JUDY WOODRUFF: The U.S. House of Representatives is now poised to vote tomorrow to send the
articles of impeachment against President Trump to the Senate.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the House will also vote tomorrow to designate impeachment
managers to lead the prosecution at the Senate's trial.
We will take a closer look at how that trial is shaping up after the news summary.
A U.S. cybersecurity firm said that Russian military agents hacked the Ukrainian gas company
at the center of President Trump's impeachment probe. Area 1 Security said that hackers tired
to steal the login credentials of Burisma employees in November. Hunter Biden, who is
the former vice president's son, served earlier on their board.
President Trump's attempt to pressure Ukrainian authorities into investigating the Bidens
and Burisma for corruption led to his impeachment.
European leaders took a major step in pressuring Iran to adhere to the 2015 nuclear deal today.
Germany, France, and the U.K. triggered the deal's official dispute process over Iran's
recent decision to no longer abide by its enriched uranium limits.
The dispute could lead to the reimposition of U.N. sanctions against Iran that were lifted
under the deal. But the European Union insisted that is not the goal.
JOSEP BORRELL, European Union Minister for Foreign Affairs: The aim of the dispute resolution
mechanism is not to reimpose sanctions. I think it has to be clear that the objective
is, therefore, to find solutions and return to full compliance.
JUDY WOODRUFF: Iran's foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, called the use of the dispute
mechanism legally baseless, and said it was a strategic mistake.
Separately, Iran arrested an undisclosed number of suspects today over the downing of a passenger
jet that killed all 176 people on board. Thirty people were also detained for taking part
in nationwide protests that broke out after the Iranian military admitted it accidentally
shot down the plane.
President Hassan Rouhani promised a thorough investigation for what he called an unforgivable
error.
HASSAN ROUHANI, Iranian President (through translator): It is not possible for just one
person to be the culprit in this incident. There are others too. And I would like this
case to be explained to the people with honesty.
The judiciary should form a special court with a high-ranking judge and tens of experts.
This is not an ordinary case. The entire world will be watching this case.
JUDY WOODRUFF: The passenger jet was shot down last Wednesday as Iran braced for retaliation
for firing missiles on U.S. military bases. Rouhani today also blamed the U.S. for inciting
the tensions that led to the tragedy.
The Trump administration said today that it has no immediate plans to lift U.S. tariffs
on some $360 billion worth of Chinese goods. That comes as the U.S. and China prepare to
sign the first phase of a trade deal tomorrow. U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said
that China has made strong commitments that it won't manipulate currency, and he said
the tariffs will remain in place until there is phase two of the deal.
A severe snowstorm in Afghanistan and Pakistan has claimed the lives of 126 people since
Sunday; 55 of those deaths happened in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir over the last 24 hours. Most died
in a single avalanche. Pakistani crews worked to clear the highways of snow. Meanwhile,
in neighboring Afghanistan, snowfall and landslides damaged some 300 homes.
In the Philippines today, a volcano near the capital city spewed lava half-a-mile into
the sky. Officials warned that the Taal volcano was at risk for an even bigger eruption. Some
rescued pigs from the small volcanic island. Meanwhile, nearly 40,000 residents were forced
to evacuate as nearby villages were blanketed in heavy ash.
WILBERT MALIBIRAN, Philippines (through translator): All the people here have evacuated because
the volcano might erupt. So we left everything. We were saved, but, when we came back here,
everything was destroyed.
JUDY WOODRUFF: The volcanic ash forced the government and schools in several cities to
close today. Hundreds of flights either were canceled or delayed.
Back in this country, jet fuel from an airplane returning to Los Angeles International Airport
fell onto two L.A. area elementary schools today. About 40 children and adults were treated
at the scene for minor injuries. Delta Air Lines said that the plane experienced an engine
issue and had an emergency fuel release. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating
the incident.
Stocks finished flat on Wall Street today. The Dow Jones industrial average gained 32
points to close at 28939. The Nasdaq fell 22 points, and the S&P 500 slipped five.
The Women's National Basketball Association and its players union have reached a tentative
labor deal that will allow athletes to earn six figures for the first time. The players
will be paid an average of $130,000, and will collect a full salary while on maternity leave.
And the Louisiana State University Tigers are celebrating their college football national
championship win. The LSU beat Clemson 42-25 last night in New Orleans. The Tigers snapped
Clemson's 29-game winning streak to secure their first national championship since 2007.
Senior quarterback Joe Burrow led the team to victory with six total touchdowns.
Congratulations to LSU.
Still to come on the "NewsHour": on the ground in Wisconsin, one of the handful of states
that may decide the presidential election; the FBI and Apple go head to head over unlocking
a killer's iPhones; an Afghanistan veteran's sobering take on survivor's guilt; plus, much
more.