Colombia's Farc rebels destroy radar station
Farc rebels in Colombia have destroyed a radar installation, disrupting civil aviation in the south and west of the country, the government says.
Around 100 guerrillas bombarded the mountaintop installation with home-made missiles, killing one of the police guards and and smashing the equipment.
Officials said it would take several months to repair the radar, which is also used to monitor drug trafficking.
President Juan Manuel Santos has condemned the attack.
"When the Farc attacks sites that affect the civilian population it shows their weakness and desperation," he said.
Fierce battle
The radar station on Cerro Santana, in a remote mountainous area of the southern Cauca region, was under sustained attack for more than 12 hours.
Rebels bombarded the installations with gunfire and explosive missiles made out of cooking gas canisters.
The 18-strong police garrison fought back, supported by helicopter gunships. Army troops eventually arrived to restore control of the area and pursue the guerrillas.
The director of Colombia's civil aviation authority, Santiago Castro, said it could take months to repair the radar station, which controlled air traffic across a large area of southern and western Colombia.
"The solution we are considering to ensure the safety of flights is to space out their frequency. We don't know if the number of flights will have to be reduced, but there will be delays," Mr Castro said.
The disruption could also affect flights to neighbouring Panama and Ecuador.
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) are the country's largest left-wing rebel group, and have been fighting since the 1960s.
In recent years they have suffered a series of setbacks, losing thousands of fighters and several of their top commanders.
But they remain a powerful force in large areas of rural Colombia, thanks in part to money gained from the cocaine trade.
Earlier this month the Farc's new leader - known as Timochenko - indicated that he was interested in peace talks with the government.
But President Santos has reiterated that there can be no negotiations until the rebels cease all attacks and release the hostages they are holding.
Greek debt talks hit snag
The chief negotiators for Greece's private creditors have left Athens without securing a deal to write off some of the country's debts.
The Institute of International Finance (IIF), which represents the creditors, said a technical team would remain to work on the details and negotiations would continue on the phone.
Greece had hoped an agreement would be in place by the end of the weekend.
It needs a deal if it is to receive the next tranche of bailout funds.
The 130bn euro ($168bn; £108bn) rescue package from the EU and IMF is crucial if Greece is to meet its next debt repayment deadline in two months.
The Institute of International Finance (IIF), which represents the private creditors, denied that its managing director Charles Dallara and his adviser Jean Lemierre had left unexpectedly on Saturday, saying that they had "longstanding personal appointments".
A deal now seems unlikely before eurozone finance ministers meet on Monday.
Default risk
European leaders agreed in principle last year that private lenders would voluntarily write off 50% of their loans to Greece, but private creditors still need to agree to the terms of the deal.
Athens and the IIF last week discussed not only the size of the write-off, but also the rate of interest on the new loans, which will be renegotiated and rolled over into new bonds as part of any agreement.
Reports have suggested that a small number of hedge funds are blocking the deal, either to try to force a reduced write-off or to trigger a default, against which they are insured.
However, analysts say that even if an agreement is reached, there is no guarantee that all bond holders will sign up.
Without the EU-IMF bailout money, the Greek government could run out of cash and be forced to default on its debts.
Some analysts believe that if Greece did default, the country would be forced to leave the eurozone.
General Electric shares fall on lower revenues
US industrial conglomerate General Electric has seen its profits rise, but its shares fell after revenues were lower than expected.
GE shares opened down more than 2% as investors reacted badly to the results for the three months to 31 December.
Fourth-quarter earnings from continuing operations rose 26% to $4.5bn (£2.89bn) but revenue fell 8% to $37.9bn.
GE blamed lower-than-expected revenues on slower-than-expected growth in Europe and currency changes.
Europe downturn
For the full-year, the picture was similar. Earnings were up to $20.1bn from $14.1bn in 2010, while revenues for the year were down.
Revenues in 2010 were boosted by the sale of GE's majority stake in broadcaster NBC, which largely accounts for the fall in revenues in 2011.
However, the results for the final three months of the year were still about $2bn below analysts' expectations.
The company, which manufactures a range of industrial products including jet engines and turbines for power generators from coal plants to wind farms, said it would change its European business in response to the poor economy.
"We expect continued volatility in 2012 and have prepared for it by investing in new products and technology, expanding our growth market footprint and taking important steps to strengthen risk management," said GE chairman and chief executive Jeff Immelt.
