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Baby saved from Japan earthquake

3:17 AMYaron Steinbuch A BABY girl who had been asleep when a deadly earthquake struck Japan was rescued from the rubble of a destroyed home after a six-hour rescue operation.

Pentagon chief visits South China Sea

3:15 AMAP THE US Defence Secretary, Ash Carter, has visited an American aircraft carrier in the contested waters of the South China Sea.

‘Worse today than 100 years ago’

2:06 AMReuters DEMOCRATIC presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has decried the “immoral” gap between the world’s haves and have nuts at a Vatican conference.

Princess Cristina’s accuser arrested

epaselect epa04061097 Spanish Princess Cristina smiles on arrival at the courthouse in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, 08 February ...

1:26 AMAP THE leader of the anti-corruption group that brought criminal tax fraud charges against Spain’s Princess Cristina has been arrested.

Swede on trial for terrorism charges

A SWEDISH man is on trial on terrorism charges after he allegedly tried to build a bomb similar to ones used in the 2013 Boston Marathon attacks.

Taliban launch major push to retake city

Taliban insurgents have launched an offensive to seize the northern Afghan city of Kunduz.

Belgian minister quits over security

0:28 AMReuters THE Belgian transport minister has resigned over accusations she ignored lapses in security at Brussels airport before the March attacks.

UK arrests five over Paris, Brussels

23:53 PMReuters FIVE people have been arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences as part of an investigation launched after the recent attacks in Paris and Brussels.

World Breaking News

Rousseff impeachment process starts

4:13AM A raucous three-day debate on whether to impeach President Dilma Rousseff on charges of manipulating budget accounts has begun in Brazil's lower house.

Bomb kills four soldiers in Turkey

4:13AM A bomb has hit a military vehicle in Turkey's southeast, killing four soldiers and injuring two.

North Korea missile test a failure

4:13AM A Pentagon spokesman says a North Korean bid to launch a road-mobile missile was a "fiery, catastrophic" failure.

IS advances near Turkish border

3:22AM IS has advanced near the Turkish border and east of Aleppo, but the regime has launched a counter-offensive, inflicting "large losses" on the insurgents.

Magnitude 7.4 quake hits Japan

3:20AM The US Geological Survey says a magnitude 7.4 earthquake has struck near Kumamoto in southern Japan at a depth of 40km.

Wire-tap pardons prompt Macedonia protests

1:49AM Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov is standing by his decision to grant pardons to 56 officials in a wire-tapping scandal, despite widespread condemnation.

Taliban launch major push to retake city

12:34AM Taliban insurgents have launched an offensive to seize the northern Afghan city of Kunduz.

Voice of London tube dies

11:02PM The man behind the "Mind the Gap" warning on London's underground system has died, his wife says.

Protesters demand fall of Egypt govt

11:02PM Protesters have gathered on the streets of Cairo demanding the fall of the Egyptian government after it ceded two islands to Saudi Arabia.

Belgian minister quits over airport safety

11:02PM Belgium's transport minister has resigned amid allegations she was aware of a security issue at Brussels Airport a year before last month's bombings.

2 dead in Canary Islands building collapse

10:58PM Two women have been killed after a four-storey apartment building collapsed in Spain's Canary Islands, with authorities still searching the rubble.

French protesters rampage over labour law

10:54PM French protesters have rampaged through Paris late night after President Francois Hollande says he would not withdraw a controversial labour law.

Protesters denounce Trump at NY rally

10:50PM Protesters have demonstrated against Donald Trump outside a New York venue where the front runner was attending a Republican gala.

Uganda drops charges against Aust doctor

10:25PM The Ugandan DPP says he is withdrawing the charges of terrorism, murder and crimes against humanity against Australian cardiologist Aggrey Kiyingi.

Swedish man on trial for planning attack

10:20PM A Swedish man who had a growing interest in Islam and attempted twice to visit Syria was planning an attack on his homeland, a Stockholm court has heard.

Czech Republic to be called 'Czechia'

10:20PM Czech leaders have picked "Czechia" as the one-word name by which the country will be known, after decades of hesitation.

China blasts US-Philippine military stance

9:12PM China has accused the US and the Philippines of harbouring a "Cold War mentality" by stepping up their military co-operation.

