Five Things to Know for Your New Day – Thursday, December 18, 2014
Obama moves to normalize relations with Cuba. The Sony hacker trail points to North Korea. And The Simpsons celebrates a quarter century.
It's Thursday and here are the 5 things to know for your New Day
1. CUBA
Didn't see that coming: U.S. contractor Alan Gross was freed by Cuba yesterday as part of a landmark deal that paves the way for a major overhaul in U.S. policy toward the island. A major loosening of travel and economic restrictions on the country are in the works. And the two nations are set to re-open embassies, with preliminary discussions on that next step in normalizing diplomatic relations beginning in the coming weeks. Gross had been held by the Cuban government since 2009. He was convicted and sentenced to 15 years in prison for attempting to set up an Internet network for Cuban dissidents.
2. SONY HACK – NORTH KOREA
Fade to black: The U.S. is ready to point the finger at North Korea for the crippling hack attack at Sony Pictures. U.S. investigators say an announcement pinning the blame on hackers working for the Pyongyang regime could come sometime today. Because of the North Korean's tight control of the Internet in the reclusive country, U.S. officials believe the hack was ordered directly by the country's leadership. All the hubbub is over the Sony film "The Interview." The comedy became controversial because its plot involves the attempted assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Sony scrubbed the film's Christmas Day release, because of threats against moviegoers and because major movie chains had decided to postpone or cancel next week's screenings.
3. CHIKUNGUNYA
Chicken what?: It's pronounced chik-un-GOON-ya. What it means: "bending over in pain." Chikungunya is a nasty little mosquito-borne virus that has no vaccine and no treatment. What a nice combination. It causes intense joint pain and inflammation. Originally from Asia and Africa, Chikungunya has been kicking around the Americas for a couple or years and can now be found in the U.S. There have been 11 confirmed cases of local infection this year in the United States, all in Florida. There's nothing to stop it from spreading, so get used to hearing about it. And carry plenty of mosquito repellant.
4. MARKETS SOAR
Let's get fiscal: Wall Street liked what it heard from the Federal Reserve yesterday. How much, you ask? The Dow and S&P 500 had their best days of 2014. The Dow surged 288 points. So what was the news? The Fed said it's in no hurry to raise interest rates. That will keep loans cheap and should promote economic growth.
5. SIMPSONS 25 YEARS
A quarter century of laughs: This week marks the 25th anniversary of "The Simpsons," which debuted as a half-hour sitcom on December 17, 1989. That's 561 episodes and counting - and a lot of D'ohs! and donuts.
Those are your five biggies for the day. Here are a couple of others that are brewing and have the Internet buzzing.
- Light show: How's this for Christmas spirit?
–Use your noggin: This game show contestant from down under blows a simple question.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsHXIHxIllQ&feature=youtu.be
- Busted: This little one is in big trouble, if mom can stop from giggling.
- Never gets old: Dinner with the Barkleys - and Fluffy.
- Christmas stories: Now for something completely different.
There you go. All you need to know to get an early start to your morning.
Be sure to tune in to "New Day," from 6 to 9 a.m. ET, join us at NewDayCNN.com and go and have a GREAT NEW DAY!
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So disappointed in the theater chains that caved in to the North Korean threats. You gave NK just what they wanted. Where is your American pride? People have died for your right to speak and express yourself, and the first little North Korean 4' tall leader who makes a move scares you into submission. We should boycott all of those movie theaters this weekend in support for American freedom and to show nobody pushes us around.
Great vids today!!!!