Obama the technocrat urges guns restraint
Nick O'Malley 4:59 PM This was Obama the technocrat, his faith fixed in the power of moderation.
Top world stories
Rocket blasts off for space (with groceries)
![A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket lifts off from launch complex 41 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida.](/web/20151207090340im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/h/9/2/0/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glh87w.102nzy.png/1449472083562.jpg)
An unmanned Atlas 5 rocket has blasted off from the US, sending a long-awaited Orbital ATK cargo ship on its way to the International Space Station for NASA.
One of China's wealthiest men dies in jail
![Chinese businessman Xu Ming, who died in prison according to reports.](/web/20151207090340im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/h/8/n/3/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glh4pm.102nzy.png/1449472083562.jpg)
A 44-year-old businessman who became one of China's wealthiest people as he forged ties with some of the Communist Party's top leaders before suddenly falling out of favour has died in prison.
Win by National Front's far-right girl wonder
![French far-right party leader Marine Le Pen, left, with the National Front regional leader for south-east France, Marion Marechal Le Pen, at a meeting in Nice.](/web/20151207090340im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/g/m/m/0/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glhiwl.102nzy.png/1449472083562.jpg)
When the polls closed after the first round of voting in regional elections, projections indicated Marine Le Pen's National Front party was winning outright in two of France's 13 regions and leading in several others.
Venezuela opposition beats 'Chavismo'
![Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro arrives at a polling station to vote on Sunday.](/web/20151207090340im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/h/o/6/t/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glhnps.102nzy.png/1449472083562.jpg)
Venezuela's opposition won control of the legislature from the ruling Socialists for the first time in 16 years on Sunday, giving it a long-sought platform to challenge President Nicolas Maduro.
Latest world news
Obama the technocrat urges guns restraint
![President Barack Obama addresses the nation from the Oval Office at the White House in Washington.](/web/20151207090340im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/h/6/n/c/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glhiss.png/1449467978699.jpg)
Nick O'Malley 4:59 PM This was Obama the technocrat, fixed in his faith in the power of reason and moderation. Though Obama made himself famous with soaring rhetoric, this has been the language of his presidency.
Obama tries to ease anxiety over terror attacks with Oval Office address
![President Barack Obama addresses the nation from the Oval Office at the White House in Washington.](/web/20151207090340im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/h/6/n/c/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glh666.png/1449467950036.jpg)
David Nakamura 4:59 PM President Barack Obama has declared the threat of terrorism to the United States has evolved into a new phase in the wake of recent attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, California, but he vowed that the nation will ultimately defeat the Islamic State and other militant groups.
The dangerously seductive new face of the French far-right
![Golden girl: Marion Marechal-Le Pen, vice-president of the French far-right National Front.](/web/20151207090340im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/h/5/y/4/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glhhg2.png/1449466493190.jpg)
Anne-Elisabeth Moutet in Paris 4:34 PM She is the girl wonder of France's far-right, a glamorous 25-year-old breaking down the qualms of many mainstream conservatives about casting their vote for the National Front.
France's far-right National Front gains in regional elections
![French far-right party leader Marine Le Pen, left, with the National Front regional leader for south-east France, Marion Marechal Le Pen, at a meeting in Nice.](/web/20151207090340im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/g/m/m/0/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glh1ir.png/1449466448766.jpg)
Alissa Rubin 4:34 PM When the polls closed after the first round of voting in regional elections, projections indicated Marine Le Pen's National Front party was winning outright in two of France's 13 regions and leading in several others.
Man in UK tube station stabbing charged
![Police cordon off Leytonstone Underground Station in east London.](/web/20151207090340im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/g/v/n/7/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glheu8.png/1449464157667.jpg)
3:55 PM A man arrested after a knife attack at a London Underground station has been charged with attempted murder, Scotland Yard says.
Finland considers paying every citizen €800 every month
![Finnish Prime Minister Juha Sipilä.](/web/20151207090340im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/h/g/5/8/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glhff9.png/1449464095230.jpg)
Adam Bolt 3:54 PM Authorities in Finland are considering giving every citizen a tax-free payout of €800 ($1185) each month.
Clover Moore tells Paris that government needs to get out of the way
![Sydney Mayor Clover Moore at the Paris climate summit this week.](/web/20151207090340im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/g/s/q/0/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glf653.png/1449457758179.jpg)
Peter Hannam 2:23 PM While the prognosis can be apocalyptic for some, cities such as Sydney say they are making inroads on cutting emissions - and could do more given more leeway.
Turkey accuses Russia of provocation
![An image of the missile launcher aboard the Russian ship.](/web/20151207090340im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/h/5/2/q/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glgvdt.png/1449450912192.jpg)
12:14 PM Turkey accused Russia of a "provocation" on Sunday after a serviceman on the deck of a Russian naval ship allegedly held a rocket launcher on his shoulder while the vessel passed through Istanbul.
