As Ye Sew: The owners of a Bangladesh sewing factory that burned last year, killing 112 workers, have been charged with culpable homicide. The fire at the Tazreen Fashions factory in November 2012 was considered a major disaster. But it was the April collapse of a factory building which crushed 1,100 workers that put the world spotlight on unsafe factories. Most of the workers in the Tazreen fire died on the first and second floors because there were not enough exits.

Riot Girls: Russia freed two members of the punk group Pussy Riot, who had been sent to prison for two years for staging a protest against President Vladiir Putin. Band member Maria Alyokhina said this was an attempt for Putin to look merciful before the world converges in Sochi for the winter Olympics. “We didn’t ask for any pardon,” she said. “I would have sat here until the end of my sentence because I don’t need mercy from Putin.”

Crazy Christmas: Temperatures hit a high of 69 degrees in New York City yesterday even as a winter storm coated northern New England with ice, leaving 100,000 homes without power. It’s been freaky weather for December with rain falling from Buffalo down to Baltimore and a wavering line of ice and rain crossing New England. This morning it’s 29 in Burlington, VT. and 61 in NY City. In the mid-Atlantic, temperatures hit record highs in the 60s and 70s.

World: Syrian aircraft bombed the city of Aleppo, killing at least 32 people. It was the eighth straight day the government bombed the rebel-held side of the city. In recent days the Syrian military has been dropping crude barrel bombs from helicopters, inaccurate weapons filled with explosives and fuel that cause massive and indiscriminate damage.

• Americans trapped in Bor, South Sudan, were airlifted out yesterday, a day after a rescue mission was turned back by ground fire. About 380 Americans and 300 people from other countries nationals have been airlifted. South Sudan appears to be erupting in civil war.

Nation: A 35-year-old man involved in a custody dispute threw his 3-year-old son from a 52 story Manhattan apartment building, then jumped to his death. Dmitriy Kanarikov’s wife had custody and he was supposed to turn the boy over to her yesterday after a visit.

Finish Line: The historic Hollywood Park racetrack hosted its last day of horse racing yesterday in Inglewood, Calif. Some of the greatest horses ran at Hollywood Park including Seabiscuit and Citation. The track was built by Jack Warner of Warner Brothers, and the original shareholders included Al Jolson, Walt Disney, Bing Crosby, Sam Goldwyn and Mervyn LeRoy. Internet betting and televised races left the stands nearly empty in the park’s last years. Developers plan to build a hotel, casino, and residences.

Hello, China?: Apple made a deal to sell iPhones through China Mobile, the largest mobile network in the world. They have 760 million customers. But Apple will have to do something about its price, $800, as opposed to $100 for an Android phone in China.

Gridiron: Denver quarterback Peyton Manning yesterday broke the single-season record for touchdown passes with 51. He threw four in Denver’s 37-13 win over the Houston Texans.

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