2016: The nation’s cartoonists on the year in politics

Every month political cartoonists throughout the country and across the political spectrum apply their ink-stained skills to capture the foibles, memes, hypocrisies and other head-slapping events in the world of politics. The fruits of these labors are hundreds of cartoons that entertain and enrage readers of all political stripes. Here's an offering of the best of this year's crop, picked fresh off the Toonosphere. Edited by Matt Wuerker.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/gallery/2016/12/2016-cartoon-carousel-matt-wuerker-002390?slide=0?source=Snapzu

Istanbul nightclub attack 'leaves 39 dead' - BBC News

At least 35 people are dead in an attack on a nightclub in Istanbul, the governor says.
Read more: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-38481521?source=Snapzu

Hollywood sign altered to 'Hollyweed' in apparent NYE prank

Hollywood residents awoke Sunday morning to find the iconic Hollywood sign had been altered to read "Hollyweed" in an apparent New Year's Day prank.
Read more: http://abc7.com/news/hollywood-sign-altered-to-hollyweed-in-apparent-new-years-eve-prank/1681507/?source=Snapzu

6yo Boy Kidnapped from School By Police, Locked in Psych Ward for 3 Days -- for Temper Tantrum

For throwing a temper tantrum, 6-year-old Nicholas, who has been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and disruptive mood dysregulation disorder, was kidnapped from his elementary school by police and imprisoned in a psychiatric hospital. Nicholas was held, including multiple stints in a ‘seclusion room,’ for three days at River Point Behavioral Health.
Read more: http://thefreethoughtproject.com/boy-police-school-psych-ward-days/?source=Snapzu

Pakistani man exchanges daughter, 13, for a second wife

Mohammad Ramzan is deaf and mute and has a childlike mind. But he knew his wife, Saima, was too young when she was given to him as a bride. The 36-year-old uses his fingers to count out her age when they married. When he reaches 13, he stops and looks at her, points and nods several times. The girl’s father, Wazir Ahmed, says she was 14, not 13, but her age was beside the point. It mattered only that she had reached puberty when he arranged her marriage as an exchange...
Read more: http://www.thenational.ae/world/south-asia/pakistani-man-exchanges-daughter-13-for-a-second-wife?source=Snapzu

Five Afghan teens who raped boy in Sweden will not be deported

Five Afghan teenagers have been convicted of gang-raping a boy in Sweden - but none of them will be deported because their homeland is 'too dangerous', it has emerged. The victim, who is under 15, was filmed during the attack, which happened in woodland in Uppsala, south east Sweden. He was beaten and dragged out to the forest at knife-point before being subjected to an ordeal lasting more than an hour, prosecutors say.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4076394/Five-Afghan-teenagers-convicted-gang-raping-boy-knife-point-Sweden-NONE-deported-homeland-dangerous.html#ixzz4UOPC9hfJ?source=Snapzu

The Coming Assault on Social Security

The first assault of the new Trump administration and Republican Congress upon Social Security has been launched. It comes in the form of release of a new report by the Congressional Budget Office, which of course these days is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Republican Congressional Caucus... By Dave Lindorff.
Read more: http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/12/30/the-coming-assault-on-social-security/?source=Snapzu