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President Trump says he will nominate former Justice Department official Christopher Wray to be the new director of the FBI. On Twitter, he said Wray is “a man of impeccable credentials.” Wray would replace former FBI Director James Comey, who was fired. He currently works at a law firm, and he notably represented New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie in the “Bridgegate” scandal. – Los Angeles Times.

At least 12 people were killed in Tehran, Iran on Wednesday when two groups of attackers raided the country’s parliament building with guns and explosives. Iran’s news agency reports that the terrorists initially entered dressed as women before launching their attack. A female suicide bomber also detonated her explosive outside of the Ayatollah Khomeini mausoleum. The Iranian Intelligence Ministry says a third terrorist plot has been foiled, and it is now warning people to avoid using public transportation. ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attacks. – NPR

Anonymous sources claim that Attorney General Jeff Sessions recently offered to resign amid tension with President Trump. When asked about the rumors, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said he had not discussed the matter with the president. It is also unclear whether President Trump still has confidence in Sessions, but he did not accept his resignation. The New York Times claims that Trump has been upset with Sessions since he recused himself from the Russian investigations. – New York Times.

Metropolitan Police’s marine unit has pulled a body out of the Thames River, which may be a man who went missing after the London Bridge attack. Xavier Thomas’ family has been looking for him since the time of the incident, and although official identification has not happened yet, his next-of-kin have been informed of the finding. Thomas was in London for the weekend with his girlfriend when the attack occurred. – TELEGRAPH

Filmmaker Michael Moore has created a website called TrumpiLeaks where people can “securely leak” information pertaining to the Trump administration. In an open letter published on the Huffington Post, Moore stressed that Americans with knowledge of misconduct committed by the president and associates need to “blow the whistle” for the sake of the country. “I know this is risky,” Moore says. “I knew we may get in trouble. But too much is at stake to play it safe.” – The GUARDIAN

The U.S. is looking to re-establish the “legitimacy” of the U.N.’s Human Rights Council, according to U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley. "It's hard to accept that this council has never considered a resolution on Venezuela, and yet it adopted five biased resolutions in March against a single country, Israel," Haley said. "It is essential that this council address its chronic anti-Israel bias if it is to have any credibility." She went on to tell the council in Geneva that the U.S. sees some areas that need “significant strengthening.” – NPR

A Myanmar army aircraft carrying 120 people has gone missing. Military and civil aviation officials claim that, at 1 pm local time, 29 minutes after take off from Myeik, the plane lost communication while headed toward Yangon. "We don't know what exactly happened to this plane after the loss of contact," said a civil aviation official at Myeik airport. At the time of takeoff, the weather conditions had been deemed “normal.” This story is developing. – REUTERS

One independent research organization says that the family of Omran Daqneesh – the bloodied boy in the photo that went viral during the Aleppo siege last year – has been forced to publicly speak. Daqneesh and his father recently appeared in a video clip in which they told a reporter they did not want to leave Syria, where they currently reside, and they are now in good health. "They are under government control now and this is a government that we know arrests and tortures anyone that speaks out against it,” said Valerie Szybala from the Syria Institute. “To me the situation seems to suggest this is probably coerced.” – REUTERS

A new study suggests that moderate amounts of alcohol can contribute to changes in brain structure. Researchers examined the brains of 550 middle-aged drinkers over the course of 30 years to draw their conclusions. People who drank more than 30 units a week on average had the highest risk of showing signs of brain damage. However, moderate drinkers – people who had between 14-to-21 units per week – were still far more likely to also exhibit signs of brain damage, compared to those who abstained from alcohol. "And we found no support for a protective effect of light consumption on brain structure," the researchers said. – REUTERS

An official says that the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system may not be rolled out for a year. South Korea is currently looking into the environmental impact of the system. During this time, it will not withdraw two of the system’s launchers, which are already in action, but four additional launchers will not be deployed. South Korean President Moon Jae-in has called for the halt of THAAD since taking office. – CNN

The trial began Tuesday for Michelle Carter, the 20-year-old woman accused of involuntary manslaughter in the suicide of her then-boyfriend Conrad Roy. Three years ago, Carter allegedly convinced Roy to kill himself with a slew of text messages. Roy eventually took his own life via carbon monoxide poisoning after locking himself in his truck. "She used Conrad as a pawn in a sick game of life and death for attention," said prosecutor Maryclare Flynn. Carter could face up to 20 years in prison if she is convicted. - ABCN

President Trump reportedly spoke with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud on Tuesday, according to a White House document. Despite ongoing tension in the region with US ally Qatar, the document does not mention that country by name. "The President underscored that a united Gulf Cooperation Council is critical to defeating terrorism and promoting regional stability," the document read. Saudi Arabia and its Arab allies have cut ties to Qatar due to its alleged support of terrorism, which the country has refuted. Today, the United Arab Emirates announced that "expressing sympathy, inclination or favoritism toward Qatar" will now be punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a minimum fine of about $136,000. – CNN

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Reality Leigh Winner has been charged with “removing classified material from a government facility” by the U.S. Department of Justice. Winner, a federal contractor, is thought to have sent the classified information to The Intercept. The news outlet published a secret document from the NSA that detailed Russian efforts to hack into at least one U.S. voting software supplier. Winner was arrested on June 3, according to the Justice Department. – REUTERS

The Global Coalition against ISIS has announced that the Syrian Democratic Forces and its allies have begun their offensive to retake the de facto ISIS capital of Raqqa. Lt. Gen. Steve Townsend, commanding general of the combined joint task force against ISIS, acknowledged that the fight will be “long and difficult.” However, ISIS will have difficulty convincing potential recruits of their "winning" efforts if their de facto “capitals” are lost. – ABCN

France’s foreign ministry said on Tuesday that it wants the conflict between Qatar and Arab states to be resolved through talks. It offered to speak to “key regional powers” in an attempt to speed up the process. Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drain intends to meet with his Saudi counterpart today, although no specific French mediation effort has been outlined. When asked about Qatar’s potential link to terrorism, France’s foreign ministry said that it supports the fight against extremist groups. – REUTERS

An opinion poll conducted by Reuters/Ipsos suggests that the majority of Americans (68 percent) want the U.S. to lead efforts to slow climate change. Approximately 72 percent agree "that given the amount of greenhouse gases that it produces, the United States should take aggressive action to slow global warming." Because of President Trump’s decision to back out of the Paris climate agreement, most Americans polled (64 percent) believe that U.S. relations with other countries will “likely” suffer. – REUTERS

