The former world footballer of the year, george weah, has won the liberian president ial election. Mr weah played for a string of high profile clubs, including ac milan, chelsea, and manchester city. He entered politics after his retirement in 2002, and will succeed Ellen Johnson sirleaf africas first elected female president. From monrovia, umaru fofana reports. Hundreds of jubilant supporters of george weah took to the streets minutes after the Electoral Commission had announced the results. They chanted, it was george weah we wanted and it is george weah we have got. The capital reverberated with singing and deafening cough islands. It was never in doubt the former world footballer of the year would win. Election observers, both domestic and foreign, have hailed the conduct of the poll. This man was used to winning trophies, but found it hard to win this, the biggest award of his life. Liberia has stabilised after a decade of a long and bloody civil war, but its still suffering with abject poverty and corruption. A short time ago, i spoke to Chris Fomunyoh in monrovia. Hes from the National Democratic institute and one of the leaders of the International Election observer delegation in liberia. I began by asking him how significant this election result is. This is huge. It is historic, firstly because it is the second time in seven decades that liberia will be changing, where a democratically elected president will be handing over to a democratically elected president. It is also a story of someone from very humble beginnings, through hard work and perseverance, is now going to be the president of liberia. This is a great moment for this country and the liberian people should be very proud of what they have done. What is the mood like in monro via . M has been very festive. Monrovia. Permit has been very festive, but International Observers throughout monrovia have issued a report today as to how peaceful this election process has been. And that has set the stage for the jubilation by its supporters, and the fact that even the supporters have been very peaceful as of now. How was the administration of this election handled compared to back in october . What were the improvements that were made . Yes, of course there were very notable improvements, notably in the management of the precincts and polling places, that there was more attention paid to training, retraining the poll workers and making sure they were more efficient than they were in october, making sure there were signs with serial numbers at the arrival of various precincts, such that voters would know immediately to which polling place they needed to go to vote. And that avoided some of the issues we saw in october when there were huge lines and a lot of confusion about where people needed to line up in order to vote, so we did see significant votes in the administration of the votes and the election. This was an improvement compared to what we saw in october and the Election Commission is to be commended to that as well. And pleasurably, the local Political Parties as well, have an Important Role to play in that . That is correct, the two parties that were in competition had representatives of the candidates and parties watching the poll from beginning to end, all through the voting, as well as during the counting of Election Results, and i think that has contributed to the confidence that the people of liberia can have on the people of liberia can have on the Election Results that have been declared as far. Do you think the fa ct declared as far. Do you think the fact that the margin victory is so large is helping out voters look at this boat . Yes, that is one of the factors, and also i think the political leaders of liberia, both sides, have come to the recognition that it was important for them to set a clear message for their supporters that liberians want peace, that they are committed to Peaceful Elections and it will not be in any ones interest to try and disrupt what is clearly the chosen will, the express will of the liberian people. And what do you think, what kind of message to you think, what kind of message to you think this sends out the other struggling democracies in africa . Well, certainly for west africa especially, countries have been doing relatively well in trying to set standards for Credible Elections and peaceful transfers of power, and i think what is happening now in liberia is testament to the commitment to democratic government and good governance, and will bode well for the future of other countries in this region. At the same time, it sends a very strong message across africa the Younger GenerationAfrican Leaders are emerging that wants to derive legitimacy from their citizens, and that it legitimacy from their citizens, and thatitis legitimacy from their citizens, and that it is important that the whole, peaceful, meaningful and Credible Elections that can set the foundation for the country to be in a better position to address other developmental and security challenges, and i think this is a happy moment for liberians, will liberia, for west africa, and for africa as a whole. Lets take a look at some of the other stories making the news. In venezuela, hundreds of people have been protesting in the poorer parts of caracas against the shortage of promised pork a key ingredient for traditional christmas meals. President maduro has accused portugal of sabotaging deliveries. A Portuguese Company denied the claims and said venezuela still owed portuguese firms almost 50 million from pork deliveries made in 2016. Apple has published a letter to customers apologising for what it calls a misunderstanding around older iphones being slowed down. The Company Recently admitted that