We’re back and we’re reading – everything from “The New York Times” to the “Wall Street Journal.” We’re trying to help you keep up with the rapid pace of politics and everyday news. Today, we’ve got Amazon backing out, a Japan Olympic official making apologies, and El Chapo’s new home.
Amazon decides not to build headquarters in New York
Amazon pulled out of its plan to build a second headquarters in New York City after the nearly year long search to find a location, according to The Associated Press.
The change of heart comes after a lot of pushback from local officials concerned with the tax incentives talked about.
The decision is being seen as a huge blow to Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio both of whom played big roles in getting Amazon to choose New York, according to The New York Times.
Amazon claimed that the new headquarters would have created 25,000 new jobs for local residents.
McCabe tells all about time as acting FBI director
Former FBI acting director Andrew McCabe said as soon as he took the position he started investigations into the president and his ties with Russia, according to CBS News.
McCabe had his first TV interview since being fired in March 2018 with Scott Pelley. He said that the bureau began both obstruction of justice and counterintelligence investigations to make sure they would be much more difficult to be cut off without scrutiny.
He also said that there were points when there was serious conversation about enacting the 25th Amendment and removing the president from office.
Also in the interview, McCabe said that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein had offered to wear a wire while having a conversation with President Trump.
Airbus no longer building A380s
Airbus announced that they will stop delivering new A380 superjets in 2021 after Emirates, the biggest buyer, decided to cut down the number of A380s ordered, according to CNN.
Airbus is a European based company and the decision is expected to effect 3,500 jobs over four major European countries. The company said that they will begin discussions with these employee representatives in the near future.
The planes are able to carry 853 passengers and cost $25 billion to develop. Airbus has built 234 planes to this point after originally saying they would build more than 1,200.
Japan Olympic official apologizes for comments
The Olympic Minister for Japan took back comments made about the possibility of the summer games being less exciting after one of the countries start swimmers made public her fight with leukemia, according to Fox News.
“When one person leads, she can boost the whole team. I am slightly worried that this type of excitement could wane,” said minister Yoshitaka Sakurada. He wished the swimmer well wishes but was heavily criticized for his lack of concern for her health.
She won six gold medals in the Asian Games in 2018 was considered a potential Gold Medalist in the upcoming Olympics.
Nobody has ever escaped El Chapo’s new home
After being found guilty, Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán will be sent to the Administrative Maximum Facility about two hours outside Denver, according to The Washington Post.
Inmates stay in their cell, which is best described as the size of a small bathroom for 23 hours a day. A former federal prosecutor described it as the home of “the most dangerous and notorious criminals in the world.”
The facility boasts the highest guard-to-prisoner ratio ensuring each inmate gets personalized attention.
Deborah Golden, staff attorney at the Human Rights Defense Center, expects all of El Chapo’s communication to be more closely monitored than even the average inmate in this facility.
Two people being questioned in attack on ‘Empire’ star
Two “persons of interest” are being questioned by Chicago detectives about the attack of Jussie Smollett, according to NBC News.
The individuals are not suspects, but are being questioned because they were in the area at the alleged time of the attack.
In a report filed with the Chicago Police Department Jan. 29, the actor says that after having homophobic slurs shouted at him two people poured a chemical substance on his head and neck.
Police say that they have found no surveillance video of the attack. Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie T. Johnson said at this time he sees no reason to believe that the attack was fabricated.
That’s all we have for today. Check back tomorrow for more.
