Christmas: News Stories From Around the World - Page 20

Dec 11, 2007 8:08 PM CST

Hopefuls Pause for St. Nick

Campaign trail detours for Christmas; candidates plan friendly reminders

(Newser) - Is the spirit of St. Nick in sync with political stumping? Presidential hopefuls are wondering that in Iowa, where the January 3 caucus date is adding pressure to campaign during Christmas week—an act that some voters may find offensive. "We are in uncharted territory here," says the...

Pope Rips Christmas Materialism

Dec 9, 2007 12:36 PM CST

Pope Rips Christmas Materialism

Continues Vatican battle against rampant consumerism

(Newser) - Continuing the Vatican's battle against rampant consumerism on the occasion of Jesus' birthday, Pope Benedict XVI today blasted a pervasive "materialistic mentality" in "the way of living out and perceiving Christmas." The pontiff urged pilgrims gathered below his window on St. Peter's Square instead to "fill...

Leno Ponies Up to Pay Staffers

Dec 3, 2007 7:03 AM CST

Leno Ponies Up to Pay Staffers

Criticized comic finally joins colleagues to help workers

(Newser) - Talk-show host Jay Leno stepped up to the plate this weekend, saying he will use his own money to pay, for at least this week, the 80 non-writing employees of "The Tonight Show" who were laid off by NBC Friday. Staffers blasted Leno when they were pink-slipped for...

Cold Calls to Loved Ones: 'Buy This!'

Dec 1, 2007 6:44 PM CST

Cold Calls to Loved Ones: 'Buy This!'

More stores bug buyers with calls; etiquette experts cringe

(Newser) - Tired of dropping hints and still getting the "wrong" gift? Now more stores notify potential buyers about what their loved ones want, the Wall Street Journal reports. Chains like Searle call up about that $300 scarf and onliner retailer Net-a-Porter sends video emails—along with the warning, "Let's...

Lead Toys Get Charities Grinchy

Nov 21, 2007 2:04 PM CST

Lead Toys Get Charities Grinchy

Checking endless recall lists saps limited resources for many

(Newser) - Rampant toy recalls are putting a real cramp in the holiday spirit at many charities, MSNBC reports. Toy drives must devote so much manpower to checking donations against lists of lead-contaminated recalls that many have stopped the Santa act entirely. “You don’t know what you’re getting, you...

Child 'Slave' Laborers Fall Into the Gap

Oct 28, 2007 5:14 PM CDT

Child 'Slave' Laborers Fall Into the Gap

Kids seen making Gap garments in New Delhi sweatshop

(Newser) - Ten-year-olds were found stitching Gap apparel in a filthy New Delhi sweatshop, some without pay, in an investigation by the Guardian. The kids interviewed by the paper reported long hours of unpaid work, threats and beatings. Serial numbers on the beaded blouses they were working on were ID'd by the...

All I Want for Xmas is a
$1.6M Concert

Oct 3, 2007 4:44 AM CDT

All I Want for Xmas is a $1.6M Concert

Private Kirov Orchestra show tops new Neiman Marcus gift catalogue

(Newser) - A $1.6 million concert by the Kirov Orchestra is just one eye-popping highlight of Neiman Marcus' brand new Christmas catalogue, which is chock full of super-extravagant gifts most of us can only salivate over. The private concert for 500 includes a Steinway Concert Grand piano autographed by the musicians....

Toymakers Play Games With Regulations

Sep 12, 2007 12:01 PM CDT

Toymakers Play Games With Regulations

Call for more safety testing a cynical move, Slate critic contends

(Newser) - The toy industry’s new safety-testing push may succeed in rebuilding trust, but it’s likely to leave dangerous ways unchecked—and the big guys know it, argues Slate’s E. Marla Felcher. The current scandals are matters of enforcement, not of the regulations themselves, but the new call for...

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