Tesla rental demand 'very, very solid,' Hertz CEO says

Associated Press
After 20 years, the post-tsunami generation stays vigilant for future disasters
Qurrata Ayuni, a 28-year-old survivor of the earthquake and tsunami that devastated her hometown two decades ago, has transformed her resilience into purpose. Defying Aceh's male-dominated coffee culture, she runs a café that serves as a welcoming space for everyone, especially women, by employing and empowering them in the region worst hit by the tragedy. Ayuni survived the tsunami by chance, staying at her aunt’s house in Banda Aceh instead of her family home in Lampuuk, Aceh Besar district.
Associated Press
Medical examiner says a Hawaii crime boss died of a drug overdose while in federal detention
A Hawaii crime boss who died in federal detention this month was killed by an opioid overdose, Honolulu’s medical examiner said Tuesday. Michael Miske, 50, died of “toxicity of fentanyl and para-fluorofentanyl,” the medical examiner’s office said in a statement. It's not clear how Miske got ahold of fentanyl or para-fluorofentanyl while at the Honolulu Federal Detention Center.
NBC News
The bald eagle is officially America's national bird after Biden's signature
The bald eagle has landed in U.S. Code as President Joe Biden signed a bill Tuesday making the predator the official national bird.
Politico
Pope Francis kicks off yearlong Jubilee
It will test his stamina and Rome’s patience.
AFP
Bethlehem marks sombre Christmas under shadow of war
Christians gathered at the Church of the Nativity in the holy city of Bethlehem on Tuesday to mark a solemn Christmas overshadowed by war, as Pope Francis led mass in the Vatican.Pope Francis marked Christmas Eve on Tuesday with a special ceremony launching Jubilee 2025, a year of Catholic celebrations set to draw more than 30 million pilgrims to Rome.
USA TODAY
Biden signs law mandating colleges report hazing incidents
Among the dozens of bills President Joe Biden signed on Christmas Eve was the Stop Campus Hazing Act.
Associated Press
Ecuadorian police probe if bodies found are of missing children allegedly taken by soldiers
Ecuadorian police on Tuesday found an undisclosed number of bodies in an area close to a military base, officials said, and were investigating whether the bodies could be of some of the four children who were last seen taken by men in military uniform earlier this month. The case of the children, aged 11 to 15, who went missing on Dec. 8, has profoundly shaken Ecuador, with rights groups and the public demanding information about their whereabouts and asking that the case be investigated as a forced disappearance. Also Tuesday, prosecutors said they are looking to charge some members of the military with forced disappearance in the case.
AFP
Mystery drones won't interfere with Santa's work: US tracker
Santa Claus has no need to worry about recent mystery drone sightings over New Jersey, a US Air Force general said Tuesday, as an annual tradition of "tracking" Saint Nick swung into action.Santa's journey this year comes after weeks of mysterious sightings of alleged drones in the US state of New Jersey, sparking worldwide curiosity even as many of the reported incidents were debunked.
TODAY
Organic eggs sold at Costco recalled over potential salmonella contamination
Eggs sold at Costco that may be contaminated with salmonella are being recalled. The recall covers Kirkland Signature Organic Pasture Raised 24-Count Eggs and has been upgraded to Class I.
CBS News
Mega Millions jackpot hits $1 billion for Christmas Eve drawing
A Mega Millions player may win a big jackpot on Christmas Eve. The lottery prize for the December drawing is now at $1 billion.
CBS News
Will it snow on Christmas? Maps show holiday weather forecast
Dreaming of a white Christmas? Dream on. Only a few areas of the U.S. are likely to see snow in the weather forecast for Christmas 2024.
CBS News
Where is Santa right now? NORAD tracker maps his Christmas flight
NORAD, the North American Aerospace Command, is tracking Santa on his trip around the world this Christmas, so children and families can see where he is right now.
Politico
NORAD’s Santa tracker was a Cold War morale boost. Now it attracts millions of kids.
“There are screams and giggles and laughter,” said Bob Sommers, a civilian contractor and NORAD volunteer.
CNN
Haiti gang attack on journalists covering a hospital reopening leaves 2 dead, several wounded
Haiti’s online media association said two reporters were killed and several others were wounded in a gang attack on Tuesday on the reopening of Port-au-Prince’s biggest public hospital.
Reuters
Church of England must repent, leading cleric says at Christmas
The Church of England's second most senior cleric Stephen Cottrell will call in a Christmas sermon on Wednesday for repentance and change within an institution reeling from child abuse cover-up scandals. This year's festivities have been overshadowed by the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby's resignation over a cover-up and accusations of further safeguarding failures by his number two Cottrell, who is the Archbishop of York. In addition to its 16,000 churches in England, the Church, which traces its roots to the Roman empire, is also the mother church for 85 million Anglicans in over 165 countries.
Associated Press
Oregon lawmakers to introduce bill barring utility rate increases amid unresolved wildfire lawsuits
Three Oregon lawmakers say they plan to introduce a bill that would bar utilities from raising rates if they have unresolved wildfire lawsuits for three or more years, describing it as an effort to hold PacifiCorp accountable as the utility faces a series of lawsuits stemming from the deadly 2020 wildfires that ravaged the state. Republican state Reps. Jami Cate, Virgle Osborne and Ed Diehl announced their proposal in a statement Monday, on the heels of an approved rate increase for PacifiCorp customers and a federal lawsuit against the electric power company. The federal government sued PacifiCorp last week over the Archie Creek Fire, which ignited in Oregon's Douglas County in September 2020 and burned more than 200 square miles (520 square kilometers), about half of which was federal land.
CNN
History-making probe attempts closest-ever approach to the sun
On Christmas Eve, the Parker Solar Probe was set to become the closest spacecraft to the sun, flying within a few million miles of the solar surface.
CBS News
Hanukkah this year starts on Christmas Day in rare occurrence
The eight-day Jewish holiday of Hanukkah starts on Christmas Day in 2024, an occurrence that happens very infrequently.
USA TODAY
Teen brothers missing after duck-hunting excursion in northern California goes awry
Authorities in northern California are searching for Andruw and Wesley Cornett and younger brother who went missing on a ducking-hunting trip on Dec. 14.
USA TODAY
Off-brand versions of Lilly weight loss drug must be pulled off market, could mean higher prices
On Dec. 19, the FDA said off-brand versions of the Eli Lilly wight loss drug must be pulled off the market.

Latest Stories