#Cyprus #gas; #Amnesty Int'l game; Rebuilding #Kosovo; #Russia #US 2012; #Tymoshenko transfer; #Egypt #Christians; #Bible ^MZ

I. THENATIONAL - Cyprus talks of "new era" wealth but gas bonanza comes with challenges

II. EKATHIMERINI - Greek team designs game for Amnesty International

III. SVOTS - Dean of St. Vladimir's Assists in Rebuilding Kosovo

IV. RT - Russian, U.S. relations: Looking ahead to 2012

V. EURONEWS - Prison transfer for Ukraine ex-PM Tymoshenko

VI. ALMASRYALYOUM - Muslim villagers burn houses of Christian family Upper Egypt

VII. NEWSLETTER - Is the King James Bible still best after 400 years?

#Egypt raid #IRI #NDI; #Iran #US #Russia #missiles; #Cyprus #gas; #Kosovo #Serbs; #Samoa; #Icons for the blind ^MZ

I. REUTERS - Egypt police raid U.S.-based pro-democracy groups, IRI, NDI

II. FOXNEWS - Iran: U.S. in "No Position" to Give Orders on Strait of Hormuz

III. BUSINESSINSIDER - Iran Baits The U.S., Russia's Beefing Up Its Nukes

IV. SFGATE - Noble's Cyprus Gas Find May Be Complicated by Turkey

V. CHICAGOTRIBUNE - Kosovo Serbs call referendum on recognizing Pristina

VI. TIME - Samoa Will Skip Friday This Week

VII. PRAVMIR - Icons for the Blind

#Turkish settlers #Cyprus #gas, #Turkey responds #France; #Bosnia politics; #US #Tymoshenko; #Japan #NATO; #Coptics #Salafis #Egypt ^MZ

I. WATIMES - Some Turkish settlers would be welcome in united Cyprus

II. WAPOST - Cyprus: Offshore field has 5-8 trillion cubic feet of gas, major find that could aid economy

III. HAARETZ - Turkey says French [Armenian genocide] law damages freedom of expression

IV. B92 - Bosnia political leaders to meet in Sarajevo

V. AFP - U.S. urges Ukraine to free Tymoshenko

VI. RUVR - Japan, NATO to become closer

VII. ALMASRYALYOUM - Pope Shenouda to invite Salafis to attend Christmas

#Christmas; #Religious #persecution; #TSA report; #Armenian #genocide; #Russia #missiles; #Pirates; #Korea ^MZ

I. JPOST - Local churches tell the Christmas story

II. DAILYNEWS - As Americans celebrate Christmas in security and safety, Christians around the world have become most persecuted followers of any religion

III. THEATLANTIC - Your Boxing Day TSA Report

IV. B92 - Israel debates Armenian genocide claims

V. RIAN - Russia test launches Stiletto missile

VI. TELEGRAPH - Pirates hijack Italian tanker with 18 on board off Oman

VII. VOA - China, Japan Urge Stability on Korean Peninsula

#Armenian #genocide #Turkey; #Cyprus #US; #UNSC #Kosovo; #Iraq; #Greek migration; #Medvedev; #Islam majority #EU ^MZ

I. TELEGRAPH - Turkey recalls French ambassador over Armenian genocide bill

II. BALKANS - Cyprus and U.S. discuss current phase on the issues

III. B92 - UNSC postpones discussion on organ trade draft

IV. MIAMIHERALD - NATO ends Iraq mission as drama unfolds in Green Zone

V. KATHIMERINI - Migration woes remain unsolved

VI. RIAN - Outgoing Medvedev proposes sweeping political reforms

VII. EXAMINER - Islam to be majority in Europe by the end of the century

#Cyprus #Lebanon; #Turkey #France #Armenian #genocide; #EU asylum; #Germany #Serbia #Kosovo; #NATO; #Coptic church #Orthodox ^MZ

I. NOWLEBANON - Report: Cypriot delegation to begin talks on border demarcation

II. WAPOST - Cyprus foreign minister briefing U.S. officials on natural gas development

III. GLOBALPOST - Turkey angry over France's genocide bill

IV. KATHIMERINI - Court rules: EU states can't transfer asylum seekers facing inhuman treatment

V. B92 - Germany wants Serbia to surrender Kosovo

VI. THEATLANTIC - A Changing NATO for a Changing World

VII. OCA - Holy Synod of Bishops expresses solidarity with Coptic Church in Egypt

#Christianity largest #religion; #Christmas; #Israel #US #Russia #missiles; #Serbia; #Turkey arrests; #Christie goes after #Obama ^MZ

