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WEDNESDAY 21 DECEMBER 2016

IS claims Berlin truck attack as suspect released

IS is claiming responsibility for the Berlin truck attack that left at least 12 people dead.

Body of slain Russian envoy leaves Ankara

The remains of Russia's envoy to Turkey are on their way back to Moscow after the fatal shooting in Ankara.

Micro-financing to help business-minded refugees set up shop

Refugees have the will and the know-how, but often not the means to start their own businesses in Australia. A new micro-financing organisation aims to change that.

Kvitova undergoes hand surgery after knife attack

The tennis career of twice Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova was under threat after she suffered severe injuries to her playing hand defending herself from a knife-wielding intruder in her apartment on Tuesday.

UN to send 20 observers to east Aleppo

The Syrian government and other parties on the ground have agreed to allow 20 observers to be sent to east Aleppo to monitor evacuations, the UN spokesman said Tuesday.

'Kafkaesque nightmare': Taliban releases video of kidnapped Canadian-American couple

The Taliban in Afghanistan have released a new video of a kidnapped Canadian-American couple and their two children who were born in captivity.

Hopeless Afghan struggle to save boy sex slaves

Quivering with quiet rage, Shirin holds a photo of his teenage brother-in-law, who now lives as the plaything of policemen, just one victim of a hidden epidemic of kidnappings of young boys for institutionalised sexual slavery in Afghanistan.

'Really out of step': NSW government panned for Sydney nightlife video

An anti-lockout laws lobby group has panned the NSW government for a video it posted onto social media which claimed that Sydney's nightlife was 'buzzing this summer'.

Comment: The problem with Snow White, and what Scandinavia can teach us about it

Gender-neutral pedagogy is the latest trend in trying to remove gender bias in education, along with other initiatives such as single-sex schooling.

Patients of female doctors show better survival

Elderly people who were treated by female doctors in the hospital had significantly better survival rates and fewer readmissions than those treated by male doctors, said a US study has found.

'Targeted for elimination', Christian Syrian refugees reach Australia

Among the Syrians who have fled to Australia, there are divisions over a much-criticised Abbott government pledge to favour 'persecuted minorities' in the refugee intake. Why should any groups receive special attention?

'Fog of unreality' hangs over Canberra as political staffers get $36m boost

Buried in the government's mid-year financial update is confirmation that an additional $36 million will be spent on political staffers.

Keeping the faith: how migrants are reviving Christian churches

There are predictions Christianity could become a minority religion in Australia. But despite census data predicting a further decline, migrants could provide an unexpected boost to congregations.

How marriages of convenience are being embraced by China's LGBT community

In China marriage is illegal for same-sex couples, leading to a widespread practice of people hiding their sexuality from their partners. Now a lesbian couple are launching an app they say can help solve the problem.