Us

Start your week smart: Government shutdown averted, German market attack, US Navy pilots, Texas mall crash, sleep apnea

By Andrew Torgan and Daniel Wine
Start your week smart: Government shutdown averted, German market attack, US Navy pilots, Texas mall crash, sleep apnea
CNN—Do you hear that sound? No, it’s not jingling bells or reindeer hooves. It’s the sound of nearly 120 million people in the US taking to the roads, rails and skies this holiday season. If you plan to drive to your destination, here arethe best and worst timesto travel.And here’s what else you need to know toStart Your Week Smart.Get 5 Things in your inboxYour day is busy. 5 Things is your one-stop shop for the latest headlines, plus other stories and videos that people are clicking on.Sign up here for the 5 Things newsletter.The weekend that was• President Joe Bidensigned a stopgap funding bill into law,extending government funding into March, after President-elect Donald Trump upended the effort to prevent a shutdown earlier in the week by coming out against an initial bipartisan deal. Biden described the final agreement as a “compromise” that funds necessary priorities.Follow live updates.• Authorities in Germany face growing accusations they could have done more to prevent a deadly Christmas market attack as a judge ordered the suspect to be held in pre-trial detention. Taleb Al Abdulmohsen is accused oframming a car into a busy marketin Magdeburg, killing five people and injuring more than 200.• Two US Navy pilots ejected safely aftertheir fighter jet was shot downover the Red Sea in an apparent friendly fire incident, US Central Command said. The pilots were recovered, and one of the crew members sustained minor injuries.•A man drove into a Texas mallafter a 19-mile police pursuit, striking four people before he was fatally shot by responding law enforcement officers, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. Law enforcement shot and killed the suspect.• The US Food and Drug Administration approvedthe first prescription medicine for obstructive sleep apnea:the weight-loss drug Zepbound. The medicine was cleared to treat moderate to severe forms of the sleep condition in people with obesity.The week aheadMondayDecember 23 is Festivus, a day reserved in history for all who feel that the normal holiday traditions don’t quite fit the bill. This fictional holiday made its debut in 1997 in the sitcom “Seinfeld,” when Frank Costanza, played by Jerry Stiller, introduced Festivus to his family, featuring an aluminum pole, as well as the “airing of grievances” and “feats of strength.” Travel back in time via CNN’s archive for our guide on“How to celebrate Festivus in 5 easy steps.”TuesdayA strike by members of Starbucks Workers United that began Friday in Seattle, Chicago and Los Angeles couldspread to hundreds of stores from coast to coastby Christmas Eve. Starbucks Workers United won its first union election inBuffalo in December 2021and has been organizing store-by-store across the company’s network since. It has won the right to represent 12,000 workers at 528 stores, according to the most recent count from the National Labor Relations Board. However, that’s just a fraction of the company’s 11,200 company-operated stores in the United States, employing about 201,000 workers as of the end of September.WednesdayFor the first time in nearly 20 years, the first day ofHanukkahfalls on Christmas Day.ThursdayIt’s the first day of Kwanzaa,a seven-day non-religious holidayobserved in the US to honor African Americans’ ancestral roots.December 26 also marks 20 years since theIndian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, which killed more than 227,000 people and caused massive destruction along coastal areas of 14 countries.Listen inOne Thing: 🎧 Holidays after HeleneIn this episode of the“One Thing”podcast, CNN’s David Rind speaks to North Carolina resident Olivia Cooner about how Hurricane Helene continues to upend her life three months after the storm hit.Listen here.Photos of the yearJerome Brouillet/AFP/Getty ImagesCNN Digital’s “2024: The Year in Pictures”CNN’s Photo Team has compiled the most compelling images of 2024 to inform, educate and even inspire — as well as photos to light up your day.Editor’s note:Some of these images are graphic. Viewer discretion is advised.What’s happening in entertainmentTV and streamingNetflix is breaking out the nice and the naughty for Christmas this year. On Tuesday, the streamer releases the comedy special“Your Friend, Nate Bargatze.”Then on Thursday, Season 2 of“Squid Game”makes its debut.In theatersA trio of films open on Christmas Day, including the Bob Dylan biopic“A Complete Unknown,” starring Timothée Chalamet.“Babygirl”stars Nicole Kidman as a high-powered CEO who puts her career and family on the line when she begins an affair with an intern.And what conveys the spirit of the season more than vampires?“Nosferatu”features Lily-Rose Depp, Nicholas Hoult and Bill Skarsgård, who adds anothermemorable villainto his resume.What’s happening in sportsAt a glance …Major League Baseball’s all-time stolen base leader Rickey Hendersondied at the age of 65, according to his family. Across his illustrious 25-year MLB career, spanning from 1979 to 2003, Henderson played for nine teams and most notably retired as MLB’s all-time stolen base leader (1,406) and all-time runs scored leader (2,295).The first round of the College Football Playoff is in the books after the expanded playoff brought games to campuses for the first time. Notre Dame, Penn State, Texas and Ohio State all won andadvanced to the next round.It’s also time forthe annual parade of bowl games, including the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, the Fenway and Pinstripe bowls (played in Fenway Park and Yankee Stadium, respectively), and thePop-Tarts Bowl.The NFLkicks into overdrivethis week with games today, Monday, two games on Christmas Day, one the day after and three more on Saturday.Here’s what to watch for.Not to be outdone, the NBA hasfive games scheduled for Christmas Day.For more of your favorite sports, head on over toCNN Sportsas well asBleacher Report, which — like CNN — is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery.Quiz time!Looking for a challenge to start your week?Take CNN’s weekly news quizto see how much you remember from the week that was! So far, 42% of fellow quiz fans have gotten eight or more questions right. How will you fare?Play me off …Eartha Kitt - Santa Baby (Official Music Video)‘Santa Baby’Frequently covered but never surpassed, this is the original siren’s call to St. Nick. (Click here to view)