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More news →Bomb attacks on Christians in Baghdad kill 37
At least 37 were killed in Iraq after militants targeted Christians in two separate bomb attacks on Wednesday, according to officials. In one attack, a car bomb went off near a church during Christmas Mass in the capital's southern Dora neighborhood, killing at least 26 people and wounding 38, a police officer said. A little bit earlier, a bomb ripped through an outdoor market in the nearby Christian section of Athorien, killing 11 people and wounding 21, the officer added. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks, but Iraq's dwindling Christian community, which is estimated to number about 400,000 to 600,000 people, has often been targeted by al-Qaida and other insurgents who see the Christians as unbelievers. Along with Christians, other targets include civilians in restaurants, cafes or crowded public areas, as well as Shiites and also members of the Iraqi security forces, who are targeted in an attempt to undermine confidence in the Shiite-led government and stir up Iraq's already simmering sectarian tensions. A medical official confirmed the casualty figures. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to talk to the media. The U.S Embassy in Baghdad condemned the violence in a statement released Wednesday, "The United States Embassy condemns in the strongest terms today's attacks in the Dora area of Baghdad that targeted Christians celebrating Christmas," the statement read. "The United States abhors all such attacks and is committed to its partnership with the Government of Iraq to combat the scourge of terrorism." Wednesday's bombings came amid a massive military operation in Iraq's western desert as authorities try to hunt down insurgents who have stepped up attacks across Iraq in the past months, sending violence to levels not seen since 2008. The Christmas Day attacks brought the total number of people killed so far this month in Iraq to 441. According to U.N. estimates, more than 8,000 people have been killed since the start of the year.
ISIS captures 86 Eritrean Christians in Libya, US official confirms
The ISIS terror group kidnapped 86 Eritrean Christians from a people-smugglers' caravan in Libya last week, a U.S. defense official confirmed Monday. The defense official confirmed initial reports of the mass kidnapping to Fox News after seeing a recent intelligence report. The independent Libya Herald newspaper reported that the convoy was ambushed by militants south of Tripoli before dawn this past Wednesday morning. Meron Estafanos, the co-founder of the Stockholm-based International Commission on Eritrean Refugees, told the paper that the group of migrants included "about 12 Eritrean Muslims and some Egyptians. They put them in another truck and they put 12 Eritrean women Christians in a smaller pick-up". Estafanos said that the militants had initially stopped the truck and demanded that the Muslims on board make themselves known. Everyone who responded was asked about the Koran and their religious observance in an attempt to catch Christians pretending to be Muslims. The main body of the group was put back on the original truck. As the militants drove the vehicle away, Britain's Daily Telegraph reported that at least nine men attempted to escape by diving off the back of the truck. Estefanos said three of those who had escaped were safe, but still trying to get out of Libya. The fate of the others was not known. Libya has become a jumping-off point for thousands of migrants from the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa who attempt the dangerous Mediterranean crossing to southern Europe. However, Libya's ongoing instability has led to an increased presence by ISIS and other terror groups, increasing the risk for Christians and other non-Muslims attempting the crossing. In February, Libyan militants proclaiming loyalty to ISIS released a video showing the beheading of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians at the edge of the Mediterranean Sea. Two months later, another video showed the militants shooting and beheading an indeterminate number of Ethiopian Christians. Estefanos told the Libya Herald that the video released in April had been edited and that 64 people had been massacred, including several Eritreans. "Ever since the kidnapping by ISIS in Libya last February," she said, "many are taking different routes. Some go from Khartoum [Sudan] to Turkey, then Greece. Others are now leaving via Khartoum to Cairo, then Alexandria and from there by boat to Italy. I think we will see an increase towards Turkey and Cairo instead of Libya". Libya is divided between rival governments and hundreds of militias in the aftermath of its 2011 civil war that ousted dictator Muammar Qaddafi. The violence has impacted the country's oil revenues heavily. U.N. envoy to Libya Bernardino Leon has warned that the country only has enough money to pay salaries for another six weeks, urging warring parties to agree on a unity government. Negotiators are currently meeting in Morocco to discuss a power-sharing agreement.
Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates 2010 – with grapes!
