The top headlines today: Asian markets recovered some of their recent losses in pre-holiday trading; French car maker Renault is reportedly in talks to merge with Japanese car maker Nissan; Sembcorp Industries CEO and top executives have taken a paycut; Singapore's immigration authorities arrested a woman trying to smuggle drugs in her underwear; a 78-year-old woman fought off an armed robber; North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un has set a date with South Korea's president; A Taiwanese exchange student was arrested in the U.S. for allegedly threatening to massacre his classmates; And the White House's revolving door has taken another, unusual spin.