Turkey’s Erdogan fires statistics chief after inflation data shows 19-year high

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has sacked the head of the state statistics agency, according to a decree published Saturday, after releasing data showing last year's inflation rate hit a 19-y…
Read more: https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20220129-turkey-s-erdogan-fires-statistics-chief-after-inflation-data-shows-19-year-high?source=Snapzu

The IRS is reportedly looking for ID.me alternatives amid privacy concerns

The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) are reportedly looking for alternatives to the controversial facial recognition software ID.me, according to a report by Bloomberg. As Bloomberg notes, the agencies didn’t cite a reason for the possible change, and also didn’t mention any privacy concerns about the service.
Read more: https://www.theverge.com/2022/1/29/22907853/irs-idme-facial-recognition-alternatives-privacy-concerns?source=Snapzu

'This Is Not Over': Alaska Supreme Court Rejects Youth Climate Case

Young Alaskans—and their attorneys—vowed to keep fighting Friday after the Alaska Supreme Court's split decision denying their right to bring a constitutional case challenging the state's fossil fuels policy. "Despite today's decision, we will keep fighting for Alaska's climate future."
Read more: https://www.commondreams.org/news/2022/01/28/not-over-alaska-supreme-court-rejects-youth-climate-case?source=Snapzu

Sources: Brady retiring after 22 years, 7 rings

Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady is retiring from football after 22 seasons and seven Super Bowl titles, sources told ESPN's Jeff Darlington and Adam Schefter.
Read more: https://es.pn/32GQ5K3?source=Snapzu

16 books removed from Polk County school libraries after objection from conservative group

The timeline for when a decision will be made on these books is unclear as committee members must read each book and convene to discuss their contents.
Read more: https://www.wfla.com/news/polk-county/16-books-removed-from-polk-county-school-libraries-after-objection-from-conservative-group/?source=Snapzu

Jan. 6 investigators subpoena 14 in probe of false pro-Trump electors

The Capitol riot select panel is seeking details about the organizing of the electors and their meetings.
Read more: https://news.yahoo.com/jan-6-investigators-subpoena-14-190505174.html?source=Snapzu

Russian YouTuber's retractable lightsaber earns Guinness World Record

A Russian YouTuber has been recognized by Guinness World Records as the inventor of the world's first retractable lightsaber.
Read more: https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2022/01/24/Guinness-World-Records-first-retractable-lightsaber/9331643049071/?source=Snapzu

A shipment of cookbooks is lost at sea. Authors hope the fish enjoy the recipes

Turkey and the Wolf: Flavor Trippin by Mason Hereford and Dinner in One by Melissa Clark call the mishap a very 2022 event as a storm sinks their publication dates.
Read more: https://www.npr.org/2022/01/28/1076416242/cookbooks-lost-at-sea-melissa-clark-mason-hereford-container-ship-storm?source=Snapzu

Russia says it won't start a war as Ukraine tensions mount

Russia said Friday it will not start a war in Ukraine but warned that the U.S. and NATO have ignored its demands and left little room for compromise in the crisis. President Vladimir Putin told French President Emmanuel Macron that the West has failed to consider Russia’s key conditions of halting further NATO expansion, stopping the deployment of alliance weapons near Russian borders, and rolling back its forces from Eastern Europe, the Kremlin said.
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-joe-biden-united-states-europe-moscow-8593998c182f17caafeb57fe93f7578c?source=Snapzu

COVID hits one of the last uninfected places on the planet

When the coronavirus began spreading around the world, the remote Pacific archipelago of Kiribati closed its borders, ensuring the disease didn’t reach its shores for nearly two full years. Kiribati finally began reopening this month, allowing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to charter a plane to bring home 54 of the island nation’s citizens. Many of those aboard were missionaries who had left Kiribati before the border closure to spread the faith abroad for what is commonly known as the Mormon church.
Read more: https://ktar.com/story/4860743/covid-hits-one-of-the-last-uninfected-places-on-the-planet/?source=Snapzu

