Apple rushes to fix FaceTime 'eavesdropping' bug

Apple has acknowledged a flaw in its FaceTime software that allowed for brief eavesdropping - even if the recipient did not pick up.In some cases the target iPhone could send video without the receiver's knowledge. The company said it had developed a fix and an update would be rolled out this week.
In the meantime, Apple's status page shows it has disabled the ability for users to make group calls on FaceTime.

Florida Secretary of State resigns over BlackFace Halloween photos

Florida Secretary of State Michael Ertel tendered his resignation on Thursday after photos emerged of the him in blackface at a 2005 Halloween party. In the pictures published by Tallahssee Democrat, Ertel, 49, is dressed like the highly-offensive mammie character in blackface and red lipstick.
To worsen matters,the Republican politician rocked a shirt that read ‘Katrina victim,’ clearly meant to mock the victims of the disaster just two months after the storm devastated the Louisiana coast.

Sultan Abdullah crowned Malaysia’s king

Sultan Abdullah of Pahang state has been crowned Malaysia's 16th king under the country's unique system of monarchy. The 59-year-old, who wore a traditional outfit in pale blue for the ceremony, took the oath of office at the National Palace in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday, nearly a month after the sudden decision of his predecessor, Sultan Muhammad V, to step down. He was accompanied by his wife, Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah.

Victor Moses joins Fenerbahce on loan until the end of season

Nigerian footballer, Victor Moses has been unveiled by Fenerbahce after joining the Turkish club from Chelsea on loan until the end of the 2019/20 season. The 28-year-old winger was a regular starter under Antonio Conte in 2016/17 but fell out of favour with current Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri who allowed him to go on loan to Fenerbahce after his permanent move to China collapsed.

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry is forced to apologise for calling a player's grandmother a 'whore' on the pitch

Arsenal and France legend, Thierry Henry who is currently the coach of French club, Monaco has been forced to apologise after calling a player's grandmother a 'whore' during his team's 5-1 defeat by Strasbourg on Saturday.

American Airlines kicks Michigan family off plane for body odor

A Southfield, Michigan, family was escorted off an American Airlines plane Wednesday after passengers complained of body odor. Local 10 News in Florida reported that Yossi and Jennie Adler and their 19-month-old daughter were boarding a plane at the Miami International Airport when they were escorted off. But Yossi Adler told Local 10 News that the family did not have body odor and urged the airline to reveal the actual reason behind the family's removal from the plane.

Woman turned off stranger’s life support thinking it was her brother

A grieving woman gave permission for the life support system of a man she thought was her brother to be turned off. Shirell Powell from New York sat for nine days at St Barnabas Hospital beside the bed of a man she believed was her brother – but who was in fact a stranger admitted under the same name, Metro News reports. 

Chicago police department begins investigation into the assault of Empire star, Jussie Smollett

Chicago State police department confirm that they are expanding the search area for surveillance video of actor Jussie Smollett's alleged attackers.
 Already, Chicago police say they have "reviewed hundreds of hours of video" as they search for footage of the reported attack on actor Jussie Smollett. They've now expanded their search to the Chicago riverfront, Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said.

Two seat cushions likely to be from the missing plane carrying Emiliano Sala are found washed up on a beach in France

Two seat cushions have been found washed up on a beach in north west France and investigators believe the seats are from the missing plane carrying Cardiff City footballer Emiliano Sala which disappeared over the English Channel.
 Search crews have been scouring the sea around the Channel Islands since the Piper Malibu being flown by pilot Dave Ibbotson disappeared on Monday, January 21.

Huge tornado in Cuba kills 4 and injures 195

A rare tornado that hit the Cuban capital, Havana, on Sunday night has left four people dead and 195 injured, officials said. Dramatic photos show debris covering cars and flooding in coastal zones of the city. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel visited emergency crews around the city overnight and wrote on Twitter that the damage from the tornado was "severe."

