Новости за 24.12.2015

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bagged or boxed, brown or powdered, Americans are buying markedly less sugar this year, a trend nowhere more noticeable than during the holidays when home-baking picks up.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bagged or boxed, brown or powdered, Americans are buying markedly less sugar this year, a trend nowhere more noticeable than during the holidays when home-baking picks up.

LONDON (Reuters) - Lending by British banks to consumers grew last month at its fastest rate in more than eight years, the British Bankers' Association said on Thursday, figures which are likely to catch the attention of the Bank of England.

LONDON (Reuters) - Lending by British banks to consumers grew last month at its fastest rate in more than eight years, the British Bankers' Association said on Thursday, figures which are likely to catch the attention of the Bank of England.

DIYARBAKIR (Reuters) - Three Kurdish rebels were killed in clashes with police in Turkey's southeastern city of Diyarbakir on Thursday, security sources said, and shots and shellfire could be heard around an area that has been focus of an army offensive against rebels.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Coalition air forces pounded positions held by Islamic State in Ramadi on Thursday, Iraqi military statements said, in support of government troops seeking to retake the western Iraqi city and push on to drive the militants from key population centres.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Coalition air forces pounded positions held by Islamic State in Ramadi on Thursday, Iraqi military statements said, in support of government troops seeking to retake the western Iraqi city and push on to drive the militants from key population centres.

A Senegalese migrant named Ngame, who made the dangerous journey by boat to Europe eight years ago and was rescued at sea, wins 400,000 euros in Spain's annual Christmas lottery. Rough Cut - Subtitled (no reporter narration).

A Senegalese migrant named Ngame, who made the dangerous journey by boat to Europe eight years ago and was rescued at sea, wins 400,000 euros in Spain's annual Christmas lottery. Rough Cut - Subtitled (no reporter narration).

A Senegalese migrant named Ngame, who made the dangerous journey by boat to Europe eight years ago and was rescued at sea, wins 400,000 euros in Spain's annual Christmas lottery. Rough Cut - Subtitled (no reporter narration).

A Senegalese migrant named Ngame, who made the dangerous journey by boat to Europe eight years ago and was rescued at sea, wins 400,000 euros in Spain's annual Christmas lottery. Rough Cut - Subtitled (no reporter narration).

BEIRUT (Reuters) - A U.S.-backed alliance of Syrian Kurds and Arab rebel groups advanced towards a dam in northern Syria held by Islamic State fighters on Thursday, in an assault aimed at capturing the militants' stronghold of Raqqa, rebels and a monitor said.

BEIRUT (Reuters) - A U.S.-backed alliance of Syrian Kurds and Arab rebel groups advanced towards a dam in northern Syria held by Islamic State fighters on Thursday, in an assault aimed at capturing the militants' stronghold of Raqqa, rebels and a monitor said.

* Dow down 0.11 pct, S&P up 0.02 pct, Nasdaq up 0.25 pct (Updates to late morning)

Christmas Eve mass is celebrated in Beijing. Rough Cut (no reporter narration).

Christmas Eve mass is celebrated in Beijing. Rough Cut (no reporter narration).

Christmas Eve mass is celebrated in Beijing. Rough Cut (no reporter narration).

Christmas Eve mass is celebrated in Beijing. Rough Cut (no reporter narration).

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The 193-member United Nations General Assembly has agreed a core budget of $5.4 billion (3.6 billion pounds) for the next two years, marginally smaller than the amount allocated for 2014/2015, as top contributor the United States pushes for improved efficiency and cost management.

MOSCOW, Dec 24 (Reuters) - Russia's Gazprom has awarded Stroygazmontazh (SGM) contracts worth 197.7 billion roubles ($2.8 billion) for work on building the Power of Siberia gas pipeline to China, tender documents published on a government website http://zakupki.gov.ru/ showed.

(Reuters Health) - Men don't need to live in fear of ridicule over the appearance of their penis after getting surgery to correct a birth defect that causes urine to come out in the wrong place, a Swiss study suggests.

(Reuters Health) - Men don't need to live in fear of ridicule over the appearance of their penis after getting surgery to correct a birth defect that causes urine to come out in the wrong place, a Swiss study suggests.

PARIS, Dec 24 (Reuters) - French nuclear group Areva said on Thursday it had chosen an offer from U.S Mirion and private equity firm Charterhouse to buy Canberra, its nuclear instrumentation and measurement business.

PARIS, Dec 24 (Reuters) - French nuclear group Areva said on Thursday it had chosen an offer from U.S Mirion and private equity firm Charterhouse to buy Canberra, its nuclear instrumentation and measurement business.

A non-profit organization brings dogs to the Buffalo/Niagra airport to help relieve the stress of holiday traveling. Diane Hodges reports.