A man named Youssef Zaghba, 22, has been identified as the third suspect in last weekend’s London attacks. British police have also identified two other men, Khuram Sharzad Butt and Rachid Redouane, as suspects in the rampage. However, they note that “formal identification” has yet to be carried out. All three attackers were shot and killed eight minutes after officers were alerted to the incident. – NPR

Amazon has announced that it will provide a discount to Prime members who receive government assistance. For example, individuals who are a part of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program can subscribe to Prime for just $5.99 per month. The standard monthly cost for a Prime membership is $10.99 per month, or $99 per year if the fee is paid in one lump sum. The company said its goal is to make Prime “more accessible.” – AP

Roger Smith, the actor known for his role as a private eye on “77 Sunset Strip,” has died at the age of 84. The agent of his widow said that Smith had been battling a terminal illness. Throughout his life, he battled a number of health conditions, including a blood clot in his brain and myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune neuromuscular disorder. – AP

An independent monitor suggests that Volkswagen is making a genuine effort to change its practices following its emissions scandal. As a part of a $25 billion settlement in the criminal case, former U.S. deputy attorney general Larry Thompson was put in charge of certifying the environmental compliance practices and policies of Volkswagen. Thompson called the company “complex,” but said it is working toward the “common goal” of making the business better as a whole. – AP

London Mayor Sadiq Khan believes that President Trump’s scheduled visit to the U.K. in October should be canceled. Following the president’s statements on Khan after the recent London attack, the mayor spoke out on the upcoming trip. “I don’t think we should roll out the red carpet to the president of the USA in the circumstances where his policies go against everything we stand for,” Khan said. After last weekend’s attack in London, President Trump has called for the reinstatement of his travel ban on Muslim-majority countries. – NBCN

Puerto Rico has declared that its Zika epidemic is over. According to the Puerto Rico Health Department, approximately 10 cases of Zika virus have been reported every four weeks dating back to April 2017. This is down from 8,000 cases at the peak of the epidemic in August 2016. U.S. Centers for Disease Control Acting Director Dr. Anne Schuchat said that while she is “pleased” that it has wound down, “we cannot let our guard down.” – REUTERS

In an interview with ABC News, Eric Trump restated that his family has “no dealings” or “projects” with Russia. "I was there throughout the campaign," he said on Good Morning America. "We have no dealings in Russia. We have no projects in Russia. We have nothing to do with Russia." He went on to call the alleged ties between the presidential election and Russia “the greatest hoax of all time.” – AP

A planet called KELT-9b appears to have a host star that is significantly hotter than our sun. "We know the parent star's properties reasonably well: it's about two and a half times more massive than the Sun; it's almost twice as hot as the Sun; and it's rotating very rapidly and so it would appear very flattened to our eyes," said lead researcher Scott Gaudi. As a result of its host star, KELT-9b’s surface is more than 4,000 degrees Celsius (7,232 Fahrenheit). The planet was discovered back in 2014, and it is twice the size of Jupiter. – BBC

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President Trump on Monday said the version of his executive order barring people from majority-Muslim countries from entering the U.S. was "watered down." The February executive order, which has been blocked by judges, was revised in March, and blocked by courts again. Judges have said that such a ban is unconstitutional, and have pointed to Trump's past tweets as evidence that is it indeed a ban, despite his administration trying to recast it. On Monday, Trump tweeted that the Department of Justice, which he oversees as president, "should have stayed with the original Travel Ban, not the watered down, politically correct version they submitted to S.C." He referred to "extreme vetting," and called on the DOJ to ask for an expedited hearing before the Supreme Court. "People, the lawyers and the courts can call it whatever they want, but I am calling it what we need and what it is, a TRAVEL BAN," Trump tweeted. New York Times

Police in Orlando said six people were killed in a workplace shooting there this morning. A disgruntled former employee shot and killed five people at Fiamma Inc. before shooting himself, authorities said. The gunman, who police did not immediately identify, was fired from the company in April. — CNN

Bill Cosby's trial for sexual assault gets underway today in Philadelphia. The former television star is accused of drugging and assaulting former Temple University employee Andrea Constand at his home outside Philadelphia in 2004. Cosby claims there was sexual contact but that it was consensual. More than 30 women have come forward to accuse Cosby of assaulting them, but so far Constand's case is the only one to go to trial. If convicted, Cosby, 79, faces up to ten years in jail. INQUIRER

Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference kicks off today. Apple does not disclose new products ahead of launch, but observers expect announcements on iOS 11, a MacBook Pro 2017 model, and a likely new Siri smart home speaker to compete with Amazon's Echo speaker. There are also rumors of an iPad Pro 2. Apple received a rare downgrade in its stock before the markets opened on Monday, with one analyst saying the company hasn't priced in enough risk with its iPhone 8. — CNBC

Four Middle Eastern companies announced they have severed diplomatic ties with Qatar for supporting terrorism. Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain say Qatar supports dangerous groups like ISIS and the Muslim Brotherhood "aimed at disturbing stability," in the Middle East, according to a statement from Saudi Arabia state television. Qatar denied the allegations, saying they had "no basis in fact." — REUTERS

Vladimir Putin said in a television interview aired Sunday that allegations he has compromising information on President Donald Trump were "a load of nonsense." Putin made the remark on the debut edition of Sunday Night with Megyn Kelly. He pushed back hard against Kelly's question of whether he had ordered the killings of journalists in Russia. "Why do you feel you have the right to ask us these kinds of questions?" Putin asked. The Russian president also denied the allegations that Russia conspired to meddle in the 2016 presidential elections in order to help Trump win. U.S. intelligence agencies "have been misled," he said. "I haven't seen, even once, any direct proof of Russian interference in the [American] presidential election." — WAPO

A man mowing his grass in front of a massive tornado in Alberta, Canada, "wasn't worried at all," despite an alarming-looking photo snapped by his wife. Theunis Wessels was "keeping an eye on" the tornado, but said he had planned to cut the grass that day, his wife Cecilia said. "I did ask him if he was coming inside with that thing in the clouds when I turned to come inside and he calmly said no," Wessels said. She added that even though it appears that the tornado is bearing down on her husband, the storm was about a mile away and had moved past them by the time she took the photo from their back porch. — CBC

