These are the top maybe-not headlines from the past 36-hours presented by The Conversation Project from raw engagement data from our social media to the headlines posted over the past day.
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The 8 topics that our followers ranked as the most conversational are:
IRANIANS, CANADIANS AMONG DEAD IN UKRAINE 737 CRASH OUTSIDE TEHRAN
The crash of Ukraine International Airlines came hours after Iran launched a ballistic missile attack on Iraqi bases housing U.S. soldiers, but Iranian officials said they suspected a mechanical issue brought down the 3½-year-old Boeing 737-800 aircraft. Ukrainian officials initially agreed, but later backed away and declined to offer a cause while the investigation is ongoing. The plane carried 167 passengers and nine crew members from different nations. Ukraine’s foreign minister, Vadym Prystaiko, said that there were 82 Iranians, 63 Canadians and 11 Ukrainians on board — the Ukrainian nationals included two passengers and the nine crew. There were also 10 Swedish, four Afghan, three German and three British nationals, he said.
[SOURCE: time.com]
PRINCE HARRY AND MEGHAN MARKLE TO STEP BACK FROM ROYAL DUTIES
In a statement, Prince Harry and Meghan also said they plan to split their time between the UK and North America. The BBC understands no other royal – including the Queen or Prince William – was consulted before the statement and Buckingham Palace is “disappointed”. Senior royals are understood to be “hurt” by the announcement.
[SOURCE: bbc.com]
U.S. CANCER DEATH RATES ARE DROPPING AT THE FASTEST PACE ON RECORD
The mortality rate from cancer has been gradually declining for 26 years, thanks in large part to fewer people smoking cigarettes. But from 2016 to 2017, the most recent period available, it dropped by 2.2%, the most ever in a single year, according to a report released Wednesday by the American Cancer Society. That compares with an average 1.5% yearly decline over the decade. The drop translates to roughly 2.9 million fewer cancer deaths than would have occurred had mortality rates remained at their peak. For lung cancer specifically, the mortality rate declined 4.3% annually from 2013 to 2017.
[SOURCE: bloomberg.com]
ESPN TO CONSIDER REMOVING BOOGER MCFARLAND AND JOE TESSITORE FROM ‘MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL’ BOOTH, COULD OFFER TONY ROMO $10 MILLION TO TAKE OVER
According to a report by the NY Post’s Andrew Marchand, ESPN is may be removing Booger McFarland And Joe Tessitore ‘MNF’ broadcast despite the fact that ratings are up this season. Marchand believes ESPN/ABC could offer Romo over $10 million to take over the ‘Monday Night Football’ booth. It’s pretty clear that McFarland has to go especially after he suggested the Bills spike the ball on 4th down late during last weekend’s playoff game.
[SOURCE: brobible.com]
UTAH MAN HAS A 20-YEAR-OLD MCDONALD’S HAMBURGER HE BOUGHT FOR $.79 AND IT DISTURBINGLY LOOKS BRAND NEW
So there is a reason this McDonald’s hamburger looks better than one that might’ve gotten lost in the backseat of your car and developed mold after constant fluctuations of temperature and humidity. David Whipple purchased this in July 1999 with the express purpose of aging it to test ‘the effects of enzymes and deterioration’ according to KUTV. He first unveiled his old ass burger in 2013 and it looked brand new then. Seven years later and after the introduction of fresh oxygen + light, not much has changed at all. It still looks disturbingly fresh. At MOST I’d think this burger was a week or two old, not twenty years. Here he is describing the 20-year-old preserved McDonald’s hamburger.
[SOURCE: brobible.com]
TRUMP’S RATINGS REMAIN LOW GLOBALLY – BUT THE US IS STILL LIKED
Across the 32 countries surveyed by the non-partisan Washington-based think tank, a median of 64% said they do not “have confidence in Trump to do the right thing in world affairs,” while just 29% expressed confidence in the American leader. Regions or countries antagonized by Trump’s flagship “America First” approach to trade or foreign policy show a particular distrust of Trump, the “Global Attitudes Survey” found. The survey polled 36,923 people in 32 countries from May 18 to October 2, 2019, showed.
[SOURCE: cnbc.com]
ADULT MODELS INSPIRED BY WOMAN WHO SOLD NUDES FOR BUSHFIRE AID NOW OFFERING THEIR NUDES FOR DONATIONS
Kaylen Ward, 20, decided to use her influence to encourage donations to firefighters, charities and residents tackling fires that are currently devastating the country. The American model and influencer started the generous scheme last week, and had already raised $100,000 for the cause in a matter of minutes. That figure soon grew into the hundreds of thousands, according to Ward. Given the 20-year-old’s massive success – she received so many requests she couldn’t keep up with them all, meaning she had to put an end to the scheme – other women have joined the cause and offered to send nudes in exchange for donations.
[SOURCE: unilad.co.uk]
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WILL BEGIN DEPORTING ASYLUM-SEEKERS FROM MEXICO TO GUATEMALA
The program, which was signed in July, was implemented in late November. Emailed guidance was sent to asylum officials across the country in recent days detailing how Mexicans were now to be included in the process. The plan was initially only focused in El Paso but was later expanded to the Rio Grande Valley, according to documents seen by BuzzFeed News. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson confirmed the news on Monday.
[SOURCE: buzzfeednews.com]
Eight Things To Talk About uses the raw engagement data from the social media engagement from The Conversation Project to generate the top-ranking headlines over the course of a weekend.
A full weeks’ data (from Friday to Friday) is compiled, weighed, and sorted to produce the content for the Wrap-Up Show with J Cleveland Payne, published every Saturday as a podcast available at ThisIsTheConversation.com or wherever your favorite podcasts are found.
To ‘participate’ in the rankings of the headlines for this newsletter or the podcast, follow the Conversation Project on social media and engage with the posts to give them more ‘votes.’ The Conversation Project can be found on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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