Guantánamo to Stay in U.S. Hands
U.S.-Cuba relations have been thawing recently, but on Thursday the White House said it would not return Guantánamo Bay, the site of a significant U.S. naval base and controversial military prison, back to Cuba
The Brief
Keystone Bill Passes Senate
The Senate passed a bill Thursday that would authorize construction of a pipeline linking the Canadian tar sands with Gulf Coast oil refineries
Europe's Gun-Smuggling Problem
Police quickly traced the source in the Paris attacks but stopping criminals and other jihadist cells from acquiring assault weapons might not be so easy
Obama Backs Central America
President Barack Obama will request $1 billion from Congress on Monday to aid Central American governments making tough reforms as more youth seek opportunities in the United States, Vice President Joe Biden wrote in an op-ed published Thursday
Amazon Just Made a Profit for the First Time in 6 Months
Amazon's fourth-quarter earnings beat analysts' expectations but missed on revenue. The Internet retail giant turned a profit of $214 million, a stark reversal from last quarter. The big number is 53%, or the increase in paid membership, worldwide, for Amazon Prime
Texas Executes Man After Court Rejects Impairment Plea
Robert Ladd was convicted of killing a woman nearly two decades ago while on parole for a triple slaying. The court also rejected an appeal that challenged whether the pentobarbital Texas uses in executions is potent enough to not cause unconstitutional pain and suffering
Dalai Lama, Obama to Make Public Appearance Together
The Tibetan leader is set to participate in the National Prayer Breakfast on Feb. 5, and the President is expected to attend. Barack Obama has never appeared publicly with the Dalai Lama, who is viewed by the Chinese government as a dissident
The Disneyland Measles Outbreak Likely Came From Overseas
An outbreak of measles that began in California’s Disneyland is likely to have come from overseas, health officials said on Thursday. Health professionals say the outbreak highlights the need for childhood vaccinations
Murray Into Final; Williams, Sharapova to Meet in Australia
Andy Murray has reached the Australian Open final for the fourth time, beating Tomas Berdych in a tension-filled semifinal to earn one more shot at a long elusive title. Murray said the emotional reactions were understandable given the hype leading into the match
Two Men Just Flew a Balloon Across the Pacific
When Troy Bradley and Leonid Tiukhtyaev land in Mexico on Saturday in their large helium balloon Two Eagles, they will have broken at least one and possibly two world records. The duo set out flying across the Pacific from Japan on Sunday
Suge Knight Involved in Hit-and-Run, Reports Say
Suge Knight, the founder of Death Row Records, was involved in a hit-and-run incident on Thursday in which a man was killed, according to multiple reports. The hip-hop mogul was apparently on a set in Compton, Calif., on Thursday when there was a collision
Portugal Offers Citizenship to Descendants of Expelled Jews
Portugual approved this week new rules for granting citizenship to descendants of the nation's Sephardic Jewish community. The landmark move was first proposed two years ago, but had stalled in the absence of Cabinet approval
