Miriam Mannak

Los Angeles - In an attempt to prevent HIV infections and the transmission of other STDs, Los Angeles - one of America's porn hot spots - has ruled that he will only allow adult film shoots if its stars agree to condomize.

A French journalist has been killed and a Dutch journalist wounded whilst reporting on the ongoing uprising violence in Syria.

Exploring Australia without taking the time to see what koalas are all about, is like going to Paris and skipping the Eiffel Tower.

The marriage between two people of the same sex undermines the family unit and therefore forms an imminent threat to humanity, Pope Benedict XVI said on Monday.

Darwin - When their dog started to bark early Saturday morning, the Dodd's from Darwin, Australia, crept out of their bedrooms to investigate what was going on. Downstairs, they stumbled upon a very peculiar intruder - one of the leathery kind.

Japanese whalers have captured three Australian environmental activists who illegally boarded the Shonan Maru 2 whaling support vessel over the weekend.

Research by The Lancet revealed that 200 million people worldwide are using illicit drugs. Australians and New Zealanders top the list of cannabis, speed and crystal meth users.

Gloucester - Gloucester in the United Kingdom has built a new morgue that can hold bodies op to 318 kg. The reason? The city's existing facility can't cope with the increasing number of obese corpses.

Patience pays off, and Aung San Suu Kyi is an expert in that department. Twenty-two years after Myanmar's democracy leader was detained for participating in the presidential elections, she is to hit the election stage once again.

Gold Coast - While the Northern Hemisphere has submerged itself in thick winter jackets, life in the Southern Hemisphere is revolving around bikinis and sunscreen. And if you live in Australia and are a sports fanatic: The Iron Man / Woman Series.

South Africa's total holiday road death toll is expected to be much higher than previously reported. The last week of December 2011 alone added over 200 road fatalities to the list.

Nelson Mandela is expected to give the 100th anniversary celebrations of the African National Congress (ANC) as miss due to his fragile health.

Damascus - As violence in Syria intensifies, the country's media community is mourning the death of yet another member: veteran journalist Shukri Ahmad Ratib Abu Burghul died shortly after being shot in the face on Monday.

Senegalese singer Youssou N'Dour, who collaborated with international musicians like Peter Gabriel, Sting, and Neneh Cherry, will run for president in his home country.

A team of physicians has slammed Jamie Oliver's latest cook book, claiming the notorious Big Mac is a healthier option than some of the Naked Chef's creations.

Khartoum - In an attempt to further paralyse its media industry and gag government critics, Sudan has shut down a newspaper linked to the country's main opposition party.

Over 1023 people have been killed on South Africa's roads between the first and the last day of December last year, traditionally the South African holiday season.

Cairo - Former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak might be acquitted in his trial for corruption and his role in the death of over 800 protesters, sources claim.

Cape Town - The first week of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa has passed, with the bulk of the debates revolving around the notorious vuvuzela. Most South Africans, however, do not seem to care about the criticism and continue blowing their hearts out.

Pretoria - A special World Cup Court in Pretoria, South Africa's administrative capital, has sentenced a man to three years in jail for the possession of a couple of dozen stolen 2010 FIFA World Cup tickets,