Here are today’s top stories.
Trump calls for rejection of ‘politics of revenge’ in speech that jabs Democrats
President Donald Trump appeared before a divided Congress for the first time on Tuesday appealing to lawmakers’ sense of unity at a moment of deepening partisan spite.
Fact-checking Trump’s State of the Union address
In his second State of the Union address, President Donald Trump sought to strike a bipartisan tone of unity and progress, just weeks after the longest shutdown in US history – and with less than two weeks to go before the next funding lapse.
They saved migrants from deportation. Now they face life in jail
They blocked a British government deportation flight from taking off. Then they were convicted under charges related to terrorism and now face life in prison.
A crypto exchange may have lost $145 million after its CEO suddenly died
The death of a Canadian entrepreneur has left a huge stash of cryptocurrencies locked off from the people who own them.
A man dies after his e-cigarette explodes in his face
A Texas man died of a massive stroke after the e-cigarette he was using exploded and tore his carotid artery.
Liam Neeson: ‘I’m not racist’
Liam Neeson appeared on “Good Morning America” on Tuesday in the wake of controversy over his saying he contemplated carrying out a racist revenge attack after someone close to him was raped.
Earth’s magnetic north pole is hurtling toward Russia
The north magnetic pole has been drifting so fast that it could be a problem for smartphone maps and navigation systems.
USB drive found in frozen seal poop in New Zealand
A USB thumb drive has been found inside frozen leopard seal feces by marine researchers in New Zealand — and it still works.
Trump announces second North Korea summit
US President Donald Trump has announced in his State of the Union speech that he will hold a second nuclear summit with North Korea’s leader this month. In an address to the nation with the theme “Choosing Greatness”, he vowed once again to build a border wall.
Neeson event cancelled amid race row
The New York red carpet opening of Liam Neeson’s latest film has been cancelled amid a row over his comments that he once wanted to kill a random black man after a friend was raped. Reporters were told the event for Cold Pursuit was being pulled two hours before it was scheduled to happen.
Oscars 2019 ceremony to go without host
This year’s Oscars will be held without an official host – for the first time in 30 years. The head of ABC Entertainment, which airs the Academy Awards ceremony , said it would instead highlight celebrities presenting the trophies. Reports had suggested the broadcaster was struggling to fill the role – one of the toughest in US show business.
Pope says priests kept nuns as sex slaves
Pope Francis has admitted that clerics have sexually abused nuns, and in one case they were kept as sex slaves. He said in that case his predecessor, Pope Benedict, was forced to shut down an entire congregation of nuns who were being abused by priests.
Why some paparazzi are suing celebrities
Celebrities and the paparazzi have a notoriously tense relationship. From accusations of invasion of privacy to criticism of unflattering photos, stars have regularly hit out at those who are paid to pursue them. But in the last couple of years, a new wave of complaints has started flowing from the other side.
‘Why I broke the law to undergo FGM aged 26’
Sylvia Yeko decided to undergo female genital mutilation (FGM) three weeks ago at the age of 26 – even though the practice, which used to be performed on teenage girls, was outlawed in Uganda in 2010. Her circumcision ceremony took place in public – she showed us a video taken on the day.
US runner suffocates cougar after attack
A man running on a popular park trail in the mountains of northern Colorado killed a mountain lion after it pounced on him from behind. Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) officials say the man sustained serious injuries after he was bitten on his face and wrist by the young male lion.
Stacey Abrams: ‘Together, We Are Coming For America, For A Better America’
WASHINGTON ― In the official Democratic response to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address, former Georgia gubernatorial nominee Stacey Abrams delivered a passionate speech about the need for economic and social justice in America and said even though she disagrees with Trump on virtually everything, she still wants him to succeed.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Responds To Trump’s Socialism Dig: ‘I Think He’s Scared’
WASHINGTON ― Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) had some fighting words for President Donald Trump after he seemingly took a swipe at her and her fellow progressives who describe themselves as democratic socialists. “We are born free, and we will stay free.
Congress Interrupts State Of The Union To Sing ‘Happy Birthday’ To Holocaust Survivor
In one of the more touching moments from President Donald Trump’ s State of the Union address on Tuesday night, the entire chamber interrupted the speech to sing happy birthday to a Holocaust survivor in attendance. That survivor, Judah Samet, also narrowly escaped death last fall when a gunman killed 11 people at his Pittsburgh synagogue.
Scientists Discover Giant Hole Beneath Rapidly Melting Antarctic Glacier
Scientists just discovered a gigantic subterranean hole in the world’s most important glacier, causing them to worry the ice sheet is melting faster than expected and could cause a dangerous rise in global sea levels. NASA scientists found the enormous cavern beneath Thwaites Glacier, the largest outflow channel of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet.
Snapchat, no longer bleeding users, tests Android app redesign
Snap is finally starting to turn things around. Snapchat’s growth has finally stabilized after two straight quarters of losing users, following an unpopular redesign. What’s more, the company is making substantially more money off the users it does have, the company revealed in its fourth-quarter earnings report for 2018.
Google releases live-transcription, sound-filtering accessibility features on Android
The promise of technology as a force for good is rarely clearer than in companies’ development of features to help people with disabilities. Google announced Tuesday that it was releasing two new accessibility features for Android 9 Pie and Pixel phones. The first is a live-transcription feature, which turns speech into text on a phone’s screen.
The women of Congress stole the show during Trump’s State of the Union address
During Donald Trump’s State of the Union address, a chant of “USA” rang out across the chamber as a large group of attendees jumped to their feet. Surprisingly, they were mostly Democratic congresswomen.
The pinching hand emoji will only be used for small dicks
A new year means new emoji… to make dick jokes with. Unicode, the organisation responsible for approving emoji, has just released a list of 230 symbols which will make it to your devices in 2019. Among the pile includes a sloth, a yawning face, and a falafel, to name a few.
The Backstreet Boys land a No. 1 album after nearly 20 years
The Backstreet Boys have landed their first number one album in nearly 20 years. The album called,”DNA,” topped the Billboard 200 Chart. This marks the third number one album the pop group has had, and their tenth top 10 album.
Tesla launches Amazon store filled with every 40-year-old child’s dreams
Tesla has done it again. The company that brought us insane mode and questionably sourced farting unicorns is back to remind the world that no one speaks to the soul of children trapped in adult bodies better than its childlike CEO. That’s right, Tesla just launched its own Amazon store, and you wouldn’t believe the goodies for sale.
