WorldReutersEU lawmakers call for halt to Nord Stream 2 after Navalny arrest
European Union lawmakers passed a resolution on Thursday calling for the bloc to stop the completion of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to take Russian natural gas to Europe, in response to the arrest of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. Navalny, Russian President Vladimir Putin's most prominent critic, was detained at the weekend and later jailed for alleged parole violations after flying back to Russia for the first time since being poisoned by a military grade nerve agent. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has continued to back the pipeline between Germany and Russia despite criticism elsewhere in the EU, said on Thursday her view of the project had not changed despite the Navalny case.
PoliticsThe TelegraphTrump spends first night as a private citizen 'looking for lawyers for his impeachment trial'
Donald Trump spent his first hours as a private citizen scrambling to find lawyers to represent him in his upcoming impeachment trial, as he settled into his new home at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. One of Mr Trump's first calls after leaving office was to Lindsey Graham, South Carolina senator and staunch ally, telling him he was now “looking for some lawyers” for the imminent Senate hearing. Mr Trump will not be drawing on his usual litigators: Rudy Giuliani, his longtime personal lawyer, is likely to step aside as he could be called as a witness, while attorneys who represented him at the first impeachment hearing have declined.
WorldAssociated PressIndonesia ends search for crashed plane's victims, debris
Indonesian authorities on Thursday ended the search for remaining victims and debris from a Sriwijaya Air jet that nosedived into the Java Sea, killing all 62 people on board. Transportation minister Budi Karya Sumadi said retrieval operations have ended after nearly two weeks, but that a limited search for the missing memory unit from the cockpit voice recorder will continue. Divers retrieved its battered casing and cover last week near the location where the flight data recorder was recovered three days after the accident.
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U.S. to join COVAX and remain in WHO: Fauci
The Biden administration intends to join the COVAX vaccine facility - which aims to deliver coronavirus vaccines to poor countries. President Joe Biden's chief medical adviser, Anthony Fauci spoke to the World Health Organization from Washington on Thursday (January 21) - a day after the inauguration. He also confirmed that the United States would remain a member of the U.N. agency.
PoliticsAssociated PressChina hits Trump officials with sanctions on their way out
China imposed sanctions on nearly 30 former Trump administration officials moments after they left office on Wednesday. In a statement released just minutes after President Joe Biden was inaugurated, Beijing slapped travel bans and business restrictions on Trump's secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, national security adviser Robert O'Brien and U.N. ambassador, Kelly Craft. Others covered by the sanctions include Trump's economic adviser Peter Navarro; his top diplomat for Asia, David Stilwell; health and human services secretary, Alex Azar; along with former national security adviser John Bolton and strategist Stephen Bannon.
PoliticsBBCHow did President Trump spend his last hours in office?
White House lobbying ban scrapped Another act taken in his final hours at the White House was to revoke the so-called "Drain the Swamp" ethics order he signed when he first took office. That prevented officials who have recently left the government from immediately joining lobbying firms for a five year period. The 2017 executive order's goal was to prevent his aides from using their influence for personal gain.
WorldAssociated PressStrong earthquake shakes southern Philippines; no tsunami
A powerful earthquake shook parts of the southern Philippines on Thursday night, but authorities said it was too deep to cause major damage and no tsunami warning was issued. The quake measured magnitude 7.0 and was located 95.8 kilometers (60 miles) below the sea and about 210 kilometers (130 miles) southeast of Pondaguitan in Davao Occidental province, the U.S. Geological Survey said. In Davao city, President Rodrigo Duterte's hometown, some residents ran out of their houses as the ground shook and power cables and business signs swayed, but there were no reports of damage or injuries.
PoliticsUSA TODAY OpinionTo save America, destroy the Republican Party of Trump, insurrection and conspiracy nuts
The Roberts Supreme Court has systematically made it much easier for corporations to buy an election and harder for people to vote in one. And corporations have lapped up the benefits by electing Republicans eager to slash their taxes and consumers' protections. The business community has tacitly admitted the role it plays in enabling Republican extremism with the various pledges companies have made to stop, at least temporarily, funding candidates who voted against confirming Joe Biden's victory.
