After Australia, France aims to ban social media for children this year
France aims to follow Australia's example and ban social networking platforms for children from the start of the 2026 academic year.
A draft law banning people under 15 from using social media will be submitted for legal review and is expected to be discussed in parliament early in the new year.
French President Emmanuel Macron has made it clear in recent weeks that he wants France to fast-track a ban on social media for under-16s, which took effect in Australia in December. The ban includes Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube.
Hong Kong to celebrate 2026 without fireworks after 161 people die in massive fire
Fireworks are usually a central element of New Year's celebrations in Hong Kong, but this year they were absent, in the wake of a massive fire in November that killed at least 161 people.
Instead, the city's tourism board organized a musical performance on Wednesday evening.
The facades of eight historic buildings were transformed into giant countdown clocks, presenting a three-minute light show at midnight.
Israeli ban on aid agencies in Gaza will have 'catastrophic' consequences, experts say
Israel's new ban on dozens of humanitarian organizations operating in Gaza is expected to have "catastrophic" consequences for the provision of vital services and put Palestinian lives in immediate danger, experts warn.
Thirty-seven NGOs have been ordered to cease activity within 60 days if they do not meet strict new requirements, including handing over personal staff data.
Aid organizations and the UN say the measure will paralyze humanitarian operations in a territory already facing a deep crisis after two years of war.
Russia stands by claims of attack on Putin's residence, as allies question Moscow's motives
Moscow continues to stand by its claims over a suspected Ukrainian drone attack on President Vladimir Putin's villa, in what allies have described as an apparent attempt to derail U.S.-led peace talks to end Russia's all-out war.
In the latest attempt to support the Kremlin's claims, the Russian Defense Ministry released a video purportedly showing a downed drone that it said Kiev launched at Putin's residence in Novgorod on Monday.
