Michelle Obama Helps Kids Track Santa By Phone

Michelle Obama has taken calls from children eagerly checking the progress of Santa's sleigh as he delivers presents around the world.

The First Lady volunteered for the traditional North American Aerospace Defence Command (Norad) Tracks Santa programme and wished callers a Merry Christmas.

"I see his sleigh with eight tiny reindeer and he is over Sudan - South Sudan. That's in Africa," she told a girl named Ella.

"And right now, he's delivering some gifts. He's going down, swooping down to some little kids who are in South Sudan, OK? That's where he is right now. It's really, really very cool, don't you think?"

Mrs Obama took the calls in the President's home state of Hawaii, where the family are spending their Christmas holiday.

The Norad programme started when department store Sears Roebuck & Co advertised its Santa hotline in a magazine in 1955.

"Hey Kiddies, call me direct on my telephone," said the ad, below which was printed the wrong phone number.

Rather than getting through to the shop, children dialled America's Continental Air Defence Command, which later became Norad.

Instead of telling callers they had the wrong number, Colonel Harry Shoup told staff to check their radar screens and provide children with an update on Santa's location.

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Queen's Message: Monarch Reflects On 2013

By Paul Harrison, Royal Correspondent

The Queen has reflected on key events of the past 12 months in her traditional Christmas broadcast, including the birth of her great-grandson Prince George and the 60th anniversary of her coronation.

In her message, recorded earlier this month at Buckingham Palace, the 87-year-old monarch said: "We all need to get the balance right between action and reflection.

"With so many distractions, it is easy to forget to pause and take stock."

The head of the Commonwealth also used the theme of "reflection" to look ahead to the Commonwealth Games being staged in Glasgow next year.

The newest addition to the Royal Family was something the Queen was keen to focus on, saying the arrival of a baby "gives everyone the chance to contemplate the future with renewed happiness and hope".

During the broadcast, behind-the-scenes footage was shown for the first time of the photoshoot at Clarence House in October, shortly after the Christening of Prince George at the Chapel Royal.

The Monarch will reflect on the birth of her great-grandson, Prince George

One photograph taken was that of the Queen with the next three generations of monarchs including Princes Charles, William and George.

As the Queen spoke to the British people, and those of the Commonwealth, the historic photograph took pride of place next to her at the Palace alongside a framed image of her father George VI and mother, the Queen Mother.

The Christmas address is written by the Queen and is one of the rare occasions when she does not turn to the Government for advice but is able to voice her own views.

It was this year recorded in Buckingham Palace's Blue Drawing Room which featured a large Christmas tree decorated with coloured baubles.

During her message, the Queen was seated wearing a single crepe-wool primrose dress designed by Angela Kelly, which she wore to William and Kate's wedding in April 2011.

On her left shoulder was a diamond, ruby and sapphire brooch, a present from her parents to celebrate the birth of Charles in 1948, which she wore at George's Christening.

Earlier on Christmas Day the monarch was joined by her family at church in Sandringham - with the exception of Prince George.

The Duke of Edinburgh and Prince Andrew led the walking party from the main house to St Mary Magdalene's church on the Norfolk estate.

But The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge decided the 45-minute service would be unsuitable for their five-month-old.

Prince Harry joined the 11am stroll sporting a beard grown during his trek to the South Pole.

The Queen, who is normally accompanied by the Countess of Wessex, was this year instead joined by a heavily pregnant Zara Philips.

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Taxi Driver Finds - And Hands In - $300,000 Cash

A Las Vegas taxi driver has proved to be the Good Samaritan of the season after returning a bag full of cash found on his back seat.

Gerardo Gamboa thought someone had left a paper bag full of chocolates in his cab, but it turned out to be $300,000 (£184,000) in cold, hard cash.

The taxi driver was making a pick-up on Monday at the Bellagio hotel when a hotel doorman noticed the brown paper bag and handed it to him, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.

He checked the bag while at a traffic light and found six bundles of $100 bills.

Mr Gamboa received a cheque from his company as a reward

"Oh my God, this is cash money," was his immediate reaction to the find.

He called his supervisor and took the money to the company's main office.

Las Vegas police and casino officials were able to link the money to a well-known poker player whose identity remains secret.

The cabbie said he had not spoken to the passenger during the journey.

When asked if he had considered keeping the cash, he said: "Oh no, no, not even, not even one second, no."

