NPR News 2011-12-26 加文本

NPR News 2011-12-26

From NPR News in Washington, I'm Barbara Klein.

In Nigeria today, mourning and terror as a series of bombs exploded in five different cities. At least 25 people were killed in an explosion during Christmas Mass at a Roman Catholic church outside the Nigerian capital Abuja. In the central city of Jos, a bomb killed a policeman. Nigeria's radical Islamists said Boko Haram is claiming responsibility. The White House is pledging to help Nigerian officials bring the perpetrators to justice.

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 amidst tight security. NPR's Sean Carberry reports parishioners 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 filed past multiple checkpoints of armed guards to attend Mass. Monsignor Pius Kasha delivered Mass, and he called for peace and for the people of Iraq to unite and work together. After Mass, parishioners said they are pessimistic about Iraq's future.

“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 and 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, Christians 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.

"… is not we’re looking out. A little bit of white now come across the Great Lake. There's just a couple of inches here and there, and several inches of snow possible in the higher peak of Washington cascade into the Northern Rocky over the next couple of days."

A larger area of rain that's moving across 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 halls were decked well in advance of Christmas Day.

American astronaut Dan Burbank is commanding the space station. He sent the Earth some holiday greetings by video earlier this month, saying that he and two crewmates have been getting into the spirit of things.

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

Three members of the station’s 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’s 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 celebrations.

I'm Barbara Klein, NPR News in Washington.