Tuesday, January 21st, 2020
Trial Begins, China’s New Virus & Wave to Pay
All the news you need in less than 10 min:
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Story Summaries
All the news stories mentioned in today's episode are listed with links below, so you can spend as much -- or as little -- time as you want perusing the latest happenings...
Impeachment Trial Starts Today:
President Trump’s impeachment trial is officially getting underway in the Senate this afternoon. Lawmakers will likely spend the day fighting over the rules of the trial before making opening arguments. Already, Trump’s lawyers filed a brief with the Senate that calls for a “swift” acquittal and argues there's no crime mentioned in the charges. The House impeachment managers also filed a brief saying Trump was corrupt in soliciting foreign interference in the 2020 election.
Read more: CNN, NYT, The Hill, CBS News
World Economic Forum Starts:
As the trial gets going, President Trump will be in Davos, Switzerland to speak at the World Economic Forum. He’ll likely focus on economic growth and highlight his recent trade deals with China, Mexico and Canada. This year’s gathering of the world's political and business elite will also have a big focus on climate change.
Read more: BBC, USA Today, NBC News, Fox News
Virginia Rally Ends Peacefully:
Tens of thousands of people turned out for a massive gun rights rally in Richmond, Virginia yesterday. There were fears it could turn violent due to threats from extremist groups, but ultimately there were no issues and it stayed peaceful.
Read more: ABC News, AP
New Virus Spreads in China:
A mysterious new virus is spreading in China, and it's happening during the busiest travel time of the year due to the upcoming Lunar New Year. Officials are worried the illness could spread quickly. The new coronavirus strain causes respiratory issues, and there have been about 200 confirmed cases so far. Some U.S. airports have started screening passengers arriving from China. The World Health Organization will meet tomorrow to decide if an international public health emergency should be put in place.
Read more: WSJ, NPR, Washington Post
China Bans Plastic Bags:
China is banning plastic bags in major cities by the end of 2020, with a nationwide ban to follow in 2022. Other single-use plastics will also be phased out. China is one of the world’s biggest users of plastic, but it’s trying to curb how much ends up in its cities, countryside, and the ocean.
Read more: NBC News, BBC
Alphabet CEO Calls for AI Regulation:
The CEO of Google’s parent company Alphabet is calling on lawmakers to better regulate artificial intelligence. Sundar Pichai says it’s important for governments in the E.U. and U.S. to come up with regulations and global standards, and he supports 'appropriate laws' that ensure companies are using the new technology for good.
Read more: The Verge, The Financial Times
Wave to Pay:
Amazon is working with Visa to test a hand-based checkout system that would link shoppers’ credit card information to their hands. Amazon plans to eventually sell this system to coffee shops, fast food restaurants and other places that have repeat customers, but it's still early.
Read more: WSJ, Engadget
Coco Gauff vs. Venus Williams:
Teen tennis star Coco Gauff beat Venus Williams in the first round of the Australian Open. Gauff surprised fans when she won against Williams at Wimbledon last summer, but this time, the win was more expected. She says her mission is to be the greatest. The Australian Open continues today.
Read more: ESPN
Super Bowl Ticket Prices:
The average price for a ticket to the Super Bowl right now is more than $9,000, while the most expensive tickets are selling for about $70,000. According to SeatGeek, it’s “the most in-demand Super Bowl ever.” This year, it’s the Kansas City Chiefs vs. San Francisco 49ers in Miami on February 2nd.
Read more: CBS Sports, SeatGeek.com