The Canadian Press
Zheng Qinwen withdraws from United Cup to focus on Australian Open
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen has announced she will not play at the United Cup mixed-teams tournament starting later this month, opting instead to focus on preparations for the 2025 season’s first Grand Slam.
The Canadian Press
Uduje scores 22 as San Jose State beats Kennesaw State 89-65
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Josh Uduje scored 22 points as San Jose State beat Kennesaw State 89-65 on Saturday night.
Variety
‘SNL’: Bowen Yang Sings ‘Defying Gravity’ Dressed as New Jersey Drone
During the year’s final episode of “Saturday Night Live,” cast member Bowen Yang appeared at the “Weekend Update” desk dressed as one of the drones that have been sighted over the skies of New Jersey — which, as co-anchor Michael Che explained, caused the FAA to issue “temporary flight restrictions” over the state. “Wow, indoors,” Yang …
The Independent
Woman rips sister-in-law as ‘rude’ for always exchanging Christmas gifts
‘Returning things and exchanging them for things you can use is perfectly reasonable,’ one person argues
BBC
Modern henge set to be built to celebrate community
Matthew Rosier says a new monument similar to Stonehenge may open before the 2025 summer solstice.
RFI
France extends medical cannabis trial to help patients find alternatives
French health authorities have extended a medical cannabis experiment until 31 July 2025, giving 1,800 patients more time to stop treatment or find alternatives. Under the medical cannabis trial, rolled out in March 2021, patients suffering from serious pathologies were prescribed active cannabis-derived substances in the form of essential oils to be taken orally, or of cannabis flowers for vaping.The experiement was due to end on 31 December 2024, but at a meeting on Thursday between patient as
USA TODAY Sports
Patrick Mahomes proves his superhuman ability yet again in shaking off ankle injury
In the Chiefs' win over the Texans, Patrick Mahomes shook off an ankle injury that would have hindered almost any other NFL quarterback.
The Independent
Inside the wild Robbie Williams biopic: ‘It’s sad seeing the monkey do cocaine’
IN FOCUS: The unexpectedly brilliant ‘Better Man’ dives into the rise, fall and rise again of one of Britain’s greatest pop stars… who is depicted as an anthropomorphic chimpanzee. Adam White speaks to its director Michael Gracey about monkeys, mayhem and why Robbie was nervous about Gary Barlow seeing the script
Reuters
Analysis-Syrian Kurdish groups on the back foot as power balance shifts
QAMISHLI, Syria/BEIRUT/ANKARA (Reuters) -With hostile Turkish-backed groups mobilising against them in Syria's north, and Damascus ruled by a group friendly to Ankara, Syria's main Kurdish factions are on the back foot as they seek to preserve political gains carved out during 13 years of war. Part of a stateless ethnic group straddling Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Armenia and Syria, Kurds have so far been among the few winners of the Syrian conflict, controlling nearly a quarter of the country and leading a powerful armed group that is a key U.S. ally in countering Islamic State. But the power balance has tilted against them since the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) swept into Damascus this month, toppling President Bashar al-Assad, two analysts and a senior Western diplomat told Reuters.
HuffPost UK
22 Best Christmas Films And TV Specials To Stream On Netflix This Festive Season
There's plenty of festive fun to be had, whatever you love watching.
Reuters
Starbucks workers expand strike in US cities including New York
The five-day strike, which began on Friday and initially closed Starbucks cafes in Los Angeles, Chicago and Seattle, has added New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia and St. Louis, Workers United said in a statement. Starbucks did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside regular business hours. Workers United warned on Friday that the strike could reach "hundreds of stores" by Tuesday, Christmas Eve.
The Canadian Press
Senators extend win streak to 6 games with 5-4 OT victory over Canucks
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Jake Sanderson scored 15 seconds into overtime and the Ottawa Senators stretched their win streak to six games with a 5-4 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night.
The Daily Beast
Scarlett Johansson Forced to Watch Michael Che Humiliate Colin Jost
About twice a year on “Weekend Update,” co-anchors Michael Che and Colin Jost will write jokes for each other, and every single time Che makes Jost regret it. This time was no different. Not only did Che start off by forcing Jost to read all the cue cards in a “Black voice,” but he invited Jost’s wife, Scarlett Johansson (who appeared earlier in the show as part of host Martin Short’s Five-Timers Club sketch) to watch as Jost read Che’s jokes about her. “I want to dedicate this next joke to my b
TVLine.com
SNL’s Colin Jost and Michael Che Exchange Wildly Inappropriate Jokes — With Scarlett Johansson Watching
SNL’s Weekend Update hosts Colin Jost and Michael Che did their annual joke exchange this week — and Jost had a very interested party watching in the audience. Jost and Che end each year by writing horribly offensive jokes for each other to read on air, sight unseen, and this year, Jost prefaced things (as Che …
Sky News
Memorial service held after Christmas market attack in Magdeburg - as police say four women among those killed
A memorial service has taken place in Magdeburg, Germany, for the victims of a Christmas market attack - as police said four women were among those killed in Friday night's attack. Magdeburg police have confirmed four women, aged 45, 52, 67 and 75 - were among those killed in the incident. It comes as a memorial service was held for the victims in the city's cathedral, with Chancellor Olaf Scholz, interior minister Nancy Faeser and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in attendance.
Simply Wall St.
Institutional investors own a significant stake of 38% in Hypoport SE (ETR:HYQ)
Key Insights Institutions' substantial holdings in Hypoport implies that they have significant influence over the...
Deadline
Bowen Yang & Ego Nwodim Host Christmas Week Airport Parade On ‘Saturday Night Live’
Tonight on Saturday Night Live, Bowen Yang and Ego Nwodim hosted the CIBO Express Christmas Week Airport Parade, live from Terminal C at Newark Liberty International Airport. “It’s chaos, it’s mayhem, and everyone’s afraid,” sing their TSA agent characters in the sketch. “It’s the Christmas Week Airport Parade!” “Good evening from Newark,” says Nwodim, “which …
Deadline
‘Weekend Update’: Bowen Yang Returns As Unfairly Besieged Inanimate Object — This Time A Drone Flying Above New Jersey
In a return to form, Saturday Night Live‘s “Weekend Update” featured Bowen Yang as another aggrieved inanimate object standing up for themselves (hat tip to previous performances as the Titanic iceberg and viral pygmy hippo Moo Deng). During this week’s final episode of the year, with host Martin Short and musical guest Hozier, Yang portrayed …
The Guardian
Let China build electric cars in UK, Tory ex-chancellor tells Rachel Reeves ahead of trade trip
Despite ‘spy’ scandal, Philip Hammond says Britain should now adopt a ‘pragmatic approach to Beijing’
The Guardian
Elle Fanning: ‘The last thing I want to be is boring’
Her debut at two catapulted the actress to child stardom, while taking the lead in The Great turned her into a household name. Ahead of the much-anticipated Bob Dylan biopic, she discusses subverting expectations, escaping her princess vibe – and why she could have been a tennis pro

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