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Personnel from all four fire stations in the capital responded to an uptown business Sunday evening to battle the blaze in frigid temperatures.

Numerous Fredericton Fire Department vehicles were on the scene at the Pizza Hut location at the top of Smythe Street on Sunday night, and firefighters could be seen being elevated to fight the fire from above.

The business also boasts new signage indicating another chain - Osmow’s Shawarma - is setting up shop in the location.

Assistant deputy fire chief David McKinley told the Fredericton Independent on Sunday evening that the call came in at 7:19 p.m.

He said the fire was reported initially to be in the ductwork at the business.

“They are still on scene and so far, the damage has been contained to the ductwork,” McKinley wrote in an email at 8:15 p.m.

He noted that personnel and equipment from all four Fredericton fire stations responded to the blaze.

McKinley didn’t give any indication of injuries or what the extent of the damage might prove to be.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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Hundreds of hampers assembled by the Christmas Cheer Board of Winnipeg have not made their way to families in need, and with the countdown for Christmas entering its final days, the organization is hoping all perishable items can be donated. 

CATALAO, Brazil (AP) — Santa Claus braved the sticky heat of the Amazon rainforest this weekend, taking two boats to bring gifts to children in a village near the Brazilian city of Manaus.

The visit was arranged by Amigos do Papai Noel, a Brazilian charity that has been taking gifts to children in the Amazon rainforest for the past 26 years.

“For the children of the rivers, the people of the countryside, nothing new happens,” said Raimunda Ferrera Vieira a community leader in the village of Catalao, which received Santa on Saturday. “This here for us was a gift from God.”

More than 600 children from different villages gathered in Catalao to receive presents from Santa, who dressed in his traditional nightcap, white gloves and red suit, while enduring the stifling jungle heat.

To get to the kids, the Brazilian Santa sailed on a large boat down the Amazon river, then paddled a canoe along a swampy tributary.

Dozens of volunteers formed a line to Santa’s boat to help him unload his holiday cargo of stuffed animals, dolls and soccer balls. And two of the helper even had to carry Santa off his boat to prevent his boots from getting wet, due to the lack of a pier.

According to Amigos do Papa Noel, changes in the weather have complicated gift deliveries.

This year, the water levels of the two largest rivers in the area, the Amazon and the Rio Negro, are still low. So children had to gather in a community where the river was deep enough for Santa’s boat to arrive.

“We knew this would be difficult” said Pedro Carvalho Filho, a computer programmer who manages Amigos do Papai Noel. “Usually on this day we make three deliveries to the riverside communities.”

Still, Santa said all the sweat and toil was worth it.

“Every child in every community always smiles back” said Santa impersonator Jorge Alberto Moreira. “Wherever you go there’s a smile, it’s a great joy.”

Fernando Crispim, The Associated Press

A pickup truck evading police crashed into a JCPenney store in Texas before running through a mall, injuring five people. The driver was fatally shot by officers. The victims, aged 6 to 75, were taken to hospitals. The chase began after reports of an erratic driver. The suspect's identity has not yet been revealed. (AP)

Rough weather across the country may cause holiday travel disruptions, with rain and snow predicted. The Northeast experienced wintry conditions, while western states braced for rain and snow. Power line issues led to suspension of Amtrak and New Jersey Transit services. Forecasts indicate further rain and snow in the Great Lakes and Northeast. (CBS News)

Two U.S. Navy pilots safely ejected over the Red Sea when their F/A-18 fighter jet was accidentally shot down in a case of friendly fire. One pilot sustained minor injuries. The U.S. Navy cruiser fired on the aircraft, triggering a full investigation. The incident occurred during ongoing patrols to combat attacks on commercial ships by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. (ABC News)

Authorities are searching for a man suspected of setting a woman on fire as she slept in a Brooklyn subway car, resulting in her death. The man fled the scene. The New York Police Department released photos of the suspect and is offering a reward for information leading to his capture. (NBC News)

President-elect Donald Trump suggested the possibility of demanding the return of the Panama Canal to the United States. The canal was built by the U.S. in the early 1900s and transferred to Panama in 1999. Trump raised concerns about the canal's significance to U.S. commerce and national security, especially with China's growing influence in the region. (UPI)

The Royal Winnipeg Ballet opened the 85^th edition of the Nutcracker on Dec 20^th, and for Sundays matinee, they had an extra special performance planned for the anniversary. 

