Russia in trouble

December 17, 2014 - Daily News Briefing

Mounting economic problems could be a moment that leads to change for the better.

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Prosecutors say an Iraq war veteran suspected of killing his ex-wife and five of her relatives committed suicide in the woods near his suburban Philadelphia home. Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman says police found Bradley William Stone's body at around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday about a half-mile from his Pennsburg home. The discovery came amid an intense manhunt after prosecutors say the 35-year-old went on a rampage Monday at three homes a few miles apart.

The manager of a Sydney cafe where a 16-hour siege ended in a hail of bullets early Tuesday was lauded for sacrificing his life by grabbing the gunman's shotgun, an act that reportedly helped bring the standoff to an end and saved the lives of most of his fellow hostages. Tori Johnson, the 34-year-old manager of the Lindt Chocolat Cafe, who was among the 17 hostages taken by the gunman and one of two who were killed, was remembered for putting his staffers' needs first. The other hostage who died, Katrina Dawson, a 38-year-old mother of three, was known as a brilliant lawyer who taught young students how to prepare for mock trials. Both were being lauded for their courage after unconfirmed reports emerged that they had sacrificed themselves to save their fellow hostages.

Secretary of State John Kerry on Tuesday outlined America's opposition to any effort undermining Israel's election process, while at the same time holding out hope the US and its partners could find a way to advance Mideast peace and respond to the frustrations of Palestinians. Kerry wouldn't categorize America's position on suggestions for the UN Security Council to set a framework for negotiations, which Israel fiercely opposes. But he emphasized the importance of nations avoiding anything that interferes or "might be perceived as interfering" in Israeli elections planned for March. The priorities, he said, should be halting growing Israeli-Palestinian violence and creating conditions for an eventual resumption in peace talks.

Market participants were transfixed Tuesday by a stunning slide in the Russian ruble that presented President Vladimir Putin with one of the biggest challenges of his 15-year rule. The currency, under pressure from lower oil prices and Western sanctions over Moscow's conflict with Ukraine, fell an astonishing 20 percent before recovering somewhat by afternoon Moscow time to trade around 72 per dollar. That's a modest improvement on day lows of 78.5 to the dollar. It still means the currency is more than 60 percent down from where it was in January.

US housing starts and permits fell in November, but the underlying trend remained consistent with an improving housing market. Groundbreaking declined 1.6 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual 1.028 million-unit pace, the Commerce Department said on Tuesday. November's starts were revised up to a 1.045 million-unit rate. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast starts rising to a 1.04 million-unit rate from October's previously reported 1.01 million-unit pace.

Robin Williams' suicide seared into the world's collective mindset more than anything else this year, based on what people were searching for on Google. The reaction to Williams' death in August topped Google's list of 2014's fastest-rising search requests. It beat notable events such as the World Cup, the Ebola outbreak, the March disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 and the Ice Bucket Challenge, an Internet video craze to raise awareness and money for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's Disease.

“The object of the Monitor is to injure no man, but to bless all mankind.” – Mary Baker Eddy

The Daily News Briefing is published Monday through Friday by The Christian Science Publishing Society in Boston, Massachusetts.

“The object of the Monitor is to injure no man, but to bless all mankind.” – Mary Baker Eddy

The Daily News Briefing is published Monday through Friday by The Christian Science Publishing Society in Boston, Massachusetts.

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