Reliance Jio in talks to outsource call centre, back-office operations

  Reliance has started talks with half a dozen BPO companies to outsource call centre and other support work for its Jio telecom operations in what could potentially become one of the most lucrative contracts for the IT-enabled services industry. The service is expected to be commercially launched in the first half of next year. The deal is expected to include customer voice support, know-your-customer and activation services, two people with direct knowledge of the plans said. "The process to outsource this has already begun. The deal will be split between three or four providers and should be concluded in January," a person with knowledge of the outsourcing contract said. Reliance has shortlisted five companies — Serco, Concentrix, Wipro, Aegis and WNS — for the deal, a second person with knowledge of the discussions said, adding that French business process outsourcing company Teleperformance could also be in the reckoning. "Jio is a building a robust infrastructure that will deliver an unmatched customer experience and create new benchmarks in the industry. To achieve this, Jio works with several partners across various functions. As a policy, Jio does not share information about its partners and associates," a Reliance Jio spokesperson told ET in response to an emailed questionnaire. Serco, Concentrix, Wipro, Aegis and WNS had not responded to a request seeking comment at the time of going to press. Though ET could not establish the exact size of the deal, sources said it would initially be in the 'hundred crore range'. "It is hard to pinpoint deal value because Jio isn't fully operational yet. Deal sizes will depend on the number of full-time equivalents needed and that will depend on how much the company grows. But similar deals with telecom companies can go to over a thousand crores over five to seven years," a third source with knowledge of the outsourcing contract said. A full-time equivalent is effectively the number of people required to fulfill a contract. Telecom outsourcing has been a cornerstone of the BPO industry and deals are split across several outsourcing providers.

LG starts rolling out Android Marshmallow update for G3

The South Korean smartphone maker LG has started rolling out the Android 6.0 Marshmallow update for its LG G3 smartphone. LG's Poland unit disclosed this on Twitter. LG launched G3 in 2014 with Android 4.4.2 KitKat operating system, and the smartphone is skipping the 5.1 Lollipop update and is directly getting Android 6.0. The Ultimate Cheap Flights Finder is Here!Save70.com Stormfall: The Addicting Game Of The Year! Wage Epic BattlesStormfall - Online Game Recommended By Colombia The update is reportedly being rolled out in Poland as of now and the company has not divulged any details about the global roll out of the Android update. In order to update the device the user has to connect it to the PC as the manufacturer has not introduced the OTA update. Both 16GB and 32GB variants of LG the smartphone will receive the update. On the specifications front, LG G3 features a 5.5-inch HD display with 1440x2560 pixels resolution protected with a coating of Corning Gorilla Glass 3. Powering the handset is a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor clocked at 2.5GHz coupled with 3GB of RAM. The internal storage of the device accounts to 16GB/32GB which can be expanded further up to 128GB using a microSD card. The smartphone comes equipped with a 13.0-megapxiel rear camera with LED flash and a 2.1-megapxiel front facing camera for clicking selfies. The connectivity attributes of the device include 3G, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, NFC and it packs in a 3,000 mAh battery.

PM Narendra Modi the most talked about person on Twitter: Report

 With more than 34 lakh tweets, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the most talked about person on Twitter in India, according to data compiled by social media analytics firm Blueocean Market Intelligence. Politics, sports and Bollywood led the chatter in India, the study shared with ET showed. Modi led with 34,16,000 tweets, followed by actor Salman Khan with 27,29,000. The India vs Pakistan Cricket World Cup match had 17 lakh tweets, the Indian Premier League almost 15 lakh and the intolerance row 800,000. According to the study, social media users relied heavily on the micro-blogging site this year to keep themselves abreast of the latest developments and expressed their opinions through quick and witty hashtags. US President Barack Obama's visit to India as the Republic Day chief guest was considered a major coup for Modi, who generated positive chatter with his continuous engagement with world leaders and CEOs for his "Make-in-India" and "ease of doing business" pitches. He also stayed in the limelight due to campaigns such as Digital India and Swachh Bharat. Modi also attracted criticism from Twitterati for his trips to countries ranging from Seychelles, Mongolia and Mauritius to the US, UK, UAE and China. His leadership was often seen as raising people's expectations and hopes and reflected in online conversations. In terms of media distribution, 94% of the conversations on 'Namo' were on Twitter, with the remainder generated publicly on other social media platforms such as Facebook.

Two to die for killing blogger Rajib

A tribunal in Dhaka on Thursday sentenced two people to death in the case filed over the murder of blogger Rajib Haider Shovon. The two are Foysal Bin Nayeem alias Dipu, 22, and fugitive Redwanul Azad Rana, 30. The court also fined them Tk10,000 each. Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal 3 Judge Sayeed Ahmed pronounced the verdict. Besides, the court ordered life imprisonment for Maksudul Hassan Onik and fined him Tk10,000. In default, he will have to be behind bars for one more year. A total of 35 out of 55 prosecution witnesses testified in the case. The accused were indicted on March 18 this year.

Japan state-backed fund to support Toshiba's restructuring: Nikkei

 Toshiba is looking to merge its white goods segment with its counterpart at Sharp or another Japanese home electronics manufacturer.Toshiba is looking to merge its white goods segment with its counterpart at Sharp or another Japanese home ele... Read More A Japanese state-backed fund will help Toshiba rebuild its home electronics division and other operations by facilitating tie-ups with Sharp and others, the Nikkei reported. Toshiba is looking to merge its white goods segment with its counterpart at Sharp or another Japanese home electronics manufacturer, the newspaper said. Support would come from the industry ministry and public-private investment fund, the Innovation Network Corp of Japan (INCJ), the report said. The fund could also help Toshiba restructure its nuclear power business as the manufacturer hopes to find a partner for boiling-water reactors, the paper reported. Toshiba was not immediately available for comment. Reuters reported earlier this month that INCJ was looking to inject funds into Sharp and was pursuing a broader restructuring of the troubled firm including a possible merger with Toshiba's consumer electronics arm.

Nasscom and IAMAI join net neutrality fight

 Two industry bodies representing several major national and international corporations said that they are opposed to a blanket enablement of differential pricing of data services, in response to a telecom regulator paper seeking comment on the practice. One of them, however, said that there may be certain situations that warrant allowing discounted tariffs for some online services. "The differential pricing issue is important, because it has implications for net neutrality," R Chandrashekhar, president of the National Association of Software and Services Companies (Nasscom) president told ET. "Differential pricing as a blanket enablement is out of question. It should not be done because it will completely erode net neutrality," he added. Nasscom member companies include technology services companies such as Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys and Wipro. The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), which includes members such as Google, Microsoft, LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter, said it was opposed to differential pricing, as it violates net neutrality. "In addition to being against net neutrality, the differential pricing models suggested by Trai prima facie also violate the regulator's own stated principles of intervening in pricing," said Subho Ray, the president of IAMAI. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India had asked for suggestions on differential pricing of data services in a consultation paper it released on December 9. In the paper, it describes differential tariff plans as those offered by telecom companies at "zero or discounted tariffs to certain contents of certain websites/applications/platforms." While both associations opposed blanket differential pricing plans, Nasscom said that there was a case for considering such plans in special cases. "However, we have recognised that there may be a need for differential pricing in certain contexts. For example emergency services," Chandrashekhar said.