His bosses praised him for 13 years of loyal, trouble-free service

It is unknown whether he will receive a reward from the poker player, but the cab company has awarded him $1,000 for his honesty.

Singing Mr Gamboa's praises, Bill Shranko of Yellow Checker Star Transportation said, "This guy is just terrific. Not one problem with him in the whole 13 years."

The taxi driver himself said he was satisfied with his decision to turn the money in.

"I did the right thing for myself, for my family, for my company and the city of Las Vegas," he said.

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Stafford: Motorist Arrested After Road Death

A 22-year-old motorist has been arrested after the body of an elderly man was found in the road in the early hours of Christmas Day.

The discovery was made at the junction of Shakespeare Road and Wordsworth Avenue on Stafford's Highfields estate at around 12.50am.

Specially-trained police officers were sent out to support the family of the elderly man, who has not been named.

The 22-year-old is being held on suspicion of being unfit to drive through either drink or drugs in connection with the death.

He is now being questioned as investigations are carried out at the scene.

The victim was found dead on Stafford's Highfields estate

Police want anyone who spotted a white van in the area, or saw or heard anything suspicious, to contact them.

A spokesman said: "The family of the elderly local man who died as a result of this tragic incident ... are being supported and kept informed about the progress of the investigation.

"We would ask that no names of the man who died are posted on to social media until the formal identification has been released so that the family affected can ensure all relatives and loved ones are informed first.

"We want to thank everyone affected by the road closures for their understanding and support at this difficult time."

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Christmas Benefit Payments: Thousands Miss Out

Tens of thousands of people have not received benefit payments in time for Christmas.

The money for jobseekers, low earners and pensioners had been due to arrive in their accounts on Tuesday, but will now not arrive until Friday.

Up to 32,000 people are believed to be affected. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) blamed an administration error.

Those affected include new claimants, those owed arrears and people awarded Social Fund budgeting loans for essentials such as clothes, rent and furniture.

The DWP said that if individuals had contacted them by 5pm last night the payment would have been rushed through within three hours.

A spokesman said: "The vast majority of regular benefit payments have been made on time this Christmas.

"However due to an administrative issue, a number of one-off or more irregular payments will now be paid on December 27 rather than December 24.

"We have procedures in place to ensure that anyone who has been affected by this and who contacted us would have had their benefits paid, usually within three hours.

"We apologise for any inconvenience caused."

A total of 32,200 people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance, Employment Support Allowance, Social Fund and certain categories of pension could have been hit by the delay, the spokesman said.

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Iraq: Christmas Bombers Target Christians

At least 22 people have been killed in Christmas Day bomb attacks targeting Christians in Iraq.

A car bomb went off near a church during Christmas Mass in Baghdad's southern Dora district, killing at least 15 people and wounding more than 30, a police officer said.

Earlier, a bomb ripped through an outdoor market in the nearby Christian section of Athorien, killing seven people and wounding 16, the officer added.

Both attacks took place in Baghdad's Dora district

A medical official confirmed the casualty figures. 

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks, but Iraq's dwindling Christian community, which is estimated at 400,000 to 600,000 people, has often been targeted by al Qaeda and other insurgents.

The latest bombings came amid a massive military operation in Iraq's western desert as authorities try to hunt down insurgents who have stepped up attacks across Iraq, sending violence to levels not seen since 2008.

Christians attending mass in Baghdad's St Joseph Chaldean church

Along with Christians, other targets for extremists include civilians in restaurants, cafes or crowded public areas, as well as Shi'ites and members of the Iraqi security forces, who are targeted in an attempt to undermine confidence in the Shi'ite-led government and stir up sectarian tensions.

The Christmas Day attacks brought the total number of people killed so far this month in Iraq to 426.

According to UN estimates, more than 8,000 people have been killed since the start of the year.

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Severe Weather: Families Forced From Homes

Almost 50,000 people are without power on Christmas Day and dozens have been evacuated from their flooded homes following severe weather.

Many of those affected by the storms that battered the UK in the run-up to Christmas will not have power restored to their homes until Boxing Day, the Energy Networks Association has warned.

Around 90 people were asked to leave their homes on the River Stour near Bournemouth following warnings from the Environment Agency, Dorset police said.

Travel chaos at Gatwick Airport - pic: @walshymk

Officers had been monitoring the levels of the River Stour closely and people living in the threatened areas were warned of the possibility of flooding and evacuation.

