For the first time since 1943, the Nobel Prize in Literature will not be awarded this year as the Swedish Academy deals with sex abuse allegations and other issues within its ranks.

Australian filmmaker James Ricketson is transferred to a prison hospital in Cambodia with various health complaints as he awaits trial on espionage charges.

Hawaii's Kilauea volcano shoots lava fountains 46 metres into the air close to a housing estate on Big Island, forcing the evacuation of up to 1,500 people.

The original Star Wars trilogy remains a favourite with fans and reviewers alike, but the latest film has caused a disruption in the force.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop warns Beijing against militarising the South China Sea following reports that China has installed missile systems in the hotly disputed Spratly Islands for the first time.

French President Emmanuel Macron's next stop on his Pacific sojourn is the French territory of New Caledonia, where the countdown to a vote on independence is fast approaching.

Expectations grow that North Korea will soon release three Americans held as prisoners, as a gesture of goodwill ahead of an unprecedented US-North Korea summit due to take place in coming weeks.

Despite allegations that hundreds of millions of dollars of state money ended up in his personal bank account, and arrests of people who bring it up, support for Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak remains strong in regional areas.

China's "Helmsman" President Xi Jinping wants the 1.4 billion people he leads to enthusiastically embrace the teachings of German philosopher Karl Marx, as part of a broader revival of the Communist Party.

US President Donald Trump admits to reimbursing lawyer Michael Cohen for the $130,000 hush payment to Stormy Daniels — a payment he once claimed no knowledge of — but insists the money did not come from campaign funds.

The US President abruptly changes his story on what he knew about a pre-election hush money payment to the American porn star who claims to have had an affair with him.

Dust and rain storms leave at least 91 dead and more than 160 injured in India, knocking down power poles and houses and uprooted trees, government officials say.

The Pacific nation of Vanuatu is preparing to permanently evacuate the entire population of one of its islands as thick ash spewing from a volcano kills crops, dirties water supplies and fouls the air.

The crowd "shrieks and flees" as a bonfire explodes at a Jewish Lag BaOmer festival in north London, leaving 10 people with minor injuries.

President Donald Trump's new lawyer Rudy Giuliani says Mr Trump repaid Michael Cohen for a payment to porn star Stormy Daniels over several months, directly contradicting the President's past statements.

The drones spell out Chinese characters and shapes about the city of Xi'an during a 13-minute light performance, but not all of the aircraft light up.

Cate Blanchett speaks about working with Harvey Weinstein, saying the disgraced Hollywood producer "preyed" on the vulnerable and that she got a bad feeling from him.

Britain's Health Secretary says 450,000 women missed out on breast screenings after a "computer algorithm failure" stopped letters from being sent to them, reminding them to have a check-up.

A Southwest Airlines plane flying from Chicago to New Jersey is forced to make an unscheduled stop after the outer pane of a window cracked.

Liverpool had a three-goal cushion going into its Champions League semi-final second leg against Roma — and it needed all three, winning 7-6 on aggregate.