Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez reportedly engaged after nearly five years together

USA TODAY
Alabama sheriff requests FBI probe into alleged sex assault at youth detention facility
"This is an extremely disturbing situation," Assistant Chief Deputy Wesley Richerson said during a news conference on Monday.
Associated Press
How an unlikely Bavarian village became the Christmas capital of Washington state
The scent of bratwurst and pretzels filled the air as horses clopped down the main street, hauling a carriage full of tourists. Decades ago, Leavenworth was a near ghost town on the eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountains, one of the region's poorest communities. More than half a century later, the result brings tourists from near and far all year long — hikers and skiers, river rafters and fly-fishers, shoppers and day-trippers from Seattle, some 3 million visitors in all last year, according to Matt Cade, president of the Greater Leavenworth Museum.
USA TODAY
NORAD Santa tracker: How Saint Nick's journey is offered in different languages
NORAD's Santa Tracker follows St. Nick as he delivers toys. One company offers free translation services to help more kids follow along.
CNN
The most - and least - surprising votes from a historic year of elections
More than 60 countries – home to nearly half the planet’s population – selected their leaders in 2024. In the history of democracy, it is a first. What can we learn?
CNN
Christians in Middle East celebrate Christmas under the shadow of instability and war
When Islamist rebels swept through Syria’s second largest city in an operation that would eventually culminate in the ouster of the brutal Assad regime, Christians were given assurances that their churches and property would remain protected.
Associated Press
Centuries-old angels uncovered at Boston church made famous by Paul Revere
Straddling the scaffolding high up in a historic Boston church, murals conservator Gianfranco Pocobene is working to uncover eight angels that were hidden under layers of paint for more than a century. The painted angels — with round childlike faces and wings — once were among the defining features of Old North Church when they were painted around 1730. “When we first looked at the project six months ago, we had no idea what was here,” Pocobene said as the church, the oldest church building in Boston, was preparing to remove the scaffolding earlier this month to reveal eight of the 20 painted-over angels.
CNN
Why couples in Japan treat Christmas like a second Valentine’s Day
Japan’s most-followed religion is Shintoism, with less than 1% of its population being Christian. And yet, the nation celebrates Christmas in full spirit, with an extra helping of romance.
CNN
Bonds forged during a wartime Christmas 83 years ago could soon be at risk
Next year will bring new strains to the transatlantic alliance, with the return of Donald Trump to the White House.
CNN
Swiss plane makes emergency landing due to smoke on board
A Swiss International Air Lines flight was forced to make an emergency landing Monday due to smoke in the cabin and cockpit, the airline said.
TODAY
Savannah Guthrie’s family wears matching Christmas jammies. See pics from the past 8 years
Matching family pajamas are a beloved holiday tradition for Savannah Guthrie and her family. See pics of the family wearing them through the years.
AFP
South Korea's opposition vows to impeach acting president
South Korea's opposition said Tuesday it would impeach acting president Han Duck-soo in protest at the interim leader's refusal to sign into law special bills to investigate his impeached predecessor. The main opposition Democratic Party had set Christmas Eve as the deadline for Han to promulgate two special bills investigating suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived imposition of martial law, as well as graft allegations surrounding his wife, Kim Keon Hee.
Associated Press
South Korea's opposition party vows to impeach acting president
South Korea’s main opposition party said Tuesday it will seek to impeach acting leader Han Duck-soo after he missed an opposition-set deadline to approve independent investigations into impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife. If realized, Han’s impeachment would further deepen South Korea’s political tumult and worries by neighboring countries caused by Yoon’s stunning Dec. 3 martial law declaration and ensuing impeachment. Han, the country’s No. 2 official, has taken over presidential powers and duties since Yoon’s impeachment.
USA TODAY
Justice Department sues Louisiana for holding prisoners past their release date
The Justice Department hast sued the state of Louisiana for unlawfully imprisoning thousands of people for weeks after their sentences concluded.
CBS News
Luigi Mangione pleads not guilty to state murder, terrorism charges
Luigi Mangione pleaded not guilty Monday to state charges in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Associated Press
20 years after the Indian Ocean tsunami, a boy found in the mud embraces being known as 'Baby 81'
Pulled from the mud as an infant after the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004, and reunited with his parents following an emotional court battle, the boy once known as “Baby 81” is now a 20-year-old dreaming of higher education. Jayarasa Abilash's story symbolized that of the families torn apart by one of the worst natural calamities in modern history, but it also offered hope. More than 35,000 people in Sri Lanka were killed, with others missing.
Associated Press
Stock market today: Asian stocks mixed at the start of a holiday-shortened week
Asian markets were mixed on Tuesday after stocks in Wall Street shook off a choppy start to finish higher the previous day as it kicked off a holiday-shortened week. Honda shares surged more than 16% as the Japanese auto giant announced an up to 1.1 trillion yen ($7 billion) share buyback and meanwhile, held a merger talk with Nissan. The two companies said they had signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday and that smaller Nissan alliance member Mitsubishi Motors Corp. also had agreed to join the talks on integrating their businesses.
AFP
The tsunami detection buoys safeguarding lives in Thailand
Almost 1,000 kilometres off the Thai coast devastated by a tsunami 20 years ago, engineers lower a detection buoy into the waves -- a key link in a warning system intended to ensure no disaster is as deadly again.In the years following the disaster, multiple governments developed a global tsunami information system, building on the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) network of six detection buoys in the Pacific.
TODAY
After my dad’s death, I became fascinated by psychic medium readings
I became fascinated with psychic medium readings after my dad's death. When I got the chance to meet with Long Island Medium Theresa Caputo, how could I say no?
AFP
Hawaii's Kilauea volcano erupts, spewing columns of lava
One of the world's most active volcanoes sprang into life again Monday, spewing columns of lava 80 meters (260 feet) above Hawaii, US vulcanologists said."At 4:30 am, lava fountains were observed with heights up to 80 meters (262 feet)," the agency said.
CBS News
Portion of Santa Cruz Wharf collapses amid high surf with 2 people rescued
A part of the Santa Cruz Wharf collapsed Monday afternoon during a high-surf warning, with authorities confirming two people had to be pulled from the water.

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