Drake is “saving Santa the trip” as he’s taking over Christmas. In a post shared to Instagram, he announced he’s hosting the Drizzmas Giveaway on Kick, a subsidiary of Stake, with whom he has a partnership.
With $250,000 cash, luxury cars, rent money, a dream vacation, tour tickets and more up for grabs, Drake says this will be “THE BIGGEST STREAMING GIVEAWAY EVER.”
Those interested in participating must be 21 and email their story to drake@stake.com, telling him why they believe they “deserve whichever of these things you think you need most.” The stream kicks off Thursday at 8 p.m. ET on Drake’s Kick channel.
“People often ask me what was the best day of my life … my answer is the same every time: the two days I shot [the video for] ‘God’s Plan,'” Drake recalls on a video announcing his giveaway.
“The joy that I experienced on those days, making other people happy, changing their week or their month or their year was an irreplaceable feeling. And that’s why Stake, along with me and Adin Ross, are doing the biggest streaming giveaway of all time,” he continues. “I truly can’t wait to enjoy this moment together. Happy holidays to you all.”
(LONDON)– Rebel forces in Syria are building a transitional government after toppling the regime of President Bashar Assad in a lightning-quick advance across the country.
Meanwhile, the ceasefire in Lebanon is holding despite ongoing Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah targets, which Israeli officials say are responses to ceasefire violations by the Iranian-backed militant group. The Israel Defense Forces continues its intense airstrike and ground campaigns in Gaza.
Tensions remain high between Israel and Iran after tit-for-tat long-range strikes in recent months and threats of further military action from both sides. The IDF and the Yemeni Houthis also continue to exchange attacks.
Negotiation team returning after ‘significant week’: Israeli PM office
The Israeli negotiation team will return to Israel from Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday after a “significant week of conducting negotiations” regarding a ceasefire and hostage deal, the Israeli Prime Minister’s office said in a statement.
“The team returned for internal consultations in Israel regarding the continuation of negotiations for the return of our hostages,” the statement continued.
-ABC News’ Anna Burd
IDF ‘besieging’ 3 Gaza hospitals, health ministry says
The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza said in a statement Tuesday that Israeli forces are “intensifying” their attacks on three hospitals in the devastated and depopulated northern portion of the strip.
Israeli troops, the ministry in the Hamas-run territory said, are “besieging and directly targeting the Indonesian Hospital, Kamal Adwan Hospital and Al-Awda Hospital during the past hours and insisting on putting them out of service.”
The ministry said Israeli troops were “forcing the wounded and patients to evacuate the Indonesian Hospital,” while bombing “all departments of Kamal Adwan Hospital and its surroundings around the clock without stopping.”
“Shrapnel is scattered inside the hospital yards, causing terrifying sounds and serious damage,” the ministry said.
“We appeal to all international and UN institutions and concerned parties to urgently intervene to protect the health system in the Gaza Strip,” the ministry wrote.
On Monday, Palestinian officials said 20 people were injured when Israeli forces detonated a “robot bomb” in the vicinity of Kamal Adwan Hospital.
The IDF has not commented on the latest developments around Kamal Adwan or the other north Gaza hospitals.
-ABC News’ Nasser Atta
3 Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza
The Israel Defense Forces said Monday that three soldiers were killed in combat in northern Gaza.
Cpt. Ilay Gavriel Atedgi, 22, Staff Sgt. Netanel Pessach, 21, and Sgt. First Class (res.) Hillel Diener, 21, were all killed by an explosion during an operation in the Beit Hanoun area, which has been a focus of Israel’s intense recent offensive in the northern part of the strip.
Israel’s toll in the ground offensive against Hamas in Gaza and the border zone is now 391.
Health officials in the Hamas-run territory say more than 45,300 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023.
-ABC News’ Dana Savir and Ellie Kaufman
20 injured after bomb detonates near Gaza hospital
Twenty people were injured among the medical staff at Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza Monday evening after a “robot bomb” was detonated in the hospital’s vicinity, according to medical sources.
ABC News has reached out to the Israel Defense Forces for a comment.
-ABC News’ Samy Zyara
Israeli forces kill Hamas operative in Gaza City, IDF says
Israeli forces killed the head of the national security directorate of Hamas’ security mechanism during an attack on Sunday in Gaza City, the Israel Defense Forces said.
The Hamas operative, Tharwat Muhammad Ahmed Albec, was “operating in a command and control center” that was embedded in a “compound that previously served as the ‘Musa bin Nusayr’ school” in a neighborhood in Gaza City, the IDF said in a statement on Monday.
Hamas has yet to comment on the IDF’s statement.
-ABC News’ Dana Savir
‘Certain progress’ made in hostage negotiations: Netanyahu
“Certain progress” has been made in ongoing hostage and ceasefire negotiations, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during a speech at the Israeli parliament on Monday.
