1/10/2023: What Hole?
PLUS: UK’s Ban on Plastic; Damar Hamlin Released; and Ye Surfaces
Today is Tuesday, January 10, 2023.
It is the 10th day of the year.
355 days remain.
TRENDING
Twitter users shared their appreciation for our nation’s law enforcement, and reminded others to do the same, yesterday, on Law Enforcement Appreciation Day.
Football fans reacted to the news of the firing of Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury. The organization's General Manager Steven Keim was also let go. Most Cardinal fans tweeted out their support of the decision.
Dr. Dre was trending Monday after he called out Rep. Majorie Taylor Greene for using his music. Head to Showbiz for more.
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HIT LIST
Officials managing the Suez Canal have averted another logistical catastrophe by restoring a ship that ran aground after just five hours on Monday.
ABC News reports that the ship, registered in the Marshall Islands and carrying corn, suddenly lost power while transiting the canal. Four tug boats were deployed to refloat.
WORTH REMEMBERING: In March 2021, the Ever Given ran aground in the Canal causing six days of stoppages.
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The United Kingdom is close to completely banning the use of single-use plastic plates and cutlery by restaurants.
Measures to prohibit the use of such plastics have already passed in Scotland and Wales, and English officials now say a similar ban is on the way – but aren’t yet saying when. England previously banned single-use plastic straws and stirrers in 2020.
WORTH NOTING: The ban does not appear to affect the sale of such plastics in stores.
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FLASHBACK, TO 2019: In November 2019, Steve Easterbrook was axed as the CEO of McDonald’s, after he allegedly had a consensual relationship with a subordinate. The company’s board did not formally terminate him for cause, though, which meant he could keep his severance package.
Months later, the Arches sued Easterbrook for fraud and lying to cover up the extent of his sordid affairs; while the case was settled, Easterbrook reportedly paid back more than $100 million worth of severance.
NOW: Since McDonald’s is a publicly-traded company, the Securities and Exchange Commission is getting involved, and has charged Easterbrook for lying to shareholders about the drama.
CNBC reports that Easterbrook will pay a $400,000 fine and will not work for any SEC-reporting company for the next five years – but in return, he neither admits nor denies the claims.
FLASHBACK, TO LAST WEEK: Bed Bath & Beyond told shareholders the company is considering bankruptcy as revenues lag and deficits mount. The already diminished stock tanked on the news.
NOW: On Monday, the company’s stock rebounded, jumping up 24%. Analysts believe no news is good news in this case.
SPEAKING OF STOCK REBOUNDS: Tesla stock was up over 6% on Monday after a weeks-long slide.
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Remember the late-’90s pants-wetting about the hole in the ozone layer?
A United Nations report now says that hole is on its way to mending completely in the next four decades. The study group heralds the 1987 Montreal Protocol agreement signed by most countries in the world that bans the use of particularly harmful chemicals for the development.
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Researchers have verified what they believe to be the longest consecutive flight by a bird ever recorded.
A tag attached to a bar-tailed godwit tracked the bird as it took flight from Alaska last October. For the next eleven days, it flew without stopping until it landed in Tasmania, Australia.
Ultimately, it clocked 8,435 miles, which amounts to one-third of Earth’s circumference.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The Dow lost 112 points (0.34%) to close at 33,517 on Monday. The S&P lost 3 points (0.077%) to close at 3,892 while the Nasdaq added 66 points (0.63%) to close at 10,635.
🛢 West Texas Intermediate closed at $74 on Monday; Brent Crude at $79.
⛽ The national average price of a gallon of gas was $3.28 on Monday.
₿ Bitcoin popped back up over $17,000 on Monday, trading near $17,200.
🛩 There were more than 2,420 flights delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Monday and 143 such cancellations.
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CHARTS
Top 5 Songs on iTunes:
Daughtry, “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)”
Sam Smith & Kim Petras, “Unholy”
Lainey Wilson, “Heart Like A Truck”
Taylor Swift, “Anti-Hero”
Jelly Roll, “Son Of A Sinner”
Top 5 Songs on Spotify:
SZA, “Kill Bill”
Sam Smith & Kim Petras, “Unholy”
RAYE & 070 Shake, “Escapism.”
