Arab nations begin their reconciliation with Syria

A series of moves by some Arab countries show that Syria is gradually being reaccepted by the Arab world, which abandoned it after civil war broke out in the nation in 2011, said a Chinese expert.

Former leader wins in Malagasy elections

ANTANANARIVO - Madagascar's former president Andry Rajoelina has beaten his rival and predecessor Marc Ravalomanana in the election, the electoral commission said on Thursday.

US Congress takes no steps to end shutdown

WASHINGTON - The US government partial shutdown was set to stretch deep into next week after legislators failed on Thursday to make a breakthrough in the row over President Donald Trump's demand for a US-Mexico border wall.

Further protests planned by 'yellow vests'

PARIS - The "yellow vest" anti-government protests that have rocked France will be held on Saturday and New Year's Eve, and continue into 2019, several sources in the movement said on Thursday.

IN BRIEF (Page 8)

Saudi king announces govt changes

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Saudi Arabia's King Salman issued a wide-ranging overhaul of top government posts on Thursday, including naming a new foreign minister, following international fallout from the killing of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi nearly three months ago.

Wounded animals find home in Russian shelter

RAPPOLOVO, Russia - A lion that escaped from an airport, a crocodile found at a rubbish dump and an elk attacked by stray dogs - all these animals have found refuge in an unusual private shelter in Russia.

'All lives matter': Indonesia saves turtles stranded by deadly tsunami

KALIANDA, Indonesia - Searching a debris-strewn beach for victims of Indonesia's deadly tsunami, a rescue team happened upon a giant sea turtle trapped in a pile of marine trash.

Light mystifies New York residents

NEW YORK - A transformer explosion at an electric power substation in the New York City borough of Queens lit up the night sky with a bright blue light on Thursday, mystifying some residents, but officials said no one was injured in the incident.

Trump makes unexpected Iraq visit

US President Donald Trump made a Christmas Day visit to Iraq on Wednesday to defend his decision to withdraw troops from Syria and declared an end to the role of the United States as the global "policeman".

Russia expands Ukraine sanctions as Putin vows global competitiveness

Russia has expanded its economic sanctions on Ukraine and vowed to make its economy more competitive globally to cope with the sanctions imposed on it by Western powers.

Romania taking helm of EU at time of tumult and populism

Romania takes over the presidency of the European Union on Jan 1 amid a growing rift within the bloc that some pundits say threatens its very existence.