World Breaking News

Tuesday, 20 December

Trump easily wins Electoral College vote

8:42PM President-elect Donald Trump has received a majority in the US Electoral College as votes from Texas electors put him over the 270 threshold.

Facebook founder creates virtual butler

8:40PM Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has created a virtual butler called Jarvis, which does myriad tasks such as turning on lights and playing music.

China hands over drone to US

8:36PM China's defence ministry says it has returned a US underwater drone it captured last week in international waters off the Philippines.

Driver in Berlin attack Pakistani: sources

8:22PM German police believe a truck was driven deliberately into the crowd at a Berlin Christmas market in a terrorist attack that killed 12 and injured 48.

Zurich mosque gunman dead: Swiss police

7:55PM Swiss police say the gunman who stormed into a Zurich mosque and opened fire on worshippers, wounding three men, is dead.

Thousands leave Aleppo, UN monitors arrive

7:45PM As the UN puts its monitors on the ground and thousands flee Aleppo, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad now has control of the country's five largest cities.

Six detained after Russian envoy shot dead

7:21PM The relatives and flatmate of the man who shot the Russian ambassador in Turkey have been detained with the shooting linked to the conflict in Syria.

Smog chokes China cities, grounds flights

5:29PM China has shut down factories, closed roads, restricted drivers and ground flights as thick smog blankets cities across the north, including Beijing.

Clooney developing film on Syria rescuers

3:26PM Hollywood star George Clooney is looking to develop a film version of The White Helmets documentary about first responders in Syria.

Syrian peace talks scheduled for February

1:59PM Peace talks between Syria's warring sides are scheduled to begin in February, says the UN's Syria mediator.

Clinton email probe warrant to be seen

1:56PM The search warrant used by the FBI to examine Hillary Clinton's email server will be unsealed following an order from a judge.

Obama denied high court pick

1:49PM Outgoing US President Barack Obama has been denied a chance to pick a judge for the Supreme Court.

Record 60 million tourists flock to NY

1:09PM More than 60 million tourists visited New York in 2016 - a record for the Big Apple.

Leaders react to Berlin truck crash

1:09PM World leaders have condemned the deadly Berlin truck crash.

Lagarde still IMF boss despite conviction

11:41AM A French court has found International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde guilty of negligence but did not hand down any punishment.

UN approves Aleppo monitors

11:28AM The UN Security Council has adopted a resolution calling for UN officials and others to monitor the mass evacuations from Aleppo.

US condemns deadly Berlin truck 'attack'

10:39AM The US has condemned "what appears to have been a terrorist attack" on the Christmas market in Berlin.

Monday, 19 December

Turkey detains gunman's sister, mother

9:18AM Following the fatal shooting of Russia's ambassador Turkey has detained the mother and sister of the gunman.

Blade Runner sequel trailer released

9:00AM Hollywood stars Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford have appeared in the first trailer released for the long-awaited sequel to the 1982 film Blade Runner.

Thousands leave Aleppo in evacuation

8:08AM Tens of thousands have reportedly left besieged Aleppo, with UNICEF saying nearly 50 children have been rescued from an orphanage.

Matt Lodge's US victims 'disappointed'

7:45AM Matt Lodge appears set to play for the Brisbane Broncos' feeder club, the Redcliffe Dolphins.

US man gets 30 years for 'death ray' plot

6:42AM A white supremacist has been sentenced to three decades in jail after he plotted to use a "death ray" to kill Muslims and President Barack Obama.

Earthquake along Ecuador's coast kills two

6:06AM Two people are dead following an earthquake in Ecuador.

Nearly 50 dead in Russia after toxic drink

4:24AM Nearly 50 people in Siberia have died after drinking bath oil containing methylated spirit, thinking it would give them the same high as alcohol.

Girl, 7, who tweeted from Aleppo evacuated

3:44AM A seven-year-old Aleppo girl, who captured the world's attention with her tweets, has been evacuated from the besieged city.

