Category: World

Australia’s attempt to block under-16s from accessing major social media platforms was immediately challenged as teenagers bypassed the new restrictions within hours, surfacing concerns over the policy’s design, its rapid rollout, and the possibility that younger users could drift towards platforms with fewer safeguards. The ban, introduced as part of a national response to mounting concerns over online harm, requires platforms including Meta’s Instagram and Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube to verify that users are over 16 before granting access.Authorities

McDonald’s Netherlands has withdrawn its Christmas commercial built with generative artificial intelligence after an extraordinary wave of criticism from viewers who found the creative execution and message off-putting and disconnected from seasonal sentiment. The advertisement, designed to run through the festive period, was taken down from the company’s official YouTube channel just days after its release, reflecting growing public scepticism about AI-assisted advertising.The 45-second spot, produced by Dutch agency TBWANeboko in partnership with AI specialist The Gardening Club and

Senegal is moving to start construction of a domestic gas pipeline network before the end of 2025, marking a decisive step in its strategy to channel offshore gas discoveries into power generation and industrial development. The announcement from Petroleum and Energies Minister Birame Soulèye Diop signals that the government aims to accelerate the transition from planning to execution as major gas projects come onstream.The minister confirmed that Réseau Gazier du Sénégal, the state-owned midstream operator, is preparing to begin physical

A federal judge has granted Kalshi a temporary stay against enforcement by Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, pausing a directive that ordered Kalshi — along with Robinhood Derivatives and Crypto. com — to stop offering sports-event contracts to residents. The move underscores the intensifying legal battle between state regulators framing such contracts as illegal gambling and the platform’s claim that its products fall under federal derivatives regulation by Commodity Futures Trading Commission.The DCP’s cease-and-desist letters, issued on 2 December,

The US Supreme Court indicated during oral arguments that it is prepared to permit the president to remove leaders of independent federal agencies at will — a move that could weaken decades-old protections shielding regulatory bodies from political control. The case centers on the dismissal of Rebecca Kelly Slaughter from the Federal Trade Commission, and touches on the fate of more than two dozen agencies governed by similar “for-cause” removal statutes. The justices heard heated argument over whether the longstanding

Australia has committed roughly A$1.4 billion to accelerate the MQ-28A Ghost Bat from prototype into active service, after the uncrewed combat jet successfully fired an air-to-air missile during a live weapons trial. On 8 December at the test range near Woomera, a Ghost Bat armed with a AIM-120 AMRAAM destroyed an aerial drone target — validating the platform’s combat-ready status.The Ghost Bat — the first combat aircraft designed and built in Australia in more than 50 years — flew

A powerful moisture-laden atmospheric river is forecast to hit the Pacific Northwest early this week, unleashing days of heavy rainfall, mountain snow and a heightened risk of river flooding across western Washington and Oregon.Forecasters at the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes have rated the incoming system as a “Level 4 of 5” event — placing it among the region’s most intense. Rain is expected to begin along coastal areas and bleed inland, with widespread

The Small Business Administration has ordered every participant in its 8 Business Development Program — all 4,300 firms — to submit detailed financial and business documentation covering the last three fiscal years. The demand, communicated in letters issued December 5, requires firms to deliver bank statements, general ledgers, payroll registers, subcontracting agreements and employment records by January 5, 2026, or risk losing their eligibility in the 8 programme and facing further actions.This sweeping documentation request marks the first

The United States Department of State reaffirmed a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory against travel to or remaining in Venezuela, citing grave concerns over crime, civil unrest, deteriorating public services and very limited consular support. The announcement cautioned Americans that acts such as kidnapping, arbitrary detention, torture, terrorism, and violent crime are widespread — and that shortages of fuel, electricity, water, medicines and medical supplies make the situation especially hazardous.The advisory comes as tensions between Washington and Caracas

Australia is rolling out a law that will bar under-16s from holding or creating accounts on major social media platforms — a first for any democracy — setting a possible precedent for other countries to follow. From 10 December 2025, services such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, Reddit, X, Threads, Twitch and Kick must ensure no user under 16 is registered, or face fines of up to A$49.5 million.Already the law is having real-world consequences: starting 4 December,

Rwanga Foundation extends rural electrification effort as survivors call for long-term supportA Kurdish village attacked with chemical weapons in 1987 now has a continuous electricity supply after a new solar project funded by the Rwanga Foundation began operating this month. Sheikh Wasan, where 211 residents were killed in the attack carried out by Iraqi forces during the Anfal campaign, has received 72 solar systems containing 432 panels. Local records show 281 people have returned to live in the settlement, which previously

Russia has blocked access to Apple’s FaceTime and messaging service Snapchat, escalating a sweeping campaign to curb foreign communication platforms across the country. The decision by the state regulator Roskomnadzor marks a significant shift from throttling public social media sites to restricting private and encrypted communication tools.Roskomnadzor said the two services were being used “to organise and carry out terrorist acts within the country” and for recruiting individuals for criminal activity, fraud and other crimes. Authorities argued this posed unacceptable

Previously unseen photographs from Jeffrey Epstein’s private island residence have been made public by lawmakers in Washington, offering a closer look at the property at the centre of one of the most scrutinised criminal networks in the United States. The images were disclosed by Democratic members of a congressional committee examining Epstein’s activities and the conduct of officials who interacted with him over several decades.The release forms part of a broader inquiry into how Epstein’s criminal operations were enabled, overlooked,

Apple TV’s psychological thriller Pluribus moves towards its climax with growing speculation over the direction its final two episodes may take, as creator Vince Gilligan signals an unpredictable ending that has stirred widespread debate among viewers. The show, which has drawn sustained attention for its layered narrative and tightly constructed suspense, has now become the focus of expansive discussions across fan communities attempting to decipher its trajectory. Gilligan’s suggestion of a “wild” conclusion has added further urgency to those conversations,

Millions of Americans are heading into 2026 facing sharply higher health-insurance costs. Employer-based insurance premiums are projected to rise by nearly 9 percent, marking the steepest increase in fifteen years. For families paying for their own coverage through public marketplaces created under the Affordable Care Act, the shock will likely be greater. Premiums on those plans are expected to jump by roughly 26 percent, and enhanced subsidies that helped cushion the blow for many households are poised to expire. Against

Germany’s competition watchdog has launched a market test to assess whether modifications proposed by Apple to its App Tracking Transparency framework sufficiently address concerns that the policy gives Apple’s own apps an unfair advantage over competitors. The test will collect input from app publishers, media organisations and data-protection authorities to evaluate whether the revised consent prompts and user flows create a level playing field for all developers.The framework in question was introduced by Apple in 2021 to require apps

The government of Mozambique has committed to invest 12 million US dollars to rehabilitate technical and vocational education and training institutions countrywide, a move aimed at expanding capacity and better aligning training with labour market needs. The investment, slated to kick off in 2026, forms part of a broader reform supported by partner organisations. The Secretary of State for Technical and Vocational Education, Leo Jamal, announced the plan at a Vocational Education Forum in Maputo, emphasising the urgency of