Politics Morning Star
World in brief: November 4, 2026
AUSTRALIA: Government lawyers told the High Court today that the social media ban for children under 16 is necessary to protect developing brains. The government is fighting two constitutional challen
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Bangladesh / 4 November 2026 Striking garment workers demanding higher wages met with police and tear gas 4 November 2026 Ukraine / 4 November 2026 Kiev suffers power outages and lack of water following Russian strikes 4 November 2026 Meanwhile, rescuers continue to comb through rubble for survivors three days after deadly attack in Ukraine’s south
AUSTRALIA: Government lawyers told the High Court today that the social media ban for children under 16 is necessary to protect developing brains.
The government is fighting two constitutional challenges to the ban that took effect last year, brought by a US online forum Reddit and Sydney-based rights group Digital Freedom Project.
Government lawyer Joanna Davidson told the court today that the risks for children are addictive use, adverse sleep effects, depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, exacerbation of disordered eating, and intensification of ADHD symptoms.
INDONESIA: More than 20,000 troops and personnel were deployed to the capital, Jakarta, on Wednesday as authorities investigate an alleged illegal wiretapping operation targeting the country’s president.
The scandal took on added significance after the presidential palace said the alleged wiretapping targeting President Prabowo Subianto could be regarded as conduct “leading toward treason.”
Among those implicated is General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, who was appointed presidential chief of staff last month. The president dismissed him today.
IRAN: Iran’s rulers struck a defiant tone today, celebrating US voters’ rebuke of US President Donald Trump in the midterm elections while many in the Middle East waited to see how the results could affect the Iran war.
Supreme leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei dismissed the prospect of any major change in the US approach to the Islamic Republic.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that US voters had sent a clear message and warned Washington against ignoring it.
NORTH KOREA: Pyongyang launched multiple missiles toward the sea today, hours after the government said it saw no need to resume diplomacy with the US in protest against accusations that North Korean hackers were behind the recent cryptocurrency heist at Binance.
South Korea’s joint chiefs of staff said it detected the launches of several missiles fired toward North Korea’s eastern waters today, and said the South maintains a readiness to repel any potential provocations by the North.