Toyota has sold its stock in Tesla as it prepares to make its own electric vehicle. The break ends a six-year partnership between the two companies, which began when Toyota acquired a $50 million stake in Tesla back in 2010. One analyst says Tesla has surpassed Toyota as the dominant player in the electric vehicle market. "Toyota originally had a strong cutting-edge reputation with its hybrid electric vehicles," said Credit Suisse analyst Masahiro Akita. The two companies announced plans to partner in 2010 ahead of Tesla’s initial public offering. – BLOOMBERG

Uber says it will refund all rides taken in the vicinity of London Bridge in the aftermath of Saturday's terror attack. The company came under heavy criticism for not immediately suspending its surge pricing, which raises fares based on demand, after the incident, which left seven people dead after attackers drove a van into a crowd of people. The attackers then got out began stabbing people before being killed by police. Uber said its surge pricing was switched off within an hour of the event in the immediate area of the attack, but it remained in effect across central London for some time afterward. — BBC

Shares for Google parent company Alphabet Inc. hit $1000 for the first time on Monday morning. The milestone for the Mountain View, Calif.-based conglomerate comes less than a week after rival behemoth Amazon hit the same mark. The company's stock is up more than 25 percent year-over-year, with a market value of about $60 billion. Alphabet's share price had been hovering near the $1k mark for several weeks. CNBC

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The U.S. has successfully conducted its first-ever missile test involving a simulated attack from an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). The test involved firing a missile from the Marshall Islands and intercepting it with a missile from California. "This [Ground-based Midcourse Defense] system is vitally important to the defense of our homeland, and this test demonstrates that we have a capable, credible deterrent against a very real threat," said Vice Admiral Jim Syring. – REUTERS

A bomb in Kabul, Afghanistan killed at least 80 people and wounded hundreds of others on Wednesday morning. It exploded near the entrance of the German embassy, damaging several buildings. "It felt like an earthquake," said Mohammad Hassan, a 21-year-old witness. The majority of the victims were civilians. Thus far, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack. In the past, the Taliban has said that it condemns bombings that kill civilians. – REUTERS

Two unidentified sources have told the Axios news outlet that President Trump intends to pull the U.S. out of the Paris climate agreement. In the past, the president has questioned the argument for global warming, and there has been speculation that he may withdraw from the agreement. Over the weekend, he said that he needed more time to decide on whether the U.S. would remain in the deal. If the country pulls out of it, it will be one of only three invitees to abstain from the agreement, along with Syria and Nicaragua. The U.S. had originally committed to reducing emissions by 26 to 28 percent by 2025. – REUTERS

The U.N. is working to help the U.S. “understand” the underlying benefits of remaining a supportive member of the organization. President Trump has proposed cutting U.S. diplomacy and aid funds by $19 billion. "We are doing our best in dialogue with the administration and Congress to make the U.S. understand that funding development aid, funding foreign policy in general, funding organizations like the U.N., is also in the interests of the American people," said United Nations chief Antonio Guterres. He added that if Washington backs out, other nations will likely step up. – REUTERS

Congo’s government has agreed to use a vaccine designed to fight Ebola. When the vaccine was first developed and tested, it showed approximately 100 percent protection against the disease. "It's very unusual to have a vaccine that protects people perfectly," said Ira Longini, a biostatistician who led the first test. In partnership with Merck, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization has spent about $5 million to finish the development and manufacturing of the vaccine. – NPR

Apple Music subscribers will be able to watch a new series based on James Corden’s “Carpool Karaoke” beginning Aug. 8. Originally, "Carpool Karaoke: The Series” was supposed to debut in April, but Apple pushed back the premiere without explanation. Corden is set to appear in the episodes with LeBron James and Will Smith, while celebrity pairings will include John Legend, Alicia Keys and Miley Cyrus. New episodes will air every Tuesday. – REUTERS

A Russian submarine and warship have fired cruise missiles at ISIS hubs located in Palmyra, and the Russian Defence Ministry says that all targets were destroyed. Four missiles were launched by the Admiral Essen and Krasnodar toward the Syrian city. The U.S., Turkey and Israel were reportedly warned before the missiles were launched, according to the ministry. Russian President Vladimir Putin was forewarned late Tuesday night by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. – REUTERS

CBS Evening News anchor Scott Pelley has been removed from his position. He arranged for his office to be cleaned out while he was recently away, and CBS has declined to comment on his removal from the CBS Evening News. The network has also yet to name a replacement, as Pelley moves into a full-time position on “60 Minutes.” Pelley originally took over for Katie Couric, who was anchor of the CBS Evening News until June 2011. CNN claims that the show’s poor ratings are to blame for his reassignment. However, NPR reports that executives have thought for several years that he may be a better fit for "60 Minutes." – THR

Women who give birth in their 40s are up to five times more likely to face severe complications, according to one study. These complications, such as kidney failure, obstetric shock and amniotic fluid embolism, could require intensive care. Researchers drew their conclusions after analyzing data from 800,000 women. The risk of stillbirth was also three times higher in women who become pregnant in their late 40s. – TELEGRAPH

Former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn has agreed to give some documents to the Senate Intelligence Committee upon request. This comes after the committee issued a revised subpoena for his business records as it looks into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Originally, Flynn had refused to comply with a subpoena that requested documents, including personal files, citing his Fifth Amendment right. – NPR

Jeremy Joseph Christian, the suspect in a Portland stabbing on a train over the weekend, yelled “Free speech or die” while in court on Tuesday. Christian is facing charges including murder for fatally stabbing two men, who attempted to intervene when he used racial slurs against two teenage girls. Christian, a known white supremacist (or "who has espoused white supremacist views") yelled about free speech in the courtroom, saying there was "no safe place." He also said that people who "don't like free speech" should leave the country. As he was escorted out of the courtroom after his arraignment, he continued to shout statements including, “Death to the enemies of America.” – REUTERS

Waze, the navigation app from Alphabet’s Google, will expand its carpooling feature throughout California beginning next week. Starting on June 6, Waze users will be able to tap into the app to find nearby carpool opportunities. At the moment, the service is only available in the San Francisco Bay Area. Josh Fried, head of Waze Carpool, says that Los Angeles has the highest concentration of Waze users in the world. "We wanted to expand to a Waze hub,” he said about the new move. “It's our first attempt to see if we can go big into a region." – REUTERS

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After North Korea launched another ballistic missile test on Monday, leader Kim Jong-un reportedly promised a “bigger gift package” to the U.S. in the future. On Monday, a modified Scud-class missile was launched by the North, according to South Korea’s military. “[Kim Jong-un] expressed the conviction that it would make a greater leap forward in this spirit to send a bigger 'gift package' to the Yankees" in retaliation for American military provocation,” KCNA, the North Korean government’s news agency, reported on Tuesday. “North Korea has shown great disrespect for their neighbor, China, by shooting off yet another ballistic missile...but China is trying hard!” President Trump tweeted on Monday.

