VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis offered a Christmas message of hope Wednesday against darkness that cloaks conflicts and relationships in large parts of the world from the Middle East to the Americas to Africa.

Electric-vehicle startup Rivian Automotive will close out 2019 with a $1.3 billion influx of cash, the company announced.

For one scientist, climate change in the Northeast announces itself in the abnormal appearances of warm-water fish - an abundance of mahi-mahi and unprecedented sightings in January of Gulf Stream flounder and juvenile black sea bass in shallow waters off the New England coast.

A six-pack of Christmas nuggets to know going into this year's slate of showcase NBA games on the holiday: Boston at Toronto, Milwaukee at Philadelphia, Houston at Golden State, the Los Angeles Clippers at the Los Angeles Lakers and New Orleans at Denver.

Whether you forget an ingredient for the Christmas meal, a gift or want to go out to eat, your options will be limited Wednesday.

SANDRINGHAM, England - Queen Elizabeth II and her close family spent a gala Christmas Day at her palatial countryside retreat, feasting on locally-reared turkey after attending a church service.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - A North Carolina college student hailed by police as a hero for preventing more injuries and deaths after a gunman opened fire in a classroom has now been immortalized as a Jedi by the production company for the Star Wars franchise.

After-Christmas sales are underway along with opportunities to spend gift cards and cash.

The day Youngstown's steel mills began shutting down 40 years ago remains fresh in the minds of those who live in the blue-collar corner of Ohio.