China Telecom chief resigns amid investigation

The chairman and chief executive of one of China's largest mobile service providers, China Telecom, has stepped down days after authorities said he was under investigation. The firm said Chang Xiaobing had resigned in a filing to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on Wednesday. Authorities had announced on Sunday that Mr Chang was being investigated for alleged disciplinary violations. Several Chinese executives have been embroiled in a crackdown on corruption. Mr Chang was the latest executive that was reported missing by local media before the country's anti-corruption watchdog - the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection - said he was under investigation. Top Chinese executives investigated Jiang Jiemin, former chairman of leading energy group China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) jailed for 16 years in October for graft Xu Jianyi, former chairman of top automaker China FAW Group expelled from the ruling Communist Party in August for embezzling funds and taking bribes Shen Hao, former president of financial media group 21st Century jailed for four years last week for extortion and blackmail Cheng Boming, president of China's largest brokerage, CITIC Securities, under investigation in September for alleged trading on insider information Meanwhile in the filing, China Telecom said president and chief operating officer Yang Jie would take over as chairman and chief executive until a new appointment is made. State-owned China Telecom is the country's third largest telecom service provider after China Unicom, where 58-year-old Mr Chang was the chairman before he joined China Telecom in August. There were reports earlier this year that the government was considering merging the two telecom giants. Many critics have also said that Beijing's anti-corruption drive has more to do with getting executives of leading firms to toe the Communist Party's line. The company's shares closed down 0.3% on Thursday after news of the management shake-up.

Air India flight turns back after rat spotted on board

 A plane travelling from Mumbai to London was forced to turn back mid-flight after a rat was spotted on board, local media report. Flight AI 131 travelling to London on Wednesday was flying over Iran when someone on board said they spotted the rodent, reports said. Passengers continued their journey on a replacement aircraft some time later. Air India has said that the plane will be fumigated and the presence of a rodent was being investigated. It said engineers were looking into the claims, "though the presence of the rodent was not confirmed". It stressed the decision to abort the flight was precautionary and in the interests of passenger safety. Advertisement Image copyright Getty Images Image caption A happier landing: in 2013 an Air India plane was Australia's first Dreamliner passenger flight, where it was given a water cannon salute Rats occasionally get on board aircraft along with catering and other supplies but can pose a serious technical as well as a health hazard if they chew through wires. It is the latest setback to hit the state-owned airline, which has had to cut costs to improve its financial health. Earlier in December, an Air India technician was sucked into an aircraft engine and killed at Mumbai airport.

Hundreds of firefighters set to battle huge Australia blaze

 More than 500 firefighters are set to battle a blaze in the Australian state of Victoria, one of the world's most fire-prone regions on New Year's Eve. Evacuation advice has been issued to Kennett River, Grey River and Wongarra. Most residents have left their homes. But a wind change on Thursday afternoon eased the threat to these communities, fire authorities said. Firefighters and aircraft from NSW and New Zealand are on standby in case the fire breaks containment lines. The fire is the same one that destroyed more than 100 homes at Wye River and Separation Creek over Christmas Day. Advertisement It now covers around 2,800 hectares (7,000 acres) and is likely to pose a threat to communities along the famous Great Ocean Road for months. In South Australia a fire is threatening homes at Mosquito Hill south of Adelaide. Aircraft have been sent to the area but the fire is burning very fiercely, South Australia Country Fire Service spokesman Brenton Eden told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. Mr Eden said residents in the area should execute their emergency plans.

Microsoft to warn email users of suspected hacking by governments

  Microsoft Corp said on Wednesday it will begin warning users of its Outlook.com email service when the company suspects that a government has been trying to hack into their accounts. Microsoft told Reuters about the plan in a statement. It comes nine days after Reuters asked the company why it had decided not tell victims of a hacking campaign, discovered in 2011, that had targeted international leaders of China's Tibetan and Uighur minorities in particular. According to two former employees of Microsoft, the company's own experts had concluded several years ago that Chinese authorities had been behind the campaign but the company did not pass on that information to users of its Hotmail service, which is now called Outlook.com. In its statement, Microsoft said neither it nor the US government could pinpoint the sources of the hacking attacks and that they didn't come from a single country. The policy change at the world's largest software company follows similar moves since October by Internet giants Facebook Inc, Twitter Inc and most recently Yahoo Inc. Google Inc pioneered the practice in 2012 and said it now alerts tens of thousands of users every few months. For two years, Microsoft has offered alerts about potential security breaches without specifying the likely suspect. In the statement, Microsoft said: "As the threat landscape has evolved our approach has too, and we'll now go beyond notification and guidance to specify if we reasonably believe the attacker is 'state-sponsored'." Microsoft declined to say what role, if any, the Hotmail hacking campaign played in its policy change. The Hotmail attacks had also targeted diplomats, media workers, human rights lawyers, and others in sensitive positions inside China, according to the former employees. Microsoft had told the targets to reset their passwords but did not tell them that they had been hacked. Five victims interviewed by Reuters said they had not taken the password request as an indication of hacking. Online free-speech activists and security experts have long called for more direct warnings, saying that they prompt behavioral changes from email users.

Google doodle marks New Year's eve

The New Year is around the corner and Google has come up with an interactive doodle to usher in the New Year. The doodle consists of a five colourful birds sitting on a branch depicting the word Google. The birds are waiting for an egg wearing a 2016 sash to hatch and mark the beginning of the year 2016. All the birds are wearing party hats, one is blowing the trumpet and another keeps out taking a pocket watch from his pocket impatiently waiting for the egg to hatch. Along with this, just below the doodle you will also find a link, "Watch and remember the moments of 2015". Clicking on the link takes you to some of the biggest events of the year 2015. These important happenings include Chennai floods, Paris attacks and many others. Google is also teasing New Year's doodle with the line, "Check back tomorrow to see what will hatch in the new year."

