ADVISORY CNN Wire Outlook

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Supervising News Editor Maggie Leung -- 404-827-1401

UPCOMING

New-York-Firefighters-Shot (Will update)

A man convicted of killing his grandmother decades ago allegedly ambushed firefighters on Monday, fatally shooting two of them as they arrived to battle a blaze in upstate New York, police said.

New-York-Firefighters-Shooter

Thirty-two years before ambushing Webster, New York, firefighters -- killing two of them -- William Spengler killed his grandmother with a hammer.

New-York-Shooting-Victim

Seven weeks ago, Michael Chiapperini was in Long Island, volunteering to help those suffering after Superstorm Sandy. Two weeks ago, he was named "Firefighter of the Year" in his upstate New York town. And Monday, he was dead -- ambushed and killed, along with another firefighter, by a sniper who had set his home ablaze.

Connecticut-Newtown-Police-Holiday

Police in Newtown, Connecticut -- working nonstop in the days since the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting -- will be home with their families on Christmas Day, as officers from neighboring communities will patrol the streets of Newtown.

Timberlake-Homeless-Video

A homeless man included in a mock video produced by a friend of Justin Timberlake's for the actor-singer's wedding celebration wants Timberlake to visit him on Skid Row. Lawyer Gloria Allred, known for representing clients with high-profile complaints, held a news conference on Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles Monday to publicize the demands of the man, identified only as Eddie.

NORAD-Santa-Tracker (Will update)

First lady Michelle Obama takes phone calls from hopeful children as part of the annual NORAD Tracks Santa program.

Syria-Civil-War (Will update)

With the carnage in Syria reaching unimaginable levels, U.N. peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi met with Syria's president Monday in hopes of making headway in ending the country's civil war. But a lack of details after the meeting suggests that the 21-month-old crisis might still be far from over.

PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED STORIES

INTERNATIONAL

China-Kindergarten-Wreck

Eleven children died after a kindergarten bus veered off a road and plunged into a pond in a city in southeast China, the nation's Xinhua news agency reported.

Somalia-Pirate-Rescue

They were trapped at sea for 1,000 days, held on their own ship by Somali pirates off the coast of Yemen. Over the weekend, troops from the Puntland Maritime Police Force rescued the 22 hostages remaining on the Panama-flagged vessel, ending the longest time anyone has been held hostage by pirates, according to Michael Howlett, deputy director of the International Maritime Bureau.

Syria-Civil-War

Afghanistan-Attack

An Afghan police officer fatally shot an American contractor at Kabul police headquarters early on Monday, authorities said. The killing occurred a day after five policemen were killed by their commander in Jawzjan province, in the north.

South-Africa-Mandela

Former South African President Nelson Mandela will remain in a Pretoria hospital through Christmas, the government said on Monday.

U.S.A.

New-York-Firefighters-Shooting

A man convicted of killing his grandmother decades ago ambushed firefighters on Monday, fatally shooting two of them as they arrived to battle a blaze in upstate New York, police said.

US-Houston-Police-Killed

A police officer and a bystander died from wounds suffered in a parking lot shootout after a car chase in a Houston metropolitan area Monday morning, police said.

US-Washignton-Bar-Shooting

One person died and one person was wounded when an apparent altercation led to a shooting at a Seattle-area bar, police said Monday. The shooting occurred just a few hours after the Seattle Seahawks won their way into the NFL playoffs. Several players and other celebrities were among hundreds of people gathered at Munchbar, a popular nightspot in Bellevue, Washington. No players were injured in the incident, which occurred just after 1 a.m. PT Monday.

US-Obama-CNN-Most-Intriguing-2012

A year ago, President Barack Obama was under fire. Today, he is being feted. In just 12 months, the 51-year-old lawyer and former U.S. senator raised by a single mother went from a beleaguered candidate for re-election -- his record and signature health care law under daily attack by Republican rivals -- to being the first Democrat to win more than 50% of a presidential vote twice since Franklin D. Roosevelt. Now the nation's first African-American president is CNN's Most Intriguing Person of 2012, as voted on by readers of CNN.com, five days after being named Time's Person of the Year.

US-Malala-CNN-Most-Intriguing-2012

The Pakistani teen blogger simply sought to get an education. But Malala Yousufzai, 15, an outspoken critic of the Taliban, became a symbol of defiance against militants, empowering young women worldwide. CNN.com readers voted her as the second-most intriguing person of 2012, days after she was short-listed for Time's Person of the Year. U.S. President Barack Obama came first in both lists.

US-Americans-Syria-Poll

Most Americans are concerned about the bloody civil war raging in Syria, but according to a new national survey a majority of the public opposes direct U.S. involvement in the fighting.

POLITICS

POL-Fiscal-Cliff

Call it a bigger, bolder version of the deadline-driven congressional stalemates over taxes and spending that have come to define Washington dysfunction of the past two years. The latest edition of political "blinksmanship" pits President Barack Obama and Democrats against Speaker John Boehner and Republicans on the fiscal cliff -- automatic tax increases for everyone and deep spending cuts including the military that will trigger in the new year without an agreement. With neither side showing any sign of blinking, however, the battlefield likely shifts to the Senate this week after GOP disarray in the House stymied any progress before Christmas.

