They want to ban social networks for children under 13 years of age all over the EU The EC will send such a proposal to the countries of the Union - Pravda EU

• German Chancellor Friedrich Merz canceled his planned trip to the UN General Assembly in New York scheduled for next week. • The decision follows a landslide loss to the right-wing AfD party in recent state elections and declining approval ratings.

• German state premier Manuela Schwesig is campaigning to stop the far-right AfD party from winning an election this Sunday in a northeastern coastal state. • Schwesig has publicly challenged the national government in Berlin over rising fuel prices and plans to tighten pension rules to distance herself from voter anger.

• The German welfare organization AWO warned that a mass departure of migrants could severely damage the country's care sector. • This alarm follows the landslide election success of the anti-migrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in the state of Saxony-Anhalt.

• Eight state premiers from the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) issued a joint statement on Wednesday backing leader Friedrich Merz. • The premiers urged the party to focus on listening and political action rather than personnel debates following an election defeat in Saxony-Anhalt.

• European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a proposal to ban children under 13 from accessing social networks and restrict access for teenagers under 15. • The proposal explicitly states that there should be no social media access before the age of 13.

• Friedrich Merz canceled his planned visit to the United Nations after the far-right AfD party won a key election. • State leaders issued a statement warning that Germany's political landscape needs stability amid rising nativist challenges.

• The BSW party in Germany has secured five seats in a provincial election, positioning itself as the kingmaker for the region's next government. • This political shift occurs amid an informal German rule that prohibits other parties from forming coalition governments with the far-right AfD.

• Wearable AI interface company Plaud opened its Asia-Pacific headquarters in Singapore to manage operations across the region. • The company committed at least $20 million to the region to support its expansion.

• The Indonesian National Disaster Mitigation Agency expanded its forest and land fire containment efforts beyond the six priority provinces on September 16, 2026. • Thailand's Cabinet approved revised emergency-treatment rules for the Universal Coverage for Emergency Patients scheme, specifically covering triage appeals and the first 72 hours of care.

• Verve Research published a report titled "Voices From the Region: Reimagining Global Cooperation From Southeast Asia" detailing the region's push for a larger role in global governance. • The report highlights a regional demand for international institutions that provide tangible results while maintaining the strategic autonomy of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

• Floods in the Manjha Kala area of Ayodhya have displaced 1,200 families. • These affected households have lost their homes and continue to struggle with outstanding debts.