The Daily Aus Headlines: Australia withdraws COP31 hosting bid
Nov 20, 2025
Australia has stepped back from hosting next year’s UN climate change summit, turning its focus to a Pacific pre-COP meeting. In a significant move, Meta plans to deactivate accounts for users under 16, ahead of federal laws kicking in. Meanwhile, U.S. officials are in Kyiv, discussing potential peace proposals for Ukraine. On a lighter note, long-lost Bach pieces have been performed for the first time in 320 years, delighting classical music enthusiasts. Tune in for these highlights and more!
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Australia Steps Back From Hosting COP31
- Australia withdrew its bid to host COP31 and will instead host a pre-COP in the Pacific.
- Chris Bowen will serve as COP31 president and manage negotiations at the 2026 Turkish summit.
Prepare For Under-16 Social Media Deactivations
- Meta will begin deactivating Facebook, Instagram and Threads accounts for users under 16 from 4 December.
- Other platforms face the nationwide ban from 10 December and fines up to $50 million if they breach restrictions.
US-Led Peace Plan May Involve Concessions
- US officials are in Kyiv pushing a revised peace plan that may include territorial concessions and weapons handovers.
- The proposal follows heavy Russian strikes that killed dozens and injured over 100 in western Ukraine.