This is AP News Minute.

Dozens of Shiite Muslims are dead after bombing attacks in Iraq and Afghanistan today. The attacks coincide with a Shiite religious holiday.

Standard & Poor's is examining the credit rating of 15 euro zone countries. Downgrade is possible. S&P says the debt crisis is affecting the European countries with the strongest economies.

President Obama heads to Kansas today. He will speak in the same town where former President Theodore Roosevelt delivered a historic speech on economic fairness a century ago.

And Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich is now running his first campaign ad in Iowa. That state presidential caucus is set for January 3rd.

Matt Small, the Associated Press with AP News Minute.