Mike Dubke, President Trump’s communications director, will reportedly resign from his position, Reuters reported. In an interview with Fox News, White House adviser Kellyanne Conway said that he “expressed his desire” to resign from the job, but chose to stay on until the president returned from his overseas trip this past weekend. An official last day has not been set for Dubke.

Two car bombs killed about 20 people in Baghdad on Tuesday, according to local security officials. In addition, about 80 other people were wounded. ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attacks, which occurred near a popular ice cream shop and a government office in the Karkh district, Reuters reported.

According to researchers, the Great Barrier Reef has lost almost a third of its coral over the past year due to widespread bleaching, The BBC reported. Bleaching occurs due to warm water, and although it does not immediately kill coral, it causes immense stress and renders it vulnerable to disease. "We're very concerned about what this means for the Great Barrier Reef itself and what it means for the communities and industries that depend on it,” said Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority chairman Russell Reichelt.

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that state courts can no longer hear cases against companies outside of their state, or relating to alleged injuries that occurred elsewhere, Reuters reported. The justices ruled 8-1 to toss a lower court’s ruling that recently allowed plaintiffs to sue over injuries that occurred anywhere within Texas-based BNSF Railway Company’s nationwide network. Up until this point, plaintiffs could sue companies where they are incorporated, as well as where they have major business ties. Businesses are seeking to curb plaintiffs’ option to “shop” for courts in states with laws that fall in line with their suits.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is asking Pope Francis to visit Canada to apologize for how the Catholic Church treated the country’s indigenous people in the past, Reuters reported. In the 19th century, approximately 30 percent of indigenous children were placed in schools where they were taught to abandon their native traditions. These schools were partly administered by Christian churches, the majority of which were operated by Roman Catholics. "I told him how important it is for Canadians to move forward on real reconciliation with the indigenous peoples and I highlighted how he could help by issuing an apology," Trudeau said, after personally speaking with Pope Francis.

The police officer who shot and fatally wounded 12-year-old Tamir Rice in 2014 has been fired. Timothy Loehmann shot Rice within three seconds of encountering him at the Cudell Recreation Center, The Atlantic reported. Frank Garmback, who was driving the patrol car at the time, will be suspended for 10 days starting tomorrow. The city of Cleveland has agreed to pay the Rice family $6 million in a civil suit. A grand jury chose not to indict Loehmann for the incident.

Former Google employee Anthony Levandowski has been fired by Uber, according to the New York Times. The company’s vice president of technology had been in the middle of a lawsuit between Uber and Waymo, which is part of Google's parent company Alphabet. Waymo had claimed that Uber was using trade secrets stolen from Google in part by Levandowski. As court proceedings moved forward, he exercised his Fifth Amendment rights to avoid providing testimony or potential evidence for the case.

Justin Bieber, Coldplay, Miley Cyrus and Katy Perry will join Ariana Grande in her benefit concert for the victims of the Manchester attack, The Guardian reported. The event, which will take place on June 4, will raise money for the victims of the bombing and their families. Police, who consulted with the families, claim that they were in favor of Grande returning to Manchester. However, they noted that there were still a few people who were not ready for her to come back to the site, where 22 people were killed after a concert in the city last week. “I want to thank my fellow musicians and friends for reaching out to be part of our expression of love for Manchester,” Grande said in a statement.

Puerto Rico is poised to make a $13.9 million payment on June 1 to the Employees Retirement System, the bondholders of the island’s largest pension, Reuters reported. The payment will settle a lawsuit that was filed as a part of ERS’ bankruptcy proceedings. However, it does not end a dispute between Puerto Rico and COFINA, the territory’s sales tax authority. Bondholders of COFINA are seeking $16 million by June 1, and a hearing for the matter is underway in New York City.

Jury selection has begun in the case against officer Jeronimo Yanez, who allegedly shot and killed 32-year-old Philando Castile during a traffic stop in 2016, according to Reuters. Yanez, who is facing second-degree manslaughter charges, has already pleaded not guilty. He claimed that he had a valid reason to pull over Castile, as he looked like a suspect in a recent robbery and had a broken brake light. Yanez also says that Castile reached for a gun after being told not to, prompting him to shoot in defense.

New details of Tiger Woods’ arrest over the weekend suggest that the golfer was asleep at the wheel when police found him, according to NBC News. He reportedly scored a .000 on two Breathalyzer tests, and had used four medications earlier in the day for previous surgeries, according to a police report. The officer who found Woods said he was extremely slow and had slurred speech after he was woken up. "Woods stated that he did not know where he was,” read the affidavit from the arrest. “Woods had changed his story of where he was going and where he was coming from.” Since his arrest, Woods has issued a statement, saying he will do “everything in his power” to ensure that a similar incident does not occur in the future.

Scientists have re-engineered vancomycin, a critical antibiotic, for the fight against superbugs, according to The BBC. The new version seems to be a thousand times more potent than its predecessor, according to researchers. It can fight bacteria in three different ways, but it has yet to be tested in animals and people. Depending on upcoming tests, the new vancomycin may be ready for use within the next five years. "Doctors could use this modified form of vancomycin without fear of resistance emerging,” said lead researcher Dale Boger.

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Singer Ariana Grande has announced that she will perform a benefit concert in Manchester to honor the victims of this week's arena bombing and raise money for their families, CNN reported. Grande had just finished performing when a suicide bomber killed 22 concert-goers and injured 60 others. In a letter posted to social media, she thanked "my fellow musicians and friends" who have reached out to get involved in the benefit, and praised her fans' "compassion, kindness, love, strength and oneness," urging them not to "operate in fear." The singer's "Dangerous Woman" tour has been postponed indefinitely following the attack.

A new report suggests that James Comey knew that intelligence from Russia was false but acted on it anyway ahead of the 2016 election. CNN reports that Comey was aware that a "critical piece of information" in the investigation into Hillary Clinton's email server was not legitimate, and had been supplied by Russian sources. According to The Washington Post, the information in question was a document describing assurances then-Attorney General Loretta Lynch made to the Clinton campaign. Comey was apparently concerned that, if that fake information became public, it would undermine the FBI and its investigation, so he declared the investigation closed.

