Hawaii's Governor Takes On ‘Birthers’  —  HONOLULU — Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie, who befriended President Obama's parents when they were university students here, has been in office for less than three weeks.  But he is so incensed over the “birthers” — conspiracy theorists who assert …

Phoenix Abuzz as a Palin Buys a Home Nearby  —  PHOENIX — Bristol Palin, the 20-year-old daughter of Sarah Palin, has bought a five-bedroom house in Maricopa, a modest community south of Phoenix, setting off a flurry of speculation as to exactly what her plans — and those of her famous mother — are for the desert dwelling.

Iraqis defy threats to pack massacre church on Xmas  —  BAGHDAD — Hundreds of Christians packed Baghdad's Our Lady of Salvation church for Christmas on Saturday, defying threats of attacks less than two months after militants massacred worshippers and priests there.

US President Obama condemns Pakistan suicide bombing  —  The aftermath of the attack on the food aid distribution point in Khar  —  US President Barack Obama has condemned as “outrageous” Saturday's deadly suicide bomb attack on a town in north-western Pakistan.

Perry on 2012: ‘A definite no, brother’  —  A governor eyed by some as a 2012 Republican contender for the White House stressed that his focus is on leading the nation's GOP governors and working with new leadership on Capitol Hill to assert states' rights.  —  Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) …

The Christmas Truce of 1914: “Threat to National Security”?  —  What's Your Reaction:  —  As we celebrate Christmas 2010, 100,000 US troops languish in Afghanistan, and Bradley Manning sits in “maximum custody” in Quantico for the alleged crime of disclosing classified “secrets” …

Haia men ready to block New Year festivities  —  JEDDAH: The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (Haia) has directed all its branch offices to be on the lookout for any year-end celebration, the director general of the Haia in Makkah province Sheikh Ahmad Al-Ghamdi said in a statement to Arab News on Friday.

‘Jihadist’ issues Christmas bombing threat  —  WASHINGTON (AFP) - A “jihadist” in an audiotaped threat said fireworks displays will set off terrorist bombs in countries celebrating Christmas, the SITE monitoring group said.  —  The recording, titled “The Zero Hour has arrived” and directed to …

The Digital Story of the Nativity  —  Via Eneas.

G.O.P. to Open House to Electronic Devices  —  WASHINGTON — The iPad is coming to Capitol Hill.  —  Tucked into new rules proposed by the incoming House Republican majority is one that could fling the chamber — for good or ill — into the 21st century: Members may use an electronic device …