"We are restructuring our businesses in Europe to reflect market conditions," he added.
Google revenues worse than expected
Google reported a 27% increase in revenues for the last three months of 2011, but even that was not good enough to meet Wall Street estimates, sending the shares tumbling.
Google shares fell 10% in after-hours trading to $575.
It reported 3-month revenues of $10.6bn (£6.8bn). Its net profit rose 6.4% to $2.7bn.
"Google had a really strong quarter ending a great year," said chief executive Larry Page.
"I am super excited about the growth of Android, Gmail, and Google+, which now has 90 million users globally - well over double what I announced just three months ago."
It came as fellow technology firms Microsoft and Intel also posted results for the same period.
Microsoft posted flat earnings of $6.62bn in the same quarter, seeing strong business demand for software and services.
Intel, the world's largest chipmaker, posted a better-than-expected 6% rise in earnings to $3.36bn, even though floods in Thailand knocked out factories that produce hard drives and components.
'Pressure' outside US
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 live, Graham Palmer, head of Intel, said: "We're seeing strong growth in the merging PC markets.
"China now has 20% consumption of the personal PC market - there are about one million PCs 'consumed' every day globally and there is still lots of growth, especially the emerging markets of Brazil, Russia, India and China."
But analysts were less impressed with Google's figures.
"Expectations were very high and they have missed that," said Trip Chowdhry, from Global Equities Research.
"Unlike Microsoft and Intel, estimates for Google have been rising for a few months."
The number of clicks on Google's search adverts rose significantly in the fourth quarter, but the amount that Google was able to charge advertisers for each click fell 8%.
"Expectations had got ahead of themselves for Google, largely because investors don't have a good feel for what happens outside the US," said Jordan Rohan from Stifel Nicolaus.
"North America has remained strong, but there are parts of the world where there's a lot of economic pressure. I would have to assume Europe, particularly Germany and some others, undergoing austerity measures. The underlying demand in those countries is weak."
For the full year, Google reported a 29% rise in revenue to $37.9bn, with net profit up 14% to $9.7bn.
Republican Mitt Romney 'to release tax returns'
US Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney has said he will release recent tax returns on Tuesday.
Mr Romney, the early favourite in primary elections, appeared embarrassed during the South Carolina campaign by the issue of how much tax he paid.
Last week he said he in effect paid 15%, less than most working Americans.
Newt Gingrich won the South Carolina primary on Saturday by an unexpectedly wide margin, beating the former Massachusetts governor by 40% to 28%.
The candidate winning South Carolina has gone on to win the Republican nomination in each election since 1980.
Two other candidates, Rick Santorum and Ron Paul, polled 18% and 13% respectively.
'Full fair taxes'
Speaking on Fox News Sunday, Mr Romney said the question of tax had become a distraction for his campaign, and he wanted to re-focus on the main issues.
"I will release my tax returns for 2010, which is the last returns which were completed, on Tuesday of this week," he said.
"And I will also release at the same time an estimate for 2011 tax returns."
"I know people will try and find something, but we pay full fair taxes and I'm sure people will find it's a substantial amount," he added.
Correspondents say Mr Romney has campaigned on the strength of his success as an entrepreneur, but as a wealthy patrician figure he is regarded negatively by some conservatives.
He is a multi-millionaire with three homes and lives mainly on income from his investments, for which only 15% tax is payable.
He has been criticised for describing payments totalling $373,000 (£240,000) in a year for paid speeches as "not very much" money.
Mr Romney had led the Republican field since November and appeared to have won the first two contests of the campaign, in Iowa and New Hampshire.
But the Iowa caucus result was overturned in a recount which gave a narrow victory to Mr Santorum.
IMF's Lagarde joins in warning on austerity and growth
The heads of the IMF and World Bank have joined other influential figures in calling on countries to implement free trade, reform their economies and protect economic growth.
They warned that austerity programmes should "promote rather than reduce prospects for growth".
The warning came in a "call to action" in the run-up to the World Economic Forum in the Swiss resort of Davos.
Leaders warned the world faced slowing growth and rising unemployment.
They also called for world leaders to take action to tackle inequality.
