Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis is focusing his attention this Christmas Day on all those weeping in the world. In his Christmas Day address in St. Peter's Square, Francis singled out refugees, hostages and all those suffering in conflicts in the Middle East, Africa and Ukraine. He also expressed anguish for children who are victims of violence, including the recent terrorist attack on a Pakistani military school.
LONDON (AP) — Queen Elizabeth is using her traditional Christmas broadcast to call for international reconciliation and to praise medical workers fighting Ebola in Africa. Each year the queen writes her own Christmas speech, which is pre-recorded and televised in many parts of the world on the afternoon of Christmas Day. She says she's been "deeply touched" by the "selflessness" of doctors and nurses combating the Ebola outbreak.
BERKELEY, Mo. (AP) — A vigil, a march and a peaceful protest outside a church. People protested for a second night in Berkeley, Missouri, following the Tuesday night fatal shooting of a black 18-year-old by a white police officer. Police say 18-year-old Antonio Martin had pulled a gun on the officer. Berkeley is near Ferguson, Missouri, where an unarmed black 18-year-old was shot and killed by a white police officer in August.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Today is opening day for the comedy, "The Interview," which angered North Korea because it's about a plot to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The movie is expected to be in more than 300 independent theaters. But some folks already have seen the comedy. Sony Pictures started making it available yesterday on digital platforms, such as Google Play, YouTube Movies and Microsoft's Xbox Video.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Two Saudi women detained for nearly a month after violating the kingdom's female driving ban have been referred to a court established to try terrorism cases. Several people close to the defendants say the women's defense lawyers have appealed today's decision. They say the women are being charged not for defying the driving ban but for opinions they voiced online.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