Metro Boomin, The Weeknd & 21 Savage, “Creepin’”
Taylor Swift, “Anti-Hero”
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DEATHS
“Days of Our Lives” star QUINN REDEKER has died.
He passed away on December 20 in Los Angeles, due to natural causes, his family told Deadline.
He was 86.
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BABY NEWS
Actors CLAIRE DANES, 43, (“Fleishman Is in Trouble”) and HUGH DANCY, 47, (“Downton Abbey: A New Era”) are expecting their third child.
The couple are already parents to sons Cyrus Michael Christopher, 10, and Rowan, 4.
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Actors IAN SOMERHALDER, 44, (“The Vampires Diaries”) and NIKKI REED, 34, (“Twilight”) are expecting baby #2.
The couple are already parents to daughter Bodhi Soleil, 5.
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SICK BAY
Chicago White Sox pitcher LIAM HENDRIKS has been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
The 33-year-old started treatment yesterday, telling fans that he is “ready to fight” and “be back on the mound as soon as possible.”
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THE SWAMP
REMEMBER WHEN just before midterms, the FBI raided former President DONALD TRUMP’s private office because he was believed to have had classified documents, and the collective media set its hair on fire with outrage?
CBS News reports that classified documents were found in President JOE BIDEN’s private office in DC late last year leftover from when he was Vice President.
The Justice Department is reportedly reviewing how the documents ended up in an unsecure location.
WORTH NOTING: That a former elected official held on to secret documents isn’t the scandal; it’s the total double standard in how the media treats the news depending on which party that person belongs to.
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Now that the House of Representatives has a leader in KEVIN MCCARTHY, his supporters and conservative skeptics are waiting to see him make good on the deals that finally got him elected to Speaker.
The New York Times reports that one of the first orders of business this week will be the formation of a special subcommittee that will investigate federal law enforcement and national security agencies. Republican lawmakers are anticipating a fight with the Biden White House to get their hands on relevant documents, despite their subpoena power. It’s expected JIM JORDAN will chair the committee.
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LOTTERY
No winner for Friday night’s Mega Millions drawing. Tonight’s drawing will be for a $1.1 BILLION jackpot or a $568.7 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
DAMAR HAMLIN was discharged from the UC Medical Center in Cincinnati on Monday and transferred to one in Buffalo.
Hamlin’s physicians told reporters that they wanted his condition to be “fair” or “good” before transferring him, which they say he accomplished.
The 24-year-old will undergo further testing at the new facility.
The move comes just one week after his terrifying health scare.
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PARIS HILTON is shutting down claims that she “photoshopped” BRITNEY SPEARS into a photo she posted on Instagram over the weekend.
Hilton commented that she tried to clear up the image using an app called Remini, which made it look distorted.
“Didn’t want to even dignify this with a response, but some of these conspiracy theories are absolutely ridiculous,” she added.
The conspiracy theories she is likely referring to are the ones claiming that Brit is missing and/or dead and some unknown person -- perhaps her husband SAM ASGHARI -- are continuing to post on social media for her.
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DR. DRE is not happy that Rep. MAJORIE TAYLOR GREENE used his music without his permission.
The congresswoman from Georgia posted a video on Monday about her role in getting KEVIN MCCARTHY elected as House Speaker, with Dre’s song “Still D.R.E.” playing over it.
Dre told TMZ that he did not authorize the usage of the song -- “especially to someone as divisive and hateful as [Greene].”
ALSO: Greene was reportedly locked out of her account after making the post.
LATER: Dre’s lawyer fired off a letter to Greene saying, his client “has not, and will never, grant you permission to broadcast or disseminate any of his music.”
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On Monday, the one-year anniversary of BOB SAGET’s passing, his widow KELLY RIZZO asked ELON MUSK to verify his Twitter account.
“I saw he’s no longer verified? My husband truly loved Twitter. Out of respect for his legacy, can something be done?” she tweeted at Musk.
Saget has over two million followers, something Rizzo argued could grow with a blue checkmark.
