分类： society

In a significant move addressing digital wellbeing, the Indian tourist hotspot of Goa is actively exploring legislation to prohibit social media access for children under 16. This initiative mirrors a pioneering ban recently implemented in Australia and reflects growing governmental concern over the mental health risks associated with online platforms in a nation boasting over one billion internet users.

Rohan Khaunte, Goa’s Minister for Information Technology, confirmed that state authorities are conducting a comprehensive study of Australia’s regulatory framework to devise an effective model for restricting minors’ access. “If possible, we will implement a similar ban on children below 16 for usage of social media,” Khaunte stated, adding that specific operational details would be announced subsequently.

The southern state of Andhra Pradesh, with a substantial population exceeding 53 million, has simultaneously announced its own evaluation of comparable measures. This creates a notable contrast with Goa, which is India’s smallest state by area with an estimated population of 1.5 million, suggesting a nationwide trend may be emerging at the state level.

Technology giants have begun responding to these potential regional bans. Meta, parent company of Facebook and Instagram, expressed a preference for legislation mandating parental oversight rather than outright prohibitions. A company spokesperson cautioned that bans might inadvertently push teenagers toward less secure, unregulated platforms, noting that teens typically use approximately 40 different applications weekly.

India currently maintains no federal restrictions on social media usage by age, and there are no indications that the national government plans to institute such measures. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding these state-level initiatives. Other major platforms, including Google’s YouTube and X, have similarly remained silent on the proposals.

This development places India among several nations, including France, Indonesia, and Malaysia, that are closely monitoring Australia’s groundbreaking social media ban for users under 16. The Australian legislation resulted in the deactivation of 4.7 million teen accounts within its first month of implementation, providing a substantial case study for other governments considering similar protective measures.

In a decisive move against hate speech, Australian authorities have revoked the visa of British-Israeli social media influencer Sammy Yahood, preventing his entry into the country. The decision, executed just three hours before his scheduled departure from Israel, was confirmed by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke on Monday evening.

Yahood, an Instagram personality with 171,000 followers known for his anti-Islam rhetoric, had planned a speaking tour and self-defense workshops across Australia. The influencer has repeatedly characterized Islam as a ‘disgusting ideology’ and called for the deportation of Muslim politicians from Western nations.

Minister Burke defended the cancellation, stating unequivocally that ‘spreading hatred is not a good reason to come to Australia.’ He emphasized that visitors must apply for appropriate visas and demonstrate legitimate purposes for their entry.

The controversial figure, who recently relocated to Israel after growing up in London, serves as a volunteer instructor in Krav Maga, the martial art developed by the Israeli military. Following the visa denial, Yahood launched a social media tirade against Minister Burke, labeling him a ‘tyrant’ while praising the United Arab Emirates for their hospitality.

This action occurs against the backdrop of Australia’s recently enhanced federal hate speech legislation, enacted following the mass shooting at a Jewish festival in Sydney’s Bondi Beach. The new legal framework empowers the government to designate groups that incite communal violence, deport associated individuals, and impose stricter penalties for hate crimes.

Notably, this represents the third high-profile visa cancellation involving Israeli figures under Australia’s strengthened hate speech laws. Previous cases included far-right MP Simcha Rothman and tech entrepreneur Hillel Fuld, both denied entry over concerns about spreading division and Islamophobic rhetoric.

The decision has drawn mixed reactions, with the conservative Australian Jewish Association issuing strong condemnation of Yahood’s visa cancellation, highlighting the complex intersection of free speech and social cohesion in contemporary immigration policy.

China’s ambitious national garbage classification campaign demonstrates pronounced regional disparities, with only a handful of metropolitan areas achieving world-class implementation while most cities struggle with foundational adoption. According to a comprehensive five-year study by the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, the initiative remains in its preliminary stages across much of the country despite notable successes in pioneering urban centers.

The environmental organization developed an innovative monitoring system that collected approximately 134,000 photographic and video submissions from public contributors to evaluate urban waste management performance. This crowdsourced data enabled the creation of a specialized garbage sorting index to measure and compare municipal effectiveness in promoting waste classification systems.

Recent assessments reveal that China’s waste management infrastructure has transitioned from experimental pilot programs to an increasingly structured national framework. The eastern cities of Suzhou and Shanghai emerged as exceptional performers, with Suzhou leading the rankings at 95.74 points followed by Shanghai at 83.98 points, establishing global benchmarks for urban waste sorting efficiency.

However, the report uncovered significant implementation challenges beyond these showcase municipalities. Among 41 designated key cities, the average waste sorting score reached merely 29.54 points, while other urban centers averaged a concerning 10.56 points. This disparity resulted in an overall national average of just 18.04 points across all 104 evaluated cities.