 Lily Guberman, who turns 103 years old next month, is an original member of the Winnipeg Ballet Club.

 She danced during the first year of what became the Royal Winnipeg Ballet in 1953, and now, 85 years later, she made her return to the stage for a special Nutcracker walk-on performance.

“It’s very flattering, very complimentary. And very, I don’t know if I’m deserving of it, but its wonderful,” said Guberman.

“She was one of the first dances that Gwenyth and Betty involved or invited to join their troupe. The Winnipeg Ballet Club it was called at the time.  So, it’s really a cornerstone for us. It’s wonderful to have her, I mean, she’s coming, and she’s with us and she’s celebrating our 85^th anniversary so I think it’s wonderful,” said André Lewis, Artistic Director.

The Nutcracker has become a major part of Winnipeg’s artistic culture, and a must watch around the holidays. 

With the show running this year until the 28^th, audiences have already been pouring in.

This is the last run for artistic director André Lewis, after 30 years at the helm, and he says that year in and year out, Winnipegers still support the show because its so deeply rooted in the fabric of the community.

“Although it respects the tradition of the traditional version in the snow scene in act 2 in Russia over 100 years ago, it’s set in Winnipeg at the turn of the last century, so it does relate to Winnipeg to a large degree and people connect with that, and that’s what I think has made it popular,” Lewis.

As for Lily’s return to the stage, CityNews unfortunately was not able to capture the big moment during the show, but in catching up with her before her appearance, she was all smiles.

The post Special guest honoured at 85th anniversary of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s Nutcracker appeared first on CityNews Winnipeg.

After weather warnings for large parts of Alberta were issued midway through last week, skiers will be disappointed to learn that the snow didn’t find its way to all the slopes equally.

LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Jayden Daniels was not worried when he and the Washington Commanders trailed the Philadelphia Eagles by 14 points after just seven minutes, and the rookie quarterback was similarly undaunted staring down a 13-point deficit going into the fourth quarter, long after Jalen Hurts was sidelined with a concussion.

“I always believe that we can win the game no matter what,” Daniels said. “The game’s never over till the clock hits zero.”

Daniels got the ball when the clock read 1:58, and he delivered his latest masterful performance by finding Jamison Crowder in the end zone with 6 seconds left to give the Commanders an emotional 36-33 comeback victory Sunday that ended the Eagles’ winning streak at 10 games. It was his fifth touchdown pass of the game as Daniels shined and kept Philadelphia from celebrating an NFC East championship.

“You got those guys that came in on the win streak they were on, they were hot and they’re a very good team — rightfully so, good offense, good defense, all-around well-prepared team and you want to go out there and see where you match up against those type of guys,” Daniels said.

“I live those type of situations when it’s on thin ice and plays need to be made, that’s what you live for. If you really love this sport, you live for those big-time moments where it comes down to the end.”

Daniels is the first Washington QB to throw for five touchdowns since Mark Rypien in 1991. That was Washington’s most recent Super Bowl-winning season. Rypien, who was the MVP of that Super Bowl, was in attendance for Sunday’s game.

Daniels bounced back from two interceptions, including one in the final minutes, to lead a 57-yard touchdown drive against the NFL’s best defense. Washington (10-5) is now on the verge of making the playoffs after handing the Eagles (12-3) their first loss since Sept. 29.

The Eagles played without Hurts for the vast majority of the game and failed to clinch the division and one of the conference’s top two seeds despite Saquon Barkley running for 109 yards and two touchdowns in the first quarter alone.

Daniels was the primary reason for that, beating the Eagles a month after losing to them on the road. He was 24 of 39 for 258 yards with a pair of TDs to Crowder and Olamide Zaccheaus and one to Terry McLaurin — and Daniels was Washington’s leading rusher with 81 yards on nine carries.

Daniels is the first rookie quarterback to throw for five or more touchdowns and rush for 65 or more yards in a single game in NFL history.

“It doesn’t get too much harder going against a team like that, back against the wall,” said McLaurin, who had five catches for 60 yards to eclipse 1,000 for a fifth consecutive season. “But when you’ve got to have it , when the game’s on the line, he made the plays and we just tried to make the plays with him.”

