• Egypt vote sparks violent clashes between Islamists and opponents

    Hassan Ammar / AP

    Supporters of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi chant slogans as one holds up the Quran, Islam's holy book, during a demonstration after the Friday prayer, in Cairo, Egypt, on Dec. 14. Opposing sides in Egypt's political crisis were staging rival rallies on Friday, the final day before voting starts on a contentious draft constitution that has plunged the country into turmoil and deeply divided the nation. Arabic reads, "yes to the constitution."

    Khalil Hamra / AP

    Egyptian protesters attend Friday prayers before a demonstration against a constitution drafted by Islamist supporters of President Mohammed Morsi in Tahrir square in Cairo, Egypt, on Dec. 14. Opposing sides in Egypt's political crisis were staging rival rallies on Friday, the final day before voting starts on a contentious draft constitution that has plunged the country into turmoil and deeply divided the nation.

    Petr David Josek / AP

    Protesters play with a ball in front of a tank securing the area around the presidential palace in Cairo, Egypt, on Dec. 14. Opposing sides in Egypt's political crisis were staging rival rallies on Friday, the final day before voting starts on a contentious draft constitution that has plunged the country into turmoil and deeply divided the nation.

    Reuters -- Stone-throwing supporters and opponents of Islamist President Mohamed Mursi clashed in the Egyptian city of Alexandria on Friday ahead of a referendum on a new constitution that has divided the Arab world's most populous nation.

    Dozens of activists fought with clubs and swords, witnesses said, and a number of cars were set alight on the streets of Egypt's second biggest city on the eve of a vote that Mursi hopes will bring an end to the country's worsening political crisis.

    Scuffles started near a mosque in Alexandria when opposition members handing out flyers clashed with Mursi supporters.

    In Cairo, flag-waving pro-Mursi Islamists staged a final rally on Friday before the referendum, but the gathering outside one of the capital's main mosques was peaceful.

    Continue reading.

    AP

    Opponents of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi hold pamphlets urging a "no vote" on a constitutional referendum as cars burn during clashes between supporters and opponents of President Mohammed Morsi in Alexandria, Egypt, on Dec. 14, a day before the referendum on the constitution. Opposing sides in Egypt's political crisis were staging rival rallies on Friday, the final day before voting starts on a contentious draft constitution that has plunged the country into turmoil and deeply divided the nation.

    Amr Abdallah Dalsh / Reuters

    Supporters of Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi and members of the Muslim Brotherhood chant pro-Mursi slogans during a rally at Rabaa El Adaweya Mosque square in Cairo on Dec. 14. Flag-waving supporters of Mursi staged a final rally on Friday before a divisive referendum on a new constitution that the Islamist leader hopes will bring an end to weeks of political crisis and street clashes. The sign reads, "Yes to constitution".

    Reuters

    Supporters of Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi (above) clash with anti-Mursi protesters to prevent them from entering a mosque in Alexandria on Dec. 14. Flag-waving supporters of the president staged a final rally on Friday before a divisive referendum on a new constitution that the Islamist leader hopes will bring an end to weeks of political crisis and street clashes.

    Reuters

    A car belonging to supporters of Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi burns during clashes with anti-Mursi protesters in Alexandria on Dec. 14. Flag-waving supporters of the president staged a final rally on Friday before a divisive referendum on a new constitution that the Islamist leader hopes will bring an end to weeks of political crisis and street clashes.

    Mohamed Abd El Ghany / Reuters

    An employee of the constitutional referendum committee prepares a ballot box for the upcoming referendum at a polling station in Cairo on Dec. 14. Flag-waving supporters of the president staged a final rally on Friday before a divisive referendum on a new constitution that the Islamist leader hopes will bring an end to weeks of political crisis and street clashes.

     

  • First dog Bo takes his master Christmas shopping

    Kevin Lamarque / Reuters

    U.S. President Barack Obama buys a bone for his dog Bo in Alexandria, Virginia December 21, 2011. Obama was in Alexandria doing some Christmas shopping and stopped in a pizzeria for lunch.

    By Rich Shulman

    Do you take your dog Christmas shopping?

    AP reports: ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Home alone at the White House, President Barack Obama headed on an impromptu Christmas shopping trip Wednesday with first dog Bo, searching for some holiday cheer despite the latest stalemate with Congress.

    The president's wife and daughters already are on the family's annual Hawaii vacation, leaving him behind to negotiate with Republican lawmakers to keep payroll taxes from going up in the new year. So Obama squeezed in time after calls with congressional leaders to hit a PetSmart and a Best Buy in this Virginia suburb before picking up pizza for lunch.

    Carolyn Kaster / AP

    President Barack Obama and his dog Bo visit with a poodle named Cinnamon as they check out at PetSmart, Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011, in Alexandria, Va. Obama bought the presidential pup a toy bone and a bag of food while Bo played in the store with Cinnamon.

    Kevin Dietsch, Pool / Getty Images

    U.S. President Barack Obama shops for Christmas presents with his dog Bo at Petsmart on Dec. 21, 2011 in Alexandria, Virginia.

    President Obama greets people at a Virginia Best Buy store and reveals what he is buying for his two daughters.

  • Blast at Coptic church in Egypt kills 21, sparks clashes between Christians, Muslims after New Year's Mass

    Read the full story here.

    Tarek Fawzy / AP

    An Egyptian Christian grieves outside the Coptic Christian Saints Church in the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria, Egypt, Saturday, Jan. 1, 2011. A car exploded in front of the church early Saturday as worshippers emerged from a New Year's Mass, killing at least 21 people according to officials, and sparking clashes between Christians and Muslims, a sign of the sectarian anger that has been arising with greater frequency in Egypt.

    Ahmed Youssef / EPA

    Egyptian firemen try to put out a vehicle fire following a car bomb blast outside a church in the north Egyptian city of Alexandria, Egypt, Jan. 1, 2011, killing at least 21 people and injuring 43. Witnesses said that a car that was parked outside the church exploded around 20 minutes after midnight, targeting Coptic Christians who were attending the New Year‘s Eve mass. Christians account for roughly 10 per cent of Egypt's population, according to official figures.

    Reuters

    Egyptian riot police clash with Christians in front of the Coptic Orthodox church in Alexandria, 230 km (140 miles) north of Cairo, Jan. 1, 2011. A car bombing outside the church killed 21 people as worshippers gathered to mark the New Year, security and medical sources said on Saturday.

    Amr Abdallah Dalsh / Reuters

    Egyptian Christians shout as the bodies of several victims of a car bomb attack are carried into ambulances in front of the the Coptic Orthodox church in Alexandria, Egypt, Jan. 1, 2011. The car bombing outside the church killed 21 people as worshippers gathered to mark the New Year, security and medical sources said on Saturday.