troops full pulled out of iraq, violence erupted with at least 16 bomb blasts rocking the capitol cityhis morning, killing 69 people and injuring hundreds more. officials fear the blood bath could reignite tensionses between the sunni and shiite factions, thereby opening the door for a dangerous resurgence of al qaeda in the region. despite those warnings, president obama is choosing instead to make crucial foreign policy decisions based on politics. earlier today, arizona senator john mccain criticized our campaigner in chief for once again placing his own political gain above america's national security. >> day before yesterday, the president said iraq was strong, stable and democratic. president pledged to get out of iraq. he said the surge would never work. they are putting out propaganda that his re-election campaign called promises kept and it's really tragic because this place could unraffle and that would be so tragic because twee did spend 4,474 young american lives and we won the war and now we are losing the peace. >> here now with reaction, fox news contributor, judith mill

capitol where preparations are now in full swing. and the place that gives baltimore those great polish sausages is shutting down. how the economy is taking the toll on our city favorites. those stories and more ahead at 5:30. . >>> preparations are underway for a big holiday bash in annapolis how they are getting set up for new year's eve in our state capitol. plus before you make plans for 2012 you have to say good riddance anything brought you down in 2011. how you can make it official. and if you don't want your gift cards swap them for cash some web sites promise to get the job done but if you're not careful it can leave you for absolutely nothing. >>> we have breaking news. new details involving a story we brought you at the top of the hour. one of the children hurt in this crash on 83 today has died at shock trauma. police tell us the crash involved three cars apparently the car carrying two children a five and 7-year-old somehow got sandwiched between two other cars and since the crash northbound 83 has reopened. the cause of the crash is still being investigated and again, we're so sorry we have lost a life of a child here today. >>> well nobody puts

. >>> kim jong il's body went on display today in the capitol city of pyongyang.he mourners, his son and kim young un. both the u.s. and korea sent messages of condolence to the people of north korea. piers morgan testified today in a british inquiry of phone hacking by tabloid journalists. morgan appeared by video link. he denied phone hacking. the news of the world shut down after it was discovered the paper had hacked into the voicemails much a teenager. >>> 17 nasa scientists are celebrating the discovery of two new planets. kepler 20 e and kepler 20 f. they marked the first discovery of planets close to earth in terms of size. sanjay, don't plan any trips. the planets are too close to their sun and too hot for human habitation. >> it's so fascinating. they come up with the strangest names. i heard about 800 degrees on these planets. it's the first time we've found planets so close in size to earth. stick around with us. >>> coming up in crime and punishment tonight, we have a fascinating story. there's a man in texas convicted of killing his wife. the testimo

than many subsaharan african countries and a country where power is largely concentrated on the capitol city of pyongyang and not well exercised far from the center of political life there. jon: kim jong-il has atphaoeupt dollars kim jong-un apparently to become the new leader of that country, this guy is 27 or 28 years old, he's been appointed a four star general in the military, but as far as we know, has no military experience. right? >> that's right. he apparently was born in 1984 or '83, so that makes him 29, 30 years old, he has no military experience, and the key issue tonight is can he get the loyalty of key north korean army corps commanders. if he does not, we have a very unstable situation, and in many ways to, win power in north korea, is to demonstrate some adventure on the military side against south korea. that's why south korea forces are on alert today, and the united states should back up our south korean allies saying no military move should be made regardless of the succession crisis in pyongyang. jon: i know that just nobody in washington has a great deal of information

a pair of suicide bombings in the capitol city of damascus only adding to the growing fears.league observers arrive in syria to get a firsthand look at situation. leland vittert is live with more. what is the latest? >> reporter: it seems like, gregg that the syrian government may be trying to kill as many people as they can ahead of observers coming into town. we are talking about a matter of hours until they are indeed on the ground in damascus and get a chance to get a first-hand view of what is going on. from home comes a story of an artillery barrage which has leveled one neighborhood and killed about 20 people. that is the center of the uprising there against president sad r-frplt i bashar al-assad. it appears the military will stop at nothing including shelling into civilian areas to keep president bashar al-assad in power. observers are from the arobject league who are trying to stop the violence that has killed 5,000 people at the hand of the government forces. the observers don't really have any weapons on them and they don't have the ability to stop any of the viol

