Heavy Somali fighting amid crisis

Fierce fighting has resumed in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, following UN warnings of a humanitarian disaster.

One human rights agency put the death toll at 113. However, this figure cannot be confirmed. The main route used by people fleeing Mogadishu has been closed after an Ethiopian convoy on the road was attacked, and a blast hit a nearby military base on Thursday.

Jail for Serb video death squad

Serbia's war crimes court has jailed four Serb paramilitaries who were filmed as they shot dead six captured young Bosnian Muslims.

The Scorpions unit leader and one of his accomplices were given 20 years each - the others 13 and five years.

Iraq hosts key security meeting

Iraq's prime minister has appealed to neighbouring states to co-operate in tackling the insurgency which has left tens of thousands dead since 2003.

Addressing an international meeting in Baghdad, he did not name any particular country. But the US accuses both Iran and Syria of stoking the violence.

Chavez attacks Bush 'domination'

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has attacked US counterpart George W Bush as a "symbol of domination" as the pair continue rival Latin American tours.

Speaking at an "anti-imperialist rally" in Buenos Aires, Mr Chavez said Mr Bush was no more than a "political corpse".

US general defiant on Iraq drive

The new US commander in Iraq has said the Baghdad security crackdown has had some "tough days" but he was confident sectarian strife could be reduced. Gen David Petraeus was giving his first news conference since taking the command last month.

He said military force alone would not be a solution and that some militants would have to be engaged in talks.

Blair announces Iraq troops cut

Prime Minister Tony Blair has told MPs that 1,600 British troops will return from Iraq within the next few months.

He said the 7,100 serving troops would be cut to 5,500 soon, with hopes that 500 more will leave by late summer.

Egyptian woman dies of bird flu

A 37-seven-year-old Egyptian woman has died of bird flu, bringing the number of confirmed deaths from the virus in Egypt to 13.

The woman, Nadia Abdel Hafez, came from Fayyoum - an area well known in Egypt for poultry breeding.

Factions clash despite Gaza truce

Sporadic gun battles are continuing in Gaza between the rival Hamas and Fatah factions, despite a renewed truce.

At least eight people have been wounded in fresh clashes, although calm has returned to some areas.

'Best chance' for Somalia peace

The UN envoy to Somalia has urged the country not to waste "the best opportunity for peace for 16 years" after visiting the president.

Francois Fall urged President Abdullahi Yusuf to set up an inclusive government following the ousting of an Islamists group from the capital, Mogadishu.

Bombers rock Baghdad University

At least 70 people have been killed and scores injured in a double bombing at a university in Baghdad, sources say.

A car bomb blew up outside Mustansiriyah University, and a suicide bomber targeted students as they fled.

Ovi magazine and the prestigious Grands Prix 2006 awards

Ovi magazine, an online daily magazine based in Finland, came second in Newropeans Magazine's prestigious Grands Prix 2006 awards.

They were nominated as one of the three finalists in its 'Citizenship - Information' section, along with Sitécon and Le courrier des Balkans, the eventual winner.

Newropeans is an independent magazine developed for the exchange of views on the future of a democratic Europe. The awards have been running annually since 2003 and are designed to reward the people or organisations behind the democratisation of the EU. Previous winners include the European Space Agency, EUobserver.com, Cafe Babel, the European Court of Human Rights and Skype.

A registered jury of around 1,000 actors of the European civil society coming from 25 States voted online awarding Ovi magazine almost thirty per cent of the vote.

Read more here… www.ovimagazine.com

Ovi magazine was launched in December 2004 by Thanos Kalamidas, a Greek national, and Asa Butcher, a Brit, who both live in Helsinki with their families. Ovi is a non-profit magazine produced via voluntary contributions from its global team in a variety of different languages. Their aim is to promote positive discussion and the exchange of opinion.

Happy New Year with Ovi magazine

2006 is ...Dead!!!

Saddam is buried in home village

Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, hanged for crimes against humanity on Saturday, has been buried in the village where he was born 69 years ago.

In a sparsely attended ceremony in Awja, in the Tikrit region north of the capital, the former Iraqi leader was laid to rest in a family plot.

Happy Birthday Ovi Magazine

December 20th marks the second birthday of Ovi magazine and we would offer you a slice of cake if we had one – chocolate, of course. Can you believe that two years have passed so quickly? Our stats include 17 free monthly PDFs, over 1100 original articles, dozens of cartoons, over 60 contributors and we are still a non-profit magazine!

Whether you have been with us from the very first day or joined us along the way, or have discovered us on this joyous occasion, we welcome you to continue participating in a project to champion free speech and encourage positive discussion.

Domestic violence, world famine, promoting equality and fighting for peace are common themes in Ovi magazine, but change does not come overnight. We need your help and support.

To effect real change, Ovi realizes that awareness needs to be brought to many of these issues and that is the role we play. We invite everybody to contribute to our magazine in the form of articles, interviews, promotion and participation in the comments section.

The Ovi team is determined to accomplish many of their goals throughout 2007 and their third year, so why not become a part of the Ovi project. It costs you nothing other than time and a little brainpower.

We’ve covered every issue for two years!

Happy Birthday Ovi magazine!

Bush defends Iraq strategy delay

US President George W Bush has said he will not be rushed into deciding how to change his Iraq policy.

He said he was receiving advice, but would reject implementing "ideas that would lead to defeat" - such as "leaving before the job is done"

Rumsfeld makes surprise Iraq trip

Outgoing US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has made a surprise visit to Iraq, saying US forces should not quit the war until the enemy is defeated.

Mr Rumsfeld addressed 1,200 US soldiers and marines at a military base in Anbar province - an insurgent stronghold.

Second day of clashes in Somalia

Somali government forces backed by Ethiopian troops have clashed with Islamists for a second day in western Somalia, officials and witnesses say.

The fighting took place in villages about 80km (50 miles) south-west of the government base in Baidoa, they say.

Radiation find in British embassy

Small traces of a radioactive substance have been found at the British embassy in Moscow following a precautionary check, the UK Foreign Office has said.

But officials said the levels of radiation found would not pose a risk to public health.

Controversial US envoy quits post

The controversial US ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton, is to leave his post, the White House says.

Mr Bolton looked unable to win the necessary Senate support for him to continue in the job, which he had obtained on a temporary basis.

Lawyers lodge Saddam death appeal

Lawyers for Saddam Hussein have lodged an appeal against the former Iraqi president's death sentence for crimes against humanity, court officials say.

The appeal was lodged just two days before the expiry of a deadline and a month after the sentence was imposed.