Daniels’ brilliance was enough to overcome Brian Robinson Jr. losing two fumbles in the first half and Dyami Brown another early in the third quarter and Marshon Lattimore getting flagged three times for pass interference.

The Commanders also found a solution for Barkley, who was held to 41 yards after the first.

“Obviously when a quarterback goes out, we knew that a lot of the attention was going to be on him,” linebacker Bobby Wagner said. “He’s a special player, so you just want to contain him.”

Philadelphia’s offense stagnated with the drop-off from Hurts to backup Kenny Pickett, who threw an interception to Frankie Luvu in his first meaningful NFL action in more than a year.

“We didn’t do enough,” Barkley said. “We left a lot of plays out there, including myself.”

Luvu also leveled the hit on Hurts that knocked Philadelphia’s starting QB out of the game just a few minutes in. Hurts’ head also bounced off the ground at the end of his previous run, and he was ruled out after two trips to the medical tent on the sideline and the concussion evaluation that followed.

Hurts’ status is a question that will linger for the Eagles into their final two games of the regular season as the Super Bowl contenders eye a long playoff run. Pickett was 14 of 24 for 143 yards in relief, throwing a touchdown pass to A.J. Brown and the interception.

DeVonta Smith dropped a late pass that would have given Philadelphia a first down rather than a second field goal from Jake Elliott, and the receiver took responsibility for the mistake.

“I just dropped the ball,” Smith said. “It cost us the game.”

Injuries

Eagles: Beyond Hurts, edge rusher Josh Sweat left with an ankle injury and defensive tackle Jordan Davis limped off in the second quarter. … Pickett said he had his ribs X-rayed and would undergo further testing.

Commanders: Lattimore and Brown left with hamstring injuries in the fourth quarter. … Right tackle Andrew Wylie did not finish the game because of a groin injury. … Rookie linebacker Jordan Magee left early in the fourth quarter with a hamstring injury.

Up next

Eagles: Host Dallas next Sunday.

Commanders: Host Atlanta next Sunday night.

___

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Stephen Whyno, The Associated Press

In the tangled forest that is the genetics of autism, scientists have a new guidepost.

For the first time, a gene called DDX53 has been associated with the complex developmental disorder. Its identification is an important piece of new information for those seeking answers about the causes of autism. And its location, on the human X-chromosome, is particularly noteworthy, because it helps shed light on why boys are about four times more likely to present with autism than girls.

Canada is considering lifting sanctions imposed upon Syria more than a decade ago as well as removing HTS from its terror list after the Assad regime was toppled earlier this month by rebel forces.

Sources tell OMNI News the Canadian government is actively studying what’s happening on the ground after rebel forces swept through the country, ending a half-century of authoritarian rule and taking control of the capital of Damascus two weeks ago.

According to the source, the government is examining public statements made by Syria’s new administration regarding the formation of a transitional government which could lead to Canada recognizing the new government structure. The recognition would be contingent upon tangible steps taken by the new leadership in Syria to establish democratic institutions and the creation of a modern state that aligns with the aspirations of all Syrians.

Sources also say the government is considering reassessing the designation of HTS, or Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, as a terrorist organization, based on statements attributed to Ahmed Al-Sharaa – also known as Abu Mohammed Al-Golani, the leader of Syria’s new administration. HTS has renounced its al-Qaeda past, and Golani has promised to bring a pluralistic government to Syria, seeking to dispel fears among many Syrians that the insurgents will impose a hard-line, extremist rule.

The United States recently cancelled a US$10 million bounty on Al-Sharaa.

Canada imposed sanctions against the Syrian government in 2011 under then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper. The targeted measures included travel and economic sanctions against members of the Syrian government including President Bashar Assad, calling the situation at that time a “grave breach of international peace.”

Files from The Associated Press were used in this report

As the pull of the holiday shopping season competes with the consequences of overconsumption on landfills and waterways, people such as Nigel Dadswell are turning to Buy Nothing groups to gift to neighbours the stuff they don’t need and also to acquire stuff they do.

Buy Nothing communities, often formed through Facebook, encourage members to post their unwanted items for free, allowing other members to pick them up at no cost. A search for “buy nothing” on Facebook returns more than 50 results for the Metro Vancouver area alone. The groups are organized by neighbourhood, meaning someone can likely find goods for free within walking distance.