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WEDNESDAY 11 JANUARY 2017

Trump's attorney general pick denies KKK sympathies

Donald Trump's choice for attorney general on Tuesday vehemently denied accusations of racism against him, as the US Senate launched confirmation hearings for key nominees to the Republican president-elect's cabinet.

Ley charged taxpayers $13K to pilot chartered flights: report

Under siege health minister Sussan Ley reportedly charged taxpayers $13,000 to pilot chartered flights along busy capital city routes.

Les Murray: The upsides and downsides of a 48 team World Cup

FIFA's councillors have voted unanimously to expand the World Cup finals from 32 to 48 teams.

Afghan parliament attack kills dozens

The Taliban says they did 'exactly what they planned' in letting off two suicide bombs in Kabul, killing 30 people.

Eight dead as snow grips Balkans region

Countries all over Europe have suffered a frigid cold snap, leaving eight people dead in temperatures as low as -20 degrees Celsius.

'No way' Mexico will pay for Trump wall, foreign minister says

Mexico's foreign minister has contradicted Donald Trump again over who will pay for the incoming president's promised border wall.

Cancer 'wonder drug' given tick of approval

In a major milestone for Melbourne scientists, a leukaemia drug almost 30 years in the making has been given the governmental tick of approval.

Study suggests religion, ethnicity can affect saving habits

A new study has found religious beliefs and ethnic backgrounds can have significant influence on whether or not people decide to save their money.

Obama pictured snorkelling in the Pacific Ocean

Outgoing US President Barack Obama has been pictured swimming in the Pacific Ocean in an area he protected as a Marine National Monument.

The Cat Empire's Felix Riebl records powerful song about Ms Dhu

The frontman of band The Cat Empire hopes a song he has recorded with an Indigenous youth choir will raise awareness about the death in custody of Ms Dhu and raise funds for her family, who have been devastated by her death.

Why do we still make girls wear skirts and dresses as school uniform?

While the wearing of school uniforms has a long history across Australia, we are only just starting to talk about the expectations around what girls wear to school.

Chinese professor sacked for criticising Mao in online post

An art professor at a university in central China has been sacked for criticising Mao Zedong in an online commentary, stoking anger from leftists.

Armenia raises alarm as abortions of girls skew population

In ex-Soviet Armenia - where families traditionally prefer sons - women are often pressured to have sex-selective abortions to get rid of girl babies.

Life under smog: Blue skies are back in Beijing, but for how long?

At the end of the movie 'The Day After Tomorrow', the survivors of a killer ice storm in New York City emerge slowly out of buildings into newfound safety and sunlight. That's what Beijing felt like yesterday as the city woke up to the first healthy air seen in over a week.