Dame Barbara Windsor leads arts and entertainment honours

 Barbara Windsor is among the leading entertainment and arts figures to be recognised in the New Year Honours. The veteran star of EastEnders and the Carry On films said she was "thrilled" to be made a dame for services to charity and entertainment. Actress Sian Phillips also receives a damehood for services to drama, while choreographer Matthew Bourne is to be knighted for services to dance. Luther star Idris Elba receives an OBE, as does Blur singer Damon Albarn. Actress Imelda Staunton, whose recent successes include her award-winning turn in the West End musical Gypsy, receives a CBE for services to drama. Advertisement The same honour is awarded to Tamara Rojo, the Montreal-born Spanish dancer who became the artistic director of English National Ballet (ENB) in 2013. Spooks and Selma star David Oyelowo gets an OBE, as does tennis player turned BBC sports commentator Sue Barker. Cold Feet actor James Nesbitt also gets an OBE, for services to drama and "the community of Northern Ireland". Drum and bass star Goldie - real name Clifford Joseph Price - receives an MBE for services to music and young people. There is also an MBE for Jacqui Oatley, the sports broadcaster who became the first female commentator  One's football highlights show Match of the Day.

Service with a smile

As part of efforts to improve quality of service, employees of state-run BSNL have taken a pledge to serve all customers with a smile and resolve any service related issues as soon as possible. BSNL CMD Anupam Shrivastava administered the oath to the employees at the company's office in New Delhi whereas similar pledge ceremonies took place at all BSNL telecom circles across the country. Top Comment BSNL must improve it's services....There is some indication in improvement but not sufficient.Truth Sach "All employees... pledge today to serve the customer with new motto ie 'Service with a Smile' (SWAS)," the company said in a statement. "The theme SWAS was missing till now in BSNL. Often people talk about network, equipment, OFC cable and other infrastructure but the quality of service we offer is what that matters a lot. When government is celebrating the 'Good Governance Week', there cannot better theme for BSNL than to provide service with a smile to our all customers," Shrivastava said. He added this theme will be effective from January 1, 2016 and there will be no expiry date for it.

IIT, IISc faculty slam Facebook's Free Basics

Academicians from India's premier institutes IITs and IISc have slammed Facebook's Free Basics initiative, terming it "flawed" and "misleading". In a joint statement issued on Tuesday, around 50 faculty members from IITs (Bombay, Delhi, Kharagpur, Madras, Patna) and IISc Bengaluru have denounced the proposal dubbing it a "lethal combination that will lead to total lack of freedom on how Indians can use the internet". Listing three major flaws in the programme, the scientists urged the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India to "thoroughly reject" Facebook's "free basics" proposal. "The first obvious flaw in the proposal is that Facebook assumes control of defining what a 'basic' service is. "Facebook will have access to all your apps' contents. "This flaw is not visible to the lay person as it's a technical detail, but it has deep and disturbing implications. Since Facebook can access un-encrypted contents of users' 'basic' services, either we get to consider health apps to be not basic, or risk revealing health records of all Indians to Facebook. "The third flaw is that the term 'free' in 'free basics' is a marketing gimmick." Top Comment Yes i support Net Neutrality and Free Basic will create problem in Digital IndiaMilind Mahindrakar The academicians said that the 'Free Basics' proposal "is flawed as above is alarming but not surprising, for it violates one of the core architectural principles of internet design: net neutrality. "Compromising net neutrality, an important design principle of the internet, would invariably lead to deep consequences on people's freedom to access and use information. "We, therefore, urge that the TRAI should support net neutrality in its strongest form, and thoroughly reject Facebook's 'free basics' proposal."

England beat S Africa by 241 runs

England beat S Africa by 241 runs

England claimed six wickets for just 38 runs on day five of the first Test against South Africa to seal an emphatic 241-run win in Durban, reports BBC. South Africa resumed on 136-4 in search of a distant 416 but lost four wickets for seven runs in the first nine overs. Moeen Ali removed dangerman AB de Villiers with the third ball and Steven Finn finished with 4-42 as the hosts were all out before lunch for 174. The second of the four-match series begins in Cape Town on Saturday. It was only England's second Test victory away from home since 2012 and their largest in terms of runs against South Africa since the Proteas were readmitted to international cricket in 1991. In contrast it was a fourth defeat in the past five Tests for South Africa, whose position at the top of the Test rankings is under increasing threat from India. The South Africans have gone seven matches without a Test victory, which equals their longest run without a win since their readmission. In the 138-year history of Test cricket, only three teams have avoided defeat from being four wickets down on the final day. And it soon became apparent South Africa would not alter that statistic when star batsman De Villiers missed a turning off-break from Moeen and was given out lbw and upheld on review.

Putin calls cooperation with US in message to Obama

Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a New Year's message to US President Barack Obama, has called for cooperation between their countries to respond to international challenges, reports Al Jazeera. Ties between Moscow and Washington reached a post-Cold War low when Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean peninsula and threw its support behind separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine. The US and other nations responded with economic sanctions against Russian officials, state-owned companies and entire sections of the economy. The Kremlin on Wednesday quoted Putin's New Year's greetings to Obama as saying the "relations between Russia and the United States are crucial to ensuring global security". Putin was also quoted as saying that both countries would "successfully take on new challenges and threats" across the world if they were to engage in a "constructive dialogue". Fighting in Syria is one of the main issues between the former Cold War foes. US Secretary of State John Kerry was in Moscow earlier this month to try to narrow differences with Putin over the role of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in any political transition in Syria. Russia is one of Assad's staunchest allies and launched a campaign of air strikes to support his forces against rebels on September 30.

Barcelona beat Real Betis to go top

Lionel Messi scored on his 500th Barcelona appearance as Luis Enrique's side finished a magnificent 2015 on top of the La Liga table. Heiko Westermann's own-goal - after Neymar's controversial penalty had hit the bar - gave Barca the lead. Messi recovered from a knock which forced him to go off for treatment to double the lead before Luis Suarez scored twice after the interval. Barca finish 2015 with 180 goals in all competitions, a Spanish record. Barcelona's players lined up for a team photograph before kick-off with the five trophies the club won in 2015 Barcelona's players lined up for a team photograph before kick-off with the five trophies the club won in 2015 They are level on points with Atletico Madrid, who won 2-0 at Rayo Vallecano, but have a game in hand over their title rivals. Real Madrid, 3-1 winners over Real Sociedad , are two points behind in third. Betis formed a guard of honour before kick-off as Barca walked out to have a photograph with their five trophies of 2015 - the Champions League, La Liga, Copa del Rey, Uefa Super Cup and Fifa Club World Cup. Barca took the lead when Messi was harshly judged to have been fouled by keeper Antonio Adan and, although Neymar slipped and hit the crossbar with his spot-kick, Westermann directed the rebound into the back of his own net. Messi slid home his 425th goal for the club after 34 minutes to add to their lead. Suarez scored twice after the break to take over from Neymar as La Liga's leading scorer with 15. Barca were denied by the woodwork four times after the interval as they produced an attacking master-class. They start 2016 with an away game at 13th-placed Espanyol on 2 January. Betis lost Westermann and Bruno Gonzalez to injury, while boss Pep Mel was sent to the stand for arguing.