Ma Jun, director of the Institute, emphasized that despite exemplary progress in leading cities, most urban areas remain in early developmental phases where voluntary waste separation habits have not taken root. The persistent practice of mixed waste disposal without effective oversight continues to hinder national progress, particularly affecting the recovery rates of less valuable recyclable materials that require more sophisticated sorting infrastructure.

In the heart of Chongqing’s vibrant Yuzhong district, a unique cultural phenomenon unfolds weekly at a local coffee shop in the Chongqing Tiandi complex. Every Tuesday evening, Canadian national Paul Jackson transforms the urban space into a dynamic hub for linguistic exchange and intercultural connection through his English practice initiative.

Jackson, alongside three collaborators, established Maple Chili English in March of the previous year, creating an organic platform for language development and social interaction. What began as a modest gathering has evolved into a substantial community movement, with the organization’s group chat now boasting approximately 500 active participants from remarkably diverse professional backgrounds.

The weekly gatherings attract an eclectic mix of local professionals including psychologists, legal experts, ophthalmologists, and numerous expatriates residing throughout Chongqing. These social nights provide a relaxed environment where participants can enhance their English conversational skills while building meaningful connections across cultural boundaries.

The initiative represents more than mere language practice—it serves as a testament to the growing cultural integration within China’s major urban centers. Through these organic gatherings, Jackson has inadvertently created a microcosm of global citizenship, demonstrating how shared spaces can bridge cultural divides and foster mutual understanding between Chinese residents and international visitors.

The sustained popularity of these events highlights the increasing demand for authentic cultural exchange opportunities in China’s secondary cities, moving beyond traditional educational frameworks to create community-driven learning experiences that benefit both local Chinese participants and the expatriate community.

Northwest China’s Gansu Province has emerged as the nation’s leader in museum accessibility per capita, marking a significant milestone in regional cultural development. Governor Ren Zhenhe announced this achievement during his government work report presentation at the fourth session of the 14th Gansu Provincial People’s Congress on Tuesday.

According to data from the Gansu Cultural Relics Bureau, the province now hosts 263 registered museums following the recent addition of six new institutions. This translates to one museum for every 93,200 residents, representing the highest density of museum access among all Chinese provinces.

The cultural sector demonstrated remarkable vitality throughout the past year, with more than 700 exhibitions and approximately 20,000 educational programs conducted both online and offline. These initiatives collectively attracted over 33 million visits, reflecting growing public engagement with cultural offerings.

Gansu’s innovative approach to cultural heritage has yielded substantial economic benefits. Drawing inspiration from iconic artifacts such as the Dunhuang flying apsaras and the Bronze Galloping Horse from the Gansu Provincial Museum, developers have created more than 4,000 cultural and creative products. These items achieved annual sales exceeding 130 million yuan (approximately $18 million), demonstrating successful commercialization of cultural assets.

The cultural achievements coincide with broader economic progress. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), Gansu’s GDP reached 1.37 trillion yuan, representing a 33.6 percent increase from the previous planning period. Since 2022, the province’s economic growth has consistently outperformed the national average for 16 consecutive quarters. In 2025 alone, Gansu’s GDP grew by 5.8 percent, ranking second nationwide, while per capita disposable income increased by 6.1 percent, the third-fastest growth rate in the country.

A distinguished delegation of students and faculty from Cornell University recently concluded an extensive two-week cultural and educational exchange program across China, gaining firsthand insights into the nation’s agricultural modernization and rural revitalization initiatives. Organized by China Agricultural University, the program ran from January 4th to 16th, 2026, featuring immersive visits to multiple regions including Beijing, Hebei Province, and Sichuan Province.

The comprehensive itinerary enabled participants to engage directly with local farming communities, rural residents, and leading agricultural experts. In Yixian County, Hebei Province, the Cornell delegation examined innovative farming techniques and sustainable practices that have contributed to China’s food security goals. The exchange facilitated meaningful dialogue about comparative agricultural systems and development strategies between American and Chinese academic perspectives.

This program represents a significant step in academic diplomacy and cross-cultural knowledge sharing in the field of agricultural science. Participants gained practical understanding of China’s rural development policies while establishing professional connections that could foster future research collaborations. The initiative demonstrates how educational exchanges can build bridges between academic institutions despite different agricultural traditions and economic systems.

The successful program highlights the growing importance of international cooperation in addressing global challenges such as food security, sustainable farming, and rural economic development. Such exchanges contribute to mutual understanding and create platforms for sharing best practices in agricultural innovation and policy implementation.