New Drone Footage Highlights the Devastation in Syria: Here’s What Happened in the World Today

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1. UN pleads for an end to the Syrian conflict

“Five days into Syria peace talks, they are already over.” As the UN secretary general calls for an end to the violence in Syria, Vox breaks down why exactly the peace talks failed so dramatically.

+1: Watch this drone footage from Homs, Syria.

2. A smirking Martin Shkreli testified in Congress, pleading the fifth.

Shkreli appeared before the House Oversight Committee to answer questions about drug pricing. The infamous CEO, who notably raised the price of Daraprim, a drug used in the treatment of AIDS, from $13.50 to $750 a pill, is currently facing criminal charges for misleading investors.

Because of this indictment, Shkreli refused to answer any of the committee’s questions, pleading the fifth. Fusion has rounded up the best of his smirks.

Is this guy for real?

+1: From January, read a Washington Post staffer’s account of her Tinder date with Martin Shkreli.

3. Courtroom sketches may have identified the first witness in the Jian Ghomeshi trial

According to a Buzzfeed report, the complainant is “very concerned” the sketches have identified her. Lawyers for Canada’s biggest media companies also requested an image of the witness in a bikini be released. The complainant sent the photo of herself to Ghomeshi in an email tabled as evidence in the trial.

4. Scenes from a 21st century China

The Atlantic published this excellent photo essay of life in modern China.

5. ‘Serial’ just got good again

“Starting today, the podcast will be providing short daily dispatches—today’s was 15 minutes—from Adnan Syed’s post-conviction relief hearing in Baltimore.” ‘Serial,’ which has stumbled through its second season coverage of the Bowe Bergdahl scandal, recently switch to a biweekly schedule, presumably to accommodate the new daily entries.