Australia Passes Landmark Social Media Ban For Under 16s
Australian lawmakers passed landmark rules to ban under 16s from social media on Thursday, approving one of the world's toughest crackdowns on popular sites like Facebook, Instagram and X.
The legislation ordering social media firms to take "reasonable steps" to prevent young teens from having accounts was passed in the Senate with 34 votes in favour and 19 against.
Contentious COP29 Deal Casts Doubt Over Climate Plans
A bitterly-fought climate finance deal reached at COP29 risks weakening emissions-cutting plans from developing countries, observers say, further raising the stakes for new national commitments due early next year.
K-pop Band NewJeans Leaves Label Over 'Mistreatment'
Chart-topping K-pop group NewJeans announced Thursday their decision to leave their label ADOR, accusing the company of "mistreatment".
Liberian Ex-warlord Prince Johnson Dies Aged 72
Former Liberian warlord Prince Johnson, a key player in the country's back-to-back civil wars from 1989 to 2003, died Thursday aged 72, officials from his party and the Senate told AFP.
Johnson, who was seen sipping beer in a video as fighters loyal to him tortured then president Samuel Doe to death in 1990, was an influential senator.
French Farmers Wall Off Public Buildings In Protest Over Regulations
French farmers blocked off entrances to two public buildings in Paris on Thursday in protest at "constraints" imposed by regulatory agencies, which they say result in lost production.
France Says Ready For Budget Concessions To Avert 'Storm'
The French government is ready to offer concessions to parliament to pass its budget, the finance minister said Thursday, in a standoff which is causing market turbulence and risks bringing down the government of Prime Minister Michel Barnier.
French Luxury Mogul Arnault Defiant At Ex-spy Chief Trial
France's richest man, LVMH chief Bernard Arnault, testified Thursday in the influence-peddling trial of the former head of France's domestic intelligence agency, denying any knowledge of an alleged scheme to protect the luxury group.
Hezbollah Under Pressure After War With Israel
With its longtime leaders dead, its military capabilities vastly diminished, and its fighters forced to retreat from southern Lebanon, Hezbollah emerges from its war with Israel facing unprecedented challenges.
Lebanon Army Deploys Under Israel-Hezbollah Ceasefire
Lebanon's military deployed troops and tanks across the country's south on Thursday as a ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war largely held for a second day.
Imran Khan's Wife Bushra Bibi Emerges As Pakistan Protest Figure
In the chaos of protests that turned Pakistan's capital into a battleground, a new figurehead has emerged: Bushra Bibi, the wife of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan.
Iran To Hold Nuclear Talks With Three European Powers
Iran is set to meet with Britain, France and Germany for talks Friday on its nuclear programme after the three governments joined with the United States to have Tehran censured by the UN atomic watchdog.
COP16 Biodiversity Talks To Restart In February: UN
Crunch United Nations talks to find funding to curb the destruction of nature will resume in Rome in February, the UN said on Thursday, after negotiations this month in Colombia ended without a deal.
French Govt Ready For Budget Concessions To Avoid Financial 'Storm'
The French government is ready to offer concessions to parliament to get through its budget, the finance minister said Thursday, in a standoff which is causing market turbulence and risks bringing down the government of Prime Minister Michel Barnier.
In Bosnia, The Path To Renewables Runs Through Its Coal Mines
At 250 metres underground, the dust is thick and oxygen is in short supply at the Mramor mine in northeastern Bosnia.
Syria War Monitor Says More Than 130 Dead In Army-jihadist Clashes
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and allied factions launched a surprise attack on the Syrian army in the northern province of Aleppo on Wednesday.
Russian Attacks Leave One Million Ukrainians Without Power
More than a million Ukrainians were left without power in freezing cold temperatures on Thursday after a massive nationwide Russian missile and drone attack.
What Would An ICC Arrest Warrant For Myanmar's Junta Chief Mean?
Myanmar's junta chief Min Aung Hlaing could be hit with an International Criminal Court arrest warrant, years after he led a deadly campaign against the Rohingya minority.
China Says Top Military Official Miao Hua Suspended, Under Investigation
A top Chinese military official has been removed from office and is suspected of "serious violations of discipline", Beijing said Thursday, the latest senior apparatchik to fall in a sweeping crackdown on graft in the country's armed forces.
Taiwan's Lai To Stop Over In Hawaii, Guam During Pacific Trip
Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te will stop over in Hawaii and the US territory of Guam during a trip to three Pacific island nations, the Presidential Office said Thursday.
Namibia Extends Voting After Logistical Issues
Namibians were still voting early Thursday, hours after polls were scheduled to close in a presidential and legislative election set to test the ruling party's 34-year grip on power in the southern African nation.
Despair In Sweden As Gangs Recruit Kids As Contract Killers
"Bro, I can't wait for my first dead body," wrote an 11-year-old boy on Instagram in Sweden, where gangs recruit children too young to be prosecuted as contract killers on chat apps.
Verstappen Switches Focus To Re-boot Defence Of F1 Teams' Title
Newly-crowned quadruple world champion Max Verstappen will switch his attention from the drivers' title race to the teams' contest this weekend when he leads Red Bull's unlikely bid to retain their crown at the Qatar Grand Prix.
Spain Factory Explosion Kills Three, Injures Seven
An explosion in a plastics factory near the southeastern Spanish city of Alicante killed three people and injured seven on Wednesday, emergency services said.
Countrywide Air Alert In Ukraine Due To Missile Threat
Ukraine's military said Thursday an air raid alert had been declared across the country, reporting inbound missiles targeting several regions.
China's Military Corruption Crackdown Explained
Chinese defence minister Dong Jun has been placed under investigation for corruption, according to British newspaper the Financial Times.
Primark Boss Defends Practices As Budget Fashion Brand Eyes Expansion
Ireland-based budget fashion chain Primark has been criticised for its record on workers' rights and the effect of its low-cost, high-volume model on the environment.
Norway Faces WWF In Court Over Deep Sea Mining
The World Wide Fund for Nature's (WWF) Norwegian chapter will have its day in court Thursday, after it sued Norway for opening up its seabed to mining before performing sufficient impact studies.
Asian Markets Mixed After Subdued Pre-holiday Shift On Wall St
Asian markets diverged Thursday as investors brushed off a negative lead from Wall Street while welcoming a drop in Treasury yields and data showing US inflation was holding steady.
Orban's Soft Power Shines As Hungary Hosts Israeli Match
Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October last year, many home fixtures of Israel's national football team and clubs have been moved to Hungary.
'Anti-woke' Americans Hail Death Of DEI As Another Domino Topples
America's largest private employer, Walmart, is the latest name to join a list of US businesses and institutions rethinking programs to bolster minority groups as support for progressive policies erodes.
