Trump lashes out over Russia claims

Donald Trump’s first press conference since July had originally been called to demonstrate how he would avoid conflicts of interest involving his business empire. But the event was heavily overshadowed by news that the FBI had been handed unverified but potentially damaging intelligence, including claims of alleged sexual impropriety in a Moscow hotel room. The president-elect attacked intelligence agencies and specific news organizations, notably CNN, which reported that Trump and Obama had been briefed about a summary of a memo on Trump’s alleged links with Moscow, and BuzzFeed, which published the document – that claimed Russian operatives had gathered compromising material against him – in full. Trump called the dossier “fake news”. The person who produced the dossier detailing the allegations against Trump was named on Wednesday as 52-year-old former MI6 officer Christopher Steele, who co-founded the London-based firm Orbis Business Intelligence. Here’s the story of how the documents came to light.

Media and intelligence agencies attacked by Trump over Russia claims

Day three of confirmation hearings: Mattis, Pompeo, Carson

Trump’s picks for secretary of defense and CIA director are among those facing questioning on the third day of confirmation hearings for the president-elect’s cabinet. Retired marine general James Mattis, nominated as Trump’s Pentagon chief, must overcome one major hurdle: Mattis retired from the Marine Corps in 2013, meaning he falls short of the required seven years out of uniform before a member of the military can run the Pentagon, and would need an exemption. Kansas congressman Mike Pompeo, the nominee for Central Intelligence Agency director, will testify before the Senate amid an escalating row between the agency and the incoming administration over Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Also on the schedule is former GOP presidential candidate Ben Carson, nominated as Trump’s housing and urban development secretary. Rex Tillerson faces his second day of hearings for secretary of state.

James Mattis confirmation hearing: key points

Mike Pompeo confirmation hearing: key points

Tillerson talks tough on South China Sea

Rex Tillerson, Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of state, has set the stage for a potential clash with China, saying it should be barred from artificial islands it has built in the South China Sea, during his confirmation hearing before the Senate on Wednesday. Tillerson said China’s control and construction of artificial islands in waters claimed by neighboring countries was “akin to Russia’s taking of Crimea”. The statements are sure to enrage China, which has taken an extremely rigid stance on challenges to its sovereignty claims. Also during his Wednesday hearing, Tillerson, the former CEO of ExxonMobil, faced questioning about lobbying efforts against US economic sanctions by ExxonMobil, climate change, his business ties to Moscow, his potential conflicts of interest, and his view of some of Trump’s most controversial proposals.

‘No access’: Rex Tillerson sets collision course with Beijing in South China Sea

Ethics chief criticizes Trump’s business plan

Walter Shaub, the director of the US government’s ethics agency, has criticized Donald Trump’s plan to maintain his business empire by turning it over to his sons, saying that Trump’s solution to the potential conflicts of interest caused by his global business holdings broke 40 years of precedent. Shaub urged Trump to change his plan before inauguration and commit to “divestiture” – selling his corporate assets and placing the profit in a blind trust administered by a neutral trustee approved by the ethics agency.

US ethics chief criticises Trump’s plan to give sons business control

Obama’s clemency legacy

Ramona Brant is one of 1,324 women and men granted clemency by Barack Obama. Most of them, like her, were serving long prison sentences – 395 of them for life – for relatively minor drug crimes imposed during the so-called “war on drugs”. Obama’s clemency drive, which began in the later years of his presidency, will probably loom large in any future assessment of his legacy. But the chances of the forthcoming Trump administration continuing to push for release of low-level drug offenders is slim to none.

Gift of freedom: how Obama’s clemency drive tackled aftermath of ‘war on drugs’

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Moderators who had to view child abuse content sue Microsoft

Microsoft workers on the “online safety team” were forced to view photos and videos of “indescribable sexual assaults”, “horrible brutality”, murder and child abuse, resulting in severe post-traumatic stress disorder, according to a lawsuit. Filed by two employees and their families, the lawsuit, which accuses Microsoft of “negligent infliction of emotional distress”, provides a window into the often secretive world of online moderation and sheds light on the intense suffering of tech workers responsible for detecting and reporting digital content “designed to entertain the most twisted and sick minded people in the world”.



Moderators who had to view child abuse content sue Microsoft, claiming PTSD

Portland: four homeless people die of exposure

Four homeless people have died of exposure on the streets of Portland, Oregon, in the first 10 days of 2017, a toll that has horrified the city and focused attention on its housing crisis. Portland has faced an unusually brutal winter, with temperatures dropping into the teens with record snowfall. It is also struggling with low vacancy rates and a lack of affordable housing.

Four homeless people die of exposure in Portland in first 10 days of 2017

Ice Cube announces new three-on-three basketball league

Ice Cube, the rapper and film actor, announced the Big3, a new professional three-on-three, half-court basketball league that he has founded with longtime business partner and entertainment industry executive Jeff Kwatinetz, on Wednesday. At least nine retired NBA players have officially committed to play in the league – including Allen Iverson, who has signed on as a player/coach.

Ice Cube bets big on nostalgia with new professional 3-on-3 basketball league

… And finally: Canadian dog that sniffs out superbug

Angus, a two-year-old English springer spaniel, is believed to be the only canine hospital employee in the world trained to sniff out the notorious superbug Clostridium difficile, or C difficile.

Man’s best friend, bacteria’s worst enemy: dog sniffs out superbug in Canada hospital