Pope Francis kicks off a yearlong Jubilee that will test his stamina and Rome's patience VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has opened the great Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica. The ceremony kicks off the 2025 Holy Year. It's a celebration of the Catholic Church that is expected to draw some 32 million pilgrims to Rome. And it will test the pope’s stamina and the ability of the Eternal City to welcome them. This begins the Christmas Eve Mass. The ceremony inaugurates the once-every-25-year tradition of a Jubilee. Francis has dedicated the 2025 Jubilee to the theme of hope. Bethlehem marks a second subdued Christmas Eve during the war in Gaza BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) — Bethlehem is marking another somber Christmas Eve under the shadow of war in Gaza. Manger Square lacked its usual festive lights and crowds of tourists on Tuesday. Instead, the area outside the Nativity Church was quiet. The church was built atop the spot where Jesus is believed to have been born. The war, the violence in the occupied West Bank it has spurred and the lack of festivities has deeply hurt Bethlehem's economy. The town relies heavily on Christmas tourism. The economy in the West Bank was already reeling because of restrictions placed on laborers preventing them from entering Israel during the war. Heavy travel day starts with brief grounding of all American Airlines flights WASHINGTON (AP) — American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide due to a technical problem just as the Christmas travel season kicked into overdrive and winter weather threatened more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive. Government regulators cleared American flights to get airborne Tuesday about one hour after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a national ground stop, which prevented planes from taking off. American said in an email that the problem was caused by an issue with a vendor technology that maintains its flight operating system. Aviation analytics company Cirium said flights were delayed across American’s major hubs, with only 37% leaving on time. Nineteen flights were cancelled. Middle East latest: Israel expels patients from a hospital in Gaza TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — The Palestinian Health Ministry says Israeli soldiers raided a hospital in isolated northern Gaza after forcing all the patients and most of the doctors to leave. The Israeli military confirmed its troops had entered the Indonesian Hospital in the town of Jabaliya on Tuesday, as part of an operation searching for Hamas fighters. Winter is hitting the Gaza Strip and many of the nearly 2 million Palestinians displaced by the devastating 15-month war are struggling to protect themselves from the wind, cold and rain. In the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian city of Bethlehem was marking a somber Christmas Eve under the shadow of war in Gaza, with most festivities cancelled and crowds of tourists absent. Caitlin Clark honored as AP Female Athlete of the Year following her impact on women's sports Caitlin Clark has been named the AP Female Athlete of the Year after raising the profile of women’s basketball to unprecedented levels in both college and the WNBA. She led Iowa to the national championship game, was the top pick in the WNBA draft and captured rookie of the year honors in the league. Fans packed sold-out arenas and millions of television viewers followed her journey on and off the court. Clark's exploits also put other women's sports leagues in the spotlight. A group of 74 sports journalists from AP and its members voted on the award. Other athletes who received votes included Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles and boxer Imane Khelif. Clark’s only the fourth women’s basketball player to win the award since it was first given in 1931. Major storm pounds California's central coast, blamed for man's death and partially collapsing pier SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP) — A major storm has pounded California’s central coast bringing flooding and high surf that was blamed for fatally trapping a man beneath debris on a beach and later partially collapsing a pier, tossing three people into the Pacific Ocean. The storm was expected to bring hurricane-force winds and waves up to 60 feet Monday as it gained strength from California to the Pacific Northwest. Some California cities have ordered beachfront homes and hotels to evacuate early Monday afternoon. Forecasters have warned that storm swells would continue to increase throughout the day. Medellin Cartel victims demand truth and justice as cartel