Author: News Desk

Brisbane: The Australian government has unveiled plans to ban children under 16 from using social media platforms, with multimillion-dollar fines proposed for companies that fail to enforce the restriction. Introduced by Communications Minister Michelle Rowland, the amendment to the Online Safety Act seeks to make Australia a global leader in social media reform, aiming to protect young users from online harm and reduce the exposure of minors to cyberbullying and other risks. “This reform is about protecting young people and reassuring parents that we’ve got their backs,” Rowland said. If passed, the bill would establish 16 as the minimum age…

Chisinau: Britain and Romania have reaffirmed their commitment to Moldova offering critical support as the country continues to navigate the fallout from Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. The partnership was formalised with the signing of a new security and defence agreement, aimed at bolstering Moldova’s resilience against external threats. The announcement came during a visit by the foreign ministers of Britain and Romania, just over two weeks after Moldova’s pro-European President Maia Sandu secured re-election, albeit with a narrower margin than anticipated. Pleased to meet @DavidLammy on his visit to Chișinău. We discussed expanding trade, tackling corruption together, building Moldova’s…

Port-au-Prince, Haiti: Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has suspended its operations in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, citing “violence and threats from police.” The international medical health organization (IMHO) stated that, over the past week, its staff had been repeatedly stopped by police officers who made threats of death and rape. Haiti has faced escalating violence and instability in recent years, with police and vigilante groups engaged in a brutal battle against gangs that have controlled much of Port-au-Prince since earlier this year. MSF has been one of the few providers of quality healthcare in the region, but it announced that patient admissions have…

Malaga, Spain: Rafael Nadal’s illustrious tennis career came to a poignant end as Spain lost to the Netherlands in the Davis Cup on an emotional night in Malaga. The 38-year-old, who has won 22 Grand Slam titles, had previously announced that this men’s team event would mark his final appearance in professional tennis. In front of a packed and passionate crowd, Nadal lost 6-4, 6-4 to Botic van de Zandschulp, putting the Netherlands ahead in the best-of-three quarter-final tie. Spain’s new star, Carlos Alcaraz, managed to beat Tallon Griekspoor 7-6 (7-0) 6-3 in the second singles match, keeping Nadal’s hopes…

United Kingdom: ‘Manifest’, a word meaning to dream or will something into existence, has been named the Cambridge Dictionary’s Word of the Year 2024, following its surge in popularity due to celebrity endorsements and social media trends. Though ‘manifest’ is not a new term, its modern usage as a verb, reflecting the power of visualisation and positive thinking in achieving dreams, has gained considerable traction. Originally an adjective meaning “clear” or “obvious,” the word has been in the English language since at least the 1300s. However, its contemporary meaning -to speak or think dreams into reality has captured the public’s…

United States: A powerful storm developing off the coast of the US Pacific Northwest is expected to bring severe weather conditions to over seven million residents across several states. The storm, which began affecting the region on Tuesday, is forecast to intensify through the end of the week, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The storm referred to as a “bomb cyclone” due to its rapid intensification, is causing a sharp drop in air pressure, which has resulted in high winds, heavy rain, snow, and flash flooding. In addition to these conditions, the storm is likely to…

London: Thousands of British farmers are gathering in Parliament Square to protest the planned removal of an inheritance tax exemption, a move they claim endangers family-run farms and the nation’s food supply. Finance Minister Rachel Reeves announced in October that from 2026, farmers owning land valued at over £1 million ($1.26 million) will no longer be able to transfer their farms tax-free to their heirs. The policy, part of a broader strategy to fund public services, has drawn sharp criticism from the farming community, who argue it undermines the viability of agricultural businesses. Critics of the so-called “tractor tax” argue…

Cairns, Australia: Recent data from the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) reveals alarming levels of coral mortality in parts of the Great Barrier Reef due to mass bleaching, two cyclones, and flooding. In-water surveys conducted between Lizard Island and Cardwell from August to October found that up to 72 percent of coral was lost on 12 reefs. The Cooktown-Lizard Island sector, in particular, saw more than a third of hard coral cover vanish, marking the largest annual decline in 39 years of government monitoring. The coral damage is attributed to the Austral summer, Tropical Cyclones Jasper and Kirrily, and…

Wellington, New Zealand: After a nine-day hīkoi (peaceful protest), over 35,000 people gathered outside New Zealand’s parliament in Wellington to oppose a proposed bill aimed at redefining the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi, the foundational document between British settlers and the Māori. The bill, introduced by the Act Party, a junior member of the governing coalition, aims to provide a legal framework for the treaty’s interpretation, arguing it has fostered racial divisions. Act leader David Seymour, who has Māori ancestry, defended the proposal, stating it seeks to ensure equal rights for all New Zealanders. Seymour said that, “My Treaty…

Taiwan: A Hong Kong court has sentenced leading pro-democracy activists to prison, with Benny Tai receiving a 10-year term, marking a significant escalation in the territory’s largest national security case. The sentences follow a controversial trial involving 47 activists and lawmakers accused of subversion under Hong Kong’s stringent national security law (NSL), which was imposed by Beijing in 2020. Tai, a 60-year-old legal scholar who played a prominent role in Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests in 2014 and 2019, was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Prosecutors portrayed Tai as the organiser of a conspiracy dating back to July 2020, involving…