Pakistan moves troops toward Indian border

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) -- Pakistan began moving thousands of troops to the Indian border Friday, intelligence officials said, sharply raising tensions triggered by the Mumbai terror attacks....
Source: AP Top International News At 9:47 a... | 26 Dec 2008 | 2:47 pm

Qaeda 'emirs' flee in deadly Iraq jailbreak

RAMADI, Iraq (AFP) - A local Al-Qaeda chief known as "Imad the killer" escaped in a pre-dawn breakout from an Iraqi police station on Friday, triggering a wild shootout that left 13 militants and Iraqi policemen dead.
Source: AFP - Wire stories | 26 Dec 2008 | 2:46 pm

Qaeda 'emirs' flee in deadly Iraq jailbreak

A local Al-Qaeda chief known as "Imad the killer" escaped in a pre-dawn breakout from an Iraqi police station on Friday, triggering a wild shootout that left 13 militants and Iraqi...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsWorld | 26 Dec 2008 | 2:40 pm

India warns travel to Pakistan is unsafe (Reuters)

Reuters - India warned its citizens on Friday it was unsafe to travel to Pakistan after the prime minister met military chiefs, and Pakistan canceled army leave and moved some troops from its western border.

Source: Yahoo! News: Top Stories | 26 Dec 2008 | 2:38 pm

China tainted milk trial begins (Reuters)

Reuters - China has put six people on trial for their part in a tainted milk scandal that killed at least six children and made hundreds of thousands of others ill, Xinhua news agency reported on Friday.

Source: Yahoo! News: Top Stories | 26 Dec 2008 | 2:36 pm

You betcha: Fey is TV person of '08

Trying to summarize the year in TV in a few paragraphs is like trying to fit the ocean in a soda can.

The biggest story happened offscreen: The writers strike clobbered...

Source: Home - BostonHerald.com | 26 Dec 2008 | 2:35 pm

Wal-Mart to sell 3G iPhone in its stores (Reuters)

Reuters - Wal-Mart Stores Inc said on Friday Apple's 3G iPhone will be available in its stores starting December 28.

Source: Yahoo! News: Top Stories | 26 Dec 2008 | 2:35 pm

Serbia arrests 'ex-KLA fighters'

Police in Serbia arrest 10 suspected former Kosovo Liberation Army fighters for war crimes against non-Albanians.
Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition | 26 Dec 2008 | 2:34 pm

Pakistan moves troops toward Indian border (AP)

AP - Pakistan began moving thousands of troops to the Indian border Friday, intelligence officials said, sharply raising tensions triggered by the Mumbai terror attacks.

Source: Yahoo! News: Top Stories | 26 Dec 2008 | 2:34 pm

Retailers hope for post-Christmas miracle

There's holiday joy and post-holiday blues, but for America's retailers it's all been one big downer.

Source: msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines | 26 Dec 2008 | 2:29 pm

Eyelash-growth drug wins FDA approval - Richmond Times Dispatch

Source: Google News | 26 Dec 2008 | 2:27 pm

Celtics Lose / Patriots Can't Lose / Go J-E-T-S

1. Patriots Preview * No one in the league runs harder than Marshawn Lynch * Buffalo QB's 14 TD to 15 INT * Lee Evans needs 46 yards to get 1,000 * McKelvin, Jackson...
Source: Home - BostonHerald.com | 26 Dec 2008 | 2:26 pm

3 Chinese Navy Ships Headed for Somalia

Chinese navy ships set sail for anti-piracy mission off Somalia.
Source: ABC News: International | 26 Dec 2008 | 2:25 pm

3 Chinese navy ships leave for Somalia

GUANGZHOU, China (AP) -- Chinese warships - armed with special forces, guided missiles and helicopters - set sail Friday for anti-piracy duty off Somalia, the first time the communist nation has sent ships on a mission that could involve fighting so far beyond its territorial waters....
Source: AP Top International News At 9:47 a... | 26 Dec 2008 | 2:25 pm

Kobe, Gasol help Lakers end Celtics' streak at 19 (AP)

AP - Kobe Bryant had 27 points, nine rebounds and five assists, Pau Gasol scored seven of his 20 points in the final 3 minutes, and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Boston Celtics 92-83 on Thursday, snapping the Celtics' franchise-record winning streak at 19.

Source: Yahoo! News: Top Stories | 26 Dec 2008 | 2:23 pm

Kobe, Gasol help Lakers end Celtics' streak at 19

Kobe Bryant had 27 points, nine rebounds and five assists, Pau Gasol scored seven of his 20 points in the final 3 minutes, and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Boston Celtics 92-83 on Thursday, snapping the Celtics' franchise-record winning streak at 19.
Source: Newsvine - Get Smarter Here | 26 Dec 2008 | 2:23 pm

UK Retailers Offer Discounts to Reverse Sales Slump - Bloomberg

Source: Google News | 26 Dec 2008 | 2:23 pm

Amazon says 2008 'best ever' holiday season - MarketWatch

Source: Google News | 26 Dec 2008 | 2:22 pm

LEAD: Pakistan cancels leave for army personnel due to tension with India+

ISLAMABAD, Dec. 26 (Kyodo) _ (EDS: UPDATING WITH INDIAN TRAVEL ADVISORY) Pakistan's army has ordered all of its personnel on leave to immediately report for duty because of tension on...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsWorld | 26 Dec 2008 | 2:21 pm

LEAD: Figure skating: Oda captures 1st national title+

(Kyodo) _ (EDS: UPDATING WITH MEN'S FREE SKATE) Nobunari Oda turned in a solid performance in the free skate to claim his first title at the national figure skating championships...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsWorld | 26 Dec 2008 | 2:20 pm

Azerbaijan approves referendum on presidential terms

Azerbaijan's parliament Friday voted to hold a referendum on March 18 on allowing more than two presidential terms, in a move that would allow incumbent President Ilham Aliyev to stay in...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsWorld | 26 Dec 2008 | 2:19 pm

Retailers slash prices to entice holiday shoppers (AP)

AP - Shoppers hit the stores early Friday to return unwanted gifts and take advantage of drastic price cuts offered by retailers desperate to get rid of old merchandise and boost their less-than-cheery holiday sales.