boss Fabio Ochoa walks free in Colombia BOGOTÁ, Colombia (AP) — The return of the notorious drug trafficker Fabio Ochoa to Colombia, following his deportation from the United States, has reopened old wounds among the victims of the Medellin cartel, with some expressing their dismay at the decision of Colombian authorities to let the former mafia boss walk free.Some of the cartel victims said on Tuesday that they are hoping the former drug lord will at least cooperate with ongoing efforts by human rights groups to investigate one of the most violent periods of Colombia’s history, and demanded that Colombian prosecutors also take Ochoa in for questioning. Man arraigned on murder charges in NYC subway death fanned flames with a shirt, prosecutors say NEW YORK (AP) — Prosecutors say a man accused of burning a woman to death inside a New York City subway train used a shirt to fan the flames, causing her to become engulfed. The suspect, identified by police as Sebastian Zapeta, was arraigned in Brooklyn criminal court on Tuesday. He faces murder charges that could put him in prison for life. Federal immigration officials say 33-year-old Zapeta is a Guatemalan citizen who entered the U.S. illegally after being deported in 2018. The apparently random attack occurred Sunday morning on a stationary F train at the Coney Island station in Brooklyn. Amsterdam court sentences 5 men over violence linked to Ajax-Maccabi soccer game THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — An Amsterdam District Court has issued sentences of up to six months in jail against 5 men who were involved in violent disorder after a soccer match between the Dutch club Ajax and Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv in November. The riots caused an international outcry and accusations of deliberate anti-Semitic attacks. The violence following a UEFA Europa League match left 5 people in hospital. More than 60 suspects were detained. The court on Tuesday sentenced one man to 6 months in prison, another to 2 1/2 months, two to 1 month and one to 100 hours of community service.
Game-changing holiday gifts for building fires, printing photos, watching birds and more
NFL fans are bracing for potential issues with Netflix's Christmas Day games after the streaming giants experienced latency issues during the Mike Tyson-Jake Paul fight . The NFL sent a cryptic message to NBC when asked to comment about looming connectivity issues . For the first time, Netflix will host NFL games. On Christmas, the streaming giants will feature: the Kansas City Chiefs vs the Pittsburgh Steelers at 1:00 pm EST, and the Baltimore Ravens vs the Houston Texans at 4:30 pm EST. NBC asked an NFL league spokesperson if "there any contingency plans in place for tomorrow in the event Netflix has technical issues?” They received a coy response: “We will be prepared and we are looking forward to a great day.” New York Jets and Giants' sad impact on New York clear to see as TV ratings drop Detroit Lions set for double injury boost as Dan Campbell's Super Bowl plan hots up Netflix will air the games to its 282.3 million subscribers in five languages: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and German. The streaming giants reported that 60 million households watched the Paul-Tyson fight. Telluride Legal Strategies founder Rob Rosenberg spoke with Josh Lipton of Asking for a Trend about Netflix's potential challenges. " Streaming is a complex process," he said. "Sometimes when demand is huge, it overpowers the system, it overwhelms it," he continued. "You've got delays, and problems arise. But I would not bet against Netflix. I think that the timing of the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson fight was a great test case for Christmas Day." "The best way to get good at streaming at scale is to just do it. There were some hiccups in the fight last month, but I think that they're going to nail it on Christmas Day with these games." Netflix loaded up with a stacked broadcasting team for the contests - the pregame show alone will feature Kay Adams, Drew Brees, Robert Griffin III, and Mina Kimes. Ian Eagle will call Chiefs-Steelers with an assist from Nate Burlson and JJ Watt on color commentary. Ian's son Noah Eagle will call Ravens-Texans with help from FOX sports analyst Greg Olsen. Both games feature massive playoff ramifications. The Chiefs can lock up a first-round bye with a win, while the Steelers could put themselves in a position to clinch the AFC North with a win. The Ravens must win out and hope for a Steelers loss to win their division. The Texans have already secured the AFC South title but are still jostling for seeding the tight AFC playoff picture.