PoliticsAssociated PressDemocrats formalize Jaime Harrison as national party chair
The Democratic National Committee elected Jaime Harrison of South Carolina as chair on Thursday, signifying an early alignment between newly inaugurated President Joe Biden and state party leaders around the country. Vice chairs on the roster include Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth and U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela Jr. of Texas. Harrison — a former chair of South Carolina's Democrats who proved his mettle as a fundraising powerhouse in his 2020 challenge to Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham — already has been anointed by Biden, continuing the tradition of sitting presidents choosing their own party's chair.
PoliticsReutersAppealing to 'kind angels' China strikes optimistic tone with Biden administration
China struck an optimistic tone toward President Joe Biden's new administration on Thursday, saying "kind angels can triumph over evil forces" and playing down early irritants as the result of an atmosphere poisoned by Donald Trump's term in office. Bilateral relations worsened dramatically during Trump's tenure. Biden, who took office on Wednesday, is expected to maintain pressure on Beijing but with a more traditional and multilateral approach.
U.S.Business InsiderJon Ossoff was sworn in using a Hebrew Bible from a rabbi who was an ally to MLK and had his synagogue bombed by white supremacists
Newly elected Sen. Jon Ossoff was sworn in to Congress on Wednesday using a Hebrew Bible that was once owned by a Georgia rabbi whose synagogue was bombed by white supremacists, and who was an ally to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Ossoff, Georgia's first Jewish senator, was sworn in to the Senate by Vice President Kamala Harris, alongside the Rev. Raphael Warnock, Georgia's first Black senator, and Alex Padilla, who's filling Harris' seat. As Ossoff was sworn in, he clutched the Hebrew Bible that once belonged to Rabbi Jacob Rothschild, the former leader of Atlanta's Hebrew Benevolent Congregation Temple.
CelebrityINSIDERPrincess Diana's former chef says he made the 'cardinal sin' of serving her favorite breakfast - a can of baked beans - to Americans
Princess Diana's chef once served her favorite breakfast to an American family who refused to eat it. Darren McGrady, who worked at Kensington Palace, said Diana favored a can of baked beans and a grapefruit on gym days. Diana particularly loved baked beans and would even write McGrady notes requesting them.
WorldBusiness InsiderGlobal air routes are cutoff as the Netherlands imposes one of the strictest travel requirements worldwide to combat new COVID-19 variants
The Netherlands just announced new travel restrictions in response to new COVID-19 variants. Travelers from non-European countries must take a rapid test within four hours of their flight. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, in response, canceled all of its long-haul flights.
PoliticsAssociated PressTesting wristbands, masks signs of a new boss at White House
While the Trump administration was known for flouting safety recommendations, the Biden team has made a point of abiding by the same strict guidelines they're urging Americans to follow to stem the spread of the virus. It's part of an overall effort from President Joe Biden to lead by example on the coronavirus pandemic, an ethos carried over from his campaign and transition. One of the great tragedies of the Trump administration was a refusal to recognize that many Americans model the behavior of our leadership," said Ben LaBolt, a former press secretary to President Barack Obama who worked on the Biden transition.
WorldBusiness InsiderArchaeologists unearthed 210 sarcophagi in an Egyptian city of the dead. They'd remained undisturbed for at least 2,500 years.
KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/GETTY Decorated wooden sarcophagi from Saqqara on display during the official announcement of the discovery on January 17, 2021. KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/GETTY The underside of a wooden sarcophagus discovered at Saqqara. KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/GETTY Colored coffins from Saqqara on display October 3, 2020.
StyleINSIDER21 of Michelle Obama's best style moments
Michelle Obama has long been considered a fashion icon. Michelle Obama has long been described as one of the most fashionable first ladies in American history, but there were some looks that stood out above the rest. During her eight years as first lady, Obama wore pieces from notables like Tom Ford and Marchesa, while also bringing young designers of color into the spotlight, too - all while Obama herself became a fashion icon.
