Today’s top headlines from select sources.
The top 26 billionaires are as wealthy as 3.8 billion people
The world’s billionaires are growing $2.5 billion richer every day, while the poorest half of the global population is seeing its net worth dwindle.
Zimbabwe’s leader skipping World Economic Forum in Davos after violent protests
In the wake of violent protests across Zimbabwe, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has announced he will skip the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, this week.
China’s DJI uncovers employee fraud that could cost it $150 million
DJI, the world’s biggest producer of consumer drones, said an investigation found employees had “inflated the cost of parts and materials for certain products for personal financial gain.”
Protesters in Athens hurl petrol bombs at police over Macedonia deal
Police and demonstrators clashed in Athens’ Syntagma square on Sunday, as tens of thousands protested against the naming of Greece’s northern neighbor as “Northern Macedonia.”
Superbugs and anti-vaxxers make WHO’s list of 10 global health threats
From climate change to a flu pandemic, the World Health Organization has laid out 10 big threats to our global health in 2019. And unless these threats get addressed, millions of lives will be in jeopardy.
Carlos Ghosn case puts Japan’s system of ‘hostage justice’ under scrutiny
The prolonged detention of auto executive Carlos Ghosn has brought heightened international attention to the way people suspected of crimes are treated in Japan.
Uyghur refugee tells of death and fear inside China’s Xinjiang camps
The children’s eyes light up when their mother pulls out a photo of her triplets taken shortly after their birth in 2015.
Israeli ‘hitting Iranian targets in Syria’
Israel’s military says it has started hitting Iranian targets in Syria. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) says its operation is against the Quds Force – a elite unit of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. It provided no details. But on Sunday the IDF said it had intercepted a rocket fired at the Golan Heights from Syria.
CIA spy who inspired movie Argo dies
Ex-CIA agent Tony Mendez, who inspired the Oscar-winning film Argo, has died at the age of 78. He had been suffering from Parkinson’s Disease. At the CIA, Mendez specialised in disguises, forgery and rescues. He is best known for smuggling six American diplomats out of Iran during the 1979-81 hostage crisis by posing as a film producer.
Sudan president defiant as protests rage
Security forces have fired tear gas at demonstrators in Sudan, as protests against President Omar al-Bashir enter their second month. President Bashir on Sunday reiterated claims that foreign “agents” and Darfur region rebels are fomenting dissent. Officials say 26 people have died in the protests, but rights groups say more than 40 have been killed.
Trump’s border wall – in seven charts
A standoff over funding for President Donald Trump’s long-promised border wall has resulted in the longest-ever shutdown of the US government. Mr Trump argues $5.7bn (£4.5bn) is needed to address a “humanitarian and security crisis” at the southern border and has warned the shutdown will continue until he gets the cash.
BuzzFeed Reporter Stands By Bombshell Trump Report: ‘This Story Is Accurate’
BuzzFeed on Sunday continued to defend its explosive report alleging President Donald Trump directed his then-personal attorney Michael Cohen to lie to Congress in 2017 about a Moscow real estate deal. Anthony Cormier, half of the reporting duo behind the story, told CNN’s “Reliable Sources” that his sources are “solid” and that he was confident their information would be proven accurate over time.
Watergate’s Carl Bernstein On BuzzFeed: It’s Trump Who Has Been Lying All Along
Watergate reporter Carl Bernstein cautioned that it will take some time to fully know the truth about the explosive BuzzFeed report about President Donald Trump and his former attorney Michael Cohen ‘s congressional testimony.
Mike Pence Just Tried To Sell Trump’s Border Wall By Quoting MLK
Vice President Mike Pence is celebrating the Martin Luther King Day weekend in a very special way ― by twisting the man’s words to sell America a border wall. Pence, appearing on CBS’ “Face The Nation” on Sunday, applauded President Donald Trump’s latest effort to bridge the gap between his push for the wall and the Democratic opposition to it ― the impasse that has resulted in a partial government shutdown.
26 Billionaires Own The Same Wealth As The Poorest 3.8 Billion People
The gap between rich and poor is fracturing society, poisoning politics and fueling public anger, according to a new report from anti-poverty nonprofit Oxfam, which found that last year just 26 people owned the same amount of wealth as the poorest 3.8 billion people. This figure is down from 43 the year before.
Lady Gaga Slams Mike Pence: He’s ‘The Worst Representation’ Of Christianity
weighed in on the nation’s current state of affairs during her “Enigma” show in Las Vegas on Saturday, joining an ever-growing list of celebrities to voice their disapproval of the Trump administration . The Grammy winner singled out Vice President , slamming him for thinking “it’s acceptable that his wife work at a school that bans LGBTQ .”
MSNBC Panel Trashes Rudy Giuliani As ‘Worst Lawyer’ Ever: ‘He Should Be Disbarred’
After yet another day of jaw-dropping statements showcased on national television by Rudy Giuliani, a merciless MSNBC panel roasted President Donald Trump ‘s lawyer as the worst the legal profession has to offer.
Ja Rule claims he’s a Fyre Fest victim too in a tweetstorm about the new documentaries
After the release of two documentaries about the ill-fated Fyre Festival former company co-founder Ja Rule took to Twitter to shed light on who the real victim of the whole situation was: himself. Over a period of hours on Sunday, Ja Rule defended himself with the claim that people shouldn’t think they know the real story after having watched the two documentaries on Hulu and Netflix.
The incredible ‘John Wick: Chapter 3’ trailer dreams the impossible dream
What is John Wick’s impossible dream? Probably to finally find a way out of the life of violence he returned to in the very first John Wick movie. Unfortunately for ol’ Baba Yaga, the events of John Wick: Chapter 2 have made that nearly impossible.
Kim Kardashian’s daughter had the most extra first birthday party ever
Kim Kardashian took her Hidden Hills, Calif. mansion down an Alice in Wonderland rabbit hole for her daughter Chicago’s first birthday. Complete with elaborately dressed characters, an indoor maze, rose awnings, an arts and crafts section, and themed sweets like a Cheshire Cat cake, it was a party fit for a princess.
New ‘Shazam’ trailer shows the fun side of being a superhero
Previous Shazam trailers have focused on the story of how Billy Batson gained the power to transform into a superhero, but new look at DC’s upcoming movie has a little more heroic flair. Some of Shazam’s powers look particularly awesome, like his super-fast flight and lightning beams, but at the heart of it he’s still a kid who wants to play around with being a big guy.
There are three models of Samsung Galaxy S10 and a photo of all three apparently leaked
Samsung is supposed to lift the veil off of its next-gen Galaxy S10 smartphone on Feb. 20 at an Unpacked event. Unfortunately, the internet got there first. Details about the various models of S10 have been leaking out since last summer, but this newest development just straight-up shows us what they look like.
