Top U.S. and World News Headlines for Friday, December 19

Visit to watch the full daily independent, global news hour. This is a summary of top news headlines from the U.S. and around the world on Friday, December 19, 2014. Go to the Democracy Now! website to read the complete transcript, search the vast news archive, and to make a donation to support our daily, nonprofit news program.

In this video, you'll learn about these top news headlines:

U.S. General: Turning Point Against ISIS Will Take at Least 3 Years

Iraq: Kurdish Forces Break Siege of Yazidis on Mount Sinjar

Syria: 230 Islamic State Victims Found in Mass Grave

ISIS Leaders Killed as WikiLeaks Publishes Docs on CIA Doubts About "High-Value" Assassinations

Nigeria: Boko Haram Kills 30, Kidnaps 200 in Village of Gumsuri

Report: Attorney Sought to Free U.S. Hostage in FBI-Backed Bid

Pakistan Kills 67 Militants, Revives Death Penalty After School Massacre

New Jersey Hopes Cuba Thaw Will Bring Capture of Black Panther Assata Shakur

U.S. Prosecutors Sue New York City over Abuse of Teens at Rikers Jail

Colombia Rejects Terms of FARC Ceasefire Offer

Obama Signs Sanctions Bills on Venezuela, Russia

U.S. Strengthens Protections for Transgender Workers

Obama Signs Measure Ending Social Security Payments to Nazis

U.S. Would Veto Resolution to End Occupation of Palestinian Territories

Chevron Halts Plans to Drill for Oil in the Arctic

Peru: Environmental Defender Wins Court Victory Against U.S. Mining Firm

ACLU Sues Ferguson-Florissant School District over Biased Elections

Nebraska, Oklahoma Sue Colorado over Pot Legalization

Australia: 8 Children Dead, Woman Injured in Mass Stabbing

Report: Gap Between Rich and Poor Hits New High

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