3.
The San Bernardino attackers spoke of jihad and martyrdom as early as 2013, the FBI chief says. Director James Comey said Syed Farook and Tashfeen Malik were radicalised before they started dating and discussed these topics online before they were engaged and she came to the United States. Reuters reports that Farook may have contemplated an attack on a US target as early as 2011 or 2012. And Frenchman Foued Mohamed Aggad, 23, has been identified by police as the third assailant at the Bataclan music hall during the Paris attacks last month. From Strasbourg, Aggad went to Syria with his brother and friends in late 2013, the Guardian reports. It says the news was further confirmation the attacks that killed 130 people on November 14 were carried out largely by Europeans trained by Isis (Islamic State) in Syria.
4.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has been named Time's Person of the Year. She's the first woman to receive the honour since 1986. The award is in recognition of supporting refugees in the face of huge opposition and leading the continent through the debt crisis. She is only the fourth woman to be named Person of the Year. Time editor Nancy Gibbs explained why Merkel was chosen: "Leaders are tested only when people don't want to follow. For asking more of her country than most politicians would dare, for standing firm against tyranny as well as expedience and for providing steadfast moral leadership in a world where it is in short supply." Other finalists included the founder of Uber, the leader of Isis, Republican Donald Trump and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.
5.
The founder of the North Face outdoors clothing brand has died in a kayaking accident. Douglas Tompkins, 72, was on General Carrera Lake in the Patagonia region of Chile with five others when their kayaks capsized. He suffered severe hypothermia.
6.
The BBC reports that Kim Jong Un has sent his North Korean girl-band to China in an apparent effort to boost relations. The Moranbong Band is to perform with the State Merited Chorus orchestra. The BBC says that wearing military-style uniforms, the propaganda musicians were seen off at Pyongyang train station by senior party officials and will perform in Beijing this weekend.
7.
New York has started a crackdown on gig speculators after Bruce Springsteen tickets were touted for thousands of dollars over the expected price before they went on sale. The office of state Attorney-General Eric Schneiderman wrote to three major ticket resale websites asking for the removal of speculative tickets which were at more than US$5000. The actual tickets go on sale on Saturday for a nine-week Springsteen tour with his E Street Band. AFP reports that Springsteen plans to play the entire 1980 album The River as well as other hits.
8.
The Independent in an article entitled 'six things that could send you to an early grave' says a new University of Sydney study has revealed that there may be hidden dangers in everyday things we don't think about, like sitting down too much and how much we sleep. Sitting for more than seven hours a day and sleeping for more than nine hours a night were particularly bad when combined with other risk factors. The six factors are smoking, alcohol use, dietary behaviour, physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep.
9.
Thirty seven people were killed when Taliban in military uniforms stormed Kandahar Airport in Afghanistan. A lengthy siege and gunbattles followed and this morning one of the 11 militants was holding out. Witnesses said that Taliban had taken families hostage and used them as human shields, AFP reported.
10.
Fifteen busloads of Syrians including 300 rebel fighters left the last insurgent-held area of Homs under a truce that will consolidate regime control of the city. The rebels and 400 family members are being moved to rebel held areas in the northwest near the Turkish border.
