Growth in annual visitor arrivals in New Zealand dropped to its lowest level in seven years, as the number of visitors from Asia continued to fall, New Zealand statistics department Stats NZ said on Thursday.

Attacks near a US military base in Afghanistan have killed two civilians and injured scores of others.

The Taliban have claimed responsibility.

Israel will hold its third general election in less than a year after parties missed the deadline on Wednesday to form a coalition government.

China has rejected the idea of joining a framework to discuss nuclear arms control with the United States and Russia.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying spoke to reporters on Wednesday.

12 December

Britain goes to the polls on Thursday to determine the immediate future of Brexit, in a vote described as the most important in a generation.

Three people were killed when a small airplane crashed on Gabriola Island, Canada Tuesday night, CTV reported Wednesday.

Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi may meet with his South Korean counterpart Kang Kyung-wha in Spain. The Japanese minister wants to ask the South Korean side to take steps over the issue of wartime labor.

11 December

Sri Lanka's ranking in the Human Development Index (HDI) has risen from 72 to 71 out of 189 countries, maintaining the country's status as the best performer in South Asia, local media reports quoting a report by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) said here o

Eight people remain unaccounted for on an island in New Zealand where a volcano erupted on Monday. 

White Island is a major tourist spot.