Weight Watchers shares jump on Oprah ad

Shares of weight loss company Weight Watchers jumped nearly 19% on Wednesday after a television ad featuring Oprah Winfrey was shown in the US. In an emotional one-minute commercial, the former talk show host spoke about her renowned weight loss struggles, flashing back to videos of her working out over the years. She asked viewers to join her, saying "let's do this together". Ms Winfrey bought a 10% stake in the company for $43.2m (£28m) in October. New York listed shares of the dieting company have more than tripled in value since she bought a stake in one of the world's leading weight loss brands. Advertisement Her stake is now worth more than $148m. The company, however, has been facing stiff competition from the popularity of fitness trackers and other free mobile apps which track your eating. Despite the jump in shares since Ms Winfrey's involvement, the company's stock market value is still down about 8% from a year ago. Earlier this year, Weight Watchers' founder, Jean Nidetch, who is credited with turning worrying about one's weight into a million-dollar industry, died at age 91.

US military shelves Google robot plan over 'noise concerns'

The US army says it has mothballed plans to deploy a robot developed in conjunction with Google because it is "too loud". The Legged Squad Support System - referred to by some as "the big dog" - is capable of carrying 400lbs (181.4kg) of equipment over rugged terrain. But the US Marines now say its petrol-powered engine is too noisy for them to use in battle. Google has long said it planned to move away from its military contracts. 'The big dog' The LS3 was developed by Boston Dynamics - a robotics firm acquired by Google in 2013 - as part of a tie-up with the Pentagon's research arm, the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa). The robot can follow troops on foot through rugged terrain, carrying their gear. It can also interpret verbal and visual commands. However, after a major field trial in 2014, flaws in the robot also became apparent, according to Kyle Olson, a spokesman for the Marines' Warfighting Lab. "There was the challenge of seeing [its] potential... because of the limitations of the robot itself," he told Military.com. "They took it as it was: a loud robot that's going to give away their position.

Chicago police to get Tasers and training after shootings

Police in Chicago are to receive new equipment and training on how to defuse tensions following a spate of fatal shootings of African-Americans by officers, the city's mayor has said. Rahm Emanuel says every patrol car in Chicago would be equipped with a Taser gun, which is usually non-lethal. He said police must learn when they can use a gun and when not to do so. Protesters have urged Mr Emanuel to step down over a case in which an officer fatally shot a black teenager. Laquan McDonald's death led to the city's police chief being fired and days of protests, Advertisement Jump media player Media player help Out of media player. Press enter to return or tab to continue. Media captionDashcam footage shows the moment 17-year-old Laquan McDonald was fatally shot by police in Chicago "Just because you train that you can use force doesn't mean you should," said Mr Emanuel. "Helping officers make that distinction - and the training that goes with it - is essential." Mr Emanuel said the department would make 1,400 Tasers available to officers, up from 700. On the night Mr McDonald was killed, several officers were heard asking for a Taser before officer Jason Van Dyke opened fire, shooting the teenager 16 times. Mr Van Dyke has since been charged with murder. However, the shootings have continued. Just after Christmas, Chicago police shot and killed two people. Bettie Jones, a 55-year-old mother-of-five was shot "accidentally", police said, as officers opened fire on, and killed, 19-year-old Quintonio LeGrier, who they said was being "combative" toward officers. About 15% of Chicago's police officers have so far received training aimed at resolving incidents without violence, officials say.

Nine dead in Philippine clash with Abu Sayyaf militants

A soldier and eight Abu Sayyaf fighters have died after an attempt to free hostages held by the Islamist militant group, the Philippine army said. The clash took place in the southern Jolo island late on Wednesday. The army said Abu Sayyaf was holding several tourists who were kidnapped from a resort in September. Abu Sayyaf is the smallest but also the most radical of Islamic separatist groups in the Philippines, and often carry out kidnappings for ransom. Philippine army spokesman Maj Filemon Tan told reporters that soldiers had fought about 300 militants, who later fled into the interior of the island. Advertisement "This is part of our focused military operation to free foreign hostages held by the Abu Sayyaf," he said. In September two Canadians, a Norwegian and a Filipino were kidnapped from a resort in Samal Island, also in the south of Philippines. A video emerged the following month purportedly showing the hostages, which came with a message from militants demanding an end to artillery attacks and calling for negotiations. The Philippine army has said it will not negotiate and military offensives will continue. Last month Abu Sayyaf militants beheaded a Malaysian captive, reportedly due to a breakdown in negotiations for his release.

Custody dispute Neighbours actress Eliza Szonert can leave Malaysia

A former Neighbours actress, held in Malaysia after snatching her child from her estranged partner at a restaurant, can return to Australia, officials say Eliza Szonert, embroiled in a custody dispute with former businessman Ashley Crick, took her son with the aid of a child recovery agency on 10 December. Police detained her last week after she refused to reveal the child's location. She can now leave with her son and without charge after adhering to police requests to take him to a doctor. "She can leave Malaysia for home with her son. We have investigated the case and the deputy public prosecutor has decided that there will be no prosecution against her," Kuala Lumpur police chief Tajuddin Mohamad Isa said. Advertisement The case sparked a controversy after video of her taking the child in a Kuala Lumpur restaurant was circulated. Mr Crick, who works for a Malaysia-based video streaming service, is reportedly back in Australia to seek custody of the child through the Australian court system. "Thank you everyone for your love, support and assistance during this exhausting ordeal. More than anything I'm just looking forward to getting home and spending time with my son again," Ms Szonert said in a Facebook post. Child Recovery Australia, the controversial group that helped Ms Szonert, said on its Facebook page that her return signalled "another successful recovery". Two men from Child Recovery Australia accompanied Ms Szonert to the restaurant where the child was taken and spoke to Mr Crick. Ms Szonert said that Mr Crick had taken away her and her son's passports after a disagreement.

Indonesia to appeal against rejection of haze company lawsuit

The Indonesian government has said it will appeal against a court decision that rejected a $565m (£381m) lawsuit against a plantation company accused of causing forest fires. A judge had dismissed the case against PT Bumi Mekar Hijau (BMH), saying there was not enough evidence that the firm failed to prevent recurring fires. Haze from forest fires in Indonesia affected South East Asia for months.BMH supplies Asia Pulp and Paper, one of the world's biggest such companies. The $565m in damages from the lawsuit would have been the largest financial reward ever levied against such a firm. Advertisement The government alleges BMH failed to prevent recurring fires in 2014 and this year on about 20,000 hectares of land in a region of Sumatra. But presiding judge Parlas Nababan in a South Sumatra court said: "The lawsuit against PT Bumi Mekar Hijau is rejected because the evidence is not proven." The director of law enforcement at the ministry of environment, Rasio Ridho Sani told  the government is looking into its legal options now and companies must be held responsible for the fires in their areas even if they were not caused directly by the firm. The forest and peatland fires, which caused dangerous levels of pollution in large parts of South East Asia in the second half of the year, were largely located on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo.

