The 'Girls' creator made the radical decision to end years of pain and surgery
Hello, this is Anna getting you caught up on today's news.
Endometriosis battle - Lena Dunham has undergone radical surgery to remove her uterus and cervix in an attempt to rid herself of endometriosis. The 31-year-old actor announced her total hysterectomy in Vogue. She hopes to end the chronic pain she has suffered as well as the ‘years of complex surgeries measuring in the double digits’.
Free transport - Germany has s announced a radical proposal to reduce road traffic by making public transport free, as Berlin tries to meet EU air pollution targets and avoid large fines. It comes just two years after Volkswagen’s ‘dieselgate’ emissions cheating scandal prompted a wave of anger at the car industry, which is integral to Germany’s economy.
Disgraced Oxfam - Actress Minnie Driver has stood down from her role as a celebrity ambassador for Oxfam following claims that aid workers for the charity in Haiti and other countries paid and used sex workers. In a statement Driver said she was ‘nothing short of horrified’ by the allegations. Oxfam said it was ‘grateful’ for her commitment and that it was ‘more committed now than ever to learn from our mistakes’.
Shots fired at NSA - At least one person has reportedly been shot and wounded and one suspect taken into custody at the US National Security Agency's headquarters. A black SUV pulled up at the entrance to the facility in Fort Meade, Maryland and allegedly opened fire. An NSA spokesman told local media that the agency was now secure after a ‘security incident’.
Presidential scandal in US - South Africa's President Jacob Zuma says he will not step down immediately. Zuma spoke after the ruling African National Congress (ANC) announced it would back a vote of no confidence in his leadership on Thursday. The 75-year-old has come under increasing pressure to resign amid numerous allegations of corruption. ‘It was very unfair to me that this issue is raised,’ he told the national broadcaster SABC, . ‘Nobody has ever provided the reasons. Nobody is saying what I have done.’
Trump’s alleged affair - US President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer Michael D Cohen has admitted to privately paying an adult film star $130,000 (£95,000) in 2016, in a statement to US media. It follows US media reports that the porn actress known as Stormy Daniels was paid to sign an agreement that forbade her from discussing an alleged affair she had with Trump. The lawyer has previously said Trump ‘vehemently denies’ it occurred.