Police described the rescue effort as a "multi-agency operation" and advised people who have concerns about flooding to contact the Environment Agency.

Emergency services evacuated people from the Iford Bridge Home Park in Bournemouth and the Beaulieu Garden Park Home in Christchurch, Dorset, after water levels rose dangerously.

The coastguard rescued 76 people from a caravan park flooded by the River Medway at Yalding in Kent on Tuesday night.

Rescuers helped residents at the Little Venice Caravan and Marina Park leave by boat and four-wheel-drive vehicle.

The water was chest deep at one point, and a helicopter was brought in as a precaution while the last 21 people were led to safety.

The Environment Agency's map shows flood warnings across England and Wales

The Environment Agency said 150 properties had been flooded in England, mainly in Surrey and Kent, with numbers expected to rise.

Firefighters in both counties broke a five-hour nationwide strike on Tuesday to help deal with the effects of the storms.

In Surrey, residents were evacuated from their homes in Dorking, Leatherhead and Guildford, while more evacuations occurred in Tonbridge, Kent.

Some 40 properties were evacuated in Godalming because of concerns over the height of the River Wey, Surrey Police said.

Passengers' luggage at Gatwick Airport

In the Mole Valley, evacuations took place in Leatherhead and Dorking after the River Mole burst its banks in several areas.

Police said the Flanchford Bridge over the River Mole near Reigate had collapsed, but no one was injured.

In Dorset, fire crews had to rescue 25 people trapped in their cars by flood water.

At a Wetherspoon's pub in Tonbridge, 100 people booked in for Christmas dinner had to make alternative arrangements after it was flooded.

By 1pm on Christmas Day, the Environment Agency had reduced the number of severe flood warnings - meaning lives are in danger - from three to two.

Tonbridge in Kent has been hit by severe flooding - pic: Toby MacKenzie

But 102 flood warnings - meaning "immediate action" is required - and 200 "be prepared" flood alerts were still in place.

Many travellers are still trying to get home for Christmas after treacherous conditions on the roads and major delays on the rail network and at airports hampered their travel plans .

Five people have died in the last three days because of the stormy weather.

There was chaos at Gatwick Airport in West Sussex on Christmas Eve after a power cut at the North Terminal led to cancellations and delays, leaving thousands of passengers stranded. The airport said normal service was resuming today.

Police officers stepped in to calm passengers as they demanded information about their flights.

A police officer calms crowds at Gatwick - pic: Joe Pattinson

Hundreds of pieces of luggage were strewn across the airport as no bags were able to be checked in.

Airline easyJet said it would be operating a limited number of Christmas Day flights from the airport to replace 83 cancelled on Tuesday because of the power cut.

These include flights to Faro, Basle, Malaga, Alicante and Amman, while passengers from a cancelled flight from Gibraltar to Gatwick will be travelling on one from Malaga.

EasyJet said it would be unable to schedule any further flights today because of limited capacity at airports and crew availability.

Fire crews rescued motorists - pic: Dorset Fire and Rescue Service

A spokesman said: "Due to the high amount of cancellations that were unavoidable on the 24th, we are currently working on a plan to repatriate all passengers back to their destinations as soon as possible.

"But please be advised this may take a couple of days whilst the programme resumes to normal operation from Thursday."

Although Wednesday has seen calmer weather, more storms are expected on Friday.

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Archbishop Highlights Plight Of Britain's Poor

The Archbishop of Canterbury has highlighted the "injustices" facing Britain's poor and victims of conflicts around the world in his first Christmas Day sermon.

The Most Rev Justin Welby called on Christians to challenge the causes of poverty in front of the congregation at Canterbury Cathedral.

The Archbishop, who became the leader of 77 million Anglican worshippers in March, condemned the treatment of Christian communities in the Middle East who are being "attacked and massacred" and the ongoing suffering in South Sudan.

He spoke of the bomb attacks in Iraq's capital, Baghdad, in which 22 people were killed in bomb blasts targeted at a Christmas Day service and a Christian area of a market. 

"Today, singing of Bethlehem, we see injustices in Palestine and Israel, where land is taken or rockets are fired, and the innocent suffer," he said.

"We see injustice in the ever more seriously threatened Christian communities of the Middle East.

"They are attacked and massacred, driven into exile from a region in which their presence has always been essential.

