10 things you need to know today: December 12, 2015
Global leaders to review final draft of climate change deal, Congress averts shutdown over spending deal, and more
- 1. Final draft reached in climate change agreement
- 2. Congress passes stopgap bill to avoid government shutdown
- 3. Ben Carson threatens to leave GOP amid talk of brokered convention
- 4. Laquan McDonald's family asks White House to take harder look at Chicago policing
- 5. Former NY Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos found guilty of corruption
- 6. Authorities investigate California mosque fire as possible arson
- 7. Saudi Arabian women take part in historic election
- 8. India, Japan strengthen ties in series of agreements
- 9. New York judge upholds daily fantasy sports ban
- 10. Warriors top Celtics in double overtime, continue undefeated streak
1. Final draft reached in climate change agreement
Diplomats in Paris unveiled the final draft of a global climate change agreement Saturday, with government ministers expected to reject or approve the deal later in the day. The agreement would call for limiting the increase in atmospheric temperatures to 2 degrees Celsius by reducing emissions. The draft follows two weeks of negotiations at the annual United Nations climate change summit, attended by nearly every country in the world.
2. Congress passes stopgap bill to avoid government shutdown
President Obama signed stopgap legislation Friday to keep the government open through Wednesday. Congress is still ironing out the details of the $1.1 trillion spending deal, with partisan disagreements remaining over issues like the environment, Syrian refugees, and guns. Legislators reportedly said that under new House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), negotiations have been less heated. Republicans will not seek to defund Planned Parenthood or undo parts of Obama's signature health care reform.
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3. Ben Carson threatens to leave GOP amid talk of brokered convention
Following rumors that the Republican National Committee discussed the possibility of a brokered convention, GOP presidential candidate Ben Carson blasted the RNC and threatened to leave the party altogether. Carson accused the RNC of using a potential brokered convention — in which no candidate is able to secure the majority of delegates needed to win the nomination — to prevent poll frontrunners like Donald Trump from securing the nomination.
4. Laquan McDonald's family asks White House to take harder look at Chicago policing
The family of Laquan McDonald spoke publicly Friday for the first time since video footage was released in November of a Chicago police officer fatally shooting the black teenager. Rev. Marvin Hunter, McDonald's great uncle, said he supports the Department of Justice investigation into the city's police department, but also called on President Obama to hold a federal summit on community policing in North Lawndale, McDonald's neighborhood. "Change is needed," he said. "Not just at the local level."
5. Former NY Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos found guilty of corruption
Former New York state Senate Majority Leader Dean G. Skelos, 67, and his son, Adam Skelos, 33, were found guilty on all eight counts of bribery, extortion, and conspiracy brought against them Friday. Prosecutors say the elder Skelos directed consulting payments to his son amounting to roughly $300,000. The ruling, coupled with the November conviction of former New York state Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver on corruption charges, is a gut punch to state government. Both father and son could face up to 130 years in prison.
6. Authorities investigate California mosque fire as possible arson
A fire that damaged a southern California mosque Friday is being investigated as possible arson, authorities said. The FBI and local authorities are looking into the fire, which started as a few people were praying inside the building. No one was injured. The fire is potentially the latest example of anti-Islamic backlash since a Dec. 2 mass shooting in San Bernardino, which the FBI is investigating as a terror attack.
7. Saudi Arabian women take part in historic election
Women are able to participate in Saudi Arabia's municipal elections Saturday — as both candidates and voters — for the first time in the nation's history. Out of almost 7,000 candidates, about 950 are women. And of 1.5 million voters expected Saturday, considered a low turnout, about 130,000 are women. "This is a day for all Saudi women if they voted or not," one female voter said. "We are gaining a right that was kept from half the country for too long."
8. India, Japan strengthen ties in series of agreements
In agreements leaders signed Saturday, Japan pledged to work with India on building high-speed rail trains, running joint naval exercises, and increasing arms production in India. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also worked toward establishing a final deal that would commit Japan to helping India further develop its nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. The agreements come as the nations seek to balance China's influence throughout Asia.
ABC News The Wall Street Journal
9. New York judge upholds daily fantasy sports ban
A New York judge upheld the state attorney general's injunction barring the operation of daily sports fantasy sites, including DraftKings and FanDuel. Friday's decision is a major setback for the websites, which garner over 12 percent of their players from New York. Much of the case involved the debate over if gambling on fantasy sites is a competition of chance or skill. Lawyers for DraftKings and FanDuel said they plan to appeal the ruling.
10. Warriors top Celtics in double overtime, continue undefeated streak
The Golden State Warriors improved to 24-0 Friday after fending off the Boston Celtics 124-119 in double overtime. "Obviously, it was nice to get the win," said Stephen Curry, the Warriors' star point guard. "But we had to claw our way to it." The team shot just 39.3 percent from the field Friday, a season low. The Warriors will look to continue their undefeated streak as they face the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday night.
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Julie Kliegman is a freelance writer based in New York. Her work has appeared in BuzzFeed, Vox, Mental Floss, Paste, the Tampa Bay Times and PolitiFact. Her cats can do somersaults.
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