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Cancer has added unpredictability to Mckenzi Middlebrooks’ life, but she decided she was going to maintain control over one thing -- her hair. Before it would inevitably fall victim to her many rounds of chemotherapy, she got rid of it on her own terms.

“I had a perspective where cancer and chemo kind of control your life,” Middlebrooks, who is battling ovarian cancer and neuroblastoma, told ABC News. “I wanted to take control and basically say chemo and cancer can’t decide when I lose my hair. I want to. At least that was one thing I could have control over.”

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sought-after development could help the millions of people without access to clean drinking water.

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A UK-based team of researchers has created a graphene-based sieve capable of removing salt from seawater.

The sought-after development could aid the millions of people without ready access to clean drinking water.

The promising graphene oxide sieve could be highly efficient at filtering salts, and will now be tested against existing desalination membranes.

It has previously been difficult to manufacture graphene-based barriers on an industrial scale.

Reporting their results in the journal Nature Nanotechnology, scientists from the University of Manchester, led by Dr Rahul Nair, show how they solved some of the challenges by using a chemical derivative called graphene oxide.

Isolated and characterised by a University of Manchester-led team in 2004, graphene comprises a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice. Its unusual properties, such as extraordinary tensile strength and electrical conductivity, have earmarked it as one of the most promising materials for future applications.

But it has been difficult to produce large quantities of single-layer graphene using existing methods, such as chemical vapour deposition (CVD). Current production routes are also quite costly.

On the other hand, said Dr Nair, "graphene oxide can be produced by simple oxidation in the lab".

He told BBC News: "As an ink or solution, we can compose it on a substrate or porous material. Then we can use it as a membrane.

"In terms of scalability and the cost of the material, graphene oxide has a potential advantage over single-layered graphene."

Of the single-layer graphene he added: "To make it permeable, you need to drill small holes in the membrane. But if the hole size is larger than one nanometre, the salts go through that hole. You have to make a membrane with a very uniform less-than-one-nanometre hole size to make it useful for desalination. It is a really challenging job."

Graphene oxide membranes have already proven their worth in sieving out small nanoparticles, organic molecules and even large salts. But until now, they couldn't be used to filter out common salts, which require even smaller sieves.

Previous work had shown that graphene oxide membranes became slightly swollen when immersed in water, allowing smaller salts to flow through the pores along with water molecules.

Now, Dr Nair and colleagues demonstrated that placing walls made of epoxy resin (a substance used in coatings and glues) on either side of the graphene oxide membrane was sufficient to stop the expansion.

More about graphene
What is graphene? Graphene patent surge reveals global race How sticky tape trick led to Nobel Prize How could graphene transform the future? Is graphene really a wonder material?
Restricting the swelling in this way also allowed the scientists to tune the properties of the membrane, letting through less or more common salt for example.

When common salts are dissolved in water, they always form a "shell" of water molecules around the salt molecules.

This allows the tiny capillaries of the graphene-oxide membranes to block the salt from flowing through along with the water.

"Water molecules can go through individually, but sodium chloride cannot. It always needs the help of the water molecules. The size of the shell of water around the salt is larger than the channel size, so it cannot go through," said Dr Nair.

By contrast, water molecules flow exceptionally fast through the membrane barrier, which makes it ideal for use in desalination.

"When the capillary size is around one nanometre, which is very close to the size of the water molecule, those molecules form a nice interconnected arrangement like a train," Dr Nair explained.

"That makes the movement of water faster: if you push harder on one side, the molecules all move on the other side because of the hydrogen bonds between them. You can only get that situation if the channel size is very small."

By 2025 the UN expects that 14% of the world's population will encounter water scarcity. As the effects of climate change continue to reduce urban water supplies, wealthy modern countries are also investing in desalination technologies.

Current desalination plants around the world use polymer-based membranes.

"This is our first demonstration that we can control the spacing [of pores in the membrane] and that we can do desalination, which was not possible before. The next step is to compare this with the state-of-the-art material available on the market," said Dr Nair.

In a news and views article accompanying the study in Nature Nanotechnology, Ram Devanathan, from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, US, said more work needed to be done to produce graphene oxide membranes inexpensively at industrial scales.

He added that scientists also needed to demonstrate the durability of the membranes under prolonged contact with seawater and ensure the membrane was resistant to "fouling" by salts and biological material (which requires existing barriers to be periodically cleaned or replaced).

"The selective separation of water molecules from ions by physical restriction of interlayer spacing opens the door to the synthesis of inexpensive membranes for desalination," wrote Dr Devanathan.

"The ultimate goal is to create a filtration device that will produce potable water from seawater or wastewater with minimal energy input."

