Here are links to the biggest stories in the world today.
Spy probe police seek nerve agent source
Counter-terrorism officers are working to uncover the origin of the nerve agent used in the attempted murder of ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, in Salisbury. The pair were found unconscious and are critically ill in hospital, along with a policeman who went to their aid.
Spanish trains cancelled as women strike
Many trains in Spain have been cancelled as workers prepare to strike to highlight gender inequalities on International Women’s Day. Three-hundred trains will not be operating on Thursday, the country’s transport ministry announced. A 24-hour strike, called by 10 unions, has been the subject of much debate.
Viral homeless ‘piano man’ dies at 46
The death of a homeless man who played piano on the street has struck a chord with many in the Canadian city of Edmonton, Alberta. Ryan Arcand was used to the sounds of the city – cars honking, people shouting, the steady hum of traffic – while living on the street.
Climate change ‘hurts women more’
Women are more likely than men to be affected by climate change, studies show. UN figures indicate that 80% of people displaced by climate change are women. Roles as primary caregivers and providers of food and fuel make them more vulnerable when flooding and drought occur.
China dominates self-made woman rich list
China has once again dominated a list of global self-made woman billionaires. The top four women in the report by publisher Hurun – and five of the top 10 – come from the Asian superpower. Zhou Qunfei, who founded a firm that makes glass used to cover laptops and smartphones, was the world’s richest self-made woman, with $9.8bn (£7.1bn).
New Hampshire House Votes To Protect Transgender People From Discrimination
In another major victory for transgender rights this week, New Hampshire’s Republican-controlled House of Representatives voted on Wednesday in favor of a bill that prohibits discrimination against transgender individuals. The bill, which passed 195-129, bans discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations on the basis of gender identity.
Trump’s Lawyer Got Restraining Order Against Stormy Daniels To Keep Her Quiet
President Donald Trump’s lawyer got a restraining order against former adult film actress Stephanie Clifford (aka Stormy Daniels) in an attempt to stop her from speaking out about her alleged 2006 affair with Trump. Attorney Michael Cohen secretly obtained a restraining order on Feb. 27 in private arbitration proceedings, NBC News reported .
HBO’s Martin Luther King Jr. Film Reveals His ‘Dark And Dangerous’ Final Years
The world will get an intimate look into the final years of Martin Luther King Jr. ‘s life as the anniversary of his death approaches next month. HBO on Wednesday unveiled the trailer to its documentary ” King in the Wilderness,” set to premiere April 2, two days ahead of the 50th anniversary of the civil rights leader’s assassination.
Los Angeles DA Won’t Prosecute Agent Who Allegedly Groped Terry Crews
The Hollywood agent accused of groping “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” cast member Terry Crews won’t be prosecuted for the alleged crime. Both the Los Angeles city attorney and the Los Angeles County district attorney reportedly will not prosecute Adam Venit, who Crews accused of groping him at a Hollywood party in February 2016.
‘Deadpool’ Actress Taylor Hickson Sues For Facial Disfigurement On ‘Ghostland’ Set
“Deadpool” actress Taylor Hickson is suing Incident Productions Inc. for career-altering facial injuries that she suffered on the set of “Ghostland.” According to the suit, obtained by Deadline Tuesday, Hickson was told to pound on a glass door harder during an emotional scene of the indie horror film, which was shot in Winnipeg in December 2016.
Amazon reveals why Alexa is randomly laughing and creeping people out
Amazon has finally revealed why Alexa is randomly laughing, creeping out Echo users. BuzzFeed first reported earlier this week that Amazon Echo users were surprised to hear their devices laughing at random. After confirming the company was working on a fix, Amazon revealed on Wednesday why Alexa was laughing at random.
Good guy Ed Sheeran bought pizza for fans waiting overnight for his show
Whatever you may think of his music, Ed Sheeran seems to be a good guy, and he’s especially great to his fans. Like any hot concert, people lined up early to nab the best spot to see Sheeran, who performed in Adelaide, Australia on Wednesday.
Gary Oldman’s son decries ‘clickbait’ stories about father’s 2001 domestic abuse allegation
Gary Oldman scored his first Academy Award on Sunday. Now, his son has some choice words for anyone attacking the Best Actor winner’s character. Some background is in order. The senior Oldman has faced backlash during the 2017/2018 awards season over an alleged domestic abuse incident stemming back to 2001.
Bitcoin drops below $10K following SEC warning and Binance hack rumors
Bitcoin is having a moment – just not the kind its boosters hoped for. The cryptocurrency once again dropped below $10,000 today, and the timing of the latest dip has some faithful hodlers concerned. Specifically, the apparent sell-off came shortly on the heels of a Securities and Exchange Commission announcement warning about “potentially unlawful online platforms for trading digital assets.”
