The Atlanta Braves are still looking for at least one pitcher to round out their rotation. This former member of the Philadelphia Phillies would be a good fit.
Authorities in Kazakhstan are investigating the cause of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash in the country, which killed 38 people and injured 29 others on Christmas Day.
The big picture: Flight J2-8243 was diverted while en route from Baku, Azerbaijan's capital, to Gronzy in southern Russia.
Images of the incident shared online show the Embraer 190 aircraft catching fire and splitting apart as it crash-landed near the Kazakh city of Aktau.
The Kremlin is warning against "hypotheses," but aviation security analysts say it's "reminiscent" of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, shot down by a Russian surface-to-air missile system over rebel-held eastern Ukraine in 2014, per AFP.
State of play: Azerbaijan held a national day of mourning for the victims on Thursday, as Kazakh officials told media investigators had found the plane's black box at the crash site.
A Kazakh official told reporters Thursday that an onboard cylinder containing oxygen exploded moments before the crash.
A survivor told Russian media he remembered the pilot twice trying to land in dense fog over Grozny and then "the third time, something exploded, some of the aircraft skin had blown out."
Situation report: Chechnya, where Gronzy is located, is one of several areas where Russian air defense systems have targeted Ukrainian drones, officials said.
Chechen media reported Wednesday Russian forces were repelling drone attacks in the region.
Between the lines: "Azerbaijan Airlines flight was likely shot down by a Russian military air-defense system," said Osprey Flight Solutions, an aviation security firm based in the U.K., in an alert to clients that was shared with media, which cited Kyiv's statement also accusing Russia's military of being behind the crash.
Other factors included "circumstances around the airspace security environment in southwest Russia," said Osprey, which has provided analysis for carriers still flying into Russia after Western airlines suspended flights due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Justin Crump, of risk advisory firm Sibylline, told the BBC: "It looks very much like the detonation of [a Russian] air defense missile to the rear and to the left of the aircraft, if you look at the pattern of shrapnel that we see," he said.
Zoom in: Osprey CEO Andrew Nicholson wrote that the firm had issued over 200 alerts on drone attacks and air defense systems in Russia during the war.
An unnamed U.S. official told CNN that early indications indicated that a Russian anti-aircraft system may have shot down the plane.
If confirmed, it could prove to be a case of mistaken identity involving Russian units that have not been properly trained firing "negligently against Ukraine's use of drones," the official said.
What they're saying: "It would be wrong to put forward any hypotheses before the investigation's conclusions," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said in a statement carried by state media.
"We, of course, will not do this, and no-one should do this. We need to wait until the investigation is completed."
You can blame it on the post-holiday brain fog.
At least, that's what NBC correspondent Vicky Nguyen did on the Dec. 26 episode of Today, when her fellow anchors called her out for pairing her...
It’s shopping season! We love shopping for friends and family at this time of year, but that doesn’t mean we push our personal fashion needs aside. After all, there’s nothing quite like finding a classy go-to piece that makes you look — and feel — like a million bucks!
But ’tis the holiday season . . . and we’re spending much more than usual. All of the candles, gift cards, mugs and socks add up! If you want to upgrade your look this holiday season without breaking the bank, wait until you see what’s in Walmart’s secret winter fashion section. Everything looks like it comes from either Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue or Nieman Marcus, just without the hefty price tag that comes with it.
If you want to know what we’re grabbing from Walmart’s luxe fashion selection, read on! We gathered 11 of our favorite tops, pants, jackets and more that scream designer. Trust Us when we say these picks will replace your go-to designer pieces!
1. Tweed blazer: Vintage, timeless and totally designer-looking, this jacket is destined to become an outerwear staple. The woven cotton fabric gives this heavyweight jacket a classy look — $41!
2. Shimmer and shine: Everything about this metallic gold t-shirt is luxe. It’s made of an airy polyester and spandex blend that’s as comfy as it is chic — $18!
3. Velvet pants: Hey there, trendy queen! These velvet wide-leg pants have a 29-inch inseam, a pull-on style and an elasticized waist for extra comfort — originally $17, now $15!