Finding the perfect gift can be daunting. The only way to truly ensure you get it right would be to ask the recipient what they want, but that wouldn’t be much fun for either of you. Luckily, there’s another tactic to help you earn a “gift whisperer” reputation: seeking out unique, practical, game-changing gifts that will truly surprise and delight. But that’s about as easy as it sounds, which is to say it’s not easy at all. So, we’ve done the legwork for you. Start making your list with this compilation of some of the most innovative, functional and fun gifts of 2024. There’s something for every budget. This image provided by FinaMill shows the FinaMill Ultimate Spice Grinder Set. The new FinaMill Ultimate Spice Grinder set elevates the pedestrian pepper and spice mill in both function and style. Bear with me: The new FinaMill Ultimate Spice Grinder set elevates the pedestrian pepper and spice mill in both function and style. Available in three colors (Sangria Red, Midnight Black and Soft Cream), the rechargeable-battery unit grinds with a light touch rather than hand-tiring twists. That’s easier for everyone and especially helpful for those experiencing hand or wrist issues such as arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome or tendinitis. And it’s fun to use. The set includes a stackable storage tray and four pods that can be easily swapped as needed: The GT microplane grater for hard spices, nuts and chocolate; the MAX for large spices and dried herbs; the ProPlus for smaller and oily spices; and the Pepper Pod for, well, pepper. $110. This image provided by Pull Start Fire shows the matchless fire igniter in use. Made of 89% recycled materials, the food-safe, eco-friendly, 3-by-2-by-1-inch fire starters will light a fire quickly without matches, lighters or kindling. Campers and backyard firepit lovers who have experienced the heartbreak of wet wood will appreciate having a three-pack of Pull Start Fire on hand. Made of 89% recycled materials, including sanding dust, wax and flint, the food-safe, eco-friendly, 3-by-2-by-1-inch fire starters will light a fire quickly without matches, lighters or kindling. Just loop the attached green string around a log, incorporate it into a wood stack, and pull the attached red string to ignite. Each windproof, rainproof block burns for 30 minutes. $29.99. This image provided by Souper Cubes shows No Mess Utensils held upright on pot edges. The No Mess Utensil lives up to its name. The utensils, a serving spoon and a ladle, have innovative, S-shaped handles designed to rest on the edge of a pot. The No Mess Utensil Set from Souper Cubes , a company known for its portioned, silicone freezer trays, lives up to its name. The utensils — a serving spoon and a ladle — have innovative, S-shaped handles designed to rest on the edge of a pot, keeping them upright so they won’t slip in. The design also eliminates the need for a spoon rest or, worse, placing dirty utensils on the kitchen counter or stovetop between stirs. A silicone coating in a choice of Aqua, Charcoal, Cranberry or Blueberry keeps handles cool to the touch. $24.99. This image provided by FeatherSnap shows a female cardinal bird perched on a FeatherSnap Wi-Fi Solar Powered Camera Smart Bird Feeder. Equipped with an HD camera, the dual-chamber feeder enables up-close livestreaming of avian visitors, as well as species-logging via the free mobile app. The FeatherSnap Wi-Fi smart bird feeder could turn anyone into an avid birdwatcher. Equipped with an HD camera, the dual-chamber feeder enables up-close livestreaming of avian visitors, as well as species-logging via the free mobile app. An optional premium subscription ($59.99 annually or $6.99 monthly) includes unlimited photo and video storage, AI identification with species-specific details, and the opportunity to earn badges for logging new visitors. Turn on notifications to get alerts sent to your phone whenever there’s activity at the feeder. $179.99. This image provided by FUJIFILM North America Corporation and FUJIFILM Corporation Tokyo shows a smartphone printer. Fujifilm Instax's Mini Link 3 smartphone printer offers a touch of nostalgia without sacrificing technology. Just load the printer with film and connect it to your Android or iOS device via Bluetooth to print wallet-size photos. Fujifilm's Instax Mini Link 3 smartphone printer offers a touch of nostalgia without sacrificing technology. Just load the 4.9-by-3.5-by-1.3-inch printer with Instax Mini instant film and connect it to your Android or iOS device via Bluetooth to print wallet-size photos. If you want to get fancy, you can adjust brightness, contrast and saturation, or apply filters, including 3D augmented-reality effects, via the free Instax Mini Link app. It can also make collages of up to six images, or animate photos to share on social media. Available in Rose Pink, Clay White and Sage Green. $99.95. This image provided by easyplant shows a Marxii Calathea plant in a