UN condemns terror attack, offers condolences to victims’ families
On Monday (8 September), two Palestinian gunmen opened fire at a bus stop on the outskirts of Jerusalem. Police described the incident as a “terrori...
The Australian government has reversed its earlier decision to exempt YouTube from a landmark social media ban targeting under-16s, following concerns raised by the country’s internet watchdog.
The eSafety Commission urged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government to reconsider YouTube’s exclusion last month, after a study revealed that 37% of children aged 10 to 15 reported exposure to harmful material on the platform—more than on any other social media site.
In response, Albanese said his administration is taking a firm stand. “Social media is doing social harm to our children, and I want Australian parents to know that we have their backs,” he said.
“Social media has a social responsibility and there is no doubt that Australian kids are being negatively impacted by online platforms so I'm calling time on it,” he added.
Under the new rules, which come into effect in December, platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok will be required to enforce a minimum age of 16 or face fines of up to AU$49.5 million (around $32.2 million). The legislation was passed in November 2024.
The decision was welcomed by other social media companies who had argued that YouTube's earlier exemption was unfair, as it allowed one major platform to sidestep the new restrictions.
A YouTube spokesperson said, “We share the government’s goal of addressing and reducing online harms. Our position remains clear: YouTube is a video sharing platform with a library of free, high-quality content, increasingly viewed on TV screens. It's not social media.”
Communications Minister Anika Wells clarified that the law will not apply to online gaming, messaging apps, or education and health websites, which she said pose fewer risks or are covered under different legal frameworks.
“The rules are not a set and forget, they are a set and support,” she said.
Australia’s legislation is the first of its kind globally, aiming to curb the growing influence of social media on mental health among young users. Studies have increasingly linked social platforms to anxiety, depression, and body image issues in teenagers.
According to national statistics, more than 80% of children aged 12 to 15 use social media, often without adequate age verification.
AnewZ has learned that India has once again blocked Azerbaijan’s application for full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, while Pakistan’s recent decision to consider diplomatic relations with Armenia has been coordinated with Baku as part of Azerbaijan’s peace agenda.
A powerful eruption at Japan’s Shinmoedake volcano sent an ash plume more than 3,000 metres high on Sunday morning, prompting safety warnings from authorities.
A day of mourning has been declared in Portugal to pay respect to victims who lost their lives in the Lisbon Funicular crash which happened on Wednesday evening.
The UK is gearing up for Exercise Pegasus 2025, its largest pandemic readiness test since COVID-19. Running from September to November, this full-scale simulation will challenge the country's response to a fast-moving respiratory outbreak.
A Polish Air Force pilot was killed on Thursday when an F-16 fighter jet crashed during a training flight ahead of the 2025 Radom International Air Show.
Violent clashes broke out on Monday in Nepal between police and protesters demonstrating against a social media ban and alleged corruption.
On Monday (8 September), two Palestinian gunmen opened fire at a bus stop on the outskirts of Jerusalem. Police described the incident as a “terrorist attack,” reporting that six people were killed and several others injured.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has proposed the creation of a unicameral parliament in the country. Speaking to the nation on Monday at the parliament in Astana, he said the reform would have a “serious positive impact” on the country’s socio-economic development.
U.S. defence secretary Pete Hegseth and joint chiefs of staff chairman Dan Caine made a surprise visit to Puerto Rico on Monday, marking the first trip by senior Pentagon officials since Washington increased its military presence in the Caribbean, heightening tensions with Venezuela.
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