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Mandela ceremony sign-language interpreter was a ‘fake’

Johannesburg (AP) -- A man who provided sign language interpretation on stage for Nelson Mandela's memorial service, attended by scores of heads of state, was a "fake”, the national director of the Deaf Federation of South Africa said on…

Obama thrills crowd at Mandela memorial

Johannesburg (AP) -- US President Barack Obama exhorted the world Tuesday to embrace Nelson Mandela's universal message of peace and justice, electrifying tens of thousands of rain-lashed spectators and prompting a standing ovation by…

Texas actress admits to sending ricin-laced letters to Obama

Dallas (AP) — A Texas woman and former actress pleaded guilty Tuesday to sending ricin-laced letters to President Barack Obama and New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg, under a deal that her attorney has said would cap prison time at 18 years.…

Bulls missing 4 starters for game against Bucks

Chicago (AP) — The Chicago Bulls are missing four starters for Tuesday night's game against the Milwaukee Bucks after Joakim Noah was sidelined by a bruised right thigh. Noah participated in the morning shootaround and coach Tom Thibodeau…

Mandela death: Daughter Makaziwe tells of final moments

(BBC)--Nelson Mandela's daughter Makaziwe has told the BBC about the "wonderful" final hours of the former president, who died aged 95 last Thursday. Ms Mandela said his wife Graca, the children and grandchildren were all there to say…

Jesse Owens’ Olympic gold medal sells for record US$1.4m

California (AP) -- An Olympic gold medal won by Jesse Owens at the 1936 Berlin Games has sold for a record US$1.4 million in an online auction. SCP Auctions said Pittsburgh Penguins co-owner Ron Burkle paid US$1,466,574, the highest price…

US jobless rate falls to 5-year low in November

(BBC) --The US unemployment rate fell to a five-year low of 7% in November, according to the US Labor Department. Payroll figures also showed that 203,000 jobs were created last month, more than predicted, as the US economy displayed more…

Tidal surge hits east UK coastal towns after storm

(BBC) --The tidal surge which hit the east coast of Britain has been described as the "most serious" for 60 years. Thousands were forced to abandon their homes as tides in parts of the North Sea reached higher levels than the devastating…

Nelson Mandela death: South Africa and world mourn

(BBC) --South Africans have gathered in Johannesburg and Soweto to mourn their former leader, Nelson Mandela, who died on Thursday aged 95. Crowds have been paying tribute, dancing and singing in front of Mr Mandela's former home in…

Newtown mass shooting 911 recordings to be released

(BBC)--Authorities will later release emergency dispatch recordings of last year's school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, which left 26 people dead. The tapes reportedly contain nearly half an hour of 911 calls made from inside Sandy…

Nigella Lawson admits taking cocaine

(BBC)--TV cook Nigella Lawson has admitted taking cocaine, but denies having a drug problem or being an addict. She said she had first taken the drug with her late husband John Diamond when he was terminally ill. Ms Lawson said she had…

Hezbollah commander Hassan Lakkis buried in Baalbek

(BBC)--Crowds of mourners in the Lebanese town of Baalbek have turned out for the funeral of Hassan Lakkis, a commander in the Shia militant group Hezbollah. Lakkis was shot in the head at close range at about midnight on Tuesday outside…