Mattel sued over porn site misprint on Wicked dolls
A South Carolina mother claims her daughter visited the adult website on the doll's packaging.
Twenty Minnesota ballots went missing in key race that hinges on 14 votes
Race for state house seat, which will determine whether Republicans win control of chamber, separated by 14 votes
Twenty ballots went missing in a Minnesota precinct this November, the type of error that would typically result in an internal investigation but not receive much public attention. But the implications are much greater right now, as the race for the district’s state house seat is separated by 14 votes, and that seat will determine whether Republicans win control of the chamber.
The missing ballots, which were probably the result of human error, were never counted. Officials tried to track them down, only to learn that they had been sent to the shredder.
Continue reading...Volunteers fill in for ‘Pancho Claus’ after Tex-Mex Santa has heart attack
Richard Reyes has delivered Christmas gifts to low-income children in Houston area for decades in his red zoot suit
A heart attack and subsequent surgery are preventing the Mexican-American version of Santa known to generations of Texas children as Pancho Claus from suiting up this Christmas.
Yet members of Richard Reyes’s community have taken it upon themselves to organize toy drives – and even don his iconic look – to keep his spirit alive for his scores of believers.
Continue reading...Georgian police drag away opposition leader amid political crisis
The leader of Georgia's main opposition party was knocked to the ground and dragged away by police in Tbilisi.
Moment Bahamas MP throws ceremonial mace out parliament window
Throwing a mace out a window has historic significance in the country and previously happened in 1965.
Papa Biden is a liar, and American justice is a lie
The brouhaha over President Biden’s predictable volte-face to pardon his wayward son is missing an obvious point.
Ukraine seeks to ensure weapons supply as Russia hammers its defences
Kyiv's forces claim Russia is losing troops at a record rate in its push to advance in eastern Ukraine.
Syrian opposition fighters claim to have entered the key city of Hama
The Syrian military denies the claims as state media reports that the attack had been repelled.
Rising to the Challenge: Morocco’s short-statured football team
The inspirational story of the Moroccan football team that raises awareness of dwarfism through sport.
Afghanistan’s Rashid, Nabi urge Taliban to revoke ban on women’s education
The star cricketers were responding to reports that the Taliban had forbidden females from receiving medical education.
Italian nun arrested over links to powerful mafia network
The nun is alleged to have been the conduit between the gang and its associates in prison
A nun was among 25 people arrested in Italy on suspicion of being part of a criminal gang with links to the country’s most powerful mafia network, the ’Ndrangheta.
The nun is alleged to have been the conduit between the gang and its associates in prison, prosecutors in Brescia, northern Italy, said on Thursday.
Continue reading...Who could replace Barnier as French prime minister? Here are Macron’s best options
As president prepares to appoint his next prime minister, we take a look at how the complex parliamentary arithmetic may shape his choice
As French president Emmanuel Macron attempts to find a new prime minister to replace Michel Barnier, who lost a vote of no confidence on Wednesday, his choices will be guided by whether he can secure approval for his choice from the national assembly, the lower house of the French parliament.
The incoming prime minister would need the support of 288 deputies to survive another no-confidence vote, but could govern on simple majorities for individual bills.
Continue reading...Ukraine sanctions Georgian leaders over crackdown on pro-EU protests
President Zelenskyy targets the prime minister and other Georgian Dream figures for 'handing the country over to Putin'.
How climate risks are driving up insurance premiums around the US – visualized
‘Tight correlation’ between premium rises and counties deemed most at risk from climate crisis, experts say
Concern over the climate crisis may evaporate in the White House from January, but its financial costs are now starkly apparent to Americans in the form of soaring home insurance premiums – with those in the riskiest areas for floods, storms and wildfires suffering the steepest rises of all.
A mounting toll of severe hurricanes, floods, fires and other extreme events has caused average premiums to leap since 2020, with parts of the US most prone to disasters bearing the brunt. A climate crisis is starting to stir an insurance crisis.
Continue reading...Biden’s pardon
Biden's reversal on pardoning Hunter.
Macron to address nation after Barnier government collapse
The prime minister is likely to stay on as caretaker while President Emmanuel Macron chooses a successor.
There is now a window of opportunity for peace in Syria
The opposition taking control of Aleppo may give it enough leverage to jumpstart peace negotiations.
India captain Rohit drops down the order for second test in Adelaide
Rohit Sharma will move to the middle order after KL Rahul was retained as opener for the tourists.
UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson killed: Who are the victim and suspect?
Brian Thompson was fatally shot in Midtown Manhattan, triggering a frantic manhunt.
Children ‘incinerated’ in Israeli attack on ‘safe zone’ in Gaza
Women and children were “incinerated” in an Israeli attack on tents in a so-called ‘safe zone’ in Gaza.