On a typical school day, 11% of students are absent. How can Australia fix this?

On a typical school day in Australia this year, about 11% of students were absent. In 2014, the figure was 7%.

Jail term for South Korea sex abuse ring boss upped to 47 years

Cho Ju-bin ran a group that blackmailed women and girls, including minors, into filming and sending sexual content.

Asian traders cheer US rate cut but gains tempered by outlook

Myanmar junta air strike on hospital kills 31: On-site aid worker

Johor regent Tunku Ismail launches ringgit-backed stablecoin RMJDT

RMJDT aims to enhance the ringgit’s international use in cross-border trade settlements and act as a catalyst for attracting foreign direct investment into Malaysia.

European Commission gives green light to construction of first nuclear power plant in Poland

According to the government, energy from the plant is expected to be cheaper than current alternatives and paves the way for Poland to have a stable and environmentally friendly energy system.

Africa: Creating Pathways for Women's Empowerment and Employment in Somalia

[World Bank] STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Africa: Turning Hope Into Action - Investing in Resilience Through Somalia's National Safety Net

[World Bank] STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Africa: U.S. to Mandate 5-Year Social Media History for Visa-Free Travellers

[Vanguard] The United States is seeking to introduce stricter digital-screening rules for millions of visitors entering the country under its Visa Waiver Program, proposing mandatory disclosure of social media activity spanning the past five years.

Africa: Age Restrictions Alone Won't Keep Children Safe Online

[Unicef] New York -- Statement by UNICEF as countries move to introduce social media bans for children

Africa: FAJ Calls for Urgent Protection Amidst Growing Threats Confronting African Journalists

[IFJ] FAJ and its affiliated journalist unions and associations continue to document intimidation, arbitrary detention, online harassment, censorship and physical attacks against journalists across the continent. These violations do not only endanger individual media

Sundance Title ‘How to Divorce During the War’ Boarded by New Europe (EXCLUSIVE)

New Europe Film Sales has acquired “How to Divorce During the War,” the third feature by Lithuanian director Andrius Blaževičius, ahead of its world premiere in the Sundance Film Festival’s World Cinema Dramatic Competition. New Europe described the film as “a sharp,

Trump says the U.S. has seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela

Using U.S. forces to take control of a merchant ship is unusual and marks the Trump administration's latest push to increase pressure on Maduro, who has been charged with narcoterrorism.

China’s ZTE may pay more than $1.3b to the US over foreign bribery allegations

The Justice Department is investigating ZTE for allegedly violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

Over 30 sanctioned ships in Venezuela at risk after US tanker seizure

By Marianna Parraga and Jonathan Saul HOUSTON/LONDON, Dec 10 (Reuters) - More than 30 U.S.-sanctioned oil vessels doing business in Venezuela could face ​punishment by Washington after the Coast Guard seized a supertanker ​carrying Venezuelan crude for export, according to

Sigourney Weaver Talks ‘Avatar,’ Legacy of ‘Alien’ Films: “Amazing to Me How Influential Ripley Has Been”

The iconic actress reflected on her career at Saudi Arabia's Red Sea International Film Festival.

Sea urchin species on brink of extinction after marine pandemic

Ecologically important Diadema africanum almost eliminated by unknown disease in Canary Islands A marine pandemic is bringing some species of sea urchin to the brink of extinction, and some populations have disappeared altogether, a study has found . Since 2021, Diadema

People in the UK spend half their online lives on platforms owned by Meta or Google, regulator says

Meta platforms dominate in messaging and social media, while Google is still the search engine of choice.

'Today, drugs are everywhere,' warns EU Drugs Agency director Alexis Goosdeel

After 10 years in office, the director of the EU Drugs Agency will step down at the end of the month. He takes stock of developments in the drugs market and outlines the challenges facing the bloc.

Canary Islands may be 'missing link' in global sea urchin killer pandemic

Sea urchins are ecosystem engineers, the marine equivalent of mega-herbivores on land. By grazing and shredding seaweed and seagrass, they control algal growth and promote the survival of slow-growing organisms like corals and some calcifying algae. They are likewise prey for a

Africa: The New U.S. National Security Strategy - a Transactional Document That Marginalizes Africa

[FPRI] The first official National Security Strategy (NSS) of the second Trump administration, dated November 2025 and publicly issued in early December 2025, is a document that some will hate and some will love. But many will scratch their heads in bewilderment as they try to

Africa: Press Killings in 2025 Equal Record High of 126 Killed in 2024

[CPJ] New York -- With more than three weeks still to go to the end of the year, the number of journalists and media workers killed worldwide in 2025 already equals 2024's record figures, data gathered by the Committee to Protect Journalists shows.

Mexico approves up to 50% tariffs on China and other countries

The levies are set to take effect on 1 January and will apply to goods like cars, clothing and appliances.

