Teenagers and social networks: if national governments dawdle, the #EU takes a first step to protect young people on #social. Good limits for those under 15. The next step must include clear constraints on the design of algorithms, which are currently designed to create addiction. After (translated)
In her State of the Union speech, Ursula von der Leyen presented controversial proposals for a European Security Council, the creation of a first associate member state with Canada, and restrictions on the use of social networks for minors, highlighting the need to respond to hybrid threats and uphold democratic values. (translated)
Vrij waanzinnig dit. De factcheck-subsidie industrie blijft op volle toeren draaien. In alle stilte heeft minister @carogennez een subsidie van 300.000 euro (!) per jaar toegekend voor wéér een nieuwe factcheck initatief. Dit keer aan Factcheck-Vlaanderen (het factcheck-platform dat claimt zonder subsidies te werken). Daar werken journalisten van VRT Check (nog een ander factcheck-platform, dat er miljoenen bij kreeg afgelopen jaar) en ... MO*-magazine, een uiterst links-ideologisch blad van de vakbonden. Ook gesubsidieerd. 13 VTE's werken aan dit nieuwe platform. 13. Voor twee gezondheidsclaims per week. Om de neutraliteit kracht bij te zetten, is het gezicht van het nieuwe platform niemand minder dan ... Jo Vandeurzen. Waarbij er ook nog eens naar "de enige betrouwbare bronnen" wordt gewezen. Toevallig allemaal ook ons-kent-ons gesubsidieerde organisaites. (De claims van "het instituut Gezond Leven" zijn bijvoorbeeld alles behalve neutraal en op veel vlakken, bijvoorbeeld als het over vlees gaat, puur ideologisch gedreven). Intussen is het aantal afzonderlijke factcheck platforms niet meer te overzien. Ze krijgen elk net genoeg subsidies voor een stevig personeelsbestand. Het afzonderlijk bereik is telkens nihil. Wie heeft hier in godsnaam nog iets aan? #factcheck #journalistiek #subsidies
Werter Herr Merz, lieber Kanzler der Herzen, Sie sind also für die Klarnamenpflicht im Netz. Sie vergleichen Pressepublikationen mit virtuellem Stammtisch- und Marktplatzgeplauder, halten nichts von freier Rede und glauben, Bürger vor "falschen" Informationen schützen zu müssen. Nein. Sie sollten die Bürger vor hohen Energie- und Lebensmittelpreisen schützen, vor horrenden Mieten und Fantasiesteuern, vor Messerattacken und Gruppenvergewaltigungen, vor Überwachung, Kriegstreibern, mangelnder Bildung und einem Alter in Armut und menschenunwürdiger Pflege. Ich habe Ihnen schon des Öfteren mitgeteilt, dass Sie es nicht können. Hören Sie endlich auf mich. Ihre Leah #Meinungsfreiheit #Politik #SozialeGerechtigkeit
My hypothesis, essentially since the start of the Ramadan War, has been that @POTUS and @netanyahu stepped into the trap set by the IRGC and late-Khamenei after the 12-day war, by starting the war. Now, the only thing left for the @WhiteHouse to decide is when they leave the https://t.co/569gJOOKJE #RamadanWar #IRGC #MiddleEastConflict #IR #US #IL
In Poland, near the coast, a Russian drone "Gerbera-2" with explosives was found, which could have entered the country through Lithuania. (translated)
Vidět to na netu je jedna věc, vidět to na vlastní oči druhá. Na vlastní oči je to ještě násobně horší. Debilnější vizuál tu snad za posledních 35 let nebyl. https://t.co/2eo2Rg5blL #vizio #kritika #zážitky
„Ši vasara negali pasikartoti. Todėl netrukus pristatysime ir Europos karščio bangų planą“
Ben Saunders, the first winner of The Voice of Holland in 2011, has been found dead at the age of 42 in a pond near Arnhem, Netherlands, after being reported missing, and the circumstances of his death remain unknown. (translated)
The directing duo Rachel Szor and Yuval Abraham is being attacked by the Netanyahu government due to their critical documentaries about the Gaza war and military violence in Israel, and they are even facing the threat of denaturalization. (translated)
The EU plans to introduce age restrictions for social media platforms like Instagram to improve youth protection on the internet and oblige companies to make their offerings safer for different target groups. (translated)
The news we are distributing in Italy, The Bibi Files, and that we will also project it to the EU Parliament has just bounced back in the Israeli media. We hope this will push the politics to take clear positions on this issue. (translated)
