Follow Santa Claus and his reindeer as they begin their journey around the globe He’s made his list, he’s checked it twice – join us on Santa’s journey around the world Tom Murray,Tara Cobham Tuesday 24 December 2024 10:55 GMT SUBSCRIBEAlready subscribed?Log in please log in to view this image 0 seconds of 0 seconds Loading ad Santa delivers presents by boat in Brazil’s Amazon Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy EveryChristmasEve,Norad— the North American Aerospace Defense Command —provides real-time tracking of Santa’s sleigh as it navigates the skies. The cherished tradition dates back to 1955 when a misprint in a department store advert led a young child to call a Colorado military command center asking to speak toSanta Claus. Air Force Colonel Harry Shoup, who picked up the call that night, played along and assured the child he was Santa. As more calls poured in, he assigned an officer to handle the queries, starting a festive custom that Norad continued after its creation in 1958. For decades, Norad has swapped its usual airspace monitoring duties to answer children’s questions about Santa’s journey and his astonishing present-delivery operation. Each year, at least 100,000 kids call into the organization to inquire about Santa’s location. Millions more follow online — in nine languages — as St. Nick swoops along the earth’s meridians. Stay tuned for updates as we follow Santa’s magical route across the globe. RECOMMENDED Where’s Santa? Here’s how to track his journey this Christmas Eve How to track Santa’s journey Why did Norad start tracking Santa? What route does Santa take? When will Santa arrive at my house? 10 minutes ago Santa is officially getting ready for take off Santa Claus and his reindeers are officially getting ready for take off, according to Norad. Tara Cobham24 December 2024 10:55 Promoted stories FOMO or JOMO? Where to Travel to Next.EXPEDIA | BOOKABACH Learn More by Taboola Sponsored Links 17 minutes ago Santa is set to take off within the hour, according to Norad Santa Claus will take off on his sleigh within the hour, according to Norad. Tara Cobham24 December 2024 10:48 1 hour ago Norad’s radars and satellites are ready to track Santa Norad’s radars and satellites are ready to track Santa Claus and his reindeer on their journey around the world. Tara Cobham24 December 2024 10:03 1 hour ago Santa Claus is seen making last-minute prepations please log in to view this image Santa Claus makes last-minute prepations(Norad) Tara Cobham24 December 2024 09:47 1 hour ago Current conditions at North Pole indicate good conditions for flying The current conditions at the North Pole indicate good weather for flying, according to Norad. Tara Cobham24 December 2024 09:06 2 hours ago Final countdown underway before Santa’s mission begins Tara Cobham24 December 2024 08:45 2 hours ago Where will Santa’s first stop be Santa Claus and his reindeer are set to begin their journey in less than half an hour at the International Date Line. According to Norad, he will take in Zhangye in China before then setting off to the Pacific, New Zealand and Australia. Tara Cobham24 December 2024 08:34 3 hours ago One hour countdown until Santa takes to the skies to begin his journey around the world There is just one hour to go before Santa Claus takes to the skies to begin his journey around the world. Norad has begun its one-hour countdown, with Santa’s elves seen busily doing last-minute preparations accompanied by Santa-focused Christmas music. Tara Cobham24 December 2024 08:00 3 hours ago Where’s Santa? Here’s how to track his journey this Christmas Eve There’s nothing more exciting onChristmasEve than being able to see exactly whereSanta Clausand his reindeer are on their one-night journey as he delivers presents across the globe. For decades, children have been able to track the location of thered-suited manby checking in with the North American Aerospace Defence Command, also known asNORAD. The tradition began in 1955, when a child mistakenly rang a Colorado military command asking to speak to Father Christmas after a local newspaper ran an advert by a department store containing a misprinted phone number. My colleagueBrittany Millerexplains how to track Santa’s journey this Christmas Eve: please log in to view this image Where’s Santa? Here’s how to track his journey this Christmas Eve NORAD’s Santa Tracker website launched this year on December 1 Tara Cobham24 December 2024 07:25 Promoted stories The Company That’s Harder To Get Into Than HarvardBLINKIST MAGAZINE by Taboola Sponsored Links 4 hours ago Santa braves the Amazon jungle to bring gifts to children Santa Clausbraved the sticky heat of theAmazonrainforest this weekend, taking two boats to bring gifts to the children of a small 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 theAmazon rainforestfor 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. Read more: please log in to view this image Santa braves the sticky heat of the Amazon jungle to bring gifts to children Santa Claus has braved the sticky heat of the Amazon rainforest this weekend, taking two boats to bring gifts to the children of a small village near the Brazilian city of Manaus Tom Murray24 December 2024 06:59 More about Santa ClausChristmasNORADreindeer Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Free Spins in Greater Wellington Are Turning Ordinary People Into WinnersJACKPOTCITY| Sponsored Play Now 54 Awakino Road, Dargaville, KaiparaONEROOF| Sponsored Wanted: New Zealanders who want to try Latest High-Tech Hearing Devices - Risk Free!Over 50s Can Try Mini Hearing Devices For FreeAUDITOREY.COM | TRY LATEST HEARING DEVICES| Sponsored 87% Of Pokies Players Don't Know This, But It's Not IllegalCOSMO CASINO| Sponsored Enjoy Hong Kong SevensTravel Package Available: Act fast!CATHAY PACIFIC| Sponsored Book Now Scam? 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Merry Christmas ya filthy animals May the big fat fella fill all your houses with love and wonderful gifts, and bring us all great joy for 2025.. U Rrrrrs
Feliz Navidad mis amigos..... Did our Christmas Eve tradition today, if 2 years running can be called a tradition..... Did a trip to Santiago de Compostela, coffee and cake in the Parador, 12 noon Mass in the Cathedral and then vino and tapas in the old town before a snooze on the coach back to the ship docked in Vigo..... Wishing you and yours the best for Christmas and a healthy 2025..... oh and the R's into the Play Offs come May......
