Happening Today: Kabul, Erica Garner, Roy Moore, Putin, Starbucks, MTV

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Roy Moore Files Lawsuit to Block Alabama Senate Result

Republican Roy Moore filed a lawsuit to try to stop Alabama from certifying Democrat Doug Jones as the winner of the U.S. Senate race. The court filing occurred about 14 hours ahead of a meeting of a state canvassing board to officially declare Jones the winner of the Dec. 12 special election. Jones defeated Moore by about 20,000 votes. Moore's attorney wrote in the complaint that he believed there were irregularities during the election and said there should be a fraud investigation and eventually a new election. Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill told The Associated Press that he has no intention of delaying the canvassing board meeting. Moore has not conceded the race to Jones and has sent several fundraising emails to supporters asking for donations to investigate claims of voter fraud.

At Least 41 Killed in Attack on Shiite Cultural Center in Afghan Capital

Attackers stormed a Shiite Muslim cultural center in the Afghan capital, setting off multiple bombs and killing at least 41 people and wounding at least 84, authorities said. Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish said an unknown number of suicide attackers set off an explosion outside the center before carrying out an attack inside. They set off explosive devices in the basement of the building where scores of people had gathered to mark the December 1979 invasion of Afghanistan by the former Soviet Union, he said. Shiite leader Abdul Hussain Ramazandada said witnesses reported at least one suicide bomber sneaked into the event and was sitting among the participants. He exploded his device and as people fled more explosions occurred. At nearby Istiqlal Hospital, director Mohammed Sabir Nasib said the emergency room was overwhelmed with the dead and wounded. Additional doctors and nurses were called in to help and at the height of the tragedy more than 50 doctors and nurses were working to save the wounded, most of whom suffered severe burns.

Erica Garner Suffered Brain Damage During Heart Attack, Family Says

Erica Garner, the eldest daughter of the New York City man killed in a police chokehold in a 2014 case that sparked nationwide protests, suffered "major brain damage from a lack of oxygen" during an asthma-triggered heart attack earlier this month. The family of Eric Garner's 27-year-old activist daughter said in a message posted to her Twitter account that the brain damage was revealed in the results of a CT scan following the medical episode that left her in a medically-induced coma on Saturday. Her mother, Esaw Snipes-Garner, says her daughter's cardiac arrest was triggered by an asthma attack. Snipes-Garner says her daughter suffered her first heart attack not long after giving birth to a baby boy in August. Doctors said Erica Garner's pregnancy had put a strain on her heart, which was later found to be enlarged.

St. Petersburg Explosion Was Terror Attack, Putin Says

The explosion at a supermarket in Russia's second-largest city was a terrorist attack, President Vladimir Putin said, adding that another attack had been thwarted. At least 13 people were injured when an improvised explosive device went off at a storage area for customers' bags at the supermarket in St. Petersburg. Investigators said the device contained seven ounces of explosives and was rigged with shrapnel to cause more damage. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack. Putin made his comment at an awards ceremony at the Kremlin for troops who took part in Russia's Syria campaign but did not offer any details. He also said another terrorist attack had been thwarted in St. Petersburg but did not elaborate. Putin has portrayed Russia's operation in Syria as a pre-emptive strike against terrorism at home. He said the threat of attacks at home would have been much worse if Russia had not intervened in Syria.

Starbucks Celebrates New Year With Festive New Drinks

Starbucks is ringing in the new year early, debuting its festive and party-ready Black and White Mocha Collection. The coffee chain is launching three new drinks, and though black ties may be optional this holiday season, Starbucks said on its website, "the chocolate decadence is a must." The collection includes the signature espresso by the same name, the Black and White Hot Chocolate and the Black and White Frappuccino. Each features swirls of dark and white chocolate mocha, whipped cream and so-called "chocolatey sequins," or chocolate shavings, straight across the top. Starbucks has a history of celebrating the holiday season in style. Its now-famous annual holiday cup debuted in 1997, in what Starbucks said was a magenta color, and the iconic red cup hit shelves in 1999.

Co-Creator of “MTV Unplugged” Dies After Being Struck by Taxi on Fifth Avenue

A co-creator of MTV's "Unplugged" has died of injuries suffered when he was hit by a taxi while walking his dog. Jim Burns was walking the dog when he was struck by a cab making a turn onto Manhattan's Fifth Avenue, police said. Burns, 65, suffered a serious head injury and died from his injuries a few days later. The taxi driver remained at the scene. Police are still investigating. An MTV spokeswoman said the network was deeply saddened to learn about the death of Burns, who created "MTV Unplugged" with Robert Small. The wildly popular "Unplugged" debuted in 1989 at the height of MTV's musical and cultural influence in America.