POL-Idaho-senator-DUI-arrest

U.S. Sen. Michael Crapo, R-Idaho, was arrested early Sunday morning in Alexandria, Virginia, and charged with driving under the influence, according to the town's police department.

POL-Kennedy-Senate

After giving it serious consideration, Ted Kennedy Jr. has decided not to run for Massachusetts' soon-to-be open seat in the U.S. Senate.

POL-George-HW-Bush-Condition

Former President George Herbert Walker Bush will spend Christmas in a Houston, Texas, hospital despite doctors' hopes last week he could be home by the holiday, his spokesman told CNN.

POL-Poll-Christmas-Trees

They deck offices, lobbies, and living rooms, but what are they called? A new poll shows Americans are overwhelmingly decided on whether it is a "Christmas" or "holiday" tree. Eight in ten side with "Christmas" over "holiday," according to the latest poll from Clarus Research Group. Only 12% refer to it as a holiday tree.

BUSINESS

MONEY-Mortgage-Debt-Forgiveness

A tax break that has saved struggling homeowners from paying thousands of dollars to the IRS is just days away from expiring. If the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007 does not get extended by Congress by the end of the year, homeowners will have to start paying income taxes on the portion of their mortgage that is forgiven in a foreclosure, short sale or principal reduction.

MONEY-Holiday-Shopping

A weekend wedged in right before Christmas seemed like the perfect gift for procrastinators who wait until the 23rd hour for holiday shopping, or shoppers who wait for one last big sale.

MONEY-Stock-Markets

U.S. stocks sank Monday as investors remain concerned that officials in Washington will fail to resolve a looming fiscal crisis. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 0.4%. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq both lost about 0.3%. U.S. markets closed at 1 p.m. ET and will remain dark Tuesday for the Christmas holiday.

MONEY-Britain-Austerity

Millions of Britons are facing a bleak holiday season worried about falling incomes and how to repay debt, as economic reports raise questions about whether the country's austerity measures can restore growth.

FEATURES AND COMMENTARY

NORAD-Santa-Tracker

The Santa trackers at NORAD started on Christmas Eve at 6 a.m. ET, fielding questions from all over the globe and continuing a tradition that began by accident in 1955.

FEA-Christmas-Glitter

Immediately after my Christmas tree is decorated and the tree lights plugged in, I turn off all the other house lights and sit on the stairs, staring at my gleaming achievement. I could stare for days, hypnotized by the shiny allure of the decorations. The simple, white lights I prefer for the tree sit neatly among what has become an all-out, no-holds-barred glitter explosion.

MED-holiday-depression-blues

When the holidays bring heartache instead of joy, I think they do so because they stand as an unforgiving yard stick against which we measure our losses and troubles.

MED-Reindeer-Red-Nose

Ho ho ho, here's some Christmas-themed science! The British Medical Journal's Christmas issue this month features a study about reindeer that treats a fantastical idea with some medical reality. The result is a lesson in how reindeer noses compare to the noses of humans and what purpose their underlying structures serve.

TRAVEL-airport-delay-nightmares-tips

No one is immune to airline delays and cancellations, even if you're an aviation producer who just spent two days telling the story of how airlines try to keep planes flying on time.

TECH-lester-chambers-kickstarter

On the Web, the "Time Has Come" for 1960s singer Lester Chambers, who has hit hard times despite his song's popularity. A Kickstarter campaign is aimed at funding a new album, giving Chambers the rights.

ENT-Ronnie-Wood-Marries

Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood has another reason to celebrate this holiday: his new marriage. The 65-year-old rocker tied the knot to producer Sally Humphreys, 34, on Friday.

ENT-Rihanna-donation-Barbados-hospital

Rihanna has opened her heart and her wallet this holiday season with a $1million-plus donation to a hospital in her native Barbados.

ENT-Bethenny-Frankel-Jason-Hoppy-Split

Reality star Bethenny Frankel and her husband Jason Hoppy are parting ways. The couple, who would have been married for three years come March, have one daughter together.

ENT-Django-Unchained-Review

Quentin Tarantino has made a spaghetti western and cross-pollinated it with a blaxploitation picture, but it's fully formed, unapologetic and easily one of the best popcorn flicks of the year. I'll go further: It's my favorite American movie of the past 12 months.

COMMENTARY-zelizer-lessons-2012

2012 has been a tumultuous year in American politics. With the presidential election capping off the year, Americans have witnessed a series of bitter domestic battles and turbulent events overseas.

COMMENTARY-Frum-NRA-Nightmare-Vision

National Rifle Association's Friday press event has received almost uniformly negative reviews. Yet the speech by NRA chief Wayne LaPierre had this merit: It pulled into daylight for all to see the foundational assumption of modern American gun culture.

COMMENTARY-Lightner-MADD-effect

Candace Lightner writes: When I learned about the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook elementary school, I wept and mourned like many other Americans. I was also reminded of my own daughter's death 32 years ago. For those parents, families or friends of victims who want to see less guns fall into the hands of potential shooters, my personal journey may help serve as a path for change. My daughter, Cari, was killed by a multiple repeat offender drunk driver on May 3, 1980. Four days later, I started Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

COMMENTARY-Christmas-Reflection

Before I am an American, I am a Christian. This order of self-identifying does not in any way negate the gifts and responsibilities that come with my being an American, a Nigerian-American at that.