Israel: Palestinians offer to renew Israel peace talks without settlement freeze, official says

Palestinians offer to renew Israel peace talks without settlement freeze, official says - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News: "PA reportedly submits new Quartet offer to restart negotiations, demand Israel releases 100 Palestinian prisoners; Israel rejects offer fearing renewal of only low-grade talks."

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Vatican: Pope expresses sadness over ‘senseless’ violence against Christians in Nigeria

Channel 6 News » UPDATE 1 — Pope expresses sadness over ‘senseless’ violence against Christians in Nigeria: "According to Nigerian media reports, the Boko Haram Islamist militant group has claimed responsibility for the deadly Christmas Day attacks. The group has been blamed for most of the region's terrorist attacks and seeks the imposition of an extremist stance of the Shariah law, which is a Muslim code of conduct. The group's name, in the local language of Hausa, roughly translates as 'Western religion is sacrilegious' or 'non-Islamic religion is a sin.'

In early November, a series of bomb and shooting attacks targeting police stations, mosques and churches in northeastern Nigeria left at least 82 people killed and more than 100 injured. The attacks, also claimed by Boko Haram, happened just before the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha."

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EU: Moments of Margaret Thatcher in Meryl Streep Film and EU Debates

Meryl Streep Film and EU Debates Bring Maggie Thatcher's Moment - The Daily Beast: "A British Prime Minister, splendidly isolated, faces down a phalanx of scowling European leaders, all harrumphing censure in accents that are German, French, Italian. We've witnessed the scene before. Decades ago Margaret Thatcher warred with her European counterparts just as David Cameron did this month in refusing to yield control of national budgets to Brussels. The difference is that the Iron Lady did not speak softly when she wielded a big stick. She lambasted ambitious bureaucrats; the artificial Utopian megastate you want to build, she told them, will be a "tower of Babel" dominated by Germany and riven by economic crises. Though she was ousted in 1990 over her refusal to join the monetary union, her skepticism seems to be vindicated with every euro crisis. December 2011 is very much Maggie's moment, and with serendipitous timing, she's there on the big screen in a biopic, The Iron Lady, portrayed with preternatural realism by Meryl Streep."

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Guatemala & El Salvador: U.S. government suspends training for new Peace Corps volunteers while it assesses security concerns

US Nixes Peace Corps Class For Guatemala, Salvador - From the Wires - Salon.com: "A Peace Corps statement says a training course for volunteers scheduled for January will not take place, but those already serving in the two countries are “safe and accounted for.” The corps said Wednesday that “due to ongoing security concerns, the agency is enhancing operational support to currently serving volunteers.” Corps spokeswoman Kristina Edmunson says the corps will try to place volunteers who planned to serve in Guatemala or El Salvador in other countries. Both countries have suffered waves of violent crime and drug-related violence."

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India: Parenting is no kidding- We have moved fr joint families to nuclear families & single parenthood, leaving young parents w/more responsibilities

Parenting is no kidding : North News - India Today: "Family structures have changed over the years. "We have moved from joint families to nuclear families and single parenthood, leaving young parents with more responsibilities," says Komal Mathur, counselor, transaction analysis. "Juggling between careers and home makes it increasingly difficult for parents to keep tabs on their children," admits parent-child counselor, Jessina Merchant. The multiple distractions and options available to kids these days make a parent's job even harder. The influence of the peers is not limited to school and neighborhood any more. "While parents want to keep track of their kids' activities at school, they don't want to intrude too much either," says Reena Nath, family therapist. "

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North Korea: China continued to express support for Mr. Kim's son and apparent successor, Kim Jong Un

Clinton: North Korea Should Follow ‘Path of Peace’ Following Kim’s Death « VOA Breaking News: "In New York, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon offered condolences to the North Korean people and reaffirmed his long-standing commitment to peace and security in the region. The official gesture came as the U.N. General Assembly condemned human rights abuses in North Korea – a vote taken annually by the world body.
In London, British Foreign Secretary William Hague said Mr. Kim's death could be a turning point for North Korea. He also said Pyongyang's engagement with the international community offers the North its best hope for improving the lives of ordinary North Koreans.
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said France is wary about the consequences of a power transfer in the secretive communist state. He voiced hope that North Korean citizens will gain expanded freedoms."

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Pakistan: Pak critical to peace talks in Afghanistan as it’s Taliban’s hub: Karzai | Firstpost

Pak critical to peace talks in Afghanistan as it’s Taliban’s hub: Karzai | Firstpost:

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