John Bolton testimony, flavored vape products ban, Happy Meal toys: 5 things to know Thursday

John Bolton called to testify as impeachment probe heats up

Former National Security Adviser John Bolton would be the highest-ranking Trump administration official to testify in the House impeachment inquiry if he decides to appear Thursday for a closed-door session. Bolton, who either quit or was fired in September because of policy disagreements, could lend an insider's perspective to the House investigation into whether Trump urged Ukraine to investigate political rival Joe Biden while withholding nearly $400 million in military aid. Other administration officials have said Trump’s personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, guided Ukraine policy, and one said Bolton referred to Giuliani as "a hand grenade who's going to blow everybody up." Another witness summoned Thursday is Jennifer Williams, a special adviser to Vice President Mike Pence.

• Going public: Impeachment inquiry begins public hearings next week

Prefer to listen? Check out the 5 things podcast below and subscribe for free on Apple Podcasts:

Jeff Sessions to announce Alabama Senate bid?

Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions is expected to announce that he is entering the race for his old U.S. Senate seat in Alabama, according to two Republicans with direct knowledge of his plans. Sessions, 72, will be making a return to the political stage a year after stepping down as President Donald Trump's first attorney general when their relationship soured over his recusal from special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation. The two Republicans confirmed to The Associated Press that Sessions is expected to announce his candidacy but were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. The longtime senator's entry in the race upends the 2020 Republican primary, which has a crowded field competing to challenge Democratic Sen. Doug Jones for the once reliably red seat.

• As Jeff Sessions mulls Alabama Senate run, some campaigns stress loyalty to Trump

Jeff Sessions reflects on his time in the Trump administration

Former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reflects on his time in the Trump administration as he speaks during the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce annual meeting in Montgomery, Ala.

Montgomery Advertiser

A federal ban on flavored vape products is expected soon

Federal regulators could announce a ban on electronic cigarette flavors other than tobacco and menthol as early as Thursday. The action comes amid a nationwide outbreak of more than 1,600 cases of vaping-related lung injuries resulting in at least 34 deaths. It remains unclear if mint flavors will be allowed or reformulated as menthol, or if vaping products sold in vape stores will be exempt from the possible ban. On Wednesday, White House senior counselor Kellyanne Conway suggested regulators don't have authority over vape stores. 

• Experts warn Trump's proposed ban on vape flavors may not stop teens from vaping
• Stop using all vape products during health investigation, New York warns

Is your teen vaping? Three key signs to know if your child is vaping

It can take six tries for a child to quit vaping. Here are three key signs your kid might be vaping.

Paste BN

Lufthansa cancels 1,300 flights due to planned union strike

Lufthansa is canceling around 1,300 flights on Thursday and Friday because of a planned strike by the UFO union, which represents cabin crew in Germany.

Around 180,000 passengers will be affected by cancellations. As part of a bitter dispute with Germany's biggest airline about pay and the union's legal status, the union has called members out on a 48-hour strike starting at midnight. The airline published a special flight schedule for the two days, but passengers on social media early Wednesday reported being unable to access Lufthansa's website to rebook flights, or to get in touch with reservations agents.

• 'A nightmare I never even considered': Lufthansa passenger's cat vanishes during transit
• Family-friendly airlines: Emirates, Qatar, British Airways, Lufthansa lead top 20 rankings

McDonald's marks 40 years of Happy Meal toys

McDonald's is bringing back some of the most popular Happy Meal toys to celebrate the 40th anniversary of its kids’ meals. A special limited-edition Surprise Happy Meal will be available from Thursday through Monday in more than 90 countries around the globe while supplies last. Fifteen toys will be available globally with two extra exclusives for the U.S. The first McDonald's kids' meals were introduced in the U.S. in June 1979 as the Circus Wagon Happy Meal. Many of the early toys featured McDonald's McDonaldland characters. such as the Hamburglar.