Good Morning! Today’s edition is 1,032 words, a 4-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• The Onion buys Infowars

• South Africa refuses to help trapped illegal miners

• Rent out the Colosseum

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Big Story

Iran Hijab “Treatment Clinic”

Iran announced plans to open a clinic to "treat" women who defy mandatory hijab laws.

• The clinic says it will provide "scientific and psychological treatment for hijab removal.” Following the 1979 revolution, Iranian women have been legally required to wear a head covering known as a “hijab.”

• Iranian human rights advocates and international activists condemned the clinic’s concept. They argue that it is neither Islamic nor in line with Iranian law. Many women in Iran fear the clinic will function more as a prison than a place of help, especially after recent cases where women protesters faced mistreatment and torture.

• The opening announcement comes after police arrested university student Ahou Daryaei in Tehran for stripping down to her underwear in protest of being assaulted by campus security for improperly wearing a hijab. She was later transferred to a psychiatric hospital.

Big Story

Bear Insurance Fraud Case

California authorities arrested four people for attempting to defraud three insurance companies by claiming a bear had damaged their vehicles.

• The suspects provided video footage, saying a bear entered their Rolls-Royce and two Mercedes cars during a trip to Lake Arrowhead.

• Suspicious of the footage, the California Department of Insurance launched an investigation called Operation Bear Claw. Officials found that three claims filed at different insurance companies were from the same location and date. Each claim had video evidence, and the “bear” was identical in each submission.

• A wildlife biologist reviewed the footage and confirmed it was “clearly a human in a bear suit.” Authorities then searched the suspects' homes and found the bear costume. They charged all four suspects with conspiracy and insurance fraud.

Big Story

The Onion Buys Infowars

The satirical news site The Onion bought Alex Jones’ Infowars at a bankruptcy auction.

• The Onion plans to relaunch Infowars in January as a parody site, focusing on satire of conspiracy theories and including educational material on gun safety. Families of Sandy Hook victims, who won over $1 billion in defamation lawsuits against Jones, backed the purchase.

• Jones reacted angrily to the sale, calling it an attack on free speech, and vowed to fight it in court.

• The Sandy Hook families involved in the sale say they hope it will “prevent Jones from continuing to spread harmful misinformation.”

• Meanwhile, Jones’ personal X account with millions of followers remains unsold, though the court may decide its future soon.

Quick Stories

U.S. News

• President-elect Trump has nominated Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be secretary of health and human services. RFK has touted the slogan “Make America Healthy Again” and aims to eliminate dyes, pesticides, & harmful chemicals in America’s foodways. The nomination requires Senate approval. (More)

• A 28-year-old man from Houston, Anas Said, has been arrested for allegedly plotting a terrorist attack. The FBI claims Said admitted to planning the attack from his apartment in west Houston and attempting to support ISIS. (More)

• The US Justice Department reported that jail officials in Georgia’s Fulton County are violating inmates' rights by not protecting them from violence, using excessive force, and keeping them in filthy, unsafe conditions. The county said it has already begun making changes. (More)

World

• The South African government has refused to assist a group of illegal miners trapped in a closed mine in North West province. Authorities blocked access points to cut off their food, water, and supplies as part of a crackdown on illegal mining. (More)

• New Zealand's parliament paused Thursday when Maori members performed a haka to protest a vote on a bill changing the 184-year-old Treaty of Waitangi, an agreement between the British and Maori chiefs that still impacts laws today. (More)

• Philippine authorities ordered 24,000 people to evacuate in northeastern towns as Super Typhoon Usagi approaches. Many of the evacuees have already been displaced by previous storms. The typhoon is the 5th to hit the country this month. (More)

Business & Economy

• US stock markets closed lower on Thursday (S&P -0.60%, Nasdaq -0.64%, Dow -0.47%). Markets slid as Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said the economy’s strength could delay future rate cuts. (More)

• Disney stock surged on Thursday after it reported better-than-expected earnings and revenue for the fourth quarter. Shares shot up over 10% in early trading before closing with a 6% gain. (More)

• The incoming Trump administration plans to end the IRS clean vehicle tax credit, according to a report. The credit was recently overhauled under President Biden's climate legislation and offered up to $7,500 based on battery capacity. (More)

Sports & Entertainment

• Spurs’ star Victor Wembanyama scored 50 points to become the fourth-youngest player in NBA history to reach the milestone. He also became the youngest center to do so.  (More)

• Sophie Turner landed the lead role of Lara Croft in Amazon's upcoming "Tomb Raider" TV series. The show will have Phoebe Waller-Bridge writing and executive producing. (More)

• Mike Tyson and Jake Paul face off tonight on Netflix. The preliminary boxing matches begin at 5:30 p.m., and the main card starts at 8 p.m. ET. (More)

Science, Health, & Tech

• Today, skywatchers in the US will have one final chance to see a supermoon before the year ends. November's full moon, called the Beaver Moon, will rise at 4:29 p.m. ET. (More)

• A study found that more than 800 million adults around the world have diabetes — quadruple the amount in 1990. More than half of those over 30 who have it don’t get treatment. (More)

• The James Webb Space Telescope has captured three gigantic “red monster” galaxies. Each is 100 billion times the mass of our sun and more than 12.8 billion years old. (More)

Extra Credit

🔍️ Google released its 100 most searched-for products in 2024.

😴 What causes us to jolt awake right before sleeping?

🇮🇹 Airbnb is renting out the Colosseum.

🚽 Doctors warn about spending too much time on the toilet.