Guantanamo 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 Guantanamo Bay, the site of a significant U.S. naval base and controversial military prison, back to Cuba
The Brief
IBM Thinks It Can Make Food Safer
IBM announced on Thursday that it's partnering with Mars to sequence the makeup of various foods and enter that information into a database
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
Eddie Murphy Says He’s Returning to SNL After 30 Years
It's been more than 30 years since Eddie Murphy has appeared on Saturday Night Live, but the comedian confirmed his return to Studio 8H for the show's 40th anniversary special. "It just never worked out where the timing was right for me to do it," Murphy said
Obama to Request $1 Billion for 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
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
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
How to Be Single Cast Taking Shape
New Line Cinema has entered negotiations with Rebel Wilson, Leslie Mann, Dakota Johnson, and Dan Stevens to star in the upcoming romantic comedy How to Be Single. The much anticipated movie is slated for Valentine's Day release next year
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
Pot Arrests Drop in NYC After Policy Change
New York City's pledge to stop making many marijuana arrests is playing out on the streets, where arrests and summonses for small-time pot possession have plummeted since the policy change this fall. Critics say it's too early to draw lasting conclusions
Indian Woman Sues Uber in the U.S. Over Alleged Rape
An Indian woman who says she was raped by an Uber driver while she was traveling in his cab in December is suing the San Francisco–based online firm behind the service in a U.S. federal court in California, claiming it failed to put in place basic safety procedures
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
