HOT AIR BALLOON FLIGHT

Thursday 02.03.22

Remember the pre-iPhone era? If you're still holding on to your beloved older cell phone, you may be forced to upgrade soon. Major mobile networks are retiring 3G service and moving their subscribers to higher-speed 4G and 5G networks. Here's what else you need to know to Get Up to Speed and On With Your Day.
 

By Alexandra Meeks

A massive winter storm is pummeling a large swath of the US with snow, ice and sleet.

Winter storm

More than 100 million people are under winter weather alerts across at least 25 states stretching from the Mexican border to New England as a massive winter storm pummels much of the US. In the South and Midwest, a triple whammy of snow, ice and sleet is hammering the region and could leave many without power. More than 20 inches of snow have piled up in the Colorado Springs area while parts of Illinois and Indiana are inundated with around a foot of snow. Dangerous travel conditions grounded more than 2,300 US flights yesterday and thousands more have already been canceled today. Meanwhile, the price of natural gas is soaring -- causing a spike in home heating costs as millions of Americans crank up the heat to stay warm. 

Ukraine

President Joe Biden is sending 3,000 US troops to Poland, Germany and Romania to bolster NATO countries in Eastern Europe as tens of thousands of Russian troops amass along Ukraine's border. Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said the deployments included roughly 2,000 troops that would deploy from the United States to Poland and Germany. In addition, approximately 1,000 troops currently based in Germany were moving to Romania. Kirby said the moves, which would happen in the coming days, were not permanent and emphasized, "These forces are not going to fight in Ukraine." The deployments are a show of support to NATO allies feeling threatened by Russia's steady military buildup near the Ukrainian border.

Coronavirus

Canadian truckers are protesting Covid-19 health restrictions by staging a blockade of 18-wheelers in Ottawa. Police have declared the week-long assembly an "unlawful" occupation of the country's capital and say they're looking at "every single option, including military aid" to bring the situation to an end. The truckers are a part of the so-called "Freedom Convoy" and are protesting a recent mandate requiring drivers entering Canada to be fully vaccinated or face testing and quarantine requirements. The group is also protesting against other health restrictions, like mask mandates and Covid-19 lockdowns. The dozens of trucks are blocking traffic, and forcing businesses in the area to shutdown, officials said. 

Capital riot

The National Archives decided yesterday that it will turn over former Vice President Mike Pence's records to the committee investigating the January 6 attack on the Capitol as early as next month, after former President Donald Trump said he wanted to keep secret more than 100 documents. This is the first set of records related to Pence's office that the Archives has cleared for release. The letters reveal tension over what may be key communications about the insurrection at the capitol and Pence overseeing the Electoral College certification in Congress, which Trump wanted to stop. Pence's team is cooperating with the investigation, officials said. Separately, former Department of Justice official Jeffrey Clark and his attorneys met with the House select committee for nearly two hours yesterday, two months after the panel voted to hold him in contempt for his lack of cooperation.

CNN president

CNN President Jeff Zucker, the influential news executive who reshaped the network since taking the helm in 2013, abruptly resigned yesterday. In an internal memo to employees, Zucker said he did not properly disclose a "consensual relationship" with one of his closest colleagues. The relationship came to light during the network's investigation of former prime time anchor Chris Cuomo, who was fired by Zucker less than two months ago for his involvement in advising his brother, then-New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, about how to address sexual misconduct allegations. Zucker did not name the colleague in the memo, but the relationship is with Allison Gollust, his key lieutenant for the past two decades. Gollust, who is currently executive vice president and chief marketing officer at CNN, will remain at the company. 

🔐 BROUGHT TO YOU BY VAULT BY CNN

Drop 12: Tech Origin Stories

Vault by CNN is a series of limited edition collectible NFTs commemorating pivotal moments in history. Origin Stories: A Tech Series is a set of three animated illustrations that commemorate the initial stages of technologies that have changed the way humans connect. 

Sign up for updates to buy before they sell out.

People are talking about these. Read up. Join in.

2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees announced

Our favorite country queen Dolly Parton is one of several first-time nominees!

Starbucks has been raising prices, but customers apparently don't mind

You call it Starbucks, I call it a weekly necessity. That's not changing.

Inside Gwyneth Paltrow's serene California home

This Oscar winner has an award-worthy home spa. Zen is an understatement.

Are you a tinglehead?

*Whispering* Enter the weird world of ASMR.

Behind the making of 'Pam and Tommy'

Lily James magically transforms into the "Baywatch" icon Pamela Anderson with the help of a prosthetic forehead.

73

That's how many Confederate monuments were removed or renamed in 2021, according to a report from the Southern Poverty Law Center. The removals and renamings come at a time when Americans continue to grapple with whether Confederate monuments belong in public spaces. These statues stand as symbols of racism in the US dating back to the Civil War, civil rights activists and some historians say. More than 700 such monuments remain standing in the US and its territories.

We're trying to balance creative expression with the safety of our users.

-- Spotify CEO Daniel Ek, on the controversy surrounding comedian and podcast host Joe Rogan. Last week, artists such as Neil Young and Joni Mitchell asked the streaming company to pull their music from the platform because of Rogan, who has made frequent false and misleading claims about Covid-19 and vaccines on his popular podcast, "The Joe Rogan Experience." Following the backlash, Spotify said it is adding a content advisory to any podcast episode that includes a discussion about Covid-19.

Let's pretend you're on vacation

Sit back and enjoy this super realistic and peaceful video of Japan. It almost feels like you're there. (Click here to view)