Dec 22 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories in the Wall Street Journal. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
- U.S. Congress passed a short-term spending bill to keep the government funded through mid-January and avoid a partial shutdown looming at week's end. http://on.wsj.com/2kCQhkh
- Boeing (NYSE:BA) BA.N confirmed it is in takeover talks with Brazil's Embraer EMBR3.SA , potentially strengthening its hand in the regional-jet market and helping it counter a move by Airbus to strike a similar deal with Bombardier BBDb.TO . http://on.wsj.com/2kAX7a7
- Google-parent Alphabet Inc GOOGL.O said Eric Schmidt will step down from his post as executive chairman in January and transition to a role as technical adviser. http://on.wsj.com/2kDrFb8
- Lawmakers are calling for a national security panel to increase its scrutiny of billions of dollars in U.S. takeovers by HNA Group, including possibly revoking its approval of earlier acquisitions by the Chinese conglomerate. http://on.wsj.com/2kCQ5Bs
- Papa John's International PZZA.O founder John Schnatter is stepping down as CEO after a tumultuous few months at the pizza chain. http://on.wsj.com/2kCNJm7
- Home-security company ADT Inc has filed preliminary documents for an initial public offering, more than a year after it went private in a leveraged buyout. http://on.wsj.com/2kDPkbI