“I can carefully say there has been a certain progress” made in the ongoing negotiations, Netanyahu said, adding that he “doesn’t know how long it’s going to take.”
“We will continue to operate in any way and without a pause until we bring them all back home from the enemy’s land,” he said.
-ABC News’ Dana Savir
Hamas reports Israeli attack on Gaza’s Nuseirat refugee camp
Hamas on Monday said the Israel Defense Forces killed or wounded at least 50 people in an air and ground assault on the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza.
An IDF airstrike was followed by an incursion into the camp supported by 17 heavy vehicles, among them tanks and bulldozers, Hamas said.
Israeli forces also attacked Nuseirat camp two weeks ago, killing at least 33 people according to the Gaza Government Media Office.
The IDF is yet to comment on Monday’s operation.
-ABC News’ Diaa Ostaz and Tomek Rolski
Netanyahu says Israel will act against Houthis after missile strike
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that his nation would “act forcefully” against the Houthis in Yemen after a weekend missile attack on Tel Aviv injured 16 people, according to Israeli emergency authorities.
“Just as we acted forcefully against the terrorist arms of Iran’s evil axis, so we will act against the Houthis — the result will be the same,” Netanyahu said in a statement posted to X.
Since October 2023, the Houthis have been launching attacks on commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea, as well as long-range drone and missile attacks towards Israel.
On Thursday, the Israel Defense Forces said it intercepted a Houthi missile but that debris destroyed a school building in Tel Aviv.
The Houthis — which have close ties with Iran and are part of the Tehran-led “Axis of Resistance” — are demanding an end to Israel’s war in Gaza, launched in response to Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, infiltration attack into southern Israel.
The U.S. and U.K. — supported by other allies — have launched a series of strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen since January. Israel has also launched significant strikes in Yemen in recent months, most recently on Thursday.
At least 7 dead after IDF strikes humanitarian area in Gaza
At least seven people were killed after an Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis, which is located in the southern Gaza Strip.
The strike hit a collection of tents within what had been designated a humanitarian area, where displaced people were sheltering.
The Israel Defense Forces acknowledged the strike on Sunday, saying in a statement it was “an intelligence-based strike on a Hamas terrorist.”
“Prior to the strike, numerous steps were taken to mitigate the risk of harming civilians, including the use of precise munitions, aerial surveillance, and additional intelligence,” the IDF said.
– ABC News’ William Gretsky
21 killed in Gaza, IDF northern offensive continues
The Gaza Ministry of Health said Saturday that 21 people were killed and 61 injured in three separate Israeli attacks over the last 24 hours in the Hamas-run territory.
A total of 45,227 people have been killed since the start of the war, health officials said.
Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces continued intense operations in northern Gaza, particularly around the Kamal Adwan hospital in Beit Lahia.
The director of the hospital said there is shooting “around the clock” nearby, adding that on Friday the third floor and the hospital entrance were shelled.
The director said the IDF is blocking the entry of all requested medical supplies. Nine people need urgent evacuation for surgery in Gaza City and the hospital is currently treating over 70 people, he said.
(NEWPORT, Ore.) — Several officials in Lincoln County, Oregon have received an anonymous letter urging people to report “brown folks” they suspect are undocumented immigrants, according to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.
“The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office recently learned about a letter being circulated throughout Lincoln County which encourages community members to track and report information regarding people of color, specifically community members that are believed to be undocumented,” the sheriff’s office posted on Facebook.
“We want to be unequivocal in our stance: this type of behavior is harmful, divisive, and inconsistent with the values we uphold as public servants and community members,” continued the post, signed by Sheriff Curtis Landers. “Targeting individuals in this manner erodes trust and undermines the sense of safety and inclusion that we strive to maintain in Lincoln County.”
The anonymous letter, a copy of which was obtained by ABC News, is riddled with typos and makes various threats against undocumented immigrants.
State and local officials have condemned the letter.
“Attempts to intimidate our communities and their leaders through racist letter-writing campaigns has no place in Oregon, and we will continue to stand together in opposition to those who seek to divide us,” said Oregon State Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum in a statement, adding that the state is an “open, welcoming, and safe for all individuals.”
“It is time to rise above these despicable tactics and demonstrate the true spirit of inclusivity and compassion that defines the Oregon way,” Rosenblum continued.
Toledo, Oregon Mayor Rod Cross announced at a Dec. 18 city council meeting that he had received the letter, bearing an invalid return address, a few days prior. That letter, obtained by ABC News, warns that in the latter part of January 2025, the Department of Homeland Security will begin “the largest round-up of brown illegals in our history.”
“I am livid because I don’t know if history is just not getting taught anymore or if the memories of my father and his generation have just been wiped out of existed but this is not America,” Mayor Cross said at the city council meeting. “This is not who we are.”