Source: Yahoo! News: Top Stories | 26 Dec 2008 | 2:19 pm

India tells citizens to avoid Pakistan travel (AFP)

AFP - India on Friday advised its citizens not to visit Pakistan amid tensions between the two countries over last month's attacks in Mumbai.

Source: Yahoo! News: Top Stories | 26 Dec 2008 | 2:18 pm

India tells citizens to avoid Pakistan travel

NEW DELHI (AFP) - India on Friday advised its citizens not to visit Pakistan amid tensions between the two countries over last month's attacks in Mumbai.
Source: AFP - Wire stories | 26 Dec 2008 | 2:18 pm

Amazon says 2008 holiday season was 'best ever'

Amazon.com Inc. said Friday that the 2008 holiday season was the online retailer's "best ever," with more than 6.3 million items ordered and 5.6 million units shipped during its peak day on Dec. 15.
Source: Newsvine - Get Smarter Here | 26 Dec 2008 | 2:17 pm

Iran to send aid ship to Gaza - AFP

Source: Google News | 26 Dec 2008 | 2:15 pm

Somalis held in Ethiopia capital

Ethiopian police in the capital Addis Ababa arrest hundreds of young Somalis ahead of an African Union summit.
Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition | 26 Dec 2008 | 2:13 pm

Report: Police say mom lied in missing kid case

Police are saying this morning that the Miami mom who reported that her 6-month-old son disappeared with a Massachusetts nanny on Christmas Eve lied to police about the boy's...
Source: Home - BostonHerald.com | 26 Dec 2008 | 2:11 pm

Israel opens Gaza crossings, easing tensions

GAZA (Reuters) - Israel reopened border crossings with the Gaza Strip on Friday, easing tensions a day after Prime Minister Ehud Olmert issued a "last-minute" warning to Hamas militants to stop firing rockets or pay a heavy price.
Source: Reuters: Top News | 26 Dec 2008 | 2:11 pm

Storm blankets West with snow, ice glazes Midwest - The Associated Press

Source: Google News | 26 Dec 2008 | 2:10 pm

Nintendo's Wii to get video channel in 2009 - ITworld.com

Source: Google News | 26 Dec 2008 | 2:10 pm

California Surgeon Used Human Fat to Power Car - FOXNews

Source: Google News | 26 Dec 2008 | 2:09 pm

Montana refineries hit by fire: reports

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Fires broke out at the ConocoPhillips and Cenex refineries in Montana on Thursday, according to reports from Montana television stations.
Source: Reuters: Top News | 26 Dec 2008 | 2:08 pm

More Than 12 Killed In Iraq As Detainees Escape Jail

Several suspected al-Qaida in Iraq insurgents staged a daring jailbreak Friday, killing more than a dozen police officers and prisoners in the Iraqi city of Ramadi, authorities said.

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Source: NPR Topics: News | 26 Dec 2008 | 2:08 pm

Lawyer: Zimbabwe activist held in notorious prison

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) -- A Zimbabwean peace activist has been traced to a notorious maximum security prison despite a court order that she be taken to hospital, a leading human rights lawyer said Friday....
Source: AP Top International News At 9:47 a... | 26 Dec 2008 | 2:07 pm

Lawyer: Zimbabwe activist held in notorious prison

A Zimbabwean peace activist has been traced to a notorious maximum security prison despite a court order that she be taken to hospital, a leading human rights lawyer said Friday. ...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsWorld | 26 Dec 2008 | 2:07 pm

Gunman in Santa suit kills 8, sets home ablaze in LA suburb, then ... - San Jose Mercury News

Source: Google News | 26 Dec 2008 | 2:07 pm

Oil rebounds from sharp fall in previous session (AP)

AP - Oil prices rebounded to above $36 a barrel Friday as key OPEC members were seen complying with promised output cuts, but investors were still braced for more signs that the global economic slowdown deepened in the fourth quarter.

Source: Yahoo! News: Top Stories | 26 Dec 2008 | 2:07 pm

China, Taiwan sign oil cooperation deals

China National Offshore Oil Corp., the country's largest offshore oil and gas producer, signed four oil cooperation agreements Friday with Taiwan's CPC Corp., state media reported.
Source: Newsvine - Get Smarter Here | 26 Dec 2008 | 2:06 pm

Holiday Sales Tumble as US Consumers Cut Spending - Bloomberg

Source: Google News | 26 Dec 2008 | 2:05 pm

China, Taiwan oil companies ink cooperation agreements+

(Kyodo) _ State-run oil companies in Taiwan and China on Friday signed four cooperation agreements, in a further sign of warming relations across the Taiwan Strait. China's official...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsWorld | 26 Dec 2008 | 2:05 pm

Seductive singer Eartha Kitt dies at 81

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Eartha Kitt, who rose from the Southern cotton fields to captivate audiences around the world with sultry performances as a singer, dancer and actress, died on Thursday at the age of 81.
Source: Reuters: Top News | 26 Dec 2008 | 2:05 pm

Retailers' holiday sales plummet (Reuters)

Reuters - Retailers' sales fell as much as 4 percent during the holiday season, as the weak economy and bad weather created one of the worst holiday shopping climates in modern times, according to data released on Thursday by SpendingPulse.

Source: Yahoo! News: Top Stories | 26 Dec 2008 | 2:04 pm

Retailers' holiday sales plummet

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Retailers' sales fell as much as 4 percent during the holiday season, as the weak economy and bad weather created one of the worst holiday shopping climates in modern times, according to data released on Thursday by SpendingPulse.
Source: Reuters: Top News | 26 Dec 2008 | 2:04 pm

Homeland Security forecasts 5-year threat picture

The terrorism threat to the United States over the next five years will be driven by instability in the Middle East and Africa, ...