The signatories included:
- Mark Carney, chairman of the Financial Stability Board,
- World Health Organization boss Margaret Chan,
- OECD secretary general Angel Gurria,
- World Trade Organization director general Pascal Lamy,
- International Monetary Fund head Christine Lagarde,
- World Bank president Robert Zoellick,
- and the leaders of the International Labour Organization, World Food Programme and three regional development banks.
Inequality warning
However, the signatories, who sit on the World Economic Forum's Global Issues Group, said their statement did not necessarily reflect the views of their organisations.
In the short term, the statement said, leaders should remove trade barriers, provide capital to the banking system, make government finances more sustainable and focus on youth and long-term unemployment.
However, they warned that "fiscal consolidation" programmes should be applied in a "socially responsible" manner, in order to promote growth and employment.
In the longer term, the statement called for action on labour market reforms to boost employment, inequality and green growth.
"Rising inequality calls for heightened consideration of more inclusive models of growth. We must deliver tangible improvements in material living standards and greater social cohesion," it said.
Caribbean ally invites President Ma to visit region
The leader of one of Taiwan’s allies in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has invited President Ma Ying-jeou to visit the region in the wake of Ma’s re-election on Jan. 14.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves said last week that he had sent a letter of invitation to Ma and had also congratulated him on his election to a second four-year term.
“I want to congratulate my friend President Ma on his very comfortable victory at the polls … and also a return to a parliamentary majority of the Kuomintang,” Gonsalves said in media briefing in his country.
“The opposition (Democratic Progressive Party) did very well and Taiwan has a robust and vibrant multiparty system. We share that in common,” Gonsalves said.
The prime minister said that Ma, in his first four years in office, showed commitment to strengthening relations between Taiwan and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
“… And we have reciprocated,” Gonsalves said, adding that he was looking forward to working with the Taiwan president over the next four years.
Noting that Taiwan has diplomatic ties with four other CARICOM countries — Belize, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and Haiti — Gonsalves said Ma should give thought to visiting the Caribbean allies soon.
The Dominican Republic, a non-CARICOM state, is also one of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies in the region.
“I have asked him (Ma) to consider visiting us in this term in office, sooner rather than later, because the sooner he gets to it the better,” Gonsalves said. “It would be a wonderful thing, certainly, for him to come and visit us.”
Former President Chen Shui-bian visited St. Vincent and the Grenadines and some of Taiwan’s other Caribbean allies in 2005.
“It may be not a bad time, seven years thereafter, for us to have a visit (by Taiwan’s leader),” Gonsalves said. “Of course, the president is very busy and he probably has his schedule worked out for the year already, but I have extended an invitation to him.”
Gingrich Wins South Carolina Presidential Primary
Former U.S. congressman Newt Gingrich has won the Republican presidential primary in the southeastern state of South Carolina, shaking up the party's campaign to find a candidate for this year's presidential election.
With more than 95 percent of the precincts reporting, vote tallies showed Gingrich with about 40 percent of the vote. Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney trailed in second with about 28 percent.
Gingrich touted his victory with an apparent jab at Romney, who has faced criticism from his rivals over his wealth.
“We don't have the kind of money at least one of the candidates has. But we do have ideas, and we do have people. And we proved here in South Carolina that people power with the right ideas beats big money, and with your help, we are going to prove it again in Florida.”
Just a week ago, Romney was expected to win easily, but his campaign was hard hit by attacks over his career as a venture capitalist.
After the initial results emerged Saturday, Romney hit back, criticizing both President Barack Obama and Romney's Republican rivals.
“Our president has divided the nation, engaged in class warfare, and attacked the free enterprise system that has made America the economic envy of the world. We cannot defeat that president with a candidate who has joined in that very assault on free enterprise. (applause). When my opponents attack success and free enterprise, they are not only attacking me, they are attacking every person who dreams of a better future.”
In third in the South Carolina vote was former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania, Rick Santorum, with U.S. Congressman Ron Paul of Texas in fourth.
Paul said he expects to end up with four to five times more votes in South Carolina this year than in the 2008 race. He said his cause of liberty is getting more attention now because of current conditions.
“Well the evidence has become clear that the efforts by government are failing, and we can't depend on the government to take care of us from cradle to grave, we can't depend on the government, on its efforts to promote, and to believe that we can police the world, and go in and nation-build, because we're all going broke.”
Gingrich's upset victory means that all three of the election events held so far have had different winners. Romney won the New Hampshire primary last week, and Santorum won the Iowa caucuses on January 3.
