the species was first named in 1904, it was included in the Natterer’s bat species (Myotis nattereri) until molecular studies in 2006 proved that the two are distinct. Similar to M. nattereri, it is mostly gray with lighter underparts, and of medium size, less than 9.5 g (0.3 oz). It has a pointed muzzle, a pink face, and long ears. The bat is an agile flyer, with rapid wingbeats and broad wings, 245 to 300 mm (9.6 to 11.8 in). Females start to aggregate in late spring in maternity colonies in caves, mines, tree holes, bridges or houses. Hibernation colonies need constant temperatures between 0 and 5 °C (32 and 41 °F), and are usually found in caves or basements. The species was first seen in France in 2009, and it is classified as vulnerable in Portugal and Aragon.

Source: Wikipedia article of the day for July 27, 2015, Myotis escalerai.