President Obama released two page signed statement about Guantanamo as he signed this bill into law. At the passage, Obama accuses Congress of “unwarranted and burden some restriction on transferring detainees at the prison”. This law easies those restrictions a bit, making it easy to transport detainees to foreign countries. In a statement Obama called that a positive step, but the Congress still won’t let president Obama move the detainees to American soil, which makes it nearly impossible to close the prison. Obama calls these restrictions unwise and insists that the executive branches must have their authority to determine when and where to prosecute Guantanamo detainees. So far Congress has refused to grant Obama that authority. Ari Shapiro, NPR News, Washington. 

 

The leaders of Ethiopia and Kenya are pushing political rivals in South Sudan to engaging talks to bring an end to the crisis there that brought the country to the brink of civil war. They met in South Sudan’s capital Juba today with president Salva Kiir. Mediation is due to continue tomorrow in Kenya. 

Meanwhile, the UN’s South Sudan mission chief, Hilde Johnson, says the rapidly deteriorating situation there is over stretching resources. 

“I don’t think any South Sudanese nor any of us in observers in country and outside expected it unraveling off the stability so quickly.”

 

In neighboring Central Africa of Republic, the situation is also deteriorating. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon says he is paused by reports today of dozens of bodies founded on the streets of the capital. And France is founding itself on its own as it tried to hold the sectarian violence. It’s an increasingly difficult mission, and NPR’s Eleanor Beardsley reports none of France’s European allies has responded to its calls to sending troops to help. 

When violence between warring Christian and Muslin militias began to escalate earlier this month, France beefed up his troops presently in a former colony. Now, free with into the mission, analysts say the French government appeared to be realized the maximum task in front of it. France’s trying to police these countries as largest as its own with only 1,600 troops. It’s waiting into sectarian urban warfare while trying to persuade residents that will be protected if they lay down their arms. President François Hollande has pleaded with France’s EU partners to help to offer @@ on the ground. Hollande says his country can’t shoulder alone their responsibility of maintaining peace and security in Africa. A handful of nations are offering only logistical help in this point. Eleanor Beardsley, NPR News, Paris. 

 

On Wall Street today, the Dow climbed 122 points; The S&P was up 8; The NASDAQ gained 11. 

 

This is NPR. 

 

The man accused of opening fire at Los Angeles International Airport November 1 and killing a TSA worker pleaded no guilty to all charges today. Paul Ciancia is facing 11 federal charges, including first grade murder and attempted murder. All of them could bring either the death sentence or life in prison. His trial is set for February 11th. 

 

Both UPS and FedEx are apologizing for Christmas gifs that didn’t arrive in time and they say they’ve hired extra workers to deliver the tardy passages. NPR’s Dan Bobkoff reports the companies say they were cut off guard by recorded last-minute rush online shopping. 

Online retail has got aggressive this year, pushing last-minute discounts and free shipping. And consumers responded far more than expected, driving online sales up nearly 24% versus last year according to NPD Group. That’s a big reason the deliver companies like UPS couldn’t meet the demand. The company says the volume exceeded its capacity, leaving the children wondering what’s up be homes like Maria Britons mean: 

“One thing on their wish lists hadn’t actually showed up or they said I didn’t get it.”

Sucherida Moporus, a forest researcher, says mostly about 10-15% packages don’t make in time for Christmas. 

“Think what’s happening this year is that we probably, you know, a little bit of over promising, and a lot of under delivering.”

Amazon and some other retailers offered shipping refund and discounts. Dan Bobkoff, NPR News, New York. 

 

President Obama and first lady Mitchell are in Hawaii and today they send holiday wishes for those who celebrate Kwanzaa which begins today. They called attention to the 7 principles of Kwanzaa, including unity, creativity, faith and self-determination which he said represents share values that draw Americans together.