'Tiger King' Joe Exotic set for resentencing in Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A federal judge is set to decide a new sentence Friday for “Tiger King” Joe Exotic after an appeals court ruled last year that the prison term he's serving on a murder-for-hire conviction should be shortened.
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/812b9b2b759e8d84f2e3192766f1efec?source=Snapzu

Flabbergasted forester finds a-BOAR-able litter of ‘Dalmatian piglets’

A forester was left dumbfounded after stumbling across this adorable litter of wild piglets resembling Dalmatian puppies. Jacek Boczar from the Opole Forest Inspectorate in southern Poland had been going about his work in forests near the village of Tarnów Opolski when he heard some rustling sounds behind him.
Read more: https://www.thefirstnews.com/article/ive-never-seen-anything-like-it-says-flabbergasted-forester-after-stumbling-across-a-boar-able-dalmatian-piglets-27540?source=Snapzu

98-year-old Holocaust survivor reaches younger generations on TikTok: "I will tell my story"

Holocaust survivor Lily Ebert has shared her stories from the Auschwitz death camp for decades. Now, with the help of her great-grandson, she is amassing followers on TikTok as users flock to learn more.
Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/lily-ebert-holocaust-survivor-tiktok/?source=Snapzu

Sen. Ron Johnson says it's not 'society's responsibility' to care for 'other people's children' while arguing against child care subsidies for working parents

Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson argued against government efforts to make child care cheaper for parents during a visit on Tuesday to Kwik Trip's headquarters in La Crosse. "People decide to have families and become parents. That's something they need to consider when they make that choice," Johnson told local Wisconsin TV station WKBT. "I've never really felt it was society's responsibility to take care of other people's children."
Read more: https://news.yahoo.com/sen-ron-johnson-says-not-061211125.html?source=Snapzu

Apple has launched a new safety guide for AirTags following reports they have been used to stalk people

Apple on Tuesday launched a new personal safety guide for its AirTag tracking accessory following reports that the device has been used to stalk people. The company's "Personal Safety Guide" on its website was updated with new information on how people can check if if they're carrying an unknown AirTag and what to do if they hear an AirTag alert or receive a notification.
Read more: https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-airtag-personal-safety-guide-reports-users-tracking-stalking-2022-1?source=Snapzu

IRS wants to scan your face

Millions of Americans will soon have to scan their faces to access their Internal Revenue Service tax accounts, one of the government’s biggest expansions yet of facial recognition software into people’s everyday lives. Taxpayers will still be able to file their returns the old-fashioned way. But by this summer, anyone wanting to access their records — including details about child tax credits, payment plans or tax transcripts — on the IRS website will be required to record a video of their face with their computer or smartphone and send it to the private contractor ID.me to confirm their identity.
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/01/27/irs-face-scans?refer=reddit?source=Snapzu

Stephanie Ruhle to replace Brian Williams on MSNBC

Ruhle, who is also a senior business correspondent for NBC News, joined the network in 2016.
Read more: https://www.axios.com/stephanie-ruhle-replace-brian-williams-host-b4118537-0d00-4e60-8eb9-fe7b9977e854.html?source=Snapzu

Amy Schneider’s historic ‘Jeopardy!’ winning streak ends with loss to Chicago librarian Rhone Talsma

Amy Schneider's historic 40-game winning streak on “Jeopardy!” came to an end Wednesday, the second-longest ever. And it was Chicago's Rhone Talsma who bested her.
Read more: https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/what-to-watch/ct-ent-jeopardy-new-winner-chicago-librarian-schneider-20220126-cdby5wpk6jarbc5mpkztodfw3q-story.html?source=Snapzu

Society has a trust problem. More censorship will only make it worse.

