- Tip News
- Posts
- U.S. Attacks Houthi Rebels
Good morning and happy Friday! We have always believed our fingerprints are ours and ours alone. Well, that may not be the case. A research team at Columbia University said an AI tool it trained to identify 60K fingerprints has called this belief into question after matching a print to a person with 75-90% accuracy. No word if the tool will move on to snowflakes next. Have a great weekend!
In Today’s Brief
FAA: Launches Boeing investigation
Taiwan: Heads to polls tomorrow
Larry Hogan: Third-party move?
Inflation: Rise in December
Bill Belichick: Out in New England
... and more
First time reading? Sign up here
Top Tips
1) Airstrikes on Red Sea menace
The U.S. and United Kingdom have taken the gloves off with the Houthi rebels.
What happened: President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak ordered their militaries to attack the militants’ facilities last night. The rebels, who control much of Yemen, are backed by Iran. They have been attacking shipping vessels in the Red Sea since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Sunak said the strikes were a proportional self-defense response.
The impetus: The U.S. and its allies have expressed concern about expanding the Gaza conflict. But the Houthis have ignored repeated U.S. and UK warnings to stop and launched their biggest assault yet earlier this week.
Next steps: Biden warned the Houthis of further military action if they persist. That may be necessary to stop the shipping attacks, some analysts say, given the Houthis’ Iranian-supplied capabilities. The Houthis claimed they had launched retaliatory strikes.
2) The 'swatting' epidemic
Major public figures are increasingly being targeted by “swatting” hoaxes.
What is it? Swatting is when people call police and falsely claim a life-threatening incident, such as a bomb threat or hostage situation, is unfolding at a location. The hoaxes are designed to spur a significant law enforcement response, often including the deployment of a SWAT team.
Prevalence rising: Among the high-profile names who are claimed or confirmed swatting victims in recent weeks: Judges Tanya Chutkan and Arthur Engoron, who are presiding over cases involving former President Trump, as well as Special Counsel Jack Smith. Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Florida Sen. Rick Scott and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu have also been targeted.
The danger: Police officers have killed innocent people in past swatting incidents. The spree of hoaxes also raises concerns about political mischief and violence against public officials this election year.
3) ESPN caught swiping Emmys
ESPN has egg on its face after a 13-year scheme to fraudulently obtain Emmy Awards for star personalities and reporters was revealed.
The scoop: The sports network submitted the names of fictitious associate producers to circumvent eligibility rules for on-air talent, according to The Athletic. The trophies were then re-engraved and presented to talents who apparently believed they had legitimately won. The scheme centered around the College GameDay program.
Busted: The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, which runs the Emmys, sniffed out the scam last year. ESPN copped to it after external and internal investigations. ESPN agreed to return the trophies and accepted sanctions. Some involved executives were disciplined.
Big picture: It is another embarrassment for the network on the heels of the Aaron Rodgers-Jimmy Kimmel-Pat McAfee kerfuffle. And more unflattering press for the Disney empire.
In partnership with Hear.com
German engineering at its finest.
In a groundbreaking development, German entrepreneurs Dr. Marco Vietor and Paul Crusius have unveiled a virtually invisible hearing aid that is taking the US by storm. It’s called Horizon by hear.com. Bluetooth-enabled, audiologist-backed, and smaller than a coffee bean. Start your no-risk trial today by clicking here.
Please support our sponsors!