Fleeing chimp caught in Japan pole plunge

9:12PM A 24-year-old escapee chimp has survived a plunge from a power pole in Japan after it was hit with a sedative arrow.

Spain minister resigns over Panama Papers

8:43PM Spain's acting industry minister is the latest casualty of the Panama Papers, as he resigned over alleged links to offshore deals.

William, Kate hike to monastery in Bhutan

8:36PM Prince William and his wife Kate have wrapped up their trip to the tiny Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan by trekking to a mountain monastery.

Tennessee governor vetoes Bible bill

8:31PM Had the state governor signed the bill, Tennessee would have become the first US state to designate the Bible as its official state book.

Candidates for job of leading UN grilled

8:01PM The nine candidates for the job of the world's top diplomat, as secretary-general of the United Nations, have faced rigorous questioning.

Aleppo battle threatens Syria peace talks

8:00PM A fierce regime assault, backed by Russian air power, on rebel positions outside the city of Aleppo is threatening a ceasefire and the Syria peace talks.

Clinton, Sanders in fiery debate

8:00PM Democrats Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders went on the attack in a fiercely combative debate ahead of the upcoming crucial New York primary.

Norway TV to screen ebb and flow of sea

8:00PM As part of its live slow TV offerings, Norway's public broadcaster will screen the ebb and flow of the world's strongest current for 12 hours.

UK girls, 13 and 14, charged with kidnap

8:00PM Two girls aged 13 and 14 are to appear in a British court charged with kidnapping a three-year-old from a busy store in the Newcastle city centre.

'Zorba' dance helps Greek heart patients

6:21PM Greek scientists have found getting heart failure patients up dancing traditional 'Zorba' dances improves their strength and endurance.

Ignorance putting family chance at risk

6:20PM High-quality sex and relationship education is needed to combat misconceptions among young adults about fertility and having families, experts say.

Quake kills nine, aftershocks rattle Japan

5:04PM A magnitude 6.4 quake in southwestern Japan, with the same force as the 2011 quake because it happened on land, has killed nine people and injured 1000.

N. Korean missile launch attempt a fizzer

4:55PM North Korea has reportedly failed to launch a mid-range missile as the regime celebrates the birthday of its founder.

Hope fades for Rousseff with court defeat

2:50PM A Brazil court decision has further reduced the chances of Dilma Rousseff holding onto her presidency.

Cut down, UK food maker to tell consumers

2:06PM A major food company plans to cut sugar and salt in its recipes and inform consumers how often to eat its products as part of efforts to promote healthy eating.

Saudis: donation to Malaysia PM genuine

12:39PM A $US681 million donation from Saudi Arabia to Malaysia's PM Najib Razak was `genuine', says the Saudi Foreign Minister.

El Salvador calls first drought emergency

12:03PM Climate change and El Nino have been cited as the cause of El Salvador's first water shortage emergency.

Kidney risk in heartburn drugs: research

11:35AM Patients who take commonly prescribed drugs for heartburn for too long are at risk of developing serious kidney problems, new research has shown.

Parole tip for former Manson cult member

10:34AM Former Charles Manson follower Leslie Van Houten has been recommenced for parole more than 40 years after she took part in brutal killings.

Probe links Mexico police to missing 43

10:03AM Federal Mexican police have been linked to the 2014 disappearance of 43 teacher's college students, a human rights commission says.

Earthquake shakes cyclone-hit Vanuatu

9:20AM Cyclone-hit Vanuatu looks likely to have escaped damage from a magnitude 6.5 earthquake which struck off its coast.

Queen still 'the boss' as she nears 90th

8:40AM Aides and commentators agree that there is no prospect of the Queen giving up her job, even as she nears her 90th birthday.

World News Update, what you need to know

8:40AM World News Update, what you need to know

Finance News Update, what you need to know

8:40AM Finance News Update, what you need to know

Russian flights near US ship 'provocative'

7:40AM US Secretary of State John Kerry says US forces could have shot down Russian jets which flew within metres of a US destroyer this week.

Brussels bombing suspect 'talking'

7:28AM A man who accompanied last month's Brussels bombers has been quoted as saying he "wouldn't hurt a fly".

