December 29 News international

Thursday 29 December, 2011.

TOP STORY Myanmar warehouse blast kills 17 A large pre-dawn explosion at a warehouse in Myanmar's biggest city Yangon on Thursday killed at least 17 people and injured dozens but was not caused by a bomb, an official said. HEADLINES US downsizing top-heavy ranks in military For the first time since the end of the Cold War, the US has started culling generals and admirals from its top-heavy ranks to save money and make the military more nimble. Taliban attack kills 10 Afghan police  A Taliban bomb attackon Thursday killed 10 Afghan police returning from a recruitment centre in southern Afghanistan's restive Helmand province, the local government said. NKorea calls Kim Jong Un 'supreme leader'  Kim Jong Il's son and successor was on Thursday declared "supreme leader" ofNorth Korea's ruling party, military and the people during a memorial for his father in the first public endorsement of his leadership by the government. Death toll rises to 18 in Colombiapipeline blast The death toll from a huge pipeline explosion in westernColombia last week has risen to 18, officials said after five people hurt in the blast succumbed to their injuries. AFRICA & SOUTH AMERICA ASIA PACIFIC EUROPE NORTH AMERICA SOUTH ASIA WEST ASIA

OTHER TOP STORIES Bomb kills three NATO troops in Afghanistan  90,000 displaced in Nigerian city hard hit by violence US military briefs Kayani on NATO air strike probe report