Worries about Hillary Clinton  —  Hillary Clinton may be the overwhelming front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016, but she's going to have to deal with some knotty problems sooner or later.  She can't ignore forever either her party or the media's entreaties to talk on important subjects.

Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, congressional Democrats to commemorate Mandela in South Africa  —  (CNN) - More than 20 members of the U.S. House, mostly Democrats, and Republican Sen. Ted Cruz will travel to South Africa to honor and commemorate former South African president and anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela.

Merrill Newman said he was comfortable during detention in North Korean hotel room  —  SANTA CRUZ — A relaxed Merrill Newman walked outside his Santa Cruz home on Sunday morning and was immediately greeted by a neighbor with a giant hug.  —  The neighbor told Newman how she “just knew” …

An effective eye drug is available for $50.  But many doctors choose a $2,000 alternative.  —  The two drugs have been declared equivalently miraculous.  Tested side by side in six major trials, both prevent blindness in a common old-age affliction.  Biologically, they are cousins.

Sen. Rand Paul on scrapping ObamaCare, saving Detroit; ‘Pik’ Botha on Nelson Mandela's life and legacy  —  Special Guests: Sen. Rand Paul, Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, ‘Pik’ Botha  —  This is a rush transcript from “Fox News Sunday,” December 8, 2013.  This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.

Durbin: No ultimatum on jobless benefits  —  Unfortunately your browser does not support IFrames.  —  The number two Democrat in the Senate and a Republican member of the budget conference committee on Sunday strongly signaled that an emerging budget deal will not include new spending on unemployment benefits.

Christmas lights cause furor in Rome after rainbow colors used for anti-homophobia message  —  Mile-long rainbow-flag themed Christmas lights that were planned as an anti-homophobic message following the suicide of a gay teen are causing a divide in Rome.  —  The lights were chosen …

No soul searching for Virginia GOP after losses  —  HOT SPRINGS, Va. — Virginia Republicans suffered a drubbing last month, losing all three statewide races (though a recount is impending in one).  A year earlier, it was pretty much the same story as Mitt Romney got swamped and the party unexpectedly lost ground in the Senate.

Eric Cantor on how Republicans can win again  —  Virginia Republicans are in the midst of a three-day gathering to sort through what happened in their across-the-board losses at the ballot box in 2013.  (We previewed this autopsy here.)  —  WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 13: House Majority Leader Eric Cantor …

Whose sarin?  —  Barack Obama did not tell the whole story this autumn when he tried to make the case that Bashar al-Assad was responsible for the chemical weapons attack near Damascus on 21 August.  In some instances, he omitted important intelligence, and in others he presented assumptions as facts.

‘There are now two Americas.  My country is a horror show’  —  The creator of The Wire, David Simon, delivered a coruscating speech about the divide between rich and poor in America, and how capitalism has lost sight of its social compact.  This is an edited extract

Protesters in Kiev Topple Lenin Statue as Rallies Grow  —  KIEV, Ukraine — In the biggest demonstration yet after weeks of growing momentum, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians filled the streets of Kiev on Sunday, tearing down and crushing a monument to Lenin in the city center and intensifying …

Democrats react to Rand Paul visit, Detroit ‘freedom zones’ proposal  —  DETROIT, MI — Democrats responded in a variety of ways to U.S. Sen. Rand Paul's Friday visit to Detroit.  —  The Kentucky Republican was in town helping the GOP effort to start reaching out to minorities in Michigan …