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Uber’s embattled CEO, Travis Kalanick, has resigned amid sexual harassment scandals and allegations of a 'macho' corporate culture. In the past few months, several key executives have left the ride-hailing company. “I have accepted a group of investors' request to step aside, so that Uber can go back to building rather than be distracted with another fight,” Kalanick said in a statement to his employees, adding that he will continue being a member of Uber’s board. The announcement comes after five of Uber’s major investors asked for Kalanick’s immediate resignation, the NYT reported. Uber’s board said the resignation will give the company “room to fully embrace this new chapter in Uber’s history.” However, it raises questions about who may fill Kalanick’s shoes, since he founded and built the company into a $70 billion giant. Uber now has several key positions to fill, including CEO, chief operating officer, general counsel, senior vice president of engineering, chief marketing officer and board chair. – AP

Republican Karen Handel won Georgia's 6th Congressional District vote to fill the congressional seat vacated by Health Secretary Tom Price. Handel had 52% of the vote and Jon Ossoff, a 30-year-old Democrat newcomer, had 48%. In a victory speech, Handel said she would support the Republican agenda, including health care and tax reforms. It was the most expensive congressional campaign in the history of the United States, with both parties and allied groups spending some $50 million in the race. “Thank you @FoxNews “Huge win for President Trump and GOP in Georgia Congressional Special Election,” US President Donald Trump said on Twitter. – The New York Times.

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman named his son, Mohammed bin Salman, as Crown Prince and deputy prime minister. Mohammed bin Salman will replace his 57-year-old cousin, Mohammed bin Nayef, in the line of succession. The appointment comes as tensions mount in the Middle East. The world’s top oil producer has a strained relationship with Qatar and Iran and it is entangled in a war with Yemen. As oil prices continue falling, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, 31, is expected to reduce the kingdom's dependence on oil by partially privatizing state-run oil producer Aramco. – REUTERS

Men who start a family later in life are more likely to father “geekier” sons according to a new scientific study. For the study, researchers at King's College London developed a “Geek Index” that analyzed traits such as non-verbal IQ, ability to focus on a subject and social aloofness among 15,000 twins. Commenting on the findings, Professor Allan Pacey, from the University of Sheffield, said that starting a family later in life carries an increased risk of infertility, miscarriage, or conceiving children with debilitating disorders. "However, I do find the idea of a 'geek gene' quite intriguing, and, given our recent trend to have our children later in life, perhaps we are destined for future society of geniuses that are going to help us solve all the world's problems," he said. – BBC

The British Queen has unveiled several laws to pave the way for a "smooth and orderly" detachment from the European Union. In a speech to Parliament, the Queen set out the UK government's plans for the next two years, rather than one, as the negotiations to leave the European Union will last until the end of March 2019. The new laws would allow the UK to formulate its own immigration, customs and trade policies. The Queen's speech to inaugurate the parliamentary sessions is actually written by the Prime Minister's staff and outlines the government's plans for the future. The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, was absent from the ceremony after being hospitalized for the treatment of an infection. – BBC

Orcas in Alaska are turning on fishers in big numbers, stalking their boats and waiting for them to haul their catch before launching assaults. An increasing number of killer whales are chasing down the halibut and black cod caught by long line fishermen off the coast of Alaska. A typical fishing day can bring in 20,000 to 30,000 pounds of halibut, but fishermen could get next to nothing if they are being tailed by a pod of killer whales. A rebound of North Pacific whale populations following the 1980s moratorium on commercial whaling may be one of the reasons why whale predation on fishing boats is on the up, reports the National Post. Before that, whale populations had been decimated by whaling fleets and boat engines would typically scare whales. – ADN

U.S. President Donald Trump has criticized the Chinese government over its failure to rein in North Korea. "While I greatly appreciate the efforts of President Xi & China to help with North Korea, it has not worked out. At least I know China tried!" Trump wrote on Twitter. The remark follows on from a meeting between the leaders in Florida in which Trump asked his counterpart for assistance with North Korea. The Chinese government hit back at Trump saying it had "always played and important and constructive role" to resolve tensions with Pyongyang. China supplies fuel and food to North Korea but this year decided to halt imports of North Korean coal, a move that could hurt Kim Jong Un's regime. – REUTERS

U.S. officials have granted preliminary trademark approval to a string of Ivanka Trump products in recent months including lingerie, rain ponchos and scarves. Regulators have given Ivanka Trump the preliminary go-ahead to use her name to sell bras and hosiery. In addition, she has registered four trademarks for handbags, online and retail jewelry stores, as well as rain gear since January, Bloomberg reports. Sales of Ivanka Trump goods were up 21 percent in 2016, and a move into the $13 billion women’s lingerie business could fuel brand revenues. Ivanka Trump in January said she was handing management of her brand over to a top aide, but she refused to divest from her companies. – BBG

The directors of a Star Wars spin off that focuses on Han Solo's early days as a smuggler have been fired. “Phil Lord and Christopher Miller are talented film-makers who have assembled an incredible cast and crew, but it’s become clear that we had different creative visions on this film, and we’ve decided to part ways,” said Kathleen Kennedy, president of Disney-owned Lucasfilm. The prequel starring Alden Ehrenreich as a young Han Solo, is due in cinemas in May 2018. Deadline reports that Ron Howard is Lucasfilm's top choice to replace Lord and Miller as director. - VARIETY

The parents of Michael Brown, the unarmed black teen killed by a white police officer, have settled a wrongful-death lawsuit with the city of Ferguson, Missouri. The financial terms of the settlement were not disclosed. The agreement calls for changes in police operations in Ferguson, including sensitivity training for officers, adoption of community policing techniques, and court reforms. Michael Brown’s family sued the city, former Police Chief Tom Jackson and former police officer Darren Wilson following months of protests after their son was fatally shot in 2014. The lawsuit alleged that police in Ferguson was hostile to black residents, and said Wilson used excessive force in shooting Brown. Wilson was cleared of wrongdoing, and the U.S. Department of Justice found no grounds to prosecute Wilson. – the Washington Post.

A soldier killed a man who tried to set off a nail bomb in a busy train station in Brussels on Tuesday. The attacker was Moroccan and known to police for drug offenses but not for links to radical Islamic groups. He tried to blow up a suitcase beneath the main concourse of Brussels Central Station and the device partially exploded and caught fire. He then ran shouting "Allahu Akbar" (God is Great in Arabic) before being fatally shot by a soldier. Several European cities including London, Manchester and Paris have been hit by terrorist attacks in recent weeks. – NYT

The rapper Prodigy, one half of the hip-hop duo Mobb Deep has been found dead in Las Vegas, where the hip-hop duo performed last weekend. He was 42. The exact causes of his death have yet to be determined, but Prodigy was hospitalized recently due to complications caused by a sickle cell anemia crisis, his publicist said in a statement. Mobb Deep sold more than 3 million records in the 1990s. Prodigy's longtime Mobb Deep partner, Havoc, posted photos in remembrance. Musicians such as Nicki Minaj, Nas, and Questlove offered their condolences in social media. – Rolling Stones.