World

Women need reliable internet and computing devices. But it is equally important that they get to shape how AI systems are designed, deployed, and governed.

Artificial intelligence could reshape the labour market in ways that disproportionately affect women. Research suggests women are more likely than men to work in jobs exposed to automation.

Instead of a thrust on key areas such as women and children’s health, the government has chosen to expand tertiary health care.

Indonesia is seeing rising signs of suicidality among children as school pressure, economic stress and limited mental‑health support strain young lives.

For women, particularly in midlife, keeping up regular physical activity plays a huge role in countering muscle loss related to hormonal shifts during menopause and supporting long-term well-being.

Female circumcision, which is categorised as a type of FGM/C by WHO, was not always mainly the domain of Muslim communities. Proponents of the practice may rail against Western influence for denouncing their traditional practice, but women in the UK were also once subjected to clitoridectomies to treat ‘hysteria’, epilepsy, depression, masturbation, and distaste of their spouse, before the practice was completely ceased and is now illegal in the country.

Public debate on the ban has focused on parenting choices. But the real issue is corporate compliance, technical design, and safe spaces for young people.

While Indonesia has made strides as the first Asian country to pass a specific legal provision against FGM/C, its regressive policies in the past promoted the medicalisation of the practice, with impacts that continue to reverberate in the country today.

India overtook China in 2023 to become the world’s most populous nation. The country’s youthful workforce could be its greatest asset—or its hardest challenge.

Asia accounts for almost 35 per cent (8 million girls and women) of FGM/C cases worldwide. Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore have the highest FGM/C medicalisation rates among countries in Asia.

“The data shows that many women first experience violence from a partner when they are adolescents. And many children grow up watching their mothers being pushed, hit or humiliated, with violence a part of daily life,” said UNICEF executive director Catherine Russell, citing a new report by WHO on Violence Against Women. Progress on reducing intimate partner violence has been painfully slow with only 0.2 per cent annual decline over the past two decades.

China has made AI education compulsory for primary school students but a similar move in India will have to contend with multiple challenges.

The government must devise strong educational mechanisms to help students from underprivileged backgrounds to compete.

There’s a boom in the use of weight loss medications with more new ones on their way, but they are recommended only for the clinically obese.

Interventions such as formal support systems are needed for Australia’s exhausted, overwhelmed mental health nurses.

Promoting sustainable livelihoods for women in Uttarakhand requires addressing their economic marginalisation and focusing on hill-centric employment strategies.

As science moves closer to machine-mediated gestation, lawmakers face urgent questions on rights, ethics and reproductive autonomy.

Targeted support through social and health protection measures can safeguard elderly and vulnerable populations during increasingly frequent and severe heatwaves.

Changes in curriculum design, school culture, adequate teacher preparation and appropriate pedagogy are crucial to achieve the goals of inclusive education.

Strengthening health systems to support breastfeeding is not just a health imperative, it is a moral and economic imperative.

When we’re asking commercial actors to be partners in processes that contribute to public health, we have to remember that they are bound by rules that institutionalise a requirement to put profit over public health interest, says Monica Kosinska from WHO. Meanwhile, Ron Labonte, professor emeritus at the University of Ottawa says world health is nearing the tipping points in its existential crises caused by rising inequalities, ecological collapse, migration, and a rise in autocratic regimes.

“Inequalities are also growing within many countries with evidence that greater inequality produces poorer health for the poor and the middle classes alike,” said David McCoy, research lead at the United Nations University International Institute for Global Health. “There is a sound epidemiological basis for exploring the association between concentrated power and wealth and its influence on health governance.”

New report shows an almost 50 per cent reduction since start of century, but world fails to reach elimination targets.

About 28 million unemployed educated youth in India are looking for jobs. And about 100 million, mostly women, have stopped looking for jobs.

Institutional delivery care must translate into postnatal care, especially for women from underserved communities.

There is no dearth of treatments that claim to hold back ageing. No magic pill exists that is proven to work – but we do know of some that might.

The continuing ‘intimate violence’ of unnecessary hysterectomies in India is a failure of public policy to include hospital audits.

As nanomedicine matures and turns “smart”, it is poised to usher in a new era in personalised therapies.