Quick Tips
U.S. News
The FAA has opened an investigation into Boeing after one of its jets had a door blow out during an Alaska Airlines flight. The aviation company's 737 Max 9 planes have been grounded following the incident (More)
The Pentagon inspector general will probe Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin's hospitalization. Austin concealed his stay from the White House for several days; he also did not tell President Biden he had prostate cancer for several weeks (More)
Hunter Biden pleaded not guilty to tax evasion charges in Los Angeles federal court. The president's son is accused of shirking $1.4M in taxes; a prior plea deal fell apart (More)
World News
Taiwan will hold its presidential election tomorrow. Current Vice President Lai Ching-te, a member of the pro-independence DPP, is favored to win; he and the U.S. have accused China of election interference (More)
Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey have agreed to a joint plan for clearing mines from the Black Sea dropped during the Russia-Ukraine war. The NATO members said they may invite other nations once the war ends (More)
An undersea digital cable connection between Australia and Chile is planned. The fiber-optic network will be routed through French Polynesia and is expected to increase digital connectivity in the regions and increase commerce (More)
Campaign News
Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan resigned from his leadership position with the No Labels movement last month. His exit could be a sign the Republican plans to mount a third-party presidential bid with the group (More)
Former President Trump ended up speaking at the conclusion of his New York civil business fraud trial. He spoke for six minutes and called the case “a fraud on me” before being cut off by the judge (More)
The GOP has begun pushing early resources into 21 swing districts in an effort to hold its House majority. The party anticipates spending eight figures on the key races (More)
Business & Markets
Major indexes closed mixed after higher-than-expected inflation numbers. The Dow Jones was up, the Nasdaq was static and the S&P 500 was down (Dow +0.04%, Nasdaq +0.00%, S&P 500 -0.07%).
Inflation saw a slight uptick in December, going up 0.3% MoM and 3.4% YoY. The numbers could be a sign the Federal Reserve will be slower to cut interest rates than hoped (More)
Google cut several hundred jobs on its central engineering and hardware teams. The tech giant said the layoffs were made for efficiency and to focus on its top priorities (More)
Entertainment & Sports
Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots agreed to part ways after 24 seasons. Belichick won six Super Bowls with the team; he is expected to continue coaching as he is within striking distance of becoming the NFL’s all-time wins leader (More)
The Good Doctor will end after its upcoming seventh season. The award-winning medical drama about an autistic surgeon has been a consistent ratings success for ABC (More)
The NBA is expected to adopt a two-day draft format this year. The first and second rounds will be held on back-to-back days at Barclays Center in Brooklyn (More)
Quick Hitters
Real Hero: When an employee at a Costco in Ohio did not arrive for the start of his early-morning shift, his manager called to check in. Sensing something was wrong, the manager kept the worker on the line while others contacted emergency services. The worker was having a stroke, it turned out, and the manager's instincts helped save his life.
Be Safe: Publix has recalled its store-brand Carolina-style mustard barbecue sauce. The sauce, sold in seven states, may contain anchovies as an undeclared ingredient. The fish could cause severe allergic reactions for some consumers.
Take Note: Remember the Canadian wildfire smoke that lingered across parts of the U.S. last summer? Doctors believe it -- and other pollutants -- may be causing people to develop skin issues. There has seemingly been an uptick of eczema and other conditions in recent months.
Chow Down: Oreos, cookies and cake. That sounds like a bulletproof combination. So you will definitely want to check out this delectable Oreo cookie cake recipe that can beat any store-bought version.
Life Hack: Getting a new pair of shoes seems simple enough. But there is a science to picking the right footwear. Here are some helpful tips to ensure your next purchase fits and lasts.
Get Healthy: Pop quiz: What’s the body’s most abundant protein? The answer: Collagen. NativePath's Certified Grass-Fed Collagen Powder is made from grass-fed, pasture-raised cows and contains 18 grams of protein per suggested serving. Start incorporating it daily to support skin elasticity, joint health, bone strength, and muscle growth and maintenance.*
*Sponsored
Watch This
Yes, AMC has yet another Walking Dead spinoff coming. Here is the trailer for The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live.
Links
Bathroom hand dryers may be spreading, uh, waste particles 💩
A look at the up and down history of Trump Tower 🏢
You need to know these trends if you plan on proposing soon 💍
Alcohol overuse kills 140K Americans annually, but is undertreated 🏥
Enjoy some breathtaking photos of the world's wildlife 🦅
The secret to getting celebrities off the stage at award shows 🎼
The world's highest train line stands 3.5 miles tall in the Himalayas 🚊
Aaron Rodgers' hiatus from Pat McAfee's show lasted one day 🏈
Meet the Hollywood attorney who is supporting Hunter Biden 💰
Everything you could ever want to know about white chocolate ⚪️
Looking Ahead …
Canada may not have a general election for almost two years, but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is feeling plenty of heat. His Liberal Party has fallen behind the Conservative Party in polls and Trudeau is facing a tough reality: His country does not seem to like him.