Global Week in Review: Dennis Rodman Returns to North Korea

Plus, Uganda passes tougher anti-gay laws.

The Worm Returns to North Korea - Congo signs peace deal with M23 rebel forces; U.N. appeals for more than $6 billion more in humanitarian aid for Syria; plus more global news. — Dominique ZonyééThe Worm is back in North Korea and is holding tryouts for a local basketball team to face off against NBA veterans in an exhibition game on leader Kim Jong Un's Jan. 8 birthday. Dennis Rodman says he wants the game to be free of political or nationalistic overtones. Um, OK. Sure.(Photo: David Guttenfelder/AP Photo)

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The Worm Returns to North Korea - Congo signs peace deal with M23 rebel forces; U.N. appeals for more than $6 billion more in humanitarian aid for Syria; plus more global news. — Dominique ZonyééThe Worm is back in North Korea and is holding tryouts for a local basketball team to face off against NBA veterans in an exhibition game on leader Kim Jong Un's Jan. 8 birthday. Dennis Rodman says he wants the game to be free of political or nationalistic overtones. Um, OK. Sure.(Photo: David Guttenfelder/AP Photo)

Nelson Mandela Laid to Rest in His Hometown - Former South African president Nelson Rolihlahla “Madiba” Mandela was laid to rest on a family plot at his ancestral burial grounds in the village of Qunu. The private traditional Xhosa burial marked the end of 10 days of mourning for Mandela which began on Dec. 5 when he died at the age of 95.(Photo: AP Photo/Elmond Jiyane, GCIS)

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Nelson Mandela Laid to Rest in His Hometown - Former South African president Nelson Rolihlahla “Madiba” Mandela was laid to rest on a family plot at his ancestral burial grounds in the village of Qunu. The private traditional Xhosa burial marked the end of 10 days of mourning for Mandela which began on Dec. 5 when he died at the age of 95.(Photo: AP Photo/Elmond Jiyane, GCIS)

Photo By Photo: AP Photo/Elmond Jiyane

Life Sentence for Alleged Nigerian Bomber - The alleged mastermind behind the 2011 Christmas bombing of a Catholic Church in Nigeria was sentenced to life in prison for terrorism and murder, but not for the bombing. The life sentence was for "facilitating the commission of terrorist acts" in the Northern Sokoto state between 2007 and 2012, writes the Associated Press.(Photo: Olamikan Gbemiga/AP Photo)

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Life Sentence for Alleged Nigerian Bomber - The alleged mastermind behind the 2011 Christmas bombing of a Catholic Church in Nigeria was sentenced to life in prison for terrorism and murder, but not for the bombing. The life sentence was for "facilitating the commission of terrorist acts" in the Northern Sokoto state between 2007 and 2012, writes the Associated Press.(Photo: Olamikan Gbemiga/AP Photo)

Liberia Considers Two Anti-Gay Proposals - Two new bills were introduced into Liberia's legislature which would make the country the latest in the African continent to punish homosexuality with possible jail time.  (Photo: REUTERS/James Akena)

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Uganda's Draconian Anti-Gay Laws - Ugandan lawmakers passed an anti-gay bill on Friday that calls for life imprisonment for "aggravated homosexuality." Homosexuality has long been criminalized in the country.(Photo: James Akena/Reuters)

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Congo Adoptions Put on Hold - The government of the Congo has suspended international adoptions of Congolese children after reports that some children were abandoned or abused.(Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

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Congo Army Regains Town of Rumangabo - A year after the Congolese army retreated due to advancing rebel forces, on Monday they successfully reclaimed Rumangabo, the fifth rebel-controlled town.  Just days before, the Congolese army also took back Kiwanja, Rutshuru, Buhumba and Kibumba. Now that the towns have been taken back, they can adequately fight off rebels.(Photo: AP Photo/Joseph Kay)

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Congo Signs Peace Deal With M23 Rebel Forces - After more than one year of battle, the Democratic Republic of Congo's government signed a peace deal with the M23 rebel movement in Kenya on Dec. 12. The agreement, which is two parts, confirmed that the M23 armed group has dissolved and there will be no amnesty for those involved in war crimes.(Photo: AP Photo/Joseph Kay)

CAR Government Is a Go - Self-proclaimed president of the Central African Republic (CAR), Michel Djotodia, announced the formation of a transitional government Monday amid allegations that child soldiers were used during last month’s coup.   (Photo: STR/AP Photo)

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CAR President Agrees to Speak to Christian Rebels - Central African Republic president Michel Djotodia has agreed to speak with Christian rebels. "They are not enemies. They are our brothers," Djotodia told a French media outlet. Since Djotodia became the country's first Muslim leader after a coup in March, the Central African Republic has been plagued by a modern day Crusades, taking the lives of hundreds. (Photo: STR/AP Photo)

I Spy - In an interview with the U.K.'s Guardian newspaper, NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden said that agency employees like to pass around naked pictures of attractive people that they just happen to "stumble upon" during the course of their work. "These are seen as sort of the fringe benefits of a surveillance position," he said.   (Photo: AP Photo/The Guardian)