city. the capitol skyline offering incredible images of high rises. and. impressive. views of course sky high prices but it's christmas. celebrate in the restaurants yet. at home. is the ideal. christmas. turkey. it's very tasty an aromatic served. with cheesy cream crunchy parsley and white truffle oil. is not publicly celebrated in the twentieth century but now with the festivities of fifty first. it's clear the whole country is. huge. and whether you rejoice in the christmas. capital is one of the leading cultural hot spots in the world. a fantastic choice of events and attractions is it a new period. of christmas in moscow the same to. incredible. fortunately. on this week's program i'll see you again. next week. goodbye a very merry christmas. this was the plant that was responsible for causing the world's worst industrial disaster and now it had been abandoned in a condition where it had become a source of pollution or the most recent study that was done shows that this water pollution and spreading. the more than hundred thousand people in. groups welcome the f

city. the capitol skyline offering incredible images of highrises. impressive to say the least. views of course. prices but it's christmas. celebrate in the restaurants casual atmosphere. at home. is the ideal. christmas. turkey. it's very tasty an aromatic serve. christmas in. public to celebrate the twentieth century but now with the festivities of fifty. it's clear the whole country is. huge. and with christmas merry. the capital is one of the leading cultural hot spots in the world. a fantastic choice of events and attraction as it a new period. called christmas in the city. incredible. food. fortunately that's that's how we have on this week's program i'll see you again. next week. goodbye a very merry christmas. well dreams of the future cruisers wishes on technology updates next generation playfields made from super strong holds for lightly building materials to help with the coastal nuclear isotopes clean your planet thanks to the revolutionary new ways to get rid of our growing man skills and a long listen to the russian invaders. the central. league. moves. to sleep. j

city. the capitol skyline offering incredible images of high rises. and. impressive to say the least. views of course sky high prices but it's christmas. celebrate in the restaurant's casual atmosphere. at home. is the ideal. christmas menu starters i've created a turkey. it's very tasty an aromatic served. with cheesy cream crunchy parsley and white truffle oil. is not publicly celebrated in the twentieth century but now with the festivities of fifty first. it's clear the whole country is. huge. and whether you rejoice at a christmas merry. capital is one of the leading cultural hot spots in the world but always a fantastic choice of events and attractions. in moscow the since an. incredible. food. fortunately that's that's how we have on this week's program i'll see you again at the same time next week. goodbye a very merry christmas. welcome to the future cruisers wishes on technology updates next generation playfields made from super strong cultural lately building materials to help with the health community isotopes clean your planet thanks to the revolutionary ways to get rid of

city. the capitol skyline offering incredible images of high rises. and. impressive to say the least. views of course. prices but it's christmas. celebrate in the restaurants yet. at home but here is the ideal. christmas. turkey. it's very tasty an aromatic served. with cheesy cream. truffle oil. is not publicly celebrated in the twentieth century but now with the festivities of fifty. it's clear the whole country is. huge. and whether you rejoice in a christmas merry. capital is one of the leading cultural hotspots in the world. a fantastic choice of events and attractions is it a new period. in moscow though since an. incredible. food. fortunately that's that's how we have on this week's program i'll see you again at the same time next week. goodbye a very merry christmas. download the official placation chobani phone oh i pod touch from the i.q. exam still. life on the go. video on demand r.t.s. mind bold colors and r.s.s. feeds now in the palm of your. question on the dot com.

city. the capitol skyline offering incredible images of high rises. and. impressive to say the least. views of course. prices but it's christmas. celebrate in the restaurants casual atmosphere. at home. is the ideal. christmas. turkey. it's very tasty an aromatic served. with cheesy cream crunchy parsley and white truffle oil. is not publicly celebrated in the twentieth century but now with the festivities of fifty. it's clear the whole country is. huge. and whether you rejoice in a christmas merry. capital is one of the leading cultural hot spots in the world but always a fantastic choice of events and attractions in the period. of christmas in moscow. fortunately that's that's how we have left on this week's program i'll see you again. next week. goodbye a very merry christmas. more news today violence is once again flared up. these are the images the world has been seeing from the streets of canada. china corporations are the day. the least explore areas. and touched by money. surrounded by steep fall.

