December 04, 2008|By From news services  1. Pirates!  Pirates
ride alongside the luxury American cruise ship Nautica on
Sunday, as seen from the Nautica off the coast of Yemen in the
Gulf of Aden. The cruise ship was able to outrun the pirates. AP
photo  2. Warship milestone  Russia said Wednesday it is sending
a warship through the Panama Canal for the first time since
World War II, a short journey loaded with symbolic weight: The
destroyer will dock at a former U.S. naval base, showcasing
Russia's growing influence in the region.  3. Iraq attacks down
Attacks fell in November to their lowest monthly level since the
Iraq war began in 2003, despite recent high-profile bombings
aimed at shaking public confidence, a top U.S. commander said
Wednesday in Baghdad.  4. Iran's economic woes  Iran's president
has acknowledged publicly for the first time that his country's
economy is taking a severe beating from tumbling oil prices, a
damaging admission by a leader whose popularity is eroding ahead
of a tough re-elec