Morning Must Reads: December 9

3 minute read

Exclusive: Putin Cut Ukraine Criticism From Speech Ahead of Peace Talks

Russia’s President apparently cut out a blistering critique of Ukrainian authorities from a Dec. 5 speech just moments before delivery, TIME’s Simon Shuster reports, as his position on the conflict with his country’s neighbor softens ahead of the next round of peace talks

How Sharing Your Health Data Could Change Medical Research

A slew of companies and organizations promise to tear down barriers to data collection and sharing by encouraging patients to give away their information

Senate to Release Torture Report

The report, expected on Tuesday, will shed light on the CIA’s use of so-called “Enhanced Interrogation Techniques” in the years after 9/11

President Obama Gets Personal With Stephen Colbert

Obama took his first and final turn on the Colbert Report Monday night, fending off verbal assaults from the faux-conservative comedian. The appearance on the satirical show was partly meant to highlight the ongoing open enrollment for health insurance in 2015

Second Nor’easter Is Coming

A second nor’easter in two weeks will slug the Interstate 95 corridor starting Tuesday, prompting winter storm watches and warnings in six states. The storm is expected to arrive with strong winds and 2 in. of rain from Maine to New Jersey

Prince William and Kate Just Met Beyoncé and Jay Z

The momentous encounter took place Monday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, where both couples watched the Brooklyn Nets play the Cleveland Cavaliers, which meant LeBron James was also in the same room. The royal couples had courtside seats, and sat across from each other

New Batch of Ferguson Grand Jury Documents Released

Bob McCulloch, the prosecutor who oversaw the Ferguson police shooting inquiry, has released additional grand jury documents after not including a law-enforcement interview with a key witness in the initial public release of evidence

Portland Tells Uber to Stop Operating

The City of Portland filed a lawsuit against Uber on Monday, alleging that the ride-sharing service broke local codes. Officials said Uber was “in violation of the City of Portland’s Private for Hire Transportation Regulations,” in a suit just three days after Uber’s Portland launch

RNC Chairman Reince Priebus Set for Re-Election Bid

Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus formally declared his bid for a third two-year term on Monday evening in an email to members. “With such support it is impossible for me to say no,” Priebus wrote to members of the committee

Sierra Leone Has Highest Number of Ebola Cases

Sierra Leone has surpassed Liberia as the country with the highest number of Ebola cases, according to the most recent World Health Organization statistics. The WHO said transmission of the virus was “intense” in Sierra Leone

Malaria Deaths Nearly Halved Since 2000

According to the World Health Organization’s World Malaria Report 2014, the mortality rate decreased by 47% worldwide since 2000, and the number of infections went from 173 million the same year to 128 million in 2013

Actor Who Played The Addams Family Son Has Died

Ken Weatherwax, who played the Addams Family’s pudgy, cake-loving son, Pugsley, on the 1960s television hit, died of a heart attack on Sunday. He was 59. The actor was best known for his memorable role in the cult series, but later said the part stymied his acting career

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