The following are the top stories in the international press today:
There has been widespread international condemnation of Christmas Day bomb attacks in Nigeria that have killed some 40 people. The International Herald Tribune says the White House described the attacks as "senseless violence" and offered to help Nigeria in bringing those responsible to justice. Political leaders in Britain, France, Germany and Israel called them "cowardly".
Voice of Nigeria radio reports at least five bombings were reported, including three at churches and one at a state security building. The worst appeared to be at a packed Catholic church just outside the capital, Abuja, where a bomb tore through the building and killed at least 16 people as they left a Christmas morning mass. Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan said the attacks were “an unwarranted affront” on collective safety and freedom. The militant sect Boko Haram, which seeks to impose Islamic law across the country, claimed responsibility for several of the bombings and was suspected in others.
Il Tempo says the Pope has used his traditional Christmas Day message to pray for an end to the bloodshed in Syria, “where much blood has already been shed". He also urged the world to help famine victims in the Horn of Africa. The “Urbi et Orbi” ("To the city and the world") message was broadcast around the world in 65 languages. His remarks on Syria come after a year which has seen more than 5,000 civilians killed as the government seeks to suppress dissent.
The transitional government in Libya says a new plan was being introduced to integrate thousands of former rebel fighters in the country’s armed forces. Al Jazeera says the move was expected to test the government's ability to get rebel leaders to cede command of their fighters. Interim defence minister Osama al-Juwali, commander of the Zintan militia that captured Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam in November, told a news conference that all form of fighters who helped dislodge Col Gaddafi from power would be asked to register their intent to join the national security forces next month.
The Washington Times quotes US vice-president John Biden reiterating concerns about the worsening political crisis in Iraq. He stressed his country’s support for a dialogue. Tensions have increased in Iraq since an arrest warrant was issued against vice-president Tariq al-Hashemi for alleged links to terrorism.
Bloomberg reports that the former Pakistani cricketer and opposition politician Imran Khan has been addressing some 150,000 of his supporters in Pakistan’s biggest city, Karachi, demonstrating his growing appeal amid anger over power blackouts and a troubled alliance with the US. He vowed to end corruption and demanded strong measures to tackle it. He also argues that foreign aid is fuelling corruption and should be stopped.
USA Today says police in Texas say seven people have been shot dead in an apartment northwest of Dallas. Investigators said the victims, four female and three male, appear to be related. The shooter is believed to be among the dead.
La Republica claims Italy's €5 billion olive oil business is a fraud. Citing an ongoing investigation by different police agencies in collaboration with Italian agriculture trade group Coldiretti, it says 80 per cent of the country's oil carrying the label “Made in Italy” is mixed with lower quality Spanish, Tunisian and Greek oil. Italy exports 250,000 metric tons of oil every year, but imports total 470,000 tons. Last year oil imports rose by 100,000 tons, prompting authorities to ask where it ended up.
A choir of wives of British soldiers serving in Afghanistan has topped the British singles chart to take the Christmas No 1 spot. The song, “Wherever you are”, was written using excerpts from letters sent between military couples. The Sun says one of the military wives has received online threats.