Top Story: World Welcomes 2015 With Cheers, Fireworks, Hopes

MIDDLE EAST

U.S., partners hit Islamic State in Syria, Iraq .

Civilian death toll in Iraq doubles to 17,000 in 2014 'due to rise of ISIS' .

Syria's war 'killed 76,021' in 2014 . Over 76,000 killed in Syrian war in 2014: NGO .

Syrian president visits front line of civil war on New Year's Eve .

Syria opposition group: Assad must go for any peace plan to work .

Lebanon hit hard by Syrian war, growing ISIL support .

Death toll of Yemen anti-Huthi bomb blast rises to 49 .

Suspected 'terrorist' arrested near President’s office in Istanbul . Man with automatic weapon detained near Istanbul palace: media .

ASIA

36 killed, 47 injured in Shanghai stampede . Shanghai new year crush kills 36 .

North Korean leader open to summit with South . Kim Jong-un calls for ‘highest level’ talks with South Korea in New Year’s speech . North Korea leader Kim Jong Un says open to summit with South .

Dozens dead as Afghan wedding hit by rocket . Army mortar fire kills 28 at wedding party in Afghanistan .

Afghans take over country's security .

India, Pakistan trade deadly fire in Kashmir .

Military: Pakistan airstrikes kill 23 militants .

1st of 9 bodies from AirAsia crash identified . Weather stalls search for AirAsia black boxes; first victim buried .

The search for AirAsia Flight QZ8501: Where things stand .

Sri Lanka flash floods cause deadly havoc.

AFRICA

World Health Organization reports 7,905 Ebola deaths .

France: Libya rising as terrorist ‘sanctuary’ . Libya unrest: Gaddafi’s ex-aide accuses West .

Gambia's President blames foreign-backed dissidents for attack on capital . Gambia failed coup participants flee to Guinea-Bissau.

Witness: Suicide bus bomb kills at least 6 in Nigeria's Yobe state .

Nigerian army steps up fight against terrorism .

DRC rebels face deadline to disarm .

Three Kenyan soldiers wounded in gun attack near Somali border .

Sudan celebrates 59 years of independence Thursday .

EUROPE

Russians optimistic for 2015 despite it all .

Kiev violates ceasefire 15 times on New Year’s eve: Donetsk . Ukraine says rebels keep up attacks into New Year .

Latvia to maintain tough line on Russia as it assumes EU Presidency .

With eyes on Russia, Lithuania joins Eurozone .

Greek 'political blackmail' of EU won't work anymore, says top Merkel party member .

Poll: One in 8 Germans would join anti-Muslim marches .

Sweden struck by 3rd mosque arson attack in a week.

Italy president says he will step down soon .

AMERICAS

Obama, Republican Congress likely to clash on global affairs .

Budget war looms for Obama, GOP .

U.S. Dollar has its best year since 2005 .

United States 'deeply concerned' by Cuba dissident arrests . Cuba frees dissidents from crackdown condemned by US .

Witness confirms cover-up of Mexican army killings .

Brazil's leader sworn in for 2nd term .

U.S. Congress demands answers on feds’ cellphone tracking by simulator towers .

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Al-Qaeda’s glossy media and how they help expand ‘Media Jihad’ .

Republican rips release of Gitmo detainees .

Boston Marathon bombing suspect's trial starts Monday .

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

World oil prices plunged in 2014 most in six years .

Iran says Saudi Arabia should move to curb oil price fall .

New black gold? Coffee price soars in 2014, leaving oil & metals trailing .

Travel firms sue creator of cheap airfare site .