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Reuters
Fed minutes may begin to show the hurdle to further rate cuts
Federal Reserve officials have been signaling that further interest rate cuts are on hold for now given slowed progress on inflation and a still-strong U.S. economy, but minutes from the central bank's December meeting may show just how deeply that sentiment is shared among policymakers facing a newly uncertain economic environment under the incoming Trump administration. After cutting rates by a quarter of a percentage point at the Dec. 17-18 meeting, Fed Chair Jerome Powell said policymakers could now be "cautious" about further reductions, and noted that some officials had begun approaching upcoming decisions as if they were "driving on a foggy night or walking into a dark room full of furniture" because of uncertainty around the impact of President-elect Donald Trump's tariff, tax and other proposals.
Reuters
Venezuelan migrants long for home as Maduro nears start of new term
Venezuelan migrant Mariangela Lozano longs for her homeland, but ahead of Friday's planned inauguration for President Nicolas Maduro's third term, she has begrudgingly opted to remain in Mexico and brave her meager living conditions. "If Maduro weren't in government ... I'd be the first to return to Venezuela", Lozano said in December, a fortnight before Maduro's inauguration, following a contested election last July which saw both Maduro and opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez claim victory. Gonzalez has been declared president-elect by several governments in the region.
Yahoo Finance
Why Nvidia rug pull doesn't faze US stock market bulls: Morning Brief
Nvidia's 6% loss Tuesday was especially painful for the company given it followed a splashy CES event with big announcements. But the market has good reason to shake off its swings.
AFP
France urges European Commission to be firm against Musk interference
France on Wednesday urged the European Commission to protect its member states with "the greatest firmness" against interference in political debate particularly from the billionaire owner of social media platform X, Elon Musk. "Either the European Commission applies with the greatest firmness the laws that we have given ourselves to protect our public space, or it does not do so and then it will have to agree to give back the capacity to do so to the EU member states," Foreign Minister Jean-Noe
CBS News
JetBlue passenger accused of opening door as flight starts at Logan Airport
A passenger on a JetBlue flight opened an emergency exit door and deployed the slide while the plane was taxiing at Logan Airport Tuesday night, the FAA said.
AFP
Rescuers search for survivors after quake in China's Tibet kills at least 126
Thousands of rescuers were searching for survivors in freezing conditions Wednesday after a devastating earthquake in China's remote Tibet region killed at least 126 people. A quake in December 2023 in northwest China killed 148 people and displaced thousands in Gansu province. isk/je/sco
Associated Press
Italian journalist Cecilia Sala released from Iran and returning home
An Italian journalist detained in Iran for three weeks and whose fate became intertwined with that of an Iranian engineer wanted by the United States was freed Wednesday and is heading home, Italian officials announced. A plane carrying Cecilia Sala took off from Tehran after “intensive work on diplomatic and intelligence channels,” Premier Giorgia Meloni’s office said, adding that Meloni had informed Sala's parents of the news. Iranian media acknowledged the journalist’s release, citing only the foreign reports.
Associated Press
Impeached South Korean president's lawyers slam detention efforts as acting leader warns of clash
Lawyers for impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol denounced efforts to detain him over his short-lived imposition of martial law, while the country’s acting leader expressed concern Wednesday over a possible clash between law enforcement agents and presidential security personnel. As anti-corruption officials and police prepared another attempt to detain Yoon following last week’s failed effort, the presidential security service fortified Yoon's compound with barbed wire and rows of tightly placed vehicles blocking the path to his residence. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials and police say they will make a more forceful effort to detain Yoon, warning that they could arrest members of the presidential security staff if they obstruct efforts to seize the embattled president.