I. DJ - Survey: Christianity is world's largest religion


II. AFP - Israel eases Christmas movement for Palestinian Christians


III. JPOST - Israel-US to hold largest-ever missile defense drill


IV. RIAN - Russia tests domestic interceptor missile


V. FT - Serbia and Russia: cosying up


VI. CNN - Turkey arrests journalists in alleged terror plot


VII. POLITICO - Chris Christie goes after Barack Obama and Mika Brzezinski

#Cyprus #gas #Greece; #NATO #Russia #missiles; #Kosovo #UN crossings; #AEI; #Iraq #Christians ^MZ

I. WORLDPRESS - Eastern Mediterranean Energy Games

II. KTO - Greece examining "free" U.S. tank offer

III. WAPOST - Top NATO official criticizes Russian threats to deploy missiles over U.S. defense plan

IV. RUVR - Russia sends humanitarian aid to Kosovo

V. B92 - Agreement on crossings “in line with 1244”

VI. AEI - Faith in a Consumerist Society

VII. CHRISTIANTODAY - Iraq Christians struggle to have a merry Christmas

#Kuwait #NATO; #Serbia #EU; #US #Iran, #Greek #heritage, #Russia criticism, #arms race; #Orthodox #church #Cyprus #Israel ^MZ

I. GULFNEWS - Kuwait, NATO mull plans to set up centre in Kuwait City

II. B92 - "No loss" if Serbia is denied EU candidate status

III. USATODAY - U.S. launches "virtual" embassy for Iran

IV. MENAFN - U.S., Greece finalize agreement to protect Greek Archaeological and Byzantine Heritage

V. REUTERS - Russia says U.S. criticism of vote "unacceptable"

VI. SPIEGEL - A New Arms Race Looms between Russia and U.S.

VII. VOSIZNEIAS - Orthodox Christian Church, Israeli Chief Rabbi Seek Close Ties

#Cyprus rebuffs #Turkey; #Biden #Greece; #USPS; #Iran; #Israel; #Medvedev; #Copts #Egypt vote ^MZ

I. NEUROPE - Cyprus offers terse rebuff to Turkish offer

II. UPI - Biden: U.S. with Greece in solidarity

III. ABCNEWS - Postal Service Could Eliminate 1-Day Delivery

IV. REUTERS - Analysis: "Cold War" with Iran heats up across Mideast

V. JPOST - PA rejects direct talks with Israel

VI. RIAN - Medvedev: New parliament will be "lively"

VII. ALMASRYALYOUM - Coptic Church to support independents in run-off elections

#Belgrade #Pristina; #Russia backs #Syria; #US sanctions #Iran warns #UN #EU; #Greek football; #Christian Arabs; #Christmas ^MZ

I. B92 - Belgrade-Priština talks end without agreement

II. GUARDIAN - Why Russia is backing Syria

III. SFGATE - U.S. Senate Approves Sanctions Aimed at Crippling Iran Oil Sales

IV. REUTERS - Iran cleric warns EU, UN against backing Britain

V. BBC - Euro 2012: Greece team profile

VI. INTERFAX - Patriarch Kirill fears all Christians could leave Arab world

VII. REPORTERNEWS - Christmas shares December with other holidays

#EU: #Kosovo crisis, #Iran & #Syria sanctions; #Egypt #Islamists; #Iraq #NATO; S #Ossetia; #Christianity persecuted #religion ^MZ

I. GUARDIAN - The EU must confront the north Kosovo crisis

II. BW - EU Widens Sanctions on Iran, Remains Divided Over Oil Halt

III. REUTERS - EU targets more people, entities in Syria sanctions

IV. NYT - Islamists Claim Egypt’s Mandate in Early Voting

V. WAPOST - Talks on Iraq NATO mission stall over issue of immunity for troops

VI. RIAN - S.Ossetian presidential candidate tells supporters to go home

VII. RUVR - Christianity - world's most persecuted religion