Pakistan-Afghanistan hotline set up to reduce tension

Pakistan and Afghanistan have established a hotline between their respective military commanders to reduce frequent cross-border tensions. Pakistan's military spokesman says the line has just been used for the first time as the two countries work to improve co-ordination along the border. The move was agreed when Pakistani army chief Raheel Sharif visited Kabul. Security co-operation between the two countries is seen as crucial in countering the growing Taliban threat. Earlier this month Afghan President Ashraf Ghani blamed Pakistan-based militant groups for the escalating violence. Advertisement Image copyright AP Image caption Afghanistan accuses Pakistan of secretly controlling the Afghan Taliban Afghan officials often accuse Pakistan of controlling the Afghan Taliban. The say that Islamabad allows the most senior Afghan Taliban leaders to operate freely there. Pakistan denies this although it admits having contacts with the militants. News of the hotline comes as Afghanistan will host discussions next week with Pakistan, the US and China to prepare the ground for possible Afghan peace talks involving the Taliban. Afghanistan sees Pakistani support as crucial if negotiations with the Taliban are to be successful. President Ghani has recently moved towards strengthening ties with Pakistan - the Taliban's historic supporters - in what correspondents say is a desperate bid to restart peace negotiations as the insurgency spreads.

Sunderland 0-1 Liverpool

Christian Benteke scored the only goal as Liverpool ended 2015 with a victory, leaving Sunderland in deep trouble. Benteke netted early in the second half, running on to Adam Lallana's pass to neatly net from inside the area. Vito Mannone made a stunning save to tip Liverpool midfielder Roberto Firmino's shot on to a post before pushing away the Brazilian's header. Jermain Defoe forced Simon Mignolet into an excellent save, but Sunderland have now lost their past five games. Fabio Borini also went close against his former side, shooting straight at Mignolet and striking an effort narrowly wide.

AP McCoy knighted in Queen's list

Champion jump jockey AP McCoy has been knighted and football administrator Heather Rabbatts made a dame by the Queen in the New Year Honours List. Ex-footballers Denis Law and Francis Lee are made CBEs, along with former F1 and motorcycling champion John Surtees. Broadcaster Sue Barker becomes an OBE, as do Ronnie O'Sullivan, Chris Froome and Chrissie Wellington. There are MBEs for Carl Frampton, Mark Cueto, Tracey Neville, Jacqui Oatley, Steph Houghton and Fara Williams. Ap McCoy Knight rider McCoy, 41, rode more than 4,300 winners in his career and is only the second jockey, after Gordon Richards in 1953, to become a Sir. Champion jockey 20 years running, for every year he was a professional, McCoy was given the BBC Lifetime Achievement Award earlier this month. He described his knighthood as "surreal". "I never thought anything like this would be bestowed upon me," said the Northern Irishman. "You can't be recognised in any higher way. "For the number of years I was competing, I always tried to be as successful as I could, but this honour has as much to do with the people who helped me on the way as it does with myself."

Turbulence on Air Canada flight from China injures 21

A Canada-bound airliner was forced to make an emergency landing after severe turbulence injured 21 passengers, including three children, officials said. The Air Canada flight from Shanghai to Toronto was diverted to Calgary after the turbulence hit. Eight passengers suffered neck and back injuries and 13 more were taken to hospital for observation. Those hurt were in a stable condition, an emergency services spokesman said. Air Canada's chief operating officer Klaus Goersch said passengers had been through a "very unsettling experience". The Boeing 777 with 332 passengers and 19 crew on board landed at Calgary without further incident, the airline said in a statement. Passengers described the experience. "To start with it was just OK, normal just up and down, and all of a sudden it was really violent and just shaking everybody," said Yi Lee. "Suddenly the flight is just going down and everything is really scary. The girl sitting next to me, she was sleeping and she just fly up (to the ceiling)," said Linda He. Mr Goersch praised the crew's response and said some of the passengers taken to hospital had quickly been discharged.

US 'affluenza' runaway teen delays Mexico extradition

A fugitive who made headlines for using an "affluenza" defence after a fatal drink-driving crash has delayed his extradition from Mexico to the US. A judge will now consider the deportation of Ethan Couch, 18. He and his mother were arrested in the resort town of Puerto Vallarta after a phone call for pizza tipped off police. Couch left Texas for Mexico after he allegedly broke probation. His lawyer had argued a privileged upbringing left him with no sense of responsibility. 'Hindering an apprehension' An arrest warrant was issued earlier this month for Couch after he failed to report to his probation officer. Advertisement His disappearance came shortly after he had apparently been filmed at a party where people were consuming alcohol, police said. He could go to prison for up to 10 years if found to have violated his probation by drinking. His mother Tonya Crouch faces charges of hindering an apprehension.

Bill Cosby charged with indecent assault

Prosecutors in the US have charged comedian Bill Cosby with aggravated indecent assault over an alleged incident in 2004. It is the first time Mr Cosby, 78, has been charged with any offence after months of accusations. Andrea Constand says she was drugged then assaulted at the Philadelphia home of the former US television star. Dozens of women have accused him of sexual assault, dating back to the 1970s, but he has denied wrongdoing. Mr Cosby made no comment as he arrived at court to be formally charged. He did not enter a plea at the hearing where a judge set bail at $1m. Later, his lawyer said in a statement that he would "mount a vigorous defence against this unjustified charge".

The little bit of Iran on a street in Greater Manchester

A crumbling mansion owned by the government of Iran sits abandoned in one of Greater Manchester's most exclusive areas. No-one seems able to get rid of it. Why? The derelict building seems out of place on a road lined with million-pound properties. This leafy spot should be prime real estate, but one house has been left to fall apart. Brackendene was once a grand site with greenhouses, outbuildings and a swimming pool. Now, the red-brick mansion has a hole for a roof and lies forgotten behind overgrown woodland and security fences. Thieves have long since stripped it of anything of value. It's been vandalised, used as an illegal dumping site and set on fire at least three times. The last big arson attack in 2011 was so bad that it caused the top floors to collapse into the basement. Image copyright Stephen Matthews/ Image caption The once-grand government building has fallen into a state of disrepair This isn't a run-of-the-mill story of a property left to decay, however. The house might be in Bowdon, a village in a rural area of Greater Manchester, but it actually belongs to Iran. Advertisement It was bought by the Iranians in the 1970s. The consul-general lived there at one stage and it was beautifully maintained, says Amir Barik, a senior lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University who used to work for the consulate: "The biggest parties in Manchester used to take place in that house." Barik says that the building began to be left empty in the years after Iran's Islamic

