2015: My five-point agenda, by Buhari

All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari yesterday asked Nigerians not to lose hope because change is imminent in the country.
He said 2015 is a year of change for the nation, which the forthcoming elections would bring.
Gen. Buhari listed a five-point change agenda which he would implement – if elected president.
He pledged to change the nation’s debilitating dependence on crude oil to earn revenue.

NLC to govt: cut cost of governance

The Federal Government yesterday got a piece of advice on its planned austerity measures. It should reduce its running cost, workers said.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is displeased with the “opulence” in government while workers’ salaries are not paid and employees are being told to tighten their belts.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un proposes talks

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has offered to hold talks at the highest level with South Korea.

President Kim was giving his new year message broadcast on state television.
He said if Pyongyang's conditions were met, he would even be prepared to hold a summit meeting with South Korean President Park Guen-hye.
On Monday, South Korea called for dialogue to resume on a number of issues, including reunions for families separated by the Korean War.

Dozens dead as Afghan wedding hit by rocket

At least 26 guests killed by missile in southern province of Helmand during fighting between Afghan forces and Taliban.

Most of the victims of the attack in Helmand's Sangin district were women and children [AP]

A rocket fired during fighting between Afghan forces and Taliban fighters has killed at least 26 wedding guests in the southern province of Helmand, officials have said.

Palestinian home torched in West Bank

Suspected Israeli settlers firebomb home of a family, including five children, in south of occupied territory.

Anti-Arab graffiti written in Hebrew near the property declared the attack had been 'revenge' [AP]

Suspected Israeli settlers have firebombed the home of a Palestinian family in the southern West Bank, causing extensive damage but no casualties, the village mayor and witnesses said.

New Year's stampede kills 35 in Shanghai

At least 35 people killed and dozens injured in a stampede during New Year's celebrations in the eastern Chinese city.

Authorities had earlier cancelled a New Year's countdown at the location due to crowd concerns [Reuters]

At least 35 people have been killed and dozens injured after a stampede broke out during New Year's celebrations in the Chinese city of Shanghai, state-run media has said.
Citing Sina News, CCTV America said the the cause of the stampede on the Bund, the financial hub of Shanghai's popular waterfront area, was still unclear.

New Year celebrations marked across the world

Revellers across the world gather to celebrate the start of 2015, as fireworks explode over Sydney, Dubai and London.

Moscow's Red Square was lit up by fireworks as the clock hit midnight [Reuters]

Revellers across the world are celebrating the New Year, with people coverging on Sydney's iconic Opera House, the skyscrapers of Dubai and New York's Times Square.
More than 1.5 million people crowded along the shores of the the Australian city's harbour to watch the vivid eruption of light over the Harbour Bridge and Opera House.
The pyrotechnics display cost more than $6m and consisted of around 11,000 shells, 100,000 individual effects and 25,000 shooting comets, organisers said.