President Francois Bozize of the Central African Republic flew Monday to the Republic of Congo for talks with his Congolese counterpart, who will mediate negotiations between Bangui and a rebel alliance, an Agence France Presse journalist said.

Bozize "should return in the afternoon" after consulting President Denis Sassou Nguesso, a government source said. The Congolese president was due to mediate in peace talks set to open Tuesday in Gabon's capital Libreville.

Seven alleged criminals who were being transferred to a Malaysian court seized the opportunity to hijack the police van carrying them in a daring escape on Monday, police said.

The van's driver had pulled over when a commotion burst out among the detainees who were being taken from jail to their court proceedings in the northern state of Penang, Abdul Rahman Ibrahim, a district police chief, told Agence France Presse.

A U.S. drone believed to be used for reconnaissance was recovered on Monday in waters off the central Philippines, police and naval authorities said.

Fishermen found the 3.65 meter (12-foot) drone floating off Masbate island and dragged it to shore, said provincial police chief, Senior Superintendent Heriberto Olitoquit.

Five men appeared in court for the first time on Monday to face charges over the murder and gang-rape of a 23-year-old student in New Delhi amid chaotic scenes that forced the hearing behind closed doors.

Prosecutor Rajiv Mohan told AFP the men had been appointed a defense lawyer, but declined to comment on reports that two of the defendants have reportedly offered to cooperate in return for more lenient sentences.

Ghana's John Dramani Mahama was sworn-in as president on Monday at a ceremony attended by thousands in the capital, but boycotted by the opposition, which has challenged the election results.

Mahama, who initially became head of state following the death of his predecessor John Atta Mills in July, swore to uphold the west African nation's constitution at the ceremony in Accra's Black Star Square following last month's elections.

Four Chinese government ships entered territorial waters around Japan-controlled islands at the center of a dispute Monday, the Japanese coastguard said.

The four marine surveillance ships were seen moving within 12 nautical miles of the islands, known as the Senkakus in Japan and the Diaoyus in China, just before midday, the coastguard said in a statement.

President Hamid Karzai on Monday left Afghanistan for talks with Barack Obama in Washington to focus on security in his war-torn country after NATO combat troops withdraw in 2014, his office said.

During his three-day official visit, a decision could be made on how many US troops will stay in Afghanistan after 2014, officials have said.

Australians were bracing Monday for what officials warned could be the worst fire danger day ever seen, as police searched for some 100 people still missing in ravaged Tasmania.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard urged Australians to be vigilant in coming days, with scorching temperatures predicted in several states and hundreds of blazes already raging.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will return to work on Monday after a month-long absence caused by a series of health scares, including a blood clot in her head, the State Department said.

Clinton's return, after she was taken ill on her return from a trip to Europe on December 7, was announced in the department's public schedule for the week ahead released late Sunday.

U.S. President Barack Obama and his family arrived back at the White House on Sunday after spending their Christmas vacation in his native Hawaii.

Obama, the first lady and their daughters touched down at Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington aboard Air Force One shortly after 11:00 am local time (1600 GMT) before riding a helicopter back to the White House.