JULIAN CASTRO MOVES TOWARD 2020 WHITE HOUSE RUN
NTONIO» Former
S A N A
Obama housing chief Julian Castro says he’s taking a step toward a possible White House campaign in 2020 by forming a presidential exploratory committee. The Texas Democrat tells The Associated Press that he will announce a decision Jan. 12.
The move Wednesday gives the 44-year-old former San Antonio mayor an early start to what’s shaping up as a crowded Democratic field without a clear front-runner to challenge President Donald Trump.
Cuba health mystery: Diplomats had inner-ear damage early on.
MIAMI»
American diplomats affected by mysterious health incidents in Cuba showed damage in the inner ear shortly after they complained of weird noises and sensations, according to their earliest medical exams, publicized Wednesday.
The detailed findings were published in a medical journal nearly two years after what the U.S. calls “health attacks” began — and they shed no new light on a possible culprit.
After Khashoggi murder, Senate debates U.S. role in Yemen.
The Senate is debating a resolution that would call on the U.S. to pull assistance from the Saudi-led war in Yemen, a measure that has won new support in the aftermath of the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
The Senate voted 60-39 on Wednesday to open debate on the resolution, signaling there is enough support to win the 50 votes needed.
Pope cuts two cardinals from Cabinet named in abuse scandal.
VATICAN
Pope Francis has removed two cardinals from his informal Cabinet after they were implicated in the Catholic Church’s sex abuse and cover-up scandal, shedding embarrassing advisers before a Vatican summit on abuse early next year. The Vatican said Wednesday that Francis in October had written to Chilean Cardinal Javier Errazuriz and Australian Cardinal George Pell thanking them for their five years of service on the Group of Nine.
National Enquirer owner admits it buried stories for Trump.
YORK» The NEW parent company of magazines including the National Enquirer, Us Weekly and In Touch has admitted to engaging in a journalistically dubious practice known as “catchand-kill” to help Donald Trump become president. Federal prosecutors revealed Wednesday they had agreed not to prosecute American Media Inc.
Japan to invest in F-35 fighters.
TOKYO» Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will also announce plans to purchase dozens of U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets as he grapples with a growing threat from China. Japan will announce plans to buy 40 to 50 F-35s over the next five years but ultimately may purchase 100 planes, media reports say. That will have the added benefit of mollifying President Trump, who has complained about the U.S. trade deficit in Japan as well as the cost of maintaining tens of thousands of troops here.