News Headlines (105) 25 December 2012

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Midnight Mass Celebrated in Bethlehem. Published on Dec 24, 2012 :: Midnight mass was celebrated at the Church of St. Catherine, in Bethlehem, the West Bank. The church sits next to the Church of the Nativity, which is built above the grotto where tradition says Jesus was born. (Dec. 25) || ► Raw: Midnight Mass at the Vatican. Published on Dec 24, 2012 :: Pope Benedict XVI presides over Christmas Eve Mass at St. Peter's Basilica. A smiling Benedict, dressed in gold-colored vestments, waved to photo-snapping pilgrims and applauding church-goers as he glided up the centre aisle towards altar. (Dec. 24)



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Raw: Santa Readies for Midnight Ride. Published on Dec 24, 2012 :: On Christmas Eve after months of busy preparations, the Finnish Father Christmas loaded his sleigh in Lapland with presents made in his workshop, and set off to deliver them to all the good boys and girls around the world. (Dec. 24) || ► Raw: Santa Drops Candy for Kids From Chopper. Published on Dec 23, 2012 :: A Maryland church spread some holiday cheer on Sunday by having Santa Claus drop candy from a helicopter to children waiting below at a Baltimore-area high school. (Dec. 23)



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NORAD Tracking Santa's Journey.  Published on Dec 24, 2012 :: Volunteers are pulling on their Santa hats, phone lines are in place and wall-size tracking screens are ready. NORAD Tracks Santa is primed for its 57th annual goodwill mission. (Dec. 24) || ► Raw: Troops Celebrate Christmas in Afghanistan. Published on Dec 24, 2012 :: International troops in Afghanistan celebrated Christmas Eve on Monday in Kabul with a special Christmas meal and a candlelight service. US and other NATO country soldiers based at Kabul International Airport also sang Christmas carols. (Dec. 24)

► Russia says Syria is acting to secure its chemical weapons - By Steve Gutterman | Reuters 

► Dispatch from Rome: Will Italians give Silvio Berlusconi another chance? - By Silvia Marchetti | The Week

► Obama's Christmas vacation in Hawaii: Day 3 - Associated Press 

► Reports: Rolling Stones guitarist Wood ties knot - Associated Press – Sat, Dec 22, 2012




► Santa Claus in Movies: The Naughty & Nice - Christmas draws near, and if there's one thing Christmas isn't complete without, it's Santa Claus. And you'd best believe he's real, otherwise how would there be so many movies about him? Here's a list of some of the nicest movie Santas, as well as some naughty ones as well. (PHOTOS)

► Adorable dog tries to bite oncoming traffic (VIDEO) - By Dylan Stableford, Yahoo! News | The Sideshow – Thu, Jul 12, 2012 

► Venezuela's Chavez "improves slightly" after surgery: official - By Brian Ellsworth and Diego Ore | Reuters 

► 25 December 2012 - Father Christmas off air in Uzbekistan By Rustam Qobil BBC Uzbek 

► 24 December 2012  -  Syria: An attempt to live a normal life

► US firefighters killed in 'trap' 

Two US volunteer firefighters shot dead as they arrived to tackle a fire in New York state were apparently lured there by the gunman, police say.
* Police news conference - VIDEO 
* Piers Morgan faces US gun backlash
* Viewpoints: US gun law change?
* Obama v the gun lobby 

► Christmas muted in Syrian capital Damascus. 24 December 2012 - In the Syrian capital Damascus, the Christian community is planning a low-key Christmas. As conflict in the country continues, Christians have been caught up in the violence and - like all Syrians - have been hit by the economic impact of the war. Lina Sinjab reports from Damascus. (VIDEO) || 'Deadly strike' on Syria bakery  || Syria war fuels Christian flight from Middle East 

► 25 December 2012 - Africa and China: Workers face clash of cultures  By James Melik Reporter, Business Daily, BBC World Service

► 25 December 2012 - Polar bear trade ban divides campaigners  By Matt McGrath Environment correspondent, BBC News 

► 25 December 2012 - Simple eye scan can reveal extent of Multiple Sclerosis 

► Indonesia's exotic Spice Islands

► Peru's Christmas fighting festival

► Fist Fighting on Christmas: A Peruvian Tradition. Published on Jul 11, 2012 by VICE



► 24 December 2012 - Rotterdam's Chinese light festival

► 25 December 2012 -Paris Notre Dame cathedral turns 850 years old - By Christian Fraser BBC News, Paris  || VIDEO

Cisca Zarmansyah :  Au-dessus des étangs, au-dessus des vallées, Des montagnes, des bois, des nuages, des mers, Par delà le soleil, par delà les éthers, Par delà les confins des sphères étoilées. Mon esprit, tu te meus avec agilité, Et, comme un bon nageur qui se pâme dans l'onde, Tu sillonnes gaiement l'immensité profonde. Avec une indicible et mâle volupté. Envole-toi bien loin de ces miasmes morbides. Va te purifier dans l'air supérieur. Et bois, comme une pure et divine liqueur, Le feu clair qui remplit les espaces limpides. Derrière les ennuis et les vastes chagrins. Qui chargent de leur poids l'existence brumeuse, Heureux celui qui peut d'une aile vigoureuse. S'élancer vers les champs lumineux et sereins. Celui dont les pensers, comme des alouettes, Vers les cieux le matin prennent un libre essor, - Qui plane sur la vie, et comprend sans effort. Le langage des fleurs et des choses muettes! (Élévation - CHARLES BAUDELAIRE, Les fleurs du mal)   

