Teheran avverte i manifestanti dell’opposizione
I leader religiosi iraniani hanno emesso un altro avviso ai sostenitori dell’opposizione del paese per fermare la loro proteste anti-governative.
Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, il presidente del Consiglio dei Guardiani, ha accusato i manifestanti di corruzione, una violazione punibile con la pena di morte.
Ma Hossein Mousavi, leader del principale movimento di opposizione iraniano, ha detto che è disposto a morire per la sua causa e ha chiesto di porre fine alla repressione del governo contro le proteste dell’opposizione.
Mayon Philippine volcano
The Mayon volcano in the Philippines is showing signs of calming down but soldiers are still keeping villagers from returning to their homes.
The volcano alert is on level 4, meaning a major eruption could happen within days.
And while droves of tourists have been drawn to the volcano, hoping for a spectacular display to welcome the New Year, locals’ livelihoods have been crippled because they have been forced to evacuate the danger zone.
Divya Gopalan ushers in the New Year with those celebrating in the shadow of the volcano in Albay province.
Democratic Republic of Congo: continuing violence
For the Democratic Republic of Congo, still gripped by war, there’s little hope for much change in the coming year. The world’s largest UN peacekeeping force of about 20,000 troops is in the country but appears largely ineffective. Some say it is even made life worse for the population who have suffered attacks by both opposition and government forces. Al Jazeera’s Mohammed Adow is in Kiwanja, in North Kivu, where the fear of murder and rape is a daily reality.
Russia alcohol abuse
The Russian government has introduced a minimum price of about $3 a bottle for vodka as part of new year reforms aimed at curbing alcohol abuse among its vodka-loving population.
The move is one of series of measures designed to tackle the problem but it appears old habits die hard.
Neave Barker reports from Moscow.
