News

ROUGH CUT - NO REPORTER NARRATION Tens of thousands of revellers enjoy an extravagant mult-million dollar fireworks display set to music in Sydney harbour, Australia, to usher in 2012.

Celebrations brought in 2012 around the world.

Mourners hold a three-minute silence in Pyongyang to remember North Korea's leader Kim Jong-il.

ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION) STORY: A gaunt and breathless George Michael tearfully thanked his doctors and fans on Friday for seeing him through a severe bout with pneumonia. A thin and visibly weak Michael told reporters outside his home in north London that he wasn't supposed to speak for very long and was still recovering from a tracheotomy. The 48-year-old former Wham! frontman, who went on to pursue a successful solo career, was taken ill in the Austrian capital and diagnosed with severe pneumonia last month.

Dec. 19 (Bloomberg) -- James Staley, chief executive officer of JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s investment-banking unit, talks about the European sovereign debt crisis and the firm's business strategy. Staley, speaking with Erik Schatztker and Stephanie Ruhle on Bloomberg Television's "InsideTrack," also discusses the impact of financial regulation on the industry. (Source: Bloomberg)

Residents in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, react to news of the death of their leader, Kim Jong-il. He died on a train trip on Saturday, state television reported on Monday, sparking concern over who is in control of the state and its nuclear programme. No Comment | euronews: watch the international news without commentary | http://www.euronews.net/nocomment/

Τοποθέτηση Βαρουφάκη στο debate "Μαζί τα φάγαμε"

CNN's Hala Gorani reports on what Google is doing in the battle to end modern- day slavery.

A village in Bali, Indonesia, turns tourist waste into jobs. CNN's Kristie Lu Stout reports.

Dans le sud du Liban, des centaines de Chiites célèbrent l'Achoura en se flagellant pour célébrer le martyre de l'imam Hussein, petit-fils du prophète. No Comment | euronews: watch the international news without commentary | http://www.euronews.net/nocomment/

There has been a major shift in Russia's political landscape after the ruling party of President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin suffered significant losses in the country's general election. As counting neared completion it was set to win around 50 percent of the vote, down from 64 percent four years ago. That would leave the party with a slim 13 seat majority. ... http://www.euronews.net/

Doctors in China had to cut the toddler free after she got her finger caught on a gear wheel at a shopping centre in Nanyang City.

Το "Μπορούμε" στο NEWS 247

(ROUGH CUT ONLY - NO REPORTER NARRATION) Hours of torrential rain cause heavy flooding and mudslides in northeastern Sicily, killing at least four people. Italy' Civil Protection Agency said the deaths occurred after a number of buildings were submerged in mud in the town of Saponara, near Messina, late on Tuesday. The towns of Milazzo and Barcellona Pozzo Di Gotto were also affected. More than 20 people have died in severe weather across Italy in recent weeks, with the heaviest impact felt in northern and central regions.

Intense clashes between riot police and protesters continue for a second day in central Cairo. Security forces launch volley after volley of tear gas into the crowds, who respond with a barrage of stones and bricks. An Egyptian health ministry source says at least two people have died and many hundreds have been injured. One pharmacist volunteering in Tahrir Square says the he's seen injuries are from tear gas, police batons, and rubber bullets. (SOUNDBITE) PHARMACIST, MOHAMED FOUAD, SAYING (Arabic): "Most of the injuries are suffocation, but from 12 a.m. until dawn there were injuries from large batons and rubber bullets. But today there aren't as many injuries from rubber bullets and batons, only those who get really close, but not like yesterday." But here in downtown Cairo, the dangers won't scare these protesters off. The violence erupted early Saturday after security forces tried to break up a peaceful overnight sit-in against military rule. Since the crackdown thousands have flocked to the area to face off with police -- in fighting reminiscent of some of the worst violence during Egypt's 18-day revolution that toppled President Hosni Mubarak in February. Travis Brecher, Reuters