Middle East latest: UN reports heavy clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah in south Lebanon

The European Commission is under pressure from member states, especially Ireland, to require social media platforms to combat online payment scams that defrauded Europeans of €4.3bn in 2022. A proposed amendment would mandate Big Tech to verify the legitimacy of advertisers, allowing only registered financial service providers to post ads, but the Commission is hesitant, citing conflicts with existing regulations. Despite support from about half of EU countries, Poland's suggestion to improve communication between payment...

The 15-year-old Aboriginal boy was beaten with a metal pole in October 2022. He died 10 days later.An Australian jury convicted Jack Brearley and Brodie Palmer of murdering 15-year-old Indigenous boy Cassius Turvey, who was attacked while walking home from school in October 2022 and died from his injuries 10 days later. A third man, Mitchell Forth, was found guilty of manslaughter. The case sparked nationwide protests against racism and highlighted ongoing inequalities faced by...

German detectives are urging British police to revive their investigation into Madeleine McCann's disappearance, as prime suspect Christian Brueckner nears release from prison after serving a sentence for sexual assault. The Metropolitan Police's Operation Grange may uncover critical evidence, especially with 20,000 pages of evidence ready for translation. Despite Brueckner's admission of abduction, a lack of forensic evidence links him to Maddie's case, prompting concerns from German authorities about him walking free without further action....

Summary of Bryan Kohberger's Trial RulingIn a ruling made public Thursday, Judge Steven Hippler allowed Bryan Kohberger's immediate family members to attend his upcoming quadruple-murder trial despite the possibility of being called as witnesses. Kohberger, charged with the stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students in November 2022, is facing a potential death penalty if convicted. The judge emphasized that the presence of family members supports the values of a public trial while minimizing...

A senior Hamas official has expressed that the group is unwilling to engage in further negotiations for a ceasefire or hostage release while Israel's blockade continues, which they describe as a "starvation war." Israel has resumed military operations in Gaza, aiming to pressure Hamas for the release of hostages and replace humanitarian aid distribution with a new system controlled by private companies, which the UN has criticized as a violation of humanitarian principles. Amidst escalating...

Injury-plagued St Kilda forward Max King, 24, remains optimistic about returning to play in 2025 after suffering a knee injury during a practice match, which has sidelined him for the entire season. Despite undergoing a second arthroscope last month and facing uncertainty in his recovery, King expressed hope that he is on the right path and is no longer "guessing" about his return. At a recent event honoring late St Kilda champion Danny Frawley, he...