Australian police charge Russian-Australian man over alleged Russian spy operation

Thousands of students across the Gaza Strip achieved success in this year’s Tawjihi high school examinations despite months of conflict, displacement and severe disruptions to daily life, demonstrating remarkable determination to continue their education under extraordinary circumstances. The annual Tawjihi examinations, which play a decisive role in determining admission to universities and future careers, were completed by thousands of Palestinian students who prepared for the tests while living through prolonged instability, damaged infrastructure and limited access to educational resources. Among the success stories were three siblings from Khan Younis who earned outstanding grades after months of dedicated study. Despite facing repeated challenges during the academic year, the family celebrated their achievements, describing education as a source of hope and resilience. The students said the difficult conditions often made it emotionally exhausting to continue studying. However, they remained focused on their academic goals and credited their family for providing encouragement throughout the year. They said their success represented not only personal achievement but also a reward for months of perseverance. The family’s journey was particularly challenging because two of the siblings have physical disabilities, making regular attendance at private tuition difficult. Their parents arranged for teachers to conduct lessons at home, ensuring they could continue their studies despite mobility challenges and the difficult security situation. Their mother said years of continuous support, confidence and determination helped her children overcome obstacles. She expressed pride in their achievements, saying their success proved that dedication and family support can help students overcome even the most difficult circumstances. Education officials said nearly 89,000 students from the occupied Palestinian territories took the Tawjihi examinations this year, while thousands of Palestinian students living abroad also participated. Authorities added that more than 36,000 students from Gaza alone sat for the examinations despite the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Officials also noted the heavy impact of the conflict on the education sector. Hundreds of schools have reportedly been damaged, while many educational institutions remain unusable because of destruction. In many areas, students attended lessons inside temporary shelters, tents or partially damaged buildings where classrooms lacked desks, chairs and basic learning facilities. Teachers continued providing instruction despite the challenging conditions. Many educators said they had to support students emotionally as well as academically because many had lost family members or been forced to leave their homes during the conflict. One mathematics teacher said students often arrived carrying emotional trauma, making psychological support just as important as classroom instruction. She explained that teachers tried to encourage students, helping them remain focused on their studies despite the hardships surrounding them. Several students also shared deeply personal stories of loss. One student who lost multiple close family members during the conflict said completing her examinations became both an emotional struggle and a tribute to her loved ones. Although she celebrated passing the exams, she said the moment was bittersweet because many family members were no longer alive to witness her achievement.

A Ghanaian court has sentenced senior opposition politician Bernard Antwi Boasiako to 20 years in prison with hard labour after finding him guilty of illegal mining related offences, triggering a strong political reaction and renewed debate over the country’s fight against unlawful mining. Boasiako, widely known as Chairman Wontumi, is the Ashanti regional chairman of the opposition New Patriotic Party and the first high profile politician to be convicted since Ghana launched a nationwide crackdown on illegal mining in 2017. In addition to the prison sentence, the court ordered him to pay fines exceeding 10,000 dollars. Reports from the courtroom said Boasiako appeared visibly stunned as the verdict and sentence were announced. He had denied all charges throughout the trial. The court found him guilty of transferring mineral rights without official approval and facilitating unlicensed mining operations through his company, Akonta Mining. Prosecutors argued that the company allowed two individuals to carry out mining activities on its concession without the required authorisation from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources. The ruling has sparked anger within the New Patriotic Party, which described the conviction as politically motivated. Party officials accused the government of selectively targeting opposition figures while ignoring evidence they believe would have cleared Boasiako of wrongdoing. NPP General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong criticised the judgement and said the campaign against illegal mining would lose credibility if it focused only on political opponents. He confirmed that the party’s legal team has already started the appeal process in an effort to overturn the conviction. Illegal mining, commonly known in Ghana as galamsey, has remained one of the country’s biggest environmental challenges for years. The activity has polluted rivers, damaged forests and destroyed large areas of farmland despite repeated government efforts to stop it. As Africa’s largest gold producer, Ghana has struggled to balance economic interests with environmental protection. Successive governments have launched military operations and stricter enforcement measures to curb illegal mining, but the practice continues to spread in many parts of the country. Environmental activists welcomed the court’s decision, describing it as a major step towards greater accountability. They argued that the conviction sends a clear message that politicians and influential business figures are not above the law when it comes to environmental crimes. Adib Saani, Executive Director of the Jatikay Centre for Human Security and Peace Building, said the verdict demonstrates the importance of holding powerful individuals accountable if Ghana hopes to protect its forests, rivers and natural resources from further destruction. The case is expected to remain politically sensitive as Boasiako’s legal appeal moves forward. It also places renewed attention on Ghana’s campaign against illegal mining, with many observers watching closely to see whether similar cases involving influential figures will be pursued in the future.