Samsung battles Chinese rivals with cheaper Galaxy smartphones

Samsung is trying to fend off a rising global threat from Chinese rivals with new cheap smartphones, targeting them first at urban youth in India's fast-growing market.  The South Korean company had dominated India since 2012 but was toppled last year by Chinese rival Xiaomi. Its position as global market leader is also under threat from another Chinese competitor, Huawei.

Man. U legend Rio Ferdinand blasts Jose Mourinho as the club records eight straight wins after his sacking

Manchester United legend and football pundit, Rio Ferdinand has taken a swipe at Jose Mourinho after the club recorded their eight straight wins against Arsenal in the FA Cup fourth round last night.
Recall that Jose Mourinho was sacked in December 2018 due to the poor run of the club and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, a former Manchester United striker was appointed as interim boss to replace him.

Huawei denies wrongdoing after US criminal charges

Chinese telecoms giant Huawei has denied any wrongdoing after US prosecutors filed a host of criminal charges against the firm.  Huawei has also rejected criminal claims against its chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou, who was arrested in Canada last month. The charges filed against Huawei in the US include bank fraud, obstruction of justice and theft of technology. The case could escalate tensions between China and the US.

Kanye West sues Jay-Z's Roc-A-Fella Records

Kanye West has reportedly filed a lawsuit against his former friend Jay-Z's Roc-A-Fella Records and EMI Publishing over unpaid publishing royalties. According to TMZ, the rapper and producer filed two lawsuits against Roc-A-Fella Records and EMI April Music.

Mum caught on video buying one last chocolate bar for her children, 4 and 2, before strangling them and burning their bodies

A mother gave her children a final chocolate bar, after which she strangled them to death then burned their bodies. Elena Karimova, 27, was caught on the security camera of a petrol station acting casually as she bought Snickers bars for her kids. She also bought some lighter fuel. After paying for the items, she went back to her hired Kia Rio to fill up before returning to pick up the items.

Alvaro Morata: Chelsea striker joins Atletico Madrid on loan

Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata has joined Spanish club Atletico Madrid on loan until the end of the 2019-20 season. The 26-year-old joined Chelsea from Real Madrid in July 2017 for a then club-record fee of £60m on a five-year contract. He has made 47 Premier League appearances for the Blues, scoring 16 times. Morata played for Atletico as a youngster before joining Real Madrid. He had a medical in Spain on Sunday.

Diddy's ex and mother of 3 of his children, Kim Porter cause of death revealed as Pneumonia

Rap Mogul, Diddy's ex and mother of his three children, Kim Porter died from a form of pneumonia.
According to an autopsy report obtained by Fox News on Friday, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner listed the 47-year-old's cause of death as lobar pneumonia, which is the inflammation of an entire lobe of the lungs.

Lionel Richie's son Milo 'arrested at Heathrow airport for claiming he had a bomb in his bag that he'd detonate on a plane

Miles 'Milo' Brockman Richie, 24, the son of American music legend, Lionel Richie was arrested at Heathrow Airport after threatening to detonate a bomb inside a plane and assaulting a security guard.
 The incident occurred at London Heathrow Airport's Terminal Five on Saturday morning, Jan. 19th.
According to witnesses, Mr. Richie became irate after being denied onto a flight - and claimed he would detonate a bomb on board if he was not allowed on.

Blood pressure medication has been recalled over cancer-causing impurity

Last year, the FDA announced a whole bunch of recalls related to blood pressure medication over fears that an impurity created during the manufacturing process could lead to cancer. The compound in question was found in dozens of prescription medications that contained the active ingredient valsartan, prompting several distributors and manufacturers to issue voluntary recalls affecting countless heart patients.

Apple bug lets iPhone users listen in on others via FaceTime

Apple customers discovered a software bug on Monday that lets people listen in on other users by way of the company’s FaceTime video chat service. The bug allows a user to call someone on FaceTime and automatically begin hearing the other person before they pick up the call. The other person isn’t aware that the caller can hear them. The bug, confirmed by Bloomberg News, happens when a user creates a FaceTime conference call, puts in their phone number, and then adds the number of another person. The flaw was discussed on social media and picked up by website 9to5Mac.com.

