10 things you need to know today: December 26, 2015

1. Indian Prime Minister Modi makes historic surprise visit to Pakistan

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a surprise stopover in Lahore, Pakistan, on Friday to visit Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on his way home from Afghanistan. The visit, which came on Sharif's 66th birthday, marked the first time in over a decade that an Indian prime minister has visited Pakistan, raising hopes that the nuclear-armed rival nations could work together to ease the tensions and hostilities that have plagued them for more than 65 years.

Reuters

2. Top Syrian rebel killed in airstrike

Syrian rebel commander Zahran Alloush reportedly died in an airstrike near Damascus on Friday. Alloush ran the Army of Islam, considered one of the most powerful groups working to oust Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The strike, which also killed other insurgents, came about a month before the expected start of Geneva peace talks between the Syrian government and insurgents. The Syrian military claimed responsibility for the airstrike in a statement Friday.

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The Associated Press The New York Times

3. Obama thanks U.S. troops during visit to Hawaii base

In an annual tradition, President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama visited U.S. troops stationed in Hawaii on Christmas to thank them for their service. "We never take for granted what all of you do for the American people," he said. "You help keep us free." The president also acknowledged the danger troops face, referencing the suicide attack that killed six U.S. airmen in Afghanistan on Monday.

ABC News The Washington Post

4. China expels French journalist over terrorism coverage

China is expelling French journalist Ursula Gauthier after she criticized the country's rhetoric on terrorism in a November essay, the foreign ministry confirmed Saturday. Gauthier, who serves as Beijing correspondent for L'Obs, a Paris-based weekly magazine, had suggested the capital's solidarity with Paris following the Nov. 13 attacks had "ulterior motives." Chinese officials had said they wouldn't renew her press credentials unless she apologized. Gauthier has refused.

Chicago Tribune The Washington Post

5. Australia wildfire destroys 116 homes

Residents were evacuated from several Australian towns as a wildfire destroyed 116 homes in Victoria on Friday. "This is really a very challenging fire — but in the planning and the execution and indeed in terms of the outcomes, no person has been harmed," said state premier Daniel Andrews. "That's something that we can be very proud of." The fire could keep burning until January or February, an emergency management official said Saturday.

The Guardian

6. Houston mosque fire 'appears suspicious' authorities say

A Friday fire at a Houston mosque "appears suspicious," said a spokeswoman for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. No one was injured in the two-alarm fire at the Islamic Center of Houston. The fire, which 80 firefighters responded to, had "multiple points of origin," according to an ATF field agent. "We are hoping it was an accident," said M.J. Khan, the center's president.

CNN

7. Dozens reportedly missing after Myanmar landslide

Rescuers are reportedly searching for dozens of missing people feared dead after a landslide struck a northern Myanmar jade mining region Friday. No deaths have been confirmed yet. A Nov. 21 landslide in the same area, the Kachin state, killed more than 100 people.

The Associated Press BBC News

8. Bill Clinton's childhood home damaged in suspected arson

Former President Bill Clinton's former childhood home was damaged by fire Friday morning in an incident authorities are investigating as suspected arson. Firefighters arrived at the house in Hope, Arkansas, now designated a national historic site, after a 3:20 a.m. call from a motorist. They found flames 8 feet high, the smell of an accelerant, and graffiti, the Hope police chief said. Clinton lived at the home until age 4.

USA Today

9. Former Warriors coach: Steph Curry is 'hurting' basketball

Former Golden State Warriors head coach Mark Jackson criticized Stephen Curry, the team's star point guard, during Friday's game. "He's hurting the game," the ABC analyst said. "And what I mean by that is I go into these high school gyms, I watch these kids and the first thing they do is run to the 3-point line. You are not Steph Curry." The Warriors topped the Cleveland Cavaliers 89-83 in the NBA finals rematch.

Sports Illustrated Yahoo Sports

10. Steve Harvey references Miss Universe mishap in self-deprecating tweet

Steve Harvey had some fun on Christmas with his recent Miss Universe pageant mishap, when he accidentally crowned the wrong contestant Sunday night. The Family Feud host tweeted a picture of himself Friday with the message "Merry Easter y'all!" and three Christmas tree emoji. Harvey had already apologized to both the winner, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach of the Philippines, and the runner-up, Ariadna Gutiérrez Arévalo of Colombia.

The Boston Globe Twitter