The 7 things you need to know for Tuesday, December 19

1

Pope Francis will allow Catholic priests to bless same-sex couples.

• The details: The Vatican approved the blessings yesterday, but said they must be kept separate from marriage. It largely reverses a ban that was formalized in 2021.
• It’s a milestone: The Catholic Church, which has 1.3 billion adherents around the world, has previously said that any nod to same-sex unions would be tantamount to blessing sin.

2

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill allowing police to arrest migrants.

• The details: The legislation, signed yesterday, gives state police the power to arrest migrants suspected of entering Texas illegally. It is expected to go into force in March.
• Zooming out: Abbott (R) has taken increasingly strict measures to stop illegal immigration. This law will probably set up another legal battle with the Biden administration.

3

An earthquake in northwestern China has killed at least 116 people.

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV video shows rescuers searching through the rubble in Qinghai province following a deadly earthquake Dec. 18. (Video: Reuters)

• What happened? The 6.2-magnitude quake rocked a mountainous area around midnight local time yesterday, bringing buildings crashing down on people as they slept.
• The latest: A frantic rescue effort is continuing today in freezing temperatures in the remote Jishishan county. The death toll is expected to rise.

4

A volcano erupted in Iceland.

A volcano in southwestern Iceland erupted Dec. 18 following weeks of intense seismic activity. (Video: Reuters)

• The details: The eruption began last night near the town of Grindavik. Photos and video showed plumes of red smoke billowing from scorching white lava.
• What now? The eruption could last up to 10 days, officials said, and it isn’t clear how much damage it might cause. Grindavik’s residents were evacuated last month.

5

Marvel actor Jonathan Majors was found guilty in a domestic abuse case.

• What to know: Majors attacked his then-girlfriend, Grace Jabbari, in the back of a car in March. With yesterday’s verdict, he faces up to a year in jail.
• What now? Marvel Studios dropped Majors, who played a prominent role as Kang in its recent movies and shows. Sentencing is scheduled for February.

6

Tens of millions of Americans will get a payout from Google.

A vase bought at Goodwill for $3.99 sold for $107,100 at auction.