Follow Paul on Twitter.

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A UK-based team of researchers has created a graphene-based sieve capable of removing salt from seawater. The sought-after development could aid the millions of people without ready access to clean drinking water. The promising graphene oxide sieve could be highly efficient at filtering salts, and will now be tested against existing desalination membranes.

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Tony Romo gave all he could give to the CowboysThe quarterback never got a Super Bowl ring, but he played through countless injuries trying to lead Dallas to glory.

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Tony Romo gave all he could give to the CowboysThe quarterback never got a Super Bowl ring, but he played through countless injuries trying to lead Dallas to glory.

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Tyler Warren

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A 13-year-old girl was killed while trying to retrieve her cell phone from subway tracks in Queens, New York

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Russian investigators confirm subway bombing was a suicide attack

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Russia's Investigative Committee said it believes it has found the remains of a suicide bomber after Monday's subway attack in St. Petersburg - which left 14 people dead and dozens more hospitalized.

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The suspect has been identified by authorities as Akbarjon Djalilov, a Kyrgyz-born Russian citizen in his early 20s, a senior Kyrgyz intelligence official, Rahat Sulaimanov, confirmed for ABC News.

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"Kyrgyz GKNB [State National Security Committee] and Russian FSB [Federal Security Service] work very closely, but in this case, all other info will come out of Moscow, as Djalilov is a Russian citizen only," Sulaimanov said.

Train driver Alexander Kaverin, who has been widely hailed for keeping a cool head and not stopping the train in the tunnel, perhaps saving the lives of some of the injured, spoke with a gaggle of reporters today, describing the cacophony that followed the attack.

Grigory Dukor/REUTERS

"There was a boom and dusting. I contacted a traffic controller and reported the situation," he said. "At that moment, unclear messages started to come in via passenger-to-driver communication because everyone was talking at the same time from all carriages."

Witnesses of the suicide bombing attack described a chaotic scene in its aftermath.

"There was a jolt and a loud bang, sparks," said Andrei Shurshev, 22, who said he was in a car next to the one where the bomb exploded. "Smoke appeared, with the smell of gunpowder. People moved to one end of the carriage. Some panicked. Others didn't."

Yuri Kadobnovyuri/AFP/Getty Images

The explosion occurred at 2:40 p.m. local time.

The subway system in St. Petersburg has about 2 million riders a day. It was shut down and evacuated because of the explosion, and service resumed later in the day.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was in St. Petersburg for a forum Monday, spoke in front of cameras after the explosion, alongside the president of Belarus, Aleksander Lukashenko, and was quick to possibly tie the blast to terrorism.

"The causes are not yet clear, and so it's still early to talk about that. The investigation will show," Putin said. "But naturally, we always examine all versions, ordinary and criminal - above all, incidents of a terrorist character."

President Trump, whose relationship to Russia has been complicated by an investigation into that country's alleged interference in the 2016 presidential race and possible links between his campaign and Moscow, said of the attack, "Terrible. Terrible thing. Happening all over the world. Absolutely a terrible thing."

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Russian investigators confirm subway bombing was a suicide attack

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Russia's Investigative Committee said it believes it has found the remains of a suicide bomber after Monday's subway attack in St. Petersburg - which left 14 people dead and dozens more hospitalized. The suspect has been identified by authorities as Akbarjon Djalilov, a Kyrgyz-born Russian citizen...

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An Oklahoma prosecutor said Monday no charges will be filed against a 23-year-old man who fatally shot three teenage intruders in his home, but that the woman who drove them there is being charged with first-degree murder.

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Dramatic rescue from NY subway tracks caught on video

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Trump's old Ferrari sells at auction for record $270,000

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Russia's Investigative Committee said it believes it has found the remains of a suicide bomber after Monday’s subway attack in St. Petersburg that left 14 people dead and dozens more hospitalized.

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Russia's Investigative Committee said it believes it has found the remains of a suicide bomber after Monday’s subway attack in St. Petersburg that left 14 people dead and dozens more hospitalized.

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3 men and 1 wounded from what may have been a drug-related shooting near a Catholic school in Philidelphia.

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Amazing New Technologies to Make America's Military Even Stronger

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During a storm in Alexandria, Louisiana, lightning struck a parking lot only a few yards from a Walmart entrance.

Source: CNN

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watch: lightning strikes only a few feet away - cnn video

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Watch: Lightning strikes only a few feet away - CNN Video

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Watch lightning strike a parking lot only a few yards from a Walmart entrance in Alexandria, Louisiana.

