Let’s look at links to some of the stories making global headlines today.
Trump lawyer files lawsuits against BuzzFeed, Fusion GPS over dossier
Nearly one year to the day after the Russia dossier’s publication, President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer hit both the research firm that produced it and the news organization that released it with lawsuits, saying its allegations about him are wrong.
Feinstein releases Fusion transcript
Fusion GPS co-founder Glenn Simpson told the Senate Judiciary Committee that the author of the opposition research dossier on then-candidate Donald Trump and Russia was acting on his own volition when he went to the FBI because he was concerned that a presidential candidate was being blackmailed, according to the 312-page transcript of his testimony.
Jeff Bezos net worth: Amazon CEO now richest person in history
The Amazon CEO’s net worth reached $105.1 billion Monday, according to Bloomberg’s billionaire tracker. That eclipses the record previously held by Microsoft founder Bill Gates. Forbes, the other major tracker of the net worth of the world’s richest, put Bezos’ net worth at a mere $104.4 billion.
‘Perplexing’ Cuba ‘attacks’ continue to baffle State Department
More than a year after US diplomats in Havana, Cuba, began reporting to embassy officials that they were hearing bizarre noises and experiencing a range of physical symptoms, the State Department and federal investigators have been unable to attribute the source or cause of the ailments, which they’ve determined, simply, “were most likely related to trauma from a non-natural source.”
Netanyahu defends son after strip club recording airs on TV
In the tape, Yair Netanyahu, now 26, can be heard demanding money from Ori Maimon — the son of Kobi Maimon, an Israeli gas tycoon. “My father did a good deal for you, brother,” Yair is heard telling Ori. “You have to be good to me.” Laughter can then be heard on the recording.
It snowed in one of the hottest places in the world
On Sunday, Ain Sefra, a desert town in Algeria known as the “Gateway to the Sahara,” experienced a substantial amount of snow for reportedly the third time in 40 years. Some reports say parts of the area got nearly 15 inches of snow, but Ain Sefra officially reported less than one inch.
Border wall may be shorter than advertised
As talks on comprehensive immigration reform progress, so have the discussions on the logistics of a border wall. And the prospect of a wall spanning the entire border doesn’t seem to be part of the plan.
Amid Logan Paul controversy, YouTube explores ‘further consequences’
Paul was widely criticized for making the video in Japan’s so-called “suicide forest.” Amid widespread criticism, Paul took the video down and repeatedly apologized. YouTube also came under scrutiny for not taking action. That’s why the company issued a statement on Tuesday, one week after the controversy erupted.
Google’s Daydream VR breaks free of the smartphone with new standalone headset
Mobile virtual reality isn’t just about smartphones anymore. Today, Lenovo unveiled the Mirage Solo, the first standalone virtual reality headset for Google Daydream platform. The headset marks a major milestone for Google’s virtual reality efforts as it’s the first wireless headset that doesn’t depend on a Daydream-compatible smartphone to use, giving it the potential to reach a much wider audience than the Daydream View headsets.
Meet the first openly gay man to compete for the U.S. in the Winter Olympics
Figure skater Adam Rippon will be the first openly gay man to compete for the United States in the Winter Olympics. The 28-year-old celebrated qualifying for the Games, which take place in February in South Korea, in a tweet on Tuesday evening.
Hulu hit 17 million subscribers in a year of big wins
Emmys and Golden Globes are lovely, but Hulu measures its success the old fashioned way: numbers. A press release from the company shared Tuesday morning revealed that Hulu reached a landmark 17 million subscribers in 2017 in a 40 percent increase over the previous year.
Someone just asked Prince Harry if he could DJ the royal wedding in such a smooth way
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry made a royal appearance at Reprezent Radio on Tuesday to learn a bit more about the youth-focused creative programs at the station, but during their visit, they might have inadvertently also checked something off their wedding planning list.
Kodak announces its own cryptocurrency and sees shares rocket
Kodak just became the latest in a long line to jump on the cryptocurrency bandwagon – and like recent random companies that have embraced blockchain technology like Rich Cigars and Long Island Ice Tea, it’s seen its stock rocket.
YouTube tweets ‘open letter’ about Logan Paul’s suicide video
In a series of tweets on Tuesday, YouTube condemned the disturbing suicide video shared by Logan Paul. The YouTube star, who currently has more than 15 million subscribers, shared a video on New Year’s Day of a dead body he found in Japan’s Aokigahara forest, known for the suicides that take place there.
Steve Bannon quits Breitbart News
Ex-Trump strategist Steve Bannon has stepped down from the right-wing Breitbart News organisation where he built his reputation. The move comes amid a furore over remarks he reportedly made about President Donald Trump’s son. He described a meeting in New York with a Russian lawyer during the 2016 presidential election campaign as “treasonous”.
Is it true only 10% of Americans have passports?
It is often said that only 10% of Americans have passports. But that has not been true for more than 20 years. At first, Elijah Stem was confused when he unwrapped the Christmas present from his girlfriend, Margo. It was red. Smaller than a book. Made of leather. And then he realised.
Two dead amid California mudslides
At least two people are dead amid mudslides in Southern California, where heavy rains triggered flooding and massive run-off, US media report. “Waist-deep” mudslides in areas scorched by wildfires last month shut down more than 30 miles (48km) of the main coastal highway, officials say.
A glimpse of a different Trump in action
There’s an old saying attributed to Otto von Bismark that laws and sausage are two things people should never watch being made. For nearly an hour on Tuesday, however, the public was given a window into the ongoing Washington negotiations over immigration issues – and the picture it painted wasn’t as stomach-churning as might be imagined.
Romelu Lukaku photoshops ‘racist’ H&M advert to say ‘black is beautiful’
Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku has joined the criticism of H&M’s controversial new advertising campaign in a unique and brilliant way after the retailer sparked a racism row this week. H&M have apologised for advertising an image that was branded racist that showed a black boy wearing a green hoodie with the slogan ‘Coolest Monkey in the Jungle’ across it.
Meghan Markle has suddenly deleted all her social media accounts
Meghan Markle has closed her social media accounts, Kensington Palace confirmed. Markle, who spent Tuesday afternoon visiting a Brixton community radio station with fiance Prince Harry, shut down her Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts. The palace said she was “grateful to everyone who has followed her social media accounts over the years” but had closed them “as she has not used these accounts for some time”.
Recording captures what really happened after Trump aide’s disastrous CNN interview
Donald Trump’s senior adviser Stephen Miller continued a heated argument with a CNN presenter even after the interview was abruptly ended, a leaked transcript showed. Mr Miller was accused of “wasting my viewers’ time” by Jake Tapper after appearing on State of the Union to defend Donald Trump over claims contained in an explosive new book.
