Nation and world news in brief for November 12
Mattel mistakenly lists porn site on packaging for ‘Wicked’ dolls
(NYT) — All may be good in the Land of Oz, but the same can’t be said for the world of Mattel.
The toy company’s latest dolls for the movie “Wicked” listed a porn website on its packaging instead of a very similar URL that promotes an upcoming film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical.
Mattel, the manufacturer of Barbie and Hot Wheels, said in a statement Sunday that it was aware of a “misprint” on the box for the dolls, which are primarily sold in the United States. The company said it had intended to direct consumers to the movie’s landing page, not to a URL for a website restricted to people 18 years of age and older.
The doll is for children ages 4 and up.
Shigeru Ishiba wins vote to remain as Japan’s prime minister
TOKYO (NYT) — Despite leading his party to big losses in a snap general election last month, Shigeru Ishiba, the prime minister of Japan, won a vote in parliament Monday to carry on as the country’s leader.
Ishiba, whose Liberal Democratic Party lost its parliamentary majority for the first time in 15 years, will effectively lead a minority government.
The result puts Ishiba in a precarious position as his government continues to deal with the aftermath of a political finance scandal, along with inflation, labor shortages and the increasing burdens of an aging population. Analysts said Ishiba could struggle to survive in the long term, putting Japan at risk of returning to a revolving door of prime ministers just as it prepares to grapple with increased unpredictability in the United States, its most important international ally, following the reelection of Donald Trump as president.
Demonstrators with Nazi flags appear outside performance of ‘The Diary of Anne Frank’
DETROIT (TNS) — A group of demonstrators carrying Nazi flags appeared Saturday night outside a community theater performance of the “The Diary of Anne Frank” at an American Legion post in Livingston County.
Bobby Brite, past commander of the American Legion Devereaux Post 141, recorded video of the demonstrators who, he said, were present outside the Howell Township venue for about 30 minutes while the play, which documents the experiences of a young Jewish girl and her family during the Holocaust, was ongoing.
About 10 people were part of the pro-Nazi group that showed up in the Legion’s parking lot at about 7:30 p.m. and eventually moved across the street, Brite said. They were in their 20s and all wearing masks, Brite said.
At one point, they were chanting “Anne Frank was a whore,” Brite said. Frank died at age 15 at the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in 1945.
Nick Fuentes doxxed following ‘your body, my choice’ comments, report says
(TNS) — The address of a Chicago-area home that appears to belong to Nick Fuentes was posted on X after the bombastic right-wing influencer celebrated Donald Trump’s election victory by mocking women concerned their reproductive rights will be restricted by conservative lawmakers and courts.
“Your body, my choice,” Fuentes posted on X. “Forever.”
It echoed a comment he also made in an online video that took on a life of its own.
Social media users unhappy about the 26-year-old internet troll’s remarks responded by posting photos and property records showing where Fuentes appears to live. Images posted online indicate Fuentes’ critics have begun harassing him at home.
Global pandemic treaty negotiations to conclude by May, WHO says
(Reuters) — Talks aimed at reaching a global agreement on how to better fight pandemics will continue into next year and are expected to be completed by the next World Health Assembly in May, the World Health Organization said on Monday.
“Member states are working to conclude a global pandemic agreement as soon as possible,” said Anne-Claire Amprou, co-chair of the agency’s Intergovernmental Negotiating Body that is leading the talks.
The WHO’s negotiating body includes 194 member governments and is meeting from Nov. 4 to 15 to continue negotiations over a global pact. These were previously expected to conclude by 2025, or earlier.
The WHO said that negotiations so far have focused on articles pertaining to disease surveillance and prevention of future pandemics.
After anti-Trump rant in classroom, California places teacher on leave
LOS ANGELES (TNS) — The Moreno Valley Unified School District placed a history teacher on leave after he gave a profanity-filled lecture to his students about Donald Trump the day after the former president won a second term.
The Valley View High School history teacher called Trump a “rapist draft-dodging coward” during an emotionally distraught lecture on Wednesday, according to a recording of the lecture that was posted to X.
The teacher — whom the district has not publicly identified — told his students that Black and Latino voters did not support Kamala Harris because she has “a vagina and uterus” and that Latino voters who support Trump want to be white.
A spokesperson with the school district told news station KABC the teacher was placed on administrative leave pending a review of the incident.
