Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/51035
6A Daily News – Friday, December 23, 2011 WORLD BRIEFING Boehner: House leaders accept Senate tax terms WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker John Boehner says he has reached agreement with the Senate to renew the payroll tax cut before it expires Dec. 31. The Ohio Republican said in a statement Thursday that he expects to pass a new bill by Christmas that would renew the tax break for two months while congressional negotiators work out a longer-term measure that would also extend jobless bene- fits for millions of Americans and prevent doctors from absorb- ing a big cut in Medicare pay- ments. The GOP retreat ends a tense standoff in which Boehner's House Republicans came under intense pressure to agree to the short-term extension. Bombs rock Baghdad, kill 69 BAGHDAD (AP) — A terrify- ing wave of bombs tore through mostly Shiite neighborhoods of Baghdad on Thursday, killing at least 69 people and evoking fears that Iraq could dissolve into a new round of sectarian violence now that American troops have left. The attacks appeared to be a well-coordinated assault by Sunni militants linked to al-Qaida and targeted markets, grocery stores, cafes and government buildings in a dozen neighborhoods. They coincided with a government cri- sis that has already strained ties between the two sects to the breaking point. For many Iraqis, this could be the beginning of a nightmare sce- nario: The fragile alliance in the governing coalition is collapsing, large-scale violence bearing the hallmarks of al-Qaida insurgents has returned and Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki may be moving to grab the already limited power of the minority Sunnis. ''The conditions that perpetu- ate civil wars are making a hasty comeback,'' said Ramzy Mardini, an analyst at the Institute for the Study of War in Washington. The bombings may be linked more to the withdrawal of the last U.S. troops Sunday than the polit- ical crisis, but all together the developments raise the specter of a return to the Shiite-Sunni sectar- ian bloodshed that pushed Iraq to the brink of civil war in 2006 and 2007. Wal-Mart pulls baby formula after baby dies COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Wal-Mart and health officials awaited tests Thursday on a batch of powdered infant formula that was removed from more than 3,000 stores nationwide after a Missouri newborn who consumed it apparently died from a rare infection. The source of the bacteria that caused the infection has not been determined, but it occurs naturally in the environment and in plants such as wheat and rice. The most worrisome appearances have been in dried milk and powdered for- mula, which is why manufacturers routinely test for the germs. Wal-Mart pulled the Enfamil Newborn formula from shelves as a precaution following the death of little Avery Cornett in the southern Missouri town of Lebanon. The formula has not been recalled, and the manufacturer said tests showed the batch was negative for the bacteria before it was shipped. Additional tests were under way. ''We decided it was best to remove the product until we learn more,'' Wal-Mart spokeswoman Dianna Gee said. ''It could be returned to the shelves.'' Thousands of Arlington headstones need replacement ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — Thousands of grave markers at Arlington National Cemetery may need to be replaced or added to accurately account for the dead, following a meticu- lous Army review of each of the nearly 260,000 headstones and niche covers on the grounds. In a report to Congress on Thursday, the Army found potential discrepancies between headstones and cemetery paper- work on about 64,000 grave markers — about one in four. Please come and join us and Christmas Eve Services THE SALVATION ARMY RED BLUFF CORPS "The Christ of Christmas" Sun., Dec. 25TH 11:00 AM SERVICE 940 Walnut • 527-8530 First Christian Church 926 Madison Street, Red Bluff Christmas Eve Service 6:30 to 7:30pm Christmas Morning Service 10:30 am Please join us in the Celebration of our Lord's birth Dan Woolery, Pastor 527-4688 Community Baptist Church Welcomes you to: A Celebration of Jesus Saturday, December 24 at 6:00 pm and Christmas Day Worship Sunday,December 25 at 9:00 am 598 Round-Up Ave, Red Bluff 527-5419 at our First Baptist Church 501 Pine Street, Red Bluff Candlelight Christmas Eve Service 5 pm Carol Sing, Piano Devotional "EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED!" CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICE 10:15 am Come rejoice with us in the birth of our Savior. "Welcome to Bethlehem" Celebrate with us Christmas Eve Candlelight Service Special Music & Meditation 24th of December 8:00 P.M. Rev. Beth Hoyt, Pastor The Presbyterian Church 838 Jefferson Street