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NICK CARTER, of the BACKSTREET BOYS, has written a new song about his late brother AARON CARTER.
Insiders told TMZ that Nick started working on the track shortly after Aaron died at the end of last year.
The source also revealed that Nick has already filmed a music video for the song, which includes never before seen footage of the brothers from when they were younger.
Many may recall, Aaron, who was also a singer, was found dead in his home in November.
No word on when the track and/or video will drop.
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MEL GIBSON has been booted as co-Grand Marshal in the upcoming Krewe of Endymion parade in New Orleans after the group behind the event said it received threats over the decision.
Also, after news was announced Saturday that the actor would be part of the event, the Anti-Defamation League, the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans and the Jewish Community Relations Council released a joint statement, sharing how “appalled” they were over Gibson being chosen for the role.
“[Gibson] has a long history of making antisemitic, racist and misogynistic slurs,” part of the statement read.
WORTH NOTING: Endymion only cited the “threats that cause us great concern” as the reason for pulling the plug on Gibson’s appearance.
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THE CHICKS (formerly The Dixie Chicks) are heading to Vegas.
The country trio announced their first-ever concert residency, “The Chicks: Six Nights in Vegas,” which is set to take place in May at Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino.
Their residency will be six shows.
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Actress KATE HUDSON, known for her role in “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days,” is entering the world of music.
The actress recently signed with Sandbox Entertainment Group, who will take on all of her “musical endeavors,” Variety reported on Monday. The group also reps country singers KACEY MUSGRAVES, DAN + SHAY, KELSEA BALLERINI and FAITH HILL.
Hudson first hinted at her interest in music last year when she posted a photo of herself in a recording studio. She also discussed her plans with JIMMY FALLON, telling him about her plans to release an album.
No word on when she plans to release the hits.
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CASTING CALL
Former “James Bond” star GEORGE LAZENBY says fellow Aussie LIAM HEMSWORTH should be the new 007.
Lazenby, who took over the role after SEAN CONNERY’s run, told TMZ that Hemsworth has the “acting resume worthy of the next MI-6 agent” and also has enough experience to “deal with all the media attention and scrutiny.”
Another plus is that Hemsworth is only 32-years-old, meaning he could take on the role for the long haul, which is something “Bond” producers have said is important when it comes to casting.
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Former “Bachelor” host CHRIS HARRISON believes that former “Bachelor” NICK VIALL wanted his job after he was ousted from the reality dating show.
“I think Nick was one of those, among many, who probably saw the blood in the water,” Harrison stated on the debut episode of “The Most Dramatic Podcast Ever.”
The job would ultimately go to Season 5 “Bachelor” JESSE PALMER.
As previously reported, Harrison left the show in 2021 after hosting for 19 seasons. His exit came after he defended a contestant who had previously attended an Antebellum-themed party in college.
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
Rumor is…KYLIE JENNER and TRAVIS SCOTT have called it quits.
The pair have broken up in the past, but always seemed to find their way back to each other.
They share two kids, daughter STORMI WEBSTER, 4, and a son, who was named WOLF at birth -- his new name has not yet been announced.
Again, this is pure speculation by several outlets, nothing has been confirmed.
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Kanye West -- who now goes by YE -- was spotted out and about for the first time in weeks, with a mystery woman by his side.
The rapper was all smiles as TMZ photogs caught up with him at the Waldorf Astoria hotel.
Ye has been nowhere to be found the last few weeks, with rumors spreading that he was avoiding his former business manager who was trying to serve him papers for breaking their contract.
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
QUEEN CONSORT CAMILLA is “astounded” by the claims made by PRINCE HARRY in his recent interviews and his memoir, “Spare.”
A close friend of Camilla’s spoke to Variety about the things Harry stated about her, including how she allegedly planted stories to make herself look better after marrying his dad, KING CHARLES.
Meanwhile, sources close to Charles told the magazine that his son “crossed a line” by speaking about his wife.
DON’T FORGET: “Spare” officially hits shelves today.
