These are the stories making global headlines today.
Trump’s lawyer paid $130,000 of own money to porn star
“In a private transaction in 2016, I used my own personal funds to facilitate a payment of $130,000 to Ms. Stephanie Clifford,” Michael Cohen said in a statement. “Neither the Trump Organization nor the Trump campaign was a party to the transaction with Ms. Clifford, and neither reimbursed me for the payment, either directly or indirectly.”
Israeli police find ‘sufficient evidence’ to indict Benjamin Netanyahu
According to a police statement published late Tuesday, authorities found evidence of “accepting bribes, fraud, and breach of trust.” In a televised statement, Netanyahu said that the allegations against him would be dismissed, repeating what has become his catchphrase, “There will be nothing because there is nothing.”
Have years of scandal caught up with Jacob Zuma?
The recall does not remove Zuma from office, but it does corner him. If he doesn’t resign, he will face a vote of no confidence in Parliament, which he will no doubt lose without his party’s support. How did we get here? The magnitude of corruption allegations against Zuma is astounding.
South African police raid Guptas residence as country waits on Zuma
The raids, which were carried out by South Africa’s elite police unit, the Hawks, as well as South African police officers, took place in the Saxonwold neighborhood of Johannesburg. The Guptas, three Indian ex-pat businessmen, are accused by the country’s anti-graft body of using their close relationship with Zuma for financial gain.
Scary landing after United flight loses engine cover
“Scariest flight of my life,” passenger Maria Falaschi tweeted. The incident occurred less than an hour before United Airlines flight 1175 was set to land in Honolulu. The plane was flying over the Pacific Ocean from San Francisco. Passenger Erik Haddad recorded video of the engine as the plane flew over the Pacific.
Affair with ex-staffer could cost Australian Deputy PM his job
But it’s a very different type of affair which is now engulfing the Deputy PM and leader of the Nationals Party. Joyce announced the break up of his marriage late last year, and just last week it was revealed that he’s living with a former staffer who is expecting his child in April.
The low-cost airline changing the way we fly
On Wednesday, the first ever budget flight from London to South America departs from Gatwick airport. Fares on the 14-hour Norwegian Air Shuttle flight to Buenos Aires start from £259 one-way. The seats are tightly packed and food and luggage cost extra, but the no-frills model of flying, so well established on short-haul routes, is becoming increasingly common on intercontinental flights.
Denmark’s Prince Henrik dies at 83
Prince Henrik of Denmark, the husband of Queen Margrethe, has died at the age of 83, the Royal House has announced. The prince died “peacefully in his sleep” at Fredensborg Castle, north of Copenhagen, it said. Queen Margrethe and their two sons were at his side.
Women’s bare arms on TV ‘demeaning’
A former Canadian prime minister has said that female television newscasters who show bare arms “undermine credibility and gravitas”. Kim Campbell, who served briefly as prime minister in 1993, came under fire shortly after her tweet on Tuesday. Ms Campbell included a link to a blog post that suggested people who wear more clothing are viewed as smarter.
World chess body’s bank accounts closed
The World Chess Federation (FIDE) says its Swiss bank accounts have been closed after its president was accused of facilitating transactions on behalf of the Syrian government. Russian millionaire Kirsan Ilyumzhinov was added to a US Treasury Department sanctions list in 2015 for his alleged dealings with the Assad government.
Actress quits Oxfam over Haiti sex claims
Actress Minnie Driver has stood down from her role as a celebrity ambassador for Oxfam. This follows claims that staff for the charity in Haiti and other countries paid vulnerable people for sex. In a statement Ms Driver said she was “nothing short of horrified” by the allegations.
Former Employee Sues Vice Media For Allegedly Underpaying Female Staffers
Vice Media, a company that has been accused of fostering a hostile workplace environment for women, is now facing a lawsuit from a former employee over alleged equal pay violations. In a case filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Monday, former Vice Media employee Elizabeth Rose accused her onetime employer of a pattern of paying female employees less than their male peers.
Whoopi Goldberg Likens Adam Rippon Meeting With Mike Pence To A Jew Meeting A Nazi
Whoopi Goldberg came up with a poignant analogy while defending openly gay figure skater Adam Rippon’s refusal to meet Vice President Mike Pence before the Winter Olympics. “I think it would be like asking a Jewish person to sit down and understand where the Nazi is coming from,” Goldberg said on “The View” last week.
South Korea To Pay Record $2.64M For North Korea’s Olympic Visit
The Ministry of Unification said the funds will pay for the costs including accommodations and food for North Korea’s cheering squad, orchestra, taekwondo performers, journalists and other supporting personnel who had visited or are still in South Korea. Combined, they make a group of 424 North Koreans.
Hannity Tweets, Then Deletes, Weirdly Specific Sexual Stuff About Obama Portrait
Sean Hannity isn’t a fan of Barack Obama, and he’s not fond of the former president’s new portrait either. Hannity on Tuesday tweeted a remark claiming the portrait had “secret sperm” hidden within the image.
Netflix Just Hired Producer Ryan Murphy In A Huge 5-Year Deal
Netflix has hired television producer Ryan Murphy, known for the hit series “Glee” and “American Horror Story,” in a five-year deal to create exclusive series and films, the company announced late Tuesday. The deal is expected to be worth up to $300 million, both The New York Times and Deadline reported, which, if true, would be one of the biggest for a producer ever made.
Taylor Swift Shakes Off Copyright Lawsuit Over Hit Song
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – A lawsuit accusing singer Taylor Swift of stealing lyrics for her song “Shake It Off” was thrown out on Tuesday by a judge, who ruled the phrases in question were not sufficiently original to merit copyright protection. Swift’s 2014 song reached No.
Artists behind the Obamas’ portraits also have some pretty incredible Instagrams
History was made and rules were broken when former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama commissioned Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald respectively to paint their likeness for their Smithsonian presidential portraits.
Let us remember how very bad presidential portraits were until the Obamas
The Obamas presidential portraits just came out, and they are amazing. I want a print of each one for my home. Everyone wants a print of each one for their home. Barack Obama’s portrait should be every album cover from now on.
How to watch Elon Musk’s Tesla Roadster disappear into deep space
We’ve been watching “Starman” cruise through space in his cosmic Tesla Roadster for a week now. But on Valentine’s Day, Elon Musk’s shrewd payload from SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket will disappear into deep space – and you can watch it happen live.