A day after being charged with assaulting a reporter, Greg Gianforte won a special House election in Montana, according to the New York Times. The Republican allegedly attacked Guardian reporter Ben C. Jacobs after Jacobs asked Gianforte questions about the AHCA. On Jacobs' recording of the incident, where Gianforte apparently tackled the reporter to the ground, the candidate can be heard yelling "Get the hell out of here!" The attack was witnessed by a Fox News television crew. At an election-night rally, Gianforte apologized for his behavior, despite having told a different version of events earlier in the day. "I made a mistake," he told supporters at the victory rally, to which one person in the crowd replied, "not in our minds!" If convicted of assaulting Jacobs, Gianforte could face a $500 fine or six months in jail.

Forty-eight years after she gave the address at her own graduation, Hillary Clinton returned to Wellesley to address the Class of 2017, NPR reported. The former Secretary of State and 2016 presidential candidate told the class "You may have heard that things didn't go exactly as I planned. But you know what, I'm doing OK." She took several jabs at President Trump, and called his budget proposal "an attack of unimaginable cruelty on the most vulnerable among us." Clinton graduated from Wellesley in 1969, and was thrust into the national spotlight for her criticism of Sen. Edward Brooke during her address. On Friday, Clinton encouraged the graduates to "stand up for truth and reason."

President Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner has been identified as a focus in the FBI investigation into Russia's role in the 2016 presidential elections, according to The Washington Post. Kushner, who is married to Trump's eldest daughter Ivanka and is a close adviser to the president, met with the Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak and a banker from Moscow in December. The FBI also is still investigating former national security adviser Michael Flynn and former campaign adviser Paul Manafort and what roles they may have played in any election meddling. Kushner's attorney said he is willing to cooperate with investigators.

Gunmen opened fire on a group of Coptic Christians in Egypt today, leaving 26 people dead, Reuters reported. The group was headed to a monastery in southern Egypt when their small convoy of two buses and a truck was attacked. Witnesses told authorities that masked men stopped the vehicles and began shooting. Several children were among the dead, authorities said. No one had claimed responsibility for the attack as of Friday morning.

A 75-year-old man was executed in Alabama on Friday after more than 30 years on death row, according to NBC News. Tommy Arthur had successfully postponed seven previous execution dates through legal appeals. He was convicted for the 1982 shooting of Troy Wicker, his girlfriend's husband, while Wicker slept - a crime for which Arthur had maintained his innocence. His first two convictions were overturned, but a jury in 1991 found him guilty. Arthur was given a lethal injection at 12:15 a.m. at the prison in Atmore, Alabama.

President Trump called Germany "very bad" on trade, an adviser said Friday. Some reports quoted the president as using the word "evil" to describe Germany during a meeting with European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker, but Juncker said a translation error led to a misunderstanding, Reuters reported. White House spokesman Sean Spicer said the president had commented on what he viewed as Germany's unfair trade practices but has "tremendous respect" for the country. Trump is in Taormina, Italy, today for the G7 Summit, the final leg of his first international trip as president.

Rachel Maddow says late Fox News founder Roger Ailes once offered her a job, but one where she would never appear on air, according to a Salon story. Maddow had a cordial relationship with Ailes despite their differing ideologies. She said on The Howard Stern Show Thursday that Ailes told her he wanted to hire her with a full salary to prevent anyone else from putting her on television. She added that he also gave her advice and was kind to her. Ailes died May 18 after a fall at his Palm Beach home.

A California judge has issued an arrest warrant for hot yoga guru Bikram Choudhury on charges he failed to pay a $6.8 million sexual harassment settlement, CBS News reported. The founder of Bikram yoga, Choudhury, 73, was ordered to hand over the proceeds of his business to his former attorney, Mikakshi Jafa-Bodden. She maintains that Choudhury sexually harassed her and fired her because she was investigating rape claims against him. He has denied the allegations.

The latest game in the popular "Far Cry" video game series pits players against a powerful Montana death cult, VICE News reported. Set in the fictional "Hope County," the game - which arrives in February of 2018 - showcases how the militant Project at Eden's Gate (slogan: "Freedom, Faith and Firearms") begins to overtake the local community, forcing the player to join with the local Resistance. Since being announced a few days ago, the game's promo art and trailer have generated some controversy online, with many claiming that it glorifies killing white "rednecks." The creators, from developer Ubisoft Montreal, claim they were inspired by the 2008 financial crisis as well as the standoff at Oregon's Malheur National Wildlife Reserve. – VICE

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Greg Gianforte, a Congressional candidate in Montana's special election was charged with misdemeanor assault after allegedly body-slamming a reporter to the ground and breaking his glasses, according to The New York Times. Gianforte can be heard on an audio recording yelling at Guardian reporter Ben C. Jacobs saying, "I'm sick and tired of you guys! The last time you came in here you did the same thing. Get the hell out of here!" A Fox News camera crew witnessed the event, which happened at GIanforte's campaign headquarters in Missoula, and said after Jacobs asked him a question about the newly-released CBO score for the health-care bill, Gianforte "grabbed Jacobs by the neck with both hands and slammed him into the ground behind him." Gianforte then started punching Jacobs. Gianforte is vying for the House of Representatives seat vacated when President Trump named Ryan Zinke Secretary of Interior. If found guilty of the charge, Gianforte faces a $500 fine or six months in jail.

British officials have stopped sharing details with the U.S. about Monday's suicide bombing at Manchester Arena after leaks to the media compromised the investigation, Reuters reported. Eight people have been arrested in connection with the attack, including family members of bomber Salman Abedi. The bombing at an Ariana Grande concert killed 22 people, many of them young girls. Britain raised its threat level to critical in the wake of the bombing. President Trump has called for an investigation into the leaks.

President Trump met French President Emmanuel Macron and congratulated him for doing a "great job" in winning his hotly-contested recent election, according to Reuters. Among the other topics on the agenda, Macron was expected to try to convince Trump to honor U.S. commitment to the 2015 Paris climate agreement. Observers of the meeting said that during their handshake, Macron's grip was strong enough to turn Trump's knuckles white.

Former Playmate and model Dani Mathers will spend a month cleaning up grafitti in Los Angeles as punishment for posting a naked photo of a woman at a gym on Snapchat, NPR reported. Mathers pleaded no contest to a charge of invading the woman's privacy after taking the photo at an LA Fitness health club last year. The caption on the photo read "if I can't unsee this then you can't either." The 30-year-old Mathers was banned from the gym where she took the photo.

