What’s News
Developing
Nine Dead as Truck Rams Berlin Christmas Market
A truck drove onto the sidewalk at a Christmas market in the German capital on Monday, killing nine people and injuring at least 50, police said. A security official said authorities believe it was a deliberate act. 542
Gunman Kills Russian Ambassador to Turkey
A gunman killed Russia’s envoy to Turkey during a gallery opening in Ankara, and can be heard shouting “Don’t forget Syria” in a video of the attack. 864
Platinum Partners’ Executives Charged With Investor Fraud
Top executives of hedge fund Platinum Partners were arrested Monday morning and charged with defrauding investors in one of the biggest such cases since Bernard L. Madoff’s Ponzi scheme. 164
Billionaire Vincent Viola Picked for Army Secretary
Vincent Viola, co-founder of high-frequency trading firm Virtu Financial Inc., will be nominated by president-elect Donald Trump as Secretary of the Army. 158
Capital Journal
Why a Russian Hacking Inquiry Is in Trump’s Best Interests
Donald Trump has two big reasons to support a full inquiry into Russian hacking allegations, writes Gerald F. Seib. 473
Air Force Pushes Back Over F-35 Cost Overruns: ‘That’s in the Past’
The U.S. Air Force general in charge of the fighter jet program disputed Donald Trump’s contention that costs have run out of control, saying such overruns largely ended in 2011.
The Travels of Mrs. Murray’s Toyota Unveil Terror-Finance Network
Annie Murray’s 2009 Land Cruiser followed the same overseas car caravan that U.S. officials alleged raised millions of dollars for Hezbollah—a trade route they thought they had cleaned up five years ago.
New York Region
New York’s Second Avenue Subway to Open Jan. 1
Apple Hits Back at EU Tax Order
Apple fought back against the European Union’s decision that €13 billion in tax breaks the company received from Ireland were illegal, as the feuding sides dug in for a protracted legal battle.
Boeing Plans Voluntary Layoff Program
Boeing Co. said Monday it would launch a voluntary layoff program early next year and may resort to compulsory job cuts to help trim costs at its commercial jetliner arm.
Companies Face Delays Getting Cash Out of China
Multinationals operating in China are facing new delays in recent weeks as Chinese regulators impose tougher restrictions on the movement of capital out of the country to slow the yuan’s decline. 50
Middle East Airlines Start to Feel Pressure
The boom times are fading for the Middle East carriers whose rapid expansion has sparked a nasty war of words with European and U.S. rivals in their battle for customers.
GM to Cut Production at Four U.S. Plants to Lower Swollen Inventories
General Motors Co. will cut car production at several U.S. assembly plants in January to reduce swollen inventories, the latest auto maker adjusting to softening demand after a seven-year growth spurt.
2016: A Very Good Year for Stock Market Contrarians
Investors who bucked the market trend won big this year. By one measure, contrarian stock investors had returns of 31% so far this year, marking their biggest gains since 2009.
Builder Stocks Look Vulnerable to Higher Rates
The iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF has rallied 8.8% since Election Day mortgage rates are on the way up.
U.S. Stocks Higher, Led By Real Estate, Telecoms
U.S. stocks rose as shares that have lagged behind the postelection rally made up some ground.
Canada Insurer Fairfax to Buy Swiss Firm Allied World for $4.9 Billion
Fairfax Financial is in discussions to raise as much as $2.7 billion from investors to partner in its $4.9 billion cash-and-stock agreement to acquire Allied World Assurance.
Brazil’s da Silva Indicted for Alleged Corruption, Money Laundering
A Brazilian judge accepted criminal charges against former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the fifth indictment against Mr. da Silva, for alleged corruption and money laundering.
Russia Signs Accord With Nationalist Austrian Party
Russia’s ruling party signed a “cooperation agreement” with the anti-immigrant Freedom Party of Austria, one of the clearest signs that the Kremlin is seeking to deepen ties with nationalist and antiestablishment forces in the West.
Three People Injured in Shooting at Swiss Mosque
Three people have been injured in a shooting at an Islamic center in Zurich, police said.
Diamond Magnate Arrested in Israel
Israeli diamond magnate Beny Steinmetz was arrested Monday on suspicion of bribing government officials in Guinea, Israeli authorities said, widening the fallout from a long-running scandal involving one of the world’s richest iron-ore deposits.
Congo Braces for Unrest as President Refuses to Leave Office
The government of President Joseph Kabila shuts social media sites and radios stations to stem mass street protests.
Health & Wellness
Patients of Women Doctors May Have an Edge
Hospital patients treated by female physicians had a small survival edge over those with male doctors, a new study of more than 58,000 physicians found. 50
U.S.
North Carolina May Repeal Transgender Law
The North Carolina legislature is expected to repeal a law stating transgender people must use the public bathroom associated with the sex listed on their birth certificate.
Baptist Figure Draws Backlash Over Anti-Trump Stance
Russell Moore has been a persistent critic of Donald Trump and his supporters, and that stance has provoked a backlash from many pastors and other leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention. 105
Video
Coffee Connoisseurs Pursue Perfect Cup of Joe
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Russian Ambassador to Turkey Assassinated in Ankara
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Apple Tax Ruling by EU Could Be Overturned
6:13PAID PROGRAM
Photos
Health
Want to Exercise More? Try Screen Time
New research shows potential for smartphone apps and games like ‘Pokémon Go’ to boost physical activity.
Arts
The Best Arts and Culture of 2016
Not everything about 2016 was terrible. The WSJ picks the best of culture, including art, books, movies, plays, music and more.