Australian PM Turnbull celebrates Christmas with homeless and lonely

Malcolm Turnbull gets festive love and belts out seasonal carols as he celebrates the holiday with the homeless and the lonely Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has been welcomed like a rock... Read more »
Saudi civil defence agency workers at the hospital after the fire. Photograph: Reuters

At least 25 dead in fire at Saudi Arabia’s Hospital

At least 25 killed and 100 people injured after blaze breaks out at Jazan hospital in Saudi Arabia JAZAN (Saudi Arabia) – A fire at a hospital in Saudi Arabia has killed at... Read more »

Brazil declares emergency after 2,400 babies born with brain damage

More than 2,400 suspected cases of microcephaly have been reported this year in 20 Brazilian states, compared with 147 cases last year. Doctors are investigating 29 related infant deaths. Microcephaly results in... Read more »
Tumbalong Park reopens in time for Christmas

Tumbalong Park reopens in time for Christmas

SYDNEY – The transformation of Darling Harbour has reached a new milestone after the opening of Tumbalong Park reopens to the public, just in time for Christmas and the summer holidays. The... Read more »
Dozens of people are missing after a landslide engulfed 22 buildings in Chinese city of Shenzhen.

China landslide leaves at least 85 missing after buildings collapse in Shenzhen

Dozens of people are missing after a landslide engulfed 22 buildings at an industrial park in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen. HONG KONG — As rescuers searched Monday for survivors of... Read more »
In the neighbourhood: Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull joins the meeting of defence and foreign ministers from Australia and Indonesia. Photo: Ben Rushton

Australia, Indonesia boost anti-terror cooperation

Australia and Indonesia have agreed to boost intelligence-sharing in the fight against terrorism, days after police arrested several men allegedly linked to a planned suicide bombing in Jakarta. SYDNEY – Australia and... Read more »

Indonesia ferry sinks: 80 missing, 3 dead, dozens rescued

Rescuers pulled out 39 survivors from a passenger boat that sank in the nation’s central region. The boat was carrying 110 passengers and 12 crew members, including 14 children MAKASSAR, Indonesia — A... Read more »
A refugee couple with their babies after safely reaching Greece

Every two seconds, a baby is born in a conflict zone: UNICEF

More than 16 million babies born into conflict in 2015: UNICEF ISLAMABAD – Millions of babies around the world are born into life-threatening situations every year. UNICEF executive director Anthony Lake said too... Read more »
Australia is the second best place in the world to live

Australia is the second best place in the world to live

Life is good in Australia as the country has been ranked as the second-best country in the world for its quality of life by a UN report which assessed economic, education and life-expectancy data.... Read more »

Airport officer suspended for singling out Julie Bishop for random security check

An Australian security officer at Melbourne airport has been sacked after the country’s Foreign Minister Julie Bishop was reportedly singled out for a security screening. While the Foreign Minister’s office maintains ‘no... Read more »
South China Sea

Australia sent surveillance plane over South China Sea

A radio recording of a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) surveillance plane conducting a freedom-of-navigation flight over the South China Sea has emerged for the first time. The audio has been published... Read more »
NSW announces faster access to justice

NSW announces faster access to justice as court backlog slashed

Access to justice will be faster, following the announcement of a $20 million package to slash the NSW District Court backlog by more than 600 criminal trials over the next two years. An... Read more »
Saudi Deputy Crown Prince and Defense Minister Mohammed bin Salman announced a new Islamic coalition to combat terrorism.

Saudi Arabia forms 34-state Islamic coalition to fight Terrorism

List of coalition countries include Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, Malaysia, and Pakistan, among others; Iran absent from alliance RIYADH (Saudi Arabia) – Saudi Arabia on Tuesday formed a 34-state military coalition to combat terrorism,... Read more »
A Swedish report on global arms sales ranks defense firms from the United States and Western Europe as dominating the industry.

US and Europe dominate global arms sales: SIPRI Report

A Swedish report on global arms sales ranks defence firms from the United States and Western Europe as dominating the industry. STOCKHOLM (Sweden) – Arms manufacturers in North America and Western Europe increased... Read more »
French Foreign Affairs Minister Laurent Fabius (C), President-designate of COP21 and Christiana Figueres (L), Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, hold hands as they react during the final plenary session at the World Climate Change Conference 2015 (COP21) at Le Bourget, near Paris, France, December 12, 2015. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe

What will the Paris climate deal mean for Australia?

Australia’s target of a 26 to 28 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions below 2005 levels by 2030 remains unchanged, but the Paris climate deal will put pressure on the Government... Read more »
Women line up to vote at a girls high school in North Jeddah. Photo: WALL STREET JOURNAL

Saudi women voted for first time and won 17 seats in historic election

In first poll in which women can vote and be candidates, female winners are declared across the conservative kingdom RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — At least 17 Saudi women have won seats on local... Read more »
Ai Weiwei poses in his Letgo room – made of thousands of donated building bricks – at the National Gallery of Victoria.

Artist Ai Weiwei unveils much-awaited Lego Project in Melbourne

The centrepiece of new Warhol-Weiwei show features quotes and portraits of Australians including Rosie Batty, Peter Greste, Gary Foley and Julian Assange SYDNEY (Australia) – For the first time, new works by Ai... Read more »
A woman sells farm products in Ruma, Bangladesh

Promoting High-value mountain products for sustainable livelihoods

Strengthening linkages between value chain actors, service providers and enablers is important in achieving sustainable growth in Hindu Kush Himalayan region By Dr Surendra Raj Joshi The bountiful mountain areas of the... Read more »
Justin Trudeau greets a family of refugees from Syria as they arrive at Pearson International airport, in Toronto, on Friday, Dec. 11, 2015. (Nathan Denette/CP)

Syrian refugees greeted by PM as they arrive in Canada

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau Premier Kathleen Wynne, Toronto Mayor John Tory and other dignitaries welcome first government plane of Syrian refugees. TORONTO (Canada) — The first large group of Syrian refugees coming... Read more »
Silver fern tops New Zealand flag referendum

Silver fern tops New Zealand flag referendum

New Zealand flag referendum: blue and black silver fern design wins Silver Fern (black, white and blue) beat four other shortlisted designs to go up against the current version — which features... Read more »
American Muslim raise over $100,000 for California shooting victims

American Muslim raise over $100,000 for California shooting victims

American Muslims groups nationwide have joined forces to raise funds for the families of the victims in the San Bernardino attack. Their efforts have raised $100,000 as of Tuesday. The project, “Muslims... Read more »

Australia ranked third last in global climate change index

Australia has come third last in an annual assessment of 58 nations’ climate policies, with only Saudi Arabia and Kazakhstan ranking worse. The assessment by Germanwatch and Climate Action Network Europe was... Read more »
Malaysia welcomes first group of Syrian refugees

Malaysia welcomes first group of Syrian refugees

Malaysia has received the first batch of Syrian migrants out of a total of 3,000 it plans to allow into the country. Malaysia will open its doors to 3,000 Syrian migrants over... Read more »
Rome's Cinecittà film studio became a bohemian portion of Paris for the evening as models bypassed guests sat on bistro chairs on a makeshift Parisian pavement

Chanel brings ancient Rome to Paris for its latest show

A chic international crowd walks along a dark cobblestone street that opens onto an ancient Roman temple front. White columns gleam, huge statues and swathes of Chanel tweed flicker in the torch... Read more »