A suicide bomber detonated explosives during a funeral in northern Afghanistan today killing at least 19 people. A number of parliament and several local officials are among the dead. The bombing occurred in the usually calm Takhar Province. 

 

 

In Iraq, Christians are celebrating the holiday and attending Christmas Masses amid tight security. NPR's Sean Carberry reports preachers are worried about the country's growing sectarian and political crisis.

 

 

Only about half a million Christians remain in Iraq, about two million fewer than in 2003. In the Mansour neighborhood worshipers had to past multiple check points of armed guards to attend mass. Man Senior ** at the liver mass and he called for peace and for the people of the Iraq to unite and work together. After mass, preachers  said they are pessimistic about Iraq's future.

..that everything is going to the worse.

Iraq is currently mired in a political crisis with the country's Sunni vice president facing terrorism charges and nearly 70 people were killed last week in a series of deadly explosions in Baghdad. Sean Carberry, NPR News, Baghdad.

 

 

The leader of Hamas is preparing to visit several Arab countries this week. Linda Gradstein reports it's his first trip abroad since Hamas seized power in Gaza in 2007.

Hamas officials say  Ismail Haniyeh will visit Egypt, Sudan, Qatar, Bahrain, Tunisia and Turkey. He will leave Gaza via the Rafah crossing to Egypt. The officials said the trip is to discuss development projects and did not say how long it would last. It comes after Hamas in the rival Fatah movement agreed to establish a unity government in the coming weeks leading to parliamentary elections in May. It also showed Hamas is growing ties with the Islamist movements in Egypt which are winning large majorities in Egypt's selections. The US and Israel continue to see Hamas as a terrorist organization. For NPR News, I'm Linda Gradstein, in Jerusalem.

 

 

In the West Bank town of Bethlehem today, Christian is celebrating Christmas services in the town where they believe Jesus was born. More visitors are in Bethlehem this Christmas than have been there in a decade.

 

 

This is NPR News.

 

 

It's a clam winter day in most of the continental US, a rare Christmas where there isn't much inclement weather. National Weather Service Meteorologist Dan Peterson says there are only a couple of exceptions.

** we are looking at, a little bit of whites now come across the great LA that's a couple of inches here. There are several inches of snow possible in the higher pits of the Washington ** and to the northern ** in the next couple of days.

A larger area of rain that's moving across the Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia is expected to move off the coast tonight.

 

 

The six residents of the International Space Station are celebrating the holiday season in style. NPR's Nell Greenfieldboyce  reports the outpost's hauls were decorated well in advance of Christmas Day.

American astronaut Dan Burbank is commanding the space station. He said they heard some holiday greetings by video earlier this month, saying he and two crew mates have been getting into the spirit of things.

We've already put up decorations and we've gathered together all of the cards and gifts that our friends and families have sent to us. And we are planning a couple of big meals, that, that will be great.

Three members of the station crew arrived on Friday when their Russian capsule docked with the outpost. Just in time to celebrate the holidays and new year in orbit. Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR News.

 

 

Britain's Prince Philip is celebrating Christmas in a hospital. He is recovering from heart surgery. Doctors implanted a coronary stent  after the 90-year-old was hospitalized Friday complaining of heart pain. Queen Elizabeth paid a visit to her husband earlier today before joining the royal family's traditional Christmas celebration.