The movie, Charlie Wilson's War, opens today. It tells a tale of a former Texas congressman who hooks up with a socialite and a CIA operative in an effort to arm Afghans mujahedeen against Soviet invaders in the early 1980s. Anchor Marco Werman speaks with the former congressman himself, Charlie Wilson.

More than 50 people were killed in an explosion near the Pakistani city of Peshawar. Anchor Marco Werman gets details from the BBC's Haroun Rashid who's in Peshawar.

Entire program - Dec 21

Madeleine Bair of station KALW reports on a California duo called Los Rakas. Their album includes a song they wrote recalling the U.S. invasion of Panama on this day in 1989. The two were just toddlers in Panama City when the invasion took place.

Today's answer is the Newgrange Tomb, located just north of Dublin, Ireland. The World's David Leveille tells us a little about its long history....and ancient secrets.

The mayor of Mexico City has built a massive ice rink right in the city's main square - the Zocalo. He says he did it to provide entertainment for the people...but critics say he's trying to gain favor for a future presidential bid. The World's Lorne Matalon has the story.

Our daily geography puzzler.

Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with Astrid Betancourt, the sister of Colombian politician and hostage Ingrid Betancourt. The latter's been held hostage by leftist rebels in Colombia since 2002. Recently, a letter written from captivity by Ingrid Betancourt has been made public, providing some proof that the high-profile hostage is still alive.

Ms. Betancourt

President Nicholas Sarkozy appears to be close to winning the release of Ingrid Betancourt, a French citizen held for years by Colombian rebels. Correspondent David Common has the story.

Anchor Lisa Mullins has the details on the theft of two expensive art works from a museum in Sao Paulo, Brazil. One of the paintings was a Picasso.