News Wrap: Russia tests new missile to attack Ukraine

Amna Nawaz:

We start the day's other news with the war in Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin says his country has tested a new intermediate-range missile to strike Ukraine. Officials in Kyiv initially claimed it was an intercontinental ballistic missile, which is capable of carrying nuclear warheads over long distances. But American officials clarified it was likely a closer-range missile.

Putin said the use of the new missile was a direct response to Western policy changes toward Ukraine's use of long-range weapons to strike inside Russia.

Vladimir Putin, Russian President (through interpreter):

We consider ourselves entitled to use our weapons against military facilities of those countries that allowed their weapons to be used against our facilities. And in the event of an escalation of aggressive actions, we will respond decisively and reciprocally.

Amna Nawaz:

Ukrainian officials say the missile was one of nine fired at the central city of Dnipro. A number of businesses and residential buildings were damaged, and at least two people were injured.

In Brazil, police have indicted former President Jair Bolsonaro on charges of orchestrating a failed coup following his 2022 election defeat. The accusation against the former right-wing leader and 36 others is just the latest legal challenge for Bolsonaro.

Brazil's Supreme Court will review the document and decide whether to recommend the findings be sent to the country's prosecutor general, who will then either formally charge Bolsonaro or drop the investigation. Bolsonaro has denied any wrongdoing.

The Danish military is closely watching a Chinese ship in the Baltic Sea after two major underwater fiber-optic data cables were ruptured in recent days. The bulk carrier is anchored in the Sea of Kattegat off Denmark's northeast coast. The vessel, known as the Yi Peng 3, was in the area at the time of the ruptures.

Finland, Sweden and Germany have all launched investigations into the damaged cables. Today, Denmark's defense minister said no conclusions can be drawn yet.

Troels Lund Poulsen, Danish Defense Minister (through interpreter):

I look at it very seriously. I will also start by saying we do not know the extent of the incident, whether it is sabotage or something else. But, regardless, it is, of course, a situation that requires a lot of attention.

Amna Nawaz:

In Beijing today, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said he had no information about the Chinese ship's specific situation, but he added that he hoped the ship's rights to normal navigation would be protected.

In Southwestern Iceland, a volcano has erupted on the Reykjavik peninsula for the seventh time in less than a year. The flow of lava started with little warning late Wednesday near the town of Grindavik about 30 miles southwest of the capital, Reykjavik.

Dozens of nearby houses were evacuated. Officials say the fissure is nearly two miles long, but add that the eruption is smaller than a similar one back in August. The volcanic area had previously been silent for 800 years before coming back to life in 2021.

Back in this country, the highest court in Illinois has overturned Jussie Smollett's conviction. The actor had been charged with staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019. Two years later, a jury found him guilty of disorderly conduct for filing a false hate crime report. Today, the state Supreme Court ruled Smollett was unjustly prosecuted since the initial charges were already dropped as part of a negotiated deal.

The special prosecutor in that trial wrote today's decision — quote — "Make no mistake, today's ruling has nothing to do with Mr. Smollett's innocence."

Cryptocurrency markets took note of the announcement today that SEC Chairman Gary Gensler plans to resign effective January 20, Inauguration Day. Under his leadership, the SEC has been aggressive in its oversight of the crypto industry. Bitcoin hit a new record after the news, flirting with $100,000, while, on Wall Street, investors turned away from tech and towards more broad-based stocks.

That helped the Dow jump more than 460 points on the day, or about 1 percent. The Nasdaq added just six points, so virtually flat. The S&P 500 ended in positive territory.

And the 2024 National Book Award for Fiction went to a brand-new take on an American classic. "James" by Percival Everett reimagines "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain, this time from the perspective of Huck's companion, an enslaved man named Jim.

In April, Everett told the "News Hour" writing the book felt like having a conversation with Twain.

Percival Everett, Author, "James": I am perhaps writing the novel that he was not equipped to write, nor would he imagine it, because his character is Huck Finn. It is Huck's novel. But he could not occupy the psychic and cultural space that was occupied by Jim.

Amna Nawaz:

The nonfiction prize went to anthropologist Jason De Leon. His book "Soldiers and Kings: Survival and Hope in the World of Human Smuggling" chronicles the lives of smugglers who guide migrants across-borders in Latin America.

"Something About Living" by a Palestinian-American author Lena Khalaf Tuffaha the poetry prize. Young people's literature honors went to Shifa Saltagi Safadi for "Kareem Between." And "Taiwan Travelogue" by Yang Shuang-zi won for translated literature.

And the country music industry has been honoring its own with some star performances and a few surprises at the 58th Annual Country Music Awards. Rising superstar Shaboozey was left out of the winner's circle, even though his hit "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" has topped the Billboard Hot 100 list for 18 straight weeks.

Chris Stapleton won the most awards with three, including male vocalist of the year. And Morgan Wallen was a no-show at the event, even though he topped the nominations list with seven. He only won a single award, but he made it to, made it count by grabbing the night's top honor of entertainer of the year.