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Many people in the German capital of Berlin woke up this morning to the bizarre news. A suspected lioness is at large in the southwestern part of the city, German police have warned, adding that people in the area should stay indoors until they catch the dangerous wild animal.
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A rare multiple shooting incident in central Auckland, just hours before the opening of the Women’s World Cup, rocked the city as tens of thousands gathered to watch New Zealand take on Norway in the tournament’s first game. According to New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, three people died in the attack – including the gunman – and several others were injured. The gunman opened fire at a construction site in downtown Auckland and the incident is believed to be related to his work there, officials said. New Zealand police described the shooting as an “individual incident” and “not a national security risk”.
Legal experts believe a third indictment against former President Donald Trump is imminent and could be announced soon. Trump said Tuesday he was named as the target of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and the events leading up to the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol. Receipt of such notification is a procedural step that often results in criminal charges. Trump noted that the target letter he received Sunday gave him four days to claim an opportunity to testify. Legal usage suggests that charges could be brought at any time thereafter.
The grand jury is expected to meet today, January 6, after Trump announced he had been told he was a target of the investigation
A massive tornado in North Carolina on Wednesday afternoon severely damaged a Pfizer plant and several other buildings, shutting down a major highway and injuring more than a dozen people. The tornado left EF-3 damage in some areas with winds estimated at 150 miles per hour, the National Weather Service said, as it swept through Nash County, about 45 miles northeast of Raleigh. Photos of the damage show flattened buildings and paper-crumpled roofs. The tornado also downed trees on Interstate 95, temporarily closing the freeway in both directions. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said first responders were on site to clear roads and provide other assistance.
Some 340,000 UPS workers could go on strike by the end of the month if the company and union members cannot quickly reach an agreement on labor contracts. Negotiations are set to resume next week after both sides left the negotiating table earlier this month. Both sides say about 95% of the deal is already agreed, but some important issues remain. UPS agreed to fit new vehicles with air conditioning and retrofit old ones with fans. They also agreed to update their pay system, but there are still disagreements over how workers are paid. If the strike continues, it could cost the US economy $7.1 billion — making it the costliest work stoppage in US history, according to economists.
As writers and actors continue to strike against film studios and streaming platforms, Netflix is celebrating an overwhelming earnings report. The streaming giant announced on Wednesday that it added nearly 6 million paid subscribers in the three months ended June, bringing the total to more than 238 million worldwide. Netflix attributes the win to its crackdown on password sharing, which led to a surge in sign-ups. The results come at a crucial time for Netflix as the streamer looks to boost revenue by limiting password sharing and introducing an ad-supported subscription option while grappling with strikes that have halted content production entirely . Netflix and other streaming platforms have acknowledged that the strikes could affect their future offerings of original shows and films – but many say their existing series and film inventories can withstand the strikes for now.
Winning Powerball ticket sold in California
A lucky person wakes up a billion dollars richer today. If you are, read these tips on what to do (and what not to do) after a big lottery win.
A Disneyland-sized theme park is planned along Route 66
An “Americana-style” amusement park is set to become a $2 billion goal in northeastern Oklahoma, according to new development plans.
Stolen 15th-century letter from Christopher Columbus brought back to Italy
This letter, in which Columbus informed the Spanish King Ferdinand and the Spanish Queen Isabella of his discoveries on the American continent, is back in Italy after decades of disappearance.
Jury awards family $800,000 in Chicken McNuggets burning case
A Florida jury found the fast-food chain liable for failing to properly warn a customer about hot nuggets being served on a thoroughfare.
Microsoft distributes free cybersecurity tools
After a major hack, the tech giant is offering free cybersecurity tools to some government and business clients.
40,000
That’s the threshold the number of unique donors Republican presidential candidates must meet to qualify for the first Republican primary debate in August. Candidates who have hit the donor threshold so far include former President Donald Trump, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. Notably, former Vice President Mike Pence is still working to reach the donor threshold along with four other long-term candidates.
“I am confident that the Board will appoint an outstanding leader as the next President of our beloved institution.”
– Marc Tessier-Lavigne, President of Stanford University, announced his resignation on Wednesday after an investigation concluded that the research papers he contributed to contained “manipulations of research data.” In an open letter to the school, Tessier-Lavigne said he plans to step down next month but will remain on the Stanford faculty.
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AND FINALLY…
Why is it important for Barbie to stand on tiptoe?
Why does Barbie stand on tiptoe?
The highly anticipated film Barbie premieres in US theaters this week and has sparked interesting conversations about the doll’s evolution over the years. See how the impossible arch survived. (click here to view))