Soldiers killed by suicide bomber in Yemen

A suicide car bombing at the security headquarters in Yemen's southern city of Aden killed at least three soldiers in what appeared to be an al-Qaeda attack, police have said.
The car exploded as it rammed into the front gate of the

Iraqi gunmen kill five journalists in Tikrit

Unknown gunmen have attacked and seized control over an Iraqi television station reportedly killing five journalists.

 

The dead were Salaheddin television's chief news editor, a copy editor, a producer, a presenter and the archives manager, the officers said on Monday.

S Sudan army says strikes on rebels imminent

The UN is struggling to cope with the number of civilians trying to take cover in their camps [Reuters]

South Sudan's army will step up the fight against rebels with imminent strikes in Bor and Bentiu, the army spokesman told Al Jazeera. The UN warned that the planned strikes on Monday could stall peace efforts and further escalate violence that has gripped the fledgling nation.

Russian dissident Mikhail Khodorkovsky speaks out

For the first time since his release, Russian dissident Mikhail Khodorkovsky is telling the world about the 10 years he spent behind bars as a critic of the Kremlin.

The oil magnate, who backed an opposition party, had been in prison since 2003 and was convicted in 2005 of tax evasion and fraud. He was due for release next year, but President Vladimir Putin signed an amnesty decree for him Friday.

Al-Qaeda in Yemen 'sorry' for hospital attack

Al-Qaeda says it attacked the defence ministry because it housed drone control rooms [Reuters]

In a rare public apology, the military leader of al-Qaeda's branch in Yemen has said that one of his fighters disobeyed orders and attacked a hospital attached to the defence ministry during a December assault that killed 52 people.

Police clash with protesters in Turkey

Crowds called on government ministers implicated in corruption scandal to resign [AP]

Police in Istanbul have clashed with protesters denouncing Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government over a corruption and bribery scandal targeting his allies. The Dogan news agency says police on Sunday fired water

Syria 'Must Answer' For Brit Surgeon's Death

Fatima Khan has demanded answers over the death of her son Abbas

The Prime Minister has called for those responsible for the death of a British surgeon

while in custody in Syria to be held to account.

S Sudan open to dialogue with rebels

The government of South Sudan says they are prepared to open dialogue "with any rebel group" as violence in the coutnry escalates.
In a statement released on twitter on Saturday, the government said "we are ready to dialogue with any rebel group including Dr. Riek Machar without any conditions".
The move comes a day after President of South Sudan implored his countrymen to turn away from ethnic hatred and said that "the long arm of the law" would find those who have killed during a week of violence.

Woman gives 19 students poisoned yogurt

Nineteen school children in central China were hospitalized this week after consuming yogurt laced with poison, China's state run news agency Xinhua reported.

Among the sick children, three were in serious condition, the agency reported. But none of the victims suffered life threatening injuries, the agency reported.

The incident occurred Wednesday at a school in Hunan province, the news agency reported. A 34-year old woman has been detained and accused of placing rat poison and herbicide in the yogurt, Xinhua reported.

Fresh gunfire reported in South Sudan capital

Fresh gunfire rang out in South Sudan's capital early on Tuesday, a day after the president announced he had put down a coup by a faction of the army supporting his former vice president, an AFP reporter said.

The gunfire - including the sporadic firing of heavy weapons - resumed in the early hours of Tuesday and was still audible at 9am (0600 GMT). It appeared to come from a military headquarters, a few kilometres from the centre of town.

The streets of the capital Juba in the world's newest nation were deserted, with only military vehicles to be seen and civilians barricaded in their homes.

North Korea's top brass commemorates Kim Jong Il's death

North Korean soldiers pay their respects at the base of statues of the late leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il in Pyongyang. 

 

On the second anniversary of the death of former North Korean leader, Kim Jong Il, the nation held a memorial in his honor, lauding his life and achievements.

During the ceremony, his son, Kim Jong Un sat front and center below the image of his father, which was festooned in gold-colored flowers. He assumed power after his father's death in 2011.

Detainees launch deadly Baghdad jail break

Iraqi security forces recaptured 13 prisoners and killed one after 22 escaped from a Baghdad prison [Reuters]

 

At least 22 Iraqi detainees facing terrorism charges have escaped from a Baghdad prison, after killing at least one prison guard, authorities say.
Following a police manhunt after Friday's escape, Iraqi security forces recaptured 13 prisoners and killed one, while another eight prisoners were still at large.

Mandela: Mourners Barge Police To See Body

Hundreds of South Africans pushed their way past a police cordon in a bid to see Nelson Mandela's body, in the final moments of his lying in state.

