News Headlines - 19 December 2016

▽Russian Ambassador to Turkey Is Assassinated in Ankara - The New York Times

Russia’s ambassador to Turkey was assassinated at an Ankara art exhibit on Monday evening by a lone Turkish gunman shouting “God is great!” and “don’t forget Aleppo, don’t forget Syria!” in what the leaders of Turkey and Russia called a provocative terrorist attack.

▽Lagarde keeps IMF job, escapes penalty after negligence conviction in France | Reuters

International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde escaped punishment and kept her job on Monday despite a conviction on negligence charges over a state payout made while she served as France's finance minister in 2008.

▽Choi Soon-sil appears at first court hearing

The close friend of President Park Geun-hye, who is at the center of an influence-peddling scandal that has led up to the president's impeachment, appeared at the first court hearing Monday.

▽China's famous elevated bus is now just a giant roadblock

Video of the road-straddling bus cruising over the top of cars during a test run spread like wildfire on social media back in August. But the quirky vehicle now sits idle at the test site in northern China, where it has become a hulking eyesore.

▽Red Hot Chili Peppers Drummer Joins Babymetal For Judas Priest Medley (Video) - Blabbermouth.net

Japanese pop-metal sensation BABYMETAL was joined by a very special guest during their last show supporting RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS at the O2 Arena on December 18 — none other than RHCP drummer Chad Smith!