Communities across southern Japan are facing growing hardship after a powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake left at least 17 people dead, damaged essential infrastructure, and cut off water and electricity for thousands of residents. As emergency teams continue rescue and relief operations, authorities are racing to address the worsening impact of intense summer temperatures on affected communities. The earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture on Tuesday, causing widespread destruction in Yatsushiro, a port city where cracked roads, collapsed buildings, and broken water pipelines have made daily life increasingly difficult. While damaged homes and public buildings are visible reminders of the disaster, local officials say the lack of clean water and electricity has become one of the biggest challenges facing residents. Akio Matsushita, a city official involved in coordinating relief efforts, said restoring the damaged water system could take a long time because of the scale of the destruction. He explained that repair crews are still assessing the underground damage and cannot estimate when normal services will resume. With temperatures reaching around 35 degrees Celsius and humidity remaining high, the shortage of water has become especially dangerous. Even city hall has been affected, forcing officials to install temporary toilets above sewer manholes after indoor facilities stopped working. Authorities have confirmed that at least 17 people lost their lives in the earthquake. Most of the deaths occurred at a paper manufacturing plant operated by Nippon Paper Industries, where severe structural damage trapped workers. Others were reported at an Aeon shopping mall after what officials believe may have been a gas explosion. Six more people remain in cardiopulmonary arrest, while authorities continue investigating additional deaths that may also be linked to the earthquake. Including those cases, the overall death toll could rise to 28. Emergency responders are also preparing for another serious threat as weather forecasts predict temperatures could approach 40 degrees Celsius over the coming days. Officials have warned that people staying in evacuation centres face an increased risk of heat related illnesses. To reduce that danger, Japan’s Self Defense Forces have begun installing around 300 air conditioning units at evacuation shelters and other important relief locations throughout Kumamoto Prefecture. In the hours after the earthquake, military vehicles transported large water tanks to schools and community centres across Yatsushiro. Emergency water stored beneath city hall has been used to refill the tanks, allowing residents to collect drinking water. However, supplies remain limited, with each person allowed only three litres. Among those waiting for water was Masahiro Miyamoto, who spent hours clearing debris after a temple gate collapsed during the quake. Although his own home remained standing, the neighbouring house was destroyed. Without running water, he has depended entirely on military water deliveries. He said the few stores that reopened after the disaster were crowded with shoppers trying to buy food and other essentials, while long lines formed outside petrol stations as people rushed to fill their vehicles. Japan’s location along the Pacific Ring of Fire makes earthquakes a frequent occurrence. The country has invested heavily in earthquake resistant construction and emergency preparedness, helping reduce casualties during many disasters. Even so, powerful earthquakes continue to cause severe disruption, especially in regions with major industrial facilities. The latest earthquake has also affected manufacturing across Kyushu, an important centre for Japan’s automobile and semiconductor industries. Several leading companies, including Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Aisin, and Sony, temporarily suspended parts of their production while inspections were carried out. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company also evacuated workers and briefly stopped operations to ensure facilities remained safe. Many residents of Kumamoto still remember the devastating earthquakes that struck the region in 2016, killing more than 260 people and destroying thousands of homes. Even those who survived that disaster said this week’s shaking felt stronger in parts of Yatsushiro. Miyamoto recalled shelves crashing to the floor and computers being thrown across rooms. He said the violent movement was unlike anything he had experienced before, describing the sensation as if he had been lifted off the ground and tossed through the air.

The number of young and skilled people leaving the United Kingdom has increased significantly in recent years, raising concerns about the country’s ability to retain its talent. However, experts have cautioned against describing the trend as a complete “brain drain,” saying many people may eventually return to the UK. Official figures show that around 246,000 British citizens left the country last year, while the number of Britons returning was considerably lower. The gap between departures and returns has continued to widen since 2022. People under the age of 35 make up a significant proportion of those leaving the UK. Rising living costs, high taxes, expensive housing and increasing education costs are among the factors encouraging young people to consider opportunities abroad. The UK’s labour market has also become a concern for young graduates. Unemployment has reached 5.2 per cent, while the number of graduate-level job opportunities has reportedly fallen by around 45 per cent. London, in particular, has become increasingly expensive for young professionals. High rents and the overall cost of living are making it difficult for many people to establish themselves financially. Research suggests that the desire among young Britons to live and work abroad is growing. According to a British Council study, 72 per cent of Britons aged 18 to 30 are considering living and working overseas either temporarily or for a longer period. Canada and Australia are emerging as popular destinations for Britons seeking better career opportunities and a lower cost of living. The trend has sparked debate over whether Britain is becoming less attractive to skilled workers. Experts, however, say migration should not automatically be viewed as a permanent loss of talent. Many young professionals move abroad to gain international experience, improve their career prospects or seek better living conditions. Some may eventually return to Britain after gaining experience overseas. The growing number of departures nevertheless presents a challenge for the UK economy. Retaining young graduates and skilled professionals is increasingly important as the country faces pressure from rising living costs and a competitive global labour market.