Flags celebrated survival, endurance and above all, defiance on a day Ukraine's president had called for displays of unity.

A large crowd joined in the lighting of the menorah during the 24th annual Chanukah on the River

Thrill-seeking billionaire Richard Branson has reached space aboard his own winged rocket ship, bringing astro-tourism a step closer to reality.

NASA is teaming up with the maker of Tide to figure out how to do laundry in space.

(AP Photo, File)NEW YORK – When Joe Biden addresses the country for the first time as president, his inaugural speech is likely to echo calls for unity that predecessors have invoked since the first time George Washington was sworn in. Unity has since been a theme, and an anxiety, for many incoming presidents, who have faced economic and social crises and moments when the very future of the U.S. was in doubt. “Unity has always been an aspiration," says presidential historian Douglas Brinkley. But when we have domestic turmoil we use the word unity.”The United States was forged through compromise among factions that disagreed profoundly on slavery, regional influence and the relative powers of state and federal government. “A president often claims the country is ‘united’ behind a belief when it’s more wishful thinking than reality,” Widmer says.

(AP) – In a time of plague and raw division, President-elect Joe Biden appealed for unity Wednesday in a Thanksgiving-eve address to the nation asking Americans to “steel our spines” for a fight against the coronavirus that he predicted would continue for months. With COVID-19 cases surging nationwide, Biden called on Americans to take precautions to try to stem the tide of the virus, by wearing masks and practicing social distancing. “This is the moment when we need to steel our spines, redouble our efforts and recommit ourselves to this fight,” Biden said. We won it by a lot.” In fact the election gave Biden a clear mandate and no systemic fraud has been uncovered. Biden is expected to stay through the weekend in Rehoboth, before returning to Wilmington for further work on the transition.

HOLLYWOOD PARK, Texas – North Side residents are speaking against hatred after flyers supporting a white supremacist cause were found in their neighborhoods. Hollywood Park police found several flyers that appeared to be anti-Black, anti-Semitic, and anti-abortion that called for people to join the organization’s cause. It is just asking for trouble that none of us need or want.”North Side resident Nicole Conaway agrees. Love is love, no matter what color you are.”Pat Sankey said she, too, was upset to hear about the flyers. “I think we need to look to all of our collective church groups together and remember that God is love,” Sankey said.

San Antonio – Several voters in support of President Donald Trump and his Democratic rival, Joe Biden, let their voices be heard at the Cowboys Dancehall Sunday afternoon. I wanted to see it if it was like on TV with the violent clashes between Biden and Trump supporters. We need God back in our country and I believe most Trump supporters stand on the word of God and this country’s principals.”“I am voting for Joe Biden,” Fabian Jalomo said. “One thing we can agree on, whether you are on the side of Trump or Biden, we need unity, and we want our country to be blessed,” Comparin said. “Go America!”RELATED: Democratic, Republican representatives join Leading SA to discuss general election, early voting turnouts

In a letter-writing effort during the virus pandemic to connect nursing home residents in two neighboring communities, residents now are receiving pen pal letters from across the United States. Vanderweit, an activity aide at Sullivan County Health Care in Claremont, thought: Why not match his nursing home residents with pen pals at Summercrest Senior Living Community 12 miles away in Newport? The stacks of mail got so large that Vanderweit organized a pen pal club which gathers once a week to read the letters aloud and respond as a group. They cant have visitors, they cant have family come in, so this is a way of reaching out, she said. Postcards are welcome, or he suggests people reach out to nursing homes in their home states.

SAN ANTONIO Hosted by Community Bible Church, A Call to Worship and Prayer for Equality and Unity saw what San Antonio Police estimate was a crowd of 500-600 people gather in Travis Park Wednesday evening. Even some who had come to march in the fifth day of protests downtown this week joined the faith community from throughout San Antonio. So they enjoyed our coming together, said Pastor Paco Garcia, executive director of the Hispanic Prayer Platform, part of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference. He said the air of peace and harmony that permeated Travis Park helped avoid another confrontation with police officers that have occurred in downtown San Antonio this week. Lucado said those who came were not there to blame or shame anyone, but rather treat some of these deep-seated problems with spiritual solutions.RELATED: San Antonio protesters demand change; city leaders talk about what that really means