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What’s on tap: 

• Dangerous waves in the Pacific

• Russia plane crash

• Best vacations in 2025

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Big Story

Navy Pilots Shot Down with Friendly Fire

Two US Navy pilots were forced to eject from their F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet over the Red Sea after being shot down by friendly fire from the USS Gettysburg, a guided missile cruiser in their own battle group.

• Both pilots survived, with one sustaining minor injuries. The aircraft had just taken off from the USS Harry S Truman aircraft carrier when it occurred.

• The incident happened during ongoing US military operations against Yemen's Houthi forces. At the time, US warships and aircraft were actively engaging multiple Houthi drones and an anti-ship cruise missile.

• The Red Sea has become increasingly dangerous due to Houthi attacks on shipping vessels. Since October 2023, the Houthis have targeted approximately 100 merchant crafts with missiles and drones, resulting in two ships sunk, one seized, and four sailors killed.

• While the Houthis claim to target vessels linked to Israel, the US, or the UK in response to the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, many attacked boats have had no connection to the fighting.

Big Story

Dangerous Surf

A massive ocean swell is hitting the Pacific coast, causing high surf warnings from Hawaii to California.

• Waves up to 50 feet high pummeled Hawaii's North Shore on Sunday, while Southern California expects waves up to 30 feet today. The waves are so big that officials have warned people to stay away from the water unless they're very experienced swimmers, as these conditions can be life-threatening.

• The huge waves greenlit "The Eddie," a famous big-wave surfing contest at Waimea Bay in Hawaii. This special contest only happens when waves are at least 40 feet high and has only run 10 times in 40 years. (See video of a surfer on a wave here)

• Two winter storms in the North Pacific Ocean are creating the massive waves. These storms spin like giant whirlpools and push huge swells toward the US coast. One weather expert said they recently measured a wave nearly 66 feet high near Hawaii - the biggest they've seen in 25 years.

Big Story

College Football Playoff

The first round of the new College Football Playoff fell a little flat.

• All four games had big gaps in the scores, with winners beating losers by an average of 19 points. There was only one time in all four games where the losing team took the lead from the winning team.

• The quarterfinals are scheduled for New Year's weekend: Penn State vs. Boise State, Texas vs. Arizona State, Ohio State vs. Oregon, and Notre Dame vs. Georgia. But, there are questions about whether some teams should have gotten automatic passes to this round, as some games look very uneven.

• Penn State and Texas are strong favorites in their quarterfinal matchups. While Boise State and Arizona State earned automatic bids by winning their conference championships, they faced weaker competition throughout their regular seasons.

• The new playoff system was supposed to give more teams from different parts of the country a chance to win. However, some people doubt it's working and believe it will end up like before - with the same few powerhouse teams competing for the title.

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Quick Stories

US News

• Concerns about age in Congress have resurfaced after Rep. Kay Granger (R-Texas) revealed she has been living in an independent living facility and has missed votes since July. The retiring lawmaker cited "unforeseen health challenges" in a recent statement. (More)

• A cracked ski lift at Winter Park Resort in Colorado stranded over 170 skiers and snowboarders on Saturday. Rescue workers safely evacuated the riders using ropes over several hours. The lift automatically stopped after detecting the crack, and the cause is under investigation. (More)

• President-elect Trump called on Panama to lower transit fees for US ships or return control of the Panama Canal to the US. The canal has seen growing influence from China in its operations since it was given back in 1999. (More)

World

• Three people aboard a missing plane in Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula were rescued after three days. It was found on Sunday, and all survivors—two crew members and a passenger—were taken to the hospital. They survived without food and stayed warm by burning fuel in the snow. (More)

• Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama announced a one-year ban on TikTok, saying it caused violence after a student fatally stabbed a fellow 14-year-old classmate. Reports say the stabbing happened after the boys argued on social media. (More)

• A 50-year-old psychiatrist from Saudi Arabia is facing murder and attempted murder charges after driving a car into crowds at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, killing five and injuring many. Authorities are investigating the motive. (More)

Business & Economy

• US stock markets closed higher on Friday (S&P +1.09%, Nasdaq +1.03%, Dow +1.18%). Even though the major averages jumped on Friday, all three finished lower for the week. (More)

• Starbucks workers have expanded their strike to four more US cities, including New York, Philadelphia, St. Louis, and an unspecified location in New Jersey, according to the Workers United union. The five-day strike, which started Friday, involves over 10,000 baristas. (More)

• The IRS will send special payments of up to $1,400 to about 1 million taxpayers in the coming weeks. This $2.4 billion distribution is for those who missed claiming the Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2021 tax returns, often tied to unclaimed or partial COVID stimulus payments. (More)

Sports & Entertainment

• The Penn State women's volleyball team claimed their eighth NCAA national championship on Sunday, defeating Louisville in four sets. Penn State's Katie Schumacher-Cawley made history as the first woman head coach to win the title since the tournament's start in 1981. (More)

• Netflix announced Friday that it won exclusive US rights to stream the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2027 and 2031. The 2027 event will be held in 12 cities across Brazil, while the 2031 host country is still undecided. (More)

• Tiger Woods' son Charlie made his first hole-in-one at the PNC Championship, but Bernhard Langer sealed the win with an 18-foot eagle putt in a playoff. Langer and his son Jason defended their title, marking Langer's second consecutive win with different sons as partners. (More)

Science, Health, & Tech

• Apple may be developing a smart doorbell for its push into smart home products. According to Bloomberg, the doorbell could use FaceID to recognize faces and wirelessly unlock a connected deadbolt for residents. (More)

• Researchers treated male mice with testosterone-driven hair loss by applying a deoxyribose sugar gel to shaved areas of their backs. The gel was as effective as minoxidil, a well-known hair loss treatment. The team hopes to progress to human trials next. (More)

• A study in China and Sweden suggests tonsil removal procedures in children might raise the risk of anxiety-related disorders. It found a 43% higher likelihood of developing conditions like PTSD, depression, or anxiety after a tonsillectomy. (More)

Extra Credit

🐷 Baby pigs get Christmas pardon.

🍽️ Browse the world’s oldest restaurants. 

🏖️ Ranking the best vacations to take in 2025.

🫂 How some friendships last…and others don’t.