Syria's foreign minister told world leaders Saturday that victory against terrorists in his war-ravaged nation "is now within reach" while North Korea's foreign minister said U.S. President Donald Trump's insult to his country makes an attack against the U.S. mainland inevitable. Global conflicts, threats and challenges dominated the fifth day of the U.N. General Assembly's annual ministerial meeting, including an impassioned appeal for help from the prime minister of Dominica who said his hurricane-ravaged Caribbean island nation is in "the front line of the war on climate change." Syria's Walid al-Moualem said his country is "marching steadily" toward the goal…

US bombers have flown close to North Korea's east coast to demonstrate the military options available to defeat any threat, the Pentagon has said.It said the flight was the farthest north of the demilitarised zone between the Koreas that any US fighter jet or bomber had flown in the 21st Century. Tensions have risen recently over Pyongyang's nuclear programme. At the UN, North Korea's foreign minister said US President Donald Trump was on a "suicide mission".Ri Yong-ho's comments to the General Assembly mimicked Mr Trump's remarks at the UN on Tuesday, when he called North Korean leader Kim Jong-un a…

Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka says being an itinerant teacher has become "a way of life" as he takes up a post as visiting professor at the University of Johannesburg. The 83-year-old Nigerian playwright and author told students and journalists at the South African university on Friday that the benefit of encountering different cultures during his travels is that "one does not stagnate." Soyinka was awarded the Nobel Prize in literature in 1986. He says he and his Johannesburg students might create a play together, as well as discuss history and international relations along with literature. Soyinka drew laughter after saying:…

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Friday in Abuja said federal government planned to use Public Private Partnership, PPP, to provide basic infrastructure to the people. Osinbajo said this at the launch of PPP Disclosure Web Portal sponsored by World Bank and Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC). Represented by Mr Suleiman Hassan, Minister of State, Power, Works and Housing, Osinbajo emphasised the role of the private sector in providing basic infrastructure in collaboration with government under PPP arrangement. PPP Disclosure Web Portal encourages proactive disclosure of contract agreement between government and its contractors on PPP projects. The portal will make available…