Lethal levels of radiation are confirmed outside the Fukushima reactor buildings – South Africa prepares for Mandela’s funeral – China breaks thirty years of international precedent to solve border crises – A grandfather’s North Korean nightmare is over.

Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) has detected the highest level of radiation outside the Fukushima reactor buildings, 25 sieverts per hour – that’s more than three times the lethal dosage, incurable by medical science.  The reading was taken on a steel pipe near the exhaust stack for the No.1 and No.2 reactor.  TEPCO says molten material from the fuel rods probably wound up there more than two and a half years ago during the 11 March 2011 triple meltdown.  Critics say the government just passed an official secrets act to conceal the true impact of the Fukushima disaster on the world.

Today has been declared a national day of prayer and reflection in South Africa, a week ahead of the official state funeral for former political prisoner turned president Nelson Mandela.  Current SA President Jacob Zuma is urging people to remember the life of Mandela and his contribution to South Africa and the world.  Thousands of people are still streaming to sites around SA to pay homage and celebrate the life of Mandela.

China is refusing to participate in a United Nations arbitration process over a territorial conflict with the Philippines, which is one of five countries challenging Beijing’s claims of ownership over the oil-rich South China Sea, a region that has practically nothing to do with China’s Pacific Ocean coastline.  Beijing sent its only aircraft carrier and four more warships into the region, “to conduct drills”.  It’s the first time a state had ever refused to take part in an inter-state arbitration under the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The 159 members of the World Trade Organization have finally approved a deal to boost global trade by as much as a trillion US dollars.  At the heart of the agreement reached in Bali are measures to ease trade barriers by simplifying customs procedures and making them more transparent.  Delegates hope the changes will benefit low-income countries.

The Presidents of Ukraine and Russia met at the Black Sea resort of Sochi to discuss reducing the price of Russian gas.  No deal was reached.  And back home in Kiev, street protesters returned, condemning the government because it turned its back on Europe to continue dealing with Moscow.  Protest leaders have three demands: the resignation of his government, the release of protesters arrested during clashes in Kiev and the punishment of those responsible for beating demonstrators.

President Francois Hollande says 1,600 troops will be deployed in the Central African Republic before weekend is over.  And they will remain in the country until tensions between Muslim and Christian militias cool.  Thousands of cheering CAR greeted the French forces as they arrived from Cameroon, as others tried to pick up their lives amid the latest round of violence.

Foreign jihadists are using safe houses in Turkey to cross into Syria and stage attacks on government forces.  The al Qaeda linked network of buildings is becoming increasingly organized, with fighters staying in the homes for a couple of days before crossing into Syria, and using them to await return flights home to Europe when they’re done.  European and US intelligence officials say the battle-hardened jihadists are posing new terrorist threats.

An 85-year old grandfather has arrived back in California, after being held for more than a month in North Korea.  Merrill Newman didn’t answer any reporters’ questions, but just said he was glad to be home.  He went there as a tourist, but was pulled off of his return flight home in October.  Weeks later, Pyongyang had him on video, confessing to and apologizing for his actions in the Korean War, which included training a group of South Korean commandos who are reviled in the North to this day.  Visiting Seoul, US Vice President Joe Biden praised the release.