UK paper pays damages to Melania Trump over false report

Britain's Telegraph newspaper has apologized and paid damages to U.S. First Lady Melania Trump after publishing an article it says contains many false statements. The newspaper said Saturday it apologizes "unreservedly" to Mrs. Trump and her family for any embarrassment caused by the content of a cover story published Jan. 19 in the newspaper's weekly magazine supplement.
"As a mark of our regret we have agreed to pay Mrs. Trump substantial damages as well as her legal costs," The Telegraph said. The newspaper did not disclose the size of the settlement with Mrs. Trump.

Shocking photos reveal how British sailor opened escape hatches in hull to drown newlywed wife to inherit her estate

New photos reveal how a British sailor murdered his wife while on their honeymoon in the Caribbean by intentionally sinking the small ship they were on. British-Australian man Lewis Bennett has pleaded guilty to killing his new wife Isabella Hellman, 41, at sea and prosecutors are now seeking a maximum sentence.
Prosecutors have released photos of the damage Bennett allegedly inflicted on the ship's hull in an effort to sink it and make Hellman's death look like a tragic accident.

Death toll rises in Brazil dam collapse as mining company faces criticism

The death toll from a Brazilian dam collapse at an iron mine rose to 60 on Monday, according to officials. Authorities say 427 people were in the Córrego do Feijão mine in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais when the dam burst Friday, unleashing a muddy sea of mining debris into the region.
Hundreds of people are still missing and the extent of damage is still being calculated, especially in the mining town of Brumadinho, which was nearly buried in the deluge.

Search for Emiliano Sala and pilot of missing plane reopens after fans and footballers raise £277,000

Emiliano Sala's family have launched a private search for the footballer and the pilot of the missing plane in the hope that they might still be alive. The search for the missing plane was called off last week after days of searching with no trace of the plane or its occupants.

Thierry Henry suspended as Monaco head coach

Thierry Henry has been suspended by Monaco with the French club set to replace him as coach with the man he replaced: Leonardo Jardim. Henry has endured a miserable four months in charge – winning only four of his 20 games with Monaco remaining in the relegation zone in 19th place in Ligue Un.
Officially the former striker has been relieved of his duties for the foreseeable future while Monaco make a final decision, which appears to be a procedural step.

Samsung is getting rid of plastic packaging for phones, tablets and TVs

Samsung is joining a growing number of international companies that are pledging to reduce the amount of plastic waste from their businesses. The world's largest smartphone maker is starting to ditch the plastic packaging typically used to wrap and protect electronic devices and appliances.
Starting in the first half of this year, Samsung phones, tablets and wearable devices will be packaged in paper, pulp molds and bio-based or recycled plastics, the company said in a statement Sunday. It will also alter the design of its phone charger, replacing the glossy exterior with a matte finish and ditching plastic protection films.

Meet two cats who live alone in a Silicon Valley apartment rented for $1,500 per month

Two cats have been called the most pampered cats after it was revealed that they are staying alone in a Silicon Valley studio apartment that costs $1,500 per month. A Silicon Valley man is paying $1,500 a month to house his daughter's two cats in a studio, while she is away at college. Louise and Tina live alone in the studio apartment located behind a single family home in Willow Glen. The unusual cats enjoy lounging around the cat tree.

Five dead in air collision on France-Italy border

At least five people have died after a helicopter and a light aircraft collided on the border between France and Italy, authorities have said. Rescuers have recovered two injured from the crash site, Italy's mountain rescue service (CNSAS) tweeted.

Black Panther wins big at Actors Guild Awards (#SAGAwards Full list of winners)

Last night, the 25th Screen Actors Guild Awards honored the best film and television performances of the year and once again, Black Panther smiled home with the 'Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture'. See the full list of nominees and winners below...

