US state executes first woman in 70 years

Georgia's parole board turned down a plea from Pope Francis and rejected the clemency application of the only woman on the state's death row.

Planned Parenthood chief fights back

The embattled president of abortion-friendly health network Planned Parenthood has forcefully disputed what she called "outrageous accusations" that it profits from fetal tissue sale.

Corbyn wants to put 'values' back into politics

It is a sign of just how unusual Jeremy Corbyn is as a Labour Party leader that he devoted part of his first major speech to trying to convince Britons that he is a patriot.

Snowden draws crowd with Twitter debut

7:26 AM   Edward Snowden has come in from the cold – on Twitter. He attracted many thousands of followers, and his first tweet was : "Can you hear me now?"

Syrian refugees forge new route to Europe

Helen Womack 8:09 AM   Intrepid Syrian refugees are opening up a new route to Europe by travelling to Russia and crossing a remote Arctic border into Norway on bicycles.

Suspected Islamist rebel accused of Timbuktu destruction

Thomas Escritt 9:03 PM   A suspected Islamist rebel accused of destroying ancient monuments in Mali's Timbuktu appeared before the International Criminal Court on Wednesday, the first person to face charges for damaging mankind's cultural heritage at the court.

Rise of Austrian right evokes Nazi memories

Alison Smales 6:28 PM   Behind Vienna's schnitzel and strudel, Mozart and the opera, lurks the legacy of the Nazis who forced Jews to clean the city's footpaths with toothbrushes.

Lawyers working on case against PNG PM Peter O'Neill barred from country

Bianca Hall 5:56 PM   Two Australian lawyers barred from entering Papua New Guinea have called on the government to step up diplomatic efforts in their case.

Climate 'huge' financial risk, warns BoE

Scott Hamilton 4:45 PM   Bank of England Governor Mark Carney said UK insurers face potentially "huge" exposure to shifts in climate-change policy.

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Woman scarred by burns as baby finds nurse who cared for her

Abby Phillip 4:23 PM   Large bright eyes peered out from under the white gauze that covered Amanda Scarpinati's tiny head. A nurse held her tight, tucking the three-month-old infant's burned and bandaged head beneath her chin.

Hardest geography quiz ... since the last one

Stephen Samuelson 3:15 PM   How good is your geography knowledge?

US smuggler who let men die in boot of car gets seven years

Marty Graham 2:49 PM   A Los Angeles man who ignored the pleas of two dying men he was smuggling across the US-Mexico border in the trunk of his car has been sentenced to seven years in prison

Mother threw newborn seven floors to her death: police

Rick Rojas, Eli Rosenberg 2:28 PM   A mother has been charged with murder for throwing her newborn girl out a seventh-floor window in her boyfriend's apartment in the Bronx, New York.

Filipino children risking their lives mining gold: report

Norman P. Aquino 2:25 PM   Thousands of child labourers as young as nine are risking their lives diving and digging for gold in small-scale mines in the Philippines, according to a new report.

Could Rebekah Brooks be the world's worst boss?

Rachel Wells 1:01 PM   She broke a door handle, threw a phone and a water bottle at a staff member and called her top executives a bunch of names.

Julie Bishop: ending death penalty worldwide on Australia's UN agenda

Nick O'Malley 12:45 PM   Australia would use a seat on the United Nation's chief human rights body to wage a tireless campaign to end the death penalty around the world, Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop said during a speech to the UN's General Assembly.

Julie Bishop looks to 'PM Wyatt Roy' in 2029 UN Security Council bid

Nick O'Malley 11:16 AM   The next time Australia holds a seat on the United Nations Security Council, 25-year-old Liberal National MP Wyatt Roy may be prime minister, says Julie Bishop.

New Zealand PM John Key gives Australia a 'blunt' message

10:11 AM   Prime Minister John Key says he's been "pretty blunt" with the Australian government over the way New Zealanders are being detained and deported.

Ukraine leader mocks Russia's call for anti-terrorism coalition

By Louis Charbonneau 6:25 AM   Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko has derided Russia's call for an international anti-terrorism coalition, saying the Russians inspire terrorism on their own doorstep and back bellicose puppet governments.

Obama, Castro meet as they work on thawing US-Cuba ties

Jeff Mason and Hugh Bronstein 4:31 AM   US President Barack Obama shook hands with Cuban President Raul Castro at the United Nations on Tuesday in a rare one-on-one meeting between the former Cold War foes as they work toward improving relations after decades of animosity.

US, Russia agree Syria must be united and secular: Kerry

Susan Heavey 3:44 AM   The United States and Russia agree on 'some fundamental principles' for Syria, the US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Tuesday, adding that he plans to meet again with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday.

Jedi denied charitable status

1:44 AM   Jedi in New Zealand won't be able to enjoy tax breaks in their efforts to promote knowledge of the Force.

Daredevil Erik Roner dead at 39 after skydiving accident

Justin Moyer 1:16 AM   A daredevil known for his reality-show stunts with the Nitro Circus died in a parachuting accident on Monday.

UK 'fake sheikh' reporter charged with conspiracy to pervert justice

Michael Holden 11:14 PM   Mazher Mahmood, a British journalist whose undercover work posing as a "fake sheikh" led to a number of high-profile criminal court cases, was charged on Tuesday with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Afghan forces fight to retake Kunduz from Taliban

Mirwais Harooni 10:47 PM   Afghan forces backed by US air support battled Taliban fighters for control of the northern city of Kunduz on Tuesday.