small, beige, self-watering pot. The appropriately named easyplant is one of the best gifts you can give your houseplant-loving friends, regardless of their experience level. The appropriately named easyplant is one of the best gifts you can give your houseplant-loving friends, regardless of their experience level. Select a pot color, size and plant (or get recommendations based on sunlight requirements, pet friendliness and other attributes) and fill the self-watering container’s built-in reservoir roughly once a month. Moisture will permeate the soil from the bottom as needed, eliminating the often-fatal consequences of over- or under-watering. It’s also a literal lifesaver come vacation time. $49-$259. This image provided by Nama shows the M1 plant-based milk maker. If you've got a no-dairy friend on your list, a plant-based milk maker could save them money while allowing them to avoid unnecessary ingredients like sugar, stabilizers, thickeners and preservatives. If you’ve got a no-dairy friend on your list, a plant-based milk maker could save them money while allowing them to avoid sugar, stabilizers, thickeners and preservatives. The Nama M1 appliance both blends and strains ingredients, converting nuts, seeds, grains or oats into velvety-smooth milk in just one minute, with zero grit. And for zero waste, the pasty leftover pulp can be used in other recipes for added nutrients. The device also makes infused oils, flavored waters and soups. And, importantly, cleanup is easy. Available in white and black. $400. This image provided by QelviQ shows a wine bottle chiller. For friends who prefer stronger beverages, the QelviQ personal sommelier uses "smart" technology to ensure wine is served at its ideal temperature. For friends who prefer stronger beverages, the QelviQ personal sommelier uses “smart” technology to ensure wine is served at its ideal temperature. Unlike traditional wine refrigerators, this device doesn’t take up any floor space. It also doesn’t chill wine to just one or two temperatures based on its color. Instead — paired with the free QelviQ app — the tabletop chiller relies on a database of more than 350,000 wines to bring a bottle to its specific recommended serving temperature in as little as 20 minutes. It also suggests food-wine and wine-food pairings. Plus, the appliance serves as a great icebreaker to inspire dinnertime conversation. Available in Exciting Red, Dashing Black and Dreamy White. $495. This image provided by Uncommon Goods shows a 2-piece LED Grilling Tool Set. Uncommon Good's 2-piece LED Grilling Tool Set puts illumination into the handles of its stainless-steel spatula and tongs. Grilling food after dark — and ascertaining its doneness — can prove challenging without outdoor lighting, and it’s nearly impossible to cook while holding a flashlight. But as is often the case, the simplest of solutions can make the biggest of impacts: Uncommon Good’s 2-piece LED Grilling Tool Set puts illumination into the handles of its stainless-steel spatula and tongs. After use, the lights can be removed and the utensils run through the dishwasher. $40. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. With our weekly newsletter packed with the latest in everything food.Julie Kelly Torches Christopher Wray's True FBI Legacy, Bids Adieu to Who Else Will Be Leaving VERY Soon
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) — Rafael Pinzon had 22 points in Bryant's 97-85 win over Tennessee State on Tuesday night. Pinzon shot 6 of 15 from the field, including 4 for 5 from 3-point range, and went 6 for 6 from the line for the Bulldogs (4-3). Connor Withers scored 17 points while going 6 of 14 from the floor, including 4 for 9 from 3-point range, and 1 for 4 from the line. Keyshawn Mitchell finished 7 of 10 from the field to finish with 16 points, while adding 13 rebounds. Brandon Weston led the way for the Tigers (3-5) with 24 points and six steals. Antoine Lorick III added 16 points, seven rebounds and two steals for Tennessee State. Carlous Williams had 16 points and two steals. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
OLEAN, N.Y. — Adrian Wojnarowski's feeling at home again at St. Bonaventure. "It's been amazing to be back on campus and be able to just walk the campus ," Wojnarowski said. "There's such an energy around a college campus and you forget that sometimes when you're away from it." Wojnarowski's been away from campus since graduating from Bona in 1991. From there, he worked his way into the top NBA Insider in all of media. But he dropped maybe the biggest "Woj Bomb" in mid-September when announcing he was leaving ESPN to become the general manager for the men's basketball program at his alma mater. RELATED: Adrian Wojnarowski is leaving ESPN, returning to alma mater St. Bonaventure "Coach [Mark] Schmidt has built this program into one of the elite in our conference and so every day my mandate is to help keep it there and grow it," Wojnarowski said. "Grow it for our current