BusinessBusiness InsiderA lifelong car collector will soon sell off 48 of his pristine Corvettes - see the 'Muscle Car City' auction
Then there's this red 1991 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1. Plus this yellow 1991 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1. Aaaand this 1990 red Chevrolet Corvette ZR1.
LifestyleArchitectural DigestAD100 Designer Monique Gibson Designs a Tribeca Aerie with High-Impact Views
800 feet up in the sky, the Dreamy 6,000 square foot space offers panoramic views from the East River to the Hudson Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
CelebrityThe Daily BeastMeghan Markle Staffer Fact-Checked ‘Finding Freedom’ for Authors, British Court Hears
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's most senior royal aide fact-checked the book Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family to “make sure” authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand “got nothing wrong,” a senior editor at the Mail on Sunday claimed Wednesday in testimony released by the High Court in London. Harry and Meghan have consistently denied they co-operated with Scobie and Durand either directly or indirectly, leaving many observers to wonder why the couple did not complain about the book's multiple apparent invasions of their privacy.
HealthBusiness InsiderFauci said the US's COVID-19 vaccines are powerful enough that they should be able to shoulder new strains of the infection with limited impact on efficacy
Top US infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci said Thursday the COVID-19 vaccines might not be as effective against new coronavirus strains, but that the vaccines were powerful enough that they would still be beneficial. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and an advisor on the White House coronavirus task force, relayed new data findings during a press conference at the White House Thursday. Several new coronavirus strains have been detected in various countries - including the UK and South Africa - raising questions on how newly developed vaccines being distributed nationwide will factor into it.
CelebrityINSIDERNeville Longbottom actor Matthew Lewis says he finds watching his 'Harry Potter' performance 'painful'
In an interview with the New York Times, Neville Longbottom actor Matthew Lewis said he sometimes finds his performance in "Harry Potter" too "painful" to watch. Lewis said he finds it "difficult" when too much of himself comes through in a character, and that when he watches "Harry Potter," he thinks: "that's not Neville; that's you." Matthew Lewis said that he finds his performance as Neville Longbottom in the "Harry Potter" movies "painful" to watch as he sees too much of himself in the awkward Gryffindor student.
EntertainmentINSIDEREvery actor who has played Spider-Man in a movie, ranked from worst to best
Jorma Taccone, who is known best as a member of The Lonely Island and director of movies like "MacGruber" and "Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping," is the voice of the 1967 animated TV series version of Spider-Man, who appears in the end credits scene of "Into the Spider-Verse." Spider-Man is hanging out in Earth-67 when from the sky comes Spider-Man 2099 (voiced by Oscar Isaac). The two get into a spat, pointing at one another, similar to the popular meme.
CelebrityINSIDER13 celebrity couples who got real about the age gap in their relationships
After months of speculation about a possible romance between Sarah Paulson and Holland Taylor, Paulson confirmed their relationship in a 2016 interview with The New York Times, stating, "What I can say absolutely is that I am in love, and that person happens to be Holland Taylor." The pair has a 32-year age gap and Paulson has been candid about the benefits that come with it. "There's a poignancy to being with someone older.
PoliticsBBCKamala Harris: What the vice-president did on her first day
Kamala Harris has made history, becoming the first woman and first black and South Asian American to serve as US vice-president. "The role of the vice-president was, frankly, to just be that heartbeat away from the president," said Barbara Perry, the director of presidential studies at the University of Virginia's Miller Centre. "One of the vice-presidents in the early 20th Century said, 'Every day I ring the doorbell at the White House and hope the president will answer,'" Ms Perry said.
LifestyleArchitectural Digest9 Products That Make for a More Sustainable Home in 2021
Set yourself up for success with all the right stuff Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
“If you’re looking to win elections, it is probably best not to urge your supporters not to vote.”
“Warnock’s portrayal of himself as a dog lover, a means of overcoming white suspicions of Black men, smacked of pure genius.”
“Trump has done damage to the Republican brand among suburban voters that goes well beyond just races where he is on the ballot.”
“Once more, Democrats must profusely thank activist Stacey Abrams.”
“Overall, demographic trends show that the state’s electorate is becoming younger and more diverse each year.”