Humanitarian agencies are warning that a failure to help millions of Nigerians on the brink of starvation could force huge numbers of people to leave the country. Currently close to five million people in Nigeria's northeast are food insecure.

German police are investigating what they call a probable terrorist attack after a man ploughed a lorry into a Christmas market in the heart of Berlin. Twelve people were killed and 48 others injured.

Russia's ambassador to Turkey was killed in a gun attack. The Russian Embassy in Turkey confirmed the attack, which happened as career diplomat Andrei Karlov was attending an art exhibition in the Turkish capital of Ankara.

Talks in the Democratic Republic of Congo between the ruling coalition and opposition have failed to reach a compromise on the political future of President Joseph Kabila. His mandate ends today but Kabila intends to stay in power until elections are organised.

The African Union says it is ready to deploy some 4 000 troops to South Sudan to restore peace in that country.

It's still not clear how many people died in the weekend disaster in southern Nigeria following the collapse of a church building . Reports of the death toll range from 22 to hundreds, depending on the source. In the meantime, authorities are going after the construction engineers who built the church.

Gambia's security forces have reportedly taken over the headquarters of the Electoral Commission. Electoral staff has also been barred from entering the building.

Children in Somalia continue to be affected by the long-running conflict in the country. The African Union has called for more concerted efforts to address the plight of young people, especially the threat from al-Shabaab militants.

Liberian President is leading a delegation to Gambia to mediate in that country's talks. Gambia's president-elect has said the outgoing leader, who rejects his own defeat, has no constitutional authority to call for another election.

Ghana's main opposition leader Nana Akufo-Addo has won the country's national election, defeating President John Mahama. The president Elect in his victory speech thanked the people of Ghana and promises to bring prosperity back to the country.