Valentino Vie : Je t'adore à l'égal de la voûte nocturne. O vase de tristesse, ô grande taciturne. Et t'aime d'autant plus, belle, que tu me fuis. Et que tu me parais, ornement de mes nuits. Plus ironiquement accumuler les lieues. Qui séparent mes bras des immensités bleues. Je m'avance à l'attaque, et je grimpe aux assauts. Comme après un cadavre un choeur de vermisseaux. Et je chéris, ô bête implacable et cruelle! Jusqu'à cette froideur par où tu m'es plus belle! (XXIV - CHARLES BAUDELAIRE)

Jan Pepijn Servaas :  Ik zal nooit vergeten de herinneringen die we zowel. Ahh, ik ga wat moeilijk dood.

Almira Izzati  :  hhooi, jaaan hoooi jan, probeer niet onmogelijk!

Cisca Zarmansyah : Comment, disaient-ils. Avec nos nacelles. Fuir les alguazils? - Ramez, disaient-elles. Comment, disaient-ils, Oublier querelles. Misère et périls? -Dormez, disaient-elles. Comment, disaient-ils, Enchanter les belles. Sans philtres subtils? -Aimez, disaient-lles. (Autre guitare - VICTOR HUGO)

Almira Izzati  : Are you haunted by the Europe nature?

Almira Izzati  : Hij zegt dat hij van je houdt...

Adriaan Zef  : You know that. I have the same song for the same purpose. But you would rather have it with other improvised tone .... and, what seems so important to you is its panoramic view. Well, I've never been so interested in what you wrote in your notes on the issue of Al Qaeda has nuclear bombs in Europe, and they were ready to use it if Osama was captured or dead. Now Osama is dead, is not he?

Cisca Zarmansyah :I'm sorry, I love you both.

► 23 December 2012 - Paris, an enchanted city of carousels By Joanna Robertson Paris

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Merry Not: Christmas rings out in Europe amid austerity & job crisis. Published on Dec 25, 2012 :: With Christmas bells ringing out in Europe - even their melodic chimes can't muffle the boom of austerity, as biting cuts have even reached the inner sanctum of the Catholic church, the Vatican.


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Israel vs Iran: Threat or Bluff? Hezbollah vows rocket fire storm in response. Published on Dec 24, 2012 :: As Washington mulls more sanctions against Iran, Israel is making it clear that it's ready, and willing to strike. But Tehran's chief ally in the region - Hezbollah, has made it plain that it WILL take sides in case of war. RT's Lucy Kafanov reports now on what the militant faction may have up its sleeve.



► Defense, reactors & high-tech deals: Russia loves India. Published on Dec 24, 2012 :: Almost three billion dollars of defense mega-deals have been signed between Russia and India. President Putin is on a visit to New Delhi cementing ties with fast-growing economies as they continue to try and boost their global influence. RT's Maria Finoshina reports on how their improved world standing is worrying some in the West. (VIDEO)

► US to sell $1.2bn in spy drones to S. Korea 

► US deploying troops to 35 African countries 

► Cold as Christmas: Emergency in Siberia, chilliest night in Moscow (PHOTOS)

► Doomsday pilgrims 'irreparably' damage Mayan Temple in Guatemala (PHOTOS) 

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Russians risk jail to avoid military draft. Published on Dec 24, 2012 :: The Russia Defence Ministry has started its autumn military recruitment drive to reinforce its rank of about a million soldiers. But every year it struggles to find the minimum number of recruits. Thousands of young men are dodging the draft and many are willing to risk jail to avoid the army all together. Al Jazeera's Charles Stratford reports from the capital, Moscow.



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Chavez unlikely to be in Venezuela in in time for oath of office. Published on Dec 24, 2012 :: It looks as though Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez won't be home for Christmas. He's recovering from cancer surgery in Cuba, his fourth in two years. And now many fear he won't be back in time to be sworn in for a third term on January 10. Al Jazeera's Lucia Newman reports from Caracas.



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US firefighters shot dead in 'ambush'. Published on Dec 24, 2012 :: A convicted felon has shot dead two firefighters and wounded two others after luring them to a blaze that police said he had apparently set as a trap in a small town in New York state, officials said. The 62-year-old shooter - who was found guilty of manslaughter and was jailed for 17 years for his grandmother's death in 1980 - then fatally shot himself in the head, said police in Webster, on the shores of Lake Ontario. Al Jazeera's John Terrett reports. || ► Firefighters killed in ambush. Published on Dec 25, 2012 ::Two firefighters in New York have been killed and two others injured after being ambushed by a convicted killer. They were lured by a fire that was deliberately started by their attacker. He committed suicide after shooting his victims. Al Jazeera's Stefanie Dekker reports.



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Inside Story - Whats behind Afghan insider attacks? Published on Dec 25, 2012 :: We discuss if political progress with the Taliban reduce attacks on NATO forces as a draw down nears. Stephen Cole speaks to Ahmad Shah Ahmadzai, the prime minister of Afghanistan from 1992 to 1996; Daoud Sultanzoy, a former member of the Afghan parliament; and Ejaz Haider, a senior advisor at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute.

Latest Headlines

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By Gail Simmons
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► Plebgate: Why Britain's Latest Scandal Is All about Class 

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