Knicks to hire Rick Brunson, father of free-agent target Jalen Brunson, as assistant coach

Associated Press
Santa and Mrs. Claus use military transports to bring Christmas to an Alaska Native village
Forget the open-air sleigh overloaded with gifts and powered by flying reindeer. Santa and Mrs. Claus this week took supersized rides to southeast Alaska in a C-17 military cargo plane and a camouflaged Humvee, as they delivered toys to the Tlingit village of Yakutat, northwest of Juneau. The visit was part of this year’s Operation Santa Claus, an outreach program of the Alaska National Guard to largely Indigenous communities in the nation’s largest state.
Associated Press
After shooting, Wisconsin school and church lean into Christmas message for comfort
For Christians around the world, Christmas is the joyful celebration of the birth of Jesus. To affirm their beliefs — that God is present and hasn’t abandoned them — the faith community at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, is embracing its holiday traditions just days after a deadly shooting there. “When people say, ‘Where is your God?’ He is more evident now than he’s ever been to us,” the Rev. Sarah Karlen told The Associated Press.
CBS News
What to know about the winter solstice, 2024's shortest day
The 2024 winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, happens on Saturday, Dec. 21, and is marked with traditions and celebrations around the world.
Associated Press
AP PHOTOS: Scenes of devastation from the aftermath of the Indian Ocean tsunami
On Dec. 26, 2004, a 9.1 magnitude earthquake struck off the west coast of Sumatra, causing a massive wave that devastated Asian coastal communities across thousands of miles. In these photos, a resident of a fishing village in India's Tamil Nadu state contemplates the remains of her house as fires continue to burn in her village. In Thailand, dozens of bodies are lined up at a Buddhist temple, and a young Swedish boy carries a sign listing family members he hasn't seen since they were swept out to sea from their beachfront hotel.
Associated Press
Sectarian violence in Syria has been less intense than feared since Assad's ouster
The toppling of Bashar Assad has raised tentative hopes that Syrians might live peacefully and as equals after a half century of authoritarian rule. While there have been bursts of deadly sectarian violence in the days since Assad was ousted, it’s nothing close to what was feared after nearly 14 years of civil war. Much credit for the relative calm so far is being given to the Islamic militant group that led the insurgency against Assad and is helping to rebuild the country and unite its many factions.
TODAY
Starbucks union announces strike to last through Christmas Eve in 3 major cities
Starbucks Workers United announced baristas will strike starting Friday in three key markets — Seattle, Los Angeles and Chicago.
NBC News
Teamsters announce strike against Amazon amid holiday delivery rush
The Teamsters union announced a strike against Amazon on Thursday morning, with workers joining picket lines in four states in what they claim is the largest strike against the delivery giant in history.
NBC News
How false claims that the Madison school shooter was transgender spread online
It’s become common for anti-trans social media users to quickly spread false or unverified claims about the gender identities of shooting suspects.
TODAY
What to know about bird flu symptoms as US reports first 'severe' human case
At least 61 people in the US have contracted bird flu amid outbreaks in poultry and dairy cows. What are the symptoms? What to know about highly pathogenic avian influenza, aka, H5N1.
CBS News
Here are Friday's Mega Millions winning numbers
Thirteen Mega Million jackpots have been won during December since the game began in 2002.
USA TODAY
No, a serial killer named Robert Thibodeau isn't targeting women around the US | Fact check
Officials in areas mentioned in the social media posts said they had no reports of any such incidents. The posts are copy-and-paste scams.
CNN
House passes bill to avert shutdown hours ahead of deadline
The House voted on Friday to pass a stopgap funding bill in a bid to avert a shutdown just hours before a midnight deadline.
AFP
US President Biden authorizes $571 million in military aid to Taiwan
US President Joe Biden approved $571.3 million in defense assistance for Taiwan on Friday, the White House said, as the Democrat prepares to leave office ahead of the January inauguration of Donald Trump.The White House said in a brief statement that Biden had authorized the drawdown "of up to $571.3 million in defense articles and services of the Department of Defense, and military education and training, to provide assistance to Taiwan."
AFP
Arahmaiani: the Indonesian artist with a thousand lives
Indonesian artist Arahmaiani has had many lives -- from an imprisoned then exiled anti-dictatorship activist to a hippie, art teacher and environmentalist -- which have inspired her works that test the limits of freedom.She then left for Australia, where she carried on her studies while living with a hippy community.
AFP
Amazon says US strike caused 'no disruptions'
A US strike targeting Amazon in the peak festive period extended into a second day Friday as the retail behemoth said the labor action would not affect its business.The Teamsters union on Thursday launched a strike targeting seven Amazon facilities spaced around the United States.
AFP
Court rules against El Salvador in controversial abortion case
The Inter-American Court of Human Rights on Friday ruled against El Salvador for barring a woman from getting an abortion, despite her life being at risk and her fetus being unviable.The case goes back to 2013 when the woman -- identified publicly as "Beatriz" -- was unable to obtain an abortion because El Salvador bans them in all cases, even when a woman's life is in danger or when pregnancy results from rape.
CNN
Tel Aviv hit by projectile fired from Yemen, say Israeli officials
A projectile fired from Yemen struck Tel Aviv overnight into Saturday, Israeli authorities said, in a rare instance of a failed interception over the city.
NBC News
Over 80 sickened after eating raw oysters at Los Angeles restaurant showcase event
Los Angeles health officials are investigating a norovirus outbreak after around 80 people were sickened after eating raw oysters at an event to showcase the city’s best restaurants.
Associated Press
Canyon de Chelly in Arizona will become latest national park unit to ban commercial air tours
Commercial air tours will soon be prohibited over Canyon de Chelly National Monument in northeastern Arizona under a plan approved this week by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Park Service. The park service said in a statement that the plan was was signed Thursday and will take effect in 180 days, barring any legal challenges. “Prohibiting commercial air tours protects these lands’ cultural and spiritual significance to the Navajo Nation,” said park Superintendent Lyn Carranza.
AFP
Indonesians embrace return of plundered treasure from the Dutch
In the mid-19th century, Dutch colonial officials climbing an Indonesian volcano spotted an ancient statue meant to serve as protection against misfortune, looted it, and took it to the Netherlands.As of mid-December, 828 cultural items have been returned to Indonesia from the Netherlands, according to the Indonesian Heritage Agency.

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Santa and Mrs. Claus use military transports to bring Christmas to an Alaska Native village

After shooting, Wisconsin school and church lean into Christmas message for comfort

What to know about the winter solstice, 2024's shortest day

AP PHOTOS: Scenes of devastation from the aftermath of the Indian Ocean tsunami

Sectarian violence in Syria has been less intense than feared since Assad's ouster

Starbucks union announces strike to last through Christmas Eve in 3 major cities

Teamsters announce strike against Amazon amid holiday delivery rush

How false claims that the Madison school shooter was transgender spread online

What to know about bird flu symptoms as US reports first 'severe' human case

Here are Friday's Mega Millions winning numbers

No, a serial killer named Robert Thibodeau isn't targeting women around the US | Fact check

House passes bill to avert shutdown hours ahead of deadline

US President Biden authorizes $571 million in military aid to Taiwan

Arahmaiani: the Indonesian artist with a thousand lives

Amazon says US strike caused 'no disruptions'

Court rules against El Salvador in controversial abortion case

Tel Aviv hit by projectile fired from Yemen, say Israeli officials

Over 80 sickened after eating raw oysters at Los Angeles restaurant showcase event

Canyon de Chelly in Arizona will become latest national park unit to ban commercial air tours

Indonesians embrace return of plundered treasure from the Dutch