The big night is finally here - Santa, Rudolph and the gang have started their big journey and are expected to reach the first homes in the Rebel County at midnight tonight. But if you want to know when to get the milk and cookies out - and of course some carrots for the reindeer - we've got a few resources to help you track Santa's sleigh throughout Christmas Eve. Cork Beo received confirmation from the North Pole that Father Christmas left the toy workshop at 11am this morning, and is expected to give out approximately 115,000 presents to children in the Rebel County alone. As he zooms across the globe, there is a high-tech radar tracker that allows all the girls and boys to watch Santa on his journey. You can keep an eye on him to see when he gets near Cork on the Norad Tracker here The team at Cork's National Space Centre are also keeping tabs on Santa again this year with their 100ft radio telescope. Located in the aptly named Elfordstown in Cork, this dish is a cornerstone of Ireland’s space communications history and has been in operation for 40 years. Originally built in 1984 by Eircom to send trans-Atlantic calls to North America via satellite, it has also been used to listen for the birth of stars in the cosmos and as a teaching device. Santa’s annual round-the-world trip officially started at around 11 am Irish time this morning. A midnight sweep through Ireland will be one of his last stops before he heads towards chimneys in North and South America. As always, Santa is using the bright light of the International Space Station (ISS) to help guide him on his travels. Just like his sleigh, the ISS is a state-of-the-art piece of machinery that glows really bright in the night sky as the sun reflects off its metallic surface. Santa's sleigh will be set to 'sprint' mode - matching the speed of the ISS which can travel once around the world every 90 minutes in a furious orbit. Anyone looking for some behind-the-scenes info can use the Santa Tracker from emailsanta.com , which also shows a live chat between Santa and the North Pole communications team. The North Pole Chief Elf told CorkBeo that Santa is expected to reach the Rebel County at around midnight, and wants to thank all the boys and girls in advance for leaving out carrots to feed his reindeer.Just in Time for the Holidays: Tesla Mezcal Re-Releases a Limited Edition Collaboration with Nosotros Mezcalezjili winehq wowjili xojili 。

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Golden Valley Electric Association crews spent much of Thursday morning grappling with outages across the Fairbanks North Star Borough. At one point around 3,500 homes were without power, but by 1 p.m. Thursday the electric utility had restored power to all but about 200, GVEA spokesperson Ashley Braddish said. “The snow is coming down like crazy right now,” she said. “Our crews are prepared for this.” Outages that were still present at 1 p.m. were largely isolated, mostly impacting less than nine people each, Braddish said. Earlier on Thursday, thousands of people in North Pole, Ester and the Chena Ridge area were without power but it has since been restored. A winter storm warning is in effect until 9 p.m. Friday with additional heavy snow accumulations of up to 10 inches, according to the National Weather Service Fairbanks office. The NWS issued a hydrologic outlook around 3 p.m. Thursday warning residents to exercise caution while traveling on or going onto ice. "Heavy snow accumulation on river and lake ice can cause overflow to occur on the ice surface but be invisible below the snow. This process can weaken the ice as well as make it more difficult to visually assess ice quality," the outlook stated. A road conditions advisory from the Alaska Department of Transportation says drivers should exercise increased caution along the George Parks Highway. Due to power outages, Nenana City School canceled the rest of the school day and after school programs on Thursday. Parents are asked to pick their students up or call the school for support. Eielson Air Force Base released personnel early Thursday, mission permitting, due to the weather conditions. Follow GVEA on social media or check out its outage map at outage.gvea.com for the most updated information.FRAI Urges Government to Provide Technology Platform for Kirana Stores to Stay Competitive

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'Let's not panic': Canada picks up the pieces after ugly Latvia loss at world juniors OTTAWA — Peter Anholt tried to keep things light as he emerged from one of the elevators at Canada's hotel. Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press Dec 28, 2024 2:08 PM Dec 28, 2024 2:35 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Canada head coach Dave Cameron speaks to his players during third period IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship preliminary round action against Latvia in Ottawa on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick OTTAWA — Peter Anholt tried to keep things light as he emerged from one of the elevators at Canada's hotel. The temperature had been turned way up on the veteran hockey executive and the country's under-20 program after a stunning upset some 12 hours earlier. "You only want to talk to me when things are bad, eh?" Anholt joked to reporters Saturday morning. "Is that how this works?" That is indeed what happens when a powerhouse with a record 20 gold medals expected to roll over an opponent suffers one of its worst all-time defeats at the tournament. Canada was embarrassed on home soil 3-2 by Latvia — a country it had thumped by a combined 41-4 score across four previous meetings — in a shocking shootout Friday. Coming off a disastrous fifth-place finish last year in Sweden and having talked a lot about upping their compete level and preparation, the Canadians looked disjointed for long stretches against the plucky, hard-working Latvians. The power play finally clicked late in the third period, but stands at 1-for-7 through two games, while the top line of Easton Cowan, Calum Ritchie and Bradly Nadeau has yet to translate its pre-tournament chemistry into success in the spotlight. "We're certainly trying to problem solve, but not throw the baby out with the bath water," said Anholt, who heads the world junior setup. "We've got to be really careful." Canada, which picked up a solid 4-0 victory over Finland to open its tournament Thursday, had plenty of offensive zone time and directed 57 shots at Latvian goaltender Linards Feldbergs. Included in that total, however, were far too many one-and-done efforts from the perimeter with little traffic in front. There were, of course, desperate spurts — especially late in regulation and in 3-on-3 overtime — but not nearly enough for a roster peppered with first-round NHL draft picks and top prospects. "We played really, really hard," Anholt said in defending his players. "We controlled the puck lots. We created some chances. Their goalie was really good and they defended really good ... 99 times out of 100 we win that game." Hoping for a big response Sunday against Germany before meeting the United States on New Year's Eve to tie a bow on round-robin action in Group A, Canada will have to push ahead minus one of its best players. Star defenceman Matthew Schaefer was injured Friday and is done for the tournament after he slammed into Latvia's net and skated off favouring his left shoulder area. "Tough blow for the kid," Anholt said. "The way he plays the game, he plays it at such a high speed." Cowan, a Toronto Maple Leafs first-round selection, said Canada remains confident despite Friday's ugly result in the nation's capital. "We're good," said the 19-year-old from Mount Brydges, Ont. "Everyone's lost a hockey game before." But not like that — or to that opponent on that stage. "Bit of a (crappy) feeling," said Nadeau, a Carolina Hurricanes prospect from St-Francois-de-Madawaska, N.B. "We all know what this group is capable of. Losing that game is not our standard. "We'll bounce back." Some corners of social media exploded following the Latvian debacle, with heavy criticism directed at head coach Dave Cameron and the team's overall roster construction. "We're not really worried about it," defenceman and Ottawa native Oliver Book, who like Cowan is back from last year's team, said of the outside noise. "We know we didn't play well." Canada appears poised to mix things up against the Germans. Vancouver Canucks prospect Sawyer Mynio of Kamloops, B.C., is set draw in for Schaefer, while Anholt indicated there's a good chance forward Carson Rehkopf will get his first crack at the 2025 tournament as a returnee. The 19-year-old Seattle Kraken second-round pick from Vaughan, Ont., has scored a combined 78 goals over his last 97 regular-season and playoff games in the Ontario Hockey League. "Great player," Cowan said. "He finds ways." Anholt said taking a big-picture approach is key in challenging moments. "Let's not panic," he said. "The world hasn't fallen in. It's hard, but we'll learn from it." It's something Canada will have to do under intense scrutiny. "People are gonna love you and people are gonna hate you," said Cowan, who has a goal an assist through two games. "Gotta keep doing you." Anholt, who was also at the helm 12 months ago when Canada never got in gear, isn't getting 2024 vibes from this year's group. "Not even in any way, shape or form," he said. "We've just got to take care of business." They get a first shot at redemption Sunday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 28, 2024. Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Get your daily Victoria news briefing Email Sign Up More Junior Hockey 'Big blow': Canadian defenceman Matthew Schaefer ruled out of world juniors Dec 28, 2024 11:14 AM 'Devastating': Uninspired Canada upset by Latvia in a shootout at world juniors Dec 28, 2024 6:38 AM Latvia stuns Canada in world junior hockey, winning 3-2 on lone shootout goal Dec 27, 2024 10:03 PM

