News Headlines - 31 January 2018

▽U.S. dubs Hamas chief Haniyeh as specially designated global terrorist - Jerusalem Post

The United States government has become the first country outside of Israel to categorize Hamas Politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, Ambassador Nathan A. Sales, the State Department coordinator for counterterrorism, told The Jerusalem Post.

▽Iconic Ancient Temple Is Latest Victim in Civil War

Much of the magnificent 3,000-year-old temple of Ain Dara, with its mysterious and massive footprints and a structure that provides clues for understanding the biblical temple of Solomon in Jerusalem, has been destroyed in a Turkish airstrike.... A Turkish airstrike destroyed much of the temple on Friday during an attack on the Kurdish-held area south of the city of Afrin, according to the Syrian Ministry of Culture and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Photos and video from the Syrian Observatory and Hawar News confirm that more than half of the temple is gone, including many of the sculptures that ringed the site.

▽Ryanair in ‘historic’ deal to recognise British pilots’ union

Ryanair has reached its first union deal in its 33-year history, agreeing to recognise Britain’s pilot group as it attempts to resolve a long-running battle with cockpit crews over wages and conditions.
Europe’s biggest budget airline on Tuesday said it had signed an agreement with the British Airline Pilots’ Association (Balpa) that will see the union represent about 600 UK pilots directly employed by Ryanair.

▽Simple blood test spots dementia protein

Scientists in Japan and Australia have developed a blood test that can identify people who have high levels of a protein associated with Alzheimer's disease. If confirmed by further research, this long-sought test could help in the increasingly desperate search for therapies that halt the progression of dementia, which affects tens of millions of people worldwide.

▽Truck driver arrested for damage to Peruvian archaeological site - UPI.com

Peruvian authorities arrested a truck driver they said drove his vehicle through the Nazca Lines, partly damaging the protected archaeological site.
Peru's Ministry of Culture announced Monday that Janier Jesus Flores Vigo will face charges for ignoring signs indicating the location of the sacred site and driving a cargo truck through it.