OCEANIA

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On Wednesday, YouTube sharply criticized Australia's looming social media ban for under-16s, denouncing the world-first laws as "rushed" and arguing they will actually make children less safe online. Australia's legislation, set to take effect on December 10, will require platforms including YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to remove users under 16. Rachel Lord, YouTube's public policy manager, explicitly stated: "This law will not fulfil its promise to make kids safer online, and will, in fact, make Australian kids less safe on YouTube.”

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Canberra's online regulator announced Friday that livestream giant Twitch will be forced to remove all users under 16 when Australia's strict social media laws are enacted next month. Effective December 10, these laws will require social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, to delete underage accounts or face significant penalties.

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South Australian police have charged a man with theft following the discovery of an extensive trove of Lego and toys valued at $250,000 (£120,800; $163,400), allegedly stolen from department stores across Adelaide. The raid on a Royal Park property on Saturday yielded around 2,500 items, including 1,700 unopened Lego boxes.

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An emerging compromise between Turkey and Australia is set to determine the structure of next year's United Nations climate summit, with Turkey poised to host COP31 while Australia leads the governmental negotiations. The arrangement, confirmed by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, ends a prolonged impasse between the two countries, both of which had sought hosting rights since 2022. The new plan allows Turkey to stage the conference in Antalya while Australia assumes a central diplomatic role, guiding the negotiation process that underpins global climate commitments.

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In a move signaling increased scrutiny of the cryptocurrency sector, Australia has ordered Binance Australia to appoint an external auditor to address concerns about its money laundering and terrorism financing controls. The Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre, AUSTRAC, the country's financial intelligence agency, cited Binance Australia's recent independent review as being too "limited in scope" given the size and risks of the business.