RISING DEATH TOLL IN SOUTH SUDAN
Between 400 and 500 people have died in the past three-plus days of clashes between opposing army factions in South Sudan, the BBC reports, citing UN officials. This comes as former vice-president and opposition leader-in-exile Riek Machar told the Paris-based Sudan Tribunethat he didn’t orchestrate a coup attempt, instead describing the unrest that began Sunday as a move by President Salva Kiir to purge rivals.
UKRAINE HAILS “HISTORIC” DEAL WITH RUSSIA
Standing in front of Parliament this morning, Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov defended what he called a “historic” deal signed a day earlier with Russia that he says will bring some relief to the country’s economy. For another angle on the Ukrainian crisis, read this Gazeta Wyborcza/Worldcrunch piece: How Ukranian-EU Dreaming Looks From Poland
MERKEL CALLS FOR EU TREATY REFORM
As she began her third term as Germany’s Chancellor, Angela Merkel called for new reforms to European Union treaties, in order to push ahead with stronger fiscal and banking unions, German broadcaster Deutsche Welle reports.
PHILIPPINES LAUNCH $8 BILLION RECONSTRUCTION PLAN
The Philippines government announced an $8.2 billion plan to rebuild parts of the country that were destroyed last month by Typhoon Haiyan, The Philippine Star reports. Most of the budget will be allocated to providing “shelter and resettlement” to the victims. According to AFP, President Benigno Aquino appealed for international aid to help fund the project.
FREEDOM IMMINENT FOR PUSSY RIOT?
The Russian Parliament will vote Wednesday on a major amnesty bill, backed by Vladimir Putin that includes the release of the 30 Greenpeace activists and the two jailed members of Pussy Riot, on top of thousands of Russians citizens, The Guardian reports. If the bill is voted into law, the liberations could take place as soon as tomorrow.
BY THE NUMBERS
November 2013 was the warmest ever recorded, worldwide. It was, however, a bit chilly in some places.
FAREWELL
Great Train robber Ronnie Biggs dies aged 84. What a ride.
CRIME INT’L
Vietnamese police arrest nursery school teachers after video shows them abusing children.
LET’S GET TOGETHER AND BE ALRIGHT
Rob Ford, who said he had quit drinking after experiencing a “come to Jesus moment”, forgot all his troubles for a short moment as he danced to Bob Marley during a council session.
UNLUCKIEST WOMAN EVER?
Last Friday (the 13th, by the way) she played Euromillions instead of her usual Loto, where the series of numbers she always plays came up, DNA reports.