Source: USATODAY.com News - Top Stories | 26 Dec 2008 | 2:04 pm

Israel Transfers Humanitarian Aid to Gaza

Israel transfers humanitarian aid to Gaza as rumors of military campaign grow.
Source: ABC News: International | 26 Dec 2008 | 2:03 pm

Israel opens Gaza border for humanitarian aid

JERUSALEM (AP) -- Israel reopened its border with Gaza on Friday to allow deliveries of humanitarian aid, despite continued rocket and mortar fire from the coastal strip and growing expectations of a large-scale Israeli military campaign against Palestinian militants....
Source: AP Top International News At 9:47 a... | 26 Dec 2008 | 2:03 pm

Israel opens Gaza border for humanitarian aid

Israel reopened its border with Gaza on Friday to allow deliveries of humanitarian aid, despite continued rocket and mortar fire from the coastal strip and growing expectations of a...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsWorld | 26 Dec 2008 | 2:03 pm

WTMJ-TV and JSOnline.com - MSNBC

Source: Google News | 26 Dec 2008 | 2:00 pm

Study: Female MMO Gamers 5 Times More Likely to be Bisexual

According to no less than 2,400 completed web-based surveys, females account for 40 percent of the Everquest II gaming community. The surveys also found that female EQ II players display "an unusually high level of bisexuality," more than five times that of the "general population."

Source: digg.com: Stories / Popular | 26 Dec 2008 | 2:00 pm

Guinea to Hold Funeral for Dictator Conte

Guinea to hold funeral for Lansana Conte, whose death sparked political turmoil.
Source: ABC News: International | 26 Dec 2008 | 1:54 pm

Coup leader absent from Guinea strongman's eulogy

CONAKRY, Guinea (AP) -- Allies of the dictator who ruled Guinea for nearly a quarter-century mourned him Friday but the leader of the coup that followed his death did not attend the ceremonies....
Source: AP Top International News At 9:47 a... | 26 Dec 2008 | 1:53 pm

Sultry `Santa Baby' singer Eartha Kitt dies at 81 (AP)

AP - Eartha Kitt, the self-proclaimed "sex kitten" whose sultry voice and catlike purr attracted fans even as she neared 80, has died. The singer, dancer and actress was 81.

Source: Yahoo! News: Top Stories | 26 Dec 2008 | 1:53 pm

Coup leader absent from Guinea strongman's eulogy

Allies of the dictator who ruled Guinea for nearly a quarter-century mourned him Friday but the leader of the coup that followed his death did not attend the ceremonies. Capt. Moussa...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsWorld | 26 Dec 2008 | 1:53 pm

An epic year? Historians debate 2008's legacy

If you voted for president or saved for retirement or bought gas, if you were in Detroit or on Wall Street, if you were an Obamaniac ...

Source: USATODAY.com News - Top Stories | 26 Dec 2008 | 1:51 pm

Iraq militants in police battle

Six Iraqi police and seven detainees suspected of al-Qaeda links die in a bid to break out of a police station in Ramadi.
Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition | 26 Dec 2008 | 1:50 pm

Challenges blessing for Obama?

But political veterans and presidential scholars say Barack Obama can't waste time. He must decide which major issues to tackle in his first 100 days in office, when his political capital will be at its peak

Source: The Globe and Mail - Front Page News | 26 Dec 2008 | 1:50 pm

Pakistan cancels troops' leave over India tension

NEW DELHI/ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met military chiefs on Friday and Pakistan canceled army leave and moved some troops from its western border despite both sides playing down the threat of war over the Mumbai attacks.
Source: Reuters: Top News | 26 Dec 2008 | 1:47 pm

Santa-suit gunman's rampage leaves 9 dead

Stinging from an acrimonious divorce, a man plotting revenge against his ex-wife dressed up like Santa, went to his former in-laws' Christmas Eve party and slaughtered at least eight people.

Source: msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines | 26 Dec 2008 | 1:43 pm

Android apps you won't find on the iPhone

Two months after the first Android phone was released, there are more than 400 free programs from which to choose and the promise of more handsets coming that use the open-source operating system.
Source: Newsvine - Get Smarter Here | 26 Dec 2008 | 1:42 pm

Guinea pays tribute to Conte as junta seeks support

CONAKRY (Reuters) - Guineans paid tribute to long-time ruler Lansana Conte on Friday and the military junta which seized power after his death appealed for international support to lead the country to elections in two years.
Source: Reuters: Top News | 26 Dec 2008 | 1:31 pm

AP: Pakistan Moving Troops Toward India

Sources say thousands being switched from the Afghan border, and the pursuit of Al Qaeda, as post-Mumbai attack tensions ratchet up between the nuclear powers.
Source: World News: CBSNews.com | 26 Dec 2008 | 1:30 pm

Temporarily hired workers hit record 3.8 million during FY 2007+

(Kyodo) _ The total of people who worked as temporarily employed workers during fiscal 2007 to March 31 this year hit a record 3.84 million, up 19.6 percent over the previous year, the...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsWorld | 26 Dec 2008 | 1:26 pm

Severe weather batters holiday travelers

As the central and eastern USA slowly recovers from an onslaught of winter storms, heavy snow and rain continues to pound the ...

