10 things you need to know today: January 3, 2019

1. Trump, Democrats hold fast in showdown over wall funding

Neither President Trump nor leading Democrats budged Wednesday in a closed-door White House meeting on the 12th day of the partial government shutdown over Trump's demand for $5 billion for his border wall. The new Congress convenes Thursday, with Democrats taking majority control of the House and Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) likely becoming speaker. Pelosi said Democrats would quickly pass legislation to reopen the government. "Nothing for the wall," Pelosi said in an interview with NBC's Today airing Thursday. "We can go through the back and forth. No. How many more times can we say no?" Trump has already vowed to veto any spending proposal that doesn't include money for the border wall, and Republican Senate leaders have said they would not take up legislation without Trump on board.

The Associated Press

2. China lands probe on dark side of moon, a first

China successfully landed its Chang'e 4 probe and lunar rover on the far side of the moon, marking the first time a spacecraft has touched down on the part of the moon that always faces away from the Earth, China state media announced Thursday. The Chang'e 4 landed at 10:26 a.m. Beijing time at the South Pole-Aitken Basin, the moon's largest and oldest impact crater, China Central Television (CCTV) reported. The probe sent back its first photo just over an hour later, showing a small crater illuminated by the spacecraft. A lack of radio signals on the far side, or dark side, of the moon means Earth can't directly communicate with the lunar probe, so China launched a relay satellite in May.

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CNN The Associated Press

3. Trump says he 'essentially' fired Mattis

President Trump said Wednesday that he "essentially" fired his former Defense Secretary James Mattis, who stepped down from his post Tuesday after announcing his departure after the president ordered the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Syria. Mattis had planned to stay on the job until the end of February, but Trump moved up the date by two months after Mattis' resignation letter was widely interpreted as a rebuke of the president's clashes with allies and softer treatment of U.S. foes. In a meeting with his Cabinet, Trump criticized Mattis, saying he failed to make progress on military conflicts in the Middle East and in Afghanistan, where Trump wants to halve U.S. troop strength.

Politico

4. Latest Ebola outbreak has now sickened 608 people in Congo

An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has now affected 608 patients, with 368 deaths, the Ministry of Health said Wednesday. Another 29 possible cases are under investigation, and 207 of the patients have recovered. Ebola causes fever, severe headache, and bleeding, in some cases. It kills about half of those infected, although the toll varies among outbreaks. The current crisis, which began in August, is the second-deadliest and second-largest in history, exceeded only by one that killed more than 11,000 people in West Africa in 2014, according to the World Health Organization. Hundreds of refugees have fled to Uganda, near the outbreak's epicenter, since the DRC's presidential election Sunday, leading to concern that the virus could spread.

CNN

5. Trump and his loyalists hit back at Romney

Incoming Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) faced counterattacks from President Trump and his allies on Wednesday after criticizing Trump in an op-ed in The Washington Post. After Romney said Trump "has not risen to the mantle of the office," Trump responded via Twitter. "I won big, and he didn't," Trump tweeted. "He should be happy for all Republicans. Be a TEAM player & WIN!" Ronna McDaniel, the chairwoman of the Republican National Committee and Romney's niece, led the charge among Trump loyalists. "For an incoming Republican freshman senator to attack @realdonaldtrump as their first act feeds into what the Democrats and media want and is disappointing and unproductive," tweeted McDaniel, who often used her maiden name, Romney, until Trump suggested she change it.

The New York Times

6. U.S. ambassador allowed to see American arrested in Russia

U.S. Ambassador Jon Huntsman was allowed to visit Paul Whelan, the American detained by Russia on spying charges, at a Moscow prison on Wednesday. "Ambassador Huntsman expressed his support for Mr. Whelan and offered the embassy's assistance," a State Department spokesman said. Huntsman then spoke with members of Whelan's family, who say he's not a spy. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the Trump administration would demand Whelan's release if the charges are unfounded. "We've made clear to the Russians our expectation that we will learn more about the charges, come to understand what it is he's been accused of, and if the detention is not appropriate we will demand his immediate return," Pompeo said during a trip to Brazil.

USA Today

7. Apple outlook darkens due to disappointing iPhone sales in China

Apple shares plunged by more than 7 percent in after-hours trading Wednesday after the company lowered its guidance for first-quarter revenue, citing disappointing iPhone revenue in China and President Trump's trade war. In a letter to investors, Apple CEO Tim Cook said the company's quarterly revenue would come in around $84 billion, below its previous estimate of between $89 billion and $93 billion. Cook wrote that the company had "anticipated some challenges in key emerging markets," but did "not foresee the magnitude of the economic deceleration, particularly in greater China. In fact, most of our revenue shortfall to our guidance, and over 100 percent of our year-over-year worldwide revenue decline, occurred in Greater China across iPhone, Mac, and iPad."

CNBC The Washington Post

8. Daryl Dragon, half of the duo Captain & Tennille, dies at 76

Daryl Dragon, the keyboardist known as the Captain in the 1970s pop duo Captain & Tennille, died of renal failure in a Prescott, Arizona, hospice on Wednesday. He was 76. Dragon's former wife and musical partner, Toni Tennille, reportedly was by his side when he died. The couple divorced in 2014 after 39 years of marriage but remained close. "He was a brilliant musician with many friends who loved him greatly. I was at my most creative in my life, when I was with him," Tennille, 78, told PEOPLE in a statement. Dragon was a keyboardist for the Beach Boys when he met Tennille, but was best known for their TV variety show and the music they produced together, including "Muskrat Love," "Do That to Me One More Time," and "Shop Around." They won a Grammy in 1976 for "Love Will Keep Us Together," the duo's debut album.

People

9. Tesla shares drop after price-cut announcement

Tesla shares fell by 6 percent on Wednesday after the electric-car maker announced price cuts on all of its vehicles, and reported disappointing deliveries of its Model 3. Tesla said the price reductions were necessary to offset lower green tax credits, which fall by half once a company reaches 200,000 sales. The full $7,500 tax credit for Tesla vehicles expired at the end of 2018, so Tesla is reducing prices by $2,000 per vehicle to make up some of the lost credit. "The price cut is what's driving the stock lower, as it openly acknowledges the sunset of subsidy dollars is a material headwind," said Craig Irwin, an analyst with Roth Capital Partners.

Reuters

10. Curb Your Enthusiasm's Bob Einstein dies at 76

Comedian Bob Einstein, who had a recurring role on HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm and created the character Super Dave Osborne, died Wednesday at his California home after being diagnosed with cancer. He was 76. On Curb Your Enthusiasm, Einstein portrayed Marty Funkhouser, a friend Larry David constantly offended in ridiculous ways. The Super Dave Osborne character he created was a hapless stuntman. Einstein appeared as Super Dave on numerous shows, including his own comedy sketch series that aired from 1987 to 1991. Einstein also won two Emmys as a writer for such series as The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. He also appeared on Jerry Seinfeld's talk show Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. Einstein's brother, actor Albert Brooks, praised him as a "great brother, father, and husband. A brilliantly funny man" who will be "missed forever."

Deadline