. >>> the body of kim jung-il now lying in a glass encased coffin at a memorial palace in the capitol city there for a week until a state funeral is held next wednesday. who was the first person to pay respects? that's kim's youngest son, and successor, kim jong-un. the 69-year-old ruler reportedly died from a massive heart attack on a train over the weekend. >>> bizarre end to go a police chase when cops stopped this car. a man gets out and uses his four-year-old daughter as a human shield. the girl's mom was at work and reportedly in contact with police while this whole nightmare played out. officers swarm his car and took the girl away from the girl safe and sound. those are your headlines this morning. it's time to bring in laura ingraham from washington, d.c. good morning to you. >> hey. don't you love how i'm camouflaged with the background? i meld right in. you can't see me at all. >> steve: we can see you, and we can hear you. >> brian: most important, we can hear you, laura. by the way, what are your sources telling you, are the republicans intentionally screwing up the economy, a

the capitol has been the worst affected. other cities are also struggling to cope. residents say they have no idea what to do. they're upset of the city lacks the necessary infrastructure to deal with such heavy rain. this is bbc news. these are the headlines. fitch says a comprehensive solution to the eurozone crisis is beyond reach. bradley manning, the american soldier accused of leaking documents to wikileaks, has made his first appearance in a military court. the democratic republic of congo has rejected challenges to joseph's reelection. the opposition says its supporters are going to demand a political solution. >> it took the supreme court less than one hour on friday night to sign off on the results. the judges confirms that his reelection beat the challenger. he challenged the results last monday after international observers highlight it widespread irregularities. sedgy did not have any of -- the court said he did not have any evidence. however, the secretary-general said he did not recognize the authority of the supreme court and regarded the standoff be

city. views of the capitol skyline offering incredible images of high rises. and. impressive to say the least. views of course. prices but it's christmas. celebrate in the restaurants casual atmosphere. at home. is the ideal. christmas. turkey. it's very tasty an aromatic serve vague. cheesy cream crunchy parsley and white truffle oil. christmas in russia and the public to celebrate much of the twentieth century but now with the festivities of fifty first. it's clear the whole country is. huge. and whether you rejoice in a christmas merry. capital is one of the leading cultural hotspots in the world. a fantastic choice of events and attraction in the period. of christmas in moscow. fortunately that's that's how we have on this week's program i'll see you again at the same time next week. good bye a very merry christmas. culture is that so much i'm going to give each musician a final mark left with the american occupation of iraq officially coming to a close to speak it's time to take stock was the war and occupation worth it for. a little. to. the feel. is easy to.

city. views of the capitol skyline offering incredible images of high rises. in the distance. impressive to say the least. views of course means sky high prices but it's christmas. celebrate in the restaurants casual atmosphere for all those who don't. get here is the ideal. christmas menu. i've created a turkey. it's very tasty an aromatic served. with cheesy cream crunchy parsley and white truffle oil. christmas in. public he celebrated much of the twentieth century but now with the festivities. fifty first. it's clear the whole country is. huge. and whether you rejoice in a christmas merry. capital is one of the leading cultural hot spots in the world but always a fantastic choice of events and attraction if you can use the experience. called christmas in must go the since an. incredible. food. fortunately that's that's how we have left on this week's program i'll see you again at the same time next week for me and the rest of the crew goodbye a very merry christmas. whether you dive from high or to the depths. catch the power of the wind or drift in the beauty of the curre

capitol hill. sorry about that back and forth here in sioux city. technical issue, but that is live tv. that is why we bring it to you out and about. bring in the panel about today's battle on capitol hill and this standoff that could lead a showdown of friday night. jonah goldberg, and mara liasson, national political correspondent of national public radio. syndicated columnist charles krauthammer. mara, explain for folks out there, the payroll tax cut extension, has been tied -- the republican tied it to the keystone xl pipeline approval. there isn't a standoff. the white house pushed back and said no, it won't fly. essentially, we have another government shutdown looming friday at midnight. >> there are two things that are at issue. the payroll tax cut, which expires at the end of the year. the president wants that extended. that is what they want to pay for with decision on the pipeline. this is one thing. the other issue that you heard speaker boehner talk about is an omnibus spending bill to fund the government after friday. once again, here w

