Spotify has named its biggest songs and artists of the last decade, based on the listening habits of more than 248 million global users.

The South Pacific region of Bougainville has voted overwhelmingly for independence from Papua New Guinea, a major step towards the island group becoming the world’s newest nation.

Graphic shows a selection of events scheduled during 2020. Events include crucial elections in the U.S. as well as major sports events such as the Tokyo Olympics and the UEFA EURO 2020.

Graphic shows a selection of events scheduled during 2020. Events include crucial elections in the U.S., Taiwan, Iran, Israel, South Korea, and Hong Kong, as well as major sports events such as the Tokyo Olympics and the UEFA EURO 2020.

Findings this year include revelations about the role of women in illuminating sacred medieval texts, the domestication of wild apples, and the genetic background of modern Tibetans.

Archaeologists have discovered a cave painting in Indonesia that is at least 43,900 years old and which portrays the oldest pictorial record of storytelling and the earliest figurative artwork in the world.

A months-long drought across parts of southern Africa has seriously affected water levels in the Kariba Dam, threatening hydroelectric plants that Zimbabwe and Zambia depend on for the bulk of their power.

Six people have been killed at a hospital in the eastern Czech city of Ostrava Czech Republic after a gunman opened fire in a waiting room. The apparent suspect later shot himself dead.

The Geminid meteor shower occurs when the Earth crosses the orbital path of a mysterious object called “3200 Phaethon”. The shower will hit its peak on the night of Friday, December 13.

At a London summit marking NATO’s 70th anniversary, leaders of the 29-member alliance will likely adopt a Franco-German proposal for reform after U.S. President Donald Trump questioned its relevance.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson hopes to sign a free trade agreement with the EU by the end of 2020. While the EU enjoys a bilateral trade surplus in goods, the UK is far more competitive in the area of services.

Arms sales of the world’s 100 largest arms-producing and military services companies hit $420.4 billion in 2018, an increase of 4.6 per cent compared with 2017, according to the SIPRI Top 100.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin have agreed a ceasefire and the exchange all prisoners in the war between Kyiv and Moscow-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Apple is likely going to include an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner hidden behind the screen of an upcoming iPhone. Samsung uses the technology in two of its devices but they have been plagued with problems.

At least five people have died and eight are presumed dead after White Island volcano erupted off New Zealand’s North Island. Some of the 31 injured may not survive as they were so severely burned, doctors warned

A review of major news stories in 2019 includes the ongoing pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, Turkey’s incursion into northern Syria, the grounding of Boeing’s entire 737 Max fleet, and Amazon wildfires.

Beijing has attacked a U.S. bill targeting China’s vast network of re-education camps. Xinjiang Governor Shohrat Zakir has claimed all the “students” have “graduated” and are living happy lives.

President Emmanuel Macron hopes his highly contentious overhaul of the pension system will substantially reduce the cost of France’s current system, one of the most expensive in the world.

A growing number of countries are participating in naval missions in the Middle East to safeguard shipping lanes amid continuing tensions with Iran. Japan is the latest country to consider sending forces to the Gulf region.

What has been the most significant scientific development of the year?  The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) has drawn up a shortlist of breakthroughs of the year.

As NATO leaders gather in London to mark the alliance’s 70th birthday, U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to renew demands that European allies and Canada step up defence spending.

The last decade has been one of “exceptional” heat around the world and was almost certainly the hottest on record, preliminary data by the World Meteorological Organization show.

China, the world’s biggest greenhouse gas emitter, is building more coal-fired power plants and approving dozens of new mines in a bid to boost its slowing economy. China burns about half the coal used globally each year.

Sotheby’s is holding an online-only auction dedicated to Star Wars collectibles, ahead of the release of the last movie in the triple trilogy, “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker”. Bidding begins on November 29.

British voters are heading to the polls for the third time in less than four years after lawmakers backed Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s call for a snap election just two weeks before Christmas.

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) voted in favour of incoming Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s new team by 461 to 157 against.The new team will take office on December 1.

Japan’s Tohoku Electric Power has won initial regulatory approval to restart a nuclear reactor at its Onagawa power plant – the closest reactor to the epicentre of the 2011 Fukushima disaster.

Technology-driven toys continue to propel festive sales at the end of 2019, as they have done in recent years. 17 months after closing all stores, Toys R Us is to open a new store in the U.S. on November 30.

The UN is warning that countries will have to increase carbon-cutting goals five-fold if the world is to avoid warming by more than 1.5 degrees Celsius this century compared with pre-industrial times.

Russia expects to start up its first gas pipeline to China, known as Power of Siberia. The pipeline aims to transport 38 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas a year when it reaches its full capacity.

Strict International Maritime Organization rules kick in on January 1 to reduce air pollution, prohibiting ships from using fuels containing more than 0.5% sulphur -- down from 3.5% today.

A record number of female candidates have registered to take part in Britain’s general election. Since first being permitted to stand in 1918, 494 women have taken their seats as Members of the House of Commons.

British political parties will try to win the constituencies which had the smallest majorities in the 2017 election. Here are the top 34 most marginal seats around the UK which parties will target in a snap poll on December 12.

With the UK deeply divided over Brexit, how people voted in the 2016 referendum is key to which party they will support in the snap election called by Boris Johnson. The British public will head to the polls on December 12.

Tech giant Google is launching gaming service Stadia on Tuesday, which allows gamers to jump into the latest titles with little more than a decent broadband connection and a Google Chrome browser.

The European Commission’s incoming President, Ursula von der Leyen, is planning to present “European Green Deal” legislation -- to enshrine climate neutrality in EU law -- at the next EU summit.

Britons head to the polls in a December election to help break the Brexit deadlock, with each of the major parties taking a different stance on how, when and whether the UK should leave the European Union.

The final episode of the current Star Wars trilogy hits cinemas in December -- bringing to a close nine epic space operas, spanning over 40 years of historic science fiction filmmaking.

As the Arctic, including much of Siberia, warms twice as fast as the rest of the world, the permafrost -- permanently frozen ground -- is thawing, putting cities, oil pipelines and other infrastructure at risk.

A look back at some of the international sports events and personalities that made headlines in 2019. Key events included the Rugby World Cup in Japan, the Cricket World Cup in England, and France’s successful hosting of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The 2020 Tour de France starts in the south and takes in all five of the country’s mountain ranges, three of which, the Alps, Massif Central and Pyrenees, are tackled in the first eight days.

Champions from the six continental competitions compete in Qatar to become the Champion of Champions at the FIFA Club World Cup, with Liverpool and Flamengo favourites to contest the final. Al-Sadd represents the host nation.

The venues for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics are focussed in the “Heritage Zone” which includes iconic venues used at the Tokyo 1964 Games and the “Tokyo Bay Zone”, a model for exciting new urban development.