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UNC becomes fourth team to win national championship after losing previous year

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GLENDALE, Ariz. â€" The North Carolina Tar Heelsâ€™ championship moment came 364 days later than they wanted, but the delayed celebration culminated on Monday night in the desert.

The top-seeded Tar Heels gave No. 1 Gonzaga its second loss of this 2016-17 season and won their sixth national championship in program history with a 71-65 win at University of Phoenix Stadium.

WATCH: Williams on Mount Rushmore of coaching?

A bizarrely skittish national championship game served as one of the choppiest contests of the tournament, for the Tar Heels, that will be forgotten in the glow of a championship win. A sequence of clutch plays in the final minute allows UNC to separate from Gonzaga and find victory. Isaiah Hicksâ€™ one-hander with 26 seconds to go gave UNC a three-point lead. Kennedy Meeksâ€™ block, ensuing pass to Justin Jackson â€" who dunked on a breakaway â€" and then Meeksâ€™ steal on Gonzagaâ€™s next possession wrapped up the championship.

There would be no allowance for a buzzer-beater this year.

Joel Berry, plagued by two injured ankles during this tournament run, led all scorers with 22 points in 37 minutes played and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four after the game.

Officiating becomes buzz of title game

The officiating and foul trouble cannot go unmentioned. Frequent whistles kept the game from developing a flow. For perspective, last yearâ€™s Villanova-North Carolina epic had 36 total foul calls. Monday nightâ€™s title game finished with 44.

Quick whistles after halftime put both teams in the bonus with 14 minutes left in the second half, with Gonzagaâ€™s 7-foot freshman Zach Collins picking up his fourth foul with 15:53 left and 7-1 senior Przemek Karnowski getting his fourth with 8:02 left. The Tar Heels dealt with foul trouble as well -- Kennedy Meeks and Isaiah Hicks each finished the game with four fouls -- but the fact that Collins, an NBA talent who took over with 14 points, 13 rebounds and six blocks against South Carolina, played just 14 minutes, six minutes in the second half, will always sting for Gonzaga fans when thinking back to the programâ€™s first national title appearance.

There is also the matter of this jump-ball call in the final minute, after Karnowski knocked the ball from Meeksâ€™ hands under the basket and he was tied up by Killian Tillie. Fans circulated this photo from the CBS broadcast, which shows Meeksâ€™ hand out of bounds during the battle for possession.

This was a monster call. UNC was up one, 66-65 at this point, and not only did they score on the ensuing possession, but they went on to score the next six point while Gonzaga never scored again.

The turning point for the Tar Heels

Neither team shot the ball well (Gonzaga: 33.9 percent, UNC: 35.6 percent), the game was clunky because of the aforementioned foul situation and a few lengthy reviews, but with three minutes left the national championship was on the line. There were 11 ties and 12 lead changes, but the Tar Heels closed the game on a 9-2 run.

â€œBoth teams played extremely hard, I donâ€™t think either team played really well,â€ Roy Williams said after the game. â€œI told my team with three minutes left that at the beginning of practice if you had told me we were going to be in this situation I would take it. Isaiah Hicks made a big basket for us, and we did play the last three minutes.â€

WATCH: â€˜One Shining Momentâ€™

Hicksâ€™ bucket came just after the jump ball under the basket, and then Meeks came up with two game-winning plays on the defensive end with a block of Nigel Williams-Goss that led to a Justin Jackson dunk and a steal on the next Gonzaga possession to ice the game for good.

Second-chance champions

With the win, the 2017 Tar Heels became the fourth team in NCAA Tournament history to win the national championship one year after losing in the title game. UNC did it first in 1982, rebounding from a loss to Indiana the year before with a game-winner from then-freshman Michael Jordan against now-Georgetown coach Patrick Ewing and the Hoyas. Duke followed up its 1990 title game loss to UNLV with the championship in 1991 and Kentucky bounced back from its title game loss to Arizona with a victory against Utah in 1998.

Matt Norlander is a national award-winning senior writer who has been with CBS Sports since 2010. He's in his eighth season covering college basketball for CBS, and also covers the NBA Draft, the Olympics,... Full Bio

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UNC becomes fourth team to win national championship after losing previous year

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GLENDALE, Ariz. â€" The North Carolina Tar Heelsâ€™ championship moment came 364 days later than they wanted, but the delayed celebration culminated on Monday night in the desert. The top-seeded Tar Heels gave No. 1 Gonzaga its second loss of this 2016-17 season and won their sixth national championship in program history with a 71-65 win at University of Phoenix Stadium.

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Navy fighter jets depriving pilots of oxygen

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Sacred Heart University students said Monday the campus was deeply saddened by the death of a student who choked during a pancake eating contest on campus.

