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BBCChinese man kidnapped and killed in elaborate body-swap scheme
The scheme was devised to grant a dying man's wish to avoid a ban on traditional burials.
- Miami Herald
The ‘arms race’ in college sports is out of control. Congress can block it | Opinion
An unsustainable spending “arms race” is occurring among the 130 colleges that belong to the NCAA’s Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). It is compromising their integrity and often is at odds with their academic missions. Because of pressure from boosters and fans to remain competitive, the arms race has led to, in just the last year, paying head coaches an average $2.7 million salary and awarding failed coaches buyouts that average nearly $8 million. This is in addition to the seemingly constant construction of new facilities, among other excesses.
- The State
‘I’m gay.’ Former ‘Bachelor’ Colton Underwood comes out in emotional interview
“I’m the happiest and healthiest I’ve ever been in my life and that means the world to me,” he said.
- LA Times
How did they create 'Mulan's' massive Imperial City? Think giant digital Lego kit
The Oscar-nominated visual effects team scanned a huge physical building, chopped the images into basic architectural elements and then mixed and matched to create its city.
- Associated Press
Column: Matsuyama goes from inspiration to Masters champion
The idea was to create golfing heroes, not necessarily a Masters champion. Hideki Matsuyama is now both. “I owe a deep debt of gratitude to the members of Augusta National,” Matsuyama said on the night before he became Japan's first Masters champion.
- The Independent
‘It lasted half a Scaramucci’: Fox News’ much-mocked new ‘comedy show’ Gutfeld! replaced by news
‘Gutfeld! will be back tomorrow,’ news anchor Shannon Bream abruptly announced on Tuesday, just as the comedy show was supposed to begin
- The Independent
Elizabeth Warren rips into CEO of student debt collecting company to his face: You should be fired
Nearly 80 per cent of borrowers’ loans would be forgiven if executive action is taken to cancel $50,000 of debt per individual
- The Independent
Biden’s civil rights nominee has to explain to GOP senator that article she wrote was satire
Kristen Clarke would be first Black woman to lead crucial Justice Department division amid rise in white supremacist violence and threats to voting rights
- Raleigh News and Observer
USCB plans to join the NCAA in 2022 and add 2 new sports teams. What will they play?
Here’s what you need to know about the University of South Carolina Beaufort’s Wednesday announcement.
- The Independent
Two North Carolina police officers suspended over beating Black man in clash caught by bystander video
‘We can’t afford nor do we desire to afford to ignore what we saw,’ says Kinston Mayor Pro Tem Felicia Solomon about footage
- Associated Press
UAE sets new ambitious timeline for launch of moon rover
The United Arab Emirates’ space center announced Wednesday a more ambitious timeline for sending its first rover to the moon. The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center said it is partnering with Japan’s ispace company to send a rover to the moon on an unmanned spacecraft by 2022, rather than 2024. The “Rashid” rover, named after Dubai’s ruling family, will deploy to the moon using ispace's lunar lander.
- The Independent
Incel YouTuber arrested for threatening to blow up New York City restaurant
‘I take you with me and I kill you all! I kill all you right now!’ Malik Sanchez, 19, shouted at a group of outdoor diners
- The Independent
Pelosi says she would have ‘battled’ capitol rioters with stilettos: ‘I’m a street fighter’
Rioters were seen searching for the House Speaker on 6 January
- Associated Press
Senate OKs tough former regulator as market watchdog chief
The Senate has approved President Joe Biden’s choice of Gary Gensler to head the Securities and Exchange Commission, signaling an emphasis on investor protection for the Wall Street watchdog agency after a deregulatory stretch during the Trump administration. The vote Wednesday was 53-45, mostly along party lines in the narrowly Democratic-controlled Senate, to confirm Gensler, an expert with experience as a strong markets regulator during the 2008-09 financial crisis. Gensler had a two-decades-long career as a Wall Street banker and later, as chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, he tightened oversight of the $400 trillion worldwide market for complex financial transactions that helped cause the Great Recession.
- The Independent
Kim Potter: Former police officer who shot and killed Daunte Wright arrested on manslaughter charges
Killing of 20-year-old Black man has sparked protests and unrest in Minnesota city
- Reuters
U.S. spy chiefs say China is 'unparalleled priority'
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. spy agency leaders said on Wednesday that China is an "unparalleled" priority, citing Beijing's regional aggression and cyber capabilities as they testified at a public congressional "Worldwide Threats" hearing for the first time in more than two years. "Given that China is an unparalleled priority for the intelligence community, I will start with highlighting certain aspects of the threat from Beijing," Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines told the Senate Intelligence Committee. She described China as increasingly "a near-peer competitor challenging the United States in multiple arenas."
- The Independent
Daunte Wright shooting: Kim Potter’s mugshot released as ex-police officer faces manslaughter charges
Kim Potter, the white police officer who shot and killed Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old Black man, during a traffic stop on Sunday has been charged with manslaughter. A GoFundMe campaign for a memorial fund for Mr Wright has raised over half a million dollars towards covering funeral and providing support for his family. Minneapolis faced its third night of civil unrest on Tuesday after the killing, which occurred in the suburb of Brooklyn Center.Tensions are already high amid the trial of Derek Chauvin, the white former Minneapolis police officer charged with murdering George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, last May.
- Reuters
NFL: Lions become fourth team to opt out of voluntary workouts over COVID-19 concerns
The Detroit Lions became the fourth National Football League team to opt out of in-person voluntary workouts, citing concerns over COVID-19, as a rift emerged between the league and its players' union over off-season protocols. The Lions joined the Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who said this week they would not participate in the workouts, a year after the NFL took its off-season to a "virtual" format up until training camp, as the deadly pandemic ripped through the United States. "With the voluntary workout period starting shortly and no acceptable resolution to our union's negotiations with the NFL over comprehensive COVID-19 protocols, we will be exercising our (Collective Bargaining Agreement) right to not attend," the Lions players said in a statement released through the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA).
- The Independent
Daunte Wright protesters use umbrellas as shields against police
Flashbangs, gas grenades and chemical irritants were released by authorities
- The Independent
Lachlan Murdoch backs Tucker Carlson as host doubles down amid calls for his firing
Fox News host under fire for defending white nationalist conspiracy theory