National: TERROR-TIMES -- WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama says that the U.S. would press ahead with its offensive against terror cells worldwide, just minutes after an al-Qaida-affiliated group in Yemen claimed responsibility for the airplane bombing attempt over Detroit on Christmas Day. 1,240 words, by Josh Meyer and Peter Nicholas (Times). With TERROR-POST. TERROR-TSA -- WASHINGTON -- In the wake of the botched Christmas Day airliner attack, industry groups, airport workers and others have renewed calls on Congress to confirm President Barack Obama's nomination to head the beleaguered Transportation Security Administration. 1,080 words, by Hugo Martin and Kathleen Hennessey (Times). TERROR-SUSPECT -- WASHINGTON -- The 23-year-old Nigerian man accused of the attempted Christmas Day bombing of an American airliner apparently turned to the Internet for counseling and companionship, writing in an online forum that he was alone and had never found a true Muslim friend. 1,375 words, by Philip Rucker and Julie Tate (Post). GIBBONS -- RENO, Nev. -- Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons and his estranged wife reach a divorce settlement, quashing a potentially embarrassing public trial, but the couple's protracted -- and messy -- legal battle may have irreparably damaged his chances for re-election. 755 words, by Ashley Powers (Times). International: IRAN-TIMES -- BEIRUT -- Iranian authorities dramatically intensifiy a crackdown on the country's burgeoning opposition movement, rounding up political activists and seizing the corpse of one leading opponent's nephew, along with the bodies of other victims of weekend violence, in an apparent effort to stem further protests. 1,255 words, by Borzou Daragahi (Times). IRAN-POLICY -- WASHINGTON -- With Iran's crackdown on protesters intensifying, the Obama administration and allied governments are rethinking their approach to planned sanctions on Iran in hopes of focusing the punishments more tightly on the Iranian leadership, U.S. officials say. 770 words, by Paul Richter (Times). JAPAN-POLICY -- WASHINGTON -- While most of the federal government was shut down by a snowstorm last week, there was one person in particular Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton called in through the cold: Japanese Ambassador Ichiro Fujisaki; that she felt compelled to call the unusual meeting highlights what some U.S. and Asian officials say is an alarming turn in relations with Japan since Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama led an opposition party to victory in elections in August. 1,015 words, by John Pomfret (Post). MEXICO-JOURNALISTS -- DURANGO, Mexico -- The steady intimidation of Mexican journalists has caused many of them to pull their punches and refrain from writing the whole truth. 1,000 words, by Tracy Wilkinson (Times). CHINA-EXECUTE -- BEIJING -- The Chinese government executes a 53-year-old British citizen for drug smuggling, ignoring international pleas for clemency and claims by supporters that he was mentally ill. 600 words, by John M. Glionna (Times). TERROR-FAMILY -- JOHANNESBURG -- The family of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the man charged with attempting to destroy a trans-Atlantic airliner, expresses shock at his actions in a statement. 400 words, by Robyn Dixon (Times). Financial: RETAIL -- Consumers spent a little more than anticipated during the holiday season, according to a report, and a significant e-tail threshold may have been crossed on Christmas Day at Amazon, the online bookseller; for the first time ever, online sales of e-books on Christmas Day exceeded sales of physical books at Amazon, the company says. 575 words, by Frank Ahrens (Post) Commentaries and news features are listed on the NEWSFEATURES-LAT-WP budget that moves daily at noon EST. 