Things Change Periodically; Building a Memory Catcher; Parental Group; Fat Bankers; UK Tries to Tango with Three; LGBT Goes to the UN; Working the Gender; Colombia's Peace; Globalist Fear: Italy's Nationalist Turn; More Power for Erdogan; And No Hollande in France

Science

It's official: Your Periodic Table is now obsolete sciencealert

Get ready to ring in 2017 with a brand new Periodic Table iupac.org, because four more elements have officially been added to the seventh row: nihonium (Nh), moscovium (Mc), tennessine (Ts), and oganesson (Og).

Also see Periodic table expands with elements named after Japan, Moscow, Tennessee phys.org

The Russian Japanese Island; Open Threat; 2nd Peace; Powdered Blood; Mechanical Pixels; Super Japan; Anti-Semitics in Berkley; Not so Climate Changed; and Shared Private Data

Russia-Japan

Japan pledges response to 'serious' Russian missile deployment on disputed islands independent.co.uk

The countries are trying to arrange a meeting between President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe next month to settle a 70-year dispute over the islands, which were claimed by the Soviets after Second World War and lie just north of Japan.

Also see Military build-up in the Kuril Islands: Bad timing or a signal from Moscow? rbth

Vetoing Syria; Russian Bases; Accelerated Missile Deployment; Hacking Politics; Burma Sanction-Lift; Putin's Peace Prize; No Peace but Noble Peace; Tracking Faces in NY; Watching the Streets of Baltimore; InterVarsity's Stand for Biblical Authority; California vs Creationist; Chick-fil-A Plus; Yahoo Again: Against Hiring Men?; and Bank's AI-Number

Syria

Russia Vetoes UN Resolution Demanding End to Aleppo Bombing abcnews.go

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault had warned before the vote that the continued bombing of Aleppo was killing civilians and destroying hospitals and schools — "and has nothing to do with combatting terrorism."

"It is the annihilation of Aleppo," he said.

Unsustainably Expensive; Hamilton's Advice; Absorbing and Boiling; Blue Collar Robot; Toyota Baby; Deep and Powerful Learning; Look Ma: No Mans; Duterte is Sorry; Colombian Pieces; and Russia and US Agree to Hate Each Other

Medical

Minnesota Commissioner Slams Obamacare As "Unfair & Unsustainable" As Rates Soar zerohedge

Minnesota Commerce Commissioner Mike Rothman posted a letter mn.gov to the state's website saying that the state succeeded in preserving the exchanges for one more year by agreeing to massive rate hikes but warned they are on the "verge of collapse." The letter goes on to describe Minnesota's healthcare rate environment as "unsustainable and unfair" and notes that "middle-class Minnesotans" are being "crushed by the heavy burden of these costs."

Also see ObamaCare rates in MN skyrocket 60% to stave off “collapse” hotair