Last updated: December 22, 2013

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WHETHER it's mistakenly attempting to capitalise on a tragedy or mistaking humour for cultural insensitivity, here's how these Twittter users got it so wrong in 2013.

PR exec's epic Twitter fail

PR exec's epic Twitte...

SHE'S supposed to be a PR expert, but instead Justine Sacco posted a tweet that sparked outrage around the world.

Incredible moments frozen in time

Incredible moments frozen in time

IT'S only once in a blue moon you get photo opportunities like these. Check out National Geographic's best of 2013 collection.

Topless protest falls flat in Brazil

Topless protest falls flat in Brazil

PHOTOGRAPHERS outnumber protesters as a group take to Ipanema beach to make a statement about Brazilian laws which forbid women to go topless.

Man 'killed doctor over vasectomy' gone wrong

surgery

BREKKIE WRAP: A MAN who went on a shooting rampage at a doctor's office before turning the gun on himself may have been angry over a botched vasectomy.

The Grinch guide to surviving a family Christmas

The Grinch guide to surviving a family Christmas

PUT your Grinchiness away this Christmas. Even if you hate the obligatory family gathering, it's possible to make it through with a smile on your face, writes Angela Mollard.

Man dies, woman surives cliff fall

Man dies, woman surives cliff fall

AN experienced rock climber plunged to his death in the Blue Mountains while trying to rescue his girlfriend.

Astronauts begin urgent station fix

NASA has today ordered a series of urgent spacewalks to fix the International Space Station.

TWO astronauts stepped outside the International Space Station for the first of three spacewalks to fix a broken equipment cooling system.

Stores open 100 hours to lure festive shoppers

Marathon Store Hours

SOME stores are ending the holiday shopping season the same way they began it - with round-the-clock, marathon shopping hours with others not even closing.

Beyonce surprises shoppers, buys her new album

Beyonce at Walmart

SUPER star surprises shoppers at major store, cruising the aisles for toys before buying her own album and handing out $40,000 in gift cards.

The 10 worst films of 2013

The 10 worst films of 2013

HOW many bad movies were there this year? A lot. From Hangover Part III to Gangster Squad, here are the worst of the worst.

From our News Partners

Stylish dress fails racing fashion test

Melissa Bedford

A RELAXING time on a balmy Friday night turned to tears for Melissa Bedford, who was evicted from the Moonee Valley races because her stylish one-piece dress was deemed inappropriate.

features

Rove

COMEDIAN Rove McManus and his wife Tasma Walton are celebrating an early Christmas gift - the arrival of their first child.

Tom Cruise

THE publishers of In Touch and Life & Style have reached a settlement with Tom Cruise after he sued them over claims he had cut ties with his daughter.

Jimmy Kimmel

A MONKEY in a snow suit, a scared boss and a terrible news anchor were among the nominees for this year's funniest video.

Kim Kardashian

NOT only are the Kardashians' TV ratings sinking, but their faces are failing to sell supermarket weeklies.

nigella lawson

NIGELLA Lawson's reputation has taken a battering after a jury found her two former PAs not guilty of fraud.

Indiana Jones

FILMMAKING is a careful process that takes a lot of hard work. But sometimes that all takes a backseat to an actor's imagination.

Pope tells priests to stop gossiping

POPE Francis has told Church officials to act like professionals and avoid gossip and mediocrity.

'Mandela not trained by Mossad'

Nelson Mandela

THE Nelson Mandela Foundation says it has no evidence that the anti-apartheid icon received training from Israel's Mossad agency in 1962.

Toxic parcels kill one, injure seven

parcels

A MAN was killed and seven others injured in China after receiving parcels that had become contaminated with toxic chemicals.

Morsi faces trial for prison break

Egypt clashes

DEPOSED president Mohamed Morsi and 132 others will stand trial for a prison break and the murder of officers during the 2011 Egypt uprising.

Thai opposition to boycott elections

Thai opposition to boycott elections

THAILAND'S main opposition has announced it will boycott snap elections, as protesters prepare to ramp up rallies aimed at toppling the government.

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Zuckerberg cashes in $2.6b Facebook shares

FACEBOOK chief Mark Zuckerberg will sell a chunk of his stake in the company, cashing in some $2.6 billion, as part of a new share offering by the huge social network.

14 things every successful person has in common

14 things every successful person has in common

DAN Schawbel spends his life talking to CEOs, celebs, authors and politicians. Over the years he has noticed there are common traits they all have. Now he's sharing them with you.

Where will property prices go in 2014?

Where will property prices go in 2014?

RECORD low rates, foreigners swooping on bargains and naive home hunters - property was a hot commodity in 2013 and it's going to get hotter.

This US magnate made $37M a day

This US magnate made $37M a day

WARREN Buffett made $37 million a day, or $1.5 million an hour, to make him America's most profitable billionaire in 2013.

After 30 hours of work, Mita dropped dead

After 30 hours of work, Mita dropped dead

SHE worked ridiculous hours, using energy drinks to stay awake for a 30-hour shift. She tweeted about the shocking work demands. Then, she collapsed and died.