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Hartford Courant 4/4/2017 By David Owens

HARTFORD, Conn. - Sacred Heart University students said Monday the campus was deeply saddened by the death of a student who choked during a pancake eating contest on campus.

Police say Caitlin Nelson, 21, died at a New York City hospital on Sunday, three days after the contest during an event on the university's Fairfield campus that was part of its annual Greek Week.

"You can feel the sadness among the students and faculty," said Andrew Starr, 20, a sophomore from Norwalk. There's been a somber tone on campus since news of Nelson's death spread across campus, he said.

Nelson was a junior social work major from Clark, N.J.

We. Are. SHU pic.twitter.com/X47WVXpWKA
- sacredheartuniv (@sacredheartuniv) April 3, 2017

Fairfield police said Monday that a Sacred Heart nursing student was the first to notice Nelson was in distress during the pancake eating contest Thursday evening. The nursing student determined Nelson was choking and told another person to call 911 while she and others helped Nelson. Within minutes, four Fairfield police officers arrived. Nelson was not conscious and not breathing. The officers worked to clear Nelson's airway.

Paramedics arrived a short time later and continued trying to clear Nelson's airway. In the ambulance on the way to St. Vincent's Medical Center in Bridgeport paramedics were able to clear the blockage, but it was too late, Fairfield police Chief Gary MacNamara said. The lack of oxygen caused too much damage, he said.

Nelson was transferred Friday morning to Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York City, where she died Sunday.

"Everything that they did, everything that they tried, they could not clear that airway," MacNamara said. "This will stay with the officers a long time."

Fairfield Lt. Robert Kalamaras, who was among those Fairfield officers who worked to save Nelson, said there was no criminal aspect to the case and that police were not aware of students using alcohol at the event.

"It's a sad tragic accident," he said. "That's all it is."

He said about 100 people were at the event, which was in a university building. He said he does not know whether any university officials were present. The university declined to answer questions about the incident.

Nelson had food allergies but doctors told police that they do not think they were a factor in her death, Kalamaras said.

Students remembered Nelson during a candlelight vigil on campus Sunday that followed a mass that was attended by thousands, students said. Nelson's father, James Nelson, was a Port Authority police officer who died in the Sept. 11 attacks. Police union officials said Caitlin was an organ donor and her organs have been used to help others.

"My heart is broken for Caitlin's family," said Paul Nunziato, the president of the union that represents Port Authority police. "Like her dad, who gave all he possibly could in the final moments of his life so others may live, Caitlin also gave all she could so others may live."

James Nelson was assigned to the Port Authority police training academy on Sept. 11, 2001, but went with dozens of other Port Authority officers to the World Trade Center to do their jobs, said Bobby Egbert, a spokesman for the union that represents Port Authority police. "In a situation like that you respond from all over," Egbert said. "You have to go. There's no question about it. It's part of your job."

Egbert said he worked with James Nelson at the Port Authority Bus Terminal in the 1980s and 1990s and described him as a tough cop with a heart of gold. Nelson was 40 and his daughter was 5 when he was killed.

"She lived her life as a caring person," Egbert said. "Even at Sacred Heart she was involved in a lot of the charitable events her sorority partakes in. It's just a horror, a tragedy." He said he hopes that Nelson's family might one day find some solace in her decision to aid others by being an organ donor.

Aarika Mallory, 20, a sophomore from Vernon, who like Nelson is a social work major, said there was a Mass on campus Sunday night that was dedicated to Nelson. The crowd was so large it could not fit in the school's chapel.

"You can tell our campus is very sad," Mallory said. "We are such a close-knit campus."

The annual Greek Week features a variety of contests, including a competitive eating contest. This year it was pancakes.

"Knowing how quickly someone's life can be taken ... it makes you take a step back and realize how lucky you are," said Meghan Bossone, 19, a sophomore from Long Island.

Joseph Keane, 19, a sophomore from Long Island, said that at Sunday's Mass the priest told the congregation that tragic events occur and it is hard to understand why.

"These things happen for a reason," Keane said the priest said. "You have to just keep moving forward and have hope."

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Campus saddened by death of student after choking at pancake eating contest

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Hartford Courant 4/4/2017 By David Owens HARTFORD, Conn. - Sacred Heart University students said Monday the campus was deeply saddened by the death of a student who choked during a pancake eating contest on campus.

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Tony Romo decides to retire from the NFL and will go into broadcasting

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Rich Schultz/Getty Images
Tony Romo went from an undrafted also-ran to a true franchise quarterback in the span of a few seasons, but his storied career ended Tuesdaywhen the 36-year-oldretires to pursue a broadcasting career.

