The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has mandated more people show photo identification when buying tobacco products, as the health regulator raised the age verification requirement by three years.

Palestinians in Gaza were waiting on Thursday to see if there would be a pause in fighting to allow a polio vaccination campaign to begin, as the conflict raged across the besieged enclave, killing at least 34 people.

Japan has issued its highest level alert to more than five million people after the country was hit by one of its strongest typhoons in decades.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed concern at the growing threat from far-right groups in the United Kingdom and called on progressive political parties across Europe to work together to deal with the shared challenge.

Chinese lenders approved loans worth $4.61 billion to Africa last year, marking the first annual increase since 2016, an independent study showed.

Britain and Germany’s leaders agreed in Berlin on Wednesday to work on an ambitious treaty covering issues from defence to trade that would be part of a reset of British relations with the European Union.

China’s Foreign Ministry has defended its cooperation with Pacific Island countries in policing and law enforcement, saying that its practices are “normal” and conform to international law.

The Taiwan-aligned Pacific nation of Palau has bit back at other nations acting as “fronts” for China, arguing moves to sideline Taiwan disrespect the Pacific Islands Forum.

Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and her running mate Tim Walz will campaign together on Wednesday in Georgia, a state that Democrats narrowly won in 2020 and could play a decisive role in this year’s election.

Hundreds of Israeli troops backed by helicopters, drones and armoured personnel carriers raided the flashpoint cities of Jenin and Tulkarm and other areas in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday, killing at least 10 Palestinians.

A day after landing his Pacific Policing Initiative, Anthony Albanese has denied a senior US official’s claim that Kevin Rudd convinced the Americans to call off plans for their own regional force.

Democrat Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign on Wednesday will launch an ad campaign attempting to tie Republican former President Donald Trump to Project 2025, a set of conservative policy proposals that the project’s participants hope Trump adopts if elected.