“The health sector has an essential role in preventing FGM: health workers must be agents for change rather than perpetrators of this harmful practice, and must also provide high quality medical care for those suffering its effects,” said Dr Pascale Allotey, WHO’s director for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research.

Transgender Australians risk being caught in the crossfire if politicians turn issues that hardly affect most people into supposed threats to broader society.

Following a rights-based approach will ensure effective participation of disabled persons in India’s economy.

Shrinking budgets and job insecurity means there are fewer opportunities for young journalists, and that’s bad news, especially in regional Australia.

Without urgent action, pregnant women in multiple countries will face severe repercussions – particularly those in humanitarian settings where maternal deaths are already alarmingly high.

The Muhammad Yunus government has failed miserably in checking incidents of rape and sexual violence against women.

Despite substantial money set aside for the welfare of India’s women and girls, gender equality remains an elusive goal.

Central, eastern and northeastern India lag behind in access to the government’s menstrual health and hygiene programmes. This needs to change.

Women’s employment rates remain far below men’s, with only 46.4 per cent of working-age women employed in 2024, compared to 69.5 per cent of men. At the current pace of progress, achieving equality in employment rates would take almost two centuries.

The denial of essential sexual and reproductive health services including abortion services constitutes discrimination against women. Therefore, the ‘global gag rule’ should be viewed as an onslaught on justice – especially for the most disenfranchised and vulnerable in the world, who are likely to suffer the most, say Global South NGOs, activists.

Quantitative summaries of how women spend their time are helping make gendered, unpaid labour and care work visible.

A newly released unique data source sheds light on the prevalent absence of women in corporate boardrooms across Europe.

As populist rhetoric rises, a new study uncovers how gender stereotypes amplify voter biases, challenging candidates to rethink strategies.

Forget dry lectures. Accounting case study games blend theory with hands-on practice, helping students tackle real-world business challenges.

Scammers exploit social media, online gaming and other digital platforms to deceive and defraud their younger victims.

Recognising the leadership role of women is essential to addressing climate change across the Indo-Pacific.

Adapting to the realities of climate change means recognising how gender differences create unique vulnerabilities.

Specific pledges at the event include commitments to end physical punishment, introduce new digital safety initiatives, increase the legally permitted age of marriage, and invest in parenting education and child protection.

To many, the idea of ‘one person, one vote’ is sacrosanct. But a case can be made that in certain circumstances, some voters should have more of a say.

Preschoolers are embracing AI to teach them, preparing for a tech-driven future.

There is a dire need to strengthen the skills Indian students need to be attractive to future employers. AI can help.

The AI revolution can be leveraged to strengthen sex and gender health equity, rather than reinforce bias.

Here are three perspectives and possible ways forward to remove the heat from the debate around international student caps in Australia.

There is an urgent need for intensified global action to combat childhood sexual violence and build a safer future for children.

Not all students who miss school want to. Technology can keep connections in a mass disruption to old school models.

Inspiring women are driving sustainable solutions and empowering communities, showcasing their potential to shape a more equitable and sustainable future.

Expecting a social problem to be entirely addressed by a legislative solution is likely to lead to disappointment.

Education is a key to putting the world on a pathway that generates more economic activity, equity, and sustainability for all.

The UN’s leadership still lacks gender balance, with only a fraction of member states appointing female diplomats despite global targets for representation.

Legislation establishing a new National Student Ombudsman — a single, streamlined complaints mechanism — promises to be transformative.

A new model empowering Indonesian women to deal with the physical, sexual and psychological challenges of menopause may be a game-changer.

In patriarchal societies, women often express relief upon reaching menopause, allowing them greater freedom and a more carefree life.

Menopause and menstrual health are closely linked. Promoting good practices in one will benefit the other.

At least 11 million children are trafficked for labour in India. Poor implementation of laws and training of stakeholders hinder efforts to curb the practice.

Indonesia’s child marriage rate remains high, driven by poverty and tradition. Preventing it means dealing with its deep cultural and socio-economic roots.

It’s not just JD Vance, and it’s not just the US. Almost 30 per cent of countries globally now have pronatalist policies — up from 10 per cent in the 1970s.