live picture from our city camera showing capitol hill in the distance under a mostly cloudy sky on thisday morning. and it's a bit milder this morning. good morning, i'm tom kierein in storm center 4. right now, around the region, we are in the low to mid 40s in much of the area. around the bay b it's near 50 degrees. and later today with a front approaching from the midwest, we'll have thiblgenning clouds and maybe a little sun in and out this morning in early afternoon. but that front arriving mid to late afternoon around the metro area bringing in a likely passing rain showers. before then, though, up near 60 degrees. overnight tonight, the rain around should be ending by about 9:00. after that, we'll hover near 50 on a cloudy sky. snow predawn saturday as well as into next week. that will be in the next ten minutes. how is traffic, danella? >> just got a report of an accident, the inner loop at college park seeing significant delays. you're jammed on the inner loop of the beltway. passing college park as you make your way towards bw parkway. you can see bumper to pumper. i'm going t

capitol hill. back here in sioux city after >>> it's here, it's dead. and they don't want the vote on it. maybe they don't want to vote on it because republican senators are kind of embarrassed or ashamed of what is in the bill? i would think so. >> i'd say speaking of embarrassment, we're doing it omnibus again. the reason we're doing omnibus again on the eve of chaste is because we haven't passed our appropriation bills. we have had almost as many show boats in the senate this year, equal number of show vote, designed to fail, to go nowhere to present a talk point for president and his campaign and on real bills than were supposed to pass. >> bret: that was very, very interest on the senate floor. it had senator mcconnell, up against the majority leader harry reid. this is a standoff with a government shutdown looming again. friday night. omnibus is the overall spending bill. appropriation bill put in one bill to fund the government. this is now tied to similarly tied to extension, the payroll tax extension that passed the house. we're in the weeds here. but basically the republicans ar

little music you know the president of iran is no capital capitol of iran do you know the capital city of iran. negative do you guys know what iran is yes yes yes what's the capital of iraq. was the president. was president he just died but the capital of the capital yes i do but if you're asking me i can't tell you that either top secret comes out always calling me. snow libya or. anything he guesses. is the president of iraq iran iraq all right you know his name but a jet a giraffe or so when it comes to picking a future for the u.s. choosing what comes next may be tough without the knowledge of what has gone on in the past and even the very present situation at her cheek. that's cost the business desk now and join you. thanks carrie a very warm welcome to the program in your era as beginning for the russian economy the country fast apply for membership of the world trade organization but can mine to mine to three finally that long negotiations over and russia has been fully invited to join which was a gentle looks at the changes that will bring. becoming a member of the world trade

will leave its tent city today for a rally on capitol hill. >> product of a demonstration called take back the capital. economic protests is expected to amid a crackdown on the living situation in mcpherson square. these are pictures from the police raid yesterday that ended with dozens being arrested. ben eisler has details from northwest. >> 31 protesters were arrested by police yesterday by the end of a standoff that lasted all day. this is the first incident of mass arrests that has occurred at the base camp at occupy d.c. it was over a 15-foot structure a frame of a building that the protesters at a bill to keep them warm for the coming winter. according to protesters, the structure was built legally and was designed to be that way. they say it was temporary mobile and built on stilts with no foundation. according to police they did not have a permit. they deemed its own sake. police charged 13 protesters with crossing a police line and many others with disobeying police. a swat team was brought in and a chrryerry picker to remove them. >>> herman cain's campaign is all but over.

you know the president of iran is no capital capitol of iran do you know the capital city of iran. negative do you guys know what iran is oh yeah yeah yeah what's the capital of iraq here's. the president. bush president he just died about the capital of around the capital yes i do but if you're asking me i can't tell you that either top secret come. now libya or pakistan or anything. if the president of iraq iran iraq right all right you know his name but a jet a giraffe or so when it comes to picking a future for the you was choosing what comes next may be tough without the knowledge of what has gone on in the past and even the very present situation are pretty. well look at other news from around the world now we begin in gaza where a series of strikes have killed three and injured then it doesn't move people israel's air force carried out this souls claiming it was targeting militants to prevent an attack on part of these maybe border initial strike killed one man after rocket hit his motorcycle second. piece vehicle air attacks have been relatively rare since the end of a thre

