January 01 News international

Sunday 01 January, 2012.

TOP STORY 52 killed in ethnic clashes in Nigeria, emergency declared At least 52 people, including women and children, have been killed in clashes between two rival ethnic groups in southeastern Nigeria, as President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in four states to crush the "cancerous" growth of Islamist insurgency. HEADLINES World welcomes New Year Revellers across the world ushered in 2012 with impressive fireworks and star-studded mass celebrations as they bade adieu to a tough year marked by natural disasters and economic turmoil. Obama reluctantly signs defence spending bill US President Barack Obama has signed into law a massive USD 662-billion defence spending bill that also seeks to suspend a big chunk of USD 1.1 billion military aid toPakistan, despite his "serious reservations" about provisions regulating detention and prosecution of suspected terrorists. Ban Ki-moon begins 2nd five years term as UN Chief  With the start of New Year 2012, the second consecutive term for the United Nations General Secretary Ban Ki Moon has also come into effect. Emboldened by monitors, Syrians hold huge protests  In the largest protests Syria has seen in months, hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets in a display of defiance to show an Arab League observer mission the strength of the opposition movement. AFRICA & SOUTH AMERICA ASIA PACIFIC EUROPE NORTH AMERICA SOUTH ASIA WEST ASIA

OTHER TOP STORIES Powerful 7.0-magnitude quake hitsJapan  Pak SC orders time-bound probe into memo scandal  North Korea names Kim Jong Un its supreme military commander