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IMPORTANT
| | | Paper Weight | They’re in: Appeals Court Frees Up Mar-A-Lago Documents The decision overturns a temporary bar issued by a federal judge. Now, the Justice Department can continue using the documents — seized from former President Donald Trump’s Florida residence in August — in its investigation into the mishandling of classified material. In a blow to Trump’s legal strategy, the independent special master appointed to review the evidence agreed with the judgment that bars Trump’s legal team from reviewing the seized papers. Trump has since, untruthfully, claimed a president has the legal ability to declassify anything just by willing it so: “You can declassify just by saying ‘it’s declassified,’ even by thinking about it.” (Sources: NYT, The Hill) |
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| | | | | ‘Morality’ | Women in Iran Take to the Streets Over Death-in-Custody Case Mahsa Amini, 22, died last week after being arrested by Iran’s morality police in Tehran. Officials earlier this week pledged an investigation into the incident, but anger has boiled over as protests and violence swept the country. Many women burned headscarves and cut their hair short in street demonstrations protesting a decree issued by President Ebrahim Raisi. Reports of internet blackouts and blocks on Instagram and WhatsApp were seemingly confirmed by Telecommunications Minister Issa Zarepour, who said there have been “temporary restrictions in some places and at some hours.” At least seven people have been killed in the unrest. (Sources: NPR, The Guardian) |
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| | | Hit the Streets | Hundreds Arrested in Russia After Mobilization Announcement President Vladimir Putin announced that 300,000 Russian reservists will be called up to the war in Ukraine in the first conscription since World War II. The televised address triggered rallies across the country, with protestors carrying signs with slogans like: “Our husbands, fathers and brothers don’t want to kill other husbands and fathers.” At least 1,386 protesters have been detained in the protests, according to an independent police monitor. Interior Ministry official Irina Volk said police took detainees in for “investigation and [to] establish their responsibility.” Flights exiting the country immediately skyrocketed amid a huge demand to leave Russia. (Sources: Reuters, Moscow Times) |
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| | | Big Questions | Ginni Thomas to Meet With Jan. 6 Committee The conservative activist wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas will voluntarily attend an interview in the coming weeks. Thomas has been of particular interest to the committee after it was revealed that she had exchanged text messages with then-Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows ahead of the Jan. 6 insurrection, and as Trump and his allies spread the theory that the 2020 election had been stolen. Evidence shows Thomas also attempted to intervene in having election results overturned in Arizona and Wisconsin. She attended the rally on Jan. 6 but was not part of the breaching of the Capitol. (Sources: CNN, WaPo) |
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| | | Briefly | Here are some things you should know about today: Critical. The German government will take a 98.5% stake in gas giant Uniper after calls for nationalization amid Europe’s energy crisis. The move will allow Germany to secure supply. (Source: BBC) It’s over. A United Nations-backed court in Cambodia has rejected the final appeal of Khmer Rouge cadre Khieu Samphan in the 16-year-old court’s final hearing. (Source: AP) Jailed. Honduras former first lady Rosa Bonilla will spend 14 years in prison for stealing $590,000 from a program for low-income children to pay credit card bills. (Source: Reuters) |
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INTRIGUING
| | | Forever Chemicals | Are You Sending Your Child to School in an Environmental Disaster? Around 65% of children’s clothing and accessories in the U.S. and Canada — from school uniforms to baby bibs — contain PFAS chemicals, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a new study has found. The chemicals, designed to make surfaces water and stain resistant, have become known as “forever chemicals” because they never break down, instead accumulating in the environment and the human body. Already, PFAS have been linked to a string of illnesses, from cancers to reproductive issues. “Everyone thinks stain-resistant clothes are great progress, but if little Johnny or Jane is covered in PFAS, is that great progress?” said co-author Graham Peaslee. (Source: The Guardian) |
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| | | Cyberflashing | Instagram Has a Plan To Keep Eggplants out of Your DMs The new feature will identify dick pics and other unwanted sexual images and warn users before they open any messages. Meta, which owns Instagram, says the feature is still under development but early signs are promising. The function will offer controls similar to the “hidden words” option already in use that blocks direct-message requests containing certain words. Internet safety advocates warn that features like hidden words are far from foolproof. A report from the Center for Countering Digital Hate says Instagram did nothing about 90% of image-based abuse, and the filter system does not catch misspellings or grawlixes. (Source: The Verge) |
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| | | | | Live and Let Cast | Who Is the Next Bond, James Bond? Daniel Craig has hung up his well-tailored suit, sending producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson on a worldwide hunt for the next iconic 007. British actor Idris Elba is a fan favorite, but Broccoli and Wilson know this is a role like no other that requires an extraordinary commitment, and acknowledge, “Not everybody wants to do that.” For the producers, too, a new face in the role is always a difficult change. “It’s evolving,” Broccoli says. The suave, cosmopolitan man of 2022 looks very different from the first James Bond in the 1960s, and the perfect fit will reflect that. (Source: Variety) |
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| | | Out to Pasture | The World Bank’s Top Executive Isn’t Sure About Climate Change “I’m not a scientist,” said David Malpass, the World Bank’s president, earlier this week. That’s after the bank invested $31.7 billion in climate change mitigation projects around the world, from helping Nigeria deal with drought to improving infrastructure in India. The admission has sparked a conversation over the World Bank’s role in the climate emergency — and Malpass’ place in it. Climate statesman Al Gore later said, “we need to get a new head of the World Bank,” a comment echoed by BlackRock CEO Larry Fink. Development experts called on the White House and other governments to rally for leadership change. (Source: QZ) |
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| | | Arms Up | World Cup Players Take a Stand on LGBTQ Solidarity Several European entrants in November’s World Cup have asked the governing body to allow captains to wear rainbow armbands in support of LGBTQ-identifying fans and migrant workers. It’s the latest in a string of protests against host Qatar, where homosexuality is illegal. “Wearing the armband together on behalf of our teams will send a clear message when the world is watching,” said England captain Harry Kane. According to FIFA guidelines, all equipment worn by competing players must be provided by the governing body, including armbands. FIFA’s European equivalent allowed the armbands to be worn in Hungary following anti-gay legislation there. (Source: AP) |
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