Romo will go into broadcasting after the Dallas Cowboys released him Tuesday. The Cowboys have turned in the paperwork to officially relinquish his future NFL rights, per ESPN's Todd Archer.

Romo tweeted a photo wearing a CBS sports jacket:

Romo will replace Phil Simms and be paired with Jim Nantz as CBS' top game analyst, according to Sports Business Daily's John Ourand, who added more details regarding Romo's decision:

Just a couple of weeks ago, Fox was considered the front-runner to land Romo, since it carries the NFC package that Romo knows so well. But a concern for Romo was that another former Cowboys QB, Troy Aikman, is the net's top NFL game analyst, and he is not likely to leave the booth any time soon.

"We are discussing with Phil his future role with CBS Sports," said CBS in a statement, per Ourand.

ESPN's Adam Schefter and Archer's reported the Cowboys are expected to designate Romo as a post-June 1 cut, meaning the signal-caller will count $10.7 million against the salary cap in 2017 and $8.9 million in 2018. The move will clear $14 million in cap space.

Schefter and Archer reported that Romo's decision to retire was health-related, adding that he "believes his family and his health are paramount at this time in his life." They added that Romo informed Cowboys owner Jerry Jones of his choice to walk away "for now."

An unnamed NFL executive told Schefter that Romo "is now every team's emergency backup QB in case your starter gets hurt, pay him to come out of 'retirement.'"

Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report added that "almost everyone" he's spoken to in NFL front offices believes Romo will play in the future.

Schefter previously reported Fox Sports wanted Romo to replace John Lynch, who took over as general manager of the San Francisco 49ers, on its broadcast team prior to his reported agreement with CBS.

Injuries marred the end of Romo's career.

He was plagued by shoulder issues throughout 2015, and his 2016 season never got off the ground after he suffered a compression fracture of his L1 vertebrae in the Cowboys' third preseason contest against the Seattle Seahawks.

Rookie Dak Prescott took over the offense, and Romo couldn't regain his job after the Cowboys went 13-3 and captured an NFC East title before the Green Bay Packers bounced them from the playoffs.

Even though didn't lead the Cowboys to a Super Bowl title during his 15 seasons in Dallas, Romo was one of the league's premier passers during his heyday.

The Eastern Illinois product led the Cowboys to a 13-3 finish and NFC East title in 2007, and he helped them repeat that feat in 2009 and 2014.

Romo finished his career with four Pro Bowl selections and a 2014 Second Team All-NFL nod, and he completed 65.3percent of his passes for a franchise-record 34,183yards, 248 touchdowns and 117interceptions over 10 seasons as Dallas' starter.

While it would have been fair had Romo expressed his frustration with the franchise's decision to let Prescott take over even after he healed, the veteran handled his demotion with grace at a November press conference.

"Dak Prescott, and what he's done, he's earned the right to be our quarterback," Romo said, per the New York Times' Benjamin Hoffman. "As hard as that is for me to say, he's earned that right."

However, Romo revealed at the time that he still had a desire to suit up on Sundays.

"If you think for a second I don't want to be out there, then you probably never felt the pure ecstasy of competing and winning," he said. "That hasn't left me. In fact, it may burn now more than ever."

Some time to ponder the future evidently changed Romo's mind, but his decision to step away from the game shouldn't change how his career is assessed in the long run.

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Tony Romo Retiring After 15-Year Cowboys Career, Becoming Broadcaster

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Rich Schultz/Getty Images Tony Romo went from an undrafted also-ran to a true franchise quarterback in the span of a few seasons, but his storied career ended Tuesdaywhen the 36-year-oldretires to pursue a broadcasting career. Romo will go into broadcasting after the Dallas Cowboys released him Tuesday.

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13 year old girl killed when retrieving phone from subway

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girl killed retrieving phone from subway track - cnn video

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Girl killed retrieving phone from subway track - CNN Video

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A 13-year-old girl was killed while trying to retrieve her cell phone from subway tracks in Queens, New York.

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Khan Sheikhoun airstrike causes many deaths including 10 children, as well as over 200 injured due to 'deadly gases'

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World leaders expressed shock and outrage Tuesday at reports of a suspected chemical attack in northwestern Syria that killed scores of civilians, with one UK official suggesting the incident amounted to a war crime.

Activists said the Syrian regime was responsible for the killings of at least 70 people -- 10 children among the dead -- leading the United Nations to replace a scheduled Security Council session for Wednesday morning with an emergency meeting.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's military denied using chemical weapons and blamed rebels for the carnage. Russia, Syria's strong ally, said it had no warplanes in the vicinity.

