Australia has broadened its pioneering social media ban for children under 16, adding Reddit and live-streaming platform Kick to the list of restricted platforms. This brings the total number of banned sites to nine, including Facebook, X, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Threads. Starting December 10, tech companies face fines of up to A$50 million ($32.5 million) if they fail to take ‘reasonable steps’ to deactivate existing accounts for minors and prevent new ones. The government emphasized that these platforms were selected because their primary or significant purpose is to facilitate online social interaction. More sites may be added as technology evolves. Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, stated that delaying children’s access to social media allows them time to develop without exposure to harmful design features like opaque algorithms and endless scrolling. However, messaging services such as Discord and WhatsApp, gaming platforms like Lego Play and Roblox, and educational tools like Google Classroom and YouTube Kids are exempt. Federal Communications Minister Anika Wells defended the ban, asserting it aims to protect children from the ‘chilling control’ of online platforms. Critics, however, have raised concerns about data privacy and the reliability of age verification methods, which include ID documents, parental approval, and facial recognition technology. While polls show most Australian adults support the ban, some mental health advocates argue it could isolate children or drive them to unregulated parts of the internet. They suggest the government should focus on regulating harmful content and educating children about online risks. Notably, an Australian influencer family with millions of YouTube followers recently announced plans to relocate to the UK to circumvent the ban, ensuring their 14-year-old daughter can continue creating content. YouTube, initially exempt, was later included in the ban after the government cited it as the platform where children aged 10 to 15 most frequently encountered harmful content. Teens under 16 can still view YouTube videos but cannot create accounts, which are necessary for uploading or interacting on the platform.
分类： society
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Suspected drone sightings disrupt flights at Belgium airports
Airports across Belgium were thrown into disarray on Tuesday as suspected drone sightings forced the suspension of all flights at Brussels Airport, the nation’s busiest aviation hub. The disruption began around 20:00 local time (19:00 GMT) following a reported drone sighting, prompting an immediate halt to air traffic. Although operations briefly resumed an hour later, they were swiftly suspended again due to further sightings. Liege Airport also experienced similar disruptions, with no clear timeline for when normal operations might resume. Local media further reported drone sightings at Kleine-Brogel and Florennes military airbases, compounding the crisis. This incident marks the latest in a series of drone-related disruptions at European airports, including Munich, Copenhagen, and Oslo. A statement on the Brussels Airport website confirmed the suspension of all departing and arriving flights, with officials closely monitoring the situation and promising updates as they become available. Images from inside the airport showed camp beds being prepared for stranded passengers. Charleroi, Belgium’s second-largest airport, also briefly halted air traffic as a precaution. Initially, flights were diverted to Liege, but operations there were subsequently suspended due to additional drone sightings. Flights have since been redirected to nearby airports, including Ostend and Charleroi in Belgium, as well as Eindhoven and Maastricht in the Netherlands. This incident marks the fourth consecutive night of drone sightings over Kleine-Brogel, a key military base near the Dutch border. Belgium’s Defence Minister, Theo Francken, announced on Monday that an investigation is underway, describing the incidents as ‘a clear mission targeting Kleine Broge.’ Belgian news site VRT also reported drone sightings near Ostend and Antwerp’s Deurne airports over the weekend, further highlighting the growing threat posed by unauthorized drone activity.
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Bella Culley home after early Georgia jail release
Bella Culley, a 19-year-old pregnant teenager from Billingham, Teesside, has returned home after being released from prison in Georgia. Culley, who admitted to drug trafficking charges, had initially faced up to 20 years in jail. However, prosecutors revised the terms of her plea bargain, leading to her release. She had spent nearly six months in custody, including time in Georgia’s Rustavi Prison Number Five, before being transferred to a ‘mother and baby’ unit due to her advanced pregnancy. Culley was detained on May 10 after authorities discovered 12kg of marijuana and 2kg of hashish in her luggage at Tbilisi International Airport. Her family paid £137,000 to reduce her sentence to two years. On Monday, she walked free from court in Tbilisi, accompanied by her mother, and arrived at Luton Airport on an Easyjet flight. Culley claimed she was coerced into trafficking drugs by gangsters who allegedly tortured her with a hot iron. Georgian police have launched a separate investigation into her allegations of coercion.
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Fire at a retiree boarding house in Bosnia kills several people, media reports say
A tragic fire broke out on Tuesday at a retirement boarding house in Tuzla, a town in northeastern Bosnia-Herzegovina, resulting in multiple fatalities. According to reports from Bosnian media, including the prominent daily newspaper Dnevni Avaz, at least eight individuals lost their lives in the incident. The fire originated on one of the higher floors of the building, causing significant damage and prompting an urgent evacuation by firefighters. Although police sources were cited in the media reports, official confirmation of the details has yet to be released. Visuals from the scene depicted intense flames engulfing one of the facility’s floors, highlighting the severity of the disaster. The incident has raised concerns about safety standards in such facilities and has left the local community in mourning.
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UAE weather tomorrow: Rains expected in some areas; temperatures to rise
Residents across the United Arab Emirates (UAE) should prepare for varied weather conditions on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, as the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) predicts rainfall in certain regions. The Al Dhafrah area is expected to experience dusty to partly cloudy skies, with occasional cloud cover.