The group bustled past officers after tens of thousands of mourners were told that time had run out to pay last respects to the country's first black president.
They ran toward the amphitheatre at Union Buildings - the seat of government - where Mr Mandela has been lying in state since Wednesday.

Iran, world powers end nuclear talks with plans to meet again

Iran and six world powers ended talks on Tehran's nuclear program with plans to meet again next month, the EU said Friday.

The four-day meeting that came to a close Thursday in Vienna brought together technical experts, said Michael Mann, a spokesman for European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.

"There will now be consultations in capitals, in the expectation that technical talks will continue soon," Mann said.

The talks come after an interim deal last month aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear ambitions in exchange for lifting crippling economic sanctions.

That six-month deal, reached between Iran and the United States, Britain, China, Russia, France and Germany, eases some $7 billion in economic sanctions in return for limiting aspects of Iran's nuclear program.

Iranian state news agency IRNA said the next round of talks will be in Tehran on January 21.

N Korea says leader's powerful uncle executed

North Korea has executed the uncle of its leader Kim Jong-un days after he was dismissed, state news agency KCNA announced, branding the once-powerful Jang Song-thaek a "traitor".

Jang was executed on Thursday shortly after a special military trial, KCNA reported.

He had been accused of a string of criminal acts including corruption, womanising and drug-taking.

"The accused Jang brought together undesirable forces and formed a faction as the boss of a modern day factional group for a long time and thus committed such hideous crime as attempting to overthrow the state," KCNA said.

Violence intensifies in CAR conflict

Aid groups say a humanitarian crisis is looming in CAR as over 500,000 people have been displaced [Reuters]

 

More than 600 people have been killed and 159,000 displaced in sectarian violence between Christians and Muslims that has ravaged the Central African Republic in the past week, according to the UN's refugee agency.

450 people had been killed in the capital Bangui and 160 others were killed elsewhere in the country over the past week, the UNHCR said on Friday.

Kerry raises doubts over Iran nuclear deal

Kerry will brief the full US Senate on Wednesday on the status of talks with Iran [Reuters]

 

US Secretary of State John Kerry has raised doubts over whether Iran is prepared to conclude a final deal with Western powers on dismantling its disputed nuclear programme, but has urged US lawmakers not to impose new sanctions on the country.

"I came away from our preliminary negotiations with serious questions about whether or not they're ready and willing to make some of the choices that have to be made," Kerry told the US House of Representatives foreign affairs committee on Tuesday.

"Has Iran changed its nuclear calculus? I honestly don't think we can say for sure yet. And we certainly don't take words at face value," Kerry said. 

Mandela Memorial: Four British PMs To Attend

Mr Brown with Mr Mandela in Parliament Square during a 2007 visit to the UK

Sir John Major, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown will all accompany David Cameron to the official memorial ceremony for Nelson Mandela.

The Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, and the leader of the Labour Party, Ed Miliband, will also attend the service in Johannesburg's FNB Stadium, the scene of Nelson Mandela's last public appearance ahead of the 2010 World Cup Final.

Maduro survives Venezuela electoral test

Maduro won nearly 50 percent overall vote with his quest to preserve Chavez's socialist legacy [Reuters]

President Nicolas Maduro has survived the first major test of his seven-month presidency, after the ruling Socialists won a majority of votes in Venezuela's local elections.
The 51-year-old hand-picked heir of the late leftist Hugo Chavez was in the crosshairs of the country's opposition, as a deeply divided electorate confirmed the Socialists as remaining Venezuela's strongest party.

Porn Industry 'Shut Down' After HIV Test

 

Condom use is not yet mandated in the industry

The US porn industry is to shut down again after another performer tested positive for HIV, it has been revealed.

The move has reignited the debate over the use of condoms in adult movies.
Diane Duke, CEO of industry trade group the Free Speech Coalition, called for a suspension of filming after the positive test at one of their testing centers.
"We are taking every precaution while we do research to determine if there's been any threat to the performer pool," Ms Duke said.
"We take the health of our performers very seriously and felt that it was better to err on the side of caution while we determine whether anyone else may have been exposed.
"The next steps will be to perform additional tests, determine a timeline, and identify any first generation partners.
"We want to make sure all performers are protected. The performers' health and safety is the most important thing."
The Adult Production Health and Safety Services provides guidelines and services for the adult industry, designed to ensure a safe and healthy work environment.
The LA-based AIDS Healthcare Foundation has been advocating for required condom use in filming porn scenes in the city, which is not yet the case.
The porn industry has been hit by several positive HIV cases this year, including two in September.

Goodbye Mandela, my first black President

A woman stands next to flowers near the statue of former South African President Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg on Saturday, December 7. Mandela, the revered statesman who emerged from prison to lead South Africa out of its dark days of apartheid, died on Thursday, December 5. He was 95.

