Paul Whelan: Family deny American arrested in Moscow is spy

The brother of a US citizen arrested for spying in Moscow says he was attending a wedding.

source https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-46730381

New Year's Eve beach bonfire sparks 'firenados' in the Netherlands

Revellers watched as on as multiple fires broke out in the resort of Scheveningen, in the Netherlands.

source https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-46727838

Magnitogorsk: Russian rescuers pull baby from rubble

An 11-month-old baby is pulled from the rubble of a collapsed block of flats in Magnitogorsk, Russia.

source https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-46730821

French revellers start 2019 stuck on fair ride

A helicopter was called in to help in Rennes after eight people got stuck more than 50 metres up.

source https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-46731001

Nasa probe survives distant flyby

Signals from Nasa probe confirm it survived flyby of Ultima Thule, most distant object ever explored in Solar System

source https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-46729898

Federer beats Williams in first meeting

Roger Federer teams up with Belinda Bencic to beat Serena Williams and Frances Tiafoe 2-1 at the Hopman Cup.

source https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/46728912

Bottrop: Four injured in Germany in New Year's Eve 'racist attack'

A 50-year-old man is accused of driving into people in Bottrop, injuring Syrian and Afghan citizens.

source https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-46730472

Sabarimala temple: Indian women form '620km human chain' for equality

Women in Kerala form a huge "women's wall" after protesters stopped them entering a Hindu temple.

source https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-46728521

French revellers spend New Year's Eve trapped on fair ride

A helicopter rescued eight French people after eight hours spent 52 metres (171ft) above Rennes.

source https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-46728115

New Year 2019: US military apologises for bomb tweet

Strategic Command, which oversees US nuclear weapons, tweeted that it was "ready to drop something".

source https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-46727991

Magnitogorsk: Death toll rises after block of flats explosion

Eight people are dead and dozens missing after an apartment block collapsed in Magnitogorsk.

source https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-46728114

Kentucky police mourn doughnut truck fire

Officers in Kentucky tweeted their misery after a fire destroyed a Krispy Kreme doughnut truck.

source https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-46728111

Germany adopts third gender identity for intersex people

As of 1 January, intersex Germans can now legally identify themselves as a third gender.

source https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-46727611