5 things you need to know Thursday
Police try to determine motive behind San Bernardino massacre
Investigators are working Thursday to determine what drove a health inspector and the woman he lived with to go on a murderous rampage at a meeting inside a Southern California social service center that left 14 people dead and another 17 wounded. Syed R. Farook, 28, and Tashfeen Malik, 27, were killed in a shootout with police after fleeing the center. Police say Farook had attended the routine meeting but left in a fit of anger before returning with Malik and opening fire. Their motive remains a mystery.
Republicans to gather at forum to discuss national security
Republican presidential candidates will gather Thursday to promote their views on what has become one of the 2016 campaign's biggest issues: national security. They are expected to discuss the threat of terrorism from the Islamic State in a forum held in Washington and sponsored by the Republican Jewish Coalition. Since the Paris attacks, a number of Republicans have opposed the admission of Syrian refugees into the United States, another topic that may surface at Thursday's event.
NBC's 'The Wiz Live!' takes the stage
Queen Latifah and Ne-Yo will ease on down the road with the cast of NBC’s The Wiz Live! Thursday at 8 p.m. ET in the network’s live-action TV production. Like The Sound of Music Live! and Peter Pan Live!, this Wiz follows its original stage incarnation, which was based on L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (also the source of a certain beloved film). Cirque Du Soleil co-produced the show and is planning a Broadway revival of The Wiz for the 2016-17 season.
Rocket to carry supplies, Christmas presents for astronauts
The 194-foot Atlas V rocket carrying an International Space Station cargo spacecraft is scheduled to launch Thursday at 5:55 p.m. ET from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Along with key hardware and supplies, the cargo craft will also likely carry Christmas presents for some of the station’s six-person crew. Despite forecast clouds and showers, Air Force meteorologists remain optimistic about the 60% odds of favorable launch weather.
EU opens McDonald's tax probe
European regulators on Thursday opened an investigation into whether McDonald's was given an unfair tax advantage by Luxembourg in breach of European Union state aid rules. The European Commission, the EU's executive arm, believes that the company may not have paid taxes in Europe or the United States on profits — in the form of royalties — derived from franchise restaurants in Europe and Russia. McDonald’s says it complies with all European tax laws and rules and pays a “significant amount” of corporate income tax.
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And, the essentials:
Weather: There's a big storm bearing down on the West.
Stocks: U.S. stock futures were higher Thursday after Federal Reserve chief Janet Yellen suggested that the central bank is on track for an interest rate hike later this month.
TV tonight: Wondering what to watch tonight? TV critic Robert Bianco looks at The Wiz Live!, Shrek the Halls and CMA Country Christmas.
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