Here are today’s top headlines.
Standing down: How Trump decided that not striking back was his best option on Iran
America’s top diplomat on Iran was only a few minutes into a speech on Tuesday afternoon when he was handed an urgent note.
Live updates: Iran plane crash investigation – CNN
Updated 4:00 a.m. ET, January 9, 2020 Iran plane crash: A Kiev-bound Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737 plane crashed after takeoff from Tehran on Wednesday, killing all 176 people on board. Victims from seven countries: The victims include 82 Iranians, 63 Canadians, 11 Ukrainians, 10 Swedes, four Afghans, three Germans and three British nationals, according to Ukraine’s Foreign Minister.
5 things you need to know to understand the Iran-US crisis
Here’s what you need to know to help understand this developing story.
Harry and Meghan say they’re ‘stepping back’ from the royal family. The palace says it’s complicated
Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, are stepping back from their roles as senior members of the British royal family, the couple announced on Instagram.
Pope kisses nun — after checking she doesn’t bite
A week after he slapped a woman’s hand away to free himself from her grip, Pope Francis has bestowed his blessings on a nun, with just one condition: that she doesn’t bite.
World’s worst measles epidemic kills 6,000 people in Democratic Republic of Congo
Measles has killed more than 6,000 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the World Health Organization said, describing it as the “world’s worst measles epidemic.”
Justin Bieber reveals he’s battling Lyme disease
Justin Bieber has revealed he was recently diagnosed with Lyme disease, an infection caused by bacteria commonly carried by ticks.
Fugitive ex-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn blasts Japanese justice. It was escape or ‘die in Japan’
Carlos Ghosn has used his freedom to blast Japan’s legal system and denounce his arrest as part of a plot to topple him as head of the world’s most powerful auto alliance.
There will be a new brightest star in the sky, when it explodes in about 60 years
Around 2083, give or take a few years, we may spot a bright blazing star in the sky that seems new. But its the remains of an explosive event between two stars with temporary brightness.
The bus drivers who saved passengers from Islamist attackers
“I am not a hero,” said softly spoken Raymond Juma. The bus driver was speaking after his actions saved his 47 passengers from a militant attack in the east of Kenya. “My passengers are like my mothers, my brothers and sisters.
Royals ‘hurt’ as Sussexes begin ‘next chapter’
Senior members of the Royal Family are said to be disappointed and hurt at the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s decision to step back from their current roles. Prince Harry and Meghan did not inform the Queen or any other royal before their announcement on Wednesday, said BBC royal correspondent Jonny Dymond.
Crashed Iran plane ‘tried to return to airport’
A plane that crashed in Iran with 176 people on board was trying to return to the airport when it crashed, Iranian investigators have said. The Boeing 737-800 went down just minutes after taking off from Tehran’s airport, leaving no survivors.
Africa Live: Somali outrage over Australia camel slaughter – BBC News
By Emmanuel Igunza BBC News, Nairobi That’s all from the BBC Africa Live team. There will be an automated service until Thursday morning, when we are back. You can keep up with news from the continent by downloading the Africa Today podcast and checking the BBC Africa news site.
Which countries love Trump the most and least?
President Donald Trump has been a polarising figure at home – but how has he fared abroad? A new report by the Pew Research Center details what the world thinks of the US leader. Pew, a non-partisan US-based opinion pollster, surveyed nearly 37,000 individuals across 33 countries from May to October of last year.
Trump Announces New Iran Sanctions
President Donald Trump addressed the nation Wednesday for the first time since ordering an airstrike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani last week, prompting Iran to fire more than a dozen ballistic missiles at two Iraqi bases housing U.S. troops Tuesday night.
More Than Half Of Puerto Ricans Without Power After Earthquakes
GUANICA, Puerto Rico, Jan 8 (Reuters) – More than half of Puerto Rico’s 3 million people remained without power on Wednesday and thousands slept outdoors after earthquakes toppled homes on the Caribbean island and raised fears more could collapse. Tuesday’s quakes, including the most powerful one to strike the U.S.
Appeals Court Blocks Enforcement Of Trump Effort To Limit Green Card Approvals
NEW YORK (AP) – A federal appeals court in New York on Wednesday rejected a motion from the Trump administration that would have allowed it to implement a policy connecting the use of public benefits with whether immigrants could become permanent residents. The ruling from the 2nd U.S.
No Surprise, 2019 Was The Second-Hottest Year On Record
European researchers on Wednesday said 2019 was the second-hottest year in recorded history, the latest bellwether as activists and scientists urge dramatic action to rein in carbon emissions and the fallout from climate change.
Twitter will test reply limiting feature to beat back trolls
Twitter is trying to make it a lot harder for trolls to hijack conversations. The company will start testing a new feature that will allow users to set limits on who can reply to their tweets before they hit send.
Harry and Meghan announce plan to ‘step back’ from senior Royal Family roles
It appears the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are taking a break from the brightest royal spotlight. On Wednesday, the couple’s official Instagram account announced that “after many months of reflection and internal discussions,” Harry and Meghan “have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution.”
Samsung reveals how many Galaxy Fold phones it really sold, sort of
In December 2019, Samsung Electronic’s president Young Sohn said the company sold a million Galaxy Fold devices, a respectable number given the phone’s $1,980 price tag. But Samsung subsequently denied the figure, saying Sohn may have confused the company’s sales target for the year.
Behold the Alexa-powered Coca-Cola Energy wall: Cursed, but beautiful
Mere days into the year 2020 and we’ve already been gifted a beautifully cursed object from corporate America: the Amazon Alexa-powered Coca-Cola Energy Drink wall. Coca-Cola has debuted a new energy drink called, appropriately, Coca-Cola Energy. To share it with the world, it enlisted Amazon’s voice assistant, Alexa, for a cheeky display and sample station at CES in Las Vegas.
