Sounds of Christmas celebrations from around the world, featuring worshipers in Singapore, Bethlehem, Mumbai, Beijing and Athens — as well as recorded Christmas messages from Queen Elizabeth II and President Barack Obama.

In the week since U.S. troops withdrew from Iraq and Washington announced the end of the war there, bombs have killed scores in Baghdad and the government is being driven by sectarian discord. NPR's Sean Carberry speaks with host Audie Cornish about the latest events from Baghdad.

If you think of the British as reserved and proper, think again. This is the season when the Brits loosen their stiff upper lips and, even in these austere times, devote themselves to merry-making. They grab their kids and head for the theater for a raucous and peculiarly British form of entertainment: the traditional Christmas pantomime.

As Russians mark the 20th anniversary of the collapse of the Soviet Union, their political system has reached another watershed moment. Tens of thousands turned out Saturday for another huge protest against apparent fraud in this month's parliamentary election. The urban middle class in Moscow has risen up to demand greater political rights.

The Holiday season is a time for cheer. But in Norway, the memory of the horrific bombing and shooting seven months ago, still lingers. Weekends on All Things Considered host Guy Raz talks with Anders Gaiever, a Norwegian newspaper columnist, about what he remembers from that day, and how the man who carried out the attacks might avoid jail time.

Weekends on All Things Considered host Guy Raz speaks with Lucy Craft, a reporter based in Japan, to get an update on the status of the country 10 months after the devastating earthquake and tsunami. Craft says Tokyo appears mostly normal, but northern Japan still has a long way to go.