Nigeria marks 2nd anniversary of abduction

7:27AM Two years after the mass kidnapping of girls from a Nigerian school, 219 remain missing.

Helen Clark swats UN 'establishment' tag

7:23AM Representatives from around the world lined up to ask Helen Clark curly questions ranging from terrorism to Twitter.

PM Turnbull to meet Chinese President

7:12AM Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will meet the Chinese president as he wraps up his whirlwind visit to China.

Microsoft sues US over data requests

2:20AM Microsoft says the US is violating the constitution by stopping the company from telling its customers about government requests for their emails.

Rolf Harris's second trial from January 9

12:23AM Rolf Harris faces a trial of up to five weeks in a London court from January 9 on a further seven indecent assault charges.

Brussels attack suspect to be held longer

11:39PM The suspect in the Belgian airport suicide bombing, Mohamed Abrini, and six other suspects are to be held for another month, a judge has ruled.

Radical cleric's conditions 'inhumane'

11:37PM The lawyer for radical Indonesian cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, who founded the group behind the 2002 Bali bombings, says his jail conditions are inhumane.

Powerful quake hits southern Japan

10:58PM A powerful magnitude 6.4 earthquake has hit southern Japan, but there are no immediate reports of damage and there is no tsunami threat.

Swedes oppose repealing Assange warrant

10:47PM Swedish prosecutors have sent a five-page reply to the Stockholm District Court urging it not to repeal the arrest warrant for Julian Assange.

UK man attacks police with axe

10:47PM A UK man attacked five police personnel with an axe when they arrived to investigate reports of a domestic dispute, injuring a female officer badly.

Cannes reveals films vying for top award

10:47PM The organisers of the Cannes Film Festival have revealed the 20 films vying for top awards next month.

EU agrees to share air passenger data

10:47PM The EU parliament has approved a deal on sharing air passenger data after the militant attacks in Paris and Brussels.

UK airport's sniffer dogs fail drugs test

10:47PM Six sniffer dogs at Manchester Airport have proven successful at finding sausages, but not illicit drugs, their main priority, and will be redeployed.

Pakistani gang kills 6, holds 24 hostage

10:47PM Pakistan police are engaged in a pitched battle with a gang that is allegedly behind hundreds of cases of kidnapping for ransom, murder and robberies.

Russia over the hard times: Putin

10:47PM President Vladimir Putin has used his annual, televised phone-in to reassure Russians as the economy faces recession.

Fox anchor Megyn Kelly meets with Trump

8:24PM Fox anchor Megyn Kelly, who has been attacked on social media by Donald Trump after a Republican presidential debate, has met the mogul to "clear the air".

US ramps up troop presence in Philippines

8:01PM The Pentagon says the US will ramp up its military presence in Philippines with regular rotations of troops and joint patrols in the South China Sea.

Ferrante, Pamuk up for Man Booker prize

7:16PM Four countries have been represented for the first time in the diverse shortlist for this year's Man Booker International Prize.

Cornish villagers vote on home ownership

7:16PM Residents in a Cornwall village will vote in May to restrict home ownership because they say locals are being priced out of the market.

PM rolls red carpet for Chinese tourists

6:48PM Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has declared 2017 the year of Australian/Chinese tourism, launching new initiatives to entice more Chinese travellers.

William, Kate welcomed to Bhutan

6:30PM Prince William and his wife Kate are visiting the tiny Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan as part of their week-long tour of India.

Escaping NZ octopus becomes media star

6:06PM The way Inky the octopus escaped his New Zealand aquarium home, where he was being cared for after losing a few tentacles, has made him a media star.

Airline fined for flying banned man to NZ

4:53PM Latam Airlines has been fined $NZ9000 for letting a man refused entry into New Zealand to get on a plane despite being warned five times he wasn't welcome.

3D films can ID kids with vision problems

4:53PM Children who have trouble viewing 3D movies may have greater vision problems, top optometrists in Britain are warning parents.

Nashville death crash pilot 'obsessed'

3:43PM Taylor Swift is believed to be the celebrity with whom a light plane pilot was obsessed when he crashed in dense fog in Nashville, an inquiry has found.