Storms lash England and leave hundreds homeless
![Margaret McCraken, 79, is helped from her home in Carlisle, north-west England.](/web/20151207090340im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/g/u/v/x/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glguvv.png/1449449826797.jpg)
William James 11:57 AM Flooding has devastated parts of the United Kingdom, killing one person and leaving hundreds homeless
Anti-IS fighter Ashley Dyball returns from Syria
![Brisbane man Ashley Dyball, left, is pictured here with fellow Australian Reece Harding, right, who was killed fighting IS in Syria.](/web/20151207090340im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/e/c/n/p/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glgumr.png/1449449631938.jpg)
Neelima Choahan 11:53 AM Anti-Islamic State fighter Ashley Dyball was detained by police and held for questioning after arriving at Melbourne Airport on Sunday night.
Jimmy Carter clear of cancer
![At the age of 91, Jimmy Carter is the second-oldest living US president.](/web/20151207090340im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/g/w/b/0/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glgw3s.png/1449450653188.jpg)
Ashley Southall 10:08 AM Former US president Jimmy Carter, who has been undergoing treatment for cancer that was removed from his liver but had spread to his brain, says he is free of the disease.
The pharmacy student who became San Bernardino terrorist
![San Bernardino terrorists: Tashfeen Malik and her husband, Syed Rizwan Farook.](/web/20151207090340im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/g/9/3/d/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glgwpu.png/1449443327080.jpg)
Tim Craig, Abby Phillip, Joel Achenbach 10:08 AM How and why a suburban couple with a new baby decided to become mass murderers is the subject of a frantic global terrorism investigation that includes Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and San Bernardino.
Comedians swap Bible for Koran to test prejudice against Islam
![Dutch filmmakers Alexander Spoor and Sacha Harland put their Bible-Koran experiment to the test.](/web/20151207090340im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/g/v/2/a/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glguch.png/1449441410162.jpg)
Josh Dye 9:48 AM How well do you know the Bible from the Qu'ran? That's what two Dutch comedians wanted to find out.
'Terrorist' knife attack in London caught on video
![The attacker on the ground.](/web/20151207090340im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/g/v/o/i/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glgves.png/1449435136488.jpg)
James Davey and William James 7:52 AM Dramatic video has emerged of a knife attacker slashing a man at an east London metro station, reportedly screaming "This is for Syria!"
Solar chief hits out at China over coal at Paris launch of global solar pact
![Smog concerns aren't stopping the coal industry in China.](/web/20151207090340im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/8/x/q/m/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glgv3d.png/1449433634632.jpg)
Peter Hannam 7:46 AM The head of one of the world's biggest solar companies has accused China of embarking on a "mindboggling" binge on new coal-fired power plants, undermining its commitment to roll back fossil fuel use.
Saudi Arabia warned against funding militant mosques
![German Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel has expressed concern about Saudi Arabia funding ultra-conservative mosques.](/web/20151207090340im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/g/v/8/0/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glgv7d.png/1449434275212.jpg)
7:37 AM German Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel urged Saudi Arabia on Sunday to stop supporting religious radicals, amid growing concern among some lawmakers in Berlin about the funding of militant mosques by the world's biggest oil exporter.
London train station stabbing
![Screengrab from bystander footage shows the attacker being Tasered by police.](/web/20151207090340im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/g/h/m/9/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glghle.png/1449432867453.jpg)
7:14 AM A man has been seriously injured in a stabbing at a London train station, with his alleged assailant reportedly shouting "This is for Syria" during the attack.
Red Cross pushes for Geneva Convention 'rules of war' to be enforced
![The charred remains of the Medecins Sans Frontieres hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan after it was hit by a US air strike in October.](/web/20151207090340im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/7/k/w/t/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glgv08.png/1449418809333.jpg)
Stephanie Nebehay 3:20 AM States are divided about an attempt to improve compliance with the rules of war, a non-binding but contentious issue at the heart of an international conference this week.
Peace deal brokered in Libya fours years after the fall of Gaddafi
![With Libya in crisis, the country has become a thoroughfare for migrants trying to reach Europe. This boat was rescued off the Spanish coast in November having made the crossing from Libya.](/web/20151207090340im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/g/u/y/p/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glguyj.png/1449416770345.jpg)
Ahmed Tolba and Ahmed Elumami 2:46 AM Lawmakers from Libya's two rival parliaments have signed a declaration of principles aimed at ending the North African country's civil conflict.
Morgan Freeman unhurt in plane emergency
![Emergency landing: the actor Morgan Freeman escaped unhurt when his private plane blew a tyre on take-off.](/web/20151207090340im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/g/u/f/w/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glgue8.png/1449400596806.jpg)
10:16 PM A private plane carrying actor Morgan Freeman and his pilot blew a tyre while taking off from a Mississippi airport and had to make an emergency landing.