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.