We will always view censorship as a last resort, because we believe open discourse is better for writers and better for society. 
Read more: https://on.substack.com/p/society-has-a-trust-problem-more?source=Snapzu

The Prisoner Who Revolutionized Chinese Language With a Teacup

While imprisoned for being a “reactionary,” physicist and engineer Zhi Bingyi began devising a system to help computing machines read Chinese characters.
Read more: https://www.wired.com/story/kingdom-of-characters-jing-tsu-china-language-information/?source=Snapzu

‘Virginity repair’ surgery to be banned in Britain under new bill

“Virginity repair” surgery known as hymenoplasty has no place in the medical world, British healthcare professionals were warned today, as legislation to criminalise the practice was introduced by the government.
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2022/jan/25/virginity-repair-surgery-to-be-banned-in-britain-under-new-bill?source=Snapzu

They Were Reporters in Hong Kong. Now They Drive Cabs and Sell Fried Chicken.

The demise of the city’s independent news outlets has left hundreds of journalists out of a job. Many are not coming back.
Read more: https://www.vice.com/en/article/akvjd8/hong-kong-journalists-cabbies-fried-chicken?source=Snapzu

Creator Of iBeer App Was Earning £15,000 Per Day From App Store Sales

The man who created the iBeer app in the early days of the iPhone was earning up to $20,000 (£15,000) a day for his simple creation. Check out the below video showing the app in action to refresh your memory.
Read more: https://www.ladbible.com/news/creator-of-ibeer-app-was-earning-20000-per-day-from-app-store-sales-20220125?source=Snapzu

Apple Maps erects gigantic digital wall to hide Tim Cook's house

Apple fans who take a virtual stroll through Palo Alto inside Apple Maps and Google Maps no longer get to see Tim Cook’s house. The modern, four-bedroom condo has had a giant digital wall erected right in front of it. We spotted the change after Apple was on Friday granted a temporary restraining order against an alleged stalker, who claimed to be Cook’s wife, threatened the Apple boss and was caught trespassing on his property.
Read more: https://www.cultofmac.com/764740/apple-maps-hides-tim-cook-house/?source=Snapzu

Howard Stern Urges Meat Loaf’s Family to Speak Out on COVID Vaccine After His Death

Howard Stern is calling on Meat Loaf’s family to speak out on vaccines following the rock icon’s death earlier this month. Meat Loaf died Jan. 20. TMZ reported at the time that the singer had been “seriously ill with COVID” and that “his condition quickly became critical.” It’s unknown at this time whether or not Meat Loaf was vaccinated against COVID.
Read more: https://variety.com/2022/music/news/howard-stern-meat-loaf-family-vaccines-1235163384/?source=Snapzu

Joe Biden Formally Backs Consumers' Right to Repair Their Electronics

President Biden became the first sitting president to give extensive comments supporting the right to repair and acknowledging the anticompetitive practices of electronics manufacturers that have spent the last decade creating repair monopolies and making it difficult for consumers to fix the things they own.
Read more: https://www.vice.com/en/article/qjbzpw/joe-biden-formally-backs-right-to-repair?source=Snapzu

AirTag foils plot to sell and recover stolen truck in Texas

AirTags are often linked to alleged stalking attempts involving cars. In Texas, however, Apple’s item tracker was responsible for unveiling a double car theft in progress. A Texas motorist was heading to work recently when he received an iPhone alert saying an AirTag was following him. The driver reported the incident to the police, and an AirTag was found between the seats in the vehicle.
Read more: https://9to5mac.com/2022/01/24/airtag-solves-crime/?source=Snapzu

Google will soon block targeted ads for people below 18 years

Google will soon block ad targeting based on the age, gender or interests of people under 18, as the tech giant faces scrutiny over targeted advertisements being pushed via its platforms. The company said that in 2022, it will focus on strengthening protections for vulnerable groups and delivering new ways to put users in control of their ad experiences.
Read more: https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/google-will-soon-block-targeted-ads-for-people-below-18-years/articleshow/89111462.cms?source=Snapzu

40 People Arrested For Alleged Twitch Money Laundering Scheme

The illicit racket is said to have totaled $9.8 million
Read more: https://kotaku.com/40-people-arrested-for-alleged-twitch-money-laundering-1848305635?source=Snapzu

Google executive cautions Canada against adopting ‘extreme’ new internet rules

Tech giant is open to new requirements, the senior executive says, but some proposals circulating in Canada and other countries could dramatically worsen people’s online experiences
Read more: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-google-executive-cautions-canada-against-adopting-extreme-new-internet/?source=Snapzu

