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Week seventeen of the NFL season promises thrilling matchups and playoff implications. Key games include Philadelphia vs. Buffalo, Houston vs. Los Angeles Chargers, and Seattle vs. Carolina. Injuries add drama, with Lamar Jacksons back issue and Baltimores fight for survival against Green Bay. The Broncos, favored by twelve-and-a-half, chase the AFCs top seed at Kansas City. Upsets alert: Texans cover against Chargers and Lions need to win out to sneak in. Picks lean Broncos twenty-seven to six, Chargers tough but Texans prevail twenty-three to twenty. Steelers might lock AFC North early and Seahawks hold NFC West control. These calls set the playoff table perfectly.

Mogadishu residents cast votes in historic municipal elections, marking a significant step towards Somalias first direct national elections in over fifty years. Despite ongoing threats from al Shabaab militants, the election is seen as a test for bigger changes, with improved security and a new law bringing back universal suffrage. However, opposition groups raise concerns about the presidents re-election and the countrys readiness for mass voting. Todays vote could pave the way for democracy across Somalia.

Atmospheric River Storm Batters California, Triggering Flash Floods and Evacuations A powerful atmospheric river storm hit California on Christmas Eve, causing flash floods and forcing hundreds to evacuate. The storm, which brought torrential rains, sent mud and debris rushing down mountain roads and even poured through porches in resort areas. The National Weather Service warned of life-threatening conditions, with a rare high risk of excessive rainfall still in place. Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in six counties. The storm, which is part of a trend of growing, wetter, and more frequent atmospheric rivers due to Earth warming, brought ten to twenty centimeters of rain to areas that usually see just two point five centimeters this time of year. Meanwhile, heavy snow and gusts created near white-out conditions in the Sierra Nevada, with high avalanche risks around Lake Tahoe. Power was restored to over one hundred sixty-five thousand homes. As California braces for more, the state’s history of wild weather swings from drought to deluge keeps everyone on high alert.

President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump joined NORADs Santa tracker calls, engaging with children and sharing humorous exchanges. Trump playfully addressed Santas diet and political rivals, while Melania smiled at his jokes. Despite mixing holiday cheer with political comments, Trump wished everyone a merry Christmas, including his critics.

The US imposes a two-month quarantine on Venezuelan oil shipments, aiming to economically pressure President Maduros government. The move, softer than a blockade, involves a strong US military presence in the Caribbean. Maduro faces accusations of running a drug cartel and is urged to leave office. Venezuelas UN ambassador calls the moves illegal, while the US argues theyre necessary to combat drug smuggling and recover stolen assets. The US Coast Guard seizes two oil tankers, and tensions rise as the focus remains on economic sanctions, with military options still on the table.

Last weekends College Football Playoff saw a seven percent drop in viewership, with an average of nine point nine million viewers. The final game on TNT, TBS, and truTV drew four point four million, compared to last years Ohio State-Tennessee game. However, prime slots performed well, with Alabamas game averaging fourteen point nine million. Games on Warner Bros. Discovery networks struggled, with SMU versus Penn State and Ole Misss rout of Tulane drawing six point four and six point two million respectively. With ESPN sublicensing more games to these channels next year, viewership patterns could shift.

Neil Frank, the longest-serving director of the National Hurricane Center, has passed away at 94. Known for his passionate TV appearances, Frank pioneered better communication with emergency managers, enhancing storm preparedness. Despite doubting human-driven climate change, his impact on safer communities remains his enduring legacy.

Federal Judge Blocks Trumps Effort to Revoke Security Clearance of Attorney Mark Zaid: A Legal Victory for Freedom of Speech and Accountability.