Canada is the most popular country in the world, according to a BBC World service poll of 12 heavy-hitting nations. Britain, China, France, India, Iran, Israel, Japan, North Korea, Russia, Venezuela and the U. S. were also contenders for the "best" nation poll, but Canada roped the majority of the 28,000 respondents from 27 countries into saying something nice about it.

Russian authorities in Moscow raised terror alerts when a loud explosion ripped through a university dormitory, damaging the building. No one was reported injured by the explosion, which was caused by a Russian chemistry student who blew up his homework.

Neighbors in an Alaskan town aren't happy a new resident has moved into town. They say "Snowzilla," a 22-foot snowman, is causing traffic jams and they're sick of the gawkers. The two-story snowman is the actually the second. The first was built last year. The creation soon became a hit thanks to the Internet. Visitors as far away as Japan and Russia have come to visit.

A believer of Santa Claus has sponsored his version of the G8 summit for Father Christmas to be held in St. Petersburg, Russia, ananova. com reports. Lev Levinson, organizer of Xmas G8 said eight different versions of Santa Claus from around the world will meet in Russia for the Christmas special.

Russian Customs authorities held a 51-year-old woman at an airport in Polyarny, Russia after her smelly luggage was found to contain a dead fish packed with large uncut diamonds. Officials said the woman was stopped from boarding a flight to Moscow from Polyarny because of her smelly luggage.