players, for future players, and just use, again, the relationships that I have around basketball to give unique experiences and unique access to our players and our staff." Woj admits he's still feeling his way into the new role, but has spent these first few months on the job focusing a lot on NIL and recruiting. He's found early success on both fronts, using his past to help with the present and future of Bonnies basketball. "You want to get guys to take a look at St. Bonaventure and so there's very often an interest with players, with families, with their coaches about my history and my relationships in the NBA and that's a big part of what we're able to sell here," Wojnarowski said. That includes selling Woj's connections across the entire basketball landscape, NBA and international, to help fulfill dreams of playing in the pros. Or simply some anecdotes from decades around the greatest players on the planet. "There's no question I get asked a lot of Kobe Bryant stories by kids, a lot of Jason Tatum stories, and it's fun to share my experiences with him," Wojnarowski said. Wojnarowski says his favorite thing to do is watch Bonnies practice and being around the players and staff. The man millions have read articles from or seen on TV now chooses to watch games secluded towards the top of the Reilly Center. A bird's-eye view of a team and program that will now reap the rewards from the inroads he's made at the highest levels of hoops. "I think pleasantly surprised just how much the relationships that I've been able to build around the world, how many people want to help St. Bonaventure basketball," Wojnarowski said. "Number one because they know the program that coach Schmidt has built and that players are going to get better. They're going to develop here both on the court and off the court. And I think a trust in the relationships that I've had with them that we're going to take good care of their guys."Rosters for the upcoming Four Nations Face-Off tournament between Canada, the United States, Finland, and Sweden are set to be revealed this week and there should be plenty of Oilers involved. Canada will be the team to watch for Oilers fans. Connor McDavid was one of the He will join Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, Brad Marchand, Braydon Point, and Cale Makar as the other players who have already been named. Yet, there is also a good chance that two of his Oilers teammates will be able to crack Canada’s roster, as well as another that he will most likely have to play against. Here are all four Oilers players who have a good chance of being named to a Four Nations roster this weekend: Of course, this one goes without saying, with McDavid being the de-facto leader for Team Canada, . This will be the first time that McDavid has represented Canada since he entered the NHL back in 2015. It’s been something that hockey fans have been clamouring for over the past decade and now we will finally see hockey’s best player lace them up alongside Crosby for the very first time. The last time McDavid pulled on the maple leaf was during the 2015 World Juniors, when he scored three goals and 11 points in seven games. A slow start to the season may have made Zach Hyman’s involvement with Team Canada a little less obvious than expected, but there is a good chance he still makes the cut. The 32-year-old is coming off a 54-goal season last season and managed an additional 16 during Edmonton’s run to the Stanley Cup Final. The goals have been a bit harder to come by, but there is no question that Team Canada’s brass will be taking last season’s results into consideration. He also has the good fortune of having the most experience playing on McDavid’s wing over the past couple of seasons, making him the perfect candidate to take over the Chris Kunitz role that Canada employed with Crosby in the 2010s. While Oilers fans have their eye on Team Canada’s roster, they should also spend some time getting to know the opposition. Mattias Ekholm will almost certainly lace them up for Team Sweden at the tournament, possibly in a top-four role. Ekholm possesses a stellar two-way game that sees him succeed at both ends of the ice, which puts him in the conversation of being one of the NHL’s very best defenders. He will have solid competition on the left side with Victor Hedman and Gustav Forsling, but he should absolutely be on the roster. Similar to Hyman, Evan Bouchard’s early-season struggles have put a bit of a damper on his potential Team Canada addition, but he should still have a great shot. Again, the focus will probably be on Bouchard’s track record over the past few seasons. He’s projected to get over 50 points again this season, but he is coming off a stellar 82-point season last year and has torched the Stanley Cup Playoffs for two straight seasons. He has a mindboggling 49 points in 37 playoff games since 2022-23. Bouchard has proven to step up when the games matter most, and Canada’s brass will be aware of that.