Sean Hannity is taking a few days off after several companies pulled their ads from his Fox News show, according to Inquirer. The advertiser exodus was in response to Hannity's promotion of a conspiracy theory about the death of Seth Rich. A Democratic National Committee staffer, Rich was fatally shot in Washington D.C. last year, and Fox recently retracted a story stating that he was killed in retaliation for handing over documents to Wikileaks. There's been no credible evidence to support this claim. Ring, Cars.com, USAA, Casper and Crowne Plaza Hotels are among the advertisers who said they will not buy any more time on Hannity's show. It's the latest in a series of setbacks for Fox News, which saw both its late founder Roger Ailes and its star Bill O'Reilly depart amid sexual assault allegations. Hannity said on his show this week he was backing off the Rich story "for now."

In his first post-presidency speech in Europe, former President Barack Obama said wealthy countries can't isolate themselves from the world's problems, Reuters reported. Obama made his remarks at a panel discussion in Berlin with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, close to where the Berlin Wall once stood. "If there are disruptions in these countries, if there is bad governance, if there is war or if there is poverty, in this new world that we live in we can't isolate ourselves," Obama told the audience of about 70,000 people. "We can't hide behind a wall."

Researchers at Stanford University have found that fitness trackers are mostly inaccurate when it comes to counting calories, according to The Washington Post. In a paper published in the Journal of Personalized Medicine, the researchers report that the range of error for calorie tracking with devices such as FitBit or PulseOn was between 27 percent and 93 percent. One of the fitness tracker companies told NPR that the user parameters might have been set incorrectly. The researchers noted that the trackers were accurate for measuring heart rate.

Most states saw a decline in refugee resettlement following President Trump's travel ban, a new report has found, Reuters reported. According to the Pew Research Center, which reviewed State Department data, in October 2016 there were 9,945 refugees resettled in the U.S. That figure plunged to 2,070 refugees in March. The report did not specifically attribute the decline to any one factor, but Trump issued two executive orders limiting refugee admissions to 50,000 for all of the 2017 fiscal year, less than half the 110,000 annual limit set by the Obama administration.

Five to nine hurricanes can be expected in the Atlantic this season, according to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, according to CNN. That's above the average number of hurricanes, and NOAA says two to four of them could be major. It's expecting up to 13 named storms for the entire season, which begins June 1. The agency is basing its prediction on the combination of warm sea surface temperatures and a weak or even non-existent El Niño system.

AlphaGo software defeated the world's top human Go player, Ke Jie, in two straight games, winning a best-of-three series and confirming that the AI has surpassed human Go-playing ability, according to the Verge. AlphaGo was developed by DeepMind, a British company acquired by Google in 2014. DeepMind's CEO, Demis Hassabis, confirmed that the second match with Ke Jie was the closest a human competitor has yet played against the "Master version" of AlphaGo. The program's analysis judged Ke Jie's first 50 moves as perfect. The competiton was held as part of Google's Future of Go Summit in Wuzhen, China.

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Some 20 migrants appear to have drowned in the waters off the coast of Libya, Reuters reported. More than 15 boats were attempting to make the trip to European shores, but the Italian Coast Guard said 200 people fell into the water when one of the overloaded boats began listing. Officials working with the rescue efforts said children were among the dead. So far this year, around 50,000 migrants have been rescued at sea and brought to Italy, according to the country's Interior Ministry.

PayPal is suing Pandora for copyright infringement, claiming the music streaming service is trying to capitalize on the money transfer company's success, according to the Washington Post. Pandora adopted a blue "P" logo last year that PayPal says too closely resembles its longstanding "P" logo. In the complaint, PayPal says "Pandora has no obvious path to profitability" and that the company "latched itself on to the increasingly popular PayPal logo as part of its efforts to catch up to its competition." PayPal is seeking a court order to compel Pandora to stop using the "P" logo. Pandora declined to comment on the case.

Taiwan may soon become the first Asian nation to legalize same-sex marriage, after the country's highest court deemed a law barring them unconstitutional, BBC reported. The court ruled that "disallowing two persons of the same sex to marry" constituted "different treatment" without a "rational basis," and thus violated the spirit of the constitution. The court has given Taiwanese Parliament two years to change the law, either through amendments or new legislation. LGBT advocates say they hope Parliament chooses to amend existing marriage laws to allow for same-sex couples, rather than creating a new distinct marriage status with fewer rights. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen is an outspoken proponent of marriage equality.

Analysts say President Trump's proposed budget will almost certainly not be enacted in its current form, but may encourage Congress to more generally pursue fiscal austerity, The New York Times reported. Despite Republican control of both the House and Senate, Trump's $1.4 trillion budget - which includes deep cuts to the social safety net for lower-income Americans - does not seem to have a viable way forward, politically, as the fallout would potentially impact GOP 2018 midterm races. (For example, many Republicans - including Senator Pat Roberts of Kansas and Rep. Mike Conaway of Texas - rejected calls to cut $50 billion from Department of Agriculture programs for farmers.) As well, Bloomberg notes that the budget, as written, relies on a number of deceptive techniques - including phantom tax increases, unachievable spending cuts and unrealistic growth assumptions - to generate the amount of revenue it needs to add up. Jonathan Chait in New York Magazine goes further, accusing Trump and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney of counting the same $2 trillion twice.

UK Prime Minister Theresa May ordered the country's terror threat level elevated to "critical" following the Manchester Arena suicide bombing that left 22 people dead, NPR reported. The designation means another terror attack may be imminent and deploys British military across the country in support of local police departments. Authorities say Salman Abedi, a British national of Libyan descent, carried out the bombing at an Ariana Grande concert on Monday. The victims included girls as young as 8 years old. Five people have been taken into custody thus far in connection with the bombing, for which ISIS has claimed responsibility.

Pope Francis welcomed President Trump to the Vatican Wednesday for the first meeting between the two leaders, ABC News reported. The conversation included discussion about the situation in the Middle East, according to the Vatican. The pope issued a statement saying he hoped the Church could collaborate with the U.S. "in service to the people in the fields of healthcare, education and assistance to immigrants." He gave Trump a medal by a Roman artist that had an inscription with an olive branch, the international symbol of peace. The two also exchanged a number of writings: the Pope gave Trump three of his own books, including his 2015 call for action on climate change, while the President gave the Pope a piece of granite from the Washington DC Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial and all five of the civil rights icon's published works.