New death law to exclude non-Canadians

2:46PM Foreigners will be excluded from Canada's new assisted suicide law. It will also bar those with mental illness or psychiatric conditions.

Call to UN chief for drugs policy shift

2:45PM More than 1000 prominent people have called for a shift in global drug policy from emphasising criminalisation and punishment to health and human rights

Faulkner told to resolve custody fight

11:40AM A Lebanese judge has urged Brisbane mum Sally Faulkner and her estranged husband to reach agreement on the custody of their two children.

Cruz ruled eligible for presidency

11:31AM Senator Ted Cruz has been ruled eligible to appear on the New Jersey presidential primary ballot, despite not having been born in the US.

Obama sees momentum in fight against IS

11:18AM US President Barack Obama has pledged to keep up the momentum gained in the fight against IS in Iraq and Syria.

Allies desert Brazil's Rousseff

11:16AM A stream of defections from Dilma Rousseff's coalition makes it increasingly likely she will lose Sunday's ballot in Brazil's lower house.

Overweight people's reaction to food

9:40AM Overweight people may choose healthy food options when shown pictures of food, but it is a different matter when offered real food to eat.

Scent trick gets moths out of the closet

9:40AM Scientific perfume con tricks moths and makes them lose interest in sex, saving clothes and furniture from fabric-munching larvae.

Video 'shows' kidnapped Chibok girls

9:39AM Some of the Nigerian girls kidnapped two years ago by Islamic terrorists are said to be shown in a video aired by CNN.

Argentina court orders halt on Uber

9:24AM A court order to stop Uber operating in Buenos Aires follows an appeal by unions representing taxi drivers who say Uber is operating illegally.

Zika confirmed as cause of birth defects

8:59AM US officials have said they believe the mosquito-borne Zika virus is responsible for a range of severe brain defects in newborns.

Planned US transgender toilet bill slammed

8:36AM Ringo Starr is the latest entertainer to speak out against US laws requiring transgender people to use public toilets matching their birth sex.

World News Update, what you need to know

7:51AM World News Update, what you need to know

Finance News Update, what you need to know

7:51AM Finance News Update, what you need to know

UN reopens Syria peace talks

6:52AM A fresh round of Syria peace talks has opened in Geneva, with the UN's Syria envoy calling for renewed commitment to a shaky ceasefire.

Germanwings families sue US flying school

5:33AM The US flying school where the co-pilot responsible for the Germanwings tragedy trained is being sued by families of the victims who died in the crash

Saudis curtail religious police powers

5:08AM New guidelines for Saudi Arabia's religious police will prevent officers from chasing people down streets or demanding to see ID.

Argentine ex-president decries persecution

5:08AM Former Argentinian president Cristina Fernandez says the case against her in a central bank scandal is an "abuse of judicial power".

US wind energy output hits record

4:02PM The American Wind Energy Association said wind produced 4.7 per cent of the nation's electricity in 2015.

SKoreans vote for new parliament

2:08PM South Korea's ruling conservatives are expected to regain a majority despite a sluggish economy after the nation went to the polls.

US woman dismembered in home, parts dumped

1:56PM Police have arrested a man suspected of killing a woman, dismembering her and later dumping body parts in a recycling bin.

Uber starts in Buenos Aires despite outcry

11:33AM Uber says said more than 20,000 Uber drivers were now available in Buenos Aires as the mayor joined taxi drivers to condemn the launch of the service.

Nepal distributes first quake aid money

11:22AM The Nepal government has begun distributing aid funds to victims of last year's devastating earthquake, which killed 9000.

Worker on phone when German trains crashed

9:36AM A German train dispatcher has been arrested amid accusations he was using his mobile phone to play games when two trains crashed in February.

Clinton, Sanders tied in support - poll

9:02AM The latest poll results for both the Democratic and Republican presidential nominations suggest the race is tightening.

Clinton criticised for 'insulting blacks'

8:25AM A skit with the New York mayor has landed Hillary Clinton in hot water, with commentators accusing her of being insensitive to blacks.

Hawking joins forces in search for 'ET'

8:25AM A super-light spaceship that could travel at 20 per cent of the speed of light is to be the first phase in a search for intelligent life in outer space.