Source: USATODAY.com News - Top Stories | 26 Dec 2008 | 1:22 pm

Author, publisher defend disputed Holocaust memoir

The author and publisher of a disputed Holocaust memoir are defending the book's story of love between two survivors, but say it's a work of memory and not of scholarship.
Source: Newsvine - Get Smarter Here | 26 Dec 2008 | 1:21 pm

Funeral of Guinea strongman as junta woos foreign critics

CONAKRY (AFP) - Guinea paid its final respects Friday to late dictator Lansana Conte as the military junta that seized control in the wake of his death planned a charm offensive to gain international legitimacy.
Source: AFP - Wire stories | 26 Dec 2008 | 1:21 pm

Gaza braces for Israeli offensive

JERUSALEM (AFP) - The spectre of a military invasion loomed large over Gaza on Friday as militants fired another volley of rockets despite Israeli warnings that failure to stop the attacks would lead to bloodshed.
Source: AFP - Wire stories | 26 Dec 2008 | 1:20 pm

Shared meals, prayers for 2004 tsunami victims

Modest ceremonies marking the disaster's fourth anniversary were a time to reflect on their lives and weigh progress in rebuilding homes and communities

Source: The Globe and Mail - Front Page News | 26 Dec 2008 | 1:20 pm

DIVISION 2 SOAP OPERA

Exactly one month ago, Mansfield and Walpole were riding high atop the high school football world. Both teams were entering Thanksgiving having already clinched their league...
Source: Home - BostonHerald.com | 26 Dec 2008 | 1:17 pm

6 stand trial in China's milk powder scandal+

(Kyodo) _ Six people implicated in China's melamine-tainted milk scandal went on trial Friday in four courts in the country's northern province of Hebei, official media reported. At...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsWorld | 26 Dec 2008 | 1:16 pm

Violence in Indian Kashmir lowest in 2 decades

Militant activity in the disputed region of Kashmir has fallen to its lowest levels since an anti-India rebellion began nearly two decades ago, police said Friday.
Source: Newsvine - Get Smarter Here | 26 Dec 2008 | 1:14 pm

NASA Awards Contracts To Supply Space Station

For the first time, NASA is planning to privatize supply operations for the International Space Station. The agency has awarded roughly $3 billion worth of contracts to two companies to develop rockets to haul cargo to the orbiting outpost.

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Source: NPR Topics: News | 26 Dec 2008 | 1:12 pm

Police: 13 killed in jailbreak in Ramadi, Iraq

BAGHDAD (AP) -- Four suspected al-Qaida in Iraq insurgents broke out of jail during a riot Friday that killed six police officers and seven prisoners in the western city of Ramadi, police said....
Source: AP Top International News At 9:47 a... | 26 Dec 2008 | 1:11 pm

Chinese navy off on historic anti-piracy mission

BEIJING (AFP) - An anti-piracy task force of the Chinese navy set sail on Friday for Africa, in the nation's first potential combat mission beyond its territorial waters in centuries.
Source: AFP - Wire stories | 26 Dec 2008 | 1:11 pm

What Does Sacrifice Mean Nowadays?

With a crippled economy and rising unemployment, people are being asked to make sacrifices by their leaders and their employers. Is it really a sacrifice if you are forced to do something? Is one person's sacrifice just another person's pain in the, um, neck?

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Source: NPR Topics: News | 26 Dec 2008 | 1:09 pm

Economically Speaking, Just How Bad Was 2008?

As 2008 comes to a close, many people are scratching their heads and thinking, "What in the world just happened to our economy?" Some remarkable financial and economic events have plunged the world into what appears to be the worst recession since World War II. But just a year ago, the huge breakdown was largely unforeseen.

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Source: NPR Topics: News | 26 Dec 2008 | 1:04 pm

Storm blankets West with snow

While much of the nation got a reprieve from heavy snow and ice, another winter storm blanketed parts of the West, snarling holiday traffic and briefly darkening lights on Christmas trees before barreling eastward.

Source: msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines | 26 Dec 2008 | 1:03 pm

Britons hit the shops as struggling retailers slash prices

LONDON (AFP) - Shoppers across Britain queued up before dawn on Friday for traditional post-Christmas sales, which this year are seeing struggling stores offering discounts of up to 90 percent.
Source: AFP - Wire stories | 26 Dec 2008 | 12:53 pm

Coup-hit Guinea burying ex-leader

The funeral is under way in Guinea of former President Lansana Conte, whose death on Monday triggered a military coup.
Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition | 26 Dec 2008 | 12:43 pm

Pakistan-India tension grows

Pakistan began moving thousands of troops away from the Afghan border toward India on Friday amid tensions following the Mumbai attacks, intelligence officials said.

Source: msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines | 26 Dec 2008 | 12:43 pm

Tough times seen ahead for British, Japanese economies

LONDON (AFP) - Britain next year faces its biggest recession since World War II, a research group said Friday, as Japan reported a record plunge in production in a gloomy run-up to 2009 for the world economy.
Source: AFP - Wire stories | 26 Dec 2008 | 12:42 pm

Millions of monkeys & 700 billion dollars.

Once upon a time a man appeared in a village andannounced to the villagers that he would buy monkeysfor $10 each.

Source: digg.com: Stories / Popular | 26 Dec 2008 | 12:40 pm

4 Years Later, Tsunami Victim Rebuilds Life

Tsunami took his family, house & business; 4 years later, Sri Lankan rebuilds.
Source: ABC News: International | 26 Dec 2008 | 12:20 pm

Police: 13 killed in Iraqi jailbreak

Four suspected al-Qaida in Iraq insurgents broke out of jail during a riot Friday that killed six police officers and seven prisoners in the western city of Ramadi, police said.
Source: msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines | 26 Dec 2008 | 12:19 pm

How They Make Toys At Google

You know those engineer elves at Google like to do things their own way. That build-it-better ethic also applies to Christmas toys. If you click on the Christmas Doodle on Google’s main search page, you will see five images, which shows what we can only assume is one of Google’s older engineers in his workshop with his son.

Source: digg.com: Stories / Popular | 26 Dec 2008 | 12:10 pm

New patents of MultiTouch Swipe Gestures for iPhone Keyboard

New patent filings suggests the use of swipe gestures to be used on top of the iPhone's on screen keyboard in order to provide the user with quick access to common keys.

Source: digg.com: Stories / Popular | 26 Dec 2008 | 12:10 pm

Death Toll Up At 6 w/3 Missing In Santa Massacre

At Least 6 Dead, Three Missing in Los Angeles 'Santa' Massacre, Stinging from an acrimonious divorce, a man plotting revenge against his ex-wife dressed up like Santa, went to his former in-laws' Christmas Eve party and slaughtered at least six people before killing himself hours later.

