Sri Lanka flash floods cause deadly havoc

Torrential rain and mudslides blamed for at least 39 deaths and displacement of one million people in past two weeks.

At least another 20 people have been injured and two are still missing after torrential rain [EPA]

Flash floods and mudslides in Sri Lanka have killed at least 39 people and more than one million have had to flee their homes in the past two weeks, data from the country's Disaster Management Centre show.

'Terrorists' blamed for Gambia coup bid

Longtime President Yahya Jammeh says terrorists and dissidents based abroad were behind assault on presidential palace.

Jammeh took power in the former British colony at the age of 29 following a coup in 1994 [EPA]

Gambia's president has blamed unidentified foreign dissidents and "terrorists" for an assault on his presidential palace and insists the army remains loyal.
Yahya Jammeh's remarks came two days after an apparent coup bid by a group of soldiers while he was abroad was foiled.

Putin: Crimea annexation important milestone

In his New Year speech Russian president says takeover of former Ukrainian territory was a "historic milestone".

Putin failed to give a specific plan to revive Russia's economy [Reuters]

President Vladimir Putin has commended Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea Peninsula, thanking his people for their bravery and loyalty in his New Year’s speech.
In his annual speech on Wednesday, Putin said that "this event will forever remain a most important milestone in our history".

Jeb Bush 'scaling back business interests' for 2016

Former Florida governor Jeb Bush has reportedly scaled back his business commitments as he thinks seriously about a White House run.

One of the Republican's aides told the Washington Post he had ended his board memberships and resigned as a paid adviser to an education company.

Muslim 'terror drill' draws outrage in India

Political parties react with rage over video showing 'terrorists' dressed as Muslims in mock drill in Gujarat state.

Men playing the part of enemies of the state in a 'mock terror' drill in the Indian state of Gujarat were made to wear the traditional Muslim hat, triggering indignation in political circles that Muslims are terrorists, local media have reported.
India Today reported on Thursday that video footage gained from a drill conducted in the town of Surat on Saturday, showed 'terrorists' dressed in the traditional skull cap as it is known and widely associated with the Muslim community in India.

AirAsia passenger families show quiet dignity in the face of unimaginable loss

It was a stark and painful reminder. The sound of fireworks echoing through the streets of Surabaya as the clock dragged toward midnight underlining the fact that so many of the victims of QZ8501 were on their way to Singapore to celebrate the new year there.

They never made it. And for the past four days, the CNN crew has witnessed the shock, disbelief, frustration, and finally the devastating realization from the families of those missing.

Since Sunday evening, we have been staffing our live camera position 24 hours a day just a few paces from the crisis center at Surabaya International Airport.

Broken promises and renewal of deceit

LIKE the flash of  lightening, 356 days have passed and a New Year is born.  Again, the nation is in sober reflection. Like the preceding year, the broken promises are eliciting nation-wide condemnation. The gulf between expectation and reality has created a hollow in the record of President Goodluck Jonathan. To many, the Commander-in-Chief has been tested. The puzzle is: can he be trusted?