Belgium terror alert halts New Year fireworks in Brussels

New Year fireworks and festivities have been cancelled in the Belgian capital, Brussels, because of a terror alert. Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said the decision had been taken "given information we have received". Earlier in the week, police arrested two people suspected of planning attacks during the festive season. Belgium has been on high alert since the terror attacks of 13 November in Paris. Several of the perpetrators are thought to have been based in Belgium. Brussels Mayor Yvan Mayeur told state broadcaster RTBF: "Together with the interior minister, we've decided to not have the celebrations on Thursday evening." Advertisement Last year 100,000 people turned out in Brussels to welcome in the New Year, Mr Mayeur said. "In these circumstances, we can't check everyone," he said. Last month, Brussels was placed under a four-day lockdown closing universities, schools and the metro system, amid fears of a Paris-style attack. The shootings and bombings in the French capital left 130 people dead and hundreds wounded. Belgium and Brussels have been central to investigations into the Paris attacks, which are thought to have been masterminded by a Belgian national, Abdelhamid Abaaoud. Other Belgian nationals or Brussels residents were involved. More Belgians have gone to fight for the militant Islamic State (IS) group than any other European country, per capita.

Twitter acts to curb 'abusive,' 'hateful' content

Twitter was take new steps to stem "abusive behavior and hateful conduct" on the global messaging platform. The move comes with social networks under pressure from the US and other governments following attacks in Paris and California to do more to weed out those plotting violence. "We believe that protection from abuse and harassment is a vital part of empowering people to freely express themselves on Twitter," said Twitter's director for online trust and safety, Megan Cristina. "Today, as part of our continued efforts to combat abuse, we're updating the Twitter Rules to clarify what we consider to be abusive behavior and hateful conduct. The updated language emphasizes that Twitter will not tolerate behavior intended to harass, intimidate, or use fear to silence another user's voice." The new rules say Twitter users "may not make threats of violence or promote violence, including threatening or promoting terrorism" and "may not incite or engage in the targeted abuse or harassment of others." The update also states that users "may not promote violence against or directly attack or threaten other people on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, religious affiliation, age, disability, or disease." Twitter said it would ban "accounts whose primary purpose is inciting harm towards others on the basis of these categories" and would also suspend multiple accounts created to evade temporary or permanent suspension.

Samsung's 12-inch tablet spotted on Bluetooth certification websites

 The tax is on Rs 2,000 and above phones, which is the dominant part of the industry. Far more dominant part of the value part of the industry.The tax is on Rs 2,000 and above phones, which is the dominant part of the industry. Far more dominant part of... Read More Korean electronics giant Samsung appears set to launch a 12-inch tablet. Likely to be a part of the company's Galaxy Tab series, the tablet has been in news for some time. Now, the tablet has ​reportedly got certified for both WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity. The tablet carries the model number SM-W700 and runs on Microsoft Windows 10 OS. The forthcoming iPad rival from Samsung has also appeared on Indian import-tracking website Zauba where it is valued at $455. Speculated specifications of the tablet include Intel Core M processor and 4GB RAM. The tablet is expected to weigh 600gm and measure 6.2mm in thickness. On accessories front, it is likely to come bundled with S-Pen. In November this year, Samsung launched a gigantic 18.4-inch tablet. Called Samsung Galaxy View, the tablet features a fullHD screen and runs on a 1.6GHz octa-core processor with 2GB of RAM and 32GB storage, expandable up to 128GB. On the audio side, it has 4-watt speakers.

Trai to extend deadline for comments on net neutrality to January 7

Telecom regulator Trai is extending by a week, to January 7, the last date for receiving comments on its paper on differential data pricing -- a key aspect of the raging debate on net neutrality. "It is being extended to January 7, primarily due to extension requests of COAI and AUSPI," an official source told PTI. The deadline for comment on the paper was ending today. Although the paper by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) does not mention or use the term net neutrality, it details the idea of zero-rating platforms that have stirred up the big debate across the country on the issue. Trai has received about 16.5 lakh comments -- highest ever on any paper floated by it till date, the official said. As per sources, comments received through Facebook or Free Basics platform are around 8 lakh. The regulator has also received similar number of messages from people opposing Facebook's Free Basics and other zero-rating programmes, and about 3,000 individual messages. As per SavetheInternet forum, the net neutrality principle says that internet service providers should not block or discriminate against any applications or content that rides over their networks. Facebook has launched campaign where it is asking users to support Free Basics scheme under which the user can access some websites for free without paying internet charges. The regulator had received over 10 lakh comments on first consultation that it floated around net neutrality.

Apple tops Holiday smartphone sales worldwide: Survey

  Apple came away the winner in mobile device holiday sales worldwide amid a shift to bigger screens, a survey showed. The survey by the Yahoo-owned analytics firm Flurry showed Apple accounted for 49.1% of smartphones and tablets activated over the Christmas week, compared to 19.8% for South Korean rival Samsung. "Christmas is traditionally the biggest day of the year for new smart-device activations and app downloads, and 2015 was no exception, with new device activations and app installs shattering record after record," Flurry vice president Jarah Euston said in a blog post Monday. The survey found more consumers around the world opting for large-screen smartphones or "phablets," which are often used in place of a tablet computer. Apple entered the phablet market last year with the iPhone 6 Plus and upgraded it this year with the 6S Plus. "Of course the introduction of an Apple phablet -- and subsequently the iPhone 6S Plus -- had a lot to do with the strength of phablets," Euston said. "But that's not the whole story. When we examined the form factor distribution by operating system we saw that for the first time phablets accounted for half of all Android devices! The popularity of the Samsung Galaxy Note and its imitators have changed the Android game, especially in Asian markets."

Former Israeli PM Ehud Olmert jailed for bribery

Former Israeli PM Ehud Olmert jailed for bribery

Former Israeli PM Ehud Olmert jailed for bribery

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has been ordered to serve 18 months in jail for bribery, Olmert had been sentenced to six years by a lower court in 2014, but this was reduced by the Supreme Court. The 70-year-old was convicted over a real estate deal that took place while he served as mayor of Jerusalem, prior to becoming prime minister in 2006. Olmert, who stepped down in 2009, will become the first former Israeli head of government to go to prison. He is due to begin his sentence on 15 February.

