Obama lights Christmas tree

Obama lights Christmas tree

WASHINGTON

President Barack Obama jumpstarted the holiday season Thursday, lighting the National Christmas Tree but also appealing to Americans to “come together as brothers and sisters” one day after 14 people were shot to death in Southern California.

“This is, of cours,e the most wonderful time of the year, but we would be remiss not to take a moment to remember our fellow Americans whose hearts are heavy tonight, who grieve for loved ones, especially in San Bernardino, Calif.,” Obama said.

“Their loss is our loss, too. We’re all one American family,” he added.

Moments earlier, the president, his wife, Michelle, daughters Malia and Sasha, and his mother-in-law, Marian Robinson, together flipped a switch and illuminated the Christmas tree near the White House.

More US police charged with killings in 2015

CHICAGO

The number of U.S. police officers charged with murder or manslaughter for on-duty shootings has tripled this year – a sharp increase that at least one expert says could be the result of more video evidence.

In the past, the annual average was fewer than five officers charged. In the final weeks of 2015, that number has climbed to 15, with 10 of the cases involving video.

“If you take the cases with the video away, you are left with what we would expect to see over the past 10 years – about five cases,” said Philip Stinson, the Bowling Green State University criminologist who compiled the statistics from across the nation. “You have to wonder if there would have been charges if there wasn’t video evidence.”

Summit calls for cautious research

WASHINGTON

A tool to edit human genes is nowhere near ready to use for pregnancy – but altering early embryos as part of careful laboratory research should be allowed as scientists and society continue to grapple with the ethical questions surrounding this revolutionary technology, organizers of an international summit concluded Thursday.

“It would be irresponsible” to edit human sperm, eggs or early embryos in a way that leads to pregnancy, said Nobel laureate David Baltimore of the California Institute of Technology, who chaired the summit.

Groups: Mexico releases purported victims of torture

MEXICO CITY

Several people who were wrongly detained and purportedly tortured by Mexican police have been released after spending years in custody, human- rights groups said Thursday.

The releases involved four people who were arrested in 2012 and 2013 in cities along the border with the United States and accused of crimes of which they ultimately were absolved. They all walked free Wednesday.

No charges for cop who punched woman

LOS ANGELES

No criminal charges will be filed against a former California Highway Patrol officer who punched a bipolar woman as she walked on a busy Los Angeles freeway, prosecutors said Thursday.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said in a statement that Officer Daniel Andrew acted within the law by resorting to force to stop Marlene Pinnock from entering traffic on Interstate 10.

Pinnock was recorded on video being repeatedly punched while resisting arrest. District Attorney Jackie Lacey says the video did not show what led up to the struggle.

Associated Press