But from Washington to London to Jerusalem, leaders denounced the reported airstrike, which if proven true would be one of the deadliest chemical attacks in Syria in years.

"Today's chemical attack in Syria against innocent people, including women and children, is reprehensible and cannot be ignored by the civilized world," US President Donald Trump said, adding that he thinks the attacks was a consequence of the past administration's weakness and irresolution. "President Obama said in 2012 that he would establish a 'red line' against the use of chemical weapons and then did nothing."

UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, speaking at a news conference with his German counterpart, had harsh criticism of the Syrian government.

"If this were to be proved to have been committed by the Assad regime then it would be another reason to think they are an absolutely heinous outfit, that is, it is a war crime," he said.

International condemnation

An emergency UN Security Council session has been scheduled for Wednesday morning, according to US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley. French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, who called for the meeting, described the attack as a "despicable act."

The United States, United Kingdom and France ‎have circulated a resolution at the Security Council regarding the attack. It could be put to a vote.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote a series of tweets, saying in one: "There's no, none, no excuse whatsoever for the deliberate attacks on civilians and on children, especially with cruel and outlawed chemical weapons."

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called on Russia and Iran "to exercise their influence over the Syrian regime" and said that the two nations "bear great moral responsibility for these deaths."

UK Prime Minister Theresa May said she was appalled by the attack.

"I am very clear that there can be no future for Assad in a stable Syria, which is representative of all the Syrian people," May said, "and I call on all of the parties involved to ensure that we have a transition away from Assad."

Doctor cannot shake horrible sights

Airstrikes hit the rebel-held city of Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib province on Tuesday morning, giving off a "poisonous gas," according to Anas al-Diab, an activist with the Aleppo Media Center.

Many casualties were the result of asphyxiation, doctors said. Videos on social media purporting to be from the scene show people, including children, who appear unresponsive; others struggle to breathe or wear oxygen masks.

A doctor in a hospital close to Khan Sheikhoun told CNN: "Today around 7:30 a.m., about 125 ... arrived to our hospital. Twenty-five of them were already dead, 70% to 80% of the wounded people were kids and women.

"The symptoms were pale skin, sweating, narrow or pin-eye pupils, very intense respiratory detachments. Those symptoms match the usage of sarin."

The doctor, who cannot be named for security reasons, said tests were needed to identify whether sarin gas, a man-made nerve agent, was to blame.

Dr. Fares al-Jundi rushed to the hospital. He estimated there were 500 wounded people. They covered the floors of the entire hospital, from the patients' rooms to the operating rooms and the corridors.

The doctor said whole families were killed. They died of asphyxiation; foam covered their mouths. Many died suddenly, he said. "I believe this horrible memory will stay with me for the rest of my life."

Chaos, confusion at the scene

Hadi al Abdullah, a citizen journalist, arrived at the scene two hours after he says a single gas rocket hit the town.

Abdullah, who had common side effects of a nerve gas attack -- blurred vision, a splitting headache and lethargy -- told CNN the scene was chaos. Families died in their homes, and in the streets, children risked exposure looking for their parents.

At first, people were unaware it was a gas attack, Abdullah said. People who rushed to help others were overtaken by the gas, including several White Helmets, who had to be rescued by others from the group, also known as the Syrian Civil Defense.

The Aleppo Media Center put the death toll at 70 but there were different numbers from other groups. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 58 were dead, including 10 children. The High Negotiations Committee, an umbrella opposition group, said as many as 100 died.

Syrian military denies responsibility

The Syrian army "categorically denies the use of chemical and poisonous material in Khan Sheikhoun," the General Command said in a statement.

"The Syrian army holds the terrorist groups and those supporting them responsible for the use of chemical and poisonous material and for the careless wasting of innocent civilians' lives to achieve their despicable goals and agendas," the statement said.

In an apparent reference to the crisis, two state-run Syrian media outlets earlier reported an explosion at a "rebel poison gas factory" in the countryside of Idlib province,implying that it was an accident related to rebels building chemical weapons. Idlib province is largely controlled by an alliance of rebel forces and is regularly targeted in airstrikes by the Syrian military and its ally, Russia.

The Russian Defense Ministry said none of its jets carried out airstrikes in the area, according to a ministry statement carried by state-run news agency Tass.

The Syrian Coalition, an umbrella opposition group, referred to the suspected chemical attack as a "crime similar to that in Eastern Ghouta in 2013 that the international community allowed to pass without accountability or punishment."

The tweet was in reference to a 2013 chemical attack on the Damascus suburb of Ghouta, which was blamed on the Syrian regime and prompted US President Barack Obama to threaten military action.

