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NEED TO KNOW

Israeli Government Collapses

Israel will hold its fourth round of national elections in less than two years after lawmakers failed to find consensus yesterday on a budget impasse before a midnight deadline. By law, the country's parliament—the Knesset—will be dissolved and a new vote scheduled for March 23.

The 120-person Knesset has seen more than a dozen political parties claim seats since early 2019. The fractured political interests—particularly between secular and ultra-Orthodox members—have made it virtually impossible to achieve a 61-seat majority. Long-running Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to form a governing coalition for the first time in April 2019, which was followed by two more elections in September 2019 and March 2020. A fragile power-sharing agreement between Netanyahu and challenger Benny Gantz was achieved this spring; the budget failure signals the likely end to the partnership.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu faces ongoing corruption charges, from which he tried (and failed) to gain immunity. 

A Deadly Year for Journalists

The documented number of journalists murdered across the globe in 2020 more than doubled over the past year to 30, with at least 21 in direct retaliation for their investigative reporting. The Committee to Protect Journalists—still examining 15 other cases—also found nine deaths occurred as the result of dangerous assignments or combat. 

Mexico has long been the most dangerous environment for journalists, which saw five deaths, four of which were retaliatory. More than 100 journalists have been killed in the country since 2000. In Iran, the execution of Roohollah Zam for covering antigovernment protests drew worldwide condemnation. See the full report here.

The news follows another recent release that found 274 journalists were imprisoned for their work around the world, the highest since records began in 1992. Explore a database of slain journalists here.

California's Senate Seat

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) selected Secretary of State Alex Padilla yesterday to replace Vice President-elect Kamala Harris (D) in the US Senate. A solidly Democratic seat representing the country's most populous state (40 million people) and the largest state economy ($3T GDP), the highly coveted position is seen as a launchpad for grander political ambitions. Many argued Harris should be replaced by another Black woman—Rep. Karen Bass (D, CA-37) was seen as a top contender. Padilla, the child of Mexican immigrants, will be the first Latino to serve in the US Senate from California, where the demographic now makes up 40% of the population. 

Newsom now has the power to select a replacement for both Padilla and state Attorney General Xavier Becerra, tapped by President-elect Joe Biden as health secretary.

Separately, Biden will nominate Connecticut education chief Dr. Miguel Cardona to lead the Department of Education. Cardona has worked to safely reopen schools amid the pandemic.

Thanks for being a reader—​have a great holiday. 

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IN THE KNOW

Sports, Entertainment, & Culture

> Washington Football Team settles a 2009 sexual misconduct lawsuit against owner Dan Snyder for $1.6M; 40 women have accused team employees of sexual harassment and misconduct since this summer (More)

> MGM Studios to explore selling its full catalog of 4,000 films, including the “James Bond” and “Rocky” franchises, for $5B (More)

> FC Barcelona’s Lionel Messi breaks Brazilian legend Pele’s 46-year record for most goals scored with a single soccer club with 644 (More)

Science & Technology

> Scientists eye nanoparticles used for drug delivery in Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines as the cause of rare allergic reactions; eight cases have been observed out of more than 600,000 doses administered (More) | Dr. Anthony Fauci receives Moderna vaccine (More)

> Researchers unravel the processes that support hydrogen-dependent organisms living beneath ice sheets and glaciers (More)

> Antidiarrheal drug loperamide found to be effective against glioblastoma in lab cultures; the treatment triggers a process known as hyperactive autophagy, which effectively kills the cancer cells (More)

Business & Markets

> Walmart sued by US Justice Department alleging role in fueling the US opioid crisis; company denies allegations (More)

> Alaska Airlines to purchase 23 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft; first US airline company to order since regulators cleared planes to fly last month (More)

> The Securities and Exchange Commission approves the New York Stock Exchange's plan to allow companies to raise capital through direct listings, selling shares directly to investors (More) | Direct listing IPO 101 (More)

Politics & World Affairs

> France allows British trucks to enter if drivers have negative COVID-19 test, ending two-day blockade (More) | Virus reaches all seven continents, as 37 cases are reported at Antarctic research station (More) | US has reported 322,832 total deaths; see rolling averages (cases, deaths) | More than 4.6 million vaccine doses distributed in the US, with 614,000 doses administered (More)

> President Trump grants 15 pardons, commutes five sentences; recipients include two individuals charged in Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe (More) | See historical pardons by president (More) | Trump pans spending bill with attached stimulus, calls for $2,000 direct payments; says he won't sign unless amended (More)

> Rio de Janeiro's outgoing mayor, Marcelo Crivella, arrested on corruption charges; nephew of billionaire preacher Edir Macedo, Crivella is a close political ally of President Jair Bolsonaro (More)

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ETCETERA

Why mistletoe baffles scientists.

Keep tabs on Saint Nick with this official Santa Tracker.

The Scottish town where children are in charge of Christmas lights.

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Mesmerizing photos of a Swedish winter wonderland. ($$, NYT)

Time magazine's 100 best photos of 2020.

Tech workers are heading to these Midwestern cities.

Watch a sneak peek of the upcoming Beatles documentary.

Ranking America's most influential octogenarians. 

Clickbait: Washington, DC, sees a cheese ball disaster. 

Historybook: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints founder Joseph Smith born (1805); Businesswoman Madam C.J. Walker born (1867); Vincent van Gogh cuts off his ear (1888); Voyager aircraft is first to fly around the world without refueling (1986).

"Don't sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them."

- Madam C.J. Walker

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