Here are today’s top headlines.
Barr ensures Congress can’t stop Trump now
Donald Trump was right: He can get away with almost anything — a factor that is likely to mean an even more unchained presidency over the next 18 months.
William Barr to skip House hearing Thursday
Attorney General William Barr is no longer expected to testify before the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday, committee Chairman Jerry Nadler announced Wednesday, following a dispute between House Democrats and the nation’s top law enforcement officer over whether Barr would publicly face questions from committee staff attorneys.
100 million people in path of India’s worst cyclone in years
India is preparing for the strongest tropical cyclone to make landfall in nearly five years. Track Tropical Cyclone Fani as it moves up the east coast of the subcontinent.
Why Meghan and Harry won’t be doing a royal baby photo call
Prince Harry was introduced to the world by Princess Diana outside the hospital days after his birth in 1984. As Harry prepares to become a father himself, however, he and Meghan don’t plan to expose their newborn to the glare of the press in the same way.
Thai King marries general days before his coronation
Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun revealed he has wed his royal consort General Suthida Vajiralongkorn Na Aydhaya and declared her queen just days before his coronation.
Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner married in Las Vegas
“Game of Thrones” actress Sophie Turner and musician Joe Jonas are now married after a surprise ceremony in Las Vegas.
Huawei is the only major smartphone brand still growing in China. Apple is fading fast
Huawei may be under fire globally from a US-led campaign against the company, but in China its smartphones are red hot and outselling the iPhone four times over.
The stories behind 10 of the world’s earliest photographs
Written by Oscar Holland, CNN As early cameras began spreading out from Europe in the middle of the 19th century, photography became an increasingly powerful medium for obtaining and disseminating information about the wider world. People and places that had previously only been captured through art or in written accounts could suddenly be depicted with unprecedented accuracy.
Venezuela’s Guaidó vows crippling strikes
Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó has called for an escalating series of strikes to force President Nicolás Maduro to relinquish power. Mr Guaidó urged public employees to act on Thursday, saying the stoppages would lead to a general strike. A woman was killed and dozens were injured when protesters and security forces clashed in Caracas on Wednesday.
Tanzanian self-made media mogul dies
Tanzanian self-made media magnate and philanthropist Reginald Mengi has died in Dubai at the age of 75. Mr Mengi, through his manufacturing, mining and media conglomerate IPP Group, owned newspapers and radio and TV stations. In 2014, Forbes estimated his wealth at $560m (£430m).
Assange ‘doesn’t consent’ to US extradition
Wikileaks co-founder Julian Assange has said he does not consent to being extradited to the US over charges related to leaking government secrets. His extradition hearing came a day after he was sentenced to 50 weeks in jail for breaching the Bail Act following his arrest last month.
Will TikTok stars ever make money?
Vicky Banham was surprised to receive the phone call. It was from a marketing company wanting to fly the 21-year-old out to Ibiza to attend the launch party of a new album by the DJ Sigala. Within days Banham was on the Spanish island, partying at the DJ’s side.
Global sports sponsorship ‘to hit £35bn’
Business spending on sports sponsorship is set to grow by 4% to £35bn globally in 2019, according to a new report. But rights-holders, such as leagues, teams or tournaments, are under-exploiting sponsorship deals, according to research from agency Two Circles. It says that there could be an extra £14bn in revenues being unrealised because of outdated rights packaging.
France’s fascinating ‘wine treatment’
The father of medicine, the Greek physician Hippocrates, experimented with a number of wine varietals to treat various ailments, believing that, “Wine is an appropriate article for mankind, both for the healthy body and for the ailing man.”
Trump Administration Sues To Kill Obamacare
NEW ORLEANS (AP) – Taking a harder line on health care, the Trump administration joined a coalition of Republican-led states Wednesday in asking a federal appeals court to entirely overturn former President Barack Obama ‘s signature health care law – a decision that could leave millions uninsured.
Hillary Clinton Trolls Trump’s GOP Supporters: ‘China, If You’re Listening…’
Former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton called out Republican lawmakers Wednesday for refusing to fully investigate Russian interference in the 2016 election because they know it aided them and helped to elect President Donald Trump. She told MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow that if the shoe was on the other foot, however, those same lawmakers would no doubt react very differently.
Woman Infected With Measles May Have Exposed ‘Avengers: Endgame’ Audience
The Avengers just finished fighting Thanos, but now a group of people in California that watched “Endgame” may be battling measles. Orange County officials warned Wednesday that a woman with measles apparently saw the opening night’s midnight showing of “Avengers: Endgame” in Fullerton before realizing she was sick.
Twitter User’s 2-Year Quest To Break Into Trump’s Timeline Pays Off In A Big Way
Patience paid off for one critic of President Donald Trump on Wednesday. He finally obtained a long-sought presidential retweet then used it to plant an anti-Trump message smack in the middle of the president’s timeline. Specifically: ” Fuck Donald Trump.” But it wasn’t pure chance that Trump inadvertently retweeted a critic.
Why that surprise ‘Game of Thrones’ twist was a huge betrayal
From the very first scene of the very first season of Game of Thrones, the story seemed to make us a promise: There is a larger mystery at the heart of this world. And you should not forget it. Before even learning their names, we watch the three characters who open the show fall victim to an ancient and sinister otherworldliness.
Drake gave the perfect shout out to Arya Stark and everyone’s in a spin
Drake knows an MVP when he sees one, and this week’s was definitely Arya Stark. The hip hop superstar accepted his Billboard Music Award on Wednesday with a cheeky shout out to the Stark powerhouse and her work in Game of Thrones Season 8, episode 3, when that happened.
Emilia Clarke gives us a glimpse behind that epic ‘Game of Thrones’ battle episode
Emilia Clarke, actual royalty, dropped into Jimmy Kimmel Live! to talk about “The Long Night,” the epic third episode of Game Of Thrones’ eighth season. It took 55 nights to film the extraordinary episode, and the cast and crew would stay up all night to shoot its long, fiery scenes.
The new ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ official trailer is here
Sonic is back and he’s gotta go fast!
Taylor Swift’s ‘ME!’ video breaks 24-hour viewing record
Taylor Swift’s new music video featuring Brendon Urie was viewed 65.2 million times in the first 24 hours of being released, setting a new Vevo record.
‘Avengers: Endgame’ promises a more inclusive future for Marvel
There is an unmatched, unprecedented moment of glory in Avengers: Endgame’ s climactic battle. Nearly every single woman in the Marvel Cinematic Universe comes together to take down Thanos.
