Global efforts to tackle climate change are way off track says the UN, as it details the first rise in CO2 emissions in four years. The emissions gap report says that economic growth is responsible for a rise in 2017 while national efforts to cut carbon have faltered. To meet the goals of the Paris climate pact, the study says …

Russia has seized three Ukrainian naval ships off the coast of Russia-annexed Crimea after opening fire on them and wounding several sailors — a move that risks igniting a dangerous new crisis between the two countries. Russia’s FSB security service said early on Monday its border patrol boats had seized the Ukrainian naval vessels in the Black Sea and used …

Cities across France are witnessing an eruption of fury as protesters demanding lower taxes and the resignation of President Emmanuel Macron fill the streets and clash with police. Paris saw the wildest protests, according to the Interior Ministry, while other cities also reported angry demonstrations as part of the so-called “Yellow Vest” movement against fuel-price hikes imposed as part of a …

The turkeys voted for Christmas. That’s the only conclusion to be drawn from the latest Newspoll, which predicts a bloodbath of 21 Coalition seats to be lost at the next election. The two-party preferred vote is unchanged at 45:55 for the second consecutive poll. Compare that with The Australian‘s final Newspoll before the turkeys voted to kill Malcolm Turnbull: Labor …

EU leaders have approved an agreement on the UK’s withdrawal and future relations – insisting it is the “best and only deal possible”. After 20 months of negotiations, the 27 leaders gave the deal their blessing after less than an hour’s discussion. They said the deal – which needs to be approved by the UK Parliament – paved the way …

Add Brazil to the list of countries embracing far-right authoritarian politics. Former Army captain  won the country’s presidential election on Sunday, riding a wave of frustration over corruption and crime that brought a dramatic swing to the right in the world’s fourth-largest democracy, official results show. With 94 per cent of the ballots counted, Bolsonaro had 56 per cent of …

A NSW Labor MP has attempted to shut down speculation Opposition Leader Luke Foley will be ousted before the next state election. Senior NSW Liberal members are confident Mr Foley’s leadership is over and are preparing to instead face deputy leader Michael Daley in the March state election, Fairfax Media reports. But opposition health spokesman Walt Secord has dismissed any suggestion …

There are no reports of survivors from a Lion Air passenger plane that has crashed into the ocean off Indonesia, carrying almost 200 people. Flight JT610 – which had 188 people on board – lost contact 13 minutes after take-off, and witnesses reported seeing it nosedive into the sea. Debris, including life jackets and body parts, has been found floating …

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has given a national apology to victims of child sexual abuse. Hundreds of people gathered in Canberra on Monday to hear Mr Morrison deliver the emotional address in parliament. It follows a five-year inquiry which found tens of thousands of children had suffered abuse in the nation’s institutions over decades. “Today, we finally acknowledge and …

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is to launch legal action against the government of Ecuador, accusing it of violating his “fundamental rights and freedoms”. The move comes several months after Ecuador cut off communications for Assange, who has been living inside the country’s embassy in London for more than six years. WikiLeaks lawyer Baltasar Garzon has arrived in Ecuador to launch …