From the BBC:

Drug traffickers in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, have opened fire on a helicopter carrying a Santa Claus to one of the city's shanty towns.

No one was hurt and it is thought the gunmen believed the helicopter belonged to the police.

The helicopter was taking an actor dressed as Santa Claus to a Christmas party in the favela of Nova Mare when it came under fire. ...

The Santa later returned to Nova Mare by car to deliver his presents, where more than 1,000 children and parents were still waiting for his arrival.

From the NYT:

The increase in incomes of the top 1 percent of Americans from 2003 to 2005 exceeded the total income of the poorest 20 percent of Americans, data in a new report by the Congressional Budget Office shows.

From the NYT:

In an “unforeseen and unprecedented” shift, the world food supply is dwindling rapidly and food prices are soaring to historic levels, the United Nations’ top food and agriculture official warned Monday.

The changes created “a very serious risk that fewer people will be able to get food,” particularly in the developing world, said Jacques Diouf, head of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.

In a vote that split on partisan lines, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission has made it easier for media companies to own a newspaper and television station in the same market.

The BBC Radio One will leave in a particular word in the old Pogues song Fairy Tale of New York.

And what word is that? It starts with 'f'' and rhymes with 'maggot'. (Thanks, Kevin S.!)

My favourite oddball story of the day, from AP via CTV.ca:

Police say a woman has been charged with sexual assault after a Santa at the Danbury Fair mall in Connecticut complained the woman groped him.

"The security officer at the mall said Santa Claus has been sexually assaulted,'' police Det. Lt. Thomas Michael said of the weekend complaint.

Sandrama Lamy, 33, of Danbury, was charged with sexual assault and breach of peace. She was released on a promise to appear in court Jan. 3.

Police quickly found and identified Lamy because the suspect was described as being on crutches, said Capt. Bob Myles.