Today's Breaking News
Around the World
Paschi Seeks State Aid as Italy Sets $21 Billion for Banks
Italy's government is set to rescue Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena SpA after the world's oldest lender failed to raise 5 billion euros ($5.2 billion) from the market, in what will be the country's biggest bank nationalization since the 1930s.
Putin says Democrats sore losers, praises Trump
Vladimir Putin praised U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Friday, saying he had his finger on the pulse of U.S. society, and launched a scathing attack on the Democrats, saying they had forgotten the meaning of their own name and were sore losers.
Islamist terror suspect in Berlin attack killed in shootout in Milan
The terrorist behind Monday's deadly attack on a Berlin Christmas market swore allegiance to ISIS before dying in a wee-hours shootout with police in Milan Friday, some some 675 miles from the scene of Monday's carnage.
Putin says Russia not interested in arms race, Trump's nuke comment 'nothing new'
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday said Donald Trump's comment seeking to expand U.S. nuclear capabilities is 'nothing new' because the U.S. president-elect made the proposal during the election.
Merkel wanted refugees to be lorry drivers
German Chancellor Angela Merkel in September tried to push through a plan that would allow refugees to be trained and hired as lorry drivers - just months before a lorry was used by a suspected asylum-seeker to mow down civilians during Monday's Berlin terror attack.
'Pro-Qaddafi' hijackers threaten to blow up Libyan plane diverted to Malta
Two hijackers diverted a Libyan commercial plane to Malta on Friday and threatened to blow it up with hand grenades, Maltese authorities and state media said.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Security Council likely to vote on settlements Friday despite Egyptian reversal
A UN Security Council resolution criticizing Israeli settlements will likely go up for a vote Friday despite original sponsor Egypt pulling its support, after four countries agreed to present a draft resolution, diplomats said.
UN council members call for vote Friday to end Israeli settlements
New Zealand, Malaysia, Senegal and Venezuela will call for a vote on Friday afternoon on a draft resolution demanding an end to Israeli settlements, diplomats said.
In Christmas Message, Netanyahu Notes Thriving Christian Community in Israel
In his annual Christmas message, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu noted the common bonds that Jews and Christians share, as well as the thriving Christian community in Israel.
Leaked files reveal scope of Israeli firm's phone cracking tech
Earlier this year, we were sent a series of large, encrypted files purportedly belonging to a US police department as a result of a leak at a law firm, which was insecurely synchronizing its backup systems across the internet without a password.

Inside the United States
Obama ditches registry focused on immigrant men from Muslim countries
The Obama administration announced Thursday it is formally scrapping a once-mandatory registry for immigrant men from predominantly Muslim countries, amid speculation over whether the incoming Donald Trump administration may try to renew it.

Christian News
ISIS Puts Out Holiday Attack List Of U.S. Churches
The Islamic State published the names and addresses of thousands of churches in the United States and called on its adherents to attack them during the holiday season, according to a message posted late-night Wednesday in the group’s “Secrets of Jihadis” social media group.
Arrest of black man in black church fire stirs debates
The arrest of a black man on a charge of burning a black Mississippi church that was spray-painted with the words 'Vote Trump' has sparked bickering online and consternation in the community surrounding the church.
Free Pastor Andrew: Christians Rally for Missionary Jailed in Turkey
Christian advocates in the United States have launched a global campaign to release Andrew Brunson, an American pastor jailed on erroneous allegations amid a crackdown on evangelicals in Turkey.