Jimmy Kimmel has responded to NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers after Rodgers suggested Kimmel's name would be included in a list of Jeffrey Epstein's alleged associates. Kimmel threatened legal action, saying he had never heard of Rodgers until the false accusations were made. The list of Epstein's alleged associates is expected to be released soon, and Kimmel has made it clear he will take legal action if his name is included.
News Mash
Starbucks has announced that customers can now bring their own personal cups to all visits, including drive-through and mobile orders. This move is part of the company's commitment to reduce waste by 50 percent by 2030, and customers will receive a 10 cent discount and 25 bonus stars for U.S. Starbucks rewards when they bring their own cup. Starbucks is also implementing other sustainability efforts, such as a 5p charge for disposable cups in the UK and Ireland, and a cup-sharing program in Seattle.
At least 103 people were killed and 141 injured in two explosions that rocked a memorial event for Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani in Kerman, Iran on Wednesday. The blasts occurred minutes apart at the Kerman Martyrs Cemetery, with no group yet claiming responsibility. Iranian state media called the attack “terroristic”, though Israel has carried out targeted assassinations in Iran in the past.
On Wednesday morning, an imam was shot outside a mosque in Newark, New Jersey and is currently in critical condition. The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-N.J.) is gathering information on the shooting and has urged anyone with information to contact local police. The investigation into the shooting is ongoing.
Five people were tragically killed in a collision between a passenger plane and a Japanese coast guard aircraft at Tokyo's Haneda Airport on Tuesday evening. Investigations into the incident are ongoing, with police looking into possible professional negligence and the Japan Transport Safety Board focusing on communication between air traffic control and the two aircraft. The cause of the accident is still unknown, and air traffic at Haneda Airport has been disrupted.
A federal appeals court has ruled that Texas can ban emergency abortions, despite the Biden administration's argument that the 1986 Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act should be used to require hospitals to provide the procedure if the mother's life is at risk. This ruling is part of numerous cases involving abortion restrictions that have played out in state and federal courts since the Supreme Court's ruling in 2022, and will likely have a significant impact on the future of abortion rights in the state.
The copyright protection for Mickey Mouse has expired, allowing independent creators to capitalize on the iconic character. This has resulted in two horror films, "Mickey's Mouse Trap" and "The House of Mouse," and a video game, "Mickey's Mansion," all set to be released later this year. The new works will feature Mickey Mouse in a horror setting, and are a result of the quick remixing and recycling of intellectual property in the digital age.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has announced the reopening of four official crossings along the U.S.-Mexico border on Thursday, following a record-setting December with over 300,000 migrants encountered. The Mexican government has stepped up efforts to slow U.S.-bound migration, resulting in fewer than 500 migrants encountered in the Del Rio sector of Texas on Monday. The Biden administration is continuing to grapple with the situation, taking steps to address the influx of migrants and providing additional resources to CBP.