North Korea is blasting South Korea’s decision to send only two groups to Pyongyang to pay respects to the late leader Kim Jong Il. A spokesman for the North Korean state office that handles cross-border relations warned Sunday that the action could trigger “unpredictable catastrophic consequences.” Pyongyang accused Seoul of preventing other South Koreans from […]
North Korea Critical of Seoul’s Response to Leader’s Death
Posted December 24th, 2011 at 11:35 pm (UTC-5)
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US First Lady Helps Children Track Santa
Posted December 24th, 2011 at 9:25 pm (UTC-5)
U.S. first lady Michelle Obama spent some time Saturday answering calls from children across the country who were hoping to find out where Santa Claus was on Christmas Eve. Just as she did last year, the first lady took calls from the NORAD Tracks Santa program, run by the North American Aerospace Defense Command. The […]
Pope Asks Faithful to Look Beyond Christmas ‘Glitter’
Posted December 24th, 2011 at 7:40 pm (UTC-5)
As millions of Christians worldwide prepared to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, Pope Benedict XVI decried the increasing commercialization of Christmas. At a Christmas Eve service in a packed St. Peter’s Basilica Saturday, the pontiff asked the faithful to look beyond the holiday’s superficial “glitter” to discover its true meaning. Meanwhile, tens of thousands […]
Pope Asks Faithful to Look Beyond Christmas ‘Glitter’
Posted December 24th, 2011 at 6:45 pm (UTC-5)
As millions of Christians worldwide prepared to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, Pope Benedict XVI decried the increasing commercialization of Christmas. At a Christmas Eve service in a packed St. Peter’s Basilica Saturday, the pontiff asked the faithful to look beyond the holiday’s superficial “glitter” to discover its true meaning. Meanwhile, tens of thousands […]
Thousands Protest Russia’s Alleged Election Fraud
Posted December 24th, 2011 at 5:35 pm (UTC-5)
Tens of thousands of Russians have rallied on a Moscow street to protest alleged fraud in the December 4 parliamentary election won by the ruling party of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. Organizers say more than 100,000 people joined the rally on Sakharov Avenue in below-freezing temperatures Saturday, exceeding the size of a similar protest earlier […]
Islamist Parties Consolidate Gains in Egypt Polls
Posted December 24th, 2011 at 4:40 pm (UTC-5)
Egypt’s two main Islamist parties have won about two-thirds the vote in the second round of parliamentary elections. Election commission chief Abdel-Moez Ibrahim announced results from the second round of three rounds, which was held December 14-15, followed by a run-off this week. The second round took place in nine provinces, and Ibrahim said turnout […]
Yemeni Troops Kill 7 Protesters in Sana’a
Posted December 24th, 2011 at 4:00 pm (UTC-5)
Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has promised to leave his country for the United States, hours after security forces loyal to him shot and killed nine opposition protesters taking part in a giant march to the presidential compound. In a news conference Saturday, Mr. Saleh said he will travel to the United States in the […]
Christmas Greetings From President Obama and Family
Posted December 24th, 2011 at 3:50 pm (UTC-5)
President Barack Obama and his family sent warm Christmas and New Year holiday greetings to all Americans Saturday, with a special message of thanks to U.S. troops for their service to the country. Mr. Obama’s wife, Michelle, appeared with him in a special holiday edition of the president’s weekly address to the nation, recorded at […]
Funeral for Damascus Bombing Victims Turns into Pro-Assad Rally
Posted December 24th, 2011 at 3:20 pm (UTC-5)
A mass funeral in Damascus for the victims of a double suicide car bombing on Friday has turned into a strong show of support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whose government is under pressure from a nine-month opposition uprising. Thousands of people attended Saturday’s funeral at the Omayyad Mosque, where authorities placed the flag-draped coffins […]
North Korea Hails Kim’s Son as ‘Supreme Leader’
Posted December 24th, 2011 at 2:35 pm (UTC-5)
North Korea’s official news agency is giving the country’s new ruler a new title. The Korean Central News Agency called Kim Jong Un the “supreme leader of the revolutionary armed forces” in a dispatch late Saturday. The report said the “supreme leader” visited his father’s funeral bier with top military leaders and other top officials […]
