$1mn Picasso yours for just $135
Still stumped for a Christmas present? Then what about an exquisite $1 million Picasso for the living room, yours for just $135 at an online charity raffle.
'Nairobbery' grapples with pre-Christmas crime wave
Sydney advertising executive Patrick Richer led the typical Nairobi expatriate lifestyle, living in a home in a leafy part of the city, protected by high walls and round-the-clock security.
Tamagotchi virtual pets to return to Europe, N. America
Tamagotchi, the egg-shaped virtual pet beloved of schoolchildren in the 1990s, is making a comeback and is set to hit the shelves of European shops in time for Christmas.
German union plans Christmas strike at Amazon: report
Germany's service-sector union Verdi is planning strike action at the online retail giant Amazon over the busy Christmas holiday period.
Honduras leader regrets embassy orgy
Honduran President Porfirio Lobo said Monday that a pre-Christmas party at the country's embassy in Colombia that included prostitutes was a "sad incident."
Kazakhstan to have 3 days off for Orthodox Christmas
Religious holidays Kurban-ait and Orthodox Christmas are not considered official holidays, but are days off in Kazakhstan.
Seven dead as US storm snarls post-Christmas travel
A massive Christmas storm that whipped up tornadoes, ice and snow from the Gulf of Mexico to the Great Lakes has killed at least seven people and grounded more than 2,000 flights.
In Xmas mass, Holy Land patriarch urges peace efforts
Addressing the faithful in his Christmas Eve midnight mass in Bethlehem on Tuesday, Latin Patriarch Fuad Twal urged "men of good will" to seek peace amid "the sufferings in the Middle East."
US stocks lower on 'fiscal cliff' pessimism
US stocks slid during a shortened Christmas Eve session Monday amid pessimism about prospects for a "fiscal cliff" deal by the end of the year.
Thousands flock to Bethlehem for Christmas
Thousands of Palestinians and tourists were flocking to the West Bank city of Bethlehem on Monday to mark Christmas at the site where many believe Jesus Christ was born.
2012 an 'extraordinary year' for Britain: PM
Prime Minister David Cameron said 2012 has been an "extraordinary year" for Britain in which the country "showed the world what we're made of" with the London Games and Queen Elizabeth II's diamond jubilee.
Christmas misery in Haiti camp, three years after quake
While people around the world celebrate the arrival of Christmas, residents of a refugee camp in Haiti say hunger and want will mark the holiday, like every other day of the year.
Santa receives unwanted sack after outburst
A British Father Christmas has been suspended after allegedly telling children that Santa was not real and mentioning the recent US school massacre.
Christmas debt boons for Greece but risks remain
Greece opened its Christmas stockings early this year with an unexpected debt rating boon and European Central Bank support but analysts warn that risks remain in the troubled nation's fragile fiscal recovery.
Obama, Boehner meet in fiscal cliff talks
President Barack Obama and Republican House Speaker John Boehner held surprise talks Thursday, as time ran short for hopes of a pre-Christmas deal to solve a fiscal crisis that could cause a recession.
Police chief sends gangsters Christmas cards
Gangsters in one of Canada's most crime-ridden cities can expect a special greeting card this Christmas -- from a local police chief dressed as jolly Santa Claus and packing heat.
Pressure mounts on fiscal cliff, Obama urges fix
US President Barack Obama on Wednesday called for a pre-Christmas deal with Republicans to avert a year-end tax and deficit crunch, as pressure mounted from the business world and stock markets fluttered.
Eyeing holidays, Disney plays with video games
Disney is known for traditional holiday-season movies about princesses and fairy tales -- but this year it has turned to the world of video games for its latest animated blockbuster.