OCEANIA

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Andrew Bayly has stepped down as New Zealand's Commerce Minister following an incident in which he "placed a hand" on a staff member's upper arm. Bayly, describing his actions as "overbearing," apologized on Monday, stating that the incident occurred during an "animated discussion" and was not an argument. He will remain in parliament.

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Tens of thousands of people gathered at New Zealand's parliament in Wellington on Tuesday, marking the culmination of a nine-day protest against the Treaty Principles Bill, which critics argue undermines the rights of Māori people.

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Australia has banned Chinese AI program DeepSeek from all government devices, citing an "unacceptable level of security risk," according to an official order released Tuesday. The DeepSeek chatbot, developed by a China-based startup, has quickly gained attention for its capabilities, even disrupting financial markets since its launch last month.

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Legal woes have hit Analisa Josefa Corr, 53, daughter of the late Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos, after the alleged disruptive incident on a Jetstar flight from Hobart to Sydney on December 29, 2024. Mr. and Mrs. Corr, 45-year-old James Alexander Corr, were said to have consumed their own alcohol on board, leading to intoxication and disorderly conduct. Ms. Corr was said to have grabbed and shaken another passenger while leaving the aircraft toilet.

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Australia is set to become one of the first nations to impose age limits on social media use. The Current Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced there were  plans to introduce legislation in 2024, highlighting  worries over the mental and physical well-being of young Australians.

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New Zealand has unveiled plans to ban greyhound racing, pointing to an "unacceptably high" incidence of injuries associated with the sport. The sport has historically encountered criticism in the country, as some breeders have been accused of mistreating or doping the animals.

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Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII, King of New Zealand's indigenous māori has died on Friday, according to his representatives. He has died aged 69.