No Wales sabbatical for Bath fly-half

Bath fly-half Rhys Priestland has reversed his decision to take an 18-month sabbatical from Wales international rugby. The former Scarlet's initial decision was announced by Bath boss Mike Ford in October. "We agreed to sign Rhys on the basis that he did not play international rugby," Ford said. "He's now decided that, if selected for Wales, he wants to play for them again." Ford added: "That was one of the reasons we've signed Dan Bowden, but we're hoping Rhys will be with us for the two years of his contract, and possibly beyond that." With the 2016 Six Nations approaching, Priestland now wants to challenge Dan Biggar for Wales' No 10 jersey. That has prompted Bath to sign utility back Bowden from New Zealand. Ford had hoped Priestland's presence would cover for the absence of the coach's son George with England during the Six Nations. But if Wales coach Warren Gatland picks Priestland, Bath will have fly-half/centre Bowden to call on.

Red Bull boss wants F1 rules 'rejig'

 Formula 1 needs rule changes to make it less predictable, says Red Bull team principal Christian Horner. Lewis Hamilton won the 2014 and 2015 world drivers' championships from Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg. Mercedes won the constructors' title in both years, finishing first in 32 out of 38 races and completing 23 one-twos. "People get turned off with predictability. It needs a rejig to bring it closer together," Horner told Autosport. The Red Bull boss said it was up to the sport's senior officials, including commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone and FIA president Jean Todt, to find a solution. "The regulations are incredibly stable for next year, so Mercedes will inevitably carry on the dominance, such is their margin," he added. Horner believes the situation is different to when Red Bull won four successive constructors' championships and Sebastian Vettel the same number of drivers' titles from 2010 to 2013. "Two of our world championships went to the last race, and we never finished first and second in a championship," he said.

Donald Trump 'to spend $2m a week on campaign'

 US Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump says he is planning to spend $2m (£1.3m) a week on campaign advertising. Mr Trump said he would bring out "substantial" adverts in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina ahead of primary elections in February. Meanwhile, former New York Governor George Pataki has pulled out of the race for the Republican nomination. Correspondents say he has failed to make any impact in the polls. Mr Trump, a property tycoon, has previously said that he is funding his campaign himself and wouldn't be in the pocket of lobbyists or powerful corporate entities. He has also insisted that he has spent very little on his campaign so far, and yet is the frontrunner. "I'll be spending a minimum of $2m a week and perhaps substantially more," Mr Trump said in a video broadcast. "I'm going to be doing big ads in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and they're going to be very substantial."

Afghan businessman accused of bribing US soldiers

US prosecutors have filed charges against an Afghan businessman accused of bribing American soldiers to win multi-million dollar contracts. The FBI alleges Hikmatullah Shadman gave at least two US soldiers bundles of $100 notes to win inflated deals to supply transport and heavy equipment. Prosecutors say this took place when the the men were deployed to Afghanistan in 2009. There has been no comment from Mr Shadman. His whereabouts are unclear. Justice Department officials had earlier frozen more than $63m (£42.5m) in bank accounts controlled by Mr Shadman, a logistics and construction company owner, thought to be one of the first asset freezes of its kind involving an Afghan contractor. This case was filed on 23 December in a federal court in North Carolina. Both Robert Green, then a staff sergeant who managed supply requests at Kandahar air base, and his superior David Kline, have already been convicted of their part in the alleged fraud, after pleading guilty. The complaint against Mr Shadman says Green received several payments of between $30,000 (£20,000) and $50,000, at his request, while Kline received about $50,000. Green was sentenced to 10 months in prison and a year of supervised release in September, while Kline is due to be sentenced next month.

Myanmar protests grow over verdict

Protests against the conviction in Thailand of two Burmese men for the murder of a pair of British tourists have been growing in Yangon. The Thai embassy's consular section in the Burmese capital said it would be closed for the week in the wake of the "unexpected and prolonged" protests. Win Zaw Htun and Zaw Lin were sentenced to death last week for the 2014 murders of David Miller and Hannah Witheridge. Thai police have denied allegations the men were forced to confess. But many in Myanmar believe the men were made scapegoats for the crime. The convicted migrant workers denied killing the tourists, saying they were forced by Thai police into confessing under duress, which they later retracted. Image copyright Reuters Image caption Protests have been growing in Myanmar over the court verdict ever since it was handed down Image copyright AFP Image caption Burmese Buddhist monks have also protested, such as these in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo Hundreds of people, including Buddhist monks and ordinary citizens, were reported to have taken to the streets on Tuesday. Thai media has earlier reported that Thai authorities asked Myanmar to contain the protests. A statement made by the Thai embassy released earlier this week said the demonstrations made it hard to access their entrance.

Filipino priest on hoverboard condemned by church

 A Filipino priest has been condemned by diocese authorities, after video of him gliding around church on a hoverboard during Christmas Eve mass went viral. The priest, who has not been named, can be seen sailing up and down aisles as churchgoers in Laguna province applaud. "That was wrong," the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Pablo said in a statement on its Facebook page. It said he greeted people and sang a Christmas song on the hoverboard and he was now out of the parish to "reflect". "The Eucharist demands utmost respect and reverence. It is the Church's highest form of worship, not a personal celebration where one can capriciously introduce something to get attention," the diocese statement said. It added that the priest saw the incident as a "wake up call".

Facebook class action lawsuits to go ahead

  Two US class action lawsuits against Facebook by shareholders alleging it hid growth concerns ahead of its 2012 public listing can now go ahead. A federal judge certified the legal proceedings, Reuters reports, saying investors who claim they lost money could pursue their claims as groups. Facebook told the BBC that it was disappointed with the decision and it has launched an appeal against it. The firm's initial public offering (IPO) in May 2012 raised $16bn (£10bn). The investors say that by purchasing the firm's shares at inflated prices they lost money. That year, its shares began trading on 18 May in New York at $38 per share, but the price fell to almost half the amount of $17.55 on 4 September. The price stayed below the IPO price for more than a year, but shares ultimately rebounded and closed up at $107.26 on the Nasdaq index on Tuesday. District judge Robert Sweet gave the lawsuits class action certification on 11 December, but the order was made public on Tuesday, Reuters reports.

China mine survivors detected by infrared cameras in Shandong

 Eight miners trapped for five days after a mine in China caved in have been found alive, state media say. Reports say rescue teams have not yet been able to free the survivors, but have made contact and sent in supplies. The rock fall at the gypsum mine, in the eastern province of Shandong, was so violent that it registered at China's earthquake monitoring centre. Nine miners are still missing. Seven have already been rescued and one is known to have died. Rescuers used infrared cameras to peer into darkness at the wrecked mine. The cameras detected the surviving miners waving their hands. The workers were weak with hunger but otherwise were in good health, state media reported. They told rescuers they were in passages underground that were intact. Ma Congbo, the chairman of Yurong company which owns the mine, drowned himself by jumping into a mine well early on Sunday, China's Xinhua news agency said. His motive was not clear but the Chinese authorities have toughened punishment of employers who are seen as negligent. China has a long history of industrial accidents. The latest incident comes days after a landslide caused by construction waste in southern China left dozens of people missing and presumed dead. The nation's mines have long been the world's deadliest, but safety improvements have reduced deaths in recent years. Last year, 931 people were killed in mine accidents throughout China, significantly fewer than in 2002 when nearly 7,000 miners were killed.

