Australia to buy back and destroy firearms after Bondi Beach

Today's headlines: violent protests in Bangladesh over the death of young leader Hadi. UNHCR: 3 million Syrians have returned home after Assad; lifting of US sanctions encourages increase. Japan reiterates no to nuclear weapons after contrary statements by official. Indonesia works on subsidy plan for victims of Cyclone Senyar.

AUSTRALIA

The Australian government has announced a programme to buy back and destroy firearms held by citizens in the wake of the Bondi Beach attack, the deadliest mass shooting in decades. This is the most extensive programme of its kind since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, which killed 35 people and prompted Australia to introduce world-leading gun control measures. Last Sunday, 15 people were killed and dozens were injured. It is estimated that there are over 4 million firearms in circulation in the country.

BANGLADESH

Police and paramilitary troops have been deployed in Dhaka and other cities in Bangladesh after violent overnight protests over the death of popular youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi, 32, spokesperson for Inquilab Mancha, a critic of India and participant in the protests that ousted Sheikh Hasina. There are fears of further unrest ahead of the national elections in which he was expected to stand as a candidate. Hadi was killed by a shot to the head by masked assailants. In Dhaka, videos posted on social media showed crowds vandalising the offices of the country's largest newspaper, Prothom Alo, and the Daily Star.

SYRIA - UNITED STATES

The UNHCR reports that, overall, more than 1 million refugees and nearly 2 million internally displaced Syrians have returned to their homes since the fall of Bashar al-Assad. And the decision by the United States to lift sanctions against Syria could encourage more refugees to return to their country of origin. The US Senate has voted to permanently abolish the so-called Caesar Act sanctions, introduced in 2019.

JAPAN

Japan has reaffirmed its decades-long commitment to never acquire nuclear weapons, after local media reported that a senior security official had suggested the country should acquire them to deter potential aggressors. The official reportedly said that Japan needs nuclear weapons due to the worsening security situation, but also acknowledged that such a move would be politically difficult.

INDONESIA

Indonesian Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf said the government is considering a programme of daily subsidies of 10,000 rupees (£0.60) for each displaced victim. Victims of the recent deadly floods on the Indonesian island of Sumatra - caused by Cyclone Senyar - could receive government support, including compensation of 15 million rupiah (6) for the families of those killed in the disaster, which claimed more than 1,000 lives in three provinces.

ARMENIA

Armenia's National Assembly has approved the compulsory medical insurance law, which will come into effect on 1 January 2026, as stated by Health Minister Anait Avanesyan, calculating the taxes paid in recent months and then applying the system to the vast majority of the population by 2029, ensuring first aid and other services in consecutive stages over three years.

RUSSIA

The Moscow Duma has approved amendments to the Civil Code, which requires chats in residential assemblies to be conducted on the patriotic messenger Max, which will in fact increasingly be equated with identity cards and the means of access to all public services. and by 19 December, all secondary schools will have to submit a report on the effectiveness of Max for communications between students, parents and teachers, which they do not particularly welcome.

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