World Lens: Week in Review — Jan 4

Haitians celebrate their independence, Mandela rumors swirl.

Haiti Celebrates Independence Day - Haitians celebrated their 208th year as an independent nation this Jan. 1. Haiti declared its independence in 1804 after African slaves revolted against their French colonial rulers, ultimately driving them off of the island.(Photo: XINHUA/Andres Martinez Casares/Landov)

1 / 11

Haiti Celebrates Independence Day - Haitians celebrated their 208th year as an independent nation this Jan. 1. Haiti declared its independence in 1804 after African slaves revolted against their French colonial rulers, ultimately driving them off of the island.(Photo: XINHUA/Andres Martinez Casares/Landov)

Jamaican Opposition Party Wins Election - In a sweeping victory, Jamaica’s People’s National Party took control of parliament, winning 41 of the 63 seats up for grabs. The win means that veteran politician Portia Simpson Miller will assume the post of prime minister of the country at a time that the nation is facing a 12 percent unemployment rate and soaring national debt. (Photo: A. Gilbert Bellamy/Landov)

2 / 11

Jamaican Opposition Party Wins Election - In a sweeping victory, Jamaica’s People’s National Party took control of parliament, winning 41 of the 63 seats up for grabs. The win means that veteran politician Portia Simpson Miller will assume the post of prime minister of the country at a time that the nation is facing a 12 percent unemployment rate and soaring national debt. (Photo: A. Gilbert Bellamy/Landov)

Nigerians in U.S. Concerned About Unrest Back Home - Following a series of Christmas Day church bombings in Nigeria that killed at least 25 people and that appeared to be coordinated by a group linked to Al Qaeda, Nigerians here in the U.S. admitted their worry for the safety of their homeland.(Photo: REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye)

3 / 11

Nigerians in U.S. Concerned About Unrest Back Home - Following a series of Christmas Day church bombings in Nigeria that killed at least 25 people and that appeared to be coordinated by a group linked to Al Qaeda, Nigerians here in the U.S. admitted their worry for the safety of their homeland.(Photo: REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye)

/content/dam/betcom/images/2012/01/Global/010312-global-world-lens-pope-benedict-xvi.jpg

4 / 11

Pope Confirms Visit to Cuba - Despite reports of his declining health, the Vatican has confirmed that the Pope will travel to Cuba in March for an official visit of the newly opened nation.(Photo: Franco Origlia/Getty Images)

Chavez Suggests U.S. Cancer Plot Against Latin American Leaders - After learning that Argentina’s president has recently been diagnosed with cancer, Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, who has been treated for cancer himself, played around with the idea that the U.S. government found a way to ensure Latin American leaders are afflicted by the disease. "Would it be strange if they had developed the technology to induce cancer and nobody knew about it?" Chavez mused in a televised speech broadcast to soldiers(Photo: EPA/IVAN FRANCO/Landov)

5 / 11

Chavez Suggests U.S. Cancer Plot Against Latin American Leaders - After learning that Argentina’s president has recently been diagnosed with cancer, Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, who has been treated for cancer himself, played around with the idea that the U.S. government found a way to ensure Latin American leaders are afflicted by the disease. "Would it be strange if they had developed the technology to induce cancer and nobody knew about it?" Chavez mused in a televised speech broadcast to soldiers(Photo: EPA/IVAN FRANCO/Landov)

ADVERTISEMENT
Britons Convict Two in Decades-Old Racist Murder  - Eighteen years after Black British teen Stephen Lawrence was stabbed to death at a bus stop, his racist killers have been brought to justice. Gary Dobson and David Norris were convicted of the murder of 18-year-old Lawrence after forensic evidence implicated their involvement.  Dobson was sentenced to at least 15 years for Lawrence’s murder and Norris was sentenced to at least 14 years.(Photo: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

6 / 11

Britons Convict Two in Decades-Old Racist Murder - Eighteen years after Black British teen Stephen Lawrence was stabbed to death at a bus stop, his racist killers have been brought to justice. Gary Dobson and David Norris were convicted of the murder of 18-year-old Lawrence after forensic evidence implicated their involvement. Dobson was sentenced to at least 15 years for Lawrence’s murder and Norris was sentenced to at least 14 years.(Photo: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Nigerian Troops Take Over Two Cities - In an effort to stem violence by the Islamist group Boko Haram, Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in four states Monday, and heavily armed soldiers and tanks occupied the streets of the state capitals of Borno and Yobe.(Photo: AFOLABI SOTUNDE/Landov)

7 / 11

Nigerian Troops Take Over Two Cities - In an effort to stem violence by the Islamist group Boko Haram, Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in four states Monday, and heavily armed soldiers and tanks occupied the streets of the state capitals of Borno and Yobe.(Photo: AFOLABI SOTUNDE/Landov)

Nigerians Riot Over Rising Fuel Prices - Angry protests erupted in several Nigerian cities as people expressed outrage after news spread that the government would be ending a subsidy, which made fuel affordable for many who need it to power electricity generators and run businesses.(Photo: AKINTUNDE AKINLEYE/Landov)

8 / 11

Nigerians Riot Over Rising Fuel Prices - Angry protests erupted in several Nigerian cities as people expressed outrage after news spread that the government would be ending a subsidy, which made fuel affordable for many who need it to power electricity generators and run businesses.(Photo: AKINTUNDE AKINLEYE/Landov)

South Sudan Violence Heats Up - A battle over precious cattle has sparked violent fighting in the newly minted nation of South Sudan, sending tremors through the international community who worry that if left unchecked, the violence could turn into a crisis.(Photo: EPA/PHILLIP DHIL/Landov)

9 / 11

South Sudan Violence Heats Up - A battle over precious cattle has sparked violent fighting in the newly minted nation of South Sudan, sending tremors through the international community who worry that if left unchecked, the violence could turn into a crisis.(Photo: EPA/PHILLIP DHIL/Landov)

Mexico Drug Violence Kills 12,000 in 2011 - 2011 proved to be a deadly year in Mexico as 12,000 people died in drug-related violence, up 6.3 percent from the previous year.(Photo: Carlos Jasso/Landov)

10 / 11

Mexico Drug Violence Kills 12,000 in 2011 - 2011 proved to be a deadly year in Mexico as 12,000 people died in drug-related violence, up 6.3 percent from the previous year.(Photo: Carlos Jasso/Landov)

Iran Threatens to Shut Down Oil Exports if Sanctioned - Iran announced this week that if Western nations adopt sanctions against Iranian oil imports, the country would ensure that no oil from any nation would make it across the strategic Strait of Hormuz in the oil-rich gulf.(Photo: EPA/EBRAHIM NOROOZI/Landov)

11 / 11

Iran Threatens to Shut Down Oil Exports if Sanctioned - Iran announced this week that if Western nations adopt sanctions against Iranian oil imports, the country would ensure that no oil from any nation would make it across the strategic Strait of Hormuz in the oil-rich gulf.(Photo: EPA/EBRAHIM NOROOZI/Landov)