🤦🏻♂️ Ainārs Šlesers salīdzināja Latviju ar mazu, niknu kranci, kuru neviens neklausās. Tieši tādu pašu ainu gadiem ilgi zīmē kremļa propaganda. 🤷🏻♂️ Intervijā ziņu aģentūrai LETA Šlesers paziņoja, ka Latvijai vajadzētu pārstāt kvaukšķēt, jo, viņaprāt, starptautiskā līmenī neviens neklausās Latvijas balsī. Turklāt šī intervijas fragmentu publicēja arī partijas “Latvija pirmajā vietā” oficiālais konts, pievienojot tam attēlu ar niknu mazu sunīti. Spriežot pēc visa, tieši tā, pēc oligarha domām, Latvija izskatās starptautiskajā arēnā. ❗️ Starp citu, dīvainas sakritības dēļ tieši ar mazu kranci Latviju salīdzina arī kremļa propaganda, un tieši ar šādiem attēliem tiek ilustrētas ziņas par mūsu valsti. Saistībā ar šo oligarha izteikumu uzreiz rodas vairāki jautājumi. 1️⃣ Pirmkārt, tad tomēr Latvija ir pirmajā vietā vai arī Latvija ir sunītis, kurš neko neizšķir? Manuprāt, te tomēr vajadzētu tikt skaidrībā. Citādi sanāk kaut kādi savstarpēji izslēdzoši apgalvojumi. 2️⃣ Otrkārt, vai Šlesers atceras, kurš pirmais pirms daudziem gadiem brīdināja par to, ka krievija sāk agresīvā veidā atjaunot impēriju? Daudzi Latvijas diplomātus uztvēra kā paranoiķus un margināļus, latviešus apsūdzēja tajā, ka viņiem esot vēsturiskas pretenzijas pret krieviju, kas neļaujot veidot normālas attiecības ar maskavu. 🫣 Baltijas valstīm neviens neticēja, un daudzi partneri, ko tur slēpt, pat atklāti smīkņāja. Nu, un kuram galu galā bija taisnība? 3️⃣ Un, visbeidzot, treškārt. Kremļa propaganda tieši šo naratīvu arī centās iedzīt Baltijas valstu iedzīvotāju galvās — ka mēs neko neizšķiram, ka nevajag sevi aizstāvēt stingrā formā un ka galu galā nevajag pretoties. 🤯 Lielisko Zemessardzes saukli “Mana Latvija — mana atbildība” viņi faktiski aizstāj ar naratīvu: “Palieciet savās vietās, mēs paliksim savās, tikai uzvedieties klusi.” 🇫🇮 Somijas apņēmības piemēra vietā (pagājušā gadsimta vidū) mums piedāvā krievijas paverdzināto tautu kūtras un iniciatīvas trūkuma pilnas darbības. ❌ Nevajag skaļi aizstāvēt savas tiesības, nevajag strīdēties ar lielajām Eiropas valstīm un kaut ko tām ieteikt. 😳 Tās valstis, kuras Šlesers minēja, kremlis nekad nav okupējis, un tām nav šādas skumjas, bet vienlaikus mūsdienām ļoti vērtīgas pieredzes. ⚠️ Baltijas valstīm šāda pieredze diemžēl ir, un tāpēc mums ir tiesības tajā dalīties ar stratēģiskajiem partneriem. 🍒 Nu un ķirsītis uz tortes. Pēc Šlesera domām, sadarbības atjaunošana ar krieviju būšot iespējama pēc kara beigām. Tas nozīmē, ka Ainārs ir gatavs brīvprātīgi uzlikt Latvijai kremļa ekonomiskās važas un ilgtermiņā tajā nesaskata nekādu problēmu. 👛 Droši vien tomēr šiem kungiem pirmajā vietā nav Latvija, bet gan maks. Turklāt ne jau valsts maks, proti, valsts kase, bet gan viņu pašu maks. ❓ Bet kā jūs uzskatāt — vai Latvijai vajadzētu aizvērties un klusēt, vai arī tieši pretēji — vēl skaļāk aizstāvēt savas nacionālās intereses? #vēlēšanas #Šlesers #propaganda #kremlis #okupācija #Latvija #Šlesers #propaganda
Tuurlijk wel. Die hooibalen zijn, net als al die natuurbranden, spontaan in de fik gevlogen door klimaatverandering. https://t.co/thEZV2u4aB #klimaatverandering #natuur #milieu
Swiss researchers have developed an artificial intelligence that determines a person's biological age based on retinal photos and predicts the risk of diseases such as cancer or dementia, with smoking identified as the strongest aging factor. (translated)
»Keine sozialen Netzwerke unter dem Alter von 13 Jahren. Kein eigenes Nutzerkonto unter dem Alter von 15 Jahren«
Ursula von der Leyen has proposed to ban access to social networks for under-13s and to limit and supervise accounts for 13-15 year-olds, but experts and associations are asking to raise the age limit to 16 for greater protection. (translated)
AFRICA DAILY REPORT — 16 SEPTEMBER 2026 Coverage: key developments reported during the previous 24 hours 1. DR CONGO — Ebola outbreak remains severe despite signs of progress Importance: 10/10 — Critical The UN says there are encouraging signs in the fight against the Ebola outbreak, but it is still too early to declare that the epidemic has peaked. More than 7,200 confirmed cases and 3,510 deaths have been recorded across seven provinces. Daily infections have declined from around 120 at the mid-August peak to roughly 80, but North Kivu remains particularly alarming, with 555 new cases reported there in the past 21 days. Source: Reuters, 15 Sep 2026 https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/un-says-ebola-epidemic-still-huge-growing-2026-09-15/ 2. DR CONGO — Protests and clashes over proposed constitutional changes Importance: 9/10 — Very