it was deliberately slowing down older iphones in order to compensate for degrading batteries. Its offered a replacement battery at a discounted price for some customers. Indias lower house of parliament has approved legislation to outlaw the muslim tradition of instant divorce. A Supreme Court ruling has banned the right of muslim men to divorce their wives by simply speaking the word talaq three times. It means divorce in arabic. And italys president Sergio Mattarella has dissolved parliament ahead of an election scheduled for march the fourth. Immigration is likely to be the key issue, with the anti Establishment Five Star Movement currently leading in opinion polls. Officials in alabama have formally certified Democrat Doug Jones as the winner of the States Senate race. Thats despite attempts by his defeated republican rival, roy moore, to stop his certification going ahead. Mr moore filed a last minute lawsuit to challenge the result, alleging voterfraud, but a judge denied the request. Roy moore, Whose Campaign had been plagued by allegations of sexual misconduct, lost narrowly. His lawyers said thered been a higher than expected turnout, but state officials were emphatic that they found no evidence of fraud. I dont think theres any doubt from the minds of anybody in this room or anyone within the sound of my voice, that there was ever a question about whether or not the state of alabama conducts honest and fairand safe the state of alabama conducts honest and fair and safe and secure and fair and safe and secure a elections, that question has been eliminated from anyones thought and eliminated from anyones thoughtand mind, period. A suicide bombing in the afghan capital, kabul, has claimed the lives of at least a0 people and injured more than 80 others, with women and children among the casualties. The Islamic State group says it carried out the attack which targeted a Cultural Organisation and news agency in the west of the capital. Our correspondent in kabul, zia shahreya, has sent this report. The force of the explosion is clear to see. Among the rubble, relatives desperately search for their loved ones. But there was little left behind. The bomb went off inside this building, a Cultural Centre and also home to an afghan news agency. Students had been marking the 38th anniversary of the soviet invasion of afghanistan. The suicide bomber apparently has entered through that way, inside this hall, where the seminar was happening, and the hall was full of people, students, female students, male students, from different universities in kabul. Translation i saw many dead in the area, i was looking for my cousin but i could not find his body. Im not sure what happened to him. The number of dead people has increased. After the explosion, ambulances took the injured to the hospitals nearby. This man, one of dozens badly hurt in the explosion. Some of the wounded were taken in for surgery. Translation a total of 35 dead were registered here and 20 others wounded. There are men, women, and children among the injured. For some waiting outside for news, it was all too much. Back in the area, to the west of the capital, where the bomb went off, armed guards patrol. The initial blast was followed by two other explosions, but no one was hurt in those. So who was behind the attack . So called Islamic State has claimed responsibility, saying it targeted the centre with a suicide bomber and other bombs. Its been behind a number of other attacks on shia targets across the country in recent months. The president s spokesman called the attack an unpardonable crime against humanity and pledged to destroy terrorist groups. Zia shahreya, bbc, kabul. At least a dozen people have been killed and several injured in a fire at a multi storey building in indias Financial Capital of mumbai. The fire began in the early hours of friday at a commercial building in kamala mills compound, in central mumbai. The building houses some commercial establishments, including hotels. The cause of the fire is not yet known. Turkey and the us are to resume issuing visas to each others citizens. Theyd been suspended after a bitter row, when turkey arrested a local embassy employee in october. But in statements earlier, the Turkish Embassy in washington, and the us embassy in ankara, said the issue had been resolved. Seref isler from our Turkish Service explained how the disagreement began. Back in october, the turkish authorities wanted to detain some Us Embassy Staff over what they claimed to be links to the coup attempt of 2016. After the coup attempt of last year, turkey launched a very large operation to find the perpetrators and they claimed that it was masterminded by a cleric living in the us, so when the turkish authorities wanted to detain these Us Embassy Staff members, they stopped Visa Services to turkish citizens and turkey in turn stopped these services for us citizens. The last day, some resolution to this but slightly messy in its wording . Yes, precisely. The us is saying that they received security assurances from turkey and thats why they were able to resume Visa Services, but turkey is saying they are resuming the Visa Services but no security assurances are made, and we dont know what happened behind closed doors but its highly inconceivable that two countries would, by chance, start issuing visas again. Some chat should have taken place. We just dont know any details. The arrests aside, many other issues have made it a difficult year for us turkish relations . Is that right . Absolutely. The us and turkey are staunch nato allies. I remember a time when turkey sided with the us in the first gulf war against iraq, for example. The two countries have disagreed, such as with syria. Turkey