Syria’s Assad replaces defence minister

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad replaced his defence minister for the first time since 2012 as part of a government reshuffle announced by the state news agency SANA on Monday.

Extreme cold sparks chaos in Canada airports

Snow, lengthy de-icing procedures and missing crews created havoc at Canada's main airports on Monday, with hundreds of flights cancelled or delayed out of the country's biggest city Toronto.

NY vows toughest New Year’s Eve security in years

The toughest security presence in years will safeguard New Year's Eve festivities in New York's Times Square, where around two million people are expected to congregate in the area, police said Thursday.

Weah wins landmark Liberia presidential poll

Former star footballer George Weah was named winner of Liberia's presidential election on Thursday, easily beating his challenger in the country's first democratic transfer of power in seven decades scarred by civil wars, political assassinations and an Ebola crisis.

UN bars four N.Korean ships from international ports

The UN Security Council on Thursday denied international port access to four North Korean ships suspected of carrying or having transported goods banned by international sanctions targeting Pyongyang, diplomats said.

Nigerian army thwarts Boko Haram attack on Maiduguri

Boko Haram jihadists made a failed Christmas Day attempt to attack Nigeria's major northeast city of Maiduguri as they were pushed out by Nigerian soldiers after a prolonged gun battle, military and militia sources said.

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