Good Morning! Today’s edition is 1,175 words, a 4-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• FBI seizes largest-ever homemade bomb cache

• Milan bans smoking

• New Year’s Eve celebrations around the globe

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Big Story

Thief Swipes Millions from London Mansion

A masked burglar broke into a London mansion on December 7 and stole over £10.5 million ($13 million) worth of jewelry, handbags, and cash.

• CCTV footage captured the thief sneaking through the property and stuffing valuables into a backpack. Despite the presence of household staff, the burglar managed to avoid detection.

• The intruder initially tried to escape through a guest room window but was thwarted by safety stoppers on the sash windows. He eventually exited the house the same way he entered. CCTV images revealed close calls, including the thief narrowly missing a maid in the hallway.

• Officials believe the burglar was a white man in his late 20s to 30s and may have been armed. A £500,000 ($625,000) reward is offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect, along with a separate reward of 10% of the recovered items' value.

Big Story

FBI Bomb Seizure

The FBI seized over 150 homemade explosive devices at Brad Spafford's farm in Virginia during a December 17 search.

• Investigators found the stash while executing a search warrant on Spafford’s property after they arrested him for an unrelated gun charge.

• This is the largest cache of its kind in the agency’s history. Some devices, identified as pipe bombs, were labeled "lethal" and stored in various locations. Authorities also found a jar of unstable explosive material labeled "dangerous" in a freezer.

• Prosecutors argue Spafford is a serious threat to the community and want to hold him during the investigation. They point out that he kept making explosives despite losing three fingers in an accident with explosive materials and frequently uses violent, anti-government language.

• Spafford’s lawyers argue he poses no threat and should be released while awaiting trial. They emphasize that he has no criminal record, history of substance abuse, or mental illness and describe him as a hard-working family man.

Big Story

New Years Attacks

A man drove a pickup truck into a large crowd on Bourbon and Canal Streets in New Orleans early New Year's Day, killing at least 15 people and injuring 35.

• The suspect, identified as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar from Texas, was killed by police at the scene after he began shooting at officers. Police found an ISIS flag, weapons, and a potential explosive device in his rented truck.

• The FBI is leading the investigation and treating the incident as an act of terrorism. Multiple improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were found in the French Quarter, though their viability is still being assessed. Authorities have cordoned off the area and are urging residents and visitors to stay away while investigations continue.

• Meanwhile, a Tesla Cybertruck exploded at Nevada's Trump Las Vegas hotel Wednesday morning. The driver pulled up to the valet area, and the vehicle blew up, killing the driver and injuring seven people. The truck bed was filled with fireworks and fuel canisters.

• Investigators are searching for links between the two incidents and said both vehicles were rented using the rental app Turo.

Quick Stories

US News

• On his last day in office, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper commuted the death sentences of 15 inmates to life in prison without parole. The state has not executed anyone since 2006 due to ongoing legal issues. (More)

• A new law in New York City grants pregnant workers at least 20 hours of paid leave for prenatal medical appointments. Private-sector employees can use the leave for checkups, end-of-pregnancy care, fertility treatments, and similar medical needs. (More)

• A New Year’s Eve fireworks explosion near Honolulu killed three people and injured 20. The blast happened just before midnight outside a house. Officials are investigating but haven’t shared details about how it occurred. (More)

World

• Milan, Italy, has implemented a citywide smoking ban in outdoor and public areas starting January 1. This is the strictest smoking restriction yet in the city. People caught breaking the law could face fines ranging from €40 to €240. (More)

• A blackout left over three-quarters of Puerto Rico residents without power heading into New Year’s Eve. Teams restored electricity to 1.25 million people by New Year’s Day, but 15% of residents remain without it. (More)

• Ukraine has stopped transporting Russian natural gas to Europe as its pipeline deal with Russia expired. The stoppage had been anticipated as Ukrainian officials discussed plans with neighboring nations in preparation for ending the flow. (More)

Business & Economy

• US stock markets closed lower on Tuesday (S&P -0.43%, Nasdaq -0.90%, Dow -0.07%). The S&P closed out the year 23.31% higher, the Dow added 12.88%, while the Nasdaq topped indexes with a 28.64% gain. (More)

• AI stocks dominated the markets this year. Palantir surged over 340%, Vistra rose nearly 260%, and Nvidia increased by more than 170%. Nine S&P stocks doubled in value (or more) this year. (More)

• Alibaba announced plans to sell its majority stake in Sun Art Retail Group to Chinese private equity firm DCP Capital for approximately $1.58 billion. Alibaba initially acquired its stake in 2020 for $3.6 billion. (More)

Sports & Entertainment

• Texas claimed a thrilling 39-31 double-overtime win over Arizona State in the Peach Bowl, securing a spot in the Cotton Bowl where they will face Ohio State. (More) | Ohio State Buckeyes dominated No. 1 Oregon in the first half and cruised to a 41-21 victory in the Rose Bowl. (More)

• The Sugar Bowl, originally scheduled for Wednesday night, will be moved to tonight due to the terror attack in New Orleans. The game is expected to kick off around 4 p.m. ET. (More)

• Eagles running back Saquon Barkley will sit out the season finale against the Giants to rest, ending his bid to break Eric Dickerson's 1984 single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards. Barkley is 101 yards shy of the mark. (More)

Science, Health, & Tech

• Ebola, a deadly hemorrhagic disease prevalent in parts of Africa, spreads primarily through contact with bodily fluids of infected people. However, recent outbreaks show that the virus can also live on the skin of those who are severely ill or deceased. (More)

• Archaeologists have excavated a wooden shipwreck along the southern Caspian Sea coast in Mazandaran, Iran. Radiocarbon dating of the wood and plant remains suggests the ship likely dates back to the late 18th or early 19th century. (More)

• Scientists are monitoring changes at Yellowstone's supervolcano and found that volcanic activity is decreasing in the western caldera. Future activity is more likely to occur in the northeastern part of the park, and there's no immediate risk of an eruption. (More)

Extra Credit

💎 $1M treasure chest found in the Rocky Mountains.

🧨 Photos of New Year’s Eve celebrations around the world.

💰️ The top 1% of incomes in every state. 

💵 …and the government agencies with the highest paid employees.