The ‘magical’ advent calendar that’s as big as a town hall A small town in Germany turns its town hall into the ‘world’s largest’ advent calendar each December. It started as a way to boost businesses in the winter, but it’s grown to mean much more. Read more on NPR

Protesters gather for third night of demonstrations after Georgia announces suspension of EU talks Protesters gathered across Georgia on Saturday night in a third straight night of demonstrations against the government’s decision to suspend negotiations to join the European Union. Read more on NPR

Heavy snow blankets parts of the U.S. during busy holiday travel weekend Frigid air was expected to move over the eastern third of the U.S. by Monday, while heavy snow was forecast to cause hazards in the Great Lakes, Plains and Midwest regions. Read more on NPR

FIFA should pay workers harmed in building World Cup venues, its committee report says The report said the main responsibility lay with the workers’ direct employers and the Qatari government, but noted that “a credible argument can be made” that FIFA played a role as well. Read more on NPR

Trump picks longtime ally Kash Patel to replace current FBI director The president-elect plans to replace current FBI Director Christopher Wray with Patel, a close ally of the president-elect and former national security aide, has berated the Justice Department and the news media. Read more on NPR

How a Syrian rebel group pulled off its stunning seizure of Aleppo Over a few days, rebel fighters in northern Syria have launched incursions into several major cities with little resistance from government troops. Read more on NPR

World Central Kitchen workers killed by Israeli airstrike, Gaza health ministry says An Israeli airstrike hit a car in the Gaza Strip on Saturday, killing five people, including at least three employees with the food aid charity. World Central Kitchen said that it was “urgently seeking more details.” Read more on NPR

How to solve the Gen Z social isolation problem? She tried surfing and it worked Young people today spend nearly 1,000 fewer hours per year hanging out with friends in person than they did 20 years ago. Some solutions for the loneliness epidemic are coming from unlikely places. Read more on NPR

Opinion: The life and work of Seuk Kim, pilot and animal rescuer NPR’s Scott Simon remembers Seuk Kim, a volunteer animal rescue pilot who died in a crash earlier this week, transporting several dogs. Read more on NPR

SunFed cucumbers and Costco eggs recalled for potential salmonella contamination Cucumbers shipped to the U.S. and Canada, and organic eggs sold in 25 Costco stores in five southern U.S. states, were recalled this week for potential salmonella contamination. Read more on NPR