A team of researchers at MIT has discovered how to create color images using engineered E. coli bacteria, GIZMODO reported. The scientists developed a customized system of 18 genes that detect and reproduce colors, functioning essentially like a small computer within the cell. The team started back in 2005 with a system to create black and white photographs. Though there is already some interest in creating artwork using bacteria, the process also indicates a "powerful tool to control gene expression...very precisely but in space in time," which could have far-reaching implications. (For example, using E. coli bacteria to function like a 3D printer.)

Rumors are spreading through European media that an online game called "Blue Whale" encourages teens to commit suicide, according to Wired. The story was first reported in Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta, which pointed to the spread of the game and an outbreak of teen suicides in Russia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan between the end of 2015 and April of 2016. In November of 2016, one of the game's creators - a psychology student named Philipp Budeikin - was accused of instigating suicides and arrested. (He confessed to personally encouraging 17 individuals to take their own lives.) Follow-up reporting, however, demonstrates that the link between the game - which assigns players 50 "missions," culminating in a final challenge to kill themselves - and actual deaths may be more tenuous than originally indicated. No reports of suicides directly related to "Blue Whale" have been confirmed outside of Russia. Nonetheless, the hacker collective "Anonymous" has launched an #OpBlueWhale campaign to encourage young people to avoid the game.

Marc Kasowitz, who has worked as Donald Trump's private attorney for 15 years, will now serve on a legal team representing him in the US government's Russia probe, according to The Wall street Journal. Former FBI director Robert Mueller III has been appointed as special counsel in the investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election, a process the president has deemed a "witch hunt." Former FBI director James Comey, whose termination earlier this month set off accusations that President Trump was attempting to block the investigation from proceeding, is expected to testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee some time after Memorial Day. Kasowitz previously represented Trump in cases concerning divorce records and a 2006 lawsuit against an author who allegedly understated Trump's wealth.

According to the latest Global Drug Survey, based on reports from 120,000 participants, hallucinogenic mushrooms were the safest recreational drug, with only 0.2% of those who consumed them requiring emergency medical treatment, The Guardian reported. The survey's founder, addiction specialist Adam Winstock, concluded that, when using so-called magic mushrooms, "death from toxicity" was "almost unheard of," though he does note that they pose risks when combined with alcohol or consumed "within risky or unfamiliar settings." 28,000 participants in the survey reported taking mushrooms at some point in their lives, with 12,000 reporting their use in 2016. Synthetic cannabis products, sold under names such as "spice" and "black mamba," were among the riskiest drugs in the survey, with over 1 in 30 users seeking emergency medical treatment; that's more than any other drug except crystal methamphetamine.

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An explosion at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England, that killed 22 people Monday night was the work of a suicide bomber, according to The Washington Post. Prime Minister Theresa May called it a "callous, terrorist attack," of "appalling, sickening cowardice, deliberately targeting innocent defenseless children and young people." ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack, carried out by 22-year-old Salman Abedi, that left 59 people injured. British authorities said they had arrested Abedi's brother in connection with the attack on Tuesday morning. President Trump condemned the bombing, calling the attack the work of "evil losers." The worst terrorist attack in the UK since 2005, the bombing happened just after Grande had ended her set at Manchester Arena at about 10:30 p.m. and authorities said it was designed to inflict as much damage as possible. Witnesses said they saw pieces of metal nuts and bolts in the aftermath of the explosion. Grande, who indefinitely postponed the rest of her world tour, said in a tweet she was "broken. From the bottom of my heart I am so, so sorry. I don't have words."

The Trump administration has unveiled its new budget proposal, titled "A Foundation for American Greatness," which includes $1.5 trillion in nondefense discretionary cuts and around $500 billion in new defense spending, The Hill reported. The proposal would also cut $1.4 trillion in Medicaid costs over the following decade. In an unusual move, the budget is being released while the President is on an international trip. The budget relies on growth projections that some economists have criticized as overly optimistic, arguing that it will cut taxes while remaining revenue-neutral, and balancing the budget over the next decade. The budget would include drastic funding reductions for the Environmental Protection Agency, the State Department, the Department of Agriculture and the National Science Foundation.

Google's DeepMind computer has bested the human world champion at the ancient Chinese board game, Go, in the first of a three-game series, CNBC reported. 19-year-old Chinese Go master Ke Jie has a shot at winning $1.5 million in prize money, and retaining his status as the greatest Go player in the world, but only if he can defeat the AlphaGo software in both of the remaining two matches. Ke said that, despite losing his first round to AlphaGo, "this is the greatest honor in a lifetime." Because of the game board's many possible configurations - there are more possible Go games than there are atoms in the universe - it's long been considered a milestone achievement in the development of artificial intelligence. Dave Silver, lead programmer of AlphaGo, credits "some beautiful and elegant algorithms" for the program's success.

British actor Roger Moore, best known for his suave portrayal of international spy James Bond, has died at age 89, according to The Guardian. His children released a statement saying that Moore died in Switzerland after a brief battle with cancer. He appeared in seven films as Ian Fleming's 007, the actor with the longest tenure in the role, which he loved. "People often call me ‘Mr. Bond’ when we’re out and I don’t mind a bit. Why would I?" Moore once told The Guardian. Later in life, Moore became known for his charitable work, becoming a UNICEF goodwill ambassador.

President Trump asked Dan Coats and Michael Rogers to intervene in former FBI Director James Comey's investigation into connections between the Trump campaign and the Russian government, according to The Washington Post. Coats, the director of national intelligence and Rogers, the director of the National Security Agency, both declined Trump's requests to publicly deny that there was any evidence of collusion between the campaign and the Russians during the 2016 presidential election. Trump fired Comey May 9 and reportedly told Russian officials during an Oval Office meeting that Comey was a "nut job," and that firing him relieved the pressure of the investigation.

Former CIA director John Brennan testified before Congress today that Russia "brazenly interfered" in the U.S. elections, CNN reported. This activity included contacting members of then-candidate Donald Trump's campaign staff, he said. "I saw interaction that in my mind raised questions of whether it was collusion," Brennan said. Earlier, Brennan said he had warned Russian intelligence officials that any interference in American elections would damage relations with the U.S.