The 10 worst CEO screw-ups of 2013

The 10 worst CEO screw-ups of 2013

WHICH CEOs made the most egregious errors in 2013? From obliterating their companies' value to making offensive statements that caused product boycotts, we've got them all here.

'Never call an ambulance for me'

monitoring in ICU

INTENSIVE-CARE nurses know things you don't and wouldn't want to know. Here one nurse explains why she wouldn't ever want to be admitted to hospital.

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How to beat the Christmas blues

WHATEVER the cause for your festive unhappiness, it doesn’t have to be that way.

Christmas rituals bond families

Christmas tree

IT IS the traditions families adopt around this time of the year that children get so much out of, according to research and the experts.

Nurses make house calls down on farm

Health insurance

NURSES in rural America are getting their feet dirty as they head out into the countryside to treat farmers lacking health insurance.

11 compliments women really hate

11 compliments women really hate

A COMPLIMENT is the perfect ice breaker. It's friendly, fun and by its very nature, complimentary. Except sometimes it's not.

Sagittarius

Nov 23 - Dec 21

Your Week Ahead - Love Focus: You feel as if you're trying to perform a daunting task or meet a set of contradictory demands. You're under pressure, you're cross about... Read more

Good news! Kate Upton is single again

US MODEL Kate Upton has broken up with her boyfriend of six months. Although sources claim she and her ex were "more like friends-with-benefits."

Harry Potter takes to the stage

JK Rowling Harry Potter

HARRY Potter author JK Rowling is planning a stage show about the boy wizard's early years living with his cruel non-magical aunt and uncle.

Selena's bizarre cancellation excuse

Selena's bizarre cancellatio...

US singer and actor Selena Gomez has cancelled her Australian tour. The reason? To 'spend some time on myself'.

This IS the funniest video of 2013

This IS the funniest video of 2013

A MONKEY in a snow suit, a scared boss and a terrible news anchor were among the nominees for this year's funniest video.

Who are Australia's biggest celebrity exports?

Who are Australia's biggest celebrit...

GEOFFREY Rush, Jacki Weaver and chef, Curtis Stone will be honoured at the 2014 G'Day USA Los Angeles Black Tie Gala on January 11.

Top 10 most outrageous stories of the year

THIS year has been huge ... and we've got the hugely outrageous stories to prove it. And the year isn't over ... yet ...

What it's really like flying Swiss business

What it's really like flying Swiss...

UPGRADES. We all dream about them, some of us can even tell real-life stories about them. If you're one of the lucky ones to snag a business class seat an economy seat never feels the same ...

Tourist boat gets whalebombed

Tourist boat gets whalebombed

THESE stunning images reveal just how close a 50-tonne southern right whale and her calf got to a tourist vessel. Check it out!

Rare look at world's most remote locations

Rare look at world's most remote l...

FASCINATING images have been released of the world's most untouched areas. Most don't allow tourists, including Hidden Valley where spacecraft are tested.

Hilarious mobile phone crashing at the airport

Hilarious mobile phone crashing at the airport

STUCK next to an annoying, loud mobile phone talker at the airport this holiday season? Greg Benson demonstrates how to get under their skin. This is gold.

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Buzz Awards: Best and worst of 2013

IT'S that time of the year when Phil Rothfield takes a look into the good, the bad and the ugly of sport in 2013.

Suarez fires Liverpool to the top

Suarez fires Liverpool to the top

LUIS Suarez celebrated his new contract with two goals against Cardiff City as Liverpool moved to the top of the EPL ladder.

Thunder losing streak continues

Thunder losing streak continues

THE miserable losing streak of Thunder has reached 14 after they failed to capitalise on a hot start against the Sixers.

Aloisi consigned to worst Christmas ever

Aloisi consigned to worst Christmas ever

HEART'S last win was on February 24 - is Friday's home clash with Wellington Phoenix John Aloisi's final chance?

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Astronauts begin urgent station fix

TWO astronauts stepped outside the International Space Station for the first of three spacewalks to fix a broken equipment cooling system.

New clues reveal ancient explorers

New clues reveal ancient explorers

A WRECK in New Zealand has been dated to some 70 years before Captain Cook. It is just the latest find showing seafarers explored our great southern lands - but never returned.

Impostor to get $40k a year to go to Harvard

Impostor to get $40k a year to go to Harvard

IT'S a pretty good offer, albeit with a slight catch. A man is offering to pay someone $40,000 to pose as him and complete his university degree at Harvard.

Star Wars uses the force of Tumblr

Star Wars uses the force of Tumblr

WORTH a Luke? Star Wars has just launched its official Tumblr page giving fans the chance to see movie goodies and lots of LOLs from R2-D2.

The biggest, curviest TVs taking over your home

The biggest, curviest TVs taking over your home

DO NOT adjust your eyes, Samsung and LG have announced new super-sized televisions that will be the world's largest and curviest Ultra HD screens.

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