you know the president of iran is no capital capitol of iran do you know the capital city of iran. negative do you guys know what iran is oh yes yes yes what's the capital of iraq. was the president. the president he just died but the capital of the capital yes i do what is it you're asking me i can't tell you that either top secret come. now libya or. anything. if the president of iraq iran iraq way all right you know his name but a jet a giraffe or so when it comes to picking a future for the you want choosing what comes next may be tough without the knowledge of what has gone on in the past and even the very present situation at fourteen. with you. thanks kerry farewell welcome to the program a new era is beginning for the russian economy the country fast apply for membership of the world trade organization but. finally that long negotiation is over and russia has been formally invited to join richard danka looks at the changes this will bring. becoming a member of the world trade organization is both a political and economic milestone the fact that for such a long time russia n

city camera. there's capitol hill in the distance. looking toward the east, don't see any clouds yet. rather humid like it was yesterday morning. i took this photo. this is not texas. this is the wild horse and cattle country in northern montgomery county. we had quite a bit of fog yesterday morning. if you do have an interesting photo, weather or nature-wise, send it to nbcwashington.com. let's take a look at the temperatures. it's rather chilly. it's above freezing. we're generally in the mid and upper 30s from the blue ridge to the bay and eastern shore. near 40 -- near mid-40s right near the bay and the northern neck where there is some of this dense fog. it includes baltimore, anne arundel, calvert, st. mary's, northern neck, eastern shore. this is in effect until 9:00 this morning. many locations have visibilities under a quarter mile. we have high clouds drifting over the region. they'll be with us off and on through the morning hours. rain in this area in green and yellow. ohio into indiana and kentucky advancing to the east. sunrise at 7:11. we'll have maybe a little sun thro

into a hospital that was rural which is very different from the hospital that's here in the capitol, the largest cityt was completely empty. even when patients came in, they had to go right back out because there was really no doctor there to give them any medical advice. on the wall it was written that the doctors were not taking any appointments. they were told by the main nurse that the doctors had actually gone into hiding for fear of being arrested. now here at the big hospital, one of the main hospitals in the capitol, what we saw was also a bit disturbing but also heartening. i say that because 1,000 doctors apparently left this particular hospital. patients are saying they're fighting over the amount of money that they're being paid, some of the benefits they say they deserve and are not getting. 1,000 doctors left the hospital, left the patients here. the patients say the fight between the doctors and the government is killing their loved ones. there are not enough doctors to care for the patients. what has happened here that we have witnessed ourselves today is that 300 doctors from a neigh

city camera. there's the capitol off in the distance there looking toward the east. quite a bit of cloudiness. the clouds. little bit of moon breaking through. temperatures right now near 40 right on the tidal potomac at reagan national. a little more humid. not quite as dry as it has been the last couple of days. temperatures around the region from the mountains to the beaches are generally above freezing in most locations. at the airport there, warmer. but elsewhere, mid-30s. there is aloud cover coming in from the north and west, and that's going to be with us here throughout the rest of the day. it is producing some rain way out in western west virginia. there's ohio. it's raining there. raining in the northern indiana, southern michigan. that's along a warm front that will stay west and north of us today. sunrise at 7:18. we'll have it near 40 by 9:00. maybe a little sun in and out this morning. otherwise, a cloudy day. afternoon highs into the low to mid-50s by midafternoon. then this evening, sunset 4:47. back down to the mid-40s right after sunset. low 40s by midnight. by dawn tomorrow

. >> a brawl at a baltimore city basketball game is caught on video. >> a temporary truce on capitol hill. what it means for millions of working americans. >> a homecoming of medieval proportions. haole local soldier made his homecoming extra special for his sons. [captioning made possible by constellation energy group] captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org-- >> live, local, late-breaking, this is wbal-tv 11 news today. >> good morning. i am mindy basara. thank you for joining us this morning. >> there was some pretty heavy rain out there last night. it has moved offshore. we will see the temperatures drop down. across the state, near 60 in southern maryland. 48 at bwi. about a 20-degree spread out there. along the eastern shore, you're expecting the temperatures to drop throughout the day. baltimore may warm up a couple of degrees. rain is ending. partly cloudy skies. now we go to traffic with kim to see of the roads are doing a. >> it is expected to be a busy travel day. we have a problem spot at owings mills road. watch for that in the reisterstown area a

