Katie Silva

In Caracas, the National Assembly, which is controlled by the ruling party, unanimously approved the new law.

Supporters hope it boosts private investment in Venezuela's mining industry.

The bill, which still needs the green light from the Supreme Court, would increase legal guarantees for investors.

and allow disputes to be arbitrated independently.

It also bans the president, vice president, ministers and governors from holding mining titles.

Two decades ago, Venezuelan authorities seized the assets of many foreign mining firms.

Washington has pushed the new government of Delce Rodriguez to open up the sector, following the deposing earlier this year of Nicolas Maduro.

For NPR News, I'm Katie Silva.

I feel like I don't see a future, that I don't see...

Social media companies behind Snap, TikTok and Instagram have told the Australian government they deactivated some 4.7 million accounts in the first two days after social media laws took effect last month.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese calls the early data encouraging.

Earlier this week, Meta revealed that it had kicked more than half a million Australian children off its platforms, including 330,000 off Instagram.

Companies that fail to get children off the platforms face fines of US$33 million.

So far, none have been fined.

The government says it will use this data to examine whether social media giants are doing enough.

For NPR News, I'm Katie Silva in Sydney.

And I'm Corva Coleman, NPR News in Washington.