Tuesday, January 28th, 2020
Crash Update, London Cameras & Emoji License Plates
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...
Helicopter Crash Update:
Before the crash that killed NBA legend Kobe Bryant, his daughter and 7 others Sunday, the pilot requested special permission to fly in heavy fog. He reportedly had special credentials to fly in those conditions but told air traffic controllers about a cloud layer minutes before the crash. Officials have not yet determined the official cause of the crash, but investigators are examining the crash site. Tonight’s game between the L.A. Lakers and L.A. Clippers has been postponed out of respect for the team where Bryant spent his NBA career.
Read more: NYT, CNN, Washington Post, AP, CBS News, ESPN
Impeachment Trial:
President Trump’s attorneys are planning to wrap up their opening arguments today. The team says Trump had a legitimate reason to ask Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter. Trump’s lawyers mostly ignored reports about former National Security Adviser John Bolton's upcoming book. He reportedly wrote he has first-hand knowledge that Trump froze the money meant for Ukraine as a way to push for investigations.
Read more: WSJ, ABC News, The Hill, Washington Post, NYT
Stocks Drop, Coronavirus Spreads:
The Dow posted its worst day in months yesterday. Experts say the viral outbreak in China may be to blame, as investors worry the coronavirus and China’s travel ban could affect global markets. Meanwhile, the death toll in China has topped 100 and there are more than 4,500 confirmed cases of the illness. The CDC has issued a travel warning advising against travel to China.
Read more: CNN, CNBC, WSJ, NYT, USA Today
GM Invests in Detroit, Driverless Tech:
General Motors is spending more than $2 billion to convert an old Detroit assembly plant into its first all-electric vehicle plant. The factory will start building the company’s first electric pickup truck next year, followed by a self-driving shuttle. The factory was supposed to close, but GM will keep it open after workers went on strike last year. After the renovations are completed, the new facility will have about 2,000 employees.
Read more: NBC News, WSJ, The Verge
New Rooms in Space:
NASA is attaching a private room to the International Space Station to allow a company called Axiom Space to test habitable modules. They could be used for experiments and housing for researchers or even space tourists. The timeline isn’t clear yet, but Axiom hopes to start sending clients to the ISS as soon as next year.
Read more: CNET, TechCrunch
London Facial Recognition Cameras:
London is starting to use facial recognition technology to police the city. The cameras will keep an eye out for people wanted for serious or violent crimes and will alert police to their real-time locations. Police say the cameras have identified 70 percent of suspects correctly, but critics still worry about the system’s accuracy, biases and privacy.
Read more: Retuers, The Guardian, BBC
Atari Gaming Hotels:
Atari has licensed its name to eight video game-themed hotels across the U.S. They’ll offer gaming playgrounds with virtual reality capabilities, e-sports studios where pros can compete, and more. Construction of the Phoenix location will start this year, with additional properties in Austin, Chicago, Las Vegas, and Seattle to follow.
Read more: Engadget, The Verge
Emoji on License Plates:
A new bill in Vermont would allow drivers to customize their license plates with one of six emoji in addition to the combination of letters and numbers the state already assigns. If lawmakers pass the bill, Vermont would be the first U.S. state to allow emoji on license plates.
Read more: Engadget, Business Insider