world
NewsBBCUS and Mexico to restart Trump-era 'Remain in Mexico' policy
More than 60,000 asylum seekers have been sent back to Mexico under the controversial programme.
PoliticsAustralian Associated PressUS passes bill, avoids government shutdown
The US House of Representatives has passed a bill to fund the federal government through mid-February, sending it on to the Senate which faces a midnight deadline to pass it or face a partial government shutdown.The Democratic-controlled House on Thursday voted 221-212 to approve the stop-gap funding bill, which runs through February 18.
NewsBBCOmicron: Biden unveils new Covid-19 winter measures
Cases of the Omicron variant have now been reported in three US states and at least 23 countries.
HealthYahoo News AustraliaGroom-to-be’s death days after Covid vaccine investigated by health officials
A bride-to-be is demanding answers after her fiancé died suddenly in their home following his first Covid vaccine. Now she's calling for more awareness.
NewsAustralian Associated PressUS records third Omicron variant case
Three US states have found cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant - California, Colorado and Minnesota - among patients who were fully vaccinated and developed mild symptoms, health officials say.The Minnesota patient is the first known US case of community transmission of the Omicron variant, found in a fully vaccinated man who had recently travelled to New York City and attended a conference.
BusinessBBCVirgin Media outage hits UK TV viewers
The firm apologises after some customers are left with no access to TV services for more than 10 hours.
NewsBBCCovid: South Africa new cases surge as Omicron spreads
The new Omicron variant has now become dominant, the country's top medical scientists say.
NewsAustralian Associated PressSmollett paid for attack: second brother
A second man has testified that actor Jussie Smollett plotted a racist and anti-gay attack on himself and paid the man and his brother to carry it out.He also said Smollett gave them lines to shout and pointed out a surveillance camera the former Empire star said would capture the hoax on video to use for publicity.
NewsYahoo News AustraliaCountry records highest Covid death toll in 9 months as Omicron spreads
Hospitals have been warned there could be 6000 people in intensive care by Christmas. Find out more.
NewsAustralian Associated PressArmed man arrested after standoff at UN
The United Nations headquarters in New York City was locked down for several hours after a man was seen pacing outside one of its main gates with what police said appeared to be a shotgun.The man, who appeared to be in his 60s, was taken into custody without incident about 1.
BusinessBBCRide hailing app Grab makes $40bn market debut
Shares start trading in ride-hailing firm Grab which has used a shell company for its flotation.
ScienceAustralian Associated PressNASA astronauts complete ISS spacewalk
Two NASA astronauts have completed a six-and-a-half hour spacewalk to replace a faulty antenna on the International Space Station.It was a mission NASA said carried slightly higher risk posed by orbital debris left from a Russian missile test weeks ago.
NewsYahoo News AustraliaRussia makes bold military move in the Pacific
The weapons system deployed by Russia is capable of hitting sea targets at a range of up to 500km. Find out how the world is reacting.
NewsAustralian Associated PressRussia open to US joining Ukraine talks
Russia is open to talks involving the United States in relation to the Ukraine conflict."We have an interest in joining efforts to find a solution to the Ukraine crisis," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in the Swedish capital Stockholm on Thursday at the start of a meeting with his US counterpart Antony Blinken.
NewsAustralian Associated PressEx-worker says Maxwell 'lady of the house'
Ghislaine Maxwell was the "lady of the house" at now-deceased financier Jeffrey Epstein's Palm Beach estate, a former house manager has testified at the British socialite's sex abuse trial in Manhattan federal court.Juan Alessi, who worked full-time for Epstein from 1991 to 2002, said Maxwell was with Epstein "95 per cent of the time" he was at the property.
NewsAustralian Associated PressRussian mine falsified methane data: Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused management of falsifying methane data at a Siberian coal mine where an explosion killed 51 people last week.Rescuers are still bringing bodies to the surface at the Listvyazhnaya mine in Siberia's Kemerovo coal-producing region.
NewsAustralian Associated PressOmicron goes global, US local transmission
The United States has reported its first case of community transmission of Omicron and President Joe Biden prepared to lay out his strategy to fight the coronavirus over the northern hemisphere winter as the variant spread across the globe.As the world scrambled to contain the spread of Omicron, health authorities in the northern US state of Minnesota said the infected resident was a fully vaccinated adult male who had recently travelled to New York City.
NewsBBCCovid: Omicron fears cause wave of hotel cancellations
Best Western is one hotel group that has seen many customers scrapping Christmas bookings.
NewsAustralian Associated PressLibya court approves Gaddafi candidate bid
A Libyan court has ruled that the son of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi could run for president, his lawyer says, as arguments intensified over the conduct of an election aimed at ending a decade of turmoil.Saif al-Islam Gaddafi's appeal against disqualification for the December 24 vote was delayed for days as fighters blocked off the court, one of several incidents that may foreshadow wider election unrest.
NewsBBCCountries reach 'landmark deal' to cut trade costs
Members of the World Trade Organization agree to cut red tape to boost trade in services.
NewsAustralian Associated PressRussia puts missiles on islands near Japan
The Russian military has deployed coastal defence missile systems near the Kuril Islands, a Pacific chain also claimed by Japan.The Bastion systems were moved to Matua, a deserted volcanic island in the middle of the chain.
NewsBBCUK plays down Brexit link in US steel tariff row
Reports suggesting a US decision to maintain tariffs on UK steel is linked to Brexit are rejected.
NewsAustralian Associated PressNorway UK Christmas tree underwhelms some
Norway's annual Christmas tree gift to London has provoked unseasonably abrupt responses, including demands that the 24-metre Norwegian spruce be replaced, after it appeared to be less than symmetrical with some broken branches.Every year, a tree is felled outside Oslo and sent to London's Trafalgar Square as an offering of thanks from Norwegians for the United Kingdom's support during World War II.
BusinessBBCRising energy bills: 'Penny-pinching and duvets to keep warm'
A charity estimates that domestic gas bills in April will be double those of 18 months earlier.
NewsBBCCovid: Anglo American to introduce mandatory vaccinations
Anglo American, which employs 95,000 worldwide, is consulting on compulsory Covid jabs for all workers.
