Pope Opens Christmas Amid Fresh Security Fears -- Washington Post
VATICAN CITY -- Pope Benedict XVI is ushering in Christmas with an evening Mass on Friday amid heightened security concerns following the package bombings at two Rome embassies and Christmas Eve security breaches at the Vatican the past two years running.
Benedict kicked off the holiday as night fell by silently lighting a candle in his studio window overlooking St. Peter's Square. Heavy rains kept the traditionally large crowds to a minimum.
Read more ....
MIDDLE EAST
Thousands celebrate Christmas in Bethlehem. Pilgrims, clergy come to Bethlehem for Christmas.
Iraqi Christians lie low on Christmas.
Stuxnet may have destroyed 1,000 centrifuges at Natanz.
Report: Treasury OK'd US business with Iran.
Resentment builds in Iran over price hikes, overhaul of state subsidies.
Iran's President seeks regional economic help.
ASIA
Giant Christmas tree on Korean border causes North Korea to issue threats.
North Korea capable of hitting Seoul with nukes.
Karzai warms to idea of talking to Taliban in Turkey.
Iranian soldier captured in Afghanistan. Forces in Afghanistan face new threat from Iran.
As drone strikes have increased, so have assassinations, Pakistanis say.
Pakistan checkpoints attacked by 150 militants. Clashes in NW pakistan kill 11 soldiers, 24 insurgents.
Mumbai manhunt for 'four Lashkar-e-Taiba militants'.
AFRICA
As Al Shabab looms, Somali government running out of time. Is Al Shabab gaining or losing ground in Somalia?
UN: Ivory Coast gunmen block possible mass grave.
West African bloc threatens force in Ivorian crisis. West African leaders hold second emergency meeting on Ivory Coast crisis. Opposition to UN force in Ivory Coast grows, staff turned away by vendors.
Southern Sudan wants debt forgiven, `soft borders,' regional envoy says.
Darfur rebels clash with Sudanese army troops.
EUROPE
Christmas Day set to be the coldest ever in the UK with temperatures plummeting to MINUS 10 as getaway is marred by transport chaos.
Snow paralyses transport in parts of Western Europe.
Norwegian paper says it has all WikiLeaks cables.
Russian parliament tentatively approves arms pact.
Belarus officially declares Lukashenko winner of presidential vote.
Anarchists blamed for Rome embassy bomb attacks. Italy: Anarchists wanted revenge on Chile, Swiss.
Paris airports once again disrupted by snow.
AMERICAS
"Christmas of misery" for many in calamity-hit Haiti.
Californians start cleaning up mud, water, debris.
Obama plans for restful Hawaiian retreat.
Brazil's Lula bids farewell at end of presidential term.
Brazil overtakes Germany as 4th biggest car market.
Mexico tourism sees increase despite drug violence.
TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR
Wide Saudi 'loopholes' let charity funds slip to terrorists.
As applications drop, work on secret wiretaps grows, U.S. government sources say.
Iraqi kills daughter recruited as al-Qaida bomber.
Mumbai on edge after police say militants plan terror attack.
U.S. on alert against militant plots over holidays.
Islamist fanatics plotted Australia's worst terrorist attack on army base.
ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS
Experts citing rising hopes for recovery.
Record spike in EMU default risk on Portugal downgrade and Greek restructuring scare.
Stephen Baldwin sues Kevin Costner over BP oil spill.
Midwest U.S. farmland prices soar due to strong prices.
China defends Africa economic and trade role.
Global stocks and oil rise in festive cheer.