[World] Ivory Coast new year stampede kills dozens in Abidjan

Ivory Coast new year stampede kills dozens in Abidjan
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-20881552
At least 60 people have been crushed to death and more than 200 injured during new year festivities in Ivory Coast's main city Abidjan, officials say.

North Korea's Kim Jong-un makes a rare New Year's speech
http://www.livemint.com/Politics/3gTc5PQQW5I3bpVgUUES5H/In-rare-speech-Kim-Jongun-seeks-end-to-faceoff-with-South.html
It was the first New Year's Day broadcast for 19 years; Mr Kim's father, Kim Jong-il, was rarely heard or seen by his people, preferring to deliver his New Year message in a joint editorial across the country's three main state newspapers.

7 Aid Workers Gunned Down in Pakistan
http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/world-news/seven-killed-in-pakistan-ambush-3340073.html
Gunmen have ambushed a vehicle carrying Pakistani aid workers, killing seven people in northwest Pakistan. Mohammad Rafiq, a spokesman for the Pakistani non-governmental organization (NGO) Support With Working Solutions, says that six of the victims ...

The West Bank's 2012: The Year of the Israeli Settlement
http://world.time.com/2012/12/31/the-west-banks-2012-the-year-of-the-israeli-settlement/?iid=gs-main-lead
A Palestinian shepherd looks at Greater Jerusalem as he stands on the hill of Givat Hamatos, in southern Jerusalem, on Dec. 19, 2012.

Iran warns off foreign planes during naval drill - report
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/iran-warns-foreign-planes-strait-hormuz-18106309
DUBAI | Tue Jan 1, 2013 8:57am EST. DUBAI Jan 1 (Reuters) - Iran has warned off foreign surveillance planes that have tried to approach its forces during naval drills in the Strait of Hormuz, an Iranian military spokesman said on Tuesday.

New Year's violence in Syria: Activists claim further atrocities
http://rt.com/news/syria-atrocities-activists-damascus-175/
Dozens of bodies showing visible signs of torture were found in Damascus, activists have claimed. In a separate incident, a video emerged online Tuesday showing the corpses of three young men with blood on their faces and their hands bound.

Good clean fun for most, barring the 97 arrests
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/good-clean-fun-for-most-barring-the-97-arrests-20130101-2c464.html
AN ESTIMATED 1.6 million revellers enjoyed the Sydney Harbour New Year's Eve fireworks spectacular and partied well into the start of 2013 - but for two families, the year began with tragedy after a head-on crash on the state's north coast.

Fatah marks anniversary in Gaza for first time since 2007
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iAbD0X1hmW9PvMdMqghVTn3rf_PA?docId=CNG.3d45f5801991e8ca77422113f0711c33.511
GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories - The Gaza branch of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas's Fatah party has started celebrations of its 48th anniversary in the Hamas-ruled territory, a local leader said on Tuesday.

New Year's concert called off in Caracas as Chavez battles 'new complications'
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/restChavez-suffers-new-post-op-setback-Vice-President-Nicolas-Maduro/articleshow/17832985.cms
(CNN) -- Officials called off a New Year's Eve celebration in Venezuela's capital after receiving word that President Hugo Chavez had suffered "new complications" from cancer surgery.

NY Times Reporter Forced to Leave China
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/dec/31/china-new-york-times-journalist
BEIJINGâ€"A New York Times reporter was forced to leave China with his family after authorities failed to issue him a new visa before the end of the year.

India conducts bone test on juvenile gang-rape suspect
http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/india-conducts-bone-test-on-juvenile-gang-rape-suspect-1.1097256
NEW DELHI -- A bone test is being conducted to confirm the age of a juvenile suspect in custody for the fatal assault and gang-rape of a young woman, while prosecutors will seek the death penalty for the other five men arrested with him, police said Tuesday.

Hollande vows to revive French supertax
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-20881383
France's President Francois Hollande says he still plans to raise the top rate of income tax after his 75% plan was struck down on technical grounds.

Iraqi Shiite Cleric Lends Support to Sunni Protest
http://www.brecorder.com/top-news/1-front-top-news/98514-12-killed-in-wave-of-iraq-attacks-.html
A top anti-American Shiite cleric lent support Tuesday to Sunni protesters who have been rallying against Iraq's Shiite-dominated central government, increasing pressure on the leadership in Baghdad.

Bondi Beach shark alarmed as swimmers forced from the water
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/animals/shark-scare-closes-bondi-beach-20130101-2c3yc.html
FOR the shark, it must have been like being denied entry to the all-you-can-eat buffet. For those sweltering on the beach on one of the hottest days of summer, it felt like being sizzled on a frying pan.

Singapore police arrest boy, 13, over bomb threat
http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/singapore/story/police-arrest-13-year-old-who-threatened-bomb-mbs-20130101
SINGAPORE (AP) - Singapore police have arrested a 13-year-old boy for making an online threat to bomb a major resort. The police said Tuesday that the case comes under the Breach of Prohibition Against False Threats of Terrorist Acts.

Pope Marks End of Difficult Year, Notes God's Good
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/pope-marks-end-difficult-year-notes-gods-good-18101211
Pope Benedict XVI marked the end of a difficult year Monday by saying that despite all the death and injustice in the world, goodness prevails.

State Dept blamed for 'grievous mistake' in Benghazi
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jqv7gONwsEiisMz_WfDAW0z8uqnw?docId=CNG.097fb5282095628bac325b8c9743d228.401
WASHINGTON - The US State Department made a "grievous mistake" in refusing to shut down its mission in Benghazi, Libya, despite the deteriorating security situation in the country, a Senate report said Monday.

At Delhi Protest Ground, Talk of Causes Behind Violence Against Women
http://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/30/at-delhi-protest-ground-talk-of-causes-behind-violence-against-women/
A candlelight vigil at Jantar Mantar, Delhi, on Saturday. Anjani Trivedi for The New York TimesA candlelight vigil at Jantar Mantar, Delhi, on Saturday.