malcolm webb reports from lamoib district in northern uganda. >> this pair of boots is the only thing that remains of uganda sonde, an the deducted in 1997 when he was just 12 years old. the rebels were notorious for abducting children and mutilating people. christopher is trying to accept what is probably true. >> if you are coming back, i would be very grateful. very grateful. but now, i don't think. yeah. >> christopher's wife was so upset at the loss of their only child that she killed herself. now he lives alone with only his chickens for company. he says he's waiting for god to stay him away. he's one of thousands in northern gawns whose children went missing during the -- northern uganda whose children went missing during the civil war. he joined a counseling group for people organized by the red cross. here several groups have come together to hold a memorial ceremony. for most of the children an dutted by the lra there's simply no record, no comprehensive list of names and numbers. many people are poor so they have no family memorabilia. about 12,000 went missing and never ca

he is one of thousands in northern uganda whose children went missing during the civil war.pher says things got easier when he joined a counseling groups with people with missing relatives organized by the red cross. here several groups have come together to hold a memorial ceremony. for most of the children abducted by the nra there is simply no record, there is no comprehensive list of names or number and they are poor and few have family photos or memorabilia and 12000 went missing and never came back but nra are small in number and scattered across the countries and few of the 12000 are going to come home. people have gathered here today to try to come to terms with that and begin the process of moving forward. they take turns to say the names of those who never came home. the memories are painful. >> and not knowing what happened with a person in your family like a son or a daughter is something for those that don't live it it's very difficult to understand and now they have somebody that understands them and went through the same and together they can find a way forwar

malcolm web, northern uganda. >> talks ironing out differences between in northern glide its focusingn three contentious issues. parades, flags, and dealing with the decades of bloodshed in the region. all parties say they're optimistic about the meeting but they still haven't reached an agreement hours after they were due to finish. it will be hugely embarrassing for northern ireland leaders if the parties fail to meet monday's deadline for settlements. we have an update from the talks a little while ago. i began by asking if they were making progress. >> well, it's taken six months, and we're really into the final straight the last day. the american negotiator has been drafted in by the parties themselves to forge this deal and said it's now or never effectively. he's due to leave belfast and return to new york in hours. we were expecting a deal before now. it's going to go into the evening. there was a quiet sense of optimism here, but there are contentious issues at stake. there are five main political parties here in northern ireland, and one from the sinn fein party and spoke of

the war left northern uganda extremely poor, but the charity paid the cost of transporting the victimseir rightful resting places. now with some outside support they get a bit more dignity, and lucy's remains are laid to rest in the proper location. nobody here cries, but emotions still run strong. >> i'm saddened, but i am happy that i have done my best to appease my mom. she is now at home. >> reporter: and home now becomes a place for celebrating lucy's life. the goat is cooked and eaten. neighbors and passers buy are welcomed. we're invited too. the killings and abductions left communities shattered. malcolm webb, al jazeera, northern uganda. >>> coming up, a new hope takes office, a legend passes into history, and people ash the world continue to protest to some of the major events we'll be looking back at. >> i'm kim in the capitol of rega where people are preparing for a new year and a knew currency. >>> and later in sport, the world's top female tennis player back in in action just weeks out from the first grand slam of 2014. at fukushima daiich >> three years after the nucular

the ritual gives the family peace of mind. >> the war left northern uganda poor. a charity paid the cost of transporting the victims to their rightful resting places. >> back then a coffin was out of the question. now with outside support there's more dignity. >> lucy's remains are laid to rest in the proper location. nobody here cries. that's on done at the time of death. emotions run strong. >> i have lost a mum. i have done my best to please the soul of my mum. she will be glad with me, she's not neglected elsewhere, she's at home. >> home is now a place to celebrate lucy's life. the goat is cooked and eaten. neighbours and passers-by are welcome. we are invited to join. killings and abductions left communities shattered. reburials help to put some of the pieces back together. >> three soldiers have been killed in a car bomb explosion in yemen's southern city of aiden. the attack targeted the security headquarters. nobody claimed responsibility, a day after clashes between the military and tribunalsman in the south killed -- tribunals men in the south killed ei

malcolm webb, al jazeera, from northern uganda. >> human rights organizations estimate joseph koni's army abduct 30,000 children to fight as soldiers in the civil war. >> thousands of people are evacuating their homes in el salvador. a plume of ash shot out of the chaparrastique. there are no reports of injuries, several were freed for breathing problems. it was more than 7,000 feet tall, and the last big eruption was 30 years ago. >> rescuers are trying to free a research ship. two attempts to reach the vessel surrounded by thick ice have failed. al jazeera's correspondent explains there's no guarantee another ship will reach them. >> what was supposed to be a scientific expedition left the russian ship and passengers stranded at sea. many are stuck off the coast 100 miles east of a french research station. they left new zealand in november on a privately funded expedition commemorating the 100th anniversary of a journey led by australian explorer douglas mawson. last week things went wrong. battling the weather, the ship sent a satellite distress signal after high winds trapped the

malcolm webb in northern uganda. >> reporter: not that long ago new york was one of the most violents in the world but crime is the lowest on record after the mayor is taking the credit but community leaders see it differently and we have the story. ♪ oh, say can you see new york's finest and newest, the 11071 graduating police officers are ready for the streets and they are safer than ever. >> compare this decade to the previous era's murder rate we can literally say we have saved more than 9200 lives in the last 12 years. >> reporter: last sunday there were 333 homicides in 2013 down 30% from 2001. 1100 shootings down 32% during the same period. and mayor bloomberg and commissioner say it's because of the zero tolerance policies and operation crew cut which targets specific people. >> focusing police attention on those hot people and hot groups, gangs, drug crews and such turns also to be very effective. >> reporter: in brownsville there is a different way of thinking. this is one of new york's most violent neighborhoods and home to gangs and online. and he used to run with a crew

uganda. >> reporter: fighting continues in the oil-rich northern portion of the country, other pockets, asell. but in the town of bor, where much of the violence intensified at beginning of the conflict on wednesday, there was evidence of fresh flood, images emerging showed bodies lining the streets, some burnt, we're not clear why. stores had been looted, stores and homed razed to the ground, we're only beginning to get an idea of how terrifying it must have been. civilians returning home, trying to salvage what they can before going back to u.n. bases, not feeling entirely safe to stay out on the streets. throughout the country, some 58,000 civilians continue to seek sanctuary at various u.n. bases with the u.n. still saying that it is going to be sending in an additional force of some 6,000 peacekeepers are and police officers to try to continue to protect the incredibly vulnerable civilian population. tensions have been pretty high in south sudan, especially over the summer, when the president kiir dismissed longtime rival and former president. but mid month, the ethnic tensions betwee

uganda. >> reporter: kate, fighting does continue in the oil rich northern portions of south sudan, other pocketsell. in a town that's back in government control there was evidence of fresh blood in the streets, bodies some of them burnt. shops have been looted. some shops and homes razed to the ground. civilians returning, but only to salvage what they can before going back to seek safety at u.n. bases. the violence that has happened is terrorizing the civilian population. only beginning to get an idea of how horrific it must have been. kate. >>> now to antarctica where a polar competent -- ship got stuck in the ice. >> three vessels are on their way to rescue a ship stranded in the ice in the antarctic. this is a ship designed for polar exploration. the australian coast guard who is coordinating this mission says the ship is east. they said on wednesday it could take two days to reach the vessel. kate? >> diana, thank you. >>> to a christmas tradition in the uk, boxing day. taking on a different meaning these days. it's all about the sales. now rosie tompkins has more. >> reporter: it's cold an