The Archbishop will highlight the growing violence in South Sudan

"We see terrible news in South Sudan, where political ambitions have led towards ethnic conflict.

"On Saturday I was speaking to a bishop under siege, in a compound full of the dying.

"We see injustices at home.

"Even in a recovering economy, Christians, the servants of a vulnerable and poor saviour, need to act to serve and love the poor; they need also to challenge the causes of poverty."

He continued: "The action of the churches in the last five years is extraordinary, reaching out in ways not seen since 1945.

"Yet no society can be content where misery and want exist, unless through our love collectively we also challenge the greed and selfishness behind it."

The Archbishop admitted "it will always be an untidy church because we are in a vulnerable, untidy, broken world".

"The Christian meaning of Christmas is unconditional love received, love overflowing into a frequently love-lost world," he said.

Earlier, he posted a Christmas video message on the photo-sharing website Instagram.

In the message, he said: "Christmas means that, through Jesus, God shows unconditionally that he loves us. I pray that he gives you a very blessed Christmas."

Pope Francis, also giving his first Christmas address in his role as head of his church, chose likewise to concentrate on conflicts around the world and called for a united effort to end them.

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Pope Asks Non-Catholics To Unite For Peace

The Pope has called on atheists to unite with believers of all religions and work for "a homemade peace" that can spread across the world.

Speaking to about 70,000 people from the central balcony of St Peter's Basilica, Pope Francis also made another appeal for the environment to be saved from "human greed and rapacity".

Celebrating his first Christmas as leader of the 1.2 billion-member Catholic Church, he centred his first "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and world) message on the theme of peace.

Pope Francis holds a statue of Jesus at Christmas Eve mass at the Vatican

"Peace is a daily commitment. It is a homemade peace," he said.

"I invite even non-believers to desire peace. (Join us) with your desire, a desire that widens the heart. Let us all unite, either with prayer or with desire, but everyone, for peace."

His words came on the same day that bombers targeted Christians in Iraq, with two bomb blasts killing 22 people in the capital, Baghdad.

Pope Francis called for "social harmony in South Sudan, where current tensions have already caused numerous victims and are threatening peaceful coexistence in that young state".

Thousands gathered at Manger Square near the Church of the Nativity

Thousands are believed to have died in violence divided along ethnic lines between the Nuer and Dinka tribes in the country, which seceded from Sudan in 2011 after decades of war.

A similar message calling for an end to conflicts was delivered by the Archbishop of Canterbury, who was also delivering his first Christmas Day address as head of his church.

The Pope also called for dialogue to end the conflicts in Syria, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo and Iraq, and prayed for a "favourable outcome" to the peace process between Israelis and Palestinians.

Pilgrims came from all over the world to experience Christmas at the Vatican.

"(He) is bringing a new era into the Church, a Church that is focusing much more on the poor and that is more austere, more lively," said Dolores Di Benedetto, who came from the Pope's homeland, Argentina, to attend Christmas Eve Mass.

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Antarctic Ice Traps Cruise Ship Tourists

A Russian cruise ship with 74 people on board has got stuck in the ice near Antarctica.

The ship, MV Akademik Shokalskiy, is stranded some 1,500 nautical miles south of Tasmania and 100 nautical miles east of the French base Dumont D'Urville.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority, which is co-ordinating the search and rescue, was alerted to the ship's situation by Falmouth Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Cornwall which received a distress signal early on Christmas Day morning.

The ship is 1,500 nautical miles from Hobart. Map: AMSA

The Australian authorities have issued a broadcast to icebreaking vessels in the area and three ships are now on their way.

However, the closest vessels are at least two days' sailing time away.

Those on board the ship, which left New Zealand late last month, include explorers, scientists and tourists, as well as crew.

The voyage was planned as part of an expedition to mark the centenary of explorer Douglas Mawson's trip and to get the chance to see Mawson's Huts which have been inaccessible for some time because of an iceberg.

Mawson's Hut in Commonwealth Bay

It is not known how the ship became stuck but the AMSA says the vessel is not in any immediate danger.

Those on board had just returned from a 60km trek across pack ice, one organiser of the voyage told Australia's 9news.

Passengers seem to be taking the adventure in their stride, with Australasian Antarctic expedition leader Chris Turney tweeting: "We're in the ice like the explorers of old! All are well and spirits are high. Happy Christmas from the AA."

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