News Summaries in December 2025
Note to readers: summaries may sometimes be posted in two places, at least for a time, when older stories are involved. They temporarily will be placed at the top to call attention to them but also placed in chronological order farther down. Summaries of older stories no longer will say “posted out of chronological order.” Thank you for your attention to this matter. “Politicians’ Flip-Flops Can Be an Issue. In Brazil, Flip-Flops Are an Issue,” New York Times, Dec. 26, 2025 Flip-flops are in the middle of a political firestorm in Brazil. “Millions of people slip on the ubiquitous sandals – made by the Brazilian company Havaianas – to go to the beach or lounge at home, to run errands or meet friends at the bar,” writes Times reporter Ana Ionova. But the footwear became a partisan issue when the company launched an ad campaign featuring the popular Brazilian actress Fernanda Torres, who became a global star and a progressive icon for ...