Renju Jose

Cyclone Alfred stalled off Australia's east coast on Thursday as officials shut airports, schools and public transport while residents stockpiled supplies and sandbagged homes against flooding expected when the category-two storm hits.

Australia braced for a rare east coast tropical cyclone that is swirling towards Brisbane, its third-most populous city, with authorities urging residents in flood-prone suburbs to evacuate soon.

Tech giants Facebook and Instagram owner Meta Platforms , Snapchat and TikTok have urged Australia to reconsider a decision to exempt Alphabet's YouTube from its laws banning social media for children younger than 16.

Consumer confidence in New Zealand slightly rose in February though the indice that tracks consumers' plans on buying a major household item remained relatively subdued, ANZ-Roy Morgan data showed on Friday.

Australia on Thursday approved Qatar Airways buying a 25% stake in Virgin Australia from U.S. private equity firm Bain Capital, posing a challenge for national flag carrier Qantas that has long dominated Australian air routes.

Australia's online safety regulator on Monday fined messaging platform Telegram about A$1 million ($640,000) for its delay in answering questions about measures the app took to prevent the spread of child abuse and violent extremist material.

More than 150 false killer whales have been stranded on an isolated beach in the Australian state of Tasmania, with rescue crews trying to save the majority of the large dolphins that survived the ordeal, authorities said on Wednesday.

Dozens of false killer whales stranded on a remote beach in the Australian state of Tasmania will be euthanised after bad weather and the isolated location hampered efforts to push them back into the waters, Australian authorities said on Thursday.

The survey showed a hung parliament would be the most likely outcome if the poll numbers were to be replicated at an election due by May.

Western Australia's ports of Dampier and Varanus Island will be closed at 6 p.m. (1000 GMT) on Thursday due to Tropical Cyclone Zelia, the ports' operator said, with emergency services in the state warning of the potential for significant damage.