South Korea’s Park rejects wrongdoing in scandal, says she was…

South Korean President Park Geun-hye speaks during a meeting with reporters at the Presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea, in this handout picture provided by the Presidential Blue House and released by Yonhap on January 1, 2017. Blue House/Yonhap via South Korean President Park Geun-hye listens to a reporters’ question during a meeting with reporters at the Presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea, in this handout picture provided by the Presidential Blue House and released by Yonhap on January 1, 2017.

Burundi minister shot dead in capital – police

A gunman killed Burundi’s environment minister early on Sunday, police said, the first murder of a senior government figure in nearly two years of political violence. Emmanuel Niyonkuru, 54, was attacked as he travelled home in the central African nation’s capital Bujumbura, police spokesman Pierre Nkurikiye said in a tweet.

New UN chief urges New Yeara s resolution: a Put Peace Firsta

Antonio Guterres took the reins of the United Nations on New Year’s Day, promising to be a “bridge-builder” but facing an antagonistic incoming U.S. administration led by Donald Trump who thinks the world body’s 193 member states do nothing except talk and have a good time. The former Portuguese prime minister and U.N. refugee chief told reporters after being sworn-in as secretary-general on Dec. 12 that he will engage all governments – “and, of course, also with the next government of the United States” – and show his willingness to cooperate on “the enormous challenges that we’ll be facing together.”

Dragons wing Hewitt gets chance to make case for his defence against Ospreys

NO WAY THROUGH: Ashton Hewitt has his head on the wrong side but the Dragons winger downed Cardiff Blues’ Alex Cuthbert THE highly-anticipated showdown between Wales hopefuls Ashton Hewitt and Keelan Giles won’t take place at Rodney Parade today but the Newport Gwent Dragons winger will still get the chance to show that he is no soft touch in defence. The 22-year-old from Newport is hitting his straps after recovering from the shoulder injury that ended his fine 2015/16 season and hindered his start of the current campaign.

Turkey: search launched for New Yeara s nightclub attacker

Turkish police are hunting for an assailant who – reportedly dressed as Santa Claus – opened fire at a crowded Istanbul nightclub during New Year’s celebrations Sunday, killing at least 39 people and wounding close to 70 others in what authorities said was a terror attack. The attacker, armed with a long-barrelled weapon, killed a policeman and a civilian outside Istanbul’s popular Reina club at around 1:15 a.m. before entering and firing on people partying inside, Gov. Vasip Sahin said.

Minister says help your kids buy a safer car to reduce road toll

Parents helping their kids buy a first car should be spending that “little bit more” to ensure the vehicle has at least some up-to-date safety features, the federal transport minister has warned, speaking against the backdrop of a sharp spike in road deaths, particularly among the young. Describing the deaths of more than 1200 people on Australian roads in 2016 as a “tragedy of national proportions”, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Darren Chester said road trauma was costing governments across the country about $30 billion a year, with an “immeasurable” social impact.