Iran unrest: ‘Ten dead’ in further protests overnight  —  Ten people have been killed overnight in anti-government protests sweeping Iran, according to state TV.  —  “In the events of last night, unfortunately a total of about 10 people were killed in several cities,” it said.

Democrats in High-Tax States Plot to Blunt Impact of New Tax Law  —  Democrats in high-cost, high-tax states are plotting ways to do what their states' representatives in Congress could not: blunt the impact of the newly passed Republican tax overhaul.  —  Governors and legislative leaders in New York …

South Korea hails North's proposal for talks  —  South Korea on Monday welcomed a message from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un that he is open to talks between the two countries, and may consider sending a delegation to next month's Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korean news agency Yonhap News reported.

Powerful Hollywood Women Unveil Anti-Harassment Action Plan  —  Driven by outrage and a resolve to correct a power imbalance that seemed intractable just months ago, 300 prominent actresses and female agents, writers, directors, producers and entertainment executives have formed an ambitious …

Democrats more fearful about 2018 than Republicans: poll  —  Democrats are more fearful about what 2018 holds than Republicans, according to a poll released early Monday.  —  The new Axios survey showed 55 percent of Democrats are more hopeful personally about the new year while 44 percent are more fearful.

I Helped Popularize The Term “Fake News” And Now I Cringe Every Time I Hear It  —  After a yearlong battle for its meaning and ownership, “fake news” is now both an empty slogan and a deeply troubling warning sign.  —  In October 2014 I came across a false story that was quickly racking up likes, shares, and comments on Facebook.

During my presidency, I started a tradition of sharing my reading lists and playlists.  It was a nice way to reflect on the works that resonated with me and lift up authors and artists from around the world.  With some extra time on my hands this year to catch up, I wanted to share the books and music that I enjoyed most.

Trump has a golf problem  —  On Christmas, Trump tweeted that he would be going “back to work” the next day. … Trump has since gone golfing for seven consecutive days, while the press pool ate pancakes at a local IHOP.  —  December 26  —  “The motorcade pulled into Trump International Golf Club at around 9:05am.

It sure looks as if Kirsten Gillibrand is running for president  —  Will Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) run for president in 2020?  She has been quick to clamp down on any speculation about a 2020 bid.  But her actions suggest otherwise.  Gillibrand has staked out a particularly anti-Trump voting record …

Making China Great Again  —  As Donald Trump surrenders America's global commitments, Xi Jinping is learning to pick up the pieces.  —  When the Chinese action movie “Wolf Warrior II” arrived in theatres, in July, it looked like a standard shoot-'em-up, with a lonesome hero and frequent explosions.

Partisans, Wielding Money, Begin Seeking to Exploit Harassment Claims  —  WASHINGTON — As the #MeToo movement to expose sexual harassment roils the nation's capital, political partisans are exploiting the moment, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars to support accusers who come forward …

Muslim Caregiver Refuses to Buy Elderly Woman Christmas Ham Due to ‘Religious Reasons’  —  A Muslim caregiver in Sweden has caused controversy after she refused to purchase a Christmas ham for one of her company's clients, saying that it violated her religious beliefs.