In a nation where the official COVID death toll is approaching 450,000, the payment has been agreed as a way to help families cope with their loss.

The former prime minister will meet with President Tsai Ing-Wen and her National Security Council to bolster Australia’s relationship with the democratic island.

The American academic who founded the course, looked out at 11 eager students. One wore a Yoko Ono T-shirt; another had a yellow submarine tattooed on his arm.

Actor Yulia Peresild and director Klim Shipenko blasted off for the International Space Station in a Russian Soyuz spacecraft together with cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov.

The best photos from the international wire agencies as chosen by our picture editors

There have been lots of talk and little action in the US when it comes to regulating social media giants such as Facebook. That could be about to change.

The chair of the committee scrutinising Facebook said the social media giant was facing its “Big Tobacco jaw-dropping moment of truth”.

The Neighbours stars are no rival for the real love affair between the countries, Britain’s new Foreign Secretary Liz Truss told a crowd of government advisers.

Officials said the reasons for the failed missions included poor tradecraft; being too trusting of sources; underestimating foreign intelligence agencies,

French President Emmanuel Macron and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken explored potential US-French cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and other areas.

The Catholic Church had shown “deep, total and even cruel indifference for years,” protecting itself rather than the victims of what was systemic abuse in France, the report found.

“Recent tragic events have exposed unimaginable failures in policing,” UK Home Secretary Priti Patel said as she announced the independent inquiry.

The scientists from Japan, Germany and Italy have been working in the field for decades.

The agreement would allow for the use of hydrogen to make steel and transform the iron ore export industry.

As helicopters and flying cars are expected to compete with drones, the government is developing technology to prevent midair collisions.

The best photos from the international wire agencies as chosen by our picture editors

A lone actor telling the story of being raped as a child by a priest was made all the more extraordinary and heart-rending because it was true.

Former Labor senator Sam Dastyari’s ties with a billionaire Chinese political donor were raised in Singapore’s Parliament as controversial new powers were approved.

Rather than promote high-minded notions of free trade, Biden’s top trade adviser Katherine Tai said the US must defend its own economic interests to “the hilt”.

A new study by an Australian cyber security firm concludes the COVID-19 “virus was highly likely to be spreading virulently in Wuhan, China as early as the summer of 2019”.

Rishi Sunak, Chancellor of the Exchequer conceded that shortages could continue into the pre-Christmas period and said there was no quick fix to the problem.

Recent victories around the world have given rise to speculation that the pandemic has unleashed forces that favour progressive parties.

The British minister in charge of next month’s crunch climate summit in Glasgow has challenged “one of our closest mates” to do more to fight global warming.

The US federal government is set to run out of money in two weeks, a development that would wipe out millions of jobs and crash the stock market.

At age 90, Shatner will become the oldest person in space. He’ll join three others – including an Australian – on the Blue Origin flight.

David Julius and Ardem Patapoutian findings could pave the way for new pain killers, the award-giving organisation said.

New Zealand’s coronavirus elimination dream is dead. The government must now motivate more people to vaccinate.

The ailing Chinese property developer is looking to secure a rescue merger to avoid defaulting on billions of dollars worth of debt.

Taiwan has welcomed Australia’s decision to acquire nuclear submarines to defend the Indo-Pacific after China’s largest ever “military aggression” in the Taiwan Strait.

The country said it would soon cancel the vaccination passports of those who are eligible for, but have not yet received, a third vaccination shot.

Liaison officials from the South and North Korea exchanged messages over a cross-border channel on Monday morning, with more to come.

The best photos from the international wire agencies as chosen by our picture editors

Sisay Lemma had the best result of his career but was whisked off amid fears he could infect fellow medal holders with COVID.

Britain’s new Foreign Secretary says Britain and its allies must build a “Network of Liberty”.

Replica of famous statue will have buttocks hidden to respect Muslim culture.

The coronavirus has continued to spread even in this remote and highly vaccinated corner of Colorado.

In the battle over the South China Sea, a radio operator was hailed a hero on social media and lauded in local news reports as “the woman who made the Chinese ships go away”.

Coal is driving Beijing’s energy crisis, leaving behind some painful lessons for officials and businesses across the country.

Voters have backed a radical proposal to nationalise big landlords, in a bid to bring rents under control.

Facebook has been accused of making mistakes following the failed election bid of Donald Trump, which ultimately led it to be used in the storming of the US Capitol.

Prince Andrew’s ex-wife has been linked to his sex abuse case due to the Duke’s alibi that he was at a Pizza Express with family members at the time of the alleged offence.

The best photos from the international wire agencies as chosen by our picture editors

Blotted out words from hundreds-year old letters have been revealed by scientists with groundbreaking new X-ray imaging.

The milestone is deeply frustrating to doctors, public health officials and the American public, who watched a pandemic that had been easing earlier in the summer take a dark turn.

The images were taken as part of an ambitious attempt by scientists to investigate the planet closest to the Sun.

The results may also explain why the Delta variant is so contagious - and why it displaced all other versions of the virus.

The world needs to send a powerful message to the Taliban that their actions — not their words — are under a microscope. 

The world’s attention will be focused on Scotland for next month’s climate summit, Queen Elizabeth told Scottish lawmakers on Saturday, adding that they would have an important role making a better, healthier world.

The surprise move by Duterte has fuelled speculation he was clearing the way for his daughter to run for office and succeed him.

Experts have hailed is as a potential breakthrough in the treatment of the disease, although the study has not been peer reviewed and is yet to be approved for use.