. >> in the dusty often violent iraqi capitol camp victory was an american oasis. cityhin a city. once home to 70,000 troops and contractors. general strategy in sadz old palace. soldiers relaxed here. saddam jailed her before his trial and execution. now after nearly nine years u.s. military manufactured out. aside from a surprise visit by vice president biden no official hand over ceremony or photo op. last u.s. soldiers there simply left today. >> where i come from l where the president comes from a promise made is a promise kept. >>reporter: about 13,000 u.s. forces are still in iraq down from a high of 170,000. the deadline to leave is december 31 but most will be gone by mid month. >> we have gone out done our mission and safe the entire time. >>reporter: but iraqi are still dying from bombing attack and assassination. u.s. and iraq couldn't agree on rules for keeping a small number of troops in the country to help. sticking point? baghdad insistence that u.s. soldiers be subject to iraq legal system. less than 100 troops will stay in the country but they will be

capitol is lit up. i would encourage you if you are visiting the fair city here, get out and see some of the lights. see the national christmas tree, the capital christmas tree, all the christmas tree. everything is lit up. it's nice. let me tell you if you are visiting the city, the monuments at night are gorgeous. there is a lot less traffic, too. reagan national 48. dbi marshal 49. this is the planner the next three days. tomorrow is the only day you will need your umbrella, okay. if you don't have to be out, after probably 10:00, 11:00 tomorrow morning, you probably will want to stay inside because it is going to rain out there. it will be chilly. and all things considered it will be better to be in doors. there is the rain tomorrow. wednesday will be breezy. 44 will feel like the 30s with the wind. we will have sunshine. thursday not bad. 45, sunshine and the winds will calm down. 44 in the city. we are dropping off a little bit. winds barely out of the north at 3. it's chilly out there this evening. the winds are not really blowing. so, a jacket should do it. check out the suburbs. dropping li

city camera. it does show a capitol hill on this tuesday morning, the 20th of december although it feels more like the 20th of october. it's 49 at reagan national. we've got a calm wind. we've had a few sprinkles as we look at temperatures elsewhere, it's also well above freezing even out of the mountains of western maryland, west virginia, all the way to the atlantic beaches. it's in the 40s to near 50 degrees. montgomery and fairfax, arlington, prince george's counties, as well as the district of columbia. over the last 12 hours, a lot of clouds around, a few sprinkles to our south. those are exited southern maryland on the eastern shore. elsewhere, we are cloudy this morning, and it's going to stay cloudy throughout the day. here's your day planner on this tuesday, the 20th of december. we'll have clouds throughout the day. temperatures this afternoon may briefly, perhaps between noon and 3:00 get into the low to mid-50s, especially areas just south of the metro area. by sunset at 4:49, back down to the upper 40s. then we'll stay in the 40s through the rest of the evening. up until midnight, we

city. >>> plus, a live look at capitol hill where republicans and democrats are digging in as the deadlineo agree on a payroll tax extension draws closer. good morning, earn. i'm angie goss. >> and i'm joe krebs. this is the 22nd of dose, the day of the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year and a pretty warm day of the year, too. 55 degrees to start. >> yeah. i'm shameful december performance here this morning. certainly not feeling like a winter morning. temperatures around the region are around 50 degrees in the metro area. it's a little bit chillier in some of the rural areas. right now at reagan national, a partly to mostly cloudy sky. it's 5 degrees. they've got a calm wind this morning in this unreal, unusually mild pattern that's going to continue today. this will be the end of it as overnight tonight, we've had some patchy fog form across parts of northern virginia. watch out for patchy fog and dense visibility. watch out for slick spots on the roadways this morning as you're coming off the interstates on the ramps. the you can easily slide into the guardrails. we're in the

city. location on the sixteenth floor provides wonderful views of the capitol skyline offering incredible images of high rises to god a moon rose in the distance kremlin. impressive to say the least and sky high views of course mean sky high prices but it's christmas so why not. celebrate in style in the restaurant's casual yet elegant atmosphere for all those who don't fancy cooking their christmas or new year's dinner at home white rabbit here is the ideal substitute but it never quite as part of our special christmas menu for cold starters i've created a turkey parte with hazelnut and cognac it's very tasty an aromatic has served fig and not just. appetizer i suggest carpaccio may have been mushrooms with cheesy cream crunchy parsley and white truffle oil. christmassy mush and the u.s.s.r. was not publicly celebrated joy in much of the twentieth century but now with the festivities line december twenty fifth the thirty first january the seventh it's clear the whole country is now geared up for one huge party and whether you rejoice in a christmas merry mint. the russian capital is one of the