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Pope decries slaughter of 'defenseless' Syrians

By FRANCES D'EMILIOAssociated Press VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope Benedict XVI wished Christmas peace to the world Tuesday, decrying the slaughter of the "defenseless" in Syria and urging Israelis and Palestinians to find the courage to negotiate. Delivering the Vatican's traditional Christmas

Pope's Christmas message focuses on Mideast, China

By FRANCES D'EMILIOAssociated Press VATICAN CITY (AP) - In his Christmas message to the world Tuesday, Pope Benedict XVI called for an end to the slaughter in Syria and for more meaningful negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians, while encouraging more religious freedom under China's

Health care tax hikes for 2013 may be just a start

By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVARAssociated Press WASHINGTON (AP) - New taxes are coming Jan. 1 to help finance President Barack Obama's health care overhaul. Most people may not notice. But they will pay attention if Congress decides to start taxing employer-sponsored health insurance, one option in

Officials: NY gunman set 'trap' for firefighters

By JOHN KEKISAssociated Press WEBSTER, N.Y. (AP) - A man who set his house on fire then lured firefighters to their deaths in a blaze of flames and bullets had attracted little attention since he got out of prison in the 1990s for killing his grandmother, authorities said. But two months ago,