February 6, 2018 – Bridge Agents

Puberty is starting earlier – sex-ed needs to catch up

February 6, 2018 Bridge Agents

United Kingdom (Conversation) – The British government is consulting on a new curriculum for sex and relationship education in English schools. This change provides a timely opportunity to update how, when and what children are taught about puberty. Astonishingly, the Department for Education (DfE) guidance on sex education has not changed for nearly two decades. But after concerted lobbying, research, and the recommendations of multiple committees of MPs, in 2017, the Children and Social Work Act finally acknowledged the need to provide “sex education for the 21st century”. New statutory…

Idaho Bill Aims To Protect Against Indefinite Detention Of Citizens

February 6, 2018 Bridge Agents

Idaho (PT) – A legislative battle is brewing within the halls of the Idaho State Government over the rights of millions. It centers around the National Defense Authorization Act, which permits the indefinite detention without charges or a trial by the American government of people internationally. In Idaho, however, state politicians and activists are introducing a bill to protect its citizens from NDAA abuses. H.R. 1540, or the National Defense Authorization Act, is a decades old tool for balancing military budget. In 2011, the Obama Administration amended the bill adding significant powers…

Massive Single-Base Reaper Drone Army Deployment To Afghanistan

February 6, 2018 Bridge Agents

Kandahar, Afghanistan (TFC)— An army of MQ-9 Reaper drones has arrived in Afghanistan, reputedly the largest such deployment of the war. The majority of this massive fleet is stationed at a single base and trails a boost in ground troops. Back in December, US generals promised another troop increase in America’s longest running war. Over 14,000 troops are currently deployed in Afghanistan including, RT notes, 3000 President Donald Trump sent in September. An additional 6000 were set to deploy towards the beginning of the year. However, the Trump Administration has…

Major discrepancies found in statistics concerning Israeli-Palestinian death tolls

February 6, 2018 Bridge Agents

(TFC) – Accuracy is the benchmark of journalism. It’s the most important measure. At The Fifth Column, while we often break national and international news stories first, we live by the idea that we don’t want to be the fastest source, we want to be the most accurate. It’s impossible for a journalist to personally check every detail in every article. They often rely on the research of widely-accepted sources to provide data. What happens when this information is questioned? At TFC, it launches an investigation. [embedded content] Recently, data…