Here are some of today’s top headlines.
Iran plane crash with 176 on board: Live updates – CNN
By Jessie Yeung and Tara John, CNN Updated 4:22 a.m. ET, January 8, 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.
Police in Australia are accusing 24 people of deliberately setting bushfires
The Australia wildfires are a countrywide catastrophe, mainly caused by drought and extreme heat, but dozens of people are directly to blame for some of the problem, officials say.
A third of an Australian island wildlife haven has burned
One third of land on an Australian island that is a refuge for some of the country’s unique and endangered wildlife has been scorched by raging bushfires, NASA satellite images show.
Top Facebook exec: Yes, we got Trump elected and it may happen again
A Facebook executive who backed Hillary Clinton’s 2016 election campaign told colleagues in an internal memo last month that the platform could ultimately be responsible for President Trump’s reelection.
More than 500 earthquakes have rattled the Puerto Rico region in 10 days. There may be more to come
A 6.4 magnitude earthquake that killed one person in Puerto Rico on Tuesday is one of hundreds of tremors that have rattled the island for more than a week. And experts say the shaking is not over yet.
Photo of Donald Trump Jr. holding a rifle raises flags with hate group researchers
A photo of President Donald Trump’s oldest son smiling while holding a semi-automatic rifle bearing medieval symbols and a cartoon of Hillary Clinton behind bars drew swift attention over the weekend, with hate group researchers pointing out that the medieval symbols have been embraced by extremist groups.
10,000 camels at risk of being shot in Australia as they desperately search for water
About 10,000 camels are at risk of being shot and killed in a drought-ravaged region of Australia, after complaints that the thirsty animals are endangering locals as they desperately search for water.
What do you do about a piracy crisis? Encourage people to fish
Fair Fishing is an NGO aiming to “turn Somali pirates into fishermen” and improve lives on the Horn of Africa by creating jobs in sustainable fishing.
US airbase in Iraq hit by rockets – reports
An airbase housing US and coalition troops in Iraq has been hit by rockets, according to US security sources. The Al-Asad base was reportedly hit by multiple rockets. It is unclear if there have been any casualties. It come after top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani was killed in a drone strike in Baghdad on Friday, on the orders of US President Donald Trump.
How the world has responded to Australia’s fires
The world has watched with horror as bushfires have torn across Australia, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. The blazes have razed almost 2,000 homes, and killed at least 25 people and hundreds of millions of animals since they began in September.
Africa Live: Joy as Nigerian doctors separate conjoined twins – BBC News
That’s all from the BBC Africa Live team for now. There will be an automated service until Tuesday morning. You can keep up with news from the continent by downloading the Africa Today podcast and checking the BBC Africa news site.
Ivanka Trump unfazed by critics at CES tech show
Ivanka Trump’s appearance at the CES tech show went smoothly, despite controversy surrounding her invitation. Some had criticised a decision to give her a “keynote” slot, saying other women had more expertise in the field.
Stephen Colbert mocks Trump’s weird claim that he knows all Greek Americans
“It’s just our second show of 2020, and so far we’re not doing too well on the New Year’s resolution of ‘Don’t go to war with Iran,” quipped Late Show host Stephen Colbert during his opening monologue on Tuesday. The segment appears to have been filmed prior to Iran’s retaliatory missile strikes on U.S.
New renders shows what Apple’s new budget phone could look like, whatever it’s called
A reputable leaker has got 2020 vision of the … iPhone 9? iPhone SE 2? Let’s just call it Apple’s latest attempt at a budget phone. On Tuesday, Twitter user @OnLeaks shared renders of the “iPhone SE 2.”
Mercedes’ concept car is ‘Avatar’-inspired. Yes, we’re talking about the 2009 movie.
Mercedes-Benz is stuck on Pandora, the fictional world from the 2009 Avatar movie directed by James Cameron. So much so that the German carmaker’s newest concept car is called “Vision AVTR.” It’s supposed to demonstrate how Mercedes is embracing sustainability goals.
LG’s answer to foldable phones may be a detachable display that wraps around the phone
In the never-ending quest for increasing the screen real estate on smartphones, LG has a new idea: a case that’s actually a big, foldable OLED display that can wrap around the phone. Yes, it’s a little weird. This is according a new LG patent unearthed by Dutch outlet LetsGoDigital (via Android Central).
