Apple Must Face Sex-Bias Lawsuit Over Janitorial Contract, Court Rules

Associated Press
A Maui program kept Lahaina families together by paying households to take in fire survivors
The Lahaina home Tamara Akiona shared with 10 people was never quiet, and she loved it that way. Akiona, her husband, uncle, stepdaughter, and her best friend’s family filled the house once owned by her grandparents, with four bedrooms, two living rooms and a spacious backyard. “That’s the stuff I miss,” said Akiona, 51.
Associated Press
How faith communities can be welcoming of believers with disabilities this holiday season and beyond
The Rev. Shannon Blosser sees how his son loves church — the music, the singing, the communion. At one point, Blosser’s wife and the couple’s two sons stopped attending in-person services at a church where he served. Many people with disabilities, advocates and families want more religious congregations to know that there are ways to be accommodating and inclusive of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities this holiday season — and year round — and to fully embrace them and their families.
Associated Press
The Container Store, buffeted by rough housing market and competition, seeks bankruptcy protection
The Container Store has filed for bankruptcy protection as the storage and organizational goods retailer with roots dating back to 1978 grapples with mounting losses and cash flow shortages. The Texas company has faced increasing competition from retailers like Target and Walmart at the same time that demand for its goods are under strain in a rough housing market, where soaring prices and elevated mortgage rates have stunted sales. The company said Sunday that it had filed for bankruptcy protection in Texas.
AFP
Jordanian, Qatari envoys hold talks with Syria's new leader
Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa held talks Monday with senior Arab diplomats expressing support for the Syrian people and discussing future cooperation, in the latest high-profile visits since Bashar al-Assad's overthrow.Visiting Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi expressed his country's support for Syria's reconstruction in a meeting with Sharaa on Monday, in the first trip to Syria by a senior Jordanian official since Assad was toppled.
Associated Press
Trump wants mass deportations. For the agents removing immigrants, it's a painstaking process
A New York subway line rumbled overhead, then an officer's voice crackled over the radio. After watching for about two hours, he said, “I think that's Tango,” using a term for target. The immigration officers surrounded and handcuffed a 23-year-old man from Ecuador who had been convicted of sexually assaulting a minor.
Associated Press
AP PHOTOS: Girls will be part of St. Paul's Cathedral choir on Christmas Day for first time
For the first time in its 900-year history, girls will form part of the choir performing at the Christmas Day service on Wednesday at London’s majestic St. Paul’s Cathedral. The choir, which is made up of both adult and child choristers, will perform at services on Christmas Day under the 365-foot (111-meter) dome of the cathedral, designed by architect Christopher Wren after the 1666 Great Fire of London destroyed its medieval predecessor and much of the surrounding old city. The first two girls to become full choristers officially joined the choir in June.
Yahoo Finance
Stock market today: Dow futures slump, Nasdaq ticks higher as Wall Street assesses Fed's 2025 rate path
Investors considered the path of interest rates next year after the Fed hinted they would stay higher for longer.
Associated Press
France observes a national day of mourning for victims of Cyclone Chido in Mayotte
France marked a national day of mourning Monday for the victims of Cyclone Chido, which devastated the French overseas department of Mayotte earlier this month. Flags were flown at half-staff across the country, and a minute of silence was observed. The cyclone, the most destructive to hit Mayotte in 90 years, caused extensive damage to the island, known as France’s poorest territory, and left 35 dead and around 2,500 injured.
CBS News
Luigi Mangione due in court on state murder, terrorism charges
Luigi Mangione is due in a New York courtroom to face state charges in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Associated Press
The internet is rife with fake reviews. Will AI make it worse?
The emergence of generative artificial intelligence tools that allow people to efficiently produce novel and detailed online reviews with almost no work has put merchants, service providers and consumers in uncharted territory, watchdog groups and researchers say. Phony reviews have long plagued many popular consumer websites, such as Amazon and Yelp. The deceptive practice, which is illegal in the U.S., is carried out year-round but becomes a bigger problem for consumers during the holiday shopping season, when many people rely on reviews to help them purchase gifts. Where are AI-generated reviews showing up?
AFP
UK economy stagnant in third quarter in fresh setback
Britain's economy was stagnant in the third quarter, according to revised official data released Monday, dealing a fresh blow to the Labour government.The ONS also revised down its second quarter growth reading to 0.4 percent from 0.5 percent.
CNN
‘Like going to the moon’: Why this is the world’s most terrifying ocean crossing
The Drake Passage, between the southern tip of South America and Antarctic, is infamous as one of the most dangerous journeys on the planet. But why is it so rough – and how can you cross safely?
AFP
Sweden says China denied request for prosecutors to probe ship linked to cut undersea cables
Sweden's foreign minister said Monday that China had denied a request for prosecutors to conduct an investigation on a Chinese ship linked to two severed Baltic Sea cables despite Beijing pledging "cooperation" with regional authorities.- Observers - However, Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard also noted Monday that Swedish prosecutors had not been allowed to conduct an investigation.
NBC News
Biden commutes dozens of death row sentences to life without parole
The sentences will be reclassified to life without the possibility of parole, the White House said. The move applies to 37 of the 40 federal inmates on death row.
NBC News
House repairs, a car, grandkids: Where Evanston’s reparations payments are going
The first city in the U.S. to approve reparations has given 200 people in cash or assistance. We asked three residents how that money has affected their lives.
Associated Press
What a merger between Nissan and Honda means for the automakers and the industry
Japanese automakers Honda and Nissan will attempt to merge and create the world’s third-largest automaker by sales as the industry undergoes dramatic changes in its transition away from fossil fuels. The two companies said they had signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday and that smaller Nissan alliance member Mitsubishi Motors also had agreed to join the talks on integrating their businesses. Honda will initially lead the new management, retaining the principles and brands of each company.
USA TODAY
President Biden commutes sentences of 37 federal death row inmates: See full list of names
President Joe Biden on Monday commuted the sentences of 37 individuals on death row, the White House announced. See the full list of names.
Reuters
Switzerland adopts more EU sanctions on Russia and Belarus
Switzerland adopted the latest EU sanctions package on Russia and Belarus, the government said on Monday. The move came one week after the European Union targeted Moscow's vessels and Chinese entities found to have traded with the Russian military. The Swiss government listed 54 persons and 30 companies and organisations, freezing their assets as of Dec. 24, and banned 52 ships from providing services.
Reuters
Germany looking into possible security lapses after Christmas market attack
Germany searched for answers on Monday on possible security lapses after a man drove his car into a Christmas market, killing at least five people and casting a renewed spotlight on security and immigration ahead of a snap election. As a nation mourned, with citizens leaving flowers and lighting candles in Magdeburg where the incident took place on Friday, questions swirled about whether more could have been done and whether the authorities could have acted on warnings. Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser called for tougher internal security laws to be adopted, including a new act to strengthen police forces as well as the introduction of biometric surveillance.
USA TODAY
Luigi Mangione faces arraignment today, charged with killing UnitedHealthcare CEO
Mangione's hearing on state charges comes days after his dramatic return to New York to face federal counts in the slaying of Brian Thompson.

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