Dec 18 Watch 8:25 Is the 2015 spending bill a gift to big banks? By PBS News Hour Tucked into the new federal spending bill that passed this week was a provision to loosen banking regulations on hedges known as derivatives or swaps, rolling back part of the Dodd-Frank Act that was enacted after the financial crisis. Dennis… Continue watching
Dec 18 Watch 2:17 Celebration and criticism for U.S. policy shift on Cuba - Part 1 By PBS News Hour Continue watching
Dec 18 Watch 6:27 Does Sony's kibosh on 'The Interview' set a bad precedent? - Part 2 By PBS News Hour Continue watching
Dec 18 Watch 2:18 White House, Hollywood respond to 'Interview' controversy - Part 1 By PBS News Hour Continue watching
Dec 18 Watch 2:54 News Wrap: Putin vows West won't 'defang' Russia By PBS News Hour In our news wrap Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed confidence that his nation’s economy and currency would recover in the next two years and vowed that the West would never “defang” Russia. Also, Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint… Continue watching
Dec 18 Climate change could cut 18 percent of world food production by 2050 By Rebecca Jacobson, Inside Energy Farmers are already suffering from droughts worsened by global climate change. A study published in the journal Environmental Research Letters found that by 2050, global climate change could cut world food production by 18 percent. Environmental scientists suspect… Continue reading
Dec 18 Transgender government workers now protected under Civil Rights Act By Joshua Barajas Claims of workplace discrimination against transgender people will now be covered under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Attorney General Eric Holder announced in a memo released Thursday. Continue reading
Dec 18 Panel suggests major changes at the Secret Service By Alicia A. Caldwell, Associated Press WASHINGTON — The Secret Service is an "insular" agency that needs a new director hired from the outside, according to former government officials tasked with examining the embattled agency after a man with a knife stormed the White House. Continue reading
Dec 18 Paramount pulls 'Team America' screenings in wake of 'Interview' controversy By Justin Scuiletti Moviegoers hoping to catch a screening of "Team America: World Police" in lieu of the canceled "The Interview" are out of luck. Paramount, the studio that owns distribution rights to the 2004 satirical film by "South Park" creators… Continue reading
Dec 18 Two top Islamic State group leaders killed, more U.S. troops set to head into Iraq By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press WASHINGTON — The next wave of American troops will begin moving into Iraq in a couple of weeks to train local forces, the top U.S. commander for the mission said Thursday while cautioning that it will take at least three… Continue reading