promoearn: Iran general’s death stirs wide fallout

Sunday, January 5

A boy carries a portrait of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qasem Soleimani, who was killed in a U.S. airstrike in Iraq, on Jan. 3, 2020.

Here's the biggest news you missed this weekend

Golden Globes kicks off awards season. Iran abandons the 2015 nuclear accord. Here's the weekend's biggest news.

Iran general Qasem Soleimani's death stirs wide fallout

The killing of powerful Iranian military leader Qasem Soleimani has prompted fears of violence and chaos across the Middle East as national security experts warned it could galvanize Iran's proxy forces and put a target on Americans across the globe. "The entire world will need to be on high alert for months or, more likely, years," said Jon Alterman, senior vice president of the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

•	Iran's leaders have vowed a harsh retaliation over Soleimani's killing, with several officials from its diplomatic corps and a close adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei saying military force was likely.
•	On Sunday, hundreds of thousands of people flooded the streets to mourn the death of Soleimani.
•	Shortly after, Iran President Hassan Rouhani's administration effectively abandoned the nuclear deal between itself and world powers. Still, Iran said it was open to negotiation and would willingly return to full compliance with the deal if the U.S. lifts economic sanctions imposed against it.
•	Meanwhile, Iraq's parliament voted to expel U.S. military forces from the country "for the sake of our national sovereignty." Ahead of the vote, U.S.-led coalition forces battling the remnants of the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria announced a "pause" in operations precipitated by the need to protect U.S. and coalition troops on bases in Iraq.

President Donald Trump on Saturday offered Congress a defense of his decision to kill Soleimani as required under the War Powers Act of 1973, which requires formal notification to Congress within 48 hours of military-style action. Late Sunday, Trump threatened to "quickly and fully strike back" if Tehran launches a retaliatory attack — suggesting that a U.S. response might be "disproportionate."

•	Outraged Americans organized across the country Saturday chanting, "No justice, no peace. U.S. out of the Middle East."
•	About 3,500 paratroopers from Fort Bragg's 82nd Airborne Division are being sent to the Middle East, marking the first short-notice combat deployment for the division since the invasion of Panama in 1989.
•	A federal website was offline Sunday after a hacker uploaded photos to the site that included an Iranian flag and an image depicting a bloodied President Donald Trump being punched in the face.
•	And Secretary of State Mike Pompeo laid the blame for the escalating hostilities between the U.S. and Iran on "Obama administration's appeasement."

Al-Shabab attacks military base used by US forces in Kenya

Al-Shabab extremists overran a key military base used by U.S. counterterror forces in Kenya before dawn Sunday, killing three American Department of Defense personnel and destroying several U.S. aircraft and vehicles before they were repelled, U.S. and Kenyan authorities said. The attack on the Manda Bay Airfield was the al-Qaida-linked group's first attack against U.S. forces in the East African country, and the military called the security situation "fluid" several hours after the assault. Five attackers were killed, Kenyan military spokesman Paul Njuguna said.

Golden Globes kicks off awards season

Hollywood has plenty of gold to give out this awards season, and the first major prizes of 2020 will be doled out Sunday night at the 77th annual Golden Globes. Hosted for the fifth time by comedian Ricky Gervais, the glitzy extravaganza put on by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association is the first big stop on the road to next month's Academy Awards and will begin to separate the contenders from the pretenders.

•	Everything you need to know to watch the 77th annual celebration of film and TV stars.
•	Our predictions: Who will win (and who should) in the top movie categories.

5 dead, dozens hurt as crash shuts down 86 miles of Pennsylvania Turnpike

At least five people were killed and scores more injured Sunday in a massive crash that involved two tractor trailers, a tour bus and passenger vehicles and shut down almost 100 miles of the Pennsylvania Turnpike in both directions . The crash occurred at about 3:30 a.m. ET Sunday near mile marker 86 on the westbound side of the highway. Pennsylvania State Police spokesperson Stephen Limani said the bus was struck by two tractor-trailers, then another truck and a passenger car. Photos from the scene show the bus on its side, along with battered Fedex and UPS trucks with packages scattered on the highway. The National Transportation Safety Board said it was investigating.

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WPXI

Real quick

•	March against anti-Semitism brings thousands to streets of New York City: "No Hate, No Fear."
•	Notre Dame is "still in a state of peril" and risks ceiling collapse, renovation chief says.
•	Harvey Weinstein's sex crimes trial begins Monday in New York: What you need to know.
•	Mississippi inmate remains at large after escaping during statewide lockdown following days of violence.

'Scale of the disaster is enormous': Bush fires, politics heat up as Australia burns

The prime minister of Australia, feeling the political heat from devastating bushfires that have swept across a wide swath of his nation for months, unveiled a two-year plan Sunday aimed at expediting recovery from the historic blazes . "The scale of the disaster is enormous," Prime Minister Scott Morrison said. And the toll has been high: At least 24 people killed and 2,000 homes destroyed. Authorities in New South Wales estimated that 500 million birds, reptiles and other animals have died in the blazes. Sunday brought a brief respite with calmer winds and a break in the heat. But, authorities warn the fires will continue their rampage for months.

•	Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban pledge $500,000 to fight Australia's wildfires.

Firefighters drag their water hose after putting out a spot fire near Moruya, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020. Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison called up about 3,000 reservists as the threat of wildfires escalated Saturday in at least three states with two more deaths, and strong winds and high temperatures were forecast to bring flames to populated areas including the suburbs of Sydney. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

The Associated Press

NFL playoffs: Patriots go home early, Brady calls retirement 'unlikely'

The NFL playoffs kicked off with two nail-biting games on Saturday. First, a back-and-forth, overtime thriller saw the Houston Texans overcome a 16-0 third quarter deficit to beat the Buffalo Bills, 22-19. Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson orchestrated a 73-yard game-winning drive in overtime to add to the Bills' history of postseason heartbreaks. The New England Patriots were shown up by running back Derrick Henry and the Tennessee Titans in the Saturday night game, losing by a final of 20-13. After the game, legendary Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said he's uncertain on his future, but called retirement "pretty unlikely." The New Orleans Saints' title hopes were dashed Sunday in the biggest upset of the wild card round. The Minnesota Vikings used quarterback Kirk Cousins' overtime touchdown pass to escape New Orleans with a 26-20 win.

•	If Buffalo couldn't win this NFL playoff game vs. Houston Texans, when will Bills ever advance?
•	Opinion: Tom Brady and the New England Patriots' stretch of dominance is over.

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Contributing: Associated Press

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