Jordanian attackers had suicide vests

2:43AM The gunmen in Jordan who killed 10 people at a popular tourist location had a suicide vest and plans for further attacks.

163 new species found in Mekong region

2:03AM The WWF says 163 new species, including nine amphibians, 11 fish, 14 reptiles, 126 plants and three mammals, were found in Asia's Mekong region last year.

Hundreds arrested at West Papua protests

2:03AM Hundreds of people have been arrested across Indonesia as they took part in protests calling for independence for West Papua province.

Norway, China relax after Nobel tension

12:29AM China and Norway are back on friendly terms again and plan to resume free trade talks, after freezing ties in 2010 because of a Nobel Peace Prize award.

BBC rejects girl's offer to act as Big Ben

12:29AM The BBC has politely rejected an eight-year-old's efforts to step in for Big Ben, when the London landmark falls silent for repairs.

No clean getaway for twins who stole soap

11:27PM Twin brothers stole 180 bars of soap from a US supermarket but failed to make a clean getaway, tripping over a trash can and a trolley before being collared.

Pedophile, 101, jailed for 13 years in UK

11:27PM A British judge has jailed a 101-year-old pedophile for 13 years for sex offences against young children in the 1970s and 80s; he paid them 10p or beat them.

33 die in Siberia after drinking bath oil

11:07PM Thirty-three people in Siberia have died after drinking bath oil containing methylated spirit, thinking it would give them the same high as alcohol.

Girl bombers hit Nigeria's Maiduguri city

10:44PM Two teenage girls have blown themselves up at a checkpoint in Nigeria's Maiduguri city, the latest in suicide bombings by young females.

Jordan tourist site shut after attack

10:33PM Access to Jordan's popular Crusader castle has been blocked following a bloody attack that killed a Canadian woman and nine others.

Smog in Chinese city well above WHO limit

10:26PM Smog in the Chinese city of Shijiazhuang has exceeded the WHO's guideline by 100 times as the country's pollution continues to worsen in the north.

Poland political stand-off into fourth day

9:59PM Polish opposition politicians continue to occupy the main hall of parliament as they protest against what they say are undemocratic moves by the ruling party.

Norway, China mend fences after Nobel row

9:50PM Norway and China have resumed their diplomatic ties six years after they were frozen when a Chinese dissident was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

US dictionary sums up 2016: surreal

9:45PM American dictionary Merriam-Webster has summed up 2016 with "surreal", which had its single biggest spike in lookups online after Donald Trump's victory.

Sly Stallone says no to Trump arts post

8:44PM Actor Sylvester Stallone says he's "incredibly flattered" but he's turned down an arts post in Donald Trump's administration to focus on returning veterans.

Russian military plane crashes, 32 injured

8:41PM Up to 32 people have been airlifted to hospital after a Russian military plane carrying 39 people made an emergency landing at a Siberian airfield.

China discussing return of drone to US

8:37PM China says it is in "unimpeded" discussions with the US over the return of an underwater drone it seized last week in Philippine waters.

Abuse claims against six UK soccer coaches

8:37PM Sussex police say they have received reports of historical sexual abuse against six soccer coaches but they do relate to the area's two most senior clubs.

Mini-gingerbread city wins Sweden contest

8:37PM An economics student has won Sweden's annual gingerbread house competition with her miniature city, including towers dusted with icing sugar to represent snow.

Poultry culled in Germany amid bird flu

7:52PM Thousands of turkeys and ducks on two German farms have been culled after the virulent H5N8 bird flu was found in various EU countries and the UK.

Singer Marc Anthony divorces third wife

7:18PM JLo's ex-husband Marc Anthony is divorcing his third wife, Venezuelan model Shannon de Lima, after two years of marriage.

2000 protest against Trump in LA

6:46PM Around 2000 people have marched through Los Angeles protesting against US President-elect Donald Trump.

Friend of S. Korea's Park denies charges

6:00PM The friend of the South Korean leader at the centre of a corruption scandal has denied all the charges at the start of her trial for fraud and abuse of power.

