Good Morning! Today’s edition is 1,106 words, a 4-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• Congress back in session

• Elton John loses his vision

• Leaked Jaguar EV pics

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Big Story

Congress’ Final Session of 2024

The Democratic-led Senate and Republican-controlled House return this week.

• Their main goal is to prevent a partial government shutdown before December 20, when current funding expires. Lawmakers must decide on a federal funding plan that includes President Biden’s $100 billion disaster relief request for areas hit by hurricanes and other natural disasters.

• House Speaker Mike Johnson supports a temporary stopgap funding plan that would last into early 2025, allowing Republicans to reshape spending priorities when they take full control. However, this approach could delay Trump’s first-100-days agenda, which includes tax cuts, energy deregulation, and stricter border security.

• Congress must also address the urgent need for disaster relief and pass the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which outlines military policies and funding.

Big Story

Guinea Stadium Crush

At least 56 people died in a stadium crush during a soccer match in Guinea.

• The incident began after the referee made controversial calls, including sending off two players from the visiting team and awarding a penalty kick. This led to angry fans throwing stones and invading the field.

• In the chaos, fans rushed toward the only exit, which was too small to handle the crowd, causing many to be crushed or trampled. Many people believe the death toll is closer to 100.

• The stadium where the crush occurred is an unfinished project. Guinea is currently banned from hosting international matches due to poor stadium conditions, forcing the national team to play in neighboring Ivory Coast.

• Guinea's soccer scene has faced increased scrutiny over corruption. In July, the country’s football body president, Aboubacar Sampil, was investigated for allegedly influencing referees and encouraging violence at matches.

Big Story

French Government Meltdown

French Prime Minister Michel Barnier faces a no-confidence vote this week that could topple his government and shake the eurozone.

• Barnier bypassed parliament to push through the 2025 budget, citing the need for stability in a divided political climate. This upset Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally and the leftist New Popular Front, who filed motions to oust him.

• President Emmanuel Macron appointed Barnier in September to address France’s growing deficit. However, Barnier’s austerity budget — cutting 40 billion euros in spending and raising taxes by 20 billion euros — has deepened divisions in the National Assembly.

• He used Article 49.3, a constitutional tool allowing laws to pass without a vote, to push the budget through, which angered the opposition.

• If the no-confidence vote succeeds on Wednesday, Barnier will be removed, though Macron will remain president. Macron would then need to appoint a new prime minister. The decision could worsen France’s struggling economy and impact the wider eurozone.

Quick Stories

U.S. News

• President-elect Donald Trump has issued a stark warning, demanding the immediate release of Israeli hostages in Gaza. “If the hostages are not released before January 20, 2025, when I take office, there will be ALL HELL TO PAY in the Middle East,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. (More)

• Former Kansas City police detective Roger Golubski, 71, was found dead Monday from an apparent suicide, the same day his federal civil rights trial for allegedly sexually abusing Black women was set to begin. (More)

• The Transportation Security Administration set a new record this week, screening over 3 million airline passengers on Sunday, the busiest day in its history. It surpassed last year’s record of 2.17 million on the same day. (More)

World

• At least three people died, and 32 others were hospitalized in the Philippines after eating a dish made with sea turtle, an endangered species. The local dish, called adobo, is usually made with pork, but indigenous tribes sometimes use turtle meat for its alleged medicinal benefits. (More)

• President Joe Biden arrived in Angola on Monday for his first presidential visit to sub-Saharan Africa. The trip highlights the US-backed Lobito Corridor railway project, linking Zambia, Congo, and Angola. (More)

• Australian police seized a record 2.3 tons of cocaine worth 760 million AUD ($494 million) and arrested 13 suspects after their boat broke down off Queensland’s coast. The haul could have supplied 11.7 million street deals, according to federal police. (More)

Business & Economy

• US stock markets closed mixed on Monday (S&P +0.24%, Nasdaq +0.97%, Dow -0.29%). The S&P and Nasdaq rose to record highs to kick off December trading. (More)

• Intel’s CEO, Pat Gelsinger, has stepped down. Gelsinger has led the company since 2021, but Intel has struggled to compete in the fast-growing artificial intelligence market. Company shares have dropped 61% during his tenure. (More)

• Volkswagen workers in Germany launched their largest strike since 2018, as 120,000 employees represented by the IG Metall union walked off the job. (More)

Sports & Entertainment

• The WNBA released its 2025 schedule. It will tip off with the debut of the Golden State Valkyries and a clash between 2024 top picks Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. The Valkyries host the Los Angeles Sparks on May 16, with Indiana facing Chicago on May 17. (More)

• AC/DC will launch their first North American tour in nine years in 2025, kicking off April 10 at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis and wrapping up May 28 at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland. Tickets for the Power Up tour will go on sale Dec. 6. (More)

• Elton John revealed at his show premiere that he has lost his eyesight after an infection, which made it difficult for him to watch his new musical, The Devil Wears Prada. He said he couldn’t see but loved to hear it and it sounded good. (More)

Science, Health, & Tech

• A new study from the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology suggests that people who are obese and have deep belly fat are at higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease-specific proteins in the brain up to 20 years before dementia symptoms appear. (More)

• Astronomers from the University of Cambridge have concluded that Venus has never been habitable. Despite years of speculation, their study of the planet's atmosphere suggests that Venus has always been too dry to support oceans. (More)

• Adding seaweed pellets to the diets of grazing beef cows could reduce their methane emissions by 37.7%, according to a new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. (More)

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