Ramasvamy stands out in Republican debate and reported death of Yevgeny Prigozhin: Morning Rundown
Vivek Ramaswamy stood out during the first Republican presidential debate. Wagner mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin is said to have died in a plane crash in Russia. And four people were killed in a shootout at a biker bar in Southern California last night.
You should know that today.
Key takeaways from the first Republican presidential debate
Even in his absence, former President Donald Trump played a major role in the first Republican presidential debate, which saw eight candidates debate for two hours the economy, abortion, American aid to Ukraine and more.
Some candidates have been cautious about how they talk about Trump. But businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, third in the polls behind Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, has thrust himself into the limelight with his zealous defense of the former president. His short, snappy replies throughout the night also resulted in his competitors hurling criticism at him – much to the delight of DeSantis’ campaign. More on that below.
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Find more insights from the debate herefrom the onslaught of world news that seemed to overshadow the entire event, to the impromptu questions contestants had to answer around January 6th.
Highlights and analyzes from the debate:
Prigozhin, head of the Wagner Group, is among the passengers who were on board the plane in a fatal crash north of Moscow
Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, who led his fighters in a short-lived mutiny against the Kremlin in June, was listed as a passenger in a plane that crashed near Moscow on WednesdayAccording to the Russian authorities, everyone on board perished.
NBC News has not confirmed that Prigozhin died in the violent crash. But if true, it’s a sudden and shocking end for the global warlord and one-time ally of President Vladimir Putin, whose group fought on the front lines in Ukraine and has been linked to violence in Syria, Mali, the Central African Republic and other countries was brought to other countries.
The Kremlin has so far remained silent about Prigozhin’s fate, including when bodies were recovered from the crash site on Thursday and fragments of the mercenary chief’s private jet were found miles away.
Read live updates on this developing story.
Trump will surrender in Georgia while his allies do the same
Donald Trump is expected to surrender to Fulton County authorities today as part of the district attorney’s investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Several of his co-defendants, including former Trump attorney Jenna Ellis, turned themselves in yesterday former Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani, and Sidney Powell, a former member of Trump’s legal team. Trump is one of them 10 remaining defendants who have until tomorrow afternoon give up.
Fukushima’s wastewater is discharged into the sea
Treated radioactive waste water from the destroyed Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan began pouring into the ocean this morning. This process is estimated to release 1.3 million tons of water over approximately 30 years. The clearance will allow for the decommissioning of the Fukushima power plant — whose meltdown resulting from a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami in 2011 was comparable in severity to the Chernobyl incident in 1986.
While Japanese officials insist the water is safe, opponents are concerned about food safety and possible long-term consequences. Just hours after the water release, China announced a ban on all seafood from Japan.
Defend among four dead in a shootout at a California biker bar
The shooter believed to have committed a shooting at a California biker bar that killed three people was a former police officer who was targeting his wife, three sources told NBC News. Six people were also injured in last night’s shooting at Cook’s Corner Bar in Trabuco Canyon in Orange County. Here’s what we know so far.
New safety regulations for nursing pillows proposed
Staffers at the Consumer Product Safety Commission recommended the first state requirements to make nursing pillows safer, just two weeks after an NBC News investigation found that at least 162 babies have died in pillow-related incidents since 2007.
CPSC staff recommended that nursing pillows “must be so firm that the product is unlikely to conform to an infant’s face” to reduce the risk of babies choking. They are also calling for clearer warnings on pillows. Reporters Suzy Khimm and Elizabeth Chuck Dive into the new proposals.
Today’s Talker: The infamous Fyre Festival is back for round two…
… and the first round of tickets are already sold out. Six years after the infamous scam, founder Billy McFarland announced he would be relaunching the failed music and camping retreat. The first pre-sale tickets to Fyre Festival II were $499 each. However, details of the cast, accommodations and venue, which is currently being vaguely described as “The Caribbean,” have yet to be announced.
politics in brief
Abortion Rights: South Carolina Supreme Court stuck to restrictions that would prohibit most abortions about six weeks pregnant, months after the court’s only female judge retired.
6th January: A Capitol rioter known to online detectives as “Shield Grampy,” a nod to his age and use of a police shield during the riot, got arrested from the FBI.
Personnel Selection: The Plight of the “Nuclear Veterans”
Veterans who say they became ill from exposure to radiation while serving in the military celebrated the signing of PACT legislation a year ago, which extended benefits to ex-servicemen exposed to toxic substances.
Since cancer and old age reduce the remaining number of so-called nuclear veterans, I wanted to know How many survivors does the law help?. The numbers I received from the Department of Veterans Affairs left many feeling dejected. —Melissa Chan, reporter
In case you missed it
A school district in Kentucky has Face-to-face classes cancelled less than two weeks into the start of the school year amid an outbreak of Covid, flu and strep throat.
Some Lahaina residents whose homes were spared during the Maui wildfires remain. even without water and electricity.
The FDA is urging people to stop using certain brands of eye drops Fungal and bacterial contamination was detected.
India became the first country to reach the south pole of the moon.
Choose: online shopping, simplified
Incorporating hair oil into your regimen can help restore shine to your hair and nourish your scalp. Here’s what you should know about hair oilsFor example, what ingredients to consider based on your hair type, and what expert-recommended products to try.
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