Source: digg.com: Stories / Popular | 26 Dec 2008 | 12:00 pm

Live text - Premier League

Manchester United win at Stoke and Chelsea are also playing early on Boxing Day, with all 20 Premier League teams in action.
Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition | 26 Dec 2008 | 11:59 am

Police: 13 killed in Iraqi jailbreak

A jailbreak Friday in the western city of Ramadi by suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq insurgents led to the deaths of six police officers ...

Source: USATODAY.com News - Top Stories | 26 Dec 2008 | 11:59 am

Plane landing delayed by tardy Xmas tower workers

An airplane was stuck circling a southern Philippine airport for several minutes before landing Friday because air traffic controllers apparently still in a Christmas holiday mood came in late for work, officials said.
Source: Newsvine - Get Smarter Here | 26 Dec 2008 | 11:59 am

Oil rebounds from sharp fall in previous session

Oil prices rebounded to above $36 a barrel Friday as key OPEC members were seen complying with promised output cuts, but investors were still braced for more signs that the global economic slowdown deepened in the fourth quarter.
Source: Newsvine - Get Smarter Here | 26 Dec 2008 | 11:56 am

Troops in Iraq mark time, holiday

For the U.S. troops living behind sandbagged windows and in plywood shacks in this speck of desert near Fallujah, this Christmas ...

Source: USATODAY.com News - Top Stories | 26 Dec 2008 | 11:55 am

Nearly 5,000 officials punished for corruption

Nearly 5,000 higher-level Chinese government officials were punished for corruption over the past year, state media reported Friday.
Source: Newsvine - Get Smarter Here | 26 Dec 2008 | 11:54 am

Indonesia's Aceh province was the region worst hit by the 2004 disaster with 168,000 people losing their lives

An Indonesian family pray for their loved ones who were killed by the 2004 tsunami in Banda Aceh. Nations across Asia marked four years since the deadly Indian Ocean tsunami with prayers and remembrance...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesWorld | 26 Dec 2008 | 11:52 am

The 2004 tsunami killed an estimated 220,000 people

Sri Lankans visit a beach in Colombo. Nations across Asia marked four years since the deadly Indian Ocean tsunami with prayers and remembrance of one of the world's worst natural disasters.
Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesWorld | 26 Dec 2008 | 11:52 am

The tsunami killed an estimated 31,000 people in Sri Lanka

Tamil students take part in remembrance ceremonies in the Sri Lankan town of Vavuniya to mark the fourth anniversary of the Asian tsunami that killed an estimated 31,000 people in the island. Nations across...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesWorld | 26 Dec 2008 | 11:52 am

Sellers of fine booze brace for sobering times

Champagne and icewine sales are down, but some retailers are hoping investors will ditch their stocks to invest in rare vino

Source: The Globe and Mail - Front Page News | 26 Dec 2008 | 11:52 am

Around (most of) the world in 102 meals

Description is not available

Source: The Globe and Mail - Front Page News | 26 Dec 2008 | 11:52 am

Shameless, and we love them for it

In a year when videos became increasingly self-conscious, a few irony-free gems kept the duplicity at bay

Source: The Globe and Mail - Front Page News | 26 Dec 2008 | 11:51 am

At Christmas, we took the game to the basement

Description is not available

Source: The Globe and Mail - Front Page News | 26 Dec 2008 | 11:50 am

Harold Pinter won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2005

Writer Harold Pinter arrives for the premiere of the film, 'Sleuth', directed by Kenneth Branagh in London, 2007. Pinter, one of theatre's biggest names for nearly half a century, has died aged 78, his...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesWorld | 26 Dec 2008 | 11:47 am

Iraq militants escape jail, at least 14 dead

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Three senior Islamist militants escaped from their cells in clashes overnight at a police station in Iraq's western city of Ramadi, which killed at least seven police and seven militants, officials said.
Source: Reuters: Top News | 26 Dec 2008 | 11:46 am

Feuding drug cartels have killed more than 5,000 people this year across Mexico

A Mexican policeman patrols Guadlajara after an attack on the Public Security Office in October 2008. Ten people were killed across Mexico in the latest spasm of violence in the country's brutal drug war...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesWorld | 26 Dec 2008 | 11:44 am

Lebanon Festive for Now, but Issues Ahead

Lebanese bask in respite from violence, but mood tinged with concern for 2009.
Source: ABC News: International | 26 Dec 2008 | 11:35 am

Singer-actress Eartha Kitt dies at 81

Eartha Kitt, a sultry singer, dancer and actress who rose from South Carolina cotton fields to become an international symbol of elegance and sensuality, has died. She was 81.

Source: msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines | 26 Dec 2008 | 11:28 am

Outlook cloudy for SKorea-US free trade agreement

Call it the free trade follies.
Source: Newsvine - Get Smarter Here | 26 Dec 2008 | 11:27 am

Death toll in Santa shooting rises to eight

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The death toll from a shooting rampage in the United States in which a man dressed as Santa Claus entered his former in-laws' house and opened fire on guests rose to eight on Friday, police said.
Source: Reuters: Top News | 26 Dec 2008 | 11:27 am

China says almost 300,000 infants were hospitalised after drinking a baby formula that was laced with melamine

Chinese parents hold their babies as they wait for treatment at a children's hospital in Beijing,. The former head of the Chinese firm at the centre of the tainted milk scandal could face the death penalty...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesWorld | 26 Dec 2008 | 11:01 am

Melamine was mixed into the baby milk powder to make it appear richer in protein

A Chinese nurse attends to a baby who became ill after drinking contaminated milk powder in September 2008. The former head of the Chinese firm at the centre of the tainted milk scandal could face the...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesWorld | 26 Dec 2008 | 11:01 am

Viagra helps CIA win Afghan friends

While the CIA has a long history of buying information with cash, the Taliban insurgency has prompted the use of novel incentives and creative bargaining — including Viagra — to gain support.

