Government Shutdown Continues; Indonesia’s Deadly Tsunami; Mattis Leaving Early

Plus, why modern-day guests always gather in the kitchen. [NPR] by Korva Coleman and Jill Hudson First Up [Indonesian soldiers search for the bodies of tsunami victims at a beach resort on the island of Java on Monday. Waves swept terrified people into the sea Saturday night following an eruption on Anak Krakatau, one of the world's most infamous volcanic islands.]( Achmad Ibrahim/AP Happy Christmas Eve! Here’s what we’re following today. Rescue efforts are underway after a deadly tsunami hit Indonesia without warning Saturday night. [Warning systems failed]( to alert residents of danger when volcanic activity triggered the disaster. Hundreds have died, and more than 11,000 people have been displaced on Java and Sumatra islands. There’s no end in sight for the partial shutdown of the U.S. government that began on Saturday. [About 800,000 federal workers]( have been affected as lawmakers try to come to an agreement on a set of spending bills to keep the government funded. Here’s [how the shutdown could affect you](. President Trump has decided to hasten the departure of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, which was originally planned for February. Instead, Trump says [Mattis’ deputy, Patrick Shanahan, will take over]( on Jan. 1. The president was reportedly angered at the tone of Mattis’ letter of resignation. Pakistan’s former prime minister has been sentenced to seven years in prison for corruption. Nawaz Sharif, who was removed from office over a separate corruption case last year, claims that the charges against him are [politically motivated](. --------------------------------------------------------------- The Daily Good If you feel thankful, write it down. There’s a growing body of research that shows [keeping a gratitude log]( can lower stress, help you sleep better, and may even reduce the risk of heart disease. But it's not for everyone. And it isn't a panacea — it can't make injustice, loss, or pain disappear. What thankfulness can do is give us hope. --------------------------------------------------------------- Digging Deeper Why modern-day guests always gather in the kitchen. [Michael Durand (left), husband of Kitchn Editor-In-Chief Faith Durand, and friend Chris Gardner (right) carve turkey while guests hang out in the Durands' kitchen, dirty dishes and all, at a recent party.]( Kitchn/Rachel Joy Barehl Holiday season is party season. Hosts decorate their homes with trees, flowers and candles in the windows to make them cozy and festive. It's a bit of a cliché, but [the kitchen can really feel like the heart of things]( which is why so many parties end up there. The messy informality of the kitchen has its own draw. And the kitchen is most definitely warm — both literally and metaphorically. But this warm, welcoming kitchen environment is not what you would find 150 years ago. Back then, no one would have wanted to go in the kitchen — much less socialize there — because people didn't mix socially with their servants. Kitchens also didn't smell very good — a trifecta of of poor refrigeration, inefficient cleansers and primitive plumbing. --------------------------------------------------------------- Today's Listen Is Santa real? A doubting brother and the gift of a mother’s voice. [Bruce Auster's mother, Sylvia, holds him and his brother, Gordon, in an old family photograph. Her sons have only a few photographs of her from the years before she got sick with cancer; the audiotape helped bring back memories of her.]( Beth Rooney for NPR As a kid, NPR editor Bruce Auster loved to record his family talking. One December night in the early 1970s, he happened to record the moment when his younger brother began to doubt whether Santa Claus exists. That snippet of tape also captured his mother’s voice and a moment before cancer changed everything for his family. (Listening time, 7:09) [▶ LISTEN]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Before You Go [For this year's grand prize winner, the judges were impressed by the intricate, working gingerbread gears of the clock inside Santa's workshop.]( Kristen Hartke/NPR - The grand prize winner of this year’s National Gingerbread House Competition gave us [a peek inside Santa's workshop](. - Amid the partial government shutdown, at least one critical service remains operational: [NORAD's Santa tracker](. - This year, [Mrs. Claus is coming to town]( — and not as Santa’s sidekick. - Think you love the holidays? The Philippines celebrates [four months of Christmas mania](. - Here’s [a delicious recipe for sorrel]( the famous ruby-red Caribbean Christmas punch that’s the taste of the holidays throughout the islands. --------------------------------------------------------------- The Daily News Headlines newsletter will not be published on Tuesday this week. 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