The deaths of American soldiers in Africa have brought up questions regarding U.S. interventions; meanwhile, scientists have discovered that humans do have an auto-pilot. These discoveries and more below.

Niger, Niger Burning Bright
Both political parties would much rather keep the focus on Trump’s malicious tweets and far away from the true scope of America’s vicious intrusions in Africa.

How Americans really feel about Facebook, Apple, and More
This year marked a sea change in our attitude toward tech’s largest players — and not for the better.

The War Against Pope Francis
His modesty and humility have made him a popular figure around the world. But inside the church, his reforms have infuriated conservatives and sparked a revolt.

Will Netanyahu Risk Exposing Israel’s Ugliest Secret?
New law would define Israel as belonging to a global Jewish nation rather than its citizens, ending any pretense it is a liberal democracy, say experts.

How AI Could Slow the Spread of HIV
A pilot program in Los Angeles is testing a more scientific way to reach “influencers” who persuade and educate their peers.

Trump’s FCC Chair Moves to Undermine Journalism and Democracy
If media cross-ownership rules are eliminated, monopolies will dominate.

Forget the ‘Slippery Slope’ — Israel Already Is an Apartheid State
Since the election of Donald Trump, colonization has surged with an invigorated enthusiasm.

Amazon Is Hiring Ph.D.s — Hundreds This Year
The retail behemoth has hired nearly 500 Ph.D.s, former professors among them, since the beginning of this year to work in its applied-science and research-science units, according to company figures.

Your Autopilot Mode Is Real – Now We Know How the Brain Does It
Ever realized you have driven yourself home but haven’t really been paying attention? Brain scans have revealed that when your mind wanders, it switches into “autopilot” mode, enabling you to carry on doing tasks quickly, accurately and without conscious thought.

How ‘Hindutva’ Recast Multi-faith India as the Hindu Homeland
‘Hindutva,’ explained Vinayak Damodar Savarkar in 1923, is ‘not a word, but a history.’ It was introduced in a lengthy pamphlet, “Essentials of Hindutva,” which Savarkar wrote on the walls of his prison cell, and re-published in 1928 under the new title “Hindutva: Who is a Hindu?”