Source: msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines | 26 Dec 2008 | 11:01 am

Palestinian mourners carry the body of Hamas fighter Yahi al-Shaaher during his funeral in Rafah

Palestinian mourners carry the body of Hamas fighter Yahi al-Shaaher during his funeral in Rafah. The spectre of a military invasion hung over the Gaza Strip as militants fired another volley of rockets...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesWorld | 26 Dec 2008 | 10:52 am

Israelis inspect a damaged house in Tequma following a Palestinian rocket attack

Israelis inspect a damaged house in Tequma following a Palestinian rocket attack on December 24. The spectre of a military invasion hung over the Gaza Strip as militants fired another volley of rockets...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesWorld | 26 Dec 2008 | 10:52 am

Map locating the Gaza Strip

The spectre of a military invasion hung over the Gaza Strip as militants fired another volley of rockets despite Israeli warnings that failure to stop the attacks would lead to bloodshed.
Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesWorld | 26 Dec 2008 | 10:52 am

At least 8 slain in Christmas Eve shooting

Detectives were trying to determine Thursday who died in a Christmas Eve massacre at a California home where a man in a Santa ...

Source: USATODAY.com News - Top Stories | 26 Dec 2008 | 10:50 am

Philippines communists mark 40th

The Philippines Communist Party marks its fourth decade with a call to achieve revolution through armed insurgency.
Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition | 26 Dec 2008 | 10:47 am

Japan industrial output logs record fall

TOKYO (Reuters) - Export-reliant Asian economies showed more signs of weakness on Friday, with Japan's industrial output diving at a record pace and South Korea warning it faces an "unprecedented crisis" as global demand wilts.
Source: Reuters: Top News | 26 Dec 2008 | 10:29 am

Tiger Woods might lose No. 1 ranking in 2009

Long established as the world's No.1 player, Tiger Woods now runs the risk of being deposed at the top of the rankings in the first quarter of 2009.

Source: digg.com: Stories / Popular | 26 Dec 2008 | 10:20 am

42 essential tips for your new games console

If you got an Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 or Nintendo Wii this year, we've put together a mini bible of our most popular tips and tricks that'll help you squeeze every ounce of functionality out of your console.

Source: digg.com: Stories / Popular | 26 Dec 2008 | 9:50 am

Bail bondsmen make it cheaper to get out of jail

Bail bond agents are increasingly helping defendants get out of jail with ultra-cheap financing deals, a practice that worries law enforcement officials and insurers, and could endanger public safety.

Source: msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines | 26 Dec 2008 | 9:46 am

Spurs Beat The Suns With A 3 Point Buzzer Beater 91-90

Roger Mason Sinks a 3 pointer at the buzzer for the game winning shot.

Source: digg.com: Stories / Popular | 26 Dec 2008 | 9:40 am

Lebanon festive for now, but tough issues ahead

BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP) -- Businessman George Jabra isn't certain the stability Lebanon has enjoyed for more than six months is going to last. Still, he took a chance and opened up a new restaurant on a Beirut hilltop, betting on the revival of good times sweeping the country once known as the Paris of the Middle East....
Source: AP Top International News At 9:47 a... | 26 Dec 2008 | 9:28 am

Israel Reopens Cargo Crossings Into Gaza

The Jewish state suddenly resumed letting in humanitarian aid despite threatening large military operations against Gaza militants.
Source: World News: CBSNews.com | 26 Dec 2008 | 9:27 am

Tainted milk trial opens in China

Six men go on trial accused of making and selling the chemical used in tainted milk that killed and sickened babies in China.
Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition | 26 Dec 2008 | 9:26 am

How kangaroo burgers could save the planet

Cows, sheep and goats may seem like innocent victims of humanity's appetite for meat, but when it comes to climate change they have a dark secret. . .

Source: digg.com: Stories / Popular | 26 Dec 2008 | 9:20 am

Australian Arrested In Egypt: Smuggling 2,000yr Old Mummies

An Australian teacher who stuffed his luggage with 2,000-year old animal mummies and religious figurines wrapped as gifts has been arrested, an Egyptian airport security official said. The man was heading to Thailand when a security official became suspicious of the wrapped figurines that were placed amid souvenir ceramic pots in his suitcase.

Source: digg.com: Stories / Popular | 26 Dec 2008 | 9:20 am

Israelis reopen Gaza's crossings

Israel reopens cargo crossings with the Gaza Strip to allow in humanitarian supplies, amid heightened tension.
Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition | 26 Dec 2008 | 9:10 am

States slash Medicaid coverage

States from Rhode Island to California are being forced to curtail Medicaid, the government health insurance program for the poor, as they struggle to cope with the deteriorating economy.

Source: msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines | 26 Dec 2008 | 9:06 am

Third of top aides become lobbyists

More than a third of top congressional staffers who left their public service jobs this year went to work for private lobbying ...

Source: USATODAY.com News - Top Stories | 26 Dec 2008 | 8:39 am

Troop changes after India tension

The Pakistani military has scaled down operations against militants in the north-west after tensions with India, officials say.
Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition | 26 Dec 2008 | 8:33 am

Sri Lankan army captures rebel base

The Sri Lankan military says it has captured a rebel training base amid heavy fighting in the north. The military says in a Friday statement that troops in the Mullaittivu district overran a Tamil Tiger base the day before. The...
Source: New Zealand Herald - World | 26 Dec 2008 | 8:10 am

Handicapped girl, 7, dies after 5-story fall

A 7-year-old handicapped girl has died after falling out of the fifth-floor window of her family's apartment in New York City, police said.
Source: msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines | 26 Dec 2008 | 7:49 am

Style icon

Michelle Obama setting the US fashion world alight
Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition | 26 Dec 2008 | 7:41 am

Take a swing at these 5 public courses

USA TODAY's The Golfer's World blogger Larry Olmsted spent much of 2008 compiling a list of the top public courses in the ...

