1. At least 40 people were killed and 30 injured Thursday in a suicide bomb attack in Afghanistan’s capital Kabul, according to authorities. The attack happened around 10:30 a.m. local time and targeted a cultural center. The initial suicide blast was followed by two more explosions. The following explosions did not produce any injuries. (CNN)
2. The dangerously cold temperatures are going to stick around. Highs may not break 20 for the next week. Frostbite can occur within 10-15 minutes of skin being exposed to the cold, and increased winds reduce that time. (WGME)
3. Monday’s snowstorm brought a white Christmas to most of New England, but it wasn’t enough to trigger an $800,000 giveaway to customers of Springer’s Jewelers.In a news release Wednesday, the company said its Portsmouth, New Hampshire, location received 4.3 inches of snow on Christmas Day, 1.7 inches less than required to activate the jeweler’s Let It Snow deal. Under the promotion’s rules, if the Portsmouth store area receives 6 inches or more on Dec. 25, the company will refund the price of any qualifying purchase made at its three locations in the two weeks after Thanksgiving. (Press Herald)
4. Retail sales were up 4.9% this holiday season, the largest year-over-year gain since 2011, according to Mastercard’s SpendingPulse Report, which tracked sales activity across all payment types from Nov. 1 to Dec. 24. The report said the increase represents a “new record for dollars spent” but did not give a dollar amount. Economists say the healthy retail sales numbers are a result of strong national employment figures. The jobless rate of 4.1% in November was the lowest since December 2000. (LA TIMES)
5. A week after “battery gate,” Apple is reportedly facing a total of eight lawsuits, with one seeking a $999 billion USD settlement. Although Apple has stood behind its claim that there was no malicious intent in the supposed throttling, many plaintiffs have stated that the defect hindered performance, forcing consumers to upgrade. Further allegations state there was an effort to conceal the battery issue rather than offering a replacement. (HUBWAV)