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CIIE to be fully powered by renewable energy
The 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE), set to take place from November 5 to 10 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai, will be fully powered by renewable energy for the third consecutive year. This milestone was achieved through an inter-provincial green power transaction totaling approximately 130 million kilowatt-hours for November, orchestrated by the State Grid Shanghai Municipal Electric Power Co. About 8 million kilowatt-hours of this green power will directly cover the expo’s electricity needs. The State Grid Shanghai has also utilized the CIIE’s influence to promote green electricity consumption among exhibitors and broader users across the city, resulting in a record-breaking green power trading volume of over 1 billion kilowatt-hours in November. This initiative is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 798,000 tons. The State Grid Shanghai has developed a three-tier green power supply model, encompassing cross-regional, regional, and local levels, and conducted multiple green electricity transactions. During the CIIE, green power will be supplied from the northwest, northeast, east China, and local Shanghai regions. The expo’s commitment to 100% green power has established it as a benchmark for low-carbon transformation in large-scale events. The State Grid Shanghai will continue to assist more enterprises in adopting green electricity, promoting low-carbon energy transition, and contributing to China’s dual-carbon goals. Additionally, the company has enhanced its power supply assurance system to version 8.0, leveraging digital transformation and AI-based decision models to ensure safe and reliable power supply during the expo. Over 3,100 emergency repair personnel and 891 power supply vehicles will be on standby to provide comprehensive power security for the event.
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Moroccan court sentences man accused of trafficking people to scam compound in Asia
In a groundbreaking verdict, a Moroccan court in Casablanca has sentenced Nabil Moafik to five years in prison and imposed a fine of $107,300 for his involvement in human trafficking. This marks the first such ruling in Morocco against an individual accused of luring victims to scam compounds in Asia. The case centered on several young Moroccans who were deceived by online job offers promising lucrative employment in Thailand. Instead, they were trafficked to Myanmar, where they were forced to work over 9,300 miles from home, participating in online fraud and scams. Moafik, who denied the charges, described human trafficking as a ‘crime against humanity’ he would never commit. Victims present in court recounted harrowing experiences of torture and degrading treatment in Myanmar, with some securing their release only after paying ransoms in cryptocurrency. Prosecutors revealed that Moafik operated a Facebook group aiding Moroccan immigrants in Turkey, where he advertised call-center jobs in Thailand. One victim, Youssef Amzouz, was introduced to another recruiter who demanded he either pay a ransom or recruit 100 others to gain freedom. Moafik claimed he was merely a job mediator, unaware of the trafficking scheme. The International Organization for Migration noted that middlemen often unknowingly participate in such crimes, complicating prosecutions. Morocco’s Foreign Ministry has reportedly secured the release of 34 citizens from similar scam centers in Myanmar, though the total number of affected Moroccans remains unclear.
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Tommy Robinson thanks Elon Musk for defence funds as he’s cleared of terror charge
Far-right activist and self-proclaimed journalist Tommy Robinson, legally known as Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, has been acquitted of terrorism charges in the UK, avoiding potential jail time. The verdict follows a high-profile legal battle financially backed by tech mogul Elon Musk. The charges stemmed from an incident earlier this year when Robinson was stopped by police at the Channel Tunnel in Folkestone while en route to Benidorm, Spain. Officers, acting under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act, detained him after he provided vague responses to their questions and refused to grant access to his phone, citing confidential journalistic material. During the two-day trial, Robinson’s defense argued that the police action was a baseless ‘fishing expedition,’ with no evidence from MI5 linking him to terrorism. Judge Sam Goozee ruled in Robinson’s favor, expressing concerns that the stop may have been motivated by his controversial beliefs rather than legitimate security concerns. Following the verdict, Robinson publicly thanked Musk on X (formerly Twitter), crediting the billionaire’s financial support for his legal victory. Robinson, who has a history of legal issues and has built a reputation for stoking anti-Islamic sentiments, remains a polarizing figure in the UK.
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Exclusive: Violent Maccabi fans were organised fighters ‘linked to IDF’, UK police found
Dutch authorities have disclosed alarming details to their British counterparts regarding the conduct of Maccabi Tel Aviv football fans during a November 2024 match in Amsterdam. According to intelligence reports, over 200 fans were linked to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), with hundreds more described as ‘experienced fighters,’ ‘highly organized,’ and ‘intent on causing serious violence.’ This revelation has sparked significant controversy, particularly in light of the recent ban on Maccabi fans from attending a match in Birmingham, England, which was criticized by the British government as antisemitic. The ban, upheld by West Midlands Police and Birmingham’s safety advisory group, was based on Dutch police reports detailing the fans’ violent behavior in Amsterdam. The assessment highlighted incidents of targeted hate crimes, including assaults on Muslim taxi drivers, vandalism, and clashes with police. British MP Jeremy Corbyn condemned the government’s handling of the issue, accusing officials of distorting facts for political gain. Meanwhile, Birmingham Police have emphasized their commitment to ensuring public safety during the upcoming match, amid planned protests by pro-Palestine groups. The situation underscores the complex intersection of sports, politics, and public safety.
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Schools close as torrential rain from Typhoon Kalmaeigi hits Hainan
Hainan Province faced severe disruptions as Typhoon Kalmaegi unleashed torrential rains, leading to widespread flooding and the closure of schools in several cities and counties. On November 4, 2025, educational institutions in Qionghai, Tunchang, Ding’an, and Qiongzhong were forced to shut down to ensure the safety of students and staff. The Qionghai Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters escalated its emergency response from Level IV to Level III at 10:20 am, reflecting the escalating crisis. The relentless downpour caused the Wanquan River in Qionghai to swell dangerously, with water levels upstream of the Jiaji Dam reaching 11.54 meters by 11 am, accompanied by a flow rate of 5,125 cubic meters per second. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation as water levels continue to rise, posing significant risks to local communities. Emergency operations have been mobilized across the region to mitigate the impact of the flooding and safeguard residents.