Maggie: Hey everyone. It is Thursday, December 18th. I am Maggie Rulli and Channel One News starts right now.

President Obama made a big announcement yesterday regarding ourneighbor to the south, Cuba.
The United States will now have diplomatic relations with Cuba, meaning the two countries can officially talk to each other.As Tom Hanson explains, it is a change after more than fifty yearsof cutting off Cuba from the U.S.

Pres. Obama: Today the United States is changing its relationship with the people of Cuba.
Tom: For the first time since 1960 the U.S is establishing a relationship with its island neighbor.
Pres. Obama: Through these changes we intend to create more opportunities for the American and Cuban people, and begin a new chapter among the nations of the Americas.
Tom: As part of the negotiations, Cuba released an American aid worker,which some have said was a U.S spy. He had been in prison in Cuba for five years. And the U.S agreed to releasethree Cuban prisoners convicted of spying that have been held here.
It is a major change after decades of silence between the two nations.
Cuba is just ninety miles south of Miami in the United States.

Tensions between the U.S. and Cuba began during the Cuban revolution, all the way back in the 1950s. It was during the Cold War, and the United States and the Soviet Union were embroiled in a dangerous 'arms race,' and both countries had built up
stockpiles of nuclear weapons.
In the middle of the conflict between the two superpowers was the tiny island nation. Cuba was led by Fidel Castro and his communist government, which owned most land and businesses, controlled the media, and limited the freedom of citizens.
Castro also aligned his country with America's communist rival, the Soviet Union.As a result, the U.S cut all ties with Cuba and made it illegal for Americans to travel and do business there, known as an embargo.
The U.S also made several attempts to topple Castro's government, which lead to the Cuban Missile Crisis, when Cuba let the Soviet Union bring nuclear weapons within firing distance of the U.S
For the next five decades the two countries had no official communication. And the U.S.embargo crippled Cuba's economy.
Fidel Castro's brother, Raul took over in 2008, and he began loosening some of the rules in Cuba. At the same time, the U.S. had been weakening some of its policies toward Cuba.
Yesterday's history-making change was months in the making. But it doesn't end the U.S. embargo in Cuba. The president is hoping that congress will do that.
But the new policy does allow the U.S. to open an embassy in Cuba's capital, Havana.The State Department will review whether Cuba should still be labeled a terrorist threat.
And both countries will increase travel, commerce, and the flow of information.

The announcement didn't come without controversy. Critics who say it wasrewarding a government that abuses its people.
Marco Rubio: It is a victory for the oppressive Cuban government, but aserious setback for the repressed Cuban people.
Tom: And the Cuban people still have little freedom there. But President Obama is hoping that opening communication with help open up Cuba.
Tom Hanson, Channel One News.

Maggi: To check out more history between the U.S. and Cuba, watch some cool videos and follow an interactive timeline, just head on over to Channelone.com.
Alright, coming up, the Sony hacking scandal just got bigger.

First up in our headlines today, the Sony hacking scandal explodes, creating more problems for the company.
Now,Sony has canceled the release of the movie “The Interview” after hackers threatened a 9/11 style terrorist attack. This message, posted by the hacking group, Guardians of Peace,warns moviegoers to stay away from theaters when they start showing Sony's new film “The Interview.”
The warning reads, "The world will be full of fear. Remember the 11th of September 2001."

The comedy about journalists who are asked to kill the leader of North Korea was set to open on Christmas Day.

The threat comes more than three weeks after Sony said it was hacked by the group. Movies that had not been released were leaked online, along with emails between executives at Sony.
North Korean authorities are furious about the film, but have denied being the hackers.

And law enforcement sources say some evidence points to either North Korea or outside hackers with links to the country. But federal officials said yesterday, that the North Korean government was quote, "centrally involved."
Next up, cheap oil here in the U.S is good news for your pockets, but it is not the same in countries that sell oil. One of those countries is Russia. And it is feeling the impact.
The economic situation in Russia is pretty bad. Their currency has all but collapsed, and panicked Russians are watching their wealth disappear.
Six months ago thirty-four rubles, which is their money, bought one dollar. Now it takes almost seventy-rubles to buy one U.S dollar.
And the reason is cheap oil, which is a bigsource of income for the Russian economy.
Adding to that, the U.Sand other countries put economic punishments on Russia after its invasion of Ukraine, which means Russia can't borrow from western banks.
Many Russians rushed to the bank to cash out their accounts and buy items which are becoming more and more expensive by the hour. Prices are going up so much that some companies, like Apple, have put a stop to online sales in Russia.

Coming up, we are taking you on an underwater adventure. And things are going to start looking kind of crazy. You will see just ahead.

Now it is time to get your geek on!Scientists made a pretty freaky discovery last monthin the depths of the deep sea. Scott Evans has more.

You may remember this scene from Disney's 2003 hit animated film Finding Nemo,that involves a nightmarish type of fish found in the deep sea.
It may seem like a work of Hollywood, but this fish is very real. And recently, scientists got a up close look at one swimming around the deep ocean.
The anglerfish, also known as the black sea devil. The Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute recorded these images nearly two thousand feet under water off the Monterey coast.
It is extremely rare to capture an anglerfish on film because they live so deep underwater.
The deep sea is a part of the ocean that starts at depths of about 650 feet. That’s deeper than the height of the Washington monument. And less than 10 percent of worlds’ oceans have even been explored.

And that’s because the further down you go, the darker, colder, and less safe things become. Even the temperatures near where this video was taken sit at about near freezing year round.
No light except for a tiny glowing stem growing out of the top of their head. And yes, just like it did in Finding Nemo,the light attracts other fish to eat with wicked, gnarly teeth.
In the California Academy of Sciences Collections, there are only a few examples of anglerfish.This one, decades old, preserved in an alcohol solution.

But to see one alive, in its habitat,is a discovery that will be studied for years.

Scott: Scott Evans, Channel One News.

Maggie: Only female angler fish have that light. They are also fierce predators that can swallow prey up to twice their size. Crazy right?

Alright, on a lighter note,all week we have been following how people are giving back this holiday season. And you guys sent in some really awesome videos showing off all the ways you are making an impact. Let's take a look.

Teens: Happy holidays Channel One from Diamond Regional Dental Assistant Program.
Maggie: These teens from Fall River,Massachusetts donated eighty-five toys to families in need.

In Indiana, Woodrow Wilson Middle School raised six hundred dollars for an annual toy drive.

In Illinois, 6th graders at Geneseo Middle school collected more than one thousand food items for their local pantry.

Sixth graders: 1,127 cans.

Maggie: And kids took time to help other kids in Washington.

Male: We did a raffle to raise money for local foster kids. We raised over five hundred dollars. This is how we made an impact this holiday season.
Maggie: Casey Middle School in Mount Vernon, Illinois is reminding everyone that even a small act can make a huge impact. Each colored square is an act of kindness witnessed by another student.
And at Sandoval Elementary School in Illinois, students collected things that their community needed on a 'caring tree'.
Boy: The items on the tree are donated to our local Shalom food pantry, or given out to needy families.

Teens: Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays Channel One.

Maggie: Wow, you guys are incredible! Thanks for all the inspiration to give back during this holiday season and all year long!
Alright that's going to do it for us. I am Maggie Rulli and we can't wait to see you tomorrow.

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