South Africa and world mourn Mandela
South Africans have gathered in Johannesburg and Soweto to mourn their former leader, Nelson Mandela, who died on Thursday aged 95. Across the world, leaders, celebrities and members of the public have been paying tribute. (BBC)
Clashes in Central African Republic as UN authorises French intervention
A major French military intervention in the Central African Republic is expected within days after the UN security council authorised French and African troops Thursday to use force to protect civilians as the world races to prevent a sectarian war. At least 105 people were killed during the heaviest clashes for months between rival militias in the capital, Bangui. (Guardian)
Pope to set up special committee on child sex abuse
Pope Francis is to set up a special committee to help protect children against sexual abuse within the Catholic Church, the archbishop of Boston, Cardinal Sean Patrick O'Malley, said on Thursday. The move is Francis' first major step to address the crisis that has discredited the church, in the face of charges the Vatican has not done enough to protect children or make amends. (Reuters)
Australia's first same-sex marriages to take place in Canberra
Two ceremonies are due to take place from 12.01am (AEDT) Saturday in Canberra to take advantage of a new ACT law. The marriages will become the first legally-recognised same-sex unions in an Australian jurisdiction. But the marriages may be short lived if a Commonwealth High Court challenge to validity of the ACT law is successful. (Guardian)
Astronomers discover planet that shouldn't be there
The discovery of a giant planet orbiting its star at 650 times the average Earth-Sun distance has astronomers puzzled over how such a strange system came to be. (Science Daily)