London, Jan 6 (ANI): Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo welcomed the New Year by posing with a big bunch of grapes. Ronaldo, 24, who was posing for a publicity photograph, was taking part in a Spanish custom, which required him to scoff a grape in between the chimes of midnight on New Year’s Eve in Spain, reports the Sun. Dressed in classic black tie, the winger went on to toast the start of the new decade with a glass of fizz. The footie found Premier League glory with champions Man Utd. (ANI)
Christmas bombs kill 40 in Nigeria
Bomb attacks on churches during Christmas services and a suicide blast in Nigeria killed at least 40 people amid spiralling violence claimed by Islamists. A purported spokesman for Islamist group Boko Haram claimed responsibility for a bombing of a church outside the capital Abuja and other violence which stoked fear and anger in Africa's most populous nation. Nigeria's national security adviser blamed Boko Haram for the horrific attacks that saw worshippers killed as they were leaving church and burnt inside their cars. Victims at the church outside the capital, where 35 were killed, ran toward a priest with dying pleas, including one man who was mortally wounded. The series of attacks drew condemnation from the Vatican, the White House and several western countries. Nigerian authorities were unable to prevent the latest attacks despite military crackdowns and claims of arrests of Boko Haram members in the country, roughly divided between a mainly Muslim north and mostly Christian south.
Christie win could send strong message to GOP about 2016 presidential bid
Even in a deep blue state, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is expected to coast into a second term Tuesday in his reelection race against Democratic state Sen. Barbara Buono. If he wins big – as is expected – it will send a strong message to members of his own party about his popularity with voters and could set him up for a 2016 presidential run. That’s a 180 degree turn from what Mitt Romney's political advisers thought of him as a potential 2012 running mate, according to a new book. The book “Double Down: Game Change 2012,” by journalists Mark Halperin and John Heilemann, chronicles the political flirtation with and eventual dismissal of Christie by Romney and his political team. According to the book, Romney’s advisers codenamed Christie “Pufferfish,” and their patience with him wore thin over chronic tardiness to joint political fundraisers and alleged diva demands of star treatment, including lavish travel arrangements. Ultimately, Christie was dropped as a candidate and Sen. Paul Ryan was chosen as Romney’s running mate. Still, Christie was able to strike a chord with Republicans and moderates and his continued popularity was among the few bright spots for the GOP during the 2012 election cycle. For Christie, winning in a landslide Tuesday would be sweet revenge and a reminder to the GOP that its base should think about him to lead the party. While campaigning Sunday night at a rally held by the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance, Christie told the crowd, “We need to show the Republican Party in America that we can win again. And guess where they’re going to be watching on Tuesday night to see if we can win: right here in New Jersey.” On Monday, he was a little more scaled back, warning supporters not to take anything for granted. "We are Republicans in New Jersey," the GOP governor said inside his packed Monmouth County headquarters. "You have to work and earn every vote you get in this state as a Republican. We're a minority party in this state." Christie’s handling of Superstorm Sandy – which caused billions in damage – endeared him to many in his state. Rutgers public policy professor Cliff Zukin says Christie’s Sandy efforts reinforced his standing among rank-and-file Republicans through “visibility in a crisis setting,” but will probably hurt him among conservative Republican Party leaders. Some social conservatives also seem on the fence about Christie. On Friday, a southern New Jersey couple sued the governor over his signing of a bill banning so-called gay conversion therapy. The couple claims that the bill Christie signed into law in August violates their constitutional rights. Specifically, they argue that the law violates their rights to free speech and freedom of religion because it prevents them from seeking treatment for their 15-year-old son.
Christmas my lucky date, says Aamir Khan
After rocking the box office last year with Christmas release "Dhoom: 3", superstar Aamir Khan has once again locked the festive season for "P.K.". He confesses that X-Mas is "lucky" for him. Aamir took to microblogging website Twitter to share his views. "Hey guys, 'P.K.' release date is finally locked...This Christmas (Dec 25)...My lucky date! 'Jai Ho'!" Aamir tweeted Monday. The actor previously tasted box office successes with "Taare Zameen Par", "Ghajini" and "3 Idiots" and interestingly, all of them came out during X-Mas. If "Taare Zameen Par", the story of a dyslexic child, which was Aamir's directorial debut, came out on Dec 21 and earned Rs.37 crore, action-thriller "Ghajini" hit the screens Dec 25, 2008. A remake of Tamil film of the same name, it earned Rs.200 crore (approximately $41 million) in less than two weeks. It was followed by "3 Idiots", which released in Dec 23, 2009. Loosely based on Chetan Bhagat's novel "Five Point Someone", it criticised the education system in India without being too preachy. The movie, which saw Aamir essaying a 22-year-old college student convincingly, grossed Rs.315 crore ($70 million) globally in 19 days since its release. Aamir's "Dhoom: 3" came out on Dec 20, 2013, and raked in Rs.501.35 crore ($83.56 million) worldwide in 17 days of its release. Keeping the past record in mind, one can say that X-mas could be lucky for "P.K.", which also features Anushka Sharma.