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Ukraine Takes Out Top Russian General

Ukraine Takes Out Top Russian General

Your unbiased daily news brief

James Kratch
December 18, 2024

Good Wednesday morning. An overwhelming majority of American motorists believe cellphones are a big problem. Have a great day.

In Today’s Brief

NASA: Astronauts delayed
Pope Francis: Memoir bombshell
AOC: Bid denied
Dow Jones: Losing streak
Oscars: Shortlists revealed

... and more

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Top Tips

1) War games

Ukraine claims it assassinated a top Russian military official.

The news: Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov was killed yesterday when a bomb hidden inside an electric scooter detonated in Moscow. The Kremlin's biological, chemical and nuclear weapons chief was walking on the street when the incident occurred. His aide was also killed and nearby buildings were damaged.
The response: Ukrainian intelligence took responsibility through media reports, but its government did not formally comment a day after accusing Kirillov of deploying chemical weapons on the battlefield. Russia confirmed Kirillov's death and said it is being investigated as terrorism.
Big picture: Ukraine is believed to have pulled off several assassinations inside Russia since the Kremlin invaded in 2022. But this would be the Ukrainians' most daring operation yet. It continues a run of aggressive action as President Joe Biden's term winds down and President-elect Donald Trump, who has called for a ceasefire, heads back to the White House.

2) Major disaster

A massive earthquake rocked a South Pacific island nation.

The news: Vanuatu, which sits off Australia's eastern coast and west of Fiji, was hit with a 7.3 magnitude earthquake. There were also large aftershocks and a tsunami warning was issued.
Death toll: At least 14 people were killed and over 200 were injured. Communications and other infrastructure suffered widespread damage across the country, including at the U.S. Embassy. The earthquake originated just 18 miles outside of Port Vila, the nation's largest city.
Big picture: About 330K people live in Vanuatu, which was jointly managed by France and the United Kingdom before gaining sovereignty. Aid crews are being slowed by damage to airports and ports; there is a fear the number of dead could jump. A seven-day state of emergency has been issued.

3) Found guilty

A tech CEO's killer was convicted yesterday.

Catch up: Bob Lee, the founder of the money transfer platform Cash App, was stabbed in downtown San Francisco in April 2023. He died of his wounds at a nearby hospital at 43 after being found in the early morning.
The news: Nima Momeni, an IT consultant, was found guilty of second-degree murder. But he was found not guilty of premeditated first-degree murder, the more serious charge. He faces 15 years to life in prison.
The motive: Prosecutors said Momeni drove Lee to a secluded area and stabbed him in the heart over a dispute regarding whether a Lee acquaintance sexually assaulted Momeni's sister. Momeni claimed self-defense from an attempted assault by Lee.

Quick Tips

U.S. News

NASA said the marooned Boeing Starliner astronauts will be in space a bit longer. Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore will not return home until at least March after a SpaceX mission to fetch them from the International Space Station was delayed (More)
A motive for Monday's school shooting in Wisconsin is still being determined. Cops believe a "combination of factors" sparked the incdent at Madison's Abundant Life Christian School; a teacher and student were killed and six people were injured before the alleged shooter died by suicide (More)
The alleged Gilgo Beach serial killer was charged with a seventh murder. Police said architect Rex Heuermann killed Valerie Mack on Long Island in 2000 and evidence, including DNA data, ties him to the crime (More)

World News

Pope Francis revealed he was the target of a foiled 2021 assassination plot in Iraq in his upcoming memoir. A suicide bomber allegedly planned to attack him during a visit to Mosul, but British intelligence learned of the plan and informed Iraqi officials (More)
Somali pirates are demanding a $10M ransom for a Chinese-owned fishing vessel. The ship's security forces were allegedly involved in the plot; there were 18 crewmembers aboard and hostages are being held (More)
Denmark released a prominent U.S.-Canadian anti-whaling activist from jail, refusing an extradition request from Japan. Controversial ex-Greenpeace official Paul Watson was arrested in Greenland in July on a Japanese arrest warrant regarding charges dating back to 2010 (More)

Political News

New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez lost her bid to be the House Oversight Committee's top Democrat. Virginia Rep. Gerry Connolly won a secret ballot for the role on the powerful panel (More)
Former NFL star Herschel Walker was nominated to be Ambassador to the Bahamas. The Heisman Trophy winner and Republican ran a controversial, failed Senate campaign in Georgia in 2022 (More)
Indiana Rep. Victoria Spartz will no longer caucus with the House GOP or serve on committees. She said she would remain a registered Republican and focus on assisting the so-called Department of Government Efficiency; the move could complicate the party's narrow majority in the chamber (More)

Business & Markets

Major indexes closed lower yesterday. The Dow Jones has had nine straight losing days, its longest skid since 1978 (Dow -0.61%, Nasdaq -0.32%, S&P 500 -0.39%).
Honda and Nissan have reportedly begun merger talks. The Japanese automakers will likely form a holding company that could eventually include Mitsubishi; regulatory clearances could be an obstacle (More)
The Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates today for the third straight month. A quarter-point reduction is anticipated; the central bank will likely slow its pace in the new year (More)

Entertainment & Sports

The Academy Awards announced shortlists in 10 categories ahead of March's event. Emilia Perez landed six mentions and Wicked received four; official nominations will be announced Jan. 17 (More)
Denver is poised to land the National Women's Soccer League's 16th team. An investment group based in the city has entered exclusive negotiations; the expansion fee could be as high as $120M (More)
UFC star Conor McGregor said he is in talks to face YouTuber and WWE star Logan Paul in an exhibition boxing match in India. He also plans to return to the mixed martial arts circuit in October; both UFC and WWE are owned by the TKO parent company (More)

Quick Hitters

Feel Good: A nine-year-old Doberman has found his forever home in London after spending over two years in a shelter. Jake's new family reports he has "settled in beautifully."
Take Care: Adults struggling to get in the holiday spirit need not despair. There are a few easy fixes to avoid feeling like a Grinch.
Go Deep: Intermittent fasting can help people lose weight. But new research suggests it may also help make them bald.
Silver Celebration: What do the camera phone, Hollister and razor scooters all have in common? They are among the things turning 25 in 2025.
Life Hack: Everyone is baking cookies at this time of year. Here are some common mistakes to avoid to ensure better treats.

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