News 7/18/21 in News stories

Private spyware licensed to governments for tracking terrorists found on the phones of journalists and activists worldwide

Military-grade Pegasus spyware licensed by Israel’s NSO Group to help governments track criminals was used in attempted and successful hacks of 37 smartphones belonging to journalists, human rights activists, business executives and two women close to murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, according to an investigation by The Washington Post and 16 media partners.

Collin Morikawa wins the 149th British Open. It’s the second major championship victory for the 24-year-old American.

Morikawa added another major after bursting onto the scene with a win at last year’s PGA Championship in San Francisco. He entered the final round one shot behind South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen.

Sad! No One is Buying Tickets to Donald Trump’s Pity Party “History Tour”
Trump’s upcoming “History Tour” with Bill O’Reilly is having a hard time selling tickets

Alex Young
July 16, 2021 | 3:16pm ET
Turns out a twice-impeached ex-president isn’t a good concert draw. As Politico reports, Donald Trump’s upcoming “History Tour” with disgraced FOX News commentator Bill O’Reilly is having a hard time moving tickets.

The tour, which was announced last month, promises “hard-hitting” conversations between Trump and O’Reilly offering a “never-before-heard inside view of [Trump’s] administration.” In a statement announcing his participation, Trump said the events would be “fun, fun, fun, for everyone who attends!”

And yet, more than a month later, a large amount of tickets for each of the four shows remain available for purchase. Politico checked in with the box offices at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, FL; Amway Center in Orlando, FL; Toyota Center in Houston, TX; and American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX, and all four venues confirmed that tickets are selling well below expectations.

U.S. envoys face daunting mission in Kabul with little military backup
As American military forces depart Afghanistan, the U.S. diplomats and aid workers who remain behind, bunkered at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, will encounter significant and dangerous challenges, current and former officials say.

Music
Foo Fighters’ Debut as the “Dee Gees” Is a Fun Foray Into the Legacy of the Bee Gees

Paolo Ragusa
July 17, 2021 | 9:30am ET
In a clip from his new Paramonut+ docuseries From Cradle to Stage, Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl tells Pharrell Williams that he ripped off old disco and funk songs when coming up with his drum parts for Nirvana’s Nevermind. And while his hard rock ethos has always been present, Grohl has been outspoken in the past about his appreciation for ‘70s pop, disco, R&B and funk.

This time, however, the Foos are taking that appreciation one step further with Hail Satin, their debut EP as the Dee Gees, which is out today (July 17th) exclusively on vinyl for Record Store Day.

Hail Satin sees the Foo Fighters taking on five classic Bee Gees songs (“You Should Be Dancing,” “Night Fever,” “Tragedy,” “Shadow Dancing,” and “More Than A Woman”) and bringing their own unique spin to them under a disco alter ego. Though there’s certainly some more electric guitar in the mix and a slightly-heavier sound, the band very carefully reconstructs these classic Bee Gees hits without ever taking too many liberties with them. Rather than reimagine these tracks entirely, Grohl and Co. decide to replicate them with as much energy and style as they can.