The U.S. has started "extreme vetting" of asylum seekers at Australia detention centers, Reuters reported. As part of an agreement to allow some 1,250 people seeking asylum into the U.S., Homeland Security officials have been questioning people at the centers about their religion, their families and whether they had any connections with the Islamic State. In February, President Trump tweeted that the refugee swap was a "dumb deal."

Two men were publicly flogged in Indonesia's Aceh province on Tuesday for violating Sharia law that prohibits homosexuality, ABC News reported. About 1,000 people attended the canings, which took place in a mosque courtyard, with many filming the beatings on cellphones. Each man was given 83 lashes across the back. Aceh is the only province in Indonesia that adheres to Sharia law.

South Korea fired warning shots at a projectile suspected of being a North Korean drone that was flying near the demilitarized zone that separates the two countries, Reuters reported. The object disappeared from radar after South Korean military fired 90 shots at it. Tensions between the North and South are frayed after North Korea fired a missile test over the weekend that it deemed successful.

Apple Inc. received at least one secret national security letter from the U.S. government requesting information on a customer, the company revealed in its new transparency report. Such letters, which come from the FBI, normally have gag orders attached which restrict the subject from revealing its contents or existence, but the report stated that Apple had had the secret subpoena declassified. The report also detailed that the number of government requests for Apple customers' data was down year-over-year in the last six months of 2016, but that the government had sought information on twice as many devices.

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Jury selection for the sex assault trial of Bill Cosby began this morning in Pittsburgh, NBC News reported. Cosby, 79, faces three counts of aggravated indecent assault for allegedly drugging and molesting Andrea Constand at his home in Norristown, Pennsylvania in 2004. Cosby says they had consensual sex. Constand is one of dozens of women who have accused Cosby of sexual assault, but so far, hers is the only case to go to trial. The jury selection was moved to Pittsburgh because Cosby has such a high profile and owns a home near Norristown, which is near Philadelphia. The trial itself will take place beginning June 5 in Norristown, with the jurors remaining anonymous and sequestered for the duration. If convicted of the charges, Cosby faces up to 10 years in prison.

President Donald Trump's first international trip as POTUS continued on Monday with a stop in Israel, according to NPR. When Air Force one touched down in Tel Aviv, it completed the first-ever direct flight from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to that city, where Trump made a speech about radical Islam over the weekend. Trump plans to visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust remembrance center, the city of Bethlehem and the Western Wall during his visit to Israel.

While continuing to insist that the coverage of the festival's cancelation was "sensationalized," and vowing to return with a new event next year, the creators of Fyre Festival are now facing more than a dozen lawsuits as well as a criminal investigation, The New York times reported. Plaintiffs - including ticket buyers, vendors and investors - are seeking millions from organizer Billy McFarland and his business partner, rapper Ja Rule, claiming fraud, breach of contract and more in the aftermath of the failed Bahamas festival. Additionally, many Fyre Media employees claim they have yet to be paid, with caterer MaryAnn Rolle claiming that she's owed $134,000 alone, and headlining act Blink-182 claims their equipment remains stuck in "customs limbo." According to the New York Times, the FBI is investigating Fyre for possible mail, wire and securities fraud.

The Supreme Court ruled Monday that the redrawing of North Carolina's congressional maps was racially motivated, USA Today reported. The court voted 5 to 3 to uphold a ruling by a district court striking down two of the state's congressional districts. The lower court had ruled that Republican state lawmakers had configured the districts in such a way that they had an overwhelming majority of black voters, which would, in turn, reduce the impact of black voters in the state's other districts. The majority opinion was written by Justice Elena Kagan, with Justice Clarence Thomas joining the majority. Justice Neil Gorsuch did not take part in the vote. Writing the dissenting opinion was Justice Samuel Alito, who said the districts were redrawn to help Republicans, rather than for racially-motivated reasons.

Ford Motor Co. on Monday named Jim Hackett its new CEO, Reuters reported. Hackett, 62, had overseen the company's autonomous vehicle division, an area of development where Ford has lagged behind some of its competitors. He replaces Mark Fields, who has been with Ford for 28 years, and was named CEO in 2014. Hackett is the former CEO of furniture company Steelcase. Fields had come under fire for Ford's business woes; during his tenure the company's stock price dropped by 40 percent.

North Korea says it is prepared to begin mass-producing a missile capable of reaching Japan, according to Reuters. According to its Korea Central News Agency, a test launch showed that the Pukguksong-2 missile is combat-ready. In a test flight on Sunday, one traveled about 310 miles, before landing in the Pacific Ocean. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un watched the launch and proclaimed it a success, saying he "approved the deployment of this weapon system for action." –

So far in 2017, bitcoin prices have surged by 125%, a period that saw both a stock market dip and a weakening of the US dollar, according to CNN Money. The price of a single bitcoin hit a record high of over $2,000 over the weekend, and has been trading at above $2,100 today. Digital currencies, including bitcoin and others such as Ethereum and Ripple, have proven popular in part because they are not tied to any particular nation, and appear more immune from political crises. (Bitcoin prices have tended to rise during times of "geopolitical uncertainty.") Statements from the Trump administration, which contains some digital currency enthusiasts, indicating preference for a weaker dollar may have also bolstered bitcoin prices.

Former Today show host Billy Bush says he wishes he had "changed the topic" in the now infamous videotape with then-candidate Donald Trump, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Bush was fired from his job after the 2005 tape of him and Trump talking in lewd terms about women was leaked to The Washington Post and other news outlets in October. Bush told The Hollywood Reporter he plans to return to work. Trump at the time dismissed the conversation on the tape as "locker room talk."

Former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn plans to decline a subpoena from the Senate intelligence committee and invoke the Fifth Amendment, according to The Washington Post. President Trump fired Flynn in February, barely a month into his tenure, after information surfaced showing that Flynn may have been compromised by contact with Russian officials. The intelligence committee is seeking Flynn's records that have to do with communications with the Russians, and gave him until Wednesday to produce the records.

Two NASA astronauts will conduct a spacewalk tomorrow to repair a failed component on the International Space Station (ISS), according to Popular Mechanics. Expedition 51 Commander Peggy Whitson and Flight Engineer Jack Fischer will exit the ISS at about 8 am ET on Tuesday to replace one of two data relay boxes known as a multiplexer-demultiplexer (or MDM). According to NASA, the backup MDM is functioning properly, and the mission does not pose any immediate danger to the astronauts. While Whitson works on the box, Fischer will also install wireless communication antennas to the exterior of the station. This is the first ISS emergency spacewalk since December 2015; it will be Whitson's tenth such trip.