The Brief

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel Travels To Mideast
Mark Wilson—Getty Images

1,000 Troops Will Stay Put

The U.S. military will keep 1,000 more troops in Afghanistan next year than originally planned, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced Saturday. By 2016, the U.S. still plans to reduce its troops to 5,500, and have embassy presence only by 2017

Luke Somers killed in failed rescue attempt

Hostage Killed in Failed Rescue

U.S. hostage Luke Somers, held by an al Qaeda offshoot in Yemen for more than a year, and South African teacher Pierre Korkie were both killed

Residents evacuate due to Typhoon Haqupit

Typhoon Threatens Philippines

A destructive typhoon with 109 mph winds caused hundreds of thousands of evacuations, as it headed for the country that was ravaged by Typhoon Haiyan a little more than a year ago

Coldplay Tour - Auckland

Chris Martin Says Coldplay’s Next Album Will Be Last

The group is in the midst of recording another studio record, tentatively called A Head Full of Dreams, and according to frontman Chris Martin, it may be their last: "It's our seventh thing, and the way we look at it, it's like the last Harry Potter book or something like that"

Obama Holds Meeting On Building Trust In Communities After Ferguson Unrest

Prominent Ferguson Protester Charged With Assault

Rasheen Aldridge, the youngest member of the Ferguson Commission, is accused of pushing a city marshal during a demonstration in which protesters squared off against law enforcement as they tried to enter the building

56th Annual GRAMMY Awards - Press Room

Beyoncé Beats Dolly Parton’s Grammy Nominations Record

The "Drunk in Love" singer had been tied with country music icon Dolly Parton for a whopping 46 nominations each, but after her self-titled, surprise album snagged a best urban contemporary album nod on Friday, she officially became the most Grammy-nominated woman

Earns CBS

CBS and Dish Network Reach Deal to End Blackout

The new multi-year agreement will keep CBS channels on Dish for the foreseeable future and gives Dish rights to video-on-demand content for Showtime, as well as a path to an “over-the-top” version of the Showtime channel delivered via the Internet

Police Involved Shooting

Grand Jury to Weigh NYC Police Shooting

Akai Gurley, 28, was shot dead on Nov. 20 by rookie officer Peter Liang, who officials say discharged his weapon accidentally. Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson's decision comes after conducting an investigation with the New York Police Department

UVa Fraternity

Rolling Stone Sorry for Rape Story

The magazine that published a detailed account of a gang rape at UVA said that it no longer considers the woman behind the story to be a reliable source. The university's president said that safety of students was still a concern and that "today’s news must not alter this focus"

US-ENTERTAINMENT-SONY-CYBER-ATTACK

Hackers Threaten Sony Employees

Someone claiming to represent the hacker group Guardians of Peace sent emails in which they promised to bring about the “collapse” of the company. The message asked that employees join the hackers in denouncing Sony Pictures or suffer severe consequences

Jackie Robinson Foundation 2014 Awards Dinner

Police Meet Possible Cosby Victim

Detectives are meeting with a woman who is a possible victim of sexual assault by comedian Bill Cosby, an LA police spokeswoman says. Judy Huth claims the comedian forced her to perform a sex act in 1974 when she was 15 years old