Trump Cabinet picks, appointees targeted by bomb threats and swatting attacksMinnesotans break their own record with $37 million donated to local nonprofits on Give to the Max Day
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) — Rafael Pinzon had 22 points in Bryant's 97-85 win over Tennessee State on Tuesday night. Pinzon shot 6 of 15 from the field, including 4 for 5 from 3-point range, and went 6 for 6 from the line for the Bulldogs (4-3). Connor Withers scored 17 points while going 6 of 14 from the floor, including 4 for 9 from 3-point range, and 1 for 4 from the line. Keyshawn Mitchell finished 7 of 10 from the field to finish with 16 points, while adding 13 rebounds. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.Oregon Governor Joins Growing List Of Democrat Leaders 'Trump-Proofing' Their States
FNA Deadline: FNA Investors with Losses in Excess of $100K Have Opportunity to Lead Paragon 28, Inc. Securities Fraud Lawsuit First Filed by The Rosen Law FirmTech review: Gift options for the cord cutter
Justin Sullivan Google: DoJ's "Radical" Proposals Hit Optimism Alphabet Inc. ( NASDAQ: GOOGL ) ( NASDAQ: GOOG ) investors have struggled to regain momentum, even though the S&P 500 ( SPX ) ( SPY ) and the Nasdaq ( NDX ) ( A Unique Price Action-based Growth Investing Service We believe price action is a leading indicator. We called the TSLA top in late 2021. We then picked TSLA's bottom in December 2022. We updated members that the NASDAQ had long-term bearish price action signals in November 2021. We told members that the S&P 500 likely bottomed in October 2022. Members navigated the turning points of the market confidently in our service. Members tuned out the noise in the financial media and focused on what really matters: Price Action. Sign up now for a Risk-Free 14-Day free trial! JR Research is an opportunistic investor. He was recognized by TipRanks as a Top Analyst. He was also recognized by Seeking Alpha as a "Top Analyst To Follow" for Technology, Software, and Internet, as well as for Growth and GARP. He identifies attractive risk/reward opportunities supported by robust price action to potentially generate alpha well above the S&P 500. He has also demonstrated outperformance with his picks. He focuses on identifying growth investing opportunities that present the most attractive risk/reward upside potential. His approach combines sharp price action analysis with fundamentals investing. He tends to avoid overhyped and overvalued stocks while capitalizing on battered stocks with significant upside recovery possibilities. He runs the investing group Ultimate Growth Investing which specializes in identifying high-potential opportunities across various sectors. He focuses on ideas that has strong growth potential and well-beaten contrarian plays, with an 18 to 24 month outlook for the thesis to play out. The group is designed for investors seeking to capitalize on growth stocks with robust fundamentals, buying momentum, and turnaround plays at highly attractive valuations. Learn more Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of GOOGL, AMZN, META, MSFT, QQQ either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Important note: Investors are reminded to do their due diligence and not rely on the information provided as financial advice. Consider this article as supplementing your required research. Please always apply independent thinking. Note that the rating is not intended to time a specific entry/exit at the point of writing unless otherwise specified. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.