President-elect Donald Trump made campaign statements in which he vowed to conduct a large-scale deportation operation of migrants living in the U.S. without legal permission. Though the anonymous letter refers to a “round-up of brown illegals,” it does not reference Trump or his past statements.
Sheriff Landers told ABC News he also received a copy of the letter in his personal PO box. He added that although the speech in the letter may not constitute a crime, he has notified the FBI for awareness. He said the mayor of Lincoln City, as well as several city council members. also received the letter.
In his Facebook statement, Sheriff Landers also stated that “Oregon law generally prohibits the inquiry or collection of an individual’s immigration or citizenship status, or country of birth, with few specific exceptions” defined by law.
“Consistent with this, the Sheriff’s Office does not inquire about, document, or share such information with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE),” Landers’ statement continued. “These provisions are embedded in our policy manual and are essential to ensuring that our practices respect the rights and dignity of all individuals.”
According to the Oregon Department of Justice, Oregon became the first in the country to pass a statewide sanctuary law in 1987, which in part prohibits state and local law enforcement and government offices from “[participating] directly or indirectly in immigration enforcement without a judicial warrant.”
In September, Chappell Roan told one of her audiences that she had finally gotten around to watching Glee and had made it to season two. Well, apparently, she had some thoughts on season three — one particular episode, to be specific — and has now apologized for those thoughts … sort of.
On the Instagram account Kisha Kisha, which is jointly run by Chappell and her bestie Ramisha Sattar, Chappell posted a video of herself watching the show’s season three holiday episode “Extraordinary Merry Christmas.” While the cast members sing “My Favorite Things” in the background, Chappell says, “This is the worst episode of Glee I’ve ever seen. I’m turning it off. I hate it.”
Soon afterwards, she posted another video of herself sitting in front of a Christmas tree. “This is my apology video for the Gleeks that I offended,” she says. Then, she eyes the lower part of the screen, where someone holding a knife that’s pointing towards her.
“I am so sorry. I love every episode of Glee, and I love Kurt and Blaine,” she continues, and then cracks up.
Perhaps we should mention that on the original video, the caption reads, “The context here is that I am high,” and that in between the two videos, they posted a photo of Kurt and Blaine from the show, with the words, “Guys we are high” written across it.
The Bob Dylan movie A Complete Unknown hits theaters on Thursday, and the final trailer for the film just dropped.
While the clip features scenes from the movie, as well as audio of Timothée Chalamet singing the Dylan classic “Like A Rolling Stone,” the main focus of the trailer is all the positive reviews the film has been getting.
Words like “Electric,” “Masterful,” “Hypnotic,” “Brilliant” and more flash across the screen at the beginning of the trailer, followed by quotes from several publications calling it one of the best films of the year.
It also lists all the nominations the film’s already received, including Best Actor Golden Globe and Critics Choice nods for Chalamet, Best Supporting Actor nods for Ed Norton and Best Picture.
A Complete Unknown follows a 19-year-old Dylan as he arrives in New York from Minnesota and tracks his rise as a folk singer during the ’60s to the top of the charts, ending with his electric rock ‘n’ roll performance at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965.
(LONDON) — Swiss Olympic snowboarder Sophie Hediger was tragically killed in an avalanche on Monday, according to the Swiss-Ski federation.
Hediger, 26, got caught in an avalanche at the mountain resort of Arosa in eastern Switzerland, the federation said.
“We are stunned and our thoughts are with Sophie’s family, to whom we express our deepest condolences,” Walter Reusser, the CEO of Swiss-Ski’s sports division, said in a statement on Tuesday.
No additional details about the incident are being released at the wishes of Hediger’s family and partner, Swiss-Ski said.
The athlete was a member of Switzerland’s national snowboard cross team and spent a lot of time in Arosa, Swiss-Ski said.
Hediger competed in the 2022 Olympics in Beijing in the women’s snowboard cross and the mixed team snowboard cross.
She earned her first two World Cup podium places in the 2023-24 season. She placed second in St. Moritz, Switzerland, in January, followed by third in Gudauri, Georgia, in February.
She dreamed of winning a medal in the Ski Freestyle and Snowboard World Championships in Engadin, Switzerland, in March, Swiss-Ski said.
“For the Swiss Ski family, the tragic death of Sophie Hediger has cast a dark shadow over the Christmas holidays,” Reusser said. “We are immeasurably sad.”
ABC News’ Somayeh Malekian contributed to this report.
Beyoncé has shared a message ahead of her NFL halftime show performance on Wednesday.
Alongside a video of her on a football field playing “Texas Hold ‘Em” on a banjo, she writes, “I’m sending you big joy and love on this Cowboy Christmas Eve. I’ll see y’all tomorrow, in my city HTX.” But the clip doesn’t end without a glitch, as it pauses to buffer — Bey’s way of poking fun at concerns Netflix will have buffering issues during the live stream.