4. Crowd favorite: Reviewers can’t get enough of this dressy puff-sleeve top. Grab it in one of 19 different colors, or grab one for yourself, your bestie and your mom — originally $70, now $12!
5. Cocktail party: Get ready to be the center of attention at every cocktail party this season. A fitted design, ruffle tulip hemline and ruched material around the waist make it extra flattering — $25!
6. Not your basic turtleneck: Versatile and cozy, this stretchy find should be much more expensive than it is. Pair it with jeans, leather pants, skirts, blazers and anything else in your winter wardrobe — $15!
8. Holiday sweater: If you don’t have any holiday parties on the agenda, it’s time to plan some so that you can wear this ultra-chic snowflake sweater! It’s anything but ugly — originally $40, now $23!
9. Flattering jeans: We all need a fail-proof pair of flare jeans. These flare jeans come in sizes 0 through 20, so you’re destined to find a perfect fit — $24!
Travis Kelce thanked Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker for keeping an extra gift in his back pocket on Christmas Day.
Kelce, 35, took an unsportsmanlike penalty for his touchdown celebration on Wednesday, December 25, slamming the football through the goalpost as an homage to Tony Gonzalez, who Kelce had just surpassed on the Chiefs’ all-time touchdown receptions list.
As a result, Butker, 29, was forced to kick a 48-yard extra point, instead of the usual 33-yard attempt, thanks to Kelce’s 15-yard penalty.
After the game, Kelce told reporters he wasn’t concerned in the slightest about what his penalty might incur.
“I knew the score,” he said. “I knew my guy Harrison had my back on the field goal.”
Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on December 25, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Kelce’s fourth quarter touchdown and Butker’s ensuing extra point put the Chiefs up 29-10 on the Pittsburgh Steelers, which would end up being the final score. The victory guaranteed Kansas City the No. 1 seed in the AFC, ensuring a first-round bye in the playoffs.
Butker returned to the Chiefs lineup during the team’s December 15 game against the Cleveland Browns after missing the previous four games with a meniscus tear in his left knee.
Currently in his eighth season with Kansas City, Butker stoked controversy for his commencement address at Benedictine College in May when he called on women to embrace the role of “homemaker” and equated Pride Month to a “deadly sin,” among other inflammatory comments.
As for the touchdown celebration itself, Kelce was happy to honor Gonzalez, 48, who spent the first 12 seasons of his illustrious NFL career with the Chiefs.
Harrison Butker
“It’s showing Tony some love and just a big tribute to who he’s been, not only in this organization, but who he’s been for football,” Kelce said. “We know how iconic it was that he would dunk the ball through the goalpost all the time.”
Kelce added with a smile, “I gave it my best effort. I don’t know if I did it quite like him. I gave it a run.”
The Christmas Day win improved Kansas City’s record to an NFL-best 14-1, and Kelce argued the team is hitting its peak after a season filled with close calls and nail-biters.
“It’s fun building the chemistry of a team,” Kelce said. “I can look back on a lot of the teams that we had success on and those were the most fun teams to be on. You could feel it in the building. Right now, it’s just such a blast coming in and going to work with the guys that we have. It’s more unique and more different than any year I’ve ever been a part of because of the way we’ve won and how we’ve had to keep focusing on getting better.”
He continued, “The chemistry is at an all-time high right now and I’m excited that we’ve found a way to get the No. 1 seed and we’re going into the playoffs playing our best football.”
The Chiefs will close out the regular season on Sunday, January 5, against the Denver Broncos. Given their first-round bye, Kansas City will open their playoff quest for a third-consecutive Super Bowl title in the NFL Divisional Round, which kicks off January 18.
In a sweet snap posted via Instagram Wednesday, December 25, Green, 51, wore a white T-shirt and red printed pajama pants as he kneeled on the floor while helping his youngest son, Zane Walker. Green and Burgess’ 2-year-old had his back to the camera, but his matching pajamas were visible.
Behind the Beverly Hills, 90210actor, Green and his ex-wife Megan Fox’s children Noah, 12, Bodhi, 10, and Journey, 8, stood by the Christmas tree — with two of them sporting the same loungewear.