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Trailblazing model Dayle Haddon dies from suspected carbon monoxide poisoningThat game had everything. Underdog Boise State took a 28-10 lead over one of college football's blue bloods that was followed by a 25-point Sooners run capped by what could have been a back-breaking interception return for a touchdown with 1:02 left. Then the Broncos used three trick plays that remain sensations to not only force overtime but win 43-42. And then there was the marriage proposal by Boise State running back Ian Johnson — shortly after scoring the winning two-point play — to cheerleader Chrissy Popadics that was accepted on national TV. That game put Broncos football on the national map for most fans, but looking back 18 years later, Petersen sees it differently. “Everybody wants to talk about that Oklahoma Fiesta Bowl game, which is great how it all worked out and all those things,” Petersen said. “But we go back to play TCU (three years later) again on the big stage. It's not as flashy a game, but to me, that was an even better win.” Going back to the Fiesta Bowl and winning, Petersen reasoned, showed the Broncos weren't a splash soon to fade away, that there was something longer lasting and more substantive happening on the famed blue turf. The winning has continued with few interruptions. No. 8 and third-seeded Boise State is preparing for another trip to the Fiesta Bowl, this time in a playoff quarterfinal against No. 5 and sixth-seeded Penn State on New Year's Eve. That success has continued through a series of coaches, though with a lot more of a common thread than readily apparent. Dirk Koetter was hired from Oregon, where Petersen was the wide receivers coach. Not only did Koetter bring Petersen with him to Oregon, Petersen introduced him to Dan Hawkins, who also was hired for the staff. So the transition from Koetter to Hawkins to Petersen ensured at least some level of consistency. Koetter and Hawkins engineered double-digit victory seasons five times over a six-year span that led to power-conference jobs. Koetter went to Arizona State after three seasons and Hawkins to Colorado after five. Then when Petersen became the coach after the 2005 season, he led Boise State to double-digit wins his first seven seasons and made bowls all eight years. He resisted the temptation to leave for a power-conference program until Washington lured him away toward the end of the 2013 season. Then former Boise State quarterback and offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin took over and posted five double-digit victory seasons over his first six years. After going 5-2 during the COVID-shortened 2020 season, he left for Auburn. “They just needed consistency of leadership,” said Koetter, who is back as Boise State's offensive coordinator. “This program had always won at the junior-college level, the Division II level, the I-AA (now FCS) level.” But Koetter referred to “an unfortunate chain of events” that made Boise State a reclamation project when he took over in 1998. Coach Pokey Allen led Boise State to the Division I-AA national championship game in 1994, but was diagnosed with cancer two days later. He died on Dec. 30, 1996, at 53. Allen coached the final two games that season, Boise State's first in Division I-A (now FBS). Houston Nutt became the coach in 1997, went 4-7 and headed to Arkansas. Then Koetter took over. “One coach dies and the other wasn't the right fit for this program,” Koetter said. “Was a really good coach, did a lot of good things, but just wasn't a good fit for here.” But because of Boise State's success at the lower levels, Koetter said the program was set up for success. “As Boise State has risen up the conference food chain, they’ve pretty much always been at the top from a player talent standpoint,” Koetter said. “So it was fairly clear if we got things headed in the right direction and did a good job recruiting, we would be able to win within our conference for sure.” Success didn't take long. He went 6-5 in 1998 and then won 10 games each of the following two seasons. Hawkins built on that winning and Petersen took it to another level. But there is one season, really one game, no really one half that still bugs Petersen. He thought his best team was in 2010, one that entered that late-November game at Nevada ranked No. 3 and had a legitimate chance to play for the national championship. The Colin Kaepernick-led Wolf Pack won 34-31. “I think the best team that I might've been a part of as the head coach was the team that lost one game to Nevada,” Petersen said. "That team, to me, played one poor half of football on offense the entire season. We were winning by a bunch at half (24-7) and we came out and did nothing on offense in the second half and still had a chance to win. “That team would've done some damage.” There aren't any what-ifs with this season's Boise State team. The Broncos are in the field of the first 12-team playoff, representing the Group of Five as its highest-ranked conference champion. That got Boise State a bye into the quarterfinals. Spencer Danielson has restored the championship-level play after taking over as the interim coach late last season during a rare downturn that led to Andy Avalos' dismissal . Danielson received the job full time after leading Boise State to the Mountain West championship . Now the Broncos are 12-1 with their only defeat to top-ranked and No. 1 seed Oregon on a last-second field goal . Running back Ashton Jeanty also was the runner-up to the Heisman Trophy . “Boise State has been built on the backs of years and years of success way before I got here,” Danielson said. "So even this season is not because of me. It’s because the group of young men wanted to leave a legacy, be different. We haven’t been to the Fiesta Bowl in a decade. They said in January, ‘We’re going to get that done.’ They went to work.” As was the case with Danielson, Petersen and Koetter said attracting top talent is the primary reason Boise State has succeeded all these years. Winning, obviously, is the driving force, and with more entry points to the playoffs, the Broncos could make opportunities to keep returning to the postseason a selling point. But there's also something about the blue carpet. Petersen said he didn't get what it was about when he arrived as an assistant coach, and there was some talk about replacing it with more conventional green grass. A poll in the Idaho Statesman was completely against that idea, and Petersen has come to appreciate what that field means to the program. “It's a cumulative period of time where young kids see big-time games when they're in seventh and eighth and ninth and 10th grade and go, ‘Oh, I know that blue turf. I want to go there,’” Petersen said. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballTrump's 'Disaster' Appointments Are Coming, RFK Jr.'s Running Mate Warns

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Trump asks Supreme Court to delay TikTok ban deadlineSingapore, Dec 28: After two decades, the baton changed hands in the city-state in 2024, a planned transition to the fourth generation of People’s Action Party politicians. Ties with India were elevated this year. Economist Lawrence Wong, 51, succeeded Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, 72, who relinquished his position in May after holding the office since 2004. Both belong to the ruling party that has been driving Singapore’s economic progress for more than five decades. As India and Singapore celebrate 60 years of diplomacy in 2025, the two countries elevated their bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September. Indian High Commissioner to Singapore Shilpak Ambule called 2024 an “eventful year for India-Singapore relations”. He said the elevation of bilateral ties would support India’s economic growth in the years ahead. During Modi’s visit, the two sides also announced their intention to collaborate in the semiconductor industry. India is also looking at major investments from Singaporean companies. The 2nd round of the India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable in August was an unprecedented gathering of ministers. Four senior ministers from India and six from Singapore explored opportunities in new fields. “This 4+6 meeting was unprecedented for both sides. The 10 senior ministers have identified digitalisation, skills development, sustainability, healthcare and medicine, advanced manufacturing and connectivity as pillars for further strengthening bilateral cooperation,” Ambule said. “We also had several other ministerial and official level visits from both sides throughout the year, signifying the importance given by both sides to the bilateral relations,” he added. During Modi’s visit, the two sides decided to set up a Cyber Policy Dialogue and an inaugural dialogue was held in Singapore in October. Wong joined Modi when India launched the Declaration on Digital Public Infrastructure, AI and Data for Governance at the G20 Summit in Brazil in November. The Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s engagement with India in 2024 has helped strengthen the economic links between the two nations, with SICCI providing local firms with market outreach and advice on the Indian market, former prime minister Lee Hsien Loong said. The chamber has participated in global investment summits, roadshows and trade missions, including key areas like telecommunications. SICCI sparked “India Fever”, an initiative to deepen trade, investment, and diplomatic ties. “This initiative has fuelled six successful trade missions in the last 18 months, all led by SICCI Internationalising sub-committee,” its chairman Neil Parekh Parekh said. Key events in 2024 included the inaugural ASEAN-India Women Scientists Conclave, an e-workshop on digital health and medical technologies and another on the green economy. Singaporean Minister for Home Affairs and Law K Shanmugam attended the World Tamil Diaspora Day 2024 in Chennai in January at the invitation of the Tamil Nadu government. Tamil is one of the four official languages in Singapore, reflecting the close-knit ties between the two nations. The 31st edition of the Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) was held in India in October. Soldiers from both countries took part in Agni Warrior, another regular military exercise. The 12th edition of Joint Military Training was held in India from October 4 to December 16. India also hosted the expanded 4th edition of the Singapore-India-Thailand Maritime Exercise in November. Back home, a Singapore court sentenced S Iswaran, a cabinet member for 13 years, to a year in prison for obstructing justice and receiving more than USD 300,000 worth of gifts in the city-state’s first political corruption trial for nearly half a century. ( Disclaimer: Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)Uttarakhand Shines at IFFI: New Film Policy Garners Praise

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