Gambia president returns home after reports of coup attempt

BANJUL (Reuters) - Gambia's President Yahya Jammeh returned to Banjul on Wednesday and shops and banks reopened, a day after gunfire erupted around the presidential palace in an apparent coup attempt led by a former commander of the presidential guard.

PM's Stark New Year Warning For Voters

David Cameron looks toward the General Election, telling voters the UK faces chaos if it changes economic course in 2015.

Millions Across UK Welcome 2015 With A Bang

Millions around the UK have celebrated the arrival of 2015, including with spectacular fireworks displays in London and Edinburgh.

Netanyahu wins Likud nomination ahead of Israel general election

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been voted in as head of the right-wing Likud party, overcoming his first hurdle toward winning a fourth term in office in a March general election, results of a party primary published on Thursday showed.

Syria's Assad visits embattled Damascus district: presidency

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad visited a district on the outskirts of Damascus and thanked soldiers fighting "in the face of terrorism", his office said on its Twitter account on Wednesday, posting pictures of the rare trip.

Front pages ring in new year

The UK's national newspapers greet the new year with images from around the world and a wide range of stories.

Lithuania joins euro as tensions with neighboring Russia rise

VILNIUS (Reuters) - Lithuania joined the euro zone at the stroke of midnight on Thursday, hoping to anchor itself in Europe as its former master Russia flexes its military muscle in the region.

Thursday's National Newspaper Front Pages

Sky News takes a look at the stories making a splash on the front pages of Thursday's national newspapers.

At least 35 dead, 42 injured in Shanghai New Year's stampede: CCTV

(Reuters) - At least 35 people were killed and 42 were injured in a stampede during a New Year’s celebration on the Bund, a waterfront area in central Shanghai, official Chinese government television CCTV America reported on its website.

Shanghai New Year crush 'kills 35'

A crush at a New Year's Eve celebrations in Shanghai has killed 35 people and injured some 42 others, Chinese state media report.