Huge explosion rocks Chinese city of Tianjin
Philip Wen 8:18 AM A huge explosion hit an industrial area in the north-eastern Chinese city late on Wednesday, triggering a blast wave felt several kilometres away and injuring at least 50 people.
Top world stories
Queen Nefertiti's tomb may have been found
High-resolution digital scans of the walls of Tutankhamun's tomb may hold the answer to one of Egyptology's most enduring mysteries.
Taliban condemns "barbarity" of IS video
Groups linked to Islamic State are growing in Afghanistan, attracting fighters and support away from the Taliban.
China stages live fire military drills
China's military has begun a series of live- fire drills involving more than 140,000 troops that aim to improve joint operational command.
MH17: Fragments may be 'smoking gun'
Nick Miller Metal fragments found in a Ukrainian field near where the plane came down could be from the surface-to-air missile system, investigators say.
Latest world news
Rich nations' climate plans fall short of hopes for Paris summit
8:14 AM Developed nations are on track to cut their greenhouse emissions by almost 30 per cent by 2030, Reuters calculations show, falling far short of a halving suggested by a UN panel of scientists as a fair share to limit climate change.
North Korea executes vice premier for discontent with leader: Yonhap
7:56 AM North Korea's vice premier was executed by firing squad this year after showing discontent with the policies of the country's leader Kim Jong Un, a South Korean media report said on Wednesday.
Huge explosions rock north-eastern Chinese city of Tianjin
Philip Wen 7:48 AM Massive explosions have erupted in the major Chinese port city of Tianjin, sending a fireball and mushroom cloud into the night sky.
Jimmy Carter says he has cancer
Letitia Stein and David Adams 7:08 AM Former US President Jimmy Carter says he has cancer and will undergo treatment at an Atlanta hospital.
Up to 50 missing after boat sinks in Mediterranean
7:05 AM Up to 50 migrants went missing after a large rubber dinghy sank in the Mediterranean Sea, Italian rescuers said on Wednesday, while more than 1500 were picked up from other vessels in the past 24 hours.
South Korean, 80, sets himself on fire in anti-Japan 'comfort women' protest
Dagyum Ji and Ju-min Park 7:04 AM A 80-year old South Korean set himself on fire on Wednesday during a protest calling for Japan to apologise for forcing Korean girls and women to work in military brothels during World War Two, days ahead of the anniversary of the end of hostilities. Warning: Disturbing images.
Where is Boko Haram's leader Abubakar Shekau?
Robyn Dixon 6:55 AM The gloating man who gained global notoriety after nearly 300 schoolgirls were kidnapped has disappeared from public view.
Heatwave in Egypt kills at least 61: health ministry
2:21 AM A heatwave killed at least 61 people across Egypt from Sunday to Tuesday and caused nearly 600 people to be admitted to hospital, Egypt's health ministry said on state news agency MENA on Wednesday.
US denies reaching agreement with Turkey on Syria 'safe zone'
Gulsen Solaker 12:25 AM Turkey and the US are at odds on an agreement to set up an IS-free ''safe zone'' in Syria.
Amnesty endorses controversial policy on decriminalising sex work
Katie Nguyen 11:49 PM Women's rights campaigners and Hollywood stars criticise initiative, but Amnesty insists exploitation of sex workers will remain a crime.
Security committee chair calls for bigger ADF role in Syria
Craig Butt 11:28 PM Australian fighter jets should start bombing Islamic State jihadists in Syria, the head of the federal government's security committee says.
Islamic State affiliate in Egypt 'beheads Croatian hostage'
Omar Fahmy 10:05 PM Islamic State's Egypt-affiliate, Sinai Province, published a photo of the beheaded body of a Croatian hostage the group had threatened to kill last week, the SITE monitoring service said on Wednesday.
Glass of good wine is daily elixir for world's oldest twin brothers
Robert-Jan Bartunek 9:22 PM Eating in moderation, drinking a glass of good wine every day and avoiding chasing women are the secrets of a long life, Belgians Pieter and Paulus Langerock, the world's oldest living twin brothers, say.
Same-sex marriage around the world
Lia Timson 7:29 PM We look at how leaders outside Australia have acted and countries where the ultimate demonstration of commitment to gay love is legal.
Joko Widodo elevates econocrats in reshuffle
Tom Allard 6:45 PM Amid an economic slowdown, Indonesian President Joko Widodo announces long-awaited cabinet reshuffle.
New Zealand has 40 ideas for a new flag - and they're awful
Michael Koziol 6:13 PM Is there a worse act of collective torture than a nation changing its flag?
Britons urged to defy Queen bomb threat reports
4:42 PM British police are encouraging people to attend celebrations to mark the anniversary of the end of WWII despite reports that British jihadis were planning to blow up the Queen during the events.
Europe wastes tonnes of food
Kate Kelland 4:26 PM The European Union wastes about 22 million tonnes of food a year and Britain wastes the most, according to a study by European Commission-backed researchers.
Libyan PM Abdullah al-Thinni leadership questioned
Ahmed Elumami 4:17 PM Libya's internationally recognised Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thinni said in a television interview that he would resign.
Fights among migrants on Greek island as Turkey rescues 330 Syrians
3:03 PM Fights broke out on Tuesday among migrants on the Greek island of Kos as the Turkish coastguard rescued 330 Syrians adrift in the Aegean Sea
Heavily-armed 'Oath Keepers' inject new unease to riot-hit Ferguson
Scott Malone 12:56 PM Four civilians carrying military-style rifles and sidearms patrolled a riot-torn street in Ferguson, Missouri, early Tuesday, saying they were there to protect a media organisation but drawing swift criticism from police and protesters alike.
Hillary Clinton to give private email server to Justice Department
12:43 PM Hillary Clinton has instructed her lawyer to give the US Justice Department her private email server and a thumb drive of work-related emails from her time as secretary of state.
Tourists tried to warn heli-skier as avalanche rushed down New Zealand ski slopes
Blake Foden 11:29 AM A video has emerged reportedly capturing the moment a Sydney man was buried in an avalanche in New Zealand.
