10 Things to Know for Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:

  1. WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED METRO-NORTH'S DERAILMENT  The train's engineer experienced a hypnotic-like "daze" and nodded at the controls before the crash, his lawyer says.  NYC TRAIN DERAILMENT

2. CONNECTICUT TO RELEASE 911 CALLS FROM NEWTOWN SHOOTING  The tapes of seven landline calls from inside Sandy Hook Elementary School will be released to the media.  CONNECTICUT SCHOOL SHOOTING

3. HEZBOLLAH COMMANDER KILLED IN BEIRUT  The Lebanese militant group accuses Israel of assassinating one of its founding members outside his home. LEBANON

4. CALM REMAINS ELUSIVE IN UKRAINE  Protesters set up tents across Kiev's Independence Square and the government shows no sign of yielding.  UKRAINE-PROTEST

5. BIDEN BEGINS VISIT TO CHINA AT A TENSE TIME  The vice president plans to raise the issue of Beijing's newly-declared air defense zone that's riling Japan and other regional allies.  BIDEN-ASIA

6. WHY JUDGE'S DETROIT BANKRUPTCY RULING PUTS PENSIONS AT RISK  The city can scrub $18 billion, half of which are linked to retiree and health care obligations, while it restructures its debts.  DETROIT BANKRUPTCY

7. HOW MUCH THE TALLY WAS FOR CYBER MONDAY SALES  Online shoppers set a record, with e-commerce spending rising 18 percent from last year to $1.74 billion.  CYBER MONDAY-SALES TALLY

8. HE PRAYED FOR A MIRACLE — AND GOT ONE  A Nigerian survived three days in an air pocket in an upended boat about 100 feet down in the Atlantic. A video of his dramatic rescue has gone viral on the Internet.  MIRACLE-RESCUE

9. CURSE OF POLITICAL UNREST HITS EGYPT'S PHARAONIC TREASURES  The nation's world-famous antiquities museum is facing riots at its doorstep and financial woes as turmoil continues.  EGYPT-MUSEUM TROUBLES

10. BILLY JOEL SETTLING IN AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN  The Piano Man says he'll perform monthly at the famed New York City venue for as long as fans come to see him.    MUSIC-BILLY JOEL