If reports of a chemical attack by the regime are confirmed, experts say it could be the biggest since Ghouta.

McCain: Assad must pay a price

US Sen. John McCain called for President Donald Trump to send a strong signal to Assad that the attack will not be tolerated.

Referring to the 2013 chemical attack, McCain told CNN: "We've seen this movie before, it was when Barack Obama said they would have a red line, they crossed it and he did nothing. Bashar Assad and his friends, the Russians, take note of what Americans say."

The Ghouta attack prompted Obama to ask Congress to authorize military action against Syria in 2013. Shortly after, Syria agreed to a Russian proposal to give up control of its chemical weapons, leading Obama to retreat from threats of military action.

Analyst: Regime may increase attacks

Haid Haid, a Syrian columnist and researcher, told CNN that he thinks the United States is "not interested in any way challenging the rule of Assad."

"The regime has been systematically using small scale (chemical) attacks over a long time in order to normalize the use of those attacks," said Haid, an associate fellow at Chatham House, an international policy think tank based in London.

"Once the regime is sure that the attacks won't trigger any sort of reaction from the international community, I believe the regime will start increasing those attacks."

Since the civil war began in 2011, an estimated 400,000 Syrians have been killed, according to figures issued by the United Nations last year.

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syria: suspected gas attack reportedly kills dozens - cnn

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Kareem Khadder, Schams Elwazer, Elizabeth Roberts, Eyad Kourdi and Tamara Qiblawi, CNN

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Suspected gas attack in Syria reportedly kills dozens

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World leaders expressed shock and outrage Tuesday at reports of a suspected chemical attack in northwestern Syria that killed scores of civilians, with one UK official suggesting the incident amounted to a war crime.

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Dozens of people, including at least ten children, have been killed and more than 200 injured in a suspected chemical attack in northern Syria.

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World leaders expressed shock and outrage Tuesday at reports of a suspected chemical attack in northwestern Syria that killed scores of civilians, with one UK official suggesting the incident amounted to a war crime.

Activists said the Syrian regime was responsible for the killings of at least 70 people -- 10 children among the dead -- leading the United Nations to replace a scheduled Security Council session for Wednesday morning with an emergency meeting.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's military denied using chemical weapons and blamed rebels for the carnage. Russia, Syria's strong ally, said it had no warplanes in the vicinity.

But from Washington to London to Jerusalem, leaders denounced the reported airstrike, which if proven true would be one of the deadliest chemical attacks in Syria in years.

"Today's chemical attack in Syria against innocent people, including women and children, is reprehensible and cannot be ignored by the civilized world," US President Donald Trump said, adding that he thinks the attacks was a consequence of the past administration's weakness and irresolution. "President Obama said in 2012 that he would establish a 'red line' against the use of chemical weapons and then did nothing."

UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, speaking at a news conference with his German counterpart, had harsh criticism of the Syrian government.

"If this were to be proved to have been committed by the Assad regime then it would be another reason to think they are an absolutely heinous outfit, that is, it is a war crime," he said.

International condemnation

An emergency UN Security Council session has been scheduled for Wednesday morning, according to US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley. French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, who called for the meeting, described the attack as a "despicable act."

The United States, United Kingdom and France ‎have circulated a resolution at the Security Council regarding the attack. It could be put to a vote.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote a series of tweets, saying in one: "There's no, none, no excuse whatsoever for the deliberate attacks on civilians and on children, especially with cruel and outlawed chemical weapons."

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called on Russia and Iran "to exercise their influence over the Syrian regime" and said that the two nations "bear great moral responsibility for these deaths."

UK Prime Minister Theresa May said she was appalled by the attack.

"I am very clear that there can be no future for Assad in a stable Syria, which is representative of all the Syrian people," May said, "and I call on all of the parties involved to ensure that we have a transition away from Assad."

Doctor cannot shake horrible sights

Airstrikes hit the rebel-held city of Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib province on Tuesday morning, giving off a "poisonous gas," according to Anas al-Diab, an activist with the Aleppo Media Center.

Many casualties were the result of asphyxiation, doctors said. Videos on social media purporting to be from the scene show people, including children, who appear unresponsive; others struggle to breathe or wear oxygen masks.

A doctor in a hospital close to Khan Sheikhoun told CNN: "Today around 7:30 a.m., about 125 ... arrived to our hospital. Twenty-five of them were already dead, 70% to 80% of the wounded people were kids and women.

"The symptoms were pale skin, sweating, narrow or pin-eye pupils, very intense respiratory detachments. Those symptoms match the usage of sarin."

