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NEW YORK (AP) — Mourners of a New York City police officer killed with his partner in an ambush shooting will gather at a Queens church for his wake Friday. Officer Rafael Ramos will be remembered at Christ Tabernacle Church in the Glendale section of Queens, where his family says he was a longstanding and deeply committed member. His funeral will be held there on Saturday. Vice President Joe Biden has said he will attend.
KHAO LAK, Thailand (AP) — There are beachside memorials Friday across Asia to mark the 10th anniversary of the Indian Ocean tsunami that killed 230,000 people. The devastating Dec. 26, 2004 tsunami struck a dozen countries around the Indian Ocean rim, eradicating entire coastal communities and decimating families. As part of Friday's solemn commemorations, survivors, government officials, diplomats and families of victims gathered in Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India and elsewhere.
KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii (AP) — President Barack Obama says Afghanistan has a chance to rebuild its country "because of the extraordinary service of the men and women in the American armed forces." Obama on Christmas Day visited troops at a Marine base in Hawaii to mark the end of more than a decade of combat in Afghanistan. The U.S. will be pulling the vast majority of its combat troops out of Afghanistan by year's end.
DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan (AP) — A suspected U.S. drone has fired missiles at two compounds in the North Waziristan tribal region killing at least seven alleged militants. Pakistani intelligence officials say each compound was hit by two missiles early Friday. Drone strikes are largely unpopular in Pakistan where many consider them a violation of the country's sovereignty. But the U.S. insists the attacks are effective to eliminate militants in areas inaccessible to the Pakistani military.
TOKYO (AP) — Shares are mostly higher in quiet trading Friday in Asia, as most markets in the region and across the globe have been closed for Christmas holidays. China's Shanghai Composite Index extended gains in the second day of a rebound from this week's earlier sell-off. U.S. markets look set for gains when they reopen Friday, with Dow futures up 0.2 percent and S&P future 0.1 percent higher.
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