As we start a new week, these are some of the biggest stories in the world today.
France holds its breath as polls open
Polling stations opened at 8 a.m. (2 a.m. ET), and will close between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. (2 p.m. ET). Polling companies release usually reliable projections of the final result almost immediately afterward. Whoever becomes president, Emmanuel Macron, the independent centrist, or Marine Le Pen, the far-right candidate, will inherit a country bitterly divided.
Indonesia jail break: About 200 escapees still at large
Scores of inmates fled the Sialang Bungkuk prison in Pekanbaru, the capital of the Riau province, Friday following clashes with prison guards, authorities said. At least 442 inmates broke through a prison gate, overwhelming guards as some tried to set fire to buildings inside the prison.
US citizen detained in North Korea
The regime described Kim Hak-song as “a man who was doing business in relation to the operation of Pyongyang University of Science and Technology.” KCNA said the American was detained Saturday, but did not release more details on his alleged crime.
School bus crash kills 36 in Tanzania
The fatal crash happened in city of Arusha in Tanzania’s northern Karatu District, on the edge of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. “The place where it happened is a hill, with a steep slope, and it was raining when the accident happened,” Aruba Police Commander Charles Mkumbo said.
82 released Chibok schoolgirls arrive in capital
The released girls were received at the airport on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari by Alhaji Abba Kyari, his chief of staff. “Welcome our girls, welcome our sisters,” Kyari said to the girls, who sat quietly in chairs.
Trump aims for high drama on first foreign swing
Skipping a low-key stop in the United States’ low-key northerly neighbor — a traditional dry run on foreign travel for a new president — Trump will instead touch down in the capitals of three major world religions, a dramatic in-person entry into the fraught intersection of faith, politics and national security.
Team USA bobsled driver Steven Holcomb dies
He was 37 years old. No cause of death was given. “Steve was a tremendous athlete and even better person, and his perseverance and achievements were an inspiration to us all,” United States Olympic Committee CEO Scott Blackmun said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Steve’s family and the entire bobsledding community.”
Vogue India cover lands Kendall Jenner in more trouble
Vogue India has been blasted online for its decision to feature Jenner, a white American, instead of an Indian model on the cover of its 10th anniversary issue. Many people have said it’s yet another example of a missed opportunity to celebrate women of color.
Elusive 2-hour marathon barrier remains unbroken
Kipchoge, 32, joined fellow world-class runners Lelisa Desisa of Ethiopia and Zersenay Tadese of Eritrea in Nike’s Breaking2 project, an attempt to cover the 26.2 miles (42.2 kilometers) of a marathon in under two hours. Guided by a platoon of pacing runners, the three started together, but Kipchoge — the 2016 Olympic champion and the 2016 London Marathon winner — came closest in the end.
Big Trouble for Uhuru As Another Mugumo Tree Falls
The Kikuyu community has come to associate the falling of fig trees (Mugumo) to major events in the political world. The best known instance was when Mugo wa Kibiru prophesied that the falling of a huge Mugumo tree in Thika would mark the end of British rule in Kenya.
‘What an Idiot of a Girlfriend you have’, Eric Omondi Told After his Fiancée Did This to Monkeys
We are not sure whether it is the cold weather or the price of Unga being at an all time high but you do no want to mess with Kenyans on social media right about now.
Maina Kamanda Blames Loss to Jaguar on Peter Kenneth Support
Starehe Member of Parliament Maina Kamanda has blamed his defeat in the just concluded Jubilee primaries on his decision to back Peter Kenneth for the Nairobi gubernatorial position. Maina who was opposed to Jubilee Party gubernatorial nominee, Senator Mike Mbuvi Sonko, claimed that they were coe
Le Pen Critics Warn French Before Vote: Ne Vous ‘Trumpez’ Pas
As the French head to the polls Sunday to pick uber conservative Marine Le Pen or centrist Emmanuel Macron as their president, Le Pen opponents are pleading with their compatriots not to repeat America’s election and choose a Donald Trump-like candidate.
Oblivious Paul Ryan Snapped In Embarrassing ‘Go F**k Yourself’ Tweet
The tweeted photo of the day features a friendly looking Wisconsin voter wearing a Brewers baseball hat with a “Go F**k Yourself T-Shirt” standing next to a delighted, completely oblivious Paul Ryan.
Trump Transition’s Handling Of Sensitive Details Reportedly Alarmed Obama Officials
Trump transition officials copied highly sensitive documents and removed them from a secure facility during the presidential transition, alarming Obama administration officials, The Associated Press reported Saturday. The practice reportedly prompted officials for then-President Barack Obama to only allow their Trump team counterparts to view the documents at a secure White House facility.
Invest $500,000 In The Kushner Family, ‘Immigrate To The United States’
For a fee of $500,000 made out to the Kushner family, wealthy Chinese could secure a top spot in America. That’s what White House senior adviser Jared Kushner’s sister told a Beijing ballroom filled with more than 100 wealthy Chinese investors on Saturday, the Washington Post and New York Times reported.
A Photoshopped Picture Of Trump Is Freaking Everyone Out
There’s something weird about this photograph featuring President Donald Trump, but you might not have noticed it at first glance. It appears to just show Trump and Congressional Republicans celebrating in the White House Rose Garden, after the House passed a measure to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act on Thursday: What if I told you…I photoshopped the same face onto every man behind Trump.
Microsoft is putting AI everywhere it can
Today’s AI is tomorrow’s taken for granted. It’s an insight you’d expect to hear from, maybe, Watson parent IBM, Alexa’s mom, Amazon, or even Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg talking about “M.”
Tiny, adorable baby animal rescued from imminent doom by hero Arizonans
A starving, struggling otter in Arizona was nursed back to health after utility workers plucked it from a canal on the outskirts of Phoenix. The 4-week-old animal was dehydrated and covered with fleas when three heroes from Salt River Project noticed the otter struggling to escape the drying canal.
How douchebag style has evolved over the years
Although the term “douchebag” didn’t always mean what means today, douchebags have been around forever. Ranging from the 1940s to today, the above video takes the viewer on a journey through eight decades of douchebaggery, including everything from mustaches to mullets to man buns.
This tiny chip will make sure you’ll never forget or lose anything again
Goodbye stress.
Facebook’s traditional TV style shows coming next month, report says
Facebook has repeatedly told us that video is a priority for the company going forward, and now we have more details on exactly what Facebook TV will look like. The social networking giant is reportedly preparing to release a line-up of television-style shows on the site in June.