US electors expected to confirm Trump win

5:21PM The 538 electors in the US Electoral College will be meeting to cast their ballots, with the likelihood they will confirm Donald Trump's election victory.

'Liquid biopsy' hope for pancreatic cancer

4:59PM Tumour DNA in the blood could help doctors work out the best treatment strategies for patients with advanced forms of pancreatic cancer, research suggests.

Martin Scorsese nephew held on trespassing

4:27PM The 41-year-old nephew of Oscar-winning film director Martin Scorsese has been arrested for trespassing at a New York home.

Miss Puerto Rico crowned Miss World 2016

4:17PM Miss Puerto Rico Stephanie Del Valle has beaten contestants from more than 100 countries to be crowned the new Miss World.

Eight facts about Zsa Zsa Gabor

3:33PM Eight facts about Zsa Zsa Gabor, sometime actress and frequent bride, who has died at age 99.

Clinton aide thinks Trump-Russia colluded

3:06PM A senior Hillary Clinton aide has raised the possibility Donald Trump's campaign team colluded with Russia during the US election.

S Korea returns 8 N Koreans and vessels

3:04PM South Korea has repatriated eight North Korean fishermen who were rescued last week.

NATO seeks to allay concerns with Russia

2:15PM NATO will hold a fresh round of formal talks with Russia to discuss European security and the Ukraine conflict.

Celebrities react to Zsa Zsa Gabor's death

12:50PM Celebrities are reacting to the death of Zsa Zsa Gabor at the age of 99.

Hundreds arrested in Venezuela cash chaos

12:23PM Security forces have arrested more than 300 people during protests and lootings over the elimination of Venezuela's largest currency bill.

US senators call for Russian hacking probe

10:39AM Some prominent US senators say they want an investigation into allegations of Russian hacking and influencing the presidential election.

Lebanon forms govt after nearly two months

10:37AM Lebanon has formed a new government nearly two months after electing a new president.

Mexican police find five bodies in truck

9:53AM Police in the western Mexico state of Jalisco have found a truck loaded with five bodies, all covered in plastic bags.

Rogue One dominates with $A185.9m debut

9:31AM Rogue One: A Star Wars Story has dominated the global box office, opening to $US135.5 million ($A185.9 million).

Bomber kills seven in Benghazi

9:13AM At least seven people have been killed in suicide bombing in the Libyan city of Benghazi.

Twenty killed in Congo gold mine accident

9:00AM At least 20 people have been killed in a mining accident in eastern Congo.

UN to vote on monitoring Aleppo evacuation

8:04AM The UN Security Council will vote on a draft resolution aimed at ensuring that UN officials can monitor evacuations from Aleppo.

IS suicide bombing kills 49 in Yemen

7:52AM At least 49 soldiers have been killed after a suicide bomber struck in the southern Yemeni port city of Aden.

Jailed Israeli PM gets early release

7:36AM Disgraced former Israeli president Moshe Katsav is set for early release of his seven-year jail term after he was convicted of rape.

Aleppo and villages evacuations stopped

6:16AM The evacuation of the besieged Syrian villages of al-Foua and Kefraya has been postponed for an unknown period of time, a war monitor says.

Australian prof detained in Turkey purge

5:15AM Turkish authorities have denied Australian consular assistance to a dual-national university professor detained five months ago, it's been reported.

Russia shoots dead 7 Chechnyan militants

5:15AM Seven militants in Chechnya have been shot dead by Russian special forces.

Red Cross aims to resume Aleppo evacuation

9:44PM Thousands of people are left in Aleppo, some sleeping on the streets in freezing temperatures, after the evacuation of the rebel-held areas ground to a halt.

Thousands protest Syria's war in UK

8:54PM Thousands of protesters have marched in the streets of London and Berlin to urge their governments to do more to help the people of Aleppo.

Trump continues election victory lap

8:54PM US President-elect Donald Trump has announced Mick Mulvaney as his budget director, a conservative with no experience assembling a government spending plan.