“Merry Christmas everyone,” Burgess, 39, wrote via her Instagram Story, alongside heart and tree emojis. (Green popped the question to Burgess in July 2023.)
Green’s eldest son, Kassius Lijah, 22, whom he shares with ex-girlfriend Vanessa Marcil, was not in the photograph. (Green and Marcil called it quits in 2003 after four years together.)
Over the years, Green has been candid about navigating coparenting with his exes. “The number one [rule],” Green told E! News in April, “is always make sure that everything is centered around the experience of the kids.”
He continued, “People make a mistake of thinking that they’re gonna do things so the separation doesn’t affect the kids and, of course, it’s gonna affect the kids. The only choice you have is how it affects the kids.”
While Green and Fox are amicable, he noted that they do sometimes need to “pick [their] battles” and put their kids first. (Green and Fox, who have a 13-year age gap, went their separate ways in 2020.)
“The person that you were with that you’re now separated from, you guys are separated for a reason,” he explained. “Because you didn’t get along. So, you can’t expect to then get along after the fact in raising your kids. So, you have to decide, ‘OK, it’s not about us getting along anymore. It’s about us coparenting, which is a totally different situation.’”
Green has shared that coparenting with Marcil, 56, however, has been “difficult from the beginning.” In a September 2023 episode of the “Old-ish” podcast, Green explained that he suffered from vertigo “for years” which made it hard for him to see their son. Marcil, for her part, claimed that she raised Kassius by herself.
While reflecting on fatherhood, Green told Us Weekly that he wishes he could “fix” a lot of the mistakes he and Marcil made while raising Kassius.
“There are two sides to all of it, and looking back on it, there were absolute mistakes made on both sides because we were young and new parents and didn’t understand,” he told Us in September 2023. “There’s a part of me that wishes I could go back and fix things, of course, but then there’s also a part of me that knows that if I hadn’t experienced exactly what I experienced in parenting, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
Derek Hough spent Christmas with family and friends — and his cat’s veterinarian.
“Look what I got for Christmas ” Hough, 39, captioned an Instagram post on Wednesday, December 25. “A plastic bag filled with stuff Otis ate and had to be removed from his stomach costing $8000 ! Yay! Glad he’s ok.”
Hough shared a photo of himself in festive Christmas-themed pajamas holding Otis the cat — and a bag full of the contents of his pet’s stomach. The professional dancer wrote “$8000” over the photo and added an animated arrow pointing to the plastic bag.
“Noooooo!!!! Glad he’s ok!!” fellow dancer Maks Chmerkovskiy commented. Dancing With the Stars pro Sasha Farber added, “S—” in the comments section as well.
Hough, however, seemed to be in high spirits despite the health emergency. The DWTS judge continued to share a glimpse at his Christmas via Instagram Stories.
He and longtime friend Mark Ballas completed a “Christmas build,” according to one photo. (The pair were putting together a toy car.) Ballas, 38, also showed off his “latte art” in another video.
Hough’s holiday also included his wife, Hayley Erbert.
“We’re literally stuck together now,” Hough captioned a second video on Wednesday. The clip showed himself and Erbert, 30, wearing Christmas onesies that were connected, meaning they had to move as one.
This year’s holiday season marked the second for Hough and Erbert as a married couple. They tied the knot in August 2023 and experienced a series of trials during their first year of marriage as Erbert faced a major health scare.
The professional dancer underwent emergency brain surgery for a cranial hematoma in December 2023 after passing out backstage at one of her and Hough’s live shows. (She danced with Hough for the first time during an episode of DWTS in October.)
“It was one of the most difficult times of my life,” Erbert told Us Weekly exclusively in a cover story last month. The dancer explained that she is “relearning how to live” after the surgery.
“I could [have sat there] and just been ‘poor me’ all day long, every single day. But I was like, no — there’s so much beauty in this life still. And I want to live for it,” she explained. “We are truly gonna be so present and appreciate life so much more.”
Erbert told Us that she’s “98 to 99 percent back to what I was” before the surgeries.
“There’s some things here and there, but minor things. Nothing that will hinder me from just doing what I do in everyday life and my career,” she added. “It truly is a miracle. And I’m so grateful to be able to do what I love still.”
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