Network

• 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. • This policy would force social media platforms to implement stricter age verification and access controls for millions of young users across the European Union.

Six employees killed on Tuesday after Moscow escalates attacks on infrastructure and Ukrainian capitalRussia has opened a deadly new phase in its war against Ukraine by deliberately targeting the country’s railway network, with six employees killed on Tuesday in the latest strikes on Kyiv.Ukraine’s state-owned railway company, Ukrzaliznytsia, said its workers died when a ballistic missile plunged into a locomotive depot. The Russians hit other railway facilities, it added, during a massive bombardment of Kyiv and the Kyiv region. At least 12 people died, with a dozen wounded, including three children. Continue reading...

• Author Abdillahi Jama Ali-Qurus warns that the Horn of Africa is reaching a "melting point" as diverse geopolitical conflicts converge in the region. • The instability is driven by the competing ambitions of Türkiye, Gulf powers, Israel, and Western nations, alongside the spillover from the Houthi conflict in Yemen. • This convergence matters because strategic geography is forcing separate international interests and old regional wounds to collide, increasing the risk of systemic instability.

Matt Stanton says company has ‘good pipeline’ of AI deals ahead even as it aims to cut $160m in costsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe head of Nine Entertainment sees a “world of growth in publishing” on the horizon backed by laws designed to force tech platforms into commercial deals, even as the network cuts costs across its newsrooms.Parliament passed revamped media bargaining laws last week, clearing the way for levies on global tech platforms that fail to strike deals with Australian news outlets for the use of their journalism. Continue reading...

• Palo Alto Networks has officially launched a new AI-driven defense program designed to enhance cybersecurity capabilities. • The initiative focuses on leveraging artificial intelligence to proactively detect and neutralize sophisticated cyber threats. • This move is significant as it reflects the growing industry trend of integrating AI to counter automated attacks and reduce response times.

The prime minister says the ‘absolutely massive’ move would protect thousands of jobsMoscow has threatened the UK with “consequences” after reports that British drones have been used to strike targets on Russia’s mainland for the first time.Ukraine used drones made by two UK companies as part of a so-called deep-strike campaign, the Sunday Times reported.Buses in Manchester and London are franchised (ie owned by a private company but operated under a local authority brand.) It seems strange that the Government didn’t try and facilitate this or encourage another private operator to take over the enhanced partnership operation in the West Midlands but instead transfer c. £100m of liabilities to local taxpayers backed by The UK Govt & ultimately UK taxpayers. Continue reading...

• COL Group has launched COL AI Studios, a new entertainment vertical designed to help brands, studios, and platforms develop and scale content. • The studio leverages a global distribution network that has grown from 1,000 to over 5,000 live-action titles sourced from China, Southeast Asia, Europe, and the U.S. • This initiative allows partners to test and deploy content beyond traditional licensing agreements, expanding the group's global reach.