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?

Why insurgency persists, by JNI

The apex Islamic body in the North, Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), has identified lack of implementation of useful recommendations in reports of various committees and commissions of enquiry on insurgency and similar crimes as the reason why insurgency festers.
The JNI argued that the development has led to culprits being unpunished, thereby encouraging others to commit more crimes in the society.

2015: My five-point agenda, by Buhari

All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari yesterday asked Nigerians not to lose hope because change is imminent in the country.
He said 2015 is a year of change for the nation, which the forthcoming elections would bring.
Gen. Buhari listed a five-point change agenda which he would implement – if elected president.
He pledged to change the nation’s debilitating dependence on crude oil to earn revenue.

NLC to govt: cut cost of governance

The Federal Government yesterday got a piece of advice on its planned austerity measures. It should reduce its running cost, workers said.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is displeased with the “opulence” in government while workers’ salaries are not paid and employees are being told to tighten their belts.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un proposes talks

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has offered to hold talks at the highest level with South Korea.

President Kim was giving his new year message broadcast on state television.
He said if Pyongyang's conditions were met, he would even be prepared to hold a summit meeting with South Korean President Park Guen-hye.
On Monday, South Korea called for dialogue to resume on a number of issues, including reunions for families separated by the Korean War.

Dozens dead as Afghan wedding hit by rocket

At least 26 guests killed by missile in southern province of Helmand during fighting between Afghan forces and Taliban.

Most of the victims of the attack in Helmand's Sangin district were women and children [AP]

A rocket fired during fighting between Afghan forces and Taliban fighters has killed at least 26 wedding guests in the southern province of Helmand, officials have said.