Source: USATODAY.com News - Top Stories | 26 Dec 2008 | 7:17 am

Poll: Obama is man Americans admire most

A month before his inauguration, Americans choose Barack Obama as the man they admire most in the world, according to a new USA ...

Source: USATODAY.com News - Top Stories | 26 Dec 2008 | 6:20 am

Pardoned exec gave money to Bush campaign

A former gambling executive pardoned this week by President Bush contributed $1,500 to the president's 2004 re-election campaign, ...

Source: USATODAY.com News - Top Stories | 26 Dec 2008 | 5:59 am

Cavaliers stay perfect at home

Being home for the holidays was almost a downer for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Down by eight to woeful Washington, the Cavaliers scored 11 straight points in the final...
Source: Home - BostonHerald.com | 26 Dec 2008 | 5:45 am

Patriots-gate ends with rout, no playoffs

This conspiracy puts JFK theorists to shame. The NFL vs. the New England Patriots, 2008. Case nearly closed. How else to explain the fate that awaits the Pats. An 11-5...
Source: Home - BostonHerald.com | 26 Dec 2008 | 5:31 am

Wildcats won't remember Alamo

Pat Fitzgerald played linebacker for the only Northwestern team to win 10 games in a season. He now has the chance to coach this year's Wildcats to the school's...
Source: Home - BostonHerald.com | 26 Dec 2008 | 5:23 am

A Brown-out

If you look up the phrase "stealing a paycheck," don't be shocked if it is illustrated by a group picture of the Cleveland Browns offense. The Browns have...
Source: Home - BostonHerald.com | 26 Dec 2008 | 5:16 am

Movies that moved us

So far, Hollywood has again proved to be the country's only recession-proof address, at least in box-office terms. This was the year life imitated art and Barack...
Source: Home - BostonHerald.com | 26 Dec 2008 | 5:04 am

DJ AM files suit over South Carolina plane crash

LOS ANGELES - Celebrity disc jockey DJ AM, who survived a fiery Learjet crash in South Carolina has sued several companies and the estates of the plane's pilots. ...
Source: Home - BostonHerald.com | 26 Dec 2008 | 5:03 am

Ottawa moves to save Canadian from execution

The Harper government has ramped up direct political contacts with Saudi Arabia in an effort to save the life of Mohamed Kohail

Source: The Globe and Mail - Front Page News | 26 Dec 2008 | 3:38 am

Visions of Camaros instead of sugarplums

Past assumptions put aside over fears of the future for one family tied to making cars

Source: The Globe and Mail - Front Page News | 26 Dec 2008 | 3:37 am

Rising to the challenge

The Giants and Patriots should both be commended for thriving in the face of adversity since since last February's Super Bowl

Source: The Globe and Mail - Front Page News | 26 Dec 2008 | 2:52 am

Lakers gain measure of revenge

Boston's 19-game win streak ends as Los Angeles triumphs 92-83 in first meeting since last season's NBA finals

Source: The Globe and Mail - Front Page News | 26 Dec 2008 | 2:50 am

Troops in Iraq find Christmas in memories

BAGHDAD (AP) -- Army Sgt. Robin Cameron stood guard outside a once opulent Iraqi shopping mall that now serves as a small U.S. military outpost, trying not to think about what he was missing with his family on Christmas....
Source: AP Top International News At 9:47 a... | 26 Dec 2008 | 1:16 am

Noted playwright Pinter dies

British Nobel laureate Harold Pinter - who produced some of his generation's most influential dramas and later became a staunch critic of the US-led war in Iraq - has died, his widow said last night (NZ time). He was 78. Pinter...
Source: New Zealand Herald - World | 25 Dec 2008 | 11:45 pm

Man in Santa suit guns down family

CALIFORNIA - A man dressed as Santa who had been having marital problems has opened fire at a Christmas party, leaving more than three people dead in a home that then caught fire, authorities said. Hours later, police found the...
Source: New Zealand Herald - World | 25 Dec 2008 | 11:30 pm

Singer And Actress Eartha Kitt Dies

Singer and actress Eartha Kitt has died of colon cancer. She was 81. Kitt, who was ostracized as a child in South Carolina because of her mixed-race heritage, got her start in show business as a dancer and vocalist, and earned early international notice as a featured singer in a Paris nightclub.

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Source: NPR Topics: News | 25 Dec 2008 | 10:01 pm

18 dead in Ukraine apartment gas blast

KIEV - Rescuers were this morning (NZ time) searching for dozens of people trapped under the rubble of an apartment building destroyed in a night-time explosion that killed at least 18 people in southern Ukraine, officials said. The...
Source: New Zealand Herald - World | 25 Dec 2008 | 10:00 pm

An Appreciation Of Harold Pinter

Playwright Harold Pinter came into prominence at a time when Tennessee Williams' and Arthur Miller's plays were being performed in the U.S. and Bernard Shaw and the Boulevard Comedies dominated London's West End. In contrast to the work at the time, Pinter's plays dealt with the theater of menace.

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Source: NPR Topics: News | 25 Dec 2008 | 8:05 pm

Reversal Of Presidential Pardon Analyzed

President Bush took the unusual step of reversing a pardon he issued a day earlier. Bush pardoned Isaac Robert Toussie on Tuesday but changed his mind after learning that Toussie's father had made large donations to the GOP.

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Source: NPR Topics: News | 25 Dec 2008 | 7:41 pm

Harold Pinter, Playwright And Nobel Laureate, Dies

British playwright and Nobel laureate Harold Pinter has died. He was 78. Pinter was known for his brooding portrayals of domestic life and his barbed politics.

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Source: NPR Topics: News | 25 Dec 2008 | 7:19 pm

Covering Obama's Hawaii Vacation

There's a "protective" pool of reporters that follow President-elect Barack Obama every day and report everything he does, even when what he does is not newsworthy, which is often. That's especially true on Christmas but still the reports must come. The Chicago Tribune's John McCormick talks about covering Obama's vacation.