Search for Cardiff City striker & pilot abandoned

The search for Emiliano Sala, a pilot and a missing plane was called off on Thursday afternoon without any trace of the missing Cardiff City striker in the English Channel. The search was called off after a fourth unsuccessful day since the aircraft disappeared off radars on Monday night north of Guernsey.

Chris Brown under investigation for alleged rape in France

R&B singer, Chris Brown has landed himself in another trouble after being accused of rape in Paris.
According to French publication 'Closer', the 29-year-old R&B star is currently under investigation by French police after a 24-year-old woman claimed he sexually assaulted her in his hotel room this month.

Serena Williams knocks out world's number 1, Simona Halep, to reach her 12th Australian Open quarterfinal

Serena Williams has beat world's number 1 Simona Halep to reach the quarter-finals of the 2019 Australian Open. Serena Williams, 37, sat out last year's Australian Open after giving birth to her daughter months earlier and suffering health complications. Since returning to the tour, Williams has reached the past two Grand Slam finals, losing both.

Former Super Eagles player, Efe Sodje and his brothers jailed since September 2018 for fraud in the UK

Former Super Eagles World Cup star, Efetobore Sodje,46, and two of his brothers are currently being locked up in Jail for fraud in the UK.  The ex-footballer, alongside his brothers Stephen Sodje, 43, and ex-rugby player Bright Sodje, 52, were given prison sentences for fraud last year.

Two boys, 14, and their pilot died in plane crash in Switzerland after pilot let one of the boys take the controls, investigation reveals

Back in 2017, two boys, 14, and their adult pilot died in a plane crash in Switzerland while a 17-year-old girl was seriously injured. Investigation has now revealed that the crash occurred after the pilot let one of the teens take the controls.

14 sailors killed after Tanzanian ships caught fire during Black Sea fuel transfer

Two Tanzanian-flagged commercial vessels caught fire in the Black Sea, leaving at least 14 sailors dead, Russian officials said on Monday. Five other sailors were missing. The Federal Agency for the Sea and River Transport said the fire erupted while fuel was being pumped from one tanker to another. The blaze spread from one ship to the other, prompting the crews to jump overboard, according to Russian news agencies.

Afrikaans scrapped at South Africa's University of Pretoria

A top South African university has dropped Afrikaans as its official language in favour of English. The University of Pretoria told the BBC it needed to "transform the culture" to make it "truly South African".
English is the preferred language of instruction for many in South Africa. Afrikaans language policy has historically been used to exclude black learners in a country where racism remains deeply embedded 25 years after white-minority rule ended.

Mum who still breastfeeds her 7-year-old son hits back after social media users brand her a "sick pedophile"

A mother who still breastfeeds her 7-year-old son and his 4-year-old brother has been criticized by social media users who called her a sick paedophile. But she has hit back at the trolls.  Australian Lisa Bridger, 46, revealed in a Kidspot post in June that she still feeds her autistic son Chase, 7, and his four-year-old brother Pheonix, who is also autistic. She defended her decision by saying breastfeeding calms them.

4 boys between ages 12 and 14 kidnap and gang rape a 13-year-old girl

Four boys between the ages of 12 and 14 have been arrested and charged with kidnapping and gang-raping a 13-year-old girl. Kabarshenay Ellis-Pinkney, 14, Louis Miller, 13, Joseph James-Carter, also 13, and Ja'den Glover, 12, were all charged with various offences, including felony rape, kidnapping, and unlawful sexual contact.

Ronaldo fined €18.8m over tax evasion

Football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has cut a deal with a court in Madrid over tax evasion charges, accepting an €18.8m (£16.6m) fine. A huge media presence met the player outside the court, after a judge refused his request to appear by video or to enter the building by car to avoid the spotlight. The deal, agreed in advance, includes a 23-month jail sentence.

Canadian winter festival cancelled because of snow

A traditional winter festival in the Canadian city of Montreal was cancelled on Sunday – because of a snowstorm. It's the first time in about a dozen years that weather has interrupted the "Festival of Snow", a family event which takes place in a Montreal park.

Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni bans gambling and sports betting in the country

Uganda's  Finance minister David Bahati, has confirmed that President Yoweri Museveni has ordered his government not to issue or renew licences for sports betting firms.  Bahati said President Museveni issued the directive because of the negative impact the betting craze has had on young people.

Canada dismisses China's warning of repercussions over Huawei ban

China’s ambassador to Canada issued the threat on Thursday as relations between the two nations continued to deteriorate after a senior Huawei executive was arrested in Vancouver last month on a U.S. extradition warrant. China has also detained two Canadians. Canadian officials are studying the security implications of 5G networks, the latest generation of cellular mobile communications, but their report is not expected in the immediate future, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Wednesday.

Data watchdog in France slams a fine of 50 million euros ($57 million) on Google for failing to provide transparent information on its data consent policies

France’s data watchdog on Monday announced a fine of 50 million euros ($57 million) for US search giant Google, using the EU’s strict General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for the first time. 
 Google was handed the record fine from the CNIL regulator for failing to provide transparent and easily accessible information on its data consent policies, a statement said. The CNIL said Google made it too difficult for users to understand and manage preferences on how their personal information is used, in particular with regards to targeted advertising.

Fiji Water Girl lands movie role after Golden Globes photobombing

The Fiji Water Girl who famously photobombed photos of almost every celebrity at the Golden Globes earlier this month has landed a movie role. Kelleth Cuthbert scored a role on The Bold And The Beautiful. The 30-something model posted a photo of herself on Instagram with some of the cast of the soap.

Pastor sacked for saying, 'Caitlyn Jenner is still a man and homosexuality is still a sin'

A Presbyterian pastor in Northern California, United States has been sacked after he posted a message on the sign outside his church that stated “homosexuality is still a sin.”
 The sign posted by Pastor Justin Hoke also stated that transgender activist Caitlyn Jenner “is still a man” and that “the culture may change but the Bible does not”.

Barcelona complete loan signing of Ghanaian footballer Kevin-Prince Boateng from Sassuolo

Spanish giant, Barcelona have confirmed the signing of Ghanaian footballer Kevin-Prince Boateng from Italian side Sassuolo. The club bought the 31-year-old former Tottenham, Portsmouth and AC Millan star to replace Munir El Haddadi who moved to Sevilla two weeks ago.

Ferrari signs Michael Schumacher's son

Ferrari has signed Mick Schumacher, the 19-year-old son of legendary Formula One driver Michael Schumacher, to its driver academy.  In a statement posted on the F1 team's official website on Saturday, Mattia Binotto -- Scuderia Ferrari's team principal -- said Ferrari was signing the teenager based on his talent and "human and professional qualities."

Zim High Court rules internet shutdown illegal, orders govt to restore full internet to the country

Zimbabwe's High Court has ordered the government to restore full internet to the country. The court ruled that the government's shutdown of the internet was illegal because the Minister of State for Security, who ordered the internet closure, does not have powers to issue such a directive.
The court said only President Emmerson Mnangagwa has the authority to make such an order.

Former Chelsea, Liverpool and England defender, Glen Johnson retires from football after an impressive 16-year career

Former Chelsea, Liverpool and England defender, Glen Johnson, has retired from football after an impressive 16-year career . Johnson also represented West Ham, Portsmouth, and Stoke and also went ahead to make 54 appearances for England between 2003 and 2014. He played two World Cups and a European Championship.

Deadly car bomb kills 20 in Colombian capital

At least 20 people have been killed in a car bomb attack in the Colombian capital of Bogotá, police say. Dozens more were injured in the blast which happened at 09:30 (14:30 GMT) on Thursday in the south of the city.
The car's driver, who was also killed, has been identified as a 57-year-old man. No group has said it was behind the explosion.  President Ivan Duque described it as a "crazy terrorist act" and declared three days of national mourning.