What’s News
Ex-U.K. Intelligence Officer Prepared Dossier on Trump
Christopher Steele, a former British intelligence officer now working for a private security-and-investigations firm, produced the dossier of unverified allegations about President-elect Donald Trump’s activities and connections in Russia. 1788
Senate Gears Up for Health-Law Repeal
The Senate on Wednesday will vote well into the night on a series of measures tied to a budget that Republicans plan to use to repeal the Affordable Care Act. 57
Trump Believes Russia Was Behind Election Hacking
Donald Trump said for the first time he believes Russia was behind cyberattacks aimed at influencing the election. 815
President-Elect to Place Business Holdings in a Trust Run by Sons
Some ethics experts say the trust and other measures don’t create the firewall needed to fully insulate him from his holdings. 291
Senators grilled former Exxon Mobil chief Rex Tillerson on his views toward Russia and the escalating sanctions that have been imposed on the country. Photo: Getty Images
Tillerson Suggests Tough Line on Russia, But Won’t Commit on Sanctions
Donald Trump’s pick for secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, said the U.S. needs to aggressively confront Russian President Vladimir Putin while also negotiating with his government, but refused to commit to maintaining or significantly ratcheting up sanctions on the country. 216
Samsung Heir Questioned as Bribery Suspect in South Korean Probe
Lee Jae-yong is being questioned by special prosecutors, drawing the country’s biggest business group deeper into an unfolding political scandal that has led to the impeachment of the president.
- How Samsung Weathered the Recall (Jan. 6)
U.S. Indicts Six VW Executives in Emissions Scandal
A grand jury indicted six Volkswagen executives for their alleged part in the company’s U.S. emissions fraud as the investigation shifts from bringing the German car maker to account to prosecuting individual executives.
The Middle Seat
The Best and Worst Airlines
Personal Technology
Making Sense of Smartphone Plan Madness
Adventure & Travel
A Road Trip Down Kentucky’s Bourbon Trail
U.S. Expected to Launch WTO Complaint Against China Over Aluminum
The Obama administration is expected to launch a formal complaint against the Chinese government with the World Trade Organization over subsidies it says Beijing provides to the country’s vast aluminum industry, according to people familiar with the matter.
FCC Raises Concerns Over ‘Zero-Rate’ Plans
The FCC raised new concerns about some telecommunications firms’ practice of excluding their own streaming services from data charges, in a report overseen by the Obama administration’s outgoing Chairman Tom Wheeler.
Bayer, Monsanto CEOs Pitch Deal to Trump
Top executives of Bayer and Monsanto met with President-elect Donald Trump in New York to pitch the benefits of their planned deal.
PC Market Declines For Fifth Straight Year
Worldwide personal computer shipments receded again in the final quarter of 2016, a pair of data trackers said Wednesday, dragging the year to a fifth consecutive annual decline.
Health-Care Stocks Tumble but Indexes Rise
Major U.S. stock indexes closed higher, shaking off a slide in health-care shares after President-elect Donald Trump criticized the drug industry.
Line Drawing With Gross and Gundlach
Two titans of the bond market slugging it out over high Treasury bond yields have to go to declare the three-decade bond bull market kaput.
Bank Earnings Will Need to Live Up to Lofty Expectations
Big banks have weathered years of low interest rates, billion-dollar fines and many regulatory constraints on their businesses. Their latest challenge: living up to lofty investor expectations.
Mnuchin Has Stake in Fund That Would Gain From Fannie Revival
Steven Mnuchin, nominated to be the next Treasury secretary, stands to benefit personally from a revival of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac—a policy he backs—though he has pledged to quit the positions soon after his confirmation.
U.S.
Baltimore Reaches Settlement With U.S. on Police Overhaul
The agreement represents an 11th-hour push by President Barack Obama’s administration to bring further systemic changes to U.S. policing, aimed at eliminating racially biased and unconstitutional practices.
World
Terrorist attacks hit three major Afghan cities on Tuesday. Blasts killed more than 45 people and wounded close to 100 others. Photo: Reuters
Afghan Authorities Investigate Deadly Kandahar Bombing
Among the 11 people killed in the blast were five envoys from the United Arab Emirates, the deadliest day ever for the country’s diplomatic corps.
Venezuela Arrests Opposition Lawmaker
The arrest of Gilber Caro of the Popular Will party was one of the first actions by an anticoup command unit led by Vice President Tareck El Aissami.
F. Murray Abraham and Claire Danes in ‘’Homeland’
TV Fiction Collides with Real Terrorism in ‘Homeland’ and ‘24:Legacy’
Writers on TV series such as ‘Homeland’ and ‘24:Legacy’ aim to create riveting dramas without sensationalizing real-life terrorism
Speakeasy
Alec Baldwin Discusses Playing Donald Trump on ‘SNL’
Alec Baldwin isn’t concerned if future generations know him only as the guy who portrayed Donald Trump on “Saturday Night Live.” He’ll be back in character on the show on Jan. 21, the first episode after the inauguration, and isn’t worried about running out of material.
Museum Expansion Looks to Create Buzz Over Bugs
The American Museum of Natural History is hoping insects will be the new dinosaurs, unveiling the first detailed plans for a $340 million expansion that will have a mix of exhibits and classrooms devoted to bugs.
What ‘The Founder’ Can Teach Us About Starting a Business
Biopics about real-life entrepreneurs impart lessons in finance, marketing and sales.
Video
The Ex-British Spy Behind Trump Dossier: What We Know
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Smells Like Future Mobility at the Detroit Auto Show
2:35
Inside Donald Trump's First News Conference as President-Elect
2:01PAID PROGRAM
Photos
Juries, From the Ancient Athenians to the ‘12 Angry Men’
As the classic film “12 Angry Men” reaches its 60th birthday, a look at juries—starting at the one that convicted Socrates in Athens.
Alec Baldwin on ‘SNL’: ‘Trump Himself Is the Head Writer’
Alec Baldwin isn’t concerned if future generations know the star of stage, screen and television only as the guy who portrayed Donald Trump on “Saturday Night Live.”