Heath Freeman, Bones and NCIS Actor, Dead at 41

Associated Press
In a calendar rarity, Hanukkah starts this year on Christmas Day
Hanukkah, Judaism’s eight-day Festival of Lights, begins this year on Christmas Day, only the fourth time that’s happened since 1900. “This can be a profound opportunity for learning and collaboration and togetherness,” said Rabbi Josh Stanton, a vice president of the Jewish Federations of North America. One example of togetherness: a Chicanukah party hosted Thursday evening by several Jewish organizations in Houston, bringing together members of the city’s Latino and Jewish communities for a “cross cultural holiday celebration."
Associated Press
What to know about Hanukkah and how it's celebrated around the world
Hanukkah — also spelled Chanukah or other transliterations from Hebrew — is Judaism’s “festival of lights.” On eight consecutive nightfalls, Jews gather with family and friends to light one additional candle in the menorah — a multibranched candelabra. In Hebrew, Hanukkah means “dedication,” and the holiday marks the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in the 2nd century BC, after a small group of Jewish fighters liberated it from occupying foreign forces. With the tiny supply of ritually pure oil that they found in the temple, they lit the menorah — and it stayed lit for eight days.
Associated Press
It's eggnog season. The boozy beverage dates back to medieval England but remains a holiday hit
At Scoma’s Restaurant in San Francisco, this holiday season 's batch of eggnog began 11 months ago. The concoction is then stored at 34 degrees Fahrenheit (1 degree Celsius) and and gets stirred weekly for months. Customer Phil Kenny seems to think so.
NBC News
NASA's solar probe is about to fly closer to the sun than any human-made object ever
NASA's Parker Solar Probe is expected to make a fiery dive close to the solar surface on the morning of Christmas Eve.
The Wall Street Journal
America’s Farm Recession Is Here. One Early Response Is Sending Billions to Farmers.
Reeling from falling crop prices, farmers and agricultural companies have grappled with diminished income and pulled back on spending.
Yahoo Finance
Why a housing market 'thaw' never came in 2024
Wall Street analysts had hoped the housing market would show signs of life in 2024. Instead, it remained stagnant: Sales of previously owned homes are poised to set the record for the worst year since 1995 for the second year in a row.
CNN
Death toll rises to five with more than 200 injured in German Christmas market attack
At least five people were killed and more than 200 injured after a car plowed into a crowd at a Christmas market in the German city of Magdeburg on Friday, local authorities said.
CNN
Deck the halls (extra carefully): Common Christmas injuries, illustrated
Every year, an estimated 16,000 people head to the hospital for holiday-decor-related injuries across the United States.
Reuters
Syria's new rulers name foreign minister amid push for international relations
The ruling General Command named Asaad Hassan al-Shibani as foreign minister, SANA said. A source in the new administration told Reuters that this step "comes in response to the aspirations of the Syrian people to establish international relations that bring peace and stability". Shibani, a 37-year-old graduate of Damascus University, previously led the political department of a rebel government in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib, the General Command said.
AFP
France's most powerful nuclear reactor finally comes on stream
France on Saturday connected its most powerful nuclear power reactor to the national electricity grid in what leaders hailed as a landmark moment despite years of delays and technical setbacks."The last time a reactor started up in France was 25 years ago at Civaux 2," he said, referring to the Civaux power plant in southwestern France.
CNN
4 ways artificial intelligence revealed the unexpected in 2024
Artificial intelligence came of age in 2024, helping to decode the mysteries of ancient scrolls, whale vocalizations, the building blocks of life, and more.
AFP
Scholz mourns 5 killed, hundreds wounded in Christmas market attack
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Saturday visited the site of a car-ramming attack on a crowded Christmas market that killed five people and injured more than 200 as he called for unity while condemning the "terrible catastrophe".He said he was grateful for expressions of "solidarity ... from many, many countries around the world" and added that "it is good to hear that we as Germans are not alone in the face of this terrible catastrophe".
Reuters
Pakistan dismisses US official's warning over missile programme as unfounded
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry on Saturday dismissed as unfounded and "devoid of rationality" assertions by a senior U.S. official that its missile programme could eventually pose a threat to the United States. Earlier this week, U.S. Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer said Pakistan's development of long-range ballistic missiles made it an "emerging threat".
Associated Press
Senate review of Supreme Court ethics finds more luxury trips and urges enforceable code of conduct
A nearly two-year investigation by Democratic senators of Supreme Court ethics details more luxury travel by Justice Clarence Thomas and urges Congress to establish a way to enforce a new code of conduct. Any movement on the issue appears unlikely as Republicans prepare to take control of the Senate in January, underscoring the hurdles in imposing restrictions on a separate branch of government even as public confidence in the court has fallen to record lows. The 93-page report released Saturday by the Democratic majority of the Senate Judiciary Committee found additional travel taken in 2021 by Thomas but not reported on his annual financial disclosure form: a private jet flight to New York's Adirondacks in July and jet and yacht trip to New York City sponsored by billionaire Harlan Crow in October, one of more than two dozen times detailed in the report that Thomas took luxury travel and gifts from wealthy benefactors.
NBC News
What is the winter solstice? What to know about the shortest day of the year
Although temperatures have been dropping for weeks, winter doesn’t officially begin until Saturday.
USA TODAY
Debunking false claims about UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting | Fact check roundup
A fact check roundup of claims related to the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and the suspected shooter, Luigi Mangione.
NBC News
Houthis fire a missile at Tel Aviv; Israeli strikes kill several children in Gaza
A missile launched from Yemen struck the Israeli city of Tel Aviv early Saturday morning, marking a rare instance of a failed interception over the city.
Politico
Senate Democrats render a verdict on Supreme Court ethics
Sen. Dick Durbin says justices have lost the trust of American people by failing to disclose gifts and other ethical lapses.
CNN
False rape allegations like the Duke scandal aren’t common enough to justify withholding support from victims, advocates say
When Katie – was 18 years old, a boyfriend slipped drugs into her drink and raped her.
CNN
Durbin uses new report to accuse Justices Thomas and Alito of violating disclosure laws
A top Senate Democrat on Saturday accused conservative Supreme Court justices of violating federal disclosure laws in a lengthy report that caps a monthslong investigation by the Senate Judiciary Committee and comes weeks before Republicans take control of the chamber.

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