Get over there, girl, can't you read? Stand in this line," the customs agent, armed with a machine gun, barked at me while pointing her finger in my face.

The female Afrikaans custom agent was apparently upset that I wasn't moving along quickly enough. It was clear that she didn't like the looks of me because she refused to look me in the eye or answer my questions about where to go next.

Jordan takes UN seat rejected by Saudi Arabia

Jordan will join four other newcomers to the Security Council on January 1 [EPA]

The UN General Assembly has elected Jordan to the Security Council to replace Saudi Arabia, which had rejected the seat in an unprecedented act to protest the council's failure to end the Syrian and Israeli-Palestinian conflicts.
Arab countries chose Jordan on Friday as a replacement, and Asian nations endorsed it to take the traditional Arab seat on the UN's most powerful body.
The Security Council consists of 15 members, five of which - US, Russia, China, Britain and France - are permanent members while the rest are elected to serve for two-year terms.
Jordan received received 17 "yes" votes in Friday's election.
Saudi Arabia got one vote, and four countries in the 193-member world body abstained. The 10 other countries were either absent or unable to vote because of unpaid dues.

Air Traffic Control Problem Delays UK Flights

A number of airports have reported delays

Flights at airports across the UK - including Heathrow and Gatwick - have been delayed or cancelled by an air traffic control system problem.

Thousands of passengers have seen their flights delayed by a "technical problem" at southern England's main air traffic control centre in Swanwick, Hampshire.
Gatwick Airport tweeted: "Due to air traffic control systems issues some flights may be delayed. Please check with your airline."
A Heathrow Airport spokeswoman said: "We are currently experiencing some delays."

Nelson Mandela death: World mourns South Africa's first black president

Mourners gather outside former South African President Nelson Mandela's Johannesburg home on Friday, December 6. Mandela, the revered statesman who emerged from prison to lead South Africa out of its dark days of apartheid, died on Thursday, December 5. He was 95.

A woman prays at the Central Methodist Church as people remember Mandela on December 6 in CapeTown, South Africa.

British Prime Minister David Cameron signs the book of condolence at the South African Embassy in central London following the announcement of Mandela's death.

A group of mourners sing and dance outside Mandela's Johannesburg home on December 6.

A woman cleans up outside the South African Embassy in Beijing where portraits of Mandela and flowers offered by people are placed on December 6.

Members of the public lay tributes to Mandela in London outside South Africa House near Trafalgar Square on December 6.

A man looks at a wreath of flowers and a picture of Mandela displayed inside the embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, on December 6.

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden pays a silent tribute to Mandela before his speech at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea, on December 6.

A man wearing a T-shirt with a portrait of Mandela leads a group of mourners as they sing and dance outside Mandela's Johannesburg home on December 6.

South Africans hold pictures of former South African president Nelson Mandela as they pay tribute following his death in Johannesburg on Friday, December 6.

The South African flag is flown at half-staff at the Union Buildings on December 6 in Pretoria, South Africa.

A news channel display in Sydney on December 6 shows a message following Mandela's death.

A small crowd gathers in front of a statue of Nelson Mandela at Parliament Square in London, on December 6.

A man lights a candle for Nelson Mandela outside the South African High Commission in London, on December 6.

A bunch of yellow roses is left as tribute to Mandela outside the South African embassy in Berlin, Germany, on December 6.

Australian and English cricket fans in Adelaide, Australia, observe a minute of silence December 6, to mark the passing of Nelson Mandela.

A woman cries outside Mandela's house in Johannesburg after Mandela's death on December 5.

South Africans sing as they pay tribute to Mandela in Johannesburg on December 5.

U.S. President Barack Obama pauses as he speaks about Mandela in the briefing room of the White House on Thursday, December 5. Obama said he was one of the "countless millions" who drew inspirations from Mandela's life.

The marquee at New York's Apollo Theater honors Mandela on December 5.

An artist who goes by the name Franco the Great stands beneath a Mandela mural that he painted in New York's Harlem neighborhood more than 15 years ago. He later added Obama to the mural.

Keaton Anderson, 10, poses for a photograph while he and his father visit Mandela's statue at the South African Embassy in Washington on December 5. The statue is under renovation.

South Africans pay tribute to Mandela in Johannesburg following his death December 5.

A candlelight vigil is held December 5 outside Mandela's Johannesburg home.

People light a candle for Mandela outside his home in Johannesburg on December 5.

HIDE CAPTION

Johannesburg, South Africa (CNN) -- South Africans mourned the death of their first black president Friday, weeping, singing and gathering near Nelson Mandela's homes and landmarks linked to him nationwide.

Nelson Mandela, 95, died Thursday in Johannesburg.