FirstUp: Australia forces porn sites to block under-18s... The big headlines today

Australia’s online regulator has warned pornography websites that they must block users under 18 from accessing their platforms starting today (March 9), under broad new rules aimed at protecting children.

In other news, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's rival and opposition challenger, Ekrem Imamoglu, will go on trial today on corruption charges.

All this and more of the biggest news from around the world today.

Australia forces porn sites to block under-18s

Australia’s online regulator has warned pornography websites that they must block users under 18 with the key objective to protect children under sweeping restrictions.

Several sites in Australia have already blocked non-members on Friday (March 6) and stopped accepting new registrations, just days before they are required to introduce age-verification technology to restrict access for underage users, according to reports.

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The new regulations further strengthen Australia’s online child safety framework, following its landmark December 10 ban on children under 16 joining social media platforms.

Istanbul mayor Imamoglu goes on trial

Turkish opposition challenger Ekrem Imamoglu is set to go on trial today on corruption charges. According to analysts, this will make it increasingly unlikely that Imamoglu will contest the next election.

Istanbul’s jailed mayor is set to appear in court as a major corruption trial begins. Prosecutors are seeking a combined prison sentence of up to 2,430 years. They allege that the 54-year-old orchestrated an extensive criminal network, exercising control over it “like an octopus.”

Budget Session 2.0 to begin

The second half of the Budget session of Parliament resumes today with a confrontational start as the Lok Sabha is set to take up an opposition-backed motion seeking the removal of Speaker Om Birla, while the escalating US-Israel-Iran war is also expected to dominate proceedings.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will brief Parliament on the rapidly intensifying crisis in West Asia, which began on February 28, according to the revised list of business for the day. The Budget session will go on till April 2.

Bondi Beach suspect Akram appears in court

Bondi Beach suspect Naveed Akram is set to appear in court today (March 9).

A court sketch depicts Naveed Akram, 24, accused of opening fire on a Jewish Hanukkah celebration at Sydney's Bondi Beach in an attack that killed 15 people. File image/Reuters

Last year, Australia faced one of its darkest days after a terrorist attack at Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach left 15 people dead, dozens injured, and an entire nation in shock. The shooting, which unfolded during a public Hanukkah celebration, has been declared the deadliest mass shooting in the country since the Port Arthur massacre of 1996.

Manipur Assembly budget session to begin today

The budget session of the Manipur Legislative Assembly will begin today (March 9). An official notification stated that the session will start at 11 am. However, it did not mention the final date. Officials indicated the proceedings are likely to run for at least a week, during which the budget will be tabled.

The Assembly’s last sitting was a one-day session on February 5, held after a new government took office in the state. Yumnam Khemchand Singh had been sworn in as Chief Minister a day earlier, following the revocation of President’s Rule in Manipur in the violence-hit state.

With inputs from agencies