The comet 46P/Wirtanen just made its closest approach to Earth in centuries. No word on the whereabouts of Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Cupid, Donner or Blitzen (and Rudolph).
Israel’s Netanyahu Embraces European Leaders With Controversial Views On Holocaust
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has befriended nationalist and far-right leaders who tend to be staunchly pro-Israel. But some Israelis say he’s too lenient about their views on Holocaust history.
Here’s What Would Happen If The Government Shuts Down This Week
Even a partial government shutdown would leave some 800 thousand government workers without pay over the holidays although many would remain on the job.
Magical Photos Bring Fables From Mbomo To Life
The fables were gathered from people in the Congo Basin and illustrated with a touch of magical realism in the new book Congo Tales: Told By The People Of Mbomo.
Art Series Captures Taste And Color Of Prisoners’ First Meal After Exoneration
Artist Julie Green, who also depicts the final meals of death row inmates, is now painting first meals of exonerees. The food is celebratory, but nothing compared to all those lost years, she says.
Iraq Lays Cornerstone To Restore Al-Nuri Mosque, As Mosul Rebuilds
Iraqi religious leaders officially initiated the restoration of Mosul’s al-Nuri mosque yesterday. The mosque was destroyed as Iraqi forces reclaimed control of the city from the Islamic State in 2017.
What You Need To Know About The Affordable Care Act After Texas Ruling
A federal judge in Texas rules the ACA is unconstitutional. What does this mean for American healthcare, and who will be affected?
A Nun In India Accuses A Bishop Of Rape, And Divides The Country’s Christians
A Roman Catholic nun says a bishop raped her multiple times between 2014 and 2016. The bishop denies wrongdoing and is out on bail. Some Indian Catholics are blaming the nun for tarnishing the church.
Medical Detectives: The Last Hope For Families Coping With Rare Diseases
When Nikki and Danny Miller’s two young sons developed strange symptoms, they began searching for a diagnosis. Their odyssey ended when a team of medical sleuths solved the case.
How Trump Went From ‘Tough On Crime’ To ‘Second Chance’ For Felons
President Trump’s support for legislation that would reduce sentences for drug offenses stands in stark contrast to some of his calls to crack down on criminals.
Evangelical Writer Kisses An Old Idea Goodbye
Joshua Harris wrote I Kissed Dating Goodbye when he was 21 years old. It became the bible of the evangelical purity movement, which promotes putting off sex until marriage. His ideas have changed.
U.S., Canadian Executives Privately ‘Spooked’ About Traveling To China
The arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou, followed by China’s detention of two Canadians, escalated trade and security tensions that are now leading to travel jitters.
Teen Vaping Soared In 2018
A dramatic increase in vaping among high school students is the largest yearly change ever seen in a long-running survey tracking substance use and abuse by teens.
Protests Grip Hungary In Response To Overtime Measure That Critics Call A ‘Slave Law’
The new law allows employers to ask staff to work up to 400 hours per year of overtime — but employers can delay payment for up to three years.
Ukraine Moves To Form A Unified Orthodox Church Independent From Russia
The move comes at a time of heightened tensions between Russia and Ukraine, and has already drawn condemnation from Moscow.
Deep Seagrass Bed Could Stall Climate Change, If Climate Change Doesn’t Kill It First
Scientists have identified a giant bed of deep sea grass in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef that may be absorbing millions of tons of carbon. But these so-called blue carbon sinks need protecting too.
‘I Wish I Had Never Been President’: SNL Imagines ‘It’s A Wonderful Trump’
Celebrity cameos reappear to imagine a world where Trump lost the 2016 election.
Cambodia Nabs More Than 3 Tons Of Illegal Ivory
A tip from the U.S. Embassy alerted Cambodian authorities to a haul of at least 3.2 tons of ivory that shipped from Mozambique.
Alaska Fishermen Hauling A Bigger Catch With Gear They Get To Use For The First Time
Alaska fishermen who took advantage of new regulations allowing them to fish with a previously banned piece of gear are happy they saved their catch from hungry whales.
How To Make Sure Your Math Anxiety Doesn’t Make Your Kids Hate Math
A new study shows that creating an environment in which math is part of everyday life, can help kids do better in the subject.
Nations Agree On Rules To Put Paris Climate Agreement Into Action
Nations agreed on rules to track the promises they made to reduce emissions, but did not set new emissions reduction goals necessary to avoid the most catastrophic effects of climate change.
Philippines Duterte Praises ‘Generous’ Americans For Returning Church Bells
The bells return to Balangiga after 117 years in U.S. custody.
2018 Is Now The Wettest Year On Record For Washington And Other Cities
So far this year, 61.34 inches of rain have fallen in Washington, breaking a 129-year-old record.
‘Nowhere To Go But Up ‘ — A Small Town Confronts Its Addiction Crisis
Two years after East Liverpool, Ohio, gained notoriety from a viral photo of an overdosed couple, the community is coming to terms with its addiction problem — and taking tentative steps forward.
As Judge Rules Obamacare Unconstitutional, Democrats Seethe, Republicans Stay Mum
The decision came on the eve of the final day of open enrollment for 2019 health care coverage under the Affordable Care Act.
Ryan Zinke Is Leaving The Interior Department, Trump Tweets
The interior secretary is stepping down after a tumultuous two years, marked by mounting allegations of misconduct in office.
Wolves Are Back In Germany, But Not Always Welcome
Germany is seeing the return of wolf packs, and with them growing political tension over whether the animals pose too much of a threat.
The Russia Investigations: A Case Still Unproven
This week in the Russia investigations: Headlines and courtroom action are coming thick and fast in the final weeks of the year, but a core “collusion” case remains unproven.
Education Department To Fix Troubled Grant Program; Students To Get Loan Forgiveness
Also this week, the Kentucky Supreme Court struck down a bill that prompted thousands of teachers to protest this spring.
After The Thousand Oaks’ Shooting, A Community-Wide Effort To Memorialize And Heal
Since the mass shooting at the Borderline Bar & Grill in Thousand Oaks, Calif., last month, there’s been more than 70 events – memorials, vigils and fundraisers — for the families of the victims.
PG&E Falsified Gas Pipeline Safety Records, Regulators Say
The utility has been under fire for its role in the massive gas pipeline explosion in 2010 in San Bruno, Calif.
Federal Judge Strikes Down Affordable Care Act As Unconstitutional
President Trump praised the ruling by a court in Texas as supporters of the ACA said they will appeal.
U.S. Gets A Big Win In Its Long Fight With Mexico Over ‘Dolphin Safe’ Labels
The World Trade Organization sided with the U.S. on Friday, rejecting Mexico’s claim that the U.S. is unfairly denying Mexican tuna products the advantageous “dolphin safe” label.
CBS Paid Eliza Dushku $9.5 Million After Alleged Sexual Harassment, Termination
Days after confronting actor Michael Weatherly, a huge star for the network, Dushku was written off Bull. An investigation determined the company often protected itself at the expense of victims.
Quoting ‘The Lorax,’ Court Pulls Permit For Pipeline Crossing Appalachian Trail
The federal judges noted “the Forest Service’s serious environmental concerns that were suddenly, and mysteriously, assuaged in time to meet a private pipeline company’s deadlines.”
President Trump Names Mick Mulvaney As Acting White House Chief Of Staff
It’s unclear how long the OMB director will serve in the role, succeeding outgoing chief of staff John Kelly. On Dec. 8, Trump announced that Kelly would be leaving the job at the end of the year.