Morning Mail: Berlin market attacker still at large, Murdoch says he never asked PMs for help, One Nation candidate quits after two days

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Guardian Australia's Morning Mail Wednesday 21 December 2016 g One Nation candidate quits after two days Good morning, and welcome to the Morning Mail. Sign up here for our Guardian Today email, sent every day at noon, and you can sign up to our new Guardian Australia sport email here. Among the stories on our website this morning, a One Nation candidate selected for the Queensland state election withdrew after just two days because the party took exception to an "inappropriate" LGBT joke on Twitter. Andy Semple said: "It seems PHON [Pauline Hanson's One Nation] only likes certain types of Freedom of Expression." Keep reading for the rest of the top stories this morning, with more news from around Australia and the world.

Headlines Berlin attack: first suspect released as driver thought to still be at large – live Doubts raised over whether detained man was truck driver who killed 12 people and injured 48 at Berlin's Breitscheidplatz Jobs needed to stop flow of support to fringe groups – welfare expert Government needs to 'do quite a bit of work' to stimulate opportunities in failing regional economies, says Patrick McClure Trump on tape saying 'every racist thing ever', claims actor Tom Arnold The actor claims confidentiality clause prevented release of Apprentice outtakes that reportedly show president-elect using 'offensive' slurs and insulting his son Afghanistan hostage couple make video plea for 'Kafkaesque nightmare' to end Joshua Boyle and Caitlan Coleman appear with two young sons and urge US and Canadian governments to negotiate end to four-year ordeal Meeting notes contradict Murdoch claim not to have asked PMs for help Minutes of 1998 meeting show media mogul asked Tony Blair to 'rein in' European commission on Sky-BT deal Australian news and politics Gunshots fired at CFMEU's Melbourne office 'I don't know why they've resorted to this,' says construction secretary John Setka after front door shattered in 3am shooting Taipan snake bite leaves elderly Australian man fighting for his life Quick-thinking paramedic heard about patient's rapid decline and raced a dose of anti-venom to the house in Cairns Toddler dies after alleged assault by mother's partner in western Sydney The two-year-old girl was allegedly assaulted by a 22-year-old man, who police say will now have his charge upgraded to murder Catherine Burn and Nick Kaldas get adverse NSW police bugging findings Ombudsman says Burn's conduct during Project Mascot was unlawful in one instance, while Kaldas may have given false evidence Woman dies after reportedly being stabbed in Perth courthouse Woman, in her 30s, reportedly attacked in mediation room at Joondalup magistrates court about 10am on Tuesday Former Billabong boss Matthew Perrin convicted of fraud Jury finds former chief executive guilty of six counts of forgery and three counts of fraud after he faked ex-wife's signature Trump-style political disaffection taking hold in Australia, review says Academic review of 2016 federal election warns trend of dissatisfaction with politicians should be seen as 'wake up call' Around the world Berlin Christmas market attacker still on the loose, say police Investigators say they arrested wrong man over truck attack that killed 12 and injured dozens more in German capital '20 dead' in DRC protests after president's term expires Opposition leader calls on Congolese people to peacefully resist 'illegitimate leader' amid clashes with security forces Moscow and Ankara present united front after Russian ambassador's murder Turkey and Russia say they will continue to seek solution to end Syria conflict as Andrei Karlov's body is repatriated after airport ceremony FBI search warrant for Clinton emails on Anthony Weiner's laptop made public Court papers, previously under seal, from investigation into relationship between Weiner and a teenager girl offered no new revelations about Clinton's emails Electoral college formally elects Donald Trump as president Trump victory sealed despite demonstrations across the country, with Congress to formally endorse result in special session on 6 January

One last thing What a 2016 of a year. Never again This year we have a new numerical descriptor that is sure to become part of the lingo: a four-numeral word that elegantly describes the folly of under-estimating our collective capacity to make irrational and destructive decisions. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you 2016. And hasn't 2016 been a total 2016 of a year? Have an excellent day and if you spot something I've missed, let me know on Twitter at @earleyedition.

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