3 Things To Know Today

1 North Korea Conducts "Significant" Test

North Korea says it has conducted a "significant" test at a missile site. A report on North Korean state media said Saturday's test produced a "successful result" and will "change the strategic position of North Korea in the near future." It's not clear what was tested – or what it means overall – it’s worth noting that earlier this month, North Korea warned it would send the U.S. a "Christmas gift" (depending on the outcome of ongoing talks between Washington and Pyongyang). Meanwhile, a top North Korean official says getting rid of its nuclear weapons is off the table in talks with the U.S. North Korea's ambassador to the United Nations called American attempts to have "sustained and substantial dialogue" nothing more than a "time-saving trick" to serve a U.S. domestic political agenda. As for President Trump’s response, he’s warning Pyongchang’s diminutive dictator about taking any hostile action. Speaking via Twitter, Trump said Kim “has everything to lose” if he acts in a hostile way. He added that such action would void the "special relationship" between the two leaders.

2 Iran Releases U.S. Student In Prisoner Swap

Iran has released an American student in a prisoner swap – American grad student Xiyue Wang [[shee wang]], who has been held in Iran for three years for allegedly being a spy.The Princeton University PhD student was conducting research in Tehran when he was arrested on espionage charges in 2016 and sentenced to ten years in prison. In a prisoner swap, Iran has released Wang in exchange for Iranian scientist Massoud Soleimani, who was arrested by U.S. authorities upon landing in Chicago last year. In a statement, President Trump confirmed the exchange and thanked the Swiss government for their assistance in negotiating with Iran. While many are thrilled, the family of former FBI agent Robert Levinson, who’s been held in Iran says the release is bittersweet. Levinson has been held in Iran since 2007 when he disappeared from a resort area off Iran's coast. While Iran denies holding Levinson, his family blames Iran's government for playing a "cruel game" with his life. Levinson's family says they're happy Wang was released, but are still "extremely disappointed" the U.S. government can't secure the 71-year-old's release.

3 Troubling Picture Emerges In NAS Pensacola Shooter Investigation

Investigators in Florida say a suspected shooter watched mass shooting videos before allegedly going on a rampage at an air base on Friday. An officer in the Royal Saudi Air Force, Mohammed Alshamrani was a student naval flight officer in training with other Saudi students at the Naval Air Station Pensacola. In the attack, a number of people were injured, while 23-year-old Ensign Joshua Kaleb Watson, 19-year-old Airman Mohammed Sameh Haitham, and 21-year-old Airman Apprentice Cameron Scott Walters, were killed. The shooter was killed by police. The shooting is being treated as a terror attack for the moment – though the motive is not known. What’s worse? It’s being revealed that the shooter allegedly hosted a party where other Saudi military students to watch mass shooting videos. Even worse that that – three of the six Saudi nationals who participated in the “watch party” were seen filming Friday's incident. The shooter used a Glock handgun that he bought at a gun store earlier this year. Though Alshamrani was a Saudi national, he was able to legally buy his gun because he bought a hunting license.


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