McDonald’s is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the iconic 90s TV show Friends with a special Happy Meal promotion. The fast-food giant has rolled out limited-edition Friends-themed Happy Meals, complete with collectible packaging and toy figurines of beloved characters Ross, Rachel, Monica, Chandler, Joey and Phoebe.Related: Considering franchise ownership? Get started now to find your personalized list of franchises that match your lifestyle, interests and budget.But there’s a catch: the Friends Happy Meal is only available in Spain, leaving fans in other countries out of luck. Many U.S. Friends enthusiasts and collectors around the world are already turning to online…
Author: Team_NationalNewsBrief
The Tibetan plateauNicolas Marino/mauritius images GmbH/Alamy Climate change is raising winter temperatures faster than those of summer, especially in high-altitude areas. This “asymmetric” warming could spell trouble for the vast amount of carbon stored in soils there by altering microbial activity more than expected. The planet’s soils store more carbon than any ecosystem other than the oceans, and could store much more if better managed. But soil carbon is threatened by climate change. Researchers expect warmer temperatures will boost the amount of soil carbon lost to the atmosphere as greenhouse gases, largely due to changes in the behaviour of soil…
HALF MOON BAY, Calif. — A Minnesota horticulture teacher remained the reigning champion Monday of an annual pumpkin-weighing contest in Northern California where his massive gourds have won the top prize four years in a row.Travis Gienger, of Anoka, Minnesota, beat his closest competitor by 6 pounds to clinch the victory at the 51st World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay, south of San Francisco.His winning gourd came in at 2,471 pounds, falling short of the world record he set last year with a pumpkin weighing 2,749 pounds.Gienger, 44, said that as he has done in the past, he focused on…
SpaceXSenegal’s first satellite hitched a lift on a SpaceX launcher in AugustOne by one, the satellites – each of them encrusted with a hodge-podge of solar panels and other gizmos – detached from their mothership.They had blasted off from Earth just an hour earlier, on 16 August. The 116 satellites onboard the launch vehicle were mostly designed and built by Western nations and businesses – but one of them was different.It was the first such spacecraft ever developed by the African country of Senegal.A small CubeSat called GaindeSAT-1A, it will provide earth observation and telecommunications services. Senegal’s president called it…
This article is an on-site version of our FirstFT newsletter. Subscribers can sign up to our Asia, Europe/Africa or Americas edition to receive the newsletter every weekday. Explore all of our newsletters hereIn today’s newsletter:A new low for India-Canada relationsChina launches large military drills near TaiwanHow Trump allies are sowing election doubtsGood morning. Canada has expelled six Indian diplomats, alleging they were involved in “clandestine activities” over the murder of a Sikh activist.A Canadian government official said Indian high commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma and five other diplomats had been informed that they were “persona non-grata”. India responded by kicking out…
Bath & Body Works ‘Ku Klux Klan’ candle Bath & Body Works apologized after customers claimed a winter themed “snowed in” candle looked like Ku Klux Klan hoods. The retailer said it was unintentional and pulled the candles from shelves. “At Bath and Body Works, we are committed to listening to our teams and customers, and committed to fixing any mistakes we make-even those that are unintentional like this one,” a spokesperson said to CNN. “We apologize to anyone we’ve offended and are swiftly working to have this item removed and are evaluating our process going forward.” Commenters online called…
Boseman, the acclaimed actor best known for his role as T’Challa in Marvel’s “Black Panther,” passed away on August 28, 2020, at the age of 43. His death was a shock to many, as he had kept his battle with colon cancer private.The actor was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer in 2016, which progressed to stage IV. Despite his illness, he continued to work on numerous film projects, including “Da 5 Bloods,” Ma Rainey’s “Black Bottom,” and “21 Bridges.”Chadwick Boseman’s death prompted an outpouring of grief from fans, colleagues, and celebrities, including his co-star Lupita Nyong’o, who says she…
CHINA’S MIXED TRACK RECORD IN THE MIDDLE EAST China declared its support for Iran during a meeting last month between Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. Wang Yi told Pezeshkian that China backed Iranian efforts to safeguard the country’s “sovereignty, security, territorial integrity, and national dignity.” The declaration of support followed a series of Israeli strikes at targets in Iran, Syria and Lebanon that potentially violated international law. Iranian support for its militant non-state Arab partners, including Hamas, Hezbollah, and Yemen’s Houthis, with whom Israel has effectively been…
Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are neck and neck in the polls with three weeks to go until the presidential election.If the polls are to be believed, few United States presidential elections have been as close as this one. Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are neck and neck, but pollsters say the result may hinge on how voting goes in seven states. A swing of a few thousand votes either way could influence who makes it to the White House. So, what issues might decide the outcome? Presenter: Tom McRae Guests: John Zogby – US pollster Steven Erlanger – Chief…
Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander announced recently that he plans to continue his legendary career on the diamond in 2025. Los Angeles Dodgers icon Clayton Kershaw confirmed on Monday that he isn’t ready to retire either. “Obviously, I had some tough luck with my foot this year. But I want to make use of this surgery. I don’t want to have surgery and shut it down. So I’m gonna come back next year and give it a go and see how it goes,” the three-time NL Cy Young Award winner said. Kershaw told the Fox Sports MLB pregame show,…