Bey’s mother, Tina Knowles, previously told Variety she had “no worries” about technical problems, noting, “God is going to be in control and everything is going to go smooth. No glitches. It’s going to be great. We got some prayer going on. We got some connections.”
Business Insider has since reported Netflix said they learned and fixed all streaming issues that occurred in the past, including in November’s boxing match between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson.
Beyoncé’s Christmas performance will take place during halftime of the the Baltimore Ravens-Houston Texans game at Houston’s NRG Stadium. It will air live on Netflix, featuring the debut performances of some Cowboy Carter songs as well as a few special guests.
Those who can’t tune in the U.S. will have three hours after the live stream to watch the performance on Netflix before it expires. Those outside the country have 24 hours after the end of the livestream to rewatch the halftime show on the streaming platform.
In addition, the NFL Network will re-air the Ravens-Texans game on Wednesday at 11:30 p.m. ET and Thursday at 5 a.m. ET. A replay will also be available via NFL+ Premium in the U.S. and DAZN across the globe.
Miley Cyrus had a pretty great year. She won the first two Grammys of her career for her hit “Flowers,” was named the youngest-ever Disney Legend and received multiple award nominations — including a Golden Globe nod — for “Beautiful That Way,” a song she co-wrote for the movie The Last Showgirl. But Miley is ready for a fresh start in 2025.
On Instagram, she wrote, “HAPPY HOLIDAYS & NEW YEAR! It’s bittersweet saying goodbye to a year that has been so good to me, but I am looking forward to starting over again. This is one of my favorite parts of not just the creative process but the way life has chosen to teach me.”
“In everything I do I like to go ALL the way. Give it ALL I’ve got. ALL for it to come to an end, move on and start anew,” she continued. “At times it can be a heartbreaking process but I’ve always known the pieces to come back together and create something beautiful.”
She concluded “Thank you to everyone who has been [a part] of making this year so special. Sincerely, Miley.”
The star has already revealed that she’s got a “visual album” planned for 2025. She says it was inspired by Pink Floyd — The Wall, the trippy, 1982 part live-action, part-animated film based on the classic album of the same name.
In addition to new vocalist Emily Armstrong, the reformed Linkin Park has two other fresh faces: drummer Colin Brittain and touring guitarist Alex Feder, who joined the band’s live lineup after Brad Delson announced he would not be joining LP on the road.
Delson still remains part of Linkin Park, though, and played on their comeback album, From Zero. Speaking with Guitar World, Delson elaborates on his decision to step away from the live stage.
“For everyone, it wasn’t like, ‘Let’s go back to what we were doing,'” Delson says of LP ending their seven-year hiatus following the 2017 death of frontman Chester Bennington. “It was like, ‘Let’s take what we’ve learned in the time off to approach our roles with greater self-awareness and insight.’ I really thrive in the studio. I love making new things. That’s what energizes me personality-wise.”
“That’s why I decided to focus my energy on that area and have Alex as my world-traveler doppelganger,” he continues. “I think he brings a lot to the show.”
Delson adds that he’s contributed to the feel of Linkin Park’s live show, even if he’s not playing in it.
“I’m really proud of the show,” Delson says. “Even though I’m not onstage, I put a lot of my creative love into the show. I’ve always been obsessed with the setlist, the concept of the show, and how it flows. I worked really hard on the current show; that’s no different than the past.”
After playing a number of one-off shows in 2024, Linkin Park will launch a full world tour in support of From Zero in 2025. As for whether Delson may return to the live lineup, he says, “You never know.”
“I don’t have a crystal ball,” he adds. “I can’t definitely say.”
Creative Touch Imaging Ltd./NurPhoto via Getty Images
(JERUSALEM) — Hanna Katzir, an Israeli hostage survivor who was released last year after 49 days of captivity in Gaza, has died, officials said.
Katzir, 78, struggled with a “complex medical condition” for “many months” after she was released, Kibbutz Nir Oz said in a statement.
During Hamas’ surprise terror attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, Katzir was kidnapped from her home and her husband, Rami, was killed in their safe room at Kibbutz Nir Oz, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum Headquarters said.
The couple’s son, Elad, was kidnapped and later killed in captivity, the Hostages Families Forum said. His body has since been returned to Israel.
Hanna Katzir spent 49 days as a hostage before she was released.
“Mom was a woman, wife, and devoted mother who was all about love. Her heart could not withstand the terrible suffering since October 7th,” her daughter, Carmit Palty Katzir, said in a statement.
There are 100 hostages remaining in Gaza, many of whom are feared dead.
“Each day in captivity endangers the lives of our loved ones,” Carmit Palty Katzir said. “A comprehensive agreement for the return of our 100 brothers and sisters must move forward.”
Hanna Katzir’s funeral will take place at Kibbutz Nir Oz on Tuesday.