Africa: IEC Lesotho Ranked Among Top Four in Africa for Electoral Integrity

[Lesotho Times] The Independent Electoral Commission of Lesotho (IEC) has earned a prestigious continental accolade after the Electoral Integrity Global Report 2025 ranked Lesotho fourth in Africa for the quality and credibility of its electoral processes.

Racing towards great white sharks in Australia

Every day, workers lay 305 satellite-linked buoys in waters along the New South Wales coastline.

Golden Globes Honors Hend Sabry, Alia Bhatt at Red Sea Film Festival

The Golden Globes honored Tunisian actress Hend Sabry and Indian actress Alia Bhatt at a glitzy gala dinner during the fifth edition of Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Festival. Sabry was named the recipient of the Omar Sharif Award and Bhatt received the Golden Globes Horizon

Africa: Five Climate Trailblazers - UNEP's 2025 Champions of the Earth

[UN News] Global temperatures are projected to surpass 1.5°C (2.7°F) within the next decade, underscoring the urgency of the climate crisis.

Africa: Unesco Urges a Modern Rethink of the Right to Learn

[UN News] Despite major gains in access to schooling since 1960, widening inequalities driven by the climate crisis, conflicts and rapid technological change are leaving millions behind.

Africa: International Funding for 30x30 Biodiversity Target Falls Billions Short of Global Goals

[IPS] Nairobi -- A new study and interactive dashboard released today in Nairobi at the seventh session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) finds that current international financial flows remain billions of dollars short of what is required to achieve the global

Africa: The History of the Zambezi River Is a Tale of Culture, Conquest and Commerce

[The Conversation Africa] The Zambezi is Africa's fourth longest river, flowing through six countries: Angola, Zambia, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, where it becomes the largest river to flow into the Indian Ocean.

Africa: Early Shoppers - How African Consumers Set Global Trade Trends in the 1800s

[The Conversation Africa] A dynamic new "consumer class" emerging from Africa is attracting international attention. With the prospect of rising incomes and a young population, international consulting firms see the continent as the next frontier for consumer goods. Global

Japanese chess player calls out association's pregnancy bias

A prominent shogi player says current rules force players to choose between their children and careers.

Cambodia takes Thailand border conflict issue to UN Security Council, seeks urgent intervention

Cambodia accused Thailand of violating the ceasefire agreement and the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord.

Philippine ‘dinosaur egg’ salt gets UNESCO protection

Nicknamed the “dinosaur egg”, it is considered one of the rarest salt varieties in the world.

Scientists uncover the hidden survival trick that lets cancer bounce back

Scientists discovered that certain cancer cells use a low-level activation of a DNA-dismantling enzyme—normally seen in cell death—to survive treatment. Instead of dying, these “persister cells” leverage this sublethal signal to regrow. Because the mechanism is non-genetic, it

‘South Park’ Season 28 Finale: Trump Celebrates the Death of His Satanic Baby

The “South Park” Season 28 finale brought Christmas cheer to the small Rocky Mountain town and saw Donald Trump and Satan’s baby meet an untimely demise. At the episode’s climax, Trump, JD Vance, Peter Thiel and Pete Hegseth prepared for a showdown in the hospital against Stan,

Myanmar junta air strike on hospital kills 31, says on-site aid worker

The junta has increased air strikes year-on-year since the start of Myanmar’s civil war.

How Did 50 Cent Get That Sean Combs Footage? Diddy’s Videographer Explains

Michael Oberlies says the footage of Sean Combs talking to his team was released "by a third party who covered for me for three days while I was out of state"

Yemeni city buckles under surge of migrants seeking safety, work

Once a picturesque Red Sea port, the city of Aden in government-controlled Yemen has been transformed by the massive influx of people fleeing war: electricity cuts are constant, running water scarce and the meagre public services badly overstretched. The centuries-old city has

New report highlights positive impact of rewilding project on people and nature

A new report from researchers at the University of Derby has highlighted the positive impact that a city park's urban rewilding project is having on both people and nature.

How are humans changing the Arctic Ocean?

As part of the EU project ECOTIP, an international team of researchers, including the Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, has analyzed the sea off Greenland more comprehensively than ever before. The key question: How is the area developing in the face of climate change and environmental

Vietnam amends law to ban exports of raw rare earth minerals

Vietnam has reserves of 3.5 million tonnes of rare earth minerals, ranking it sixth globally.

Hassett says Fed has 'been way behind' on cutting interest rates

National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett on Wednesday said the Federal Reserve has "been way behind" on cutting interest rates before its narrow vote later in the day. "Well I think the futures markets expect that the Fed is going to cut rates, a kind of small amount of

Deadly November Asian storms ‘supercharged’ by climate change, researchers say

Tropical Cyclone Senyar devastated large parts of South-east Asia after forming in the Malacca Strait, killing nearly 1,200.

Proposed Russia-China pipeline needs 'tremendous work,' CNPC researcher says

BEIJING, Dec 11 - A proposed pipeline to carry gas from Siberia in Russia to China requires \"tremendous work, jobs and negotiations,\" a senior Chinese researcher said on Thursday.