The language used around having children or not shapes societal views, highlighting the need for inclusive terms to respect all reproductive choices.

Delayed marriages coupled with the growing aspiration of young people choosing to remain childfree may have a substantial impact on Indonesia’s fertility rate.

Increased gender equality has empowered more Icelandic women to choose to remain childfree but it hasn’t dampened societal expectations they will procreate.

There’s still much to learn about the link between sex differences and autoimmune diseases, which affect more females than males and currently have no cure.

Governments and industry associations have failed to address the question of safety of women in the entertainment industry.

In an election campaign that appears to be fuelled by vibes and buzzwords, what policies will fuel the Harris campaign after the glitzy DNC in Chicago?

The rape and murder of a young female doctor has renewed the demand for safe workplaces for health workers in India.

They have cast a shadow over the international education sector, but do the reasons politicians espouse for the changes stack up?

Closing the gender gap in the Pacific Islands is an ambitious task, but there are concrete, practical steps that can be taken to accelerate progress.

The plight of women in the Pacific is well documented. A recent conference in the Pacific has made important strides forward.

Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thailand’s youngest prime minister, faces immense political risks as she steps into a role shadowed by her family’s turbulent legacy.

It’s expected that PhD graduates and full-time researchers can teach, but without adequate training and support many find the transition tough.

Alcohol, not emotions, is the main driver of post-match domestic abuse. Changing game times and reducing drinking prevent abuse.

The increase in abortion volume is driven by telehealth abortion, which made up 20 per cent of all abortion care in the first quarter of 2024.

Scrutiny of Kamala Harris highlights persistent themes of sexism, racism and conspiracy theories, echoing attacks faced by other women leaders globally.

Australia’s stable of teenage skateboarding stars are set to light up Paris, but their impact on the sport goes beyond medals.

Inclusive mainstream schooling is often better than segregated education for students with special needs. But for it to work, several key issues must be fixed.

Child marriage (before the age of 18 years) significantly escalates risks, since spousal age differences create power imbalances, economic dependency, and social isolation, all of which increase the likelihood of enduring abuse. Ending child marriage and expanding girls’ access to secondary education will be critical factors for reducing partner violence against adolescent girls.

Training can empower teachers to become advocates for children with disabilities as well as curriculum reformers.

Autistic and ADHDer girls face distinct challenges at school. There are a number of research-backed ways they could be better understood and supported in class.

Interventions like art therapy in schools benefit neurodivergent students and their neurotypical peers by promoting empathy and different ways of communicating.

South Korean racism may grab headlines in Asia, but racism is more widespread.

Baby apps can boost your confidence — but research shows the potential pitfalls include feeling judged, and coming to rely on app data as a measure of success.

Inclusive climate actions must involve people with disabilities in planning, implementation, and evaluation processes to ensure their voices are heard.

As the planet continues to warm, the livelihoods, health and wellbeing of older adults are increasingly at risk.

A more nuanced approach to policy and applying them could go a long way to helping Indonesia’s most vulnerable cope with the effects of climate change.

Community-based initiatives like cooperative farming ventures and water conservation projects can play a vital role in building resilience among women farmers.

Many parts of society need to come together to better address the problems caused by loneliness in later life.

As an antidote to loneliness, the Bengali adda culture has no equal.

Both Indian law and society need to change to counter the current stigma felt by members of the queer community.

Reducing exposure to violence and positive parenting are critical to suicide prevention among Indian youth.

Amid an ongoing violence against women crisis across Australia, the promise that #March4Justice protests once held is being tested.

Two years since Roe v. Wade was overturned, there’s reason to believe reproductive rights could affect the outcome of the US presidential race.

In a busy year of Pacific Island elections, a worrying gender disparity is evident. This has implications for the quality of democracy in the region.

As governments ignore pleas from former female ISIS members to return home it undermines human rights and weakens international security.

“Human reproduction is being politicised. The rights of women, girls and gender-diverse people are the subject of increasing pushback.” said Pio Smith, UNFPA regional director for Asia and the Pacific, who also pointed out that a reduction in child marriage has led to a steady decline in adolescent pregnancy.