Merry Christmas...GMAC OK for bailout funds...Holiday OT

VATICAN CITY (AP) Pope Benedict's Christmas Midnight Mass sermon focused on children around the world who are abused, live on the street or are forced to serve as soldiers. This morning, the pope is giving his annual Christmas address, which often touches on current events.

BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) A light rain is falling in Bethlehem and crowds of tourists are celebrating Christmas with local Palestinian Christians in Jesus' traditional birthplace. Hundreds of people have lined up to descend into the grotto where Jesus is believed to have been born.

UNDATED (AP) President George W. Bush is spending a final Christmas at Camp David, something every President Bush has done while in office. Several members of the Bush family are there with him. President-elect Barack Obama and his family are vacationing in Hawaii.

Washington (AP) The Federal Reserve has approved GMAC Financial Services' request to become a bank holding company, which qualifies General Motors' finance arm for part of the government's $700 billion rescue fund. GMAC is one of the nation's biggest suppliers of auto loans.

ATLANTA (AP) This week's messy weather is leading both Fed Ex and the Postal Service to operate for a few hours on Christmas in an effort to reduce some shipping backlogs. FedEx says all 665 of its domestic sorting stations will be open from 8 a.m. until noon for package pickup.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 12-25-08 0441CST | save this article / add to your favorites list