ALSO HURT: Royal author Tom Bower told Page Six that PRINCESS CATHERINE is “outraged and hurt” over allegations made about her in the interviews and books.
SPEAKING OF THE INTERVIEW: “60 Minutes” correspondent ANDERSON COOPER says Buckingham Palace “demanded” to see his interview with Harry before it aired on Sunday night in order to provide comment. Their “demand” was denied, according to Cooper.
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Save the Eagles Day
National Shop for Travel Day
National Oysters Rockefeller Day
National Bittersweet Chocolate Day
National Houseplant Appreciation Day
Poetry at Work Day
National Cut Your Energy Costs Day
Peculiar People Day
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ON THIS DATE
49 BC - Julius Caesar defies the Roman Senate and crosses the Rubicon.
While crossing he utters the phrase “area iatca set,” which means “the die is cast, signaling the start of civil war.
The war would lead to his appointment as Roman dictator for life.
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1861 – William Seward accepts President-elect Abraham Lincoln's invitation to become secretary of state. Seward became one of the most important members of Lincoln's cabinet and engineered the purchase of Alaska after the Civil War.
His careful politicking helped to counter the public perception that the administration was dominated by radicals.
Although he supported the end of slavery, Seward downplayed the effects of emancipation to gain support from Democrats and conservative Republicans during the presidential campaign of 1864.
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1901 – A drilling derrick in Texas produces thousands of barrels of oil for the first time, marking the unofficial start of the oil industry in America. It was the first major recorded discovery in the U.S.
The derrick produced 100,000 barrels of oil a day. It took 9 days to cap, with black gold spilling all over the Texas landscape.
It wasn’t until oil was used to power motors that it became more valuable than just a lubricant or lamp-fuel source.
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1923 – Four years after the end of World War I, President Warren G. Harding orders U.S. occupation troops stationed in Germany to return home.
U.S. troops, along with other Allied forces, were to occupy the defeated Central Powers nations to enforce the terms of the peace agreement.
In Germany, Allied occupation and stiff war reparations levied against the country were regarded with increasing bitterness, and in 1923, after four years of contending with a resentful German populace, the American troops were ordered home.
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1946 – The first General Assembly of the United Nations, comprising 51 nations, convenes at Westminster Central Hall in London, England. One week later, the U.N. Security Council met for the first time and established its rules of procedure.
Then, on January 24, the General Assembly adopted its first resolution, a measure calling for the peaceful uses of atomic energy and the elimination of atomic and other weapons of mass destruction.
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1967 - Edward W. Brooke takes his seat as the first popularly elected African-American to the US Senate.
He ran in Massachusetts as a Republican.
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1990 - China lifts martial law, which was imposed after the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989.
The decision was made partly to ease foreign criticism and allow the resumption of loans and high-level exchanges, while Premier Li Peng said it was lifted because the army had fulfilled its task.
Martial law was implemented seven months earlier after students fighting for democracy refused to leave the Square.
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1999 - “The Sopranos” debuts on HBO.
The series starred James Gandolfini as mobster Tony Soprano.
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2018 - Jeff Bezos becomes the second man worth over $100 billion as Amazon shares rise in price.
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2021 - More than 3,000 daily deaths attributed to COVID-19 are recorded for the first time in the US.
The number brings cumulative deaths from the virus to over 375,000.
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BIRTHDAYS
Mason Mount - soccer player - 24
Jared Kushner - real estate developer & advisor to DJT - 42
Sarah Shahi - actress, “The L Word” & “Life” - 43
Chris Smith - rapper - 44
Tamina Snuka - wrestler - 45
Brent Smith - rock singer, Shinedown - 45
Pat Benatar - rock singer - 70
George Foreman - boxer - 74
Donald Fagen - rock singer, Steely Dan - 75
Rod Stewart - rock singer - 78
Born On This Date
Frank Sinatra Jr - pop singer - 1944 (d. 2016)
Paul Henreid - actor, “Casablanca” - 1908 (d. 1992)
George Washington Carver - agricultural scientist, studied the peanut - 1864 (d. 1943)
Frank James - outlaw, member of the James-Younger gang - 1843 (d. 1915)
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