Obama: Never take troops for granted

Obama: Never take troops for granted

KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii

President Barack Obama says “we never take for granted” what U.S. service members do to help keep the American people safe and free.

He referenced the six American service members who were killed this week in a suicide attack at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan.

Obama spoke during his annual Christmas Day visit to service members stationed at Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe Bay, as well as their families. He was accompanied by his wife, Michelle.

Mom, 3 kids die in Christmas Day fire

LOS ANGELES

Three children and their mother were killed in a Southern California mobile-home fire Christmas morning, while the family’s father survived the fast-moving blaze.

Neighbors of the home in Big Bear Lake called 911 just before 6 a.m. Friday, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.

When the first deputy arrived, the home was fully engulfed and the family’s injured father was outside. The father said his family was still inside but he couldn’t get to them because of the extent of the fire.

The three children killed were a 6-month-old girl, a 3-year-old boy and an 8-year-old girl, said sheriff’s Capt. Kevin Lacy, commander of the department’s coroner division.

Quake hits Pakistan and Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD

A strong earthquake shook parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan early today, rattling buildings and forcing sleeping residents out of their homes.

More than 30 people were injured as houses or walls collapsed in the northwestern Pakistan city of Peshawar, said emergency rescue service spokesman Bilal Ahmed Faizi. A total of 41 people were taken to hospitals in the city, according to doctors and rescue officials.

Pope prays for peace

VATICAN CITY

Pope Francis issued a Christmas Day prayer that recent U.N.-backed peace processes for Syria and Libya will quickly end the suffering of their people, denouncing the “monstrous evil” and atrocities they have endured and praising countries that have taken in refugees.

Speaking from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, Francis issued a plenary indulgence for all Catholics in hopes of spreading the church’s message of mercy in a world torn by war, poverty and extremist attacks. The sun-soaked St. Peter’s Square was under heavy security, as it has been since the Nov. 13 Paris attacks by Islamic extremists that left 130 dead.

Associated Press