The Top World News Stories of 2011, Dec 20, 2011

I can't stress this enough: This was a heckuva news year. I mean, absolutely amazing. So when I sat down to pick the top 10 world news stories of the year, there were some tough decisions to make. And here's my rationale.
The killing of Osama bin Laden was huge. The al Qaeda leader had not just been on the run since 9/11, but was a most-wanted man since the 1998 bombings of the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. For years, analysts weighed whether he was sickly and slinking away from the public eye. When he was killed by a Navy SEAL team, hiding in semi-plain sight, it brought closure to many of his victims, but didn't bring closure to the war on terror. Bin Laden's deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri, had been managing the terror group's operations for some time, even delivering the video and audio messages that once were bin Laden's domain. It can be argued that the killing of bin Laden did more damage to Pakistan -- who had to answer for how he hid there so easily, for so long -- than it did to al Qaeda.
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Consumers International - Consumer rights must keep pace with Africa’s mobile money miracle, Dec 20, 2011

"African consumers have established themselves at the vanguard of mobile communications, with the continent already boasting more mobile-phone users than the United States. Now, Kenyans are leading the way in new forms of inexpensive mobile financial services that have the potential to revolutionise bank transactions, transfers, payments and personal finance."

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SEEKNAIJA - Auto crash: 18 killed in Edo, Dec 20, 2011

"BENIN—WITH less than five days to Christmas, no fewer than 18 persons have lost their lives in an auto crash that occurred at Aduhanhan village, along the Benin-Agbor-Asaba dual carriage way.
Three others were seriously injured in the accident that occurred last Saturday .
Edo State sector commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr. Henry Olatunji, who confirmed the accident, said a Volkswagen commercial bus, marked XB326 SGD, and a truck, marked YF 303 ENU,were involved in the accident.
Mr. Olatunji attributed the cause of the accident to route violation by drivers of the two vehicles who were contesting right of way.
He said those dead, including nine males and nine females, were deposited at Our Clinic hospital in Benin City."

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The Express Tribune - Triple Homicide: Murder weapon recovered from suspect’s home, Dec 20, 2011

"FAISALABAD:
Batala Colony police claimed on Monday to have recovered the rifle used in a triple murder incident during a raid at the suspect’s house.
Police said the suspect, Waqas Bajwa, had fled before they arrived at the scene.
Bajwa is accused of killing his wife, Faiza, their newborn child and a passerby over an argument between the couple at Faiza’s parents’ house in Muslim Park Peoples Colony No 2 on Saturday. According the FIR registered on a complaint filed by Faiza’s father Sheikh Nasir, Bajwa had insisted that she return home with him on Saturday. Faiza refused to return until 40 days after child birth. She told Bajwa that her family would not allow her to return before 40 days. “She said she will stay with her parents for two more weeks, ” the FIR stated."

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ADELAIDE Now - Former Miss Venezuela Eva Ekvall dies of breast cancer, Dec 20, 2011

"Her family says Ekvall died on Saturday in a Houston hospital after a long struggle with breast cancer.
Ekvall was crowned Miss Venezuela in 2000. She was 18 the following year when she was third runner-up in the Miss Universe pageant in Puerto Rico.
She was a model, actress and television news anchor.
Ekvall's family released a statement saying her remains were being cremated in Houston today and that a service is to be held in Venezuela once her remains are returned to the country.
She wrote the book Out of Focus about her struggle with cancer.
She was married to radio producer John Fabio Bermudez and had a two-year-old daughter."

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HOLLYWOOD Life - Kim Kardashian Divorce -- Why I'm Glad I Divorced Kris Humphries, Dec 20, 2011

"For the first time ever, Kim Kardashian admits her marriage was a mistake, but explains why it’s made her a better person
For someone who usually tweets promotional info about upcoming shows or is in light-hearted conversations to other celebrities, Kim Kardashian got randomly profound on Twitter Dec. 19, cryptically discussing her failed relationship to Kris Humphries.
“Maybe our mistakes r what make our fate,wout them what would shape our lives?” the 31-year-old reality star wrote, adding, “Perhaps if we never veered off course we wouldn’t b who we are.”
Kim recently wed Kris, 26, in a $15 million wedding after dating him for less than a year. Then, after 72 days of marriage, she filed for divorce, upsetting many of her fans, who speculated the reality businesswoman’s love life was a scam."

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EXAMINER News - Deion Sanders files for divorce from his wife Pilar, Dec 20, 2011

"Not all divorces become ugly and filled with attempts to get back at the other person. Some Milwaukee couples file for divorce on amicable terms. When this happens, the couple can decide between themselves what they would like in their divorce decree and file it at the Milwaukee County courthouse. The same is true, even for celebrity couples. Deion and Pilar Sanders are an example of an amicable divorce among celebrities."

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Google News - The Associated Press: 5 killed in plane crash in central Texas, Dec 20, 2011

"BRYAN, Texas (AP) — A single-engine plane crashed in central Texas, killing five people aboard including two children, and the victims were likely related, officials said Tuesday.
The Piper Saratoga aircraft crashed just before 10 p.m. Monday in a farming and ranching community in northeast Brazos County, said Tom Vinger, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety.
The flight originated in Atlanta, stopped in Jackson, Miss., and was headed for Waco, Texas, when it crashed in a field north of Bryan and College Station. A resident called 911 to report the crash."

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CNN News - Portugal: When there's no light at the end of the tunnel, Dec 20, 2011

"Porto, Portugal (CNN) -- In Portugal's second city, Porto, crowds throng the main shopping streets, accompanied by the smell of roasting chestnuts and the twinkle of festive lights. Bacalhau, the dried, salted codfish traditionally eaten on Christmas Day, hangs in store windows framed by hand-painted wall tiles. Tourists wander past clutching maps and cameras.
But in Matosinhos, the fishing community that adjoins Porto, residents say the impression that all is well is far from the truth. Portugal's working families are feeling the impact of austerity measures imposed following a 78 billion euro ($104 billion) international bailout in May."

