[World] Pope decries slaughter of "defenseless" in Syria

Pope decries slaughter of "defenseless" in Syria
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57560774/pope-decries-slaughter-of-defenseless-in-syria/
VATICAN CITY Pope Benedict XVI wished Christmas peace to the world Tuesday, decrying the slaughter of the "defenseless" in Syria and urging Israelis and Palestinians to find the courage to negotiate.

South African President Visits Mandela in Hospital
http://www.voanews.com/content/s-african-president-zuma-visits-mandela-in-hospital/1571756.html
South African President Jacob Zuma says former leader Nelson Mandela is "looking much better," after more than two weeks in a Pretoria hospital.

Syria envoy seeks peace as clashes rage
http://dawn.com/2012/12/24/syria-jets-kill-tens-as-international-envoy-visits/
By Erika Solomon. BEIRUT | Tue Dec 25, 2012 10:19am EST. BEIRUT (Reuters) - International envoy Lakhdar Brahimi pursued mediation efforts in Damascus on Tuesday, but there was no pause in the bloodletting as Syrian Christians marked a bleak ...

Britain's queen reflects on a year of celebration
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/queen-elizabeth-II/9765734/Queens-Christmas-Day-speech-in-full.html
(CNN) -- Britain's Queen Elizabeth II reflected on a year of personal and Olympic celebration in a Christmas message Tuesday that emphasized serving others.

Iranian Woman Killed American in Kabul
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/afghan-policewoman-kills-us-adviser-outside-kabul-police-hq/article6699547/
KABULâ€"Afghan and coalition officials said a suspected female Afghan police officer shot and killed an American adviser inside a police compound Monday, apparently the first time an Afghan woman has carried out a so-called "green-on-blue" attack against ...

Israel Approves Construction of Over 1000 New Apartments
http://www.voanews.com/content/israel-approves-construction-of-more-than-1200-new-apartments/1571765.html
Israeli officials have approved the construction of more than 1,200 apartments in a Jerusalem neighborhood outside the pre-1967 Israeli borders.

Kazakhstan military plane crashes, killing 27
http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/kazakhstan-military-plane-crashes-killing-all-27-aboard-officials-1.1091610
MOSCOW (AP) - A Kazakhstan military plane has crashed near a southern city killing 27 people, mostly border guards. The Central Asian country's Committee for National Security said the An-72 crashed Tuesday at 1255 GMT (7:55 a.m.

US drone strategy in Yemen is fraught with peril
http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/international/25-Dec-2012/17-killed-as-yemen-army-tribesmen-clash-tribal-sources
AL SARRAIN, Yemen - The U.S. drone flew over a cluster of mud houses on a ridge and, according to Yemeni officials, locked onto Adnan Qadhi, a mercurial man of many guises, including radical militant, peace mediator, preacher of violence and army ...

India signing nuclear test ban treaty to kick-start talks with Japan?
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/India-signing-nuclear-test-ban-treaty-to-kick-start-talks-with-Japan/articleshow/17726296.cms
TOKYO/NEW DELHI: It may not be necessary for India to sign Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) for resumption of talks with Japan for peaceful use of nuclear energy but it will certainly help if any such bilateral agreement can weave in New Delhi's ...

GCC must focus on stronger integration
http://www.dw.de/gulf-states-call-for-action-to-end-syria-conflict/a-16478790
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will need to look thoroughly into its future plans with regard to its development as an entity.

Syrian rebels fully capture town near Turkish border after weeks of siege
http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/syria-rebels-complete-capture-of-town-near-turkey/article4238167.ece
BEIRUT - Syrian rebels fully captured a northern town near the Turkish border on Tuesday after weeks of siege and heavy fighting, activists said.

New wave of radical Israeli settlers digging in for the long haul in the West Bank
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/9762603/New-wave-of-radical-Israeli-settlers-digging-in-for-the-long-haul-in-the-West-Bank.html
High on a windy limestone plateau in the ancient biblical land of Judea and Samaria is the settlement of Itamar, a Jewish bastion deep in what today is hostile Arab territory.

Iran media report new cyberattack by Stuxnet worm
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hKdndgxK-AJHiaF7Zbvzk1E9tIhQ?docId=CNG.1a962f08fb17905ad4726d7afedc5cd8.91
A 2010 file picture shows the Iranian flag fluttering over the reactor building at the Russian-built Bushehr nuclear power plant in southern Iran.

China Car Accident Kills 11 Children in Jiangxi, Radio Reports
http://www.news.com.au/world/road-accident-in-east-china-leaves-11-school-children-dead/story-fndir2ev-1226543156183
A car accident in eastern China's Jiangxi province killed 11 children, China National Radio reported today. The van in which the children were riding fell into a pond this morning, the state broadcaster reported.

Christians pack Bethlehem for Christmas Eve service
http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2012/12/25/christians-flock-to-bethlehem.html
BETHLEHEM, West Bank -- Thousands of Christians from the world over packed Manger Square in Bethlehem on Monday to celebrate the birth of Jesus in the ancient West Bank town where he was born.