US conservatives linked to rich donors wage campaign to ban books from schools

Experts warn trend is accelerating as groups push for bans of works that often address race, LGBTQ issues and marginalized people. Conservative groups across the US, often linked to deep-pocketed rightwing donors, are carrying out a campaign to ban books from school libraries, often focused on works that address race, LGBTQ issues or marginalized communities.
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/jan/24/us-conservatives-campaign-books-ban-schools?source=Snapzu

CNN Ratings Plummet 80 Percent to Start 2022

CNN averaged only 548,000 viewers during the week of January 3, a steep decline from the 2.7 million it averaged over the same period in 2021.
Read more: https://news.yahoo.com/cnn-ratings-plummet-80-percent-175338698.html?source=Snapzu

Opera singer Maria Ewing dies at 71

The mezzo-soprano was renowned for her acting and electrifying performances as well as her singing.
Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-59952356?source=Snapzu

Like Hershey’s and Cadbury, This 115-Year-Old Chocolatier Is Turning Its Iconic Treats Vegan

Major brands like Hershey’s and Cadbury are getting into vegan chocolate bars, and iconic Canadian chocolatier Purdys is keeping up with the trend by expanding its offerings with vegan Sweet Georgia Browns. 
Read more: https://vegnews.com/2022/1/purdys-chocolatier-vegan?source=Snapzu

China’s threat to ‘punish’ Olympic athletes for free speech ‘very concerning’, Australia says

Sports minister Richard Colbeck says Australia opposes advisory on political comments from Beijing Winter Olympics committee
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/jan/21/china-threat-punishment-beijing-winter-olympics-athletes-political-statements-free-speech-very-concerning-australia-says?source=Snapzu

Graphic Kobe Bryant crash photos were shown off by cops and firefighters at a bar and an awards ceremony, lawsuit says

Graphic images of Kobe and Gianna Bryant after their deaths in a helicopter crash were shown off at bars and an awards ceremony, according to legal documents filed in a federal court. Vanessa Bryant, Kobe's widow, is suing the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, the fire department, the county, and eight police officers over the photos, alleging invasion of privacy and negligence.
Read more: https://www.insider.com/kobe-bryant-crash-photos-shown-bars-and-awards-ceremony-lawsuit-2022-1?source=Snapzu

Hana Horka: Czech singer dies after catching Covid intentionally

A folk singer from the Czech Republic has died after deliberately catching Covid, her son has told the BBC. Hana Horka, 57, was unvaccinated and had posted on social media that she was recovering after testing positive, but died two days later. Her son, Jan Rek, said she got infected on purpose when he and his father had the virus, so she could get a recovery pass to access certain venues.
Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60050996?source=Snapzu

A teen's solo transatlantic flight calls attention to wasteful 'ghost flights'

Kai Forsyth relished being the only passenger on a flight from London to Orlando. But his solo trip highlights the wastefulness of near-empty flights that environmentalists are trying to ban.
Read more: https://www.npr.org/2022/01/21/1074837511/a-teens-solo-transatlantic-flight-calls-attention-to-wasteful-ghost-flights?source=Snapzu

Leaked Chats Reveal Evidence of Hate Crimes by U.S. Fascists

Patriot Front members confessed to destroying numerous works of art in private messages.
Read more: https://gizmodo.com/patriot-front-leak-data-breach-hate-crimes-1848401943?source=Snapzu

Canada loaning Ukraine $120M as tensions with Russia escalate - National | Globalnews.ca

'Russia is aiming to destabilize Ukraine, including economically. This loan will help support Ukraine's economic resilience,' Justin Trudeau said Friday.
Read more: https://globalnews.ca/news/8529262/canada-120m-loan-ukraine-russia/?source=Snapzu

