World News Update, what you need to know

A lawyer says a grand jury in New York City has declined to indict a white police officer in the chokehold death of an unarmed black man in July.

ELSEWHERE:

LOS ANGELES - Three women who claim they were victimised by Bill Cosby are scheduled to appear at a press conference called by attorney Gloria Allred.

NEW YORK - About three dozen police officers will be fitted with body cameras in New York by this weekend as part of a three-month pilot program.

BRUSSELS - The US-led coalition against the Islamic State group says it is finally stopping the advance of the jihadists across Iraq and Syria, but warned it could take years to finally defeat them.

FREETOWN - World Bank chief Jim Yong Kim has announced a $US160 million ($A173 million) two-year economic recovery plan to help impoverished Sierra Leone battle the worst Ebola outbreak on record.

ROME - The captain of the Costa Concordia has told his manslaughter trial that gravity, not cowardice, had been behind his decision to abandon ship with passengers and crew still aboard.