UK Defence Journal Home Air Tankers scrambling to refuel cargo aircraft over Arctic Air Tankers scrambling to refuel cargo aircraft over Arctic By George Allison - December 24, 202410 Share Two Royal Air Force Voyager tanker aircraft are now being deployed to refuel a cargo aircraft over the Arctic. A source told me that a significant amount of goods brought to the UK over the course of December are being brought by this one cargo a, so all efforts are being made to make sure it reaches its destination. Details are scarce but it’s understood that Voyager tanker aircraft will be making sure that an unidentified cargo aircraft flying from the Arctic has enough fuel to conduct an incredibly long-haul flight. This is primarily due to the increased weight the aircraft has on taking off, meaning it burns more fuel. Voyager, the RAF designation for the Airbus A330 MRTT, made its first operational tanker flight in May 2013. The UK operates a total of 14 Voyager aircraft, 5 of which are leased for commercial purposes when not required. The operation, involving both Western and Russian forces, is being called Operation RED. It is understood that the Ministry of Defence used satellites with infra-red sensors to track the aircraft, the heat from an animal’s red nose was clearly visible. It has also been made clear in the last few moments the refuelling operation has now started and additional Typhoon aircraft have been scrambled from RAF Lossiemouth to begin escorting the cargo aircraft over every British city, town and village later tonight, but it is understood that the aircraft has only been cleared to fly over the homes of good boys and girls as discussed above. It is expected that the soon to be refuelled aircraft will enter UK airspace not a moment before midnight tonight. In addition to fuel, the Voyager aircraft has is also transferring over some biscuits and a large quantity of Brandy. The British Armed Forces contribution to ‘Operation RED’ Excluding today’s news, there are two main efforts supporting Operation RED. Typhoons are available to escort the cargo aircraft, the flight plan is likely to involve low-level flights over the homes of good girls and boys in every British village, town and city. But only if they’re good. HMS Prince of Wales has sailed to the Arctic to act as an emergency landing option should “a classified cargo aircraft” require its usage. Speaking to NATO Maritime Command Admiral Feliz Navidad, we were told: “So here it is merry Christmas. Everybody’s having fun Look to the future now It’s only just begun!” Merry Christmas everyone. Share George Allison George Allison George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR Boeing contracted by US, UK and others for C-17 HUD upgrade Britain to award £7.5m for long-range drone strike systems Lockheed contract for 145 F-35 jets, some work for UK U.S. Air Force reopens next-gen ejection seat competition Italy places order for up to 24 more Typhoon jets RAF reflects on key achievements of 2024 American bombers ‘demonstrate power’ of NATO alliance Over 10,000 British personnel deployed overseas on Christmas Glasgow’s QEUH hospital helipad upgraded with new name American warship shoots down own fighter jet over Red Sea 10 COMMENTS Greg SmithGreg Smith December 24, 2024 At 09:09 These copy and paste Crimbo skits need binning off, about as funny as Mrs Brown’s boys. Reply DaveDave December 24, 2024 At 17:57 Humbug eh? Reply Duncan RobertsonDuncan Robertson December 24, 2024 At 09:18 Wishing them good luck for a successful operation! And thanks George for this story, along with all the other useful defence news you’ve brought us in the last year. Reply RichRich December 24, 2024 At 13:34 Useful defense news will be putin is dead now assad is there they will be teaming up Reply Barry LarkingBarry Larking December 24, 2024 At 11:08 All good wishes to those who serve and their families and thanks UKDJ for another fine year of reporting. Reply AuroraUplinksAuroraUplinks December 24, 2024 At 11:23 May everyone have a Merry Christmas and somehow, A Happy New Year and many years to come. Reply Steve RSteve R December 24, 2024 At 15:01 To be fair, although it’s a joke, maybe Father Christmas could actually do with some fighter escorts; Putin’s a grinch if there ever was one and I could see him trying to shoot down Santa’s sleigh! Reply WhistlerWhistler December 24, 2024 At 15:23 Reply Ivon JohnsonIvon Johnson December 24, 2024 At 17:36 This operation shows what can always be done when help is asked for. Reply Rolf HarrisRolf Harris December 24, 2024 At 19:38 yous are all ****** cocksuckers Reply LEAVE A REPLY Comment: Name:* Email:* Website: Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. UK Defence Journal
Merry Christmas to my blue and white family. Wishing you all health and Happiness And success to our beloved team. May all our wildest happy dreams come true. See you in 2025 You Rrrrrrrrs
Merry Xmas all. Hope you and your families have as good a time as is possible. It’s a balmy 31 degrees in Melbourne today but will still manage roast turkey, ham, pigs in blankets and all the trimmings. Will be sitting in the garden with friends under the shade though. 3 points on Thursday would be a great present for all
Warm summers day here on the Goldie, foods in the oven, time to play a tune and indulge in a G&T while we wait. Enjoy the day, people.
