IRAN AFFAIRS: A new report by NUFDI titled “Faith Under Siege” has documented the religious oppression, providing many examples of the individuals who have been arrested. As over two billion Christians around the world gather to celebrate Christmas during the next two weeks, one country in particular has increased its oppression of Christians and other religious minorities – Iran.

IndiGo said Wednesday it was appointing Willie Walsh as its new chief executive as India's leading airline sought to recover from an embarrassing spate of cancellations that threw the country's airports into turmoil Walsh currently leads the civil aviation industry's leading trade association, the IATA. But he also has two decades of experience leading airlines, including a decade at International Airlines Group (IAG), the parent company of Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia and Vueling.Walsh's

Rescuers on Thursday again attempted to free a humpback whale stranded on Germany's Baltic Sea coast, employing a large suction dredger to remove sand around the animal. Two excavators were digging a trench in an attempt to free the whale, which has been stuck in shallow waters at the Timmendorfer Strand beach since early on Monday, drawing heavy media attention.