Santorum made note of the volatility in his speech Saturday night.
“Well, three states, three winners, what a great country!”
The battle will continue to be hard fought in the next primary state – Florida. Republicans there will vote on January 31.
Nigeria violence: Scores dead after Kano blasts
Co-ordinated attacks by Islamist militants in the northern Nigerian city of Kano on Friday killed about 150 people, witnesses and reports say.
Hospitals are struggling to deal with the numbers of killed and injured.
A series of explosions ripped apart police buildings, passport offices and immigration centres around the city, which is now under a 24-hour curfew.
Boko Haram militants said they carried out the attacks, which would be their bloodiest assault to date.
The group has said it wants to overthrow the national government and install an Islamic state.
Its members have frequently attacked police stations and other symbols of state power, but the group has also bombed churches and killed hundreds of people - including many Muslim and Christian civilians.
President Goodluck Jonathan promised that the perpetrators would "face the full wrath of the law".
"As a responsible government, we will not fold our hands and watch enemies of democracy, for that is what these mindless killers are, perpetrate unprecedented evil in our land,'' he said.
Wave of attacks
On Saturday in Kano, a city of nine million people, most of them Muslims, Red Cross teams have been collecting bodies from the streets and taking them to mortuaries.
A BBC reporter in Kano said he had counted 150 bodies in the mortuary of the city's main hospital.
A medical official told the AP news agency that 143 people had been killed, and another official told AFP that 162 bodies had been counted.
Boko Haram, which loosely translates from the local Hausa language as "Western education is forbidden", has been behind a string of attacks in recent years.
The group wants Islamic law across Nigeria, whose population is split between the largely Muslim north, and the south where Christianity and traditional beliefs predominate.
It first hit the headlines in 2009 when a spate of attacks by its followers on police and government buildings in the city of Maiduguri led to a crackdown in which hundreds died.
More recently, the group has launched bomb attacks on churches, drive-by shootings on government targets and other attacks across northern Nigeria, killing scores and forcing many more to flee.
But the Kano attacks appear to be the group's most deadly co-ordinated assault.
The police said in a statement that four police stations around the city, the headquarters of the State Security Service (SSS), as well as passport and immigration offices had been targeted.
There was also a shoot-out at the headquarters of the state police in the city's eastern district of Bompai, reports said.
A local man, Andrew Samuel, described the scene of one blast: "I was on the roadside and I just heard a 'boom'. As I came back, I saw the building of the police headquarters crashing down and I ran for my life."
Witnesses said the bomber who attacked one of the police stations pulled up outside the building on a motorbike, dismounted and ran inside holding a bag.
Some unconfirmed reports have claimed suicide bombers carried out some of the attacks.
The BBC's Mark Doyle, in Kano, says he has seen one police station with its roof completely burnt off, though it was not clear whether this was caused directly by an explosion or by fire.
He says the atmosphere is nervous, and a large crowd outside the police station quickly dispersed when soldiers arrived.
Nigeria's Channels TV said in a statement that one of its reporters, Enenche Akogwu, had been killed in the attacks .
It said he had been "shot by unknown gunmen suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect", outside the state government house.
The wounded were reported to include foreigners from an area near the SSS headquarters, which is home to many expatriates, particularly Lebanese and Indians.
A Boko Haram spokesman, Abul Qaqa, told journalists that it had carried out the attacks because the authorities had refused to release group members arrested in Kano.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague said he was "shocked and appalled" by the attacks.
Gbagbo Supporters Attacked at Ivory Coast Rally
Dozens of supporters of former Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo have been attacked and injured during a rally in Abidjan.
Saturday's rally by the Ivorian Popular Front ended in disarray after opponents began throwing stones.
Gbagbo loyalists tried to fight back. Police fired tear gas to break up the confrontation. United Nations troops were called in to secure the area.
Mr. Gbagbo refused to leave office after losing the November 2010 election to Alassane Ouattara. The stand-off between the rival sides triggered battles that left several thousand people dead. Forces supporting President Ouattara eventually captured Mr. Gbagbo and placed him under house arrest.
In November, he was transferred to The Hague where he is awaiting trial for crimes against humanity by his army after his election defeat.
Human rights groups have also accused pro-Ouattara forces of abuses following the election.