is of the uss opinion, but is talking to russia. Turkey has reacted angrily when the us recognised the capital of israel asjerusalem and other problems in the region where there might have been some disagreements, but donald trump has a tower in istanbul so this is a messy situation. Stay with us on bbc world news. Still to come. The pub, the pay packet, and the power of social media. How one man was reunited with his missing money. The most ambitious financial and political change ever attempted has gott under way with the introduction of the euro. Tomorrow in holland, we will use money we picked up in belgium today, and then we will be in france and we will use the same money. It has just got to be the way to go. George harrison, the former beatle, is recovering in hospital after being stabbed at his oxfordshire home. A 33 year old man from liverpool is being interviewed by police on suspicion of attempted murder. I think it was good. You. Just good . No, fantastic thats better. This is bbc world news. The latest headlines former footballer george weah has won liberias president ial election in the countrys first democratic handover in decades. Afg hanistans president has condemned kabuls suicide bomb attack as a crime against humanity. The blast left more than a0 dead. The iconic miss america beauty pageant is in turmoil, over an e mail scandal thats forced its most senior Board Members to step down. The Huffington Post has published e mails, which allegedly show pageant officials making vulgar comments on contestants weight, sex lives, intellect even wishing one was dead. Miss America Executive director sam haskell has resigned, as well as president josh randle, and some other Board Members. An online petition with tens of thousands of signatures is gaining traction. Its calling for everyone on the board to be sacked. For more on this im joined from greenville, North Carolina byjamia wilson, a feminist writer and executive director of feminist press. Sexism and misogyny in miss america. How shocked are you . Sexism and misogyny in miss america. How shocked are you . |j sexism and misogyny in miss america. How shocked are you . I am not shocked at all will stop u nfortu nately, we shocked at all will stop unfortunately, we live in a culture where misogyny and sexism are ingrained deeply and you can see that from the reckoning of the moment and this is a part of that. These things happen coming to light and women have been injuring them for too long because it is embedded in our system. In terms of miss america, just for the moment, what you think should happen to the organisation . There be full accountability. I really support the women who have been speaking out, like mallory hogan, who says that there needs to be new leadership and represents those who have been through this process and reflects the women who have been part of miss america. I support their call to action and the Petition Campaign that they have valiantly put out there and want to encourage them to continue to organise and make their organisation reflect the people who it serves. Do you think there is any pa rt it serves. Do you think there is any part for it serves. Do you think there is any partforan it serves. Do you think there is any part for an organisation like this in the modern world . Is it not harking back to a bygone era when women were far less empowered . My vision for the future is that we have platforms that this big and is supported and widely watched that will actually support womens views rather than base support womens shoes. It is important for us to help women uplift their lives systemically and give more people access systemically and give more people a ccess systemically and give more people access access to education and opportunities that are connected to their intellect and not the way they are presented in their appearance. All this is a scholarship pageant andi all this is a scholarship pageant and ifully all this is a scholarship pageant and i fully respect the choices of those who participate, i would like to see more opportunities for women to see more opportunities for women to be out there and supported with a full leadership without being objectified in any way. Going back to something you said earlier, do you think this is part of a bigger cultural reckoning that we are going through right now . Absolutely. I think this is part of a ground swell of organising that will continue and i think that the backlash we are now seeing is a sign of progress, because women coming together and speaking truth to power is making a change and it is showing people who are harmed was that we are coming for you, we are coming together and we are going to people accountable for behaviour that is harmful to our society. Jamia wilson, thank you for joining us on bbc news. Jamia wilson in south carolina. Thank you for having me. Bitter cold continues to blanket the Northern United States and canada as forecasters warn the deep freeze will continue into the start of 2018. New record lows have been set including minus 36. 6 degrees celsius in new hampshires mount washington. Officials say parts of canada are colder than the north pole or mars. Further disruption is expected in many parts of the uk with ice and heavy snow forecast. The aa said conditions for many drivers on thursday were appalling, while passengers who were stuck at Londons Stansted airport last night have complained about the airports response to the weather. Anisa kadri reports. Hanging around for a flight longer than you expected. Its not much fun, especially when the queues are just getting longer and you find out your flight is now notjust delayed, its cancelled. More than 12 hours after sarahs flight to stockholm was