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Source: NPR Topics: News | 25 Dec 2008 | 7:12 pm

New Lives, New Ethnic Identity For Chinese Villagers

Residents of a village in Sichuan province are building new lives amid the rubble of the massive earthquake that struck in May. A government plan to boost tourism means that for some, these new lives will be based on a new ethnicity.

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Source: NPR Topics: News | 25 Dec 2008 | 7:06 pm

4 years later, tsunami victim rebuilds his life

PETTIYADICHCHENI, Sri Lanka (AP) -- Every morning and evening, Velmurugu Kangasuriyam gathers his 2 1/2 year-old daughter and his wife and confronts the wreckage of his former life....
Source: AP Top International News At 9:47 a... | 25 Dec 2008 | 6:49 pm

Army: 30K More Active-Duty Troops Needed

The Army needs to add at least 30,000 active-duty soldiers to its ranks to fulfill its responsibilities around the world without becoming stretched dangerously thin, senior Army officials warn, reports the Washington Post.
Source: World News: CBSNews.com | 25 Dec 2008 | 6:38 pm

Slain Rabbi's Parents Light Mumbai Menorah

The parents of a rabbi and his wife killed in last month's terror attacks in Mumbai lit a 16-foot public menorah Thursday outside the building where their children lived in the Indian city.
Source: World News: CBSNews.com | 25 Dec 2008 | 5:30 pm

19 Dead in Ukraine Apartment Gas Blast

Ukraine apartment blast kills 19, dozens trapped; gas leak suspected cause.
Source: ABC News: International | 25 Dec 2008 | 5:13 pm

On Christmas, Pope Decries Selfishness

Pope Benedict XVI in his Christmas message Thursday warned that the world was headed toward ruin if selfishness prevails over solidarity during tough economic times for both rich and poor nations.
Source: World News: CBSNews.com | 25 Dec 2008 | 4:30 pm

Nobel Laureate Harold Pinter Dies at 78

Nobel Laureate Harold Pinter dies at 78 after battle with cancer, his wife says.
Source: ABC News: International | 25 Dec 2008 | 4:26 pm

Goa's beaches bare after terror attacks

Beach beds are lined up outside the snack bars dotting the sandy white coastline and dance music booms from bars and restaurants. The only thing missing from Goa's beaches are the throngs of merrymakers who normally flock here from...
Source: New Zealand Herald - World | 25 Dec 2008 | 4:15 pm

Queen Elizabeth Calls for Courage in Crisis

Queen Elizabeth calls for courage in economic crisis during Christmas broadcast.
Source: ABC News: International | 25 Dec 2008 | 4:09 pm

Tourism Returns To Bethlehem For Christmas

Bethlehem marked Christmas on Thursday with crowds of tourists joining local Palestinian Christians in Jesus' traditional birthplace, as the West Bank town basked in its once-a-year appearance in the world spotlight.
Source: World News: CBSNews.com | 25 Dec 2008 | 4:09 pm

Iran Executes Woman Who Buried Stepdaughter Alive

Iran executed nine people Wednesday, including a woman convicted of burying her stepdaughter alive in a forest near Tehran, according to a state-owned newspaper.
Source: FOXNews.com | 25 Dec 2008 | 4:08 pm

Stop this abuse of children, pleads Pope

Pope Benedict XVI celebrated Christmas Midnight Mass by sending out an appeal for children who are abused, forced to live on the street or serve as soldiers. In the splendour of St Peter's Basilica, Benedict marked the birth of...
Source: New Zealand Herald - World | 25 Dec 2008 | 4:00 pm

Ahmadinejad's Christmas broadcast sparks outrage

Iran's President offered season's greetings to Christians in a British TV address and suggested that if Jesus were alive, he would oppose "bullying, ill-tempered and expansionist powers" - an apparent reference to the United States...
Source: New Zealand Herald - World | 25 Dec 2008 | 4:00 pm

Activist accused of Mugabe plot

A Zimbabwean human rights activist missing for three weeks was taken to court, and state media said she was accused in a plot to overthrow President Robert Mugabe. A judge yesterday ordered Jestina Mukoko and six other activists...
Source: New Zealand Herald - World | 25 Dec 2008 | 4:00 pm

Christmas Is Now Official Holiday In Iraq

Iraq's Christians, a small minority in the overwhelmingly Muslim country, quietly celebrated Christmas on Thursday with a present from the government, which declared it an official holiday for the first time.
Source: World News: CBSNews.com | 25 Dec 2008 | 4:00 pm

Rescuers Dig for Survivors of Deadly Ukraine Apartment Explo

An explosion tore through an apartment building in southern Ukraine killing at least 11 people and leaving up to 24 trapped under the rubble, an emergency official said Thursday.
Source: FOXNews.com | 25 Dec 2008 | 3:48 pm

Cops Accused of Torching Indonesian Village, Killing Kids

Indonesian police said they were detaining scores of peasants Thursday after rights groups accused authorities of torching a village by helicopter and killing two children in a decade-old land dispute.
Source: FOXNews.com | 25 Dec 2008 | 3:22 pm

Bangladeshi Police Seize Explosives, Books on Jihad

Police in northern Bangladesh arrested three suspected militants tied to a banned Islamic group and seized a large cache of bomb-making materials, an official said Thursday.
Source: FOXNews.com | 25 Dec 2008 | 3:14 pm

New York Skier Killed in Austrian Avalanche

Austrian police say an avalanche has killed a U.S. citizen in western Austria.
Source: FOXNews.com | 25 Dec 2008 | 2:52 pm

Christmas Now an Official Holiday in Iraq

Iraq's Christians celebrate Christmas as official holiday for first time.
Source: ABC News: International | 25 Dec 2008 | 1:53 pm

Germans Save Egyptian Ship From Somali Pirates

A passing ship alerted the Kuala Lumpur-based bureau, which asked a multinational naval coalition force in the area to help.
Source: FOXNews.com | 25 Dec 2008 | 1:44 pm