Political shocks dominated market moves in 2016
The Australian share market was heavily influenced by international events this year, and it is likely to happen again next year.
After a rollercoaster first half of 2016, shares fell below where they started after the Brexit vote -- and then again immediately after Donald Trump's election win in the United States.
But that was short-lived, Once the market focused on Mr Trump's economic policies, Australian shares have risen about 9 per cent since the US election outcome.
It has been a remarkable year for Australia’s Senate.
Once-in-a-generation changes to the Senate voting system were followed by the nation's first double-dissolution federal election since 1987.
The poll gave Australia one of its most diverse and divided Senates since Federation.
Terrorism
2016 saw many attacks deemed as terrorism around the world, from Africa to Asia, across the Middle East and to Europe and North America.
The self-proclaimed Islamic State took responsibility for some of the largest attacks.
Humanitarian Crisis and Asylum Seekers
2016 will go on the record as the year that saw the highest number of asylum-seeker deaths globally as they sought protection in an increasingly unwelcoming world.
That's according to the International Organisation for Migration, which says most continue to die or go missing in the Mediterranean Sea trying to reach Europe.
Border policies are due to become a focus for the EU bloc in 2017 when the new European coastguard is launched.
2016 brought to light more details of the federal government's secretive asylum regime, as it tried to fend off condemnation at home and abroad.
While Australia’s negotiations with the U-S to take refugees from Nauru and Papua New Guinea's Manus Island in exchange for some from Costa Rica is in doubt after the election of Donald Trump, the government confirmed a formal agreement was signed with Vietnam for repatriation of intercepted asylum seekers.
At home, the opposition and Greens disagree with the Coalition's proposed lifetime entry ban for asylum seekers who'd tried to reach Australia by sea.
Natural disasters that made headlines around the world in 2016.
Earthquakes, bushfires, floods and, in Australia, previously little-known thunderstorm asthma were among the natural disasters that made headlines around the world in 2016.
Thunderstorm asthma occurs when storms and rain cause pollen particles to burst, making them smaller and more easily inhaled.
In Australia, eight people died and more than 8,000 were hospitalised in Victoria after a thunderstorm-asthma attack in November.
Sports
The youngest-ever world number one, Australia’s Lleyton Hewitt retired from tennis after what was his 20th Australian Open.
Serena Williams had lost this year's French and Australian Open finals, but, at Wimbledon, she made it 22 Grand Slam triumphs.
West Indies took out the Men’s and Women’s Twenty20 World Cup
In football, Portugal achieved the unimaginable, defeating tournament host France in the European Championship final. The victory delivered the country its first major international trophy.
Leicester City redefined the fairytale, overcoming 5,000-to-1 odds to win its first English Premier League crown.
Australia too was gripped by underdog fever, in the AFL, it was the Western Bulldogs ending a 62-year premiership wait in their victory over the Sydney Swans.
In the NRL, Cronulla Sharks fans rejoiced after an epic first-ever rugby-league premiership, the Sharks defeating the Melbourne Storm in the decider.
Final farewells in 2016
Debbie Reynolds is the latest of many high-profile figures to leave us this year, from larger-than-life musicians to sporting legends.
Reynolds died a day after the death of her daughter, actress Carrie Fisher.
The year had barely begun when on January the 10th, music legend David Bowie died from liver cancer in his New York City apartment.
Another musical icon that passed away this year was Prince.Painkillers were found at his house following his death and an autopsy later revealed he died of an accidental fentanyl overdose.
In the sporting world, Muhammad Ali died at the age of 74, following a short battle with a respiratory illness.
Mourners wept on the streets in Thailand after King Bhumibol Adulyadej passed away at the age of 88.
Reactions were mixed to news of the death of Cuba's controversial former leader, Fidel Castro.
The ninth President of Israel, Shimon Peres, died in September.Widely regarded as a giant of Israeli politics, he served twice as prime minister, once as president and also won a Nobel Peace prize.
Literary talent Harper Lee , American film and theatre actor, Gene Wilder, English actor Alan Rickman, known for playing a variety of roles including Severus Snape in the Harry Potter series and songwriter and singer Leonard Cohen were among the high-profile figures to leave us this year.
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