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Serial appeal * Ebola doctor * #BreakTheInternet: Friday's news roundup

The new Serial podcast is buzzing. Plus, another doctor who has contracted Ebola in Africa will be transported to the U.S. And there's a better way to break the Internet than Kim Kardashian.
Serial appeal * Ebola doctor * #BreakTheInternet: Friday’s news roundup
Faith Teta with her children outside her home in Dolo Town, which has been hard hit by the Ebola outbreak. Photo by Sheilia Passewe for USA Today
Sarah Pulliam Bailey

It’s Friday! That means yesterday was Thursday. And on Thursdays, everyone seems to buzz about the new podcast “Serial.”

https://twitter.com/sammyrhodes/status/532660206904172544

I just started it this week, but I know enough to say that the story centers partly on a Muslim man, and faith is occasionally a factor. Are you into it?


A doctor who contracted Ebola in Sierra Leone is being flown to Nebraska. In happier news, Liberia’s president lifted a state of emergency over Ebola as infections are no longer increasing.

Faith Teta with her children outside her home in Dolo Town, which has been hard hit by the Ebola outbreak. Photo by Sheilia Passewe for USA Today

Faith Teta with her children outside her home in Dolo Town, which has been hard hit by the Ebola outbreak. Photo by Sheilia Passewe for USA Today

Vice President Joe Biden met with religious and NGO leaders to praise their efforts helping fight Ebola by promoting safe burial practices, which sometimes clash with religious traditions.

Aung San Suu Kyi, who spent years under house arrest, met with President Obama, calling for further moves toward democracy ahead of Burma’s presidential elections next year. Obama also raised the issue that has raised criticism for her reluctance to address the country’s abuse of minority Rohingya Muslims.

A house divided… Clarence Thomas suggests the Supreme Court was divided on whether to accept gay marriage case it rejected last month.

At this church, you can’t get hymns or prayer, but you can get a beer–for free, if you’re a first timer. The project is called The Upper Room.

Germany is warning that anti-Semitism is rising in Europe on back of Middle East violence.

Know how the wedding business is big business? Looks like the divorce business is growing.


Get ready: A ‘Duck Dynasty’ musical is coming to Las Vegas.

An FDA panel is considering lifting a ban on blood donations by gay men.

I’m not sure this is about religion, but I nominate the Met for the tweet of the week:

From the RNS crowd:

Pope Francis to build showers for homeless in St. Peter’s Square

Hashtag activists battle online anti-Muslim speech, but #DoesItWork?

Karen Armstrong on the connections between religion and violence

Catholic Church losing ground in Latin America

Court rejects atheists’ demand to end tax-exempt clergy housing

Finally, a fun fact via Dan Merica on Instagram: In case you’re wondering, Hillary Clinton completed Vacation Bible School and has a certificate to prove it.

 

http://instagram.com/p/vXELirtnSO/?modal=true

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