YEMEN: Shi'ite Houthi rebels attacked and occupied the seat of power of an influential tribe in the capital Sanaa today, killing six guards and injuring four.

Officials said that the rebels had taken over the Al-Ahmar Palace, the traditional seat of power for the Al-Ahmar tribe, which is allied with the Islamist Islah party against the Houthis.

The attack is the latest move by the Houthis, supported by ousted president Ali Abdullah Saleh, to reinforce control of Sanaa.

PAKISTAN: Four members of a polio vaccination team were killed today when they came under attack by gunmen in the south-western city of Quetta.

The vaccination team of three women and three men was waiting for a police escort when two men opened fire on them, said police spokesman Shahzada Farhat.

Local militants oppose the vaccination campaign, alleging that Western governments use it as a cover to spy on insurgents.

AFGHANISTAN: UN humanitarian co-ordinator Mark Bowden launched an appeal today for $405 million (£256.65m) to meet the needs of the people in 2015.

He said that almost 8,000 civilians have been killed or injured in the war with Taliban-led insurgents this year and more than 100,000 have been forced from their homes.

More help will be needed as the conflict expands in the coming year, Mr Bowden added.

CHINA: A fire sparked by underground tremors tore through a coalmine in Liaoning province today, killing 26 miners.

Another 50 miners were injured in the disaster, which broke out in the complex run by the state-owned Fuxin Coal Corporation.

Xinhua news agency said that a minor earthquake had caused sparks to ignite coal dust in the air, causing a blaze that ripped through the shaft.

GREECE: Journalists went on a 24-hour strike today as a prelude to tomorrow's nationwide general strike against austerity.

Radio and television stations did not broadcast any news bulletins and current affairs websites were not updated. No newspapers will be published this morning.

Journalists' unions usually hold work stoppages a day early so reporters can cover the general strike.

SOUTH AFRICA: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas gave his backing today to Israeli MPs who oppose the racist plan to designate Israel as a Jewish state.

Speaking in Pretoria, he urged Israel to consider what the proposed law would mean for the region.

South African President Jacob Zuma said that Israel seemed to be saying: "We don't care. We do whatever pleases us," adding: "I don't think that's how the business of global relations should be conducted."

EGYPT: Cairo temporarily reopened a border crossing with the Gaza Strip today to allow Palestinians stranded outside the territory to return home.

The El Arish crossing had been closed since October 24, when a jihadist extremist ambush killed 31 Egyptian soldiers near the border town of Rafah.

Gaza crossing-point director Maher Abu Sabha said that the crossing would be open only yesterday and today, urging Egypt to fully open the border to two-way traffic.

GERMANY: Chancellor Angela Merkel told parliament today that continued sanctions against Russia are "unavoidable" and that it would take "patience and perseverance" to end the crisis in Ukraine.

She claimed that "nothing excuses or justifies Russia's annexation of Crimea and nothing excuses Russia's direct or indirect involvement in the fighting in Donetsk and Lugansk."