The doctor, who cannot be named for security reasons, said tests were needed to identify whether sarin gas, a man-made nerve agent, was to blame.

Dr. Fares al-Jundi rushed to the hospital. He estimated there were 500 wounded people. They covered the floors of the entire hospital, from the patients' rooms to the operating rooms and the corridors.

The doctor said whole families were killed. They died of asphyxiation; foam covered their mouths. Many died suddenly, he said. "I believe this horrible memory will stay with me for the rest of my life."

Chaos, confusion at the scene

Hadi al Abdullah, a citizen journalist, arrived at the scene two hours after he says a single gas rocket hit the town.

Abdullah, who had common side effects of a nerve gas attack -- blurred vision, a splitting headache and lethargy -- told CNN the scene was chaos. Families died in their homes, and in the streets, children risked exposure looking for their parents.

At first, people were unaware it was a gas attack, Abdullah said. People who rushed to help others were overtaken by the gas, including several White Helmets, who had to be rescued by others from the group, also known as the Syrian Civil Defense.

The Aleppo Media Center put the death toll at 70 but there were different numbers from other groups. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 58 were dead, including 10 children. The High Negotiations Committee, an umbrella opposition group, said as many as 100 died.

Syrian military denies responsibility

The Syrian army "categorically denies the use of chemical and poisonous material in Khan Sheikhoun," the General Command said in a statement.

"The Syrian army holds the terrorist groups and those supporting them responsible for the use of chemical and poisonous material and for the careless wasting of innocent civilians' lives to achieve their despicable goals and agendas," the statement said.

In an apparent reference to the crisis, two state-run Syrian media outlets earlier reported an explosion at a "rebel poison gas factory" in the countryside of Idlib province,implying that it was an accident related to rebels building chemical weapons. Idlib province is largely controlled by an alliance of rebel forces and is regularly targeted in airstrikes by the Syrian military and its ally, Russia.

The Russian Defense Ministry said none of its jets carried out airstrikes in the area, according to a ministry statement carried by state-run news agency Tass.

The Syrian Coalition, an umbrella opposition group, referred to the suspected chemical attack as a "crime similar to that in Eastern Ghouta in 2013 that the international community allowed to pass without accountability or punishment."

The tweet was in reference to a 2013 chemical attack on the Damascus suburb of Ghouta, which was blamed on the Syrian regime and prompted US President Barack Obama to threaten military action.

If reports of a chemical attack by the regime are confirmed, experts say it could be the biggest since Ghouta.

McCain: Assad must pay a price

US Sen. John McCain called for President Donald Trump to send a strong signal to Assad that the attack will not be tolerated.

Referring to the 2013 chemical attack, McCain told CNN: "We've seen this movie before, it was when Barack Obama said they would have a red line, they crossed it and he did nothing. Bashar Assad and his friends, the Russians, take note of what Americans say."

The Ghouta attack prompted Obama to ask Congress to authorize military action against Syria in 2013. Shortly after, Syria agreed to a Russian proposal to give up control of its chemical weapons, leading Obama to retreat from threats of military action.

Analyst: Regime may increase attacks

Haid Haid, a Syrian columnist and researcher, told CNN that he thinks the United States is "not interested in any way challenging the rule of Assad."

"The regime has been systematically using small scale (chemical) attacks over a long time in order to normalize the use of those attacks," said Haid, an associate fellow at Chatham House, an international policy think tank based in London.

"Once the regime is sure that the attacks won't trigger any sort of reaction from the international community, I believe the regime will start increasing those attacks."

Since the civil war began in 2011, an estimated 400,000 Syrians have been killed, according to figures issued by the United Nations last year.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
syria: suspected gas attack reportedly kills dozens - cnn

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
Kareem Khadder, Schams Elwazer, Elizabeth Roberts, Eyad Kourdi and Tamara Qiblawi, CNN

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Suspected gas attack in Syria reportedly kills dozens

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
World leaders expressed shock and outrage Tuesday at reports of a suspected chemical attack in northwestern Syria that killed scores of civilians, with one UK official suggesting the incident amounted to a war crime.

# data[].attributes.headline
Mr. Kohl-  Kansas City, Mo  - For 35 grams of marijuana or less - about an ounce..."Current penalties right now are up to a year in prison and up to a $1,000 fine,"  A vote to approve new law  "This would make it a $25 fine with no jail time."

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Mr. Kohl-  Kansas City, Mo  - For 35 grams of marijuana or less - about an ounce..."Current penalties right now are up to a year in prison and up to a $1,000 fine,"  A vote to approve new law  "This would make it a $25 fine with no jail time."