US astronaut John Glenn remembered

8:54PM US Vice President Joe Biden has honoured astronaut John Glenn for 'defining what it meant to be an American' during the space pioneer's memorial service.

Suicide bomber kills 43 soldiers in Yemen

8:45PM At least 43 soldiers have been killed when a suicide bomber struck in the southern Yemeni port city of Aden.

Tree falls on US wedding party, one killed

8:28PM Los Angeles County Fire Department officials say at least one person has died and five others are injured after a large tree fell on a wedding party.

Indon plane crashes in Papua killing 13

8:27PM All 13 people onboard an Indonesian air force transport plane have died after it crashed into a mountain in Papua.

Springsteen talks of his depression

5:51PM Bruce Springsteen's wife Patti Scialfa is one of the major reasons he is able to pull himself "back into his life" amid bouts of depression, the rock star says.

Six dead as winter storm slams parts of US

5:45PM A winter storm has pummelled the eastern half of the United States, creating incredibly dangerous travel conditions.

Venezuela extends use of 100-bolivar bill

5:31PM Venezuela's decision to remove the 100-bolivar banknote from circulation has left the country largely without cash.

Blanchett, Roxburgh make Broadway debuts

5:27PM The Cate Blanchett, Richard Roxburgh, Andrew Upton production of The Present will be performed at Broadway's iconic Ethel Barrymore Theatre.

Downer promotes upside to Brexit

5:19PM Australia's High Commissioner in London Alexander Downer says Australia will make the most of Brexit to forge closer ties with the UK and promote shared values.

Erdogan blames Kurds over bus bombing

5:13PM Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan is blaming militant Kurds for the bombing of a bus in the central city of Kayseri that has left 13 soldiers dead.

Henry Heimlich dies at 96

5:10PM Henry Heimlich, inventor of the eponymous manoeuvre to prevent choking deaths, has died.

New NZ PM Bill English unveils front bench

4:36PM New Zealand's new Prime Minister Bill English has announced his first frontbench lineup, with Murray McCully to remain as foreign minister.

China says it will return seized US drone

4:09PM The US has been "hyping up" China's taking of an underwater drone and the country plans to return the equipment.

Alaskan elves plunge into freezing water

2:51PM People in Alaska have dressed up or stripped down to barely anything to take part in a polar plunge in a freezing lake.

Photo of Queen and Charles released

2:51PM A photograph of the Queen and Prince Charles has been released to mark the end of the monarch's 90th birthday year.

DiCaprio speaks out on climate action

2:51PM Leonardo DiCaprio has told a UN awards ceremony that addressing climate change is the biggest economic opportunity in the history of the United States.

Duterte to US over aid: 'Bye-bye America'

2:51PM The US Embassy in Manila says Washington will work closely with the Duterte administration to address any concerns it may have about US/Phillipine relations.

Trump deflects Michelle's comments

2:26PM Michelle Obama says people in the US now have no hope but does not mention Donald Trump by name in an interview with Oprah Winfrey.

Lord of the Rings actor slams 'clean' NZ

2:26PM Lord of the Rings actor Bruce Hopkins says New Zealand is "no land of milk and honey" despiteits tourism image.

Bill English's NZ cabinet unveiled

2:26PM The New Zealand ministry list under new Prime Minister Bill English.

UN lifts N Korea sanctions on five ships

12:33PM The United Nations Security Council has lifted sanctions on five ships that were blacklisted in March for ties to North Korea's arms trade.

Trump taps Mulvaney to be budget director

12:29PM Donald Trump has tapped fiscally conservative Mick Mulvaney as his White House budget director.

Mugabe confirmed as candidate for 2018

11:48AM Zimbabwe's ruling party has confirmed President Robert Mugabe will run for the next election in 2018, when he will be just shy of turning 100-years-old.

Poland urged to respect people: EU Tusk

11:45AM EU leader Donald Tusk has urged Polish lawmakers to respect the country's constitution.

West Africa ready to uphold Gambia vote

10:30AM The West African regional bloc says it's ready to step in and ensure the transfer of power in Gambia, as the president refuses to accept the election results.