Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:
1. ASIA TRIP TESTS OBAMA’S GLOBAL CLOUT
With his influence waning at home, the U.S. president looks to a three-country trip in the Far East to assess his leverage in world affairs.
2. HOW A GRUFF FORMER GENERAL HELPED FREE AMERICANS IN PYONGYANG
Director of National Intelligence James Clapper was the right pick to convey a message of respect to North Korea that led to the release of the two U.S. detainees.
3. FEDERAL WORKERS UNWITTINGLY HELP HACKERS
An AP analysis of cyberattacks targeting the government finds that over half of them resulted from employees’ missteps.
4. WHO MAY HAVE BEEN INJURED IN AIRSTRIKE
Iraqi officials say the head of the Islamic State group, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, was wounded in Iraq, but Pentagon officials have no immediate information.
5. DETERGENT ‘PODS’ SEND KIDS TO ER
A study reveals that over 700 children went to the hospital after they ingested soap packets they mistook for candy or toys.
6. AP EXCLUSIVE: U.S. AID AGENCY MAY HALT RISKY WORK
USAID is preparing a new policy that would effectively end perilous democracy missions in hostile countries.
7. WHITE HOUSE FACES LAST BEST CHANCE TO LIMIT IRAN NUCLEAR PROGRAM
The administration seeks to seal a deal with Tehran before skeptical Republicans who will control Congress next year are able to scuttle it.
8. WHERE FRIGID TEMPERATURES ARE HEADED
The Upper Midwest is bracing for heavy snow and cold weather as a powerful storm makes its way down from Alaska.
9. CATALONIANS CHOOSE SPLIT IN MOCK POLL
Eighty eight percent of the Spanish region’s residents would like to break away from Madrid according to the results of the nonbinding vote which saw low turnout.
10. MALAYSIA’S SHARIA LAW SEPARATES KIDS FROM NON-MUSLIM PARENTS
In mixed marriages, a Muslim spouse can automatically get custody of the children using a religious court–something the country’s other minorities are protesting.