Author: Web Desk

Virginia: A federal judge has blocked Virginia from enforcing a new social media law that sought to limit access for children under 16 and require age verification for all users. The ruling has paused the implementation of Senate Bill 854, which aimed to restrict young users to one hour per day on social media platforms. U.S. District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles in Alexandria has issued a preliminary injunction, finding that the technology trade group NetChoice was likely to succeed in its claim that the law infringed First Amendment rights. The judge has indicated that the measure could unconstitutionally affect the…

Washington: NASA has announced significant changes to its Artemis programme, confirming that Artemis III will no longer attempt to land humans on the moon. The revised NASA plan instead introduces an additional test mission before any crewed lunar landing, pushing the return to the lunar surface to 2028. The updated strategy has been outlined by NASA administrator Jared Isaacman, who has said the agency needs a more incremental approach as it addresses delays and technical issues. Under the new roadmap, Artemis III is expected to launch by mid-2027 as a low-Earth orbit mission focused on testing essential systems rather than…

Warsaw: Poland has proposed a social media ban for children under the age of 15, placing responsibility on technology platforms to enforce age verification rules. The draft legislation has been presented by the ruling Civic Coalition and could come into force by early 2027. Education Minister Barbara Nowacka has told Bloomberg News that the government intends to hold companies accountable if minors gain access to social media platforms. Fines are being considered for firms that fail to comply, although the size of penalties remains under discussion. Nowacka has stated that, “we see the mental health of children and young people,…

Chennai: India have strengthened their position in the T20 World Cup with a 72-run victory over Zimbabwe, eliminating their opponents and keeping their own semi-final hopes alive. The T20 World Cup encounter has unfolded in emphatic fashion as India piled up 256-4 before restricting Zimbabwe to 107-8 in reply. The total of 256-4 has become the second highest in T20 World Cup history, behind Sri Lanka’s 260-6 in 2007. Abhishek Sharma has led the charge with 55 from 30 balls, setting the tone early despite recent struggles. Sanju Samson contributed a quick 24, while Ishan Kishan added 38 during a…

New Delhi: Apple Pay has advanced towards a potential India launch as Apple holds talks with leading domestic banks and global card networks. The Apple Pay expansion has included discussions with ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and Axis Bank as the company explores partnerships ahead of a possible rollout around mid-2026. Apple has also engaged with payment networks Visa and Mastercard as part of its preparations. People familiar with the matter have indicated that timelines remain flexible, but negotiations suggest progress towards introducing Apple Pay in one of the world’s largest digital payments markets. The move has marked another step in…

Colombo: Sri Lanka’s T20 World Cup campaign has ended following a comprehensive defeat against New Zealand, leaving the co-hosts without a path to the semi-finals. The T20 World Cup setback has unfolded after Sri Lanka failed to defend a strong position late in the first innings and then suffered a top-order collapse during the chase. New Zealand appeared under pressure at 98-6 after 16 overs, with Sri Lanka’s bowlers controlling proceedings. Maheesh Theekshana delivered an impressive spell of 3-9 from his first three overs, while Dushmantha Chameera also kept the scoring in check as New Zealand slipped from 75-2 to…

Jerusalem: Narendra Modi has travelled to Israel for a two-day visit that both governments have described as an opportunity to deepen cooperation across defence, technology and strategic sectors. The Narendra Modi visit has come at a time of heightened regional concern as tensions between the United States and Iran continue to escalate. Modi, who became the first Indian prime minister to visit Israel in 2017, is expected to hold talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on areas including artificial intelligence, defence cooperation and trade. Israeli officials have indicated that the visit could pave the way for expanded partnerships and closer…

Bodo: Bodo have produced one of the most notable results in Champions League history by defeating Inter to reach the last 16 for the first time. The Bodo side, based inside the Arctic Circle, have built a reputation for upsetting major clubs and have now completed a memorable knockout victory in Italy. The Norwegian team arrived in Milan holding a 3–1 advantage from the first leg and have followed that with a 2–1 win on the night to secure a 5–2 aggregate success. Bodo have faced strong early pressure from Inter but have defended resolutely before scoring twice to take…

Canberra: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been at the centre of a new political development after Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced support for removing the former royal from the line of succession. The Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor debate has emerged following allegations connected to links with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and an ongoing investigation in the United Kingdom. Prime Minister Albanese has said that the Australian government will write to Commonwealth countries that recognise King Charles III as head of state to outline its position. New Zealand has also indicated support for any move proposed by the United Kingdom regarding Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor…

The Hague: Rob Jetten has become prime minister after a closely fought election that saw the Democrats 66 party narrowly defeat Geert Wilders’ anti-Islam populist movement. The Rob Jetten government has taken shape as a centre-right minority coalition with the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy and the Christian Democratic Alliance. At 38, Rob Jetten has become the youngest person to hold the office in Dutch history. The swearing-in ceremony has taken place at Huis ten Bosch Palace in The Hague, where King Willem-Alexander formally appointed the new cabinet. The coalition has formed a minority government, meaning key policies will…