5 things you need to know Wednesday
Will OPEC reach deal to stop oil's slide?
The energy industry will have its eyes on OPEC Wednesday as member nations plus Russia meet in Vienna to try to reach a deal on production cuts. If members can put aside their political differences — and that's a big if — they may stabilize oil prices for the first time since the same members sent the commodity into a freefall two years ago. Hopes of a deal have injected some life into oil prices recently, but any meaningful agreement will require Saudi Arabia and Iran to come together despite their ongoing rivalry.
Castro's ashes travel from Havana to island's east
The cremated remains of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro will travel Wednesday on the first part of a ceremonial journey from the capital, Havana, to the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba, where in 1953 he first launched his revolution to take over the island nation. The route traces in reverse the "Freedom Caravan" of January 1959 in which Castro and his rebels took power. Castro's ashes will be interred in Santiago on Dec. 4 in the same cemetery where Cuban national hero José Martí is buried.
Rain helps douse Tennessee wildfires
The Great Smoky Mountains might get some relief Wednesday as rain is expected to suppress dangerous wildfires that killed three in Gatlinburg, Tenn. An inch of "beneficial rain" is expected overnight Tuesday into Wednesday morning, adding to the three-fourths of an inch of rain that fell in the resort town a day earlier and reduced the fires there, according to the National Weather Service. The historic blazes destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses in Gatlinburg alone, prompting 14,000 people to evacuate from the town and 2,000 to seek refuge in emergency shelters.
Risk-takers poised for Treasury, Commerce jobs
President-elect Donald Trump is expected to nominate two businessmen to Cabinet-level positions and make the announcements as early as Wednesday. Steven Mnuchin, a former Goldman Sachs executive, is Trump's pick for U.S. Treasury secretary, according to a source close to the transition team. The source also said billionaire investor Wilbur Ross is being chosen as Commerce secretary. Ross made a career out of buying ailing companies in sometimes troubled sectors on the cheap, restructuring them and then selling them for billions of dollars. Both nominees are considered risk-takers in the business world.
AT&T launches new DirecTV Now streaming service
AT&T takes aim at consumers looking to trim or eliminate their pay-TV services with the launch Wednesday of its new DirecTV Now streaming service. Consumers can subscribe to various levels of DirecTV Now to stream 60 to 120-plus channels, starting at $35 monthly (you can get a free 7-day trial at directvnow.com). Programming will be delivered via the Net to smartphones and tablets, as well as connected TV devices such as Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV. Those who use AT&T Wireless will not have video use count against their data limits. Not sold yet? There are also new channels from Taylor Swift and Reese Witherspoon.
And the essentials:
Weather: Snow rolls into the Northwest on Wednesday as the East gets much-needed rain.
Stocks: Asian stocks were mixed Wednesday, as investors awaited the results of the OPEC meeting.
TV Tonight: Wondering what to watch tonight? TV critic Robert Bianco looks at Arrow (CW) and Black-ish (ABC).
Be inspired: Brother's response to baby's adoption has courtroom laughing.
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