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CNN News -Protesters battle for control of Egypt's Tahrir Square, Dec 20, 2011

"Cairo (CNN) -- Police and military troops clashed Monday with protesters in Egypt's Tahrir Square, the symbolic center of the uprising that brought down President Hosni Mubarak earlier this year.
At least two protesters were killed, according to field doctor Ahmed Khalil. That brought the total number of dead in protests to 14 since Friday, according to Hisham Sheeha, a spokesman for the Ministry of Health.
Hundreds of people were injured on both sides in the clashes, officials from the Ministry of the Interior and Ministry of Health said. At least 200 protesters were injured, mostly by live ammunition, Sheeha said."

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CNN News - Death of Kim Jong Il: View from the south, Dec 20, 2011

"(CNN) -- It was just after midday on a cold December Monday in South Korea's capital when news of Kim Jong Il's death filtered through.
Though the reclusive North Korean leader had been plagued with health problems in recent years, the announcement was greeted with general astonishment in Seoul, according to a journalist from the country's largest newspaper.
"The initial reaction was shock, quickly followed by speculation about what was going to happen next," said Woosuk Ken Choi, assistant editor with The Chosun Daily."

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CNN News - Syria threatens to execute 'terrorists' under new law, Dec 20, 2011

"CNN) -- Syria will execute anyone who participates in terrorist acts or distributes weapons, state television announced Tuesday, in the latest escalation against an uprising the United Nations estimates has claimed about 5,000 lives since March.
The announcement comes as two opposition groups claimed that more than 100 people were killed Monday, which would be the single deadliest known day of the protests against President Bashar al-Assad's government."

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CNN News - Women march in Cairo to protest violence, Dec 20, 2011

"Cairo (CNN) -- Egypt's capital remained engulfed in tension on Tuesday, as security forces and protesters clashed and demonstrators at a "Million Women" march railed against the regime and assaults on citizens.

Security forces wielding batons, firearms and tear gas attacked defiant protesters Tuesday on the fifth consecutive day of clashes in Cairo's Tahrir Square, witnesses told CNN.
Sherif Barakat, a businessman, heard machine gun fire early in the morning and saw the unrest from the balcony of his home above Tahrir Square. He saw security forces charge, firing tear gas and beating people with batons."

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BBC News - India cold wave death toll rises to 39, Dec 20, 2011

"The death toll in a cold wave sweeping through northern India has risen to 39, media reports say.
The majority of deaths were in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Punjab and Haryana are among the other northern states badly hit.
Most deaths take place among the homeless and the elderly.
Last week, the country's Supreme Court ordered states to provide adequate night shelters for the homeless during the winter.
"You should not allow even a single person to die this winter from the freezing cold," the judges said."

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Jessica Alba's Look for Less - Nikki's Closet, Dec 20, 2011

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BBC News - Taiwanese phone firm HTC loses Apple patent case ruling

"The Taiwanese mobile-phone maker HTC has lost a US patent battle with Apple.
The International Trade Commission found that HTC infringed one patent held by the US technology giant.
Any HTC phones that use the technology covered by the patent will be banned from sale in the US from 19 April, 2012.
Apple is currently fighting a number of global legal battles over technology rights, and had initially claimed that HTC was ignoring 10 patents.
According to the Reuters news agency, HTC called the ruling "a win" for the firm as it impacted only one patent, rather than the 10 as initially claimed."

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BBC News - Syria unrest: Dozens of army deserters 'gunned down', Dec 20, 2011

"Dozens of army deserters have been shot dead by Syrian troops as they tried to flee their bases and join anti-government protests, reports say.
Activist groups said more than 70 defectors were gunned down in the north-western Idlib province.
They said Monday's death toll across the country could exceed 110 - which if true would make it one of the deadliest days of the uprising."

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BBC News - Philippine floods: President declares national calamity, Dec 20, 2011

"Philippines President Benigno Aquino has declared a national calamity after a typhoon killed nearly 1,000 people.
Typhoon Washi hit southern Mindanao island and surrounding areas at the weekend.
Visiting the area, Mr Aquino reassured survivors the government would be there to help but reportedly acknowledged mistakes might have been made.
Some authorities have begun mass burials, but they are opposed by some relatives of the dead.
Disaster agencies are attempting to provide food, water, medicine and body bags, but damaged roads are hampering efforts to reach survivors in remote villages."

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BBC News - Kim Jong-il death: North Korea pays last respects, Dec 20, 2011

"Mourners in North Korea have been paying their last respects at the open coffin of late leader Kim Jong-il.
State TV showed pictures of his son and heir, Kim Jong-un, and other senior officials at a memorial palace.
Kim Jong-il died on Saturday of a heart attack caused by overwork and stress at the age of 69, state media said.
A period of official mourning is under way. Kim Jong-il, who had been in power since the death of father Kim Il-sung in 1994, will be buried on 28 December.
North Korean state media said its people continued to grieve late into the night."

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HAWAII Reporter - News Behind the News - Jones Act Impact on Hawaii Business, Dec 20, 2011

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HAWAII Reporter -Israel Releases 550 Palestinian Prisoners, Dec 20, 2011

"There were celebrations in the West Bank as Israel released 550 Palestinian prisoners. A Palestinian celebrant said it is a step in the right direction. “We believe that we have our state and they have their state, and we can live with peace," she said.
It was the second phase of a prisoner swap that won the release of captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit two months ago, after five years of Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip. Israel freed 477 Palestinian prisoners in the first phase. The final tally: 1,027 prisoners for one Israeli soldier."

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