Asian shares higher on strong lead from Wall Street

Asian shares headed higher on Wednesday, getting a strong lead from Wall Street where rising oil prices led to a rebound in the market. The S&P 500 and the Dow Jones indexes both gained over 1% as oil prices rallied overnight to climb by around 3% after Monday's declines. Encouraging economic data such as housing and consumer confidence in the US also boosted investor sentiment. Japan's Nikkei was up 0.6% to 19,097.14 in the year's final trading day. Japanese markets will be closed on Thursday for a public holiday. Rest of Asia In Australia, the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index was up 0.7% to 5,304.20, leading the gains in the region. But commodity shares still weighed on the market with shares of mining giants BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto down 0.9% and 0.4% respectively. Chinese shares were barely unchanged with the Shanghai Composite trading flat at 3,565.77, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index was up 0.1% to 22,016.92. South Korea's Kospi index was higher by 0.1% to 1,967.60 points. Investors ignored data that showed industrial production saw its worst decline in 10 months in November on slumping global demand for exports. Factory output fell a seasonally adjusted 2.1% from a month earlier, according to Statistics Korea.

Conservatives call for Tony Abbott's return to frontbench

Supporters of former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott have made calls for him to return to a senior government position. It comes after two cabinet ministers stepped down on Tuesday over separate scandals, which means a political reshuffle is likely in 2016. Liberal senator Eric Abetz called for Mr Abbott to make a comeback saying he has "more to offer public life". Abbott was unseated by current Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in September. "I'm on the record as saying that I believe Tony Abbott has more to offer public life in Australia," Mr Abetz told the Australian Broadcasting Corp (ABC). "I hope that he stays in the Parliament and I hope that there will be a place for him, a prominent place for him, in any future ministry should he decide to stay. Another politician calling for Mr Abbott's return was Nationals Senator John Williams, who told the ABC the move would help "heal the wounds of the past". Cities minister Jamie Briggs resigned yesterday after a female public servant lodged an official complaint about his behaviour in a Hong Kong bar in September. Mr Briggs said that he had failed to live up to the high standards expected of a government minister. Special Minister for State Mal Brough also stepped aside pending the result of a federal police investigation into alleged his role in the illegal procurement of a rival politician's private diary. Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss, who leads the Nationals, is widely predicted to retire from politics before the next federal election. An announcement on Mr Truss's future would provide the catalyst for Mr Turnbull to reshuffle his frontbench.

Sonny Bill Williams tweets graphic photos of dead children

 Rugby union star Sonny Bill Williams has posted graphic images of dead children on Twitter after a visit to Syrian refugee camps in Lebanon. Williams, who played a starring role in New Zealand's Rugby World Cup win, was in Lebanon as a Unicef ambassador. On Tuesday night he tweeted graphic images of two bodies, adding "What did these children do to deserve this?" The posts sparked controversy with some users praising him for his honesty and others questioning his judgment. "Please use trigger warnings by putting 'TW: dead children' in the tweet next time. It's very triggering as someone who has seen dead bodies like this before growing up," one user wrote. No further details were shared about the location of the photos or the identity of the children. Williams visited refugee camps in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley earlier in December, where he met Syrian children and their families. "This was such an eye-opener … [I was] so ignorant as to what was going on over this way," Williams said in a video. "It's been an amazing few days, it's definitely changed me for the better, and I'll definitely look at things in a different light when I get back. "This summer share a thought for the innocent lives lost every day in war." Williams made international headlines at the Rugby World Cup in October when he gave his winner's medal to a young pitch invader following the All Blacks' 34-17 victory over Australia. The footballer is a huge star in both New Zealand and Australia, where he played professional rugby league for the Canterbury Bulldogs.

Former Newcastle keeper dies aged 47

Former Newcastle United goalkeeper Pavel Srnicek has died at the age of 47, nine days after suffering cardiac arrest in his native Czech Republic. A big favourite with fans during his first spell at St James' Park between 1991 and 1998, Srnicek collapsed while jogging on 20 December. He was taken to a hospital in Ostrava and placed in an induced coma. Srnicek, who also played for Sheffield Wednesday, Portsmouth and West Ham, made 49 appearances for his country. His agent, Steve Wraith, said the final brain scans on Monday had shown "irreversible damage" and the decision "had to be taken" to switch off the life support machine. Wraith added: "Pav passed away on the afternoon of Tuesday, 29 December 2015, with his family by his side."

North Korea says top official Kim Yang-gon killed in car crash

A top aide to the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has died in a car crash, state news agency KCNA has said. Kim Yang-gon, 73, was a secretary of the ruling Workers' Party and was in charge of ties with South Korea. He was part of a high-level delegation from North Korea that helped ease a stand-off with the South in August, after an exchange of artillery fire. The state news agency called him Kim Jong-un's "closest comrade and a solid revolutionary partner". "Comrade Kim Yang-gon, a Workers' Party secretary and member of the party Central Committee Politbureau... died in a traffic accident at 6:15am, Tuesday, at age 73," KCNA said, without giving details. It added that Kim Jong-un would lead an 80-member state funeral for Mr Kim on Thursday. Tension between North and South Korea increased in August when a border blast injured two South Korean soldiers. Meetings at that time eventually led to the two countries stepping away from a military confrontation.

Missouri floods close Mississippi near St Louis

A five-mile (8km) section of the Mississippi River near St Louis, Missouri, has been closed to vessels as rising water levels caused "hazardous conditions", the US Coast Guard said. Storms and tornadoes have lashed the region in recent days, swelling rivers and causing flash flooding. Missouri Governor Jay Nixon said 13 people in the state had died in the floods. He said the National Guard had been called in to help local authorities. Aerial footage showed water from the Mississippi River engulfing buildings in the evacuated town of West Alton, north of St Louis, on Tuesday. In the town of Union, about 50 miles (80km) west of St Louis, buildings were partly submerged by severe flooding from the Missouri, Meramec and Bourbeuse rivers. Image copyright AP Image caption Volunteers in St Louis try to stop flooding from the River Des Peres, a channel that flows into the Mississippi River Coast Guard spokesman Capt Martin Malloy said the high water levels and fast currents had led them to close the section of the Mississippi near St Louis - a busy route for commercial shipping. River levels are forecast to peak on Thursday and Mr Nixon warned that the situation could get worse before it gets better. He said the National Guard would provide security in evacuated areas and direct traffic away from closed roads.