On this Wednesday, these are the stories making headlines.
Trump’s tabloid past may come back to haunt him
Given his history, it’s perhaps no surprise that Trump’s presidency is now entwined in legal theater peopled by outsize characters, including a porn star, a Playboy model, hustling lawyers and a mystery celebrity.
Scientists hope new enzyme will ‘eat’ plastic pollution
Researchers from Britain’s University of Portsmouth and the US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) made the discovery while examining the structure of a natural enzyme found in a waste recycling center a few years ago in Japan.
US-led strike raises questions about what’s next in Syria strategy
After the airstrikes late last week, mixed messages from the administration have meant it’s not entirely clear, particularly how the White House will react to any further chemical weapons attacks, and when and how the US will exit Syria, where it currently has about 2,000 troops.
Abe faces awkward Trump summit on North Korea amid plummeting support in Japan
After staking out a hawkish position on North Korea, Abe was caught on the back foot when Trump announced he was open to a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Tokyo’s previous warnings not to trust Pyongyang have been dropped as both Washington and Seoul barreled forward with engagement.
Starbucks CEO calls arrest of black men at store ‘reprehensible’
A store manager called the police because the two men were sitting in the store without placing an order. They were arrested for trespassing. The customers said they were waiting for another man to arrive. That person arrived at the store as they were being arrested.
Kendrick Lamar is a Pulitzer Prize winner
Kendrick Lamar now has a Pulitzer Prize to go with all his Grammy Awards.
Study: Flesh-eating ulcer spreading in Australia
The infectious disease has seen a spike in cases in recent years in several parts of Australia but particularly in the state of Victoria. In a study published Monday in the Medical Journal of Australia, the authors caution that the outbreak of the ulcers, described as an “epidemic” in the study, requires an “urgent scientific response.”
Malaria parasites found in 23% of donor blood in some African countries
UK scientists reviewed 26 studies that measured levels of Plasmodium parasites — which cause malaria — among blood donors in sub-Saharan Africa between 2000 and 2017 and found that an average of 23.46% tested positive. Percentages varied greatly across the nine countries included in the study, ranging from 0% to as much as 74% of donors carrying the parasites in their blood.
Facebook facial recognition to go on trial
Facebook must face a class action lawsuit over its use of facial recognition technology, a California judge has ruled. The lawsuit alleges that Facebook gathered biometric information without users’ explicit consent. It involves the “tag suggestions” technology, which spots users’ friends in uploaded photos; the lawsuit says this breaches Illinois state law.
Actress kidnapped by North Korea dies
A South Korean actress, once kidnapped by North Korea and forced to make films for the state, has died at 92. Choi Eun-hee was a leading actress in the South when she was kidnapped under the orders of then-leader Kim Jong-il in the late 1970s .
Chemical inspectors to be allowed in Douma
Chemical weapons inspectors in Syria will be permitted to visit the site of an alleged chemical attack on Wednesday, Russia has said. The international team has been in the country since Saturday, but has not been allowed to visit Douma.
‘Hi-tech’ exam cheating plot uncovered
A Singaporean tutor has admitted to helping six Chinese students cheat in their 2016 exams in what prosecutors say was an elaborate plot. Tan Jia Yan took the exams as a private candidate and FaceTimed questions to accomplices who then rang students and read the answers to them.
Americans going abroad for illegal heroin treatment
As America’s opioid and heroin crisis rages, some struggling with addiction are turning to a drug illegal in the US. Jonathan Levinson went to one clinic offering the treatment in Mexico. At the end of a dead end street in a town near the US-Mexico border, Emily Albert is in the basement of a drug treatment clinic, hallucinating about her son as a heroin addict.
Baboons escape Texas research centre
Officials at Texas research centre have made changes to the enclosures after four baboons leapt to freedom. The primates propped up barrels against the walls of their yard at the Texas Biomedical Research Institute and used them to jump over the fence.
New York Daily News Scorches Sean Hannity With New Cover
The New York Daily News took aim at Fox News host Sean Hannity in its Tuesday issue. The tabloid published a scorching front-page headline to report on the revelation that Hannity was the third ” mystery” client of President Donald Trump’s personal attorney Michael Cohen, who is now facing a federal probe: He called Hannity!
James Comey’s Book Pre-Sold Almost 200,000 Copies, Source Says
Former FBI Director James Comey ‘s book, which is set to be released Tuesday, has sold close to 200,000 copies, a publishing industry source familiar with the sales figures told HuffPost. That figure includes both digital and hardcover pre-sales for A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership, according to the source.
Hannity Accused Of Stealing His Legal Strategy From ‘Breaking Bad’
Is Sean Hannity getting his legal advice from old episodes of ” Breaking Bad?” More than a few people suggested that was the case on Monday after the Fox News host insisted that he was never represented by attorney Michael Cohen. President Donald Trump ‘s personal lawyer is currently at the heart of a federal investigation.
‘Very Angry Badger’ Seizes Part Of A 500-Year-Old Scottish Castle
It’s like something from a Monty Python sketch: Portions of a 16th-century Scottish castle were recently closed to the public due to a “very angry badger.” The tunnel at Craignethan Castle was closed last week because of the animal, said Historic Scotland, which manages the property.
Identity Of Michael Cohen’s ‘Mystery’ Client Revealed As Sean Hannity
Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump ‘s personal lawyer, once represented Fox News’ Sean Hannity, a court hearing revealed Monday. Cohen’s lawyer revealed the identity of the previously unnamed client in a courtroom in New York. Michael Cohen’s previously unnamed third client is SEAN HANNITY.- erica orden (@eorden) April 16, 2018 “The client is a publicly prominent individual,” Cohen’s lawyer said before the identity was revealed.
Khloe Kardashian And Tristan Thompson Release The Name Of Their Baby Girl
Khloe Kardashian announced Monday that she and boyfriend Tristan Thompson have named their baby girl True. “Our little girl, True Thompson, has completely stolen our hearts and we are overwhelmed with LOVE,” the new mom wrote on Twitter, accompanied by a photo of pink roses and balloons.
UK and U.S. authorities warn of Russian attacks on routers
Russia is being accused of a massive campaign to undermine the security of firewalls and routers in a bid to support espionage and future attacks. It comes from UK and U.S. authorities who have issued a joint cybersecurity alert for the first time ever to warn people of the threat.
Facebook reiterates it’s not the only one targeting you with ads online
Facebook has been firmly under the spotlight about how it uses people’s data, but the platform wants to make one thing clear: It’s not the only company doing so. On Monday, the social network posted an explainer on how it collects your data through its services even when you’re not on Facebook.
India’s Uber rival Ola is set to launch 10,000 electric vehicles in a year
Uber’s biggest rival in India, Ola, has announced plans to launch a casual 10,000 electric vehicles within the next year. On Monday, the ride-hailing company, which operates in over 110 cities throughout India (and now, Australia), announced a commitment to place 10,000 three-wheeled e-rickshaws and electric auto-rickshaws in its service over the next 12 months.
Kendrick Lamar won a Pulitzer for ‘DAMN.’ and fans are shook
Kendrick Lamar is officially a Pulitzer Prize winner. On Monday, the rapper was awarded the 2018 Pulitzer Prize in Music for his fourth studio album, DAMN. , which was released almost exactly one year ago today on April 14, 2017.
