The following is a rundown of the day’s news drawn from other media sources with topics curated just for Money and Markets readers: personal security and freedom, the BridgeGate scandal, and business and finance.
Personal security and freedom
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Disease Resistance to Antibiotics at Tipping Point, Expert Warns
“We’re watching evolution happening,” he said. “The viruses, the parasites have a pressure put on them from the drugs. They want to respond to that by surviving and not being killed by these antibiotics so therefore they evolve in ways that make them resistant.”
Fatal Pig Virus Now Affects 22 States
Frigid temperatures across a large swath of the United States this week followed by warmer conditions could aid the spread of a fatal pig disease now in 22 states, affecting hundreds of thousands of pigs, a swine veterinarian said on Thursday.
California Hospital Sets up Flu Tent
So far, a total of 15 people have died in California, according to ABC’s affiliate KGO. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that more than 20 states have high flu activity with the H1N1 virus being the most prevalent nationwide.
French Anti-Semitic Comedian’s Show Nixed at Last Moment
The 47-year-old comedian has been convicted more than a half-dozen times for inciting racial hatred or anti-Semitism in shows in which the Holocaust has been derided. He also has popularized the “quenelle” hand gesture, which has been criticized as an “inverted Nazi salute.”
Obama Works to Craft Response to Surveillance Uproar
President Obama and Vice President Biden met with intelligence and privacy experts Wednesday as they look to finalize the White House response to the uproar over the government’s vast surveillance programs.
BridgeGate scandal
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Chris Christie: ‘I Am Embarrassed and Humiliated’
When Christie first approached his staff on the lane closings, he said he was assured that no one was involved. “And emails I saw for the first time yesterday morning,” he said, “… prove that that was a lie.” He said he asked those questions of his staff “repeatedly.”
Chris Christie Fires Top Aide, Apologizes for Bridge Scandal
Bridget Anne Kelly, Christie’s deputy chief of staff, will be relieved from duty immediately, Christie said. And he has instructed a second staffer, a top political aide and his former campaign manager, to sever his relationship with the Republican Governors Association, of which Christie is chairman.
De Blasio Says Christie’s Bridge Scandal ‘Raises Bigger Questions’ About His Leadership
“I’m glad he came clean and said that he would take resolute action. But I think it obviously raises bigger questions about how something like that ever happened to begin with. And it’s unacceptable. And it’s not tolerable for anyone in government to play with the people’s needs that way.
Lawsuit Filed Against Christie, Others Over Jams
Six New Jersey residents have filed a federal lawsuit against Gov. Christie, the state of New Jersey, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and others over traffic jams in September.
‘Very Sad’ Chris Christie Extends Apology in Bridge Scandal
His office sent out video clips of his saddest moments at the news conference. And he offered that he thought voters would forgive him, because they recognize that people sometimes make mistakes and get hurt by even close friends.
Business and finance
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Every Norwegian Is Now a MillionaireÂ
At least they are in theory, since their wealth fund, managing the small Scandinavian country’s enormous oil fortune, surpassed the threshold of 5.097 trillion krone — or a million krone for every inhabitant. (A million krone is about $162,000.)
Janet Yellen: The $16 Trillion Woman
In her first and only interview as Fed chief, the economist says why she thinks the housing market is back on track, companies will invest, and more new jobs are on the way this year. She now has the world’s largest economy in her hands.
These Four Shady Weight-Loss Companies Were Forced to Issue Huge Refunds
We all know that the only real way to lose weight is through diet and exercise, but who wants to do either of those? That’s why companies find it so profitable to trick the gullible into believing that their powders, pills or creams will help you shed the pounds with little effort.
China Becomes the World’s Leading Trader
According to figures released by Beijing on Friday, the value of China’s imports and exports in 2013 reached $4.16 trillion. This will almost certainly surpass the American figure, which won’t be released until February.
December Saw Best Job Growth in a Year
“Job gains are broad-based across industries, most notably in construction and manufacturing,” Mark Zandi, chief economist with Moody’s Analytics, said. “It appears that businesses are growing more confident and increasing their hiring.”
Best wishes,
The Money and Markets Team