Don't approach lab monkey missing after Montour County crash, people told

Residents of a Pennsylvania county were warned Saturday not to approach a monkey that was missing after a crash involving a pickup that was towing a trailer taking about 100 of the animals to a lab. State troopers urged people not to look for or capture the cynomolgus monkey following the Friday afternoon crash on a state highway near an Interstate 80 exit in Montour County.
Read more: https://whyy.org/articles/dont-approach-lab-monkey-missing-after-montour-county-crash-people-told/?source=Snapzu

Ukraine might be far away, but a security crisis in Europe can still threaten Aotearoa New Zealand

New Zealand’s geographical distance will be no defence against the consequences of a protracted crisis. So why has there been so little discussion about the threats?
Read more: https://theconversation.com/ukraine-might-be-far-away-but-a-security-crisis-in-europe-can-still-threaten-aotearoa-new-zealand-175310?source=Snapzu

Like a drone that you sit in – but would you feel safe?

Peter Ternstrom was about nine years old when he first saw the movie, Return of the Jedi, at the cinema. The scene in which Luke and Leia take to hover-bikes on a high-speed chase through a forest left a particular impression on him. "Absolutely, that has been an important inspiration for me," says Mr Ternstrom, who co-founded Swedish firm Jetson with Tomasz Patan.
Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/business-59372326?source=Snapzu

Robot Nerf Alarm Blasts You Awake With Foam

Waking up is hard; sometimes you need more than a little chiming alarm to get you out of bed. When [Vinnie Satriale] started unconsciously switching his alarms off, he went all out, deciding to build a Nerf sentry blaster to wake him up instead.
Read more: https://hackaday.com/2022/01/21/robot-nerf-alarm-blasts-you-awake-with-foam/?source=Snapzu

Louie Anderson Dies: Comedian & Emmy Winner Was 68

Comedian, game show host and three-time Emmy winner Louie Anderson has died at the age of 68. The Baskets star passed away in Las Vegas Friday morning.
Read more: https://deadline.com/2022/01/louie-anderson-dead-obituary-comedian-baskets-family-feud-emmy-winner-1234917040/?source=Snapzu

Oral CBD Prevented COVID-19 Infection in Real-World Patients, Study Suggests

While not a substitute for vaccines, "CBD has the potential to prevent infections, such as breakthrough infections," the study's lead author said.
Read more: https://www.vice.com/en/article/bvn743/oral-cbd-prevented-covid-19-infection-in-real-world-patients-study-suggests?source=Snapzu

In Tonga, a volcano-triggered tsunami underscores islands' acute climate risk

For the South Pacific island nation of Tonga, the tsunami unleashed by Saturday's volcanic eruption laid bare some of the ways that climate change is threatening the islands' very existence.
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/business/cop/tonga-volcano-triggered-tsunami-underscores-islands-acute-climate-risk-2022-01-20/?source=Snapzu

Meat Loaf, 'Bat Out of Hell' rock superstar, dies at 74

Meat Loaf, the heavyweight rock superstar loved by millions for his “Bat Out of Hell” album and for such theatrical, dark-hearted anthems as “Paradise By the Dashboard Light,” “Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad,” and “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That),” has died. He was 74.
Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/meat-loaf-bat-hell-rock-superstar-dies-74-82392167?source=Snapzu

Polish researchers invent anti-smog sound cannon

In a battle against Poland's constant smog, scientists are testing out a new "cannon" that uses soundwaves to push toxic particles higher into the atmosphere to allow residents to breathe.
Read more: https://phys.org/news/2022-01-anti-smog-cannon.html?source=Snapzu

Stranded dog saved from rising tide after rescuers attach sausage to drone

As the tide rose, it began to look perilous for Millie the jack russell-whippet cross, who had defied the efforts of police, firefighters and coastguards to pluck her from treacherous mudflats. So the rescuers had to think imaginatively, and came up with the idea of attaching a sausage to a drone and hoping the scent of the treat would tempt Millie to safety. It worked gloriously and Millie has been reunited with her grateful owner after following the dangling sausage to higher, safer ground.
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/jan/20/stranded-dog-saved-from-drowning-after-rescuers-attach-sausage-to-drone?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other?source=Snapzu