Australia Is First Nation to Ban Popular, but Deadly, Stone (Newser Sunday Summary)

The news that made headlines while you were out living life.                          -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

December 31, 2023     If You Only Read One Thing Australia Is First Nation to Ban Popular, but Deadly, Stone Australia has become the first nation to ban the use of engineered stone following years of advocacy from doctors and unions who raised the alarm on its dangers to workers, reports the Guardian. Keep reading   Straight Outta DC Trump Claim Is a Threat to Democracy, Smith Tells Court Special counsel Jack Smith's office asked an appeals court on Saturday to deny Donald Trump's argument that the former president is immune from criminal charges in his election interference case, saying that such a protection would "threaten to undermine democracy." Keep reading   On the World Stage Queen's New Year's Surprise: I'm Abdicating Queen Margrethe II told Denmark on Sunday that she plans to step down in two weeks, turning the largely ceremonial monarchy over to her son, Crown Prince Frederik, after 52 years on the throne. Keep reading   Weekend Jaw-Dropper 122 Minnesotans Were Fishing, Then the Ice Broke More than 100 people stranded while fishing on an ice chunk that broke free on a Minnesota river were rescued Friday, authorities said. Keep reading   Wild Card Our Love of Pizza Is Taking a Toll on US Groundwater A previous New York Times investigation revealed that America's groundwater is being depleted at a fast rate all around the country. Keep reading   From our sponsors:   And Don't Overlook... 41 Years Later, Mom Still Searching for Missing Son Johnny Gosch was 12 years old when he went missing one morning in 1982. Keep reading Key to Saving Lives From Snakebites Could Be a Pill According to World Health Organization stats, nearly 140,000 people die annually around the globe from venomous snakebites, with most of them succumbing to the snake's venom before they can get emergency assistance. Keep reading Cashmere Is Cheap These Days, but There's a Cost to That Buying a cashmere scarf or sweater was once a pricy purchase, but the cost of the luxe fabric has gone down in recent years. Keep reading A Racing Icon Is Dead at 56 A car racing icon is dead at 56 after a day spent racing with his son at a private motorsports club, colleagues say. Keep reading Freed Hostage Describes Ordeal An Israeli woman who recently returned from captivity in the Gaza Strip says she was groped by her Palestinian kidnapper and lived in constant fear throughout the weeks she was held hostage. Keep reading     How You Voted This Week 84% Hilarious Toddler Opens All Family's Gifts at 3am: 'No Present Spared' 77% Intriguing Men Outnumber Women, but Only on One Coast 94% Depressing One Life to Live Star Kamar de los Reyes Is Dead 91% Brilliant 'True Miracle' Arrives at Animal Shelter for the Holidays 78% Scary As Man Walked His Dog, the Moose Charged 'Without Notice' 80% Ridiculous Chess Player Fined Over Her 'Sports Shoes'   This Week's 6 Most-Read Stories   From Our Sponsors Manage your subscriptions  |  Unsubscribe from Newser emails  |  Privacy Policy We'd love to hear from you. Send us a note at feedback@newser.com. Read our stories on MSN. Newser, LLC  |  1395 Brickell Avenue  |  Suite 800  |  Miami, Florida  |  33131 © 2023 Newser, LLC. All rights reserved