A truce aimed at ending the bloody five-year war in Syria has been announced. But what does it mean?

Dozens of women could have become pregnant with a stranger's child after a Dutch IVF clinic mixed up batches of sperm during fertility

Getting your kids to turn off their phones can turn into one endless nag, writes Emily Shelley.

Here are five unlikely black swan events that might catch everyone unawares in the coming year.

Stranded on a train track for 2 days, this terrified dog faced certain death. But thanks to her loving companion, Lucy survived the horrifying ordeal.

All the toilets on a trans-Atlantic flight were unusable.

As part of our Summer Herald, Kiwis are recalling their brushes with celebrity. Today, John Lamplough tells of the time he pulled a pint for Status Quo.

Russians agonise over how to remember the 1917 revolutions.

Brighton's 162m British Airways i360 is the tallest moving observation tower in the world.

Truck driver did not give up the keys easily to terror suspect who then rammed vehicle into crowded Christmas market.

Apple has furiously rejected charges from Brussels that it should pay €13 billion in unpaid Irish taxes.

A boy dubbed "The Kindergarten Bomber" is accused of planting a nail bomb near a Christmas market in Germany.

Migrants are seeking to marry "sham brides" who are pregnant with another man's child in a bid to exploit human rights laws and remain in Britain.

British Prime Minister Theresa May was met with awkward silence following a brief presentation to EU leaders.

Apple's tax bill chronicles a growing clash between Europe, the US and a shift in the EU's approach to tax affairs.

An "awkward" video of Theresa May at the EU summit has emerged in which the Prime Minister appears to be ignored.

The New Zealand dollar climbed more than expected and reached a 19-month high versus the euro following the European Central Bank's stimulus extension.

"Rasputin? Sure, just a few doors down, he's in the house with the smoking chimney."

The New Zealand dollar rose to an 18-month high against a broadly weaker euro.

Winning a Nobel Prize could arguably be the best Christmas present of all. But not for musician and lyricist Bob Dylan, one of this year's best-known laureates.

A child rapist has been jailed a decade after his crime when a mother realised what he did to her daughter while cleaning her room.

Matteo Renzi, the Italian prime minister, resigned late on Sunday night (Italian time) after losing a constitutional referendum.

Theresa May will challenge Parliament to defy the will of the people by voting down Article 50 - if the Government loses an appeal.

Going to prison is a nightmare . . . but what if it turns out to be for a romantic dinner, quirky shopping session or dream holiday?

If you think 2016 is a mess, just wait until you see what's next. A toxic mix of potential disasters could send Europe into a death spiral.

My literary ancestor was a remarkable man, writes Ewan McDonald, after a pint or two.

Nature has snatched this romantic coast from the clutches of industry, and swept Harriet O'Brien off her feet.

The deaths of two men, who died on an overnight tramp in the Tararua Ranges, have been referred to the Coroner.

Watch: Kiwi truck driver Louise Marriott is following in the footsteps of Jean Claude Van Damme.

The next 18 months presents Europe with a series of potentially existential challenges that could lead to the end the EU as we know it.