From Washington,this is VOA News.

Tens of thousands of South Africans gathered Tuesday to bid farewell to former South African President Nelson Mandela,who died last week at the age of 95.The event at a Johannesburg soccer stadium brought together dignitaries and celebrities from around the world - as well as masses of ordinary South Africans who braved long waits and bad weather to pay tribute to the man everyone here knows simply as “Tata.”

VOA Anita Powell reports.

Cold, rainy weather didn’t stop more than 60,000 South Africans - and many dignitaries from abroad - from descending on this Johannesburg soccer stadium to celebrate the life of Nelson Mandela.

World leaders and celebrities also converged on the stadium, among them was U.S. President Barack Obama, who said that Mandela was his role model.

“Over 30 years ago, while still a student, I learned of Mandela and the struggles in this land.  It stirred something in me.  It woke me up to my responsibilities - to others, and to myself - and set me on an improbable journey that finds me here today. And while I will always fall short of Madiba’s example, he makes me want to be better.  He speaks to what is best inside us.  After this great liberator is laid to rest; when we have returned to our cities and villages, and rejoined our daily routines, let us search then for his strength - for his largeness of spirit - somewhere inside ourselves."

Anita Powell VOA News JOHANNESBURG.

The service is being held in Johannesburg's main stadium used for the 2010 World Cup football (soccer) finals. Heavy security is planned for the expected crowd of 80,000. The venue is also the place where Mr. Mandela made his last public appearance at the closing ceremony of the first-ever World Cup in Africa.

Mr. Mandela's remains will lie in state at the Union Buildings in Pretoria -- the official seat of the South African government -- to Friday.

The memorials and events will culminate in Mr. Mandela's burial on December 15 in his boyhood home village of Qunu.

Tuesday's memorial service generated some informal diplomacy and political controversy.
 
In a moment caught by television cameras, President Barack Obama shook hands with Cuban President Raul Castro as he walked to the podium. 
 
The handshake was notable because the United States and Cuba have not had diplomatic relations since 1961 and the U.S. maintains a trade embargo on Cuba. 
 
U.S. officials say the handshake was not pre-planned.  But the two leaders only exchanged greetings. 

France says two of its soldiers have been killed in the Central African Republic.It's the country's first casualties since it sent more troops to the Central African Republic to help end months of instability.

President Francois Hollande's office said Tuesday the soldiers were killed in overnight clashes in the capital, Bangui.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych met with three former Ukrainian presidents in an effort to defuse tensions over his refusal to sign a long-anticipated European Union trade deal in favor of closer ties to Russia.

Mr. Yanukovych said good relations with both Russia and the European Union are necessary to protect the country's interests.

Mr. Yanukovych also met with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who is in Ukraine for a two-day visit. EU officials said they are willing to give Ukraine financial assistance if it signs the proposed trade deal.

Thailand’s government is again rebuffing demands from protest leaders that it be dissolved to make way for an appointed council to lead the country.

VOA Steve Herman has the details in BANGKOK.

A day after she moved to dissolve the parliament and call for elections, it became evident that weeks of street protests against her government were taking an emotional toll on prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

In brief remarks, she pleaded for understanding that she must remain as caretaker until elections on February 2, despite repeated demands by the opposition for her to immediately depart.

The prime minister said she has backed down to the point where she does not know how to concede any further. She said she also wants to be treated fairly.

As she left the podium, reporters noticed her eyes welling with tears.

Outside the Army Club where she was meeting with members of her cabinet, demonstrators pressed for her removal.

Steve Herman VOA News BANGKOK.

U.S. automaker General Motors is getting its first female chief executive officer.

Mary Barra was elected by the company board to succeed Dan Akerson, who will step down next month.

In her current position as Executive Vice President of Global product development, she developed a reputation of a hard driving leader who made the company achieve higher standards of quality, following the drop in consumer confidence that led to the U.S. automotive industry crisis in 2008.