Reuters
Italian journalist Sala freed from Iran prison, Italian PM's office says
ROME (Reuters) -Italian journalist Cecilia Sala has been freed from detention in Iran and is flying home, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's office said in a statement on Wednesday. Sala, 29, who had been working under a regular journalistic visa, was detained in Tehran on Dec. 19 and held in solitary confinement in the Iranian capital's notorious Evin prison. Sala was detained three days after an Iranian businessman, Mohammad Abedini, was arrested at Milan's Malpensa Airport on a U.S. warrant for allegedly supplying drone parts that Washington says were used in a 2024 attack that killed three U.S. service members in Jordan.
CNN
Limit coffee-drinking to this time window to lower early death risk, study suggests
The timing of coffee consumption may influence your risk of premature death from cardiovascular disease or any cause, a new study has found.
AFP
Nobel winner Ressa tells AFP 'dangerous times' ahead after Meta ends US fact-checking
Philippine Nobel laureate Maria Ressa warned Wednesday of "extremely dangerous times ahead" in an interview with AFP after social media giant Meta ended its US fact-checking program on Facebook and Instagram.The veteran journalist and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021 said Meta's decision meant "extremely dangerous times ahead" for journalism, democracy and social media users.
USA TODAY
Biden administration expands benefits for veterans with cancer exposed to burn pits
The Biden administration expanded benefits for veterans with some cancers that could be linked to burn pit exposure.
USA TODAY
Biden touts record Obamacare signups, urges Congress to extend subsidies
ACA signups reach record levels with generous subsidies. Biden administration officials urge Congress to extend subsidies beyond this year.
AFP
France warns Trump against threatening EU 'sovereign borders' on Greenland
France on Wednesday warned Donald Trump against threatening the "sovereign borders" of the European Union after the US president-elect refused to rule out military action to take control of Greenland, an autonomous territory of EU member Denmark.Greenland is associated with the European Union through Denmark, of which it is a self-governing territory.
USA TODAY
Why are flags at half-staff, and how long will they stay after Jimmy Carter's death?
All public flags will be displayed at half-staff for 30 days from Carter's Dec. 29 death at age 100.
USA TODAY
Minneapolis, Justice Department reach police reform agreement. What is a consent decree?
The DOJ announced Minneapolis agreed to make systemic reforms to its police department after the 2020 murder of George Floyd sparked a federal probe.
Associated Press
Japan links Chinese hacker MirrorFace to dozens of cyberattacks targeting security and tech data
Japan on Wednesday linked more than 200 cyberattacks over the past five years targeting the country's national security and high technology data to a Chinese hacking group, MirrorFace, detailing their tactics and calling on government agencies and businesses to reinforce preventive measures. The National Police Agency said its analysis on the targets, methods and infrastructure of the cyberattacks by MirrorFace from 2019 to 2024 concluded they were systematic attacks linked to China with an aim of stealing data on Japanese national security and advanced technology.
Associated Press
'Obamacare' hits record enrollment but an uncertain future awaits under Trump
A record 24 million people have signed up for insurance coverage through the Affordable Care Act, former President Barack Obama's landmark health legislation, as the program awaits an uncertain future under a Republican-controlled White House and Congress. Never have so many people enrolled in health care coverage through the government marketplace, a point of pride for many Democrats but a red flag to some Republicans. President Joe Biden has pushed an expansion of the program, signing into law billions of dollars in tax credits that expanded who qualified for the health insurance and lowered its cost.
Associated Press
Here are some of China's New Year resolutions to boost its economy
China’s leaders are bracing for shocks to the economy from higher tariffs threatened by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump once he takes office. To help rev up an economy bogged down by a property crisis and disruptions during the pandemic, the ruling Communist Party is rolling out a slew of measures to get Chinese consumers and businesses to spend more money and counter a slump in the Chinese currency and stock prices. China plans to expand its cash for clunkers and appliance recycling programs to encourage more purchases of new, energy-efficient models.
CNN
Presidents club convening to honor Jimmy Carter at contentious moment for the exclusive group
It’s the world’s most exclusive fraternity and, on Thursday, all five members of the so-called presidents club will gather to honor one of their own.

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