5 things you need to know Wednesday
Fed chief Yellen could signal interest rate hike near
Will interest rates go up? The financial world will be listening hard for clues Wednesday when Fed Chair Janet Yellen gives a speech to the Economic Club of Washington. Most analysts expect that Yellen, who also testifies before Congress later this week, will say nothing to undercut the widespread view that the economy is improving enough that the Fed can raise interest rates at its meeting this month.
American tradition: Rockefeller Center, U.S. Capitol to light Christmas trees
Two icons of Christmas will be illuminated Wednesday: the trees at Rockefeller Center in New York and at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. The New York tree, a 10-ton, 78-foot Norway spruce from the Hudson Valley , was hoisted into place in November. The annual tree-lighting ceremony there attracts tens of thousands of spectators and is watched by millions more on television. The tree in Washington is a Lutz spruce from the Chugach National Forest in Alaska, the first Capitol tree from that state. It's decorated with thousands of ornaments, some handcrafted by children and others from Alaskan communities. House Speaker Paul Ryan will light the tree. Follow the Paste BN Instagram and Nancy Trejos on Twitter (@NancyTrejos) on Wednesday evening to see photos from the tree-lighting events.
Officials to release details of popular officer's shooting death
Details about what led up to the shooting death of a Cincinnati police officer in June and what witnesses reported to police could be released Wednesday, officials said. Officer Sonny Kim was shot and killed during a confrontation with Trepierre Hummons. Hummons was then fatally shot by officer Tom Sandmann, who responded to what officials have called an ambush of Kim. Hummons wanted to die at an officer's hand, Police Chief Jeffrey Blackwell said, and had even texted friends about his plan.
British Parliament debates strikes on Syria
The British Parliament is expected to hold a crucial vote Wednesday on whether to join the battle in Syria. Britain already participates in the U.S.-led coalition fighting the Islamic State in Iraq, but British Prime Minister David Cameron appealed to lawmakers from all parties to back his call for attacks on the militants in Syria. Cameron's motion says military action against the Islamic State “is only one component of a broader strategy to bring peace and stability to Syria.”
FIFA's focus for executive meeting: Corruption and correction
The FIFA executive committee convenes Wednesday in Zurich, where it begins a two-day session on efforts to implement reforms throughout the scandal-scarred soccer body. According to the committee's agenda, members will hear from Francois Carrard, head of the reforms task force, and receive updates on the American and Swiss federal investigations into corruption in soccer. FIFA's Sepp Blatter and UEFA'S Michel Platini, suspended from their posts while they're investigated for financial wrongdoing, are barred from attending.
Bonus: The faces may have changed over the years, either through age or attrition, but the AC/DC sound has not. Rock or Bust, the band's 16th studio album, is released Wednesday after streaming on iTunes Radio (**½ out of four).
And, the essentials:
Weather:It will be a chilly day for most of the U.S. Wednesday.
Stocks: Ahead of Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen’s speech, U.S. premarket indexes were up.
TV tonight: Wondering what to watch tonight? TV critic Robert Bianco looks at Christmas in Rockefeller Center, Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Empire.
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Contributing: The Associated Press