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Will the NSA Grant Edward Snowden Amnesty? - Richard Ledgett, the man in charge of accessing the information Edward Snowden leaked, said he could be open to an amnesty deal if Snowden agrees to stop leaking documents. However, top executives in the NSA, including Director General Keith Alexander, have dismissed the idea.(Photo: AP Photo/The Guardian)

Crisis in Syria: UN Launches Aid Appeal Ever - The crisis in Syria will leave nearly three-quarters of the country’s 22.4 million population in need of humanitarian aid in 2014, according to the United Nations. The aid assessment has prompted the UN to request $6.5 billion more in aid on Dec. 16, bringing the total amount to $13 billion — the largest sum ever requested for humanitarian aid ever. (Photo: AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)

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Crisis in Syria: UN Launches Aid Appeal Ever - The crisis in Syria will leave nearly three-quarters of the country’s 22.4 million population in need of humanitarian aid in 2014, according to the United Nations. The aid assessment has prompted the UN to request $6.5 billion more in aid on Dec. 16, bringing the total amount to $13 billion — the largest sum ever requested for humanitarian aid ever. (Photo: AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)

European Union Offers Support in Israeli/Palestinian Peace Agreement - If Israel and Palestine can come to some sort of peace agreement European Union foreign ministers announced on Dec. 16 that it will pledge "unprecedented" amounts of political, financial and security support for both countries. The foreign ministers held a meeting in Brussels and confirmed the EU’s readiness to help. An amount of financial support was not discussed. (Photo: AP Photo/Yves Logghe)

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European Union Offers Support in Israeli/Palestinian Peace Agreement - If Israel and Palestine can come to some sort of peace agreement European Union foreign ministers announced on Dec. 16 that it will pledge "unprecedented" amounts of political, financial and security support for both countries. The foreign ministers held a meeting in Brussels and confirmed the EU’s readiness to help. An amount of financial support was not discussed. (Photo: AP Photo/Yves Logghe)

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Student Supporters of Morsi Clash With Military in Egypt - Egyptian military forces fired tear gas at student protesters on Dec. 16 outside of the Ain Shams University campus in eastern Cairo in attempts to thwart protesters from reaching the defense ministry. Many of the students were in support of ousted former president Mohamed Morsi. (Photo: REUTERS/Stringer)

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Student Supporters of Morsi Clash With Military in Egypt - Egyptian military forces fired tear gas at student protesters on Dec. 16 outside of the Ain Shams University campus in eastern Cairo in attempts to thwart protesters from reaching the defense ministry. Many of the students were in support of ousted former president Mohamed Morsi. (Photo: REUTERS/Stringer)

Photo By Photo: REUTERS/Stringer

Michelle Bachelet, President of Chile - Since the Obama administration has had a focus on education, it may be a good idea to invite Michelle Bachelet to dinner to discuss how he U.S.-Chile Equal Opportunities Scholarship Program, established to sponsor English and academic studies for Chilean Ph.D. students, is affecting education and economic growth in Chile. (Photo: Luis Hidalgo/AP Photo).

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Michelle Bachelet Wins Chile Presidential Vote by a Landslide - Chilean President Michelle Bachelet is back for another term. Bachelet, a moderate socialist, won 62 percent of the votes on Dec. 15, defeating her conservative rival Evelyn Matthei, who got only 37 percent in the worst performance by the right in two decades. “If I'm here, it's because we believe that a Chile for everyone is necessary,” Bachelet said in her victory speech.(Photo: AP Photo/Luis Hidalgo).

South Korea Reacts to North Korean Execution - The execution of North Korean President Kim Jung Un’s uncle Chang Song-thaek, who is accused of planning a coup, prompted South Korean President Park Geun-hye to host a meeting of security officials on Dec. 16. Geun-hye warned of “reckless provocations" by the North and called for increased border vigilance.(Photo: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)

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South Korea Reacts to North Korean Execution - The execution of North Korean President Kim Jung Un’s uncle Chang Song-thaek, who is accused of planning a coup, prompted South Korean President Park Geun-hye to host a meeting of security officials on Dec. 16. Geun-hye warned of “reckless provocations" by the North and called for increased border vigilance.(Photo: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)

South Africa Investigates Security Checks for “Fake” Mandela Interpreter - The company that hired Thamsanqa Jantjie, the “fake” sign language interpreter at Nelson Mandela’s memorial service on Dec. 10, has “vanished.” The South African government is investigating how clearance was permitted. Jantjie blamed his memorial interpretation on his bout with schizophrenia.(Photo: AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)

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South Africa Investigates Security Checks for “Fake” Mandela Interpreter - The company that hired Thamsanqa Jantjie, the “fake” sign language interpreter at Nelson Mandela’s memorial service on Dec. 10, has “vanished.” The South African government is investigating how clearance was permitted. Jantjie blamed his memorial interpretation on his bout with schizophrenia.(Photo: AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)