Australia has begun enforcing a world-first ban on social media accounts for children under 16, marking a major shift in how governments regulate online platforms. From 10 December 2025, social media companies must prevent Australian children younger than 16 from holding accounts on specified services or face penalties of up to A$49.5 million for systemic breaches. The restrictions stem from the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024, which amended the Online Safety Act 2021 to impose a national minimum age for social media use. The law was championed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Communications Minister Michelle…
Author: Emily Harper
Read More
South African fashion and homeware retailer Mr Price has agreed to buy German-based value chain NKD Group in a transaction worth up to 487 million EUR (around $568 million USD), marking its first move into the European market. Announced on December 10, 2025, the deal signals a clear strategic shift for the Durban-based group, which has largely concentrated on South Africa and nearby African countries. Following the announcement, Mr Price shares fell about 12.3% by 1212 GMT as investors questioned the valuation and the risks of a large offshore expansion. The market reaction reflected long-standing caution in South Africa, where…
New Modeling Challenges Assumptions A research team from the University of Zurich and the NCCR PlanetS has introduced a revised view of Uranus and Neptune, long known as the solar system’s ice giants. Their findings suggest that the two planets may contain far more rocky material than previously believed, challenging decades of classification and raising new questions about how these distant worlds formed. Traditionally, planets have been grouped as rocky terrestrials, gas giants or ice giants. Uranus and Neptune have always stood in the last category, thought to contain large amounts of water, ammonia and methane ices. But the new…
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is urging China to tackle what it calls deepening economic “imbalances,” warning that a country of 1.4 billion people is now too large to lean on exports as its main engine of growth. After the Fund’s annual review of the Chinese economy, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said Beijing’s record trade surplus and subdued domestic spending are feeding global tensions over trade and industrial policy. China’s overall exports have continued to rise even as shipments to the United States have fallen in the wake of President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff hikes on Chinese and other…
A New Political Chapter Miami has entered a markedly different political era with the election of Eileen Higgins, who ended nearly thirty years of uninterrupted Republican control at City Hall. Her decisive victory over Emilio González, a candidate strongly backed by President Donald Trump and Governor Ron DeSantis, signals a notable shift in voter sentiment in Florida’s largest city. Early tallies showed Higgins winning close to sixty percent of the vote, a margin that surpassed expectations and underscored broad support across multiple neighborhoods. Her win places a Democrat in the mayor’s office for the first time in almost three decades…
Ukraine’s Outreach to the Vatican Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Pope Leo XIV in Rome as part of a diplomatic push focused on securing broader support against Russia’s invasion. Kyiv described the encounter as meaningful for morale and international visibility. Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for the Vatican’s attention to Ukraine and invited the pontiff to visit the country, calling such a trip a powerful gesture of solidarity. The meeting included discussions on humanitarian challenges and protections for civilians affected by ongoing fighting. Vatican officials have emphasized the need for dialogue, although the Holy See has not taken a direct role in…
More people are relying on GoFundMe to pay for rent, groceries and other necessities as living costs squeeze household budgets. The for-profit crowdfunding platform’s 2025 “Year in Help” report says campaigns created to cover “essential” expenses such as housing, utilities and food rose by 20% this year, after already quadrupling in 2024. “Monthly bills” was the platform’s second-fastest-growing category in 2025, trailing only individual fundraisers in support of nonprofits. According to GoFundMe CEO Tim Cadogan, requests for help with day-to-day costs have been rising across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. The report, based on activity on…
The United States is preparing to significantly broaden its travel-ban policy, with officials confirming that the list of restricted countries is expected to grow to more than 30. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem disclosed the development during an interview on Fox News, stating that the administration is evaluating a substantial expansion. While she declined to identify the additional nations under consideration, she indicated that the final list will exceed earlier estimates that suggested an increase from 19 to 32 countries. Her remarks mark the first public confirmation that the administration intends to widen the scope of restrictions instituted earlier this…
Injury Confirmed and Surgery Scheduled Indianapolis has been dealt a major setback. Colts quarterback Daniel Jones will miss the remainder of the season after tearing his right Achilles, ending what had already been an injury-challenged campaign. Head coach Shane Steichen confirmed that Jones will undergo surgery this week after an MRI solidified the diagnosis. The quarterback initially went down in the first quarter of Sunday’s matchup, adding to concerns as he had been playing through a previously reported hairline fracture in his left fibula. Steichen had expressed caution immediately after the game, saying only that the situation “was not looking…
A New Home for a Global Modernist A striking grey-blue structure now rises on Doha’s horizon, marking the opening of the world’s first museum dedicated to Indian modernist MF Husain. The institution, named Lawh Wa Qalam, is located in Qatar Foundation’s Education City and spans roughly 3,000 square meters. Designed as a place that feels personal and reflective, the museum showcases over 150 works including paintings, sculptures, films, tapestries and photographs, offering an extensive view of Husain’s late-life creativity and international influences. Curator Noof Mohammed said the goal is for visitors to feel immersed in the artist’s world, drawing inspiration…