High Police used tear gas and warning shots as opposition protests spread across Kinshasa and other cities against proposed constitutional changes. Opponents fear the changes could open the way for President Félix Tshisekedi to seek a third term. The political confrontation adds another layer of instability while the country simultaneously faces the Ebola epidemic and conflict in the east. Source: Associated Press, 15 Sep 2026 https://apnews.com/article/722684d7da7ffe1d49c44dd03db82904 3. SOUTH AFRICA / UNITED STATES — Washington imposes new visa restrictions Importance: 9/10 — Very High U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a new visa-restriction policy targeting certain foreign nationals from South Africa. Washington says the measures concern people linked to uncompensated land seizures, racial discrimination or violence against ethnic minorities. The move marks another deterioration in U.S.–South African relations following disputes over land reform, racial policy and Pretoria's foreign policy. Source: Reuters, 15 Sep 2026 https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/us-announces-visa-curbs-some-foreign-nationals-south-africa-2026-09-15/ 4. EGYPT / RED SEA — Sisi and Saudi crown prince focus on security of strategic shipping routes Importance: 9/10 — Very High Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman stressed the need to protect freedom and security of navigation through the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb. The talks come amid escalating Houthi military activity and growing threats to one of the world's most important maritime corridors. Egypt has a particularly strong economic interest because disruption of Red Sea traffic directly affects Suez Canal revenues. Source: Reuters, 15 Sep 2026 https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/egypts-sisi-saudi-crown-prince-stress-need-security-red-sea-navigation-2026-09-15/ 5. DJIBOUTI — Yemen conflict drives growing refugee pressure across the Red Sea Importance: 8/10 — High Escalating fighting in Yemen is pushing more civilians toward Djibouti. More than 2,000 Yemenis are already there, while nearly 94,000 people have been displaced inside Yemen. A fuel shortage is temporarily slowing sea crossings, but the International Organization for Migration expects more people to attempt the journey once fuel becomes available. Djibouti's capacity to absorb additional arrivals could come under increasing pressure. Source: Associated Press, 15 Sep 2026 https://apnews.com/article/djibouti-yemen-red-sea-houthis-0382bf63a25d98e87477bf7f13b9577a 6. SOUTH AFRICA — Seven women's deaths trigger major investigation and national concern Importance: 8/10 — High South African police are investigating the deaths of seven women whose bodies have been discovered over the past two months in and around Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg. Authorities have not yet established whether the killings are linked to a single perpetrator. President Cyril Ramaphosa has promised a thorough investigation. The case is intensifying public concern over South Africa's exceptionally high levels of violent crime and gender-based violence. Source: Reuters, 15 Sep 2026 https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/south-african-police-probe-killings-seven-women-ramaphosa-vows-action-2026-09-15/ 7. NIGERIA — Industrial-scale methamphetamine laboratory dismantled Importance: 7/10 — High Nigeria's anti-drug agency dismantled an industrial-scale methamphetamine laboratory in Ebonyi State and arrested a Mexican national while he was attempting to leave the country. Authorities say the operation followed a months-long investigation into a wider criminal network. The case is significant because West and Central Africa are increasingly being used not only as drug-transit corridors but also as production hubs for synthetic narcotics. Source: Associated Press, 15 Sep 2026 https://apnews.com/article/d5ba984a98c27fba6c9694b12b9acfd8 8. SOUTH AFRICA — Rand weakens as oil-price surge increases inflation pressure Importance: 7/10 — High The South African rand weakened against the U.S. dollar as high global energy prices, a stronger dollar and weaker precious-metals prices increased concerns about inflation and South Africa's import bill. As a major oil importer, South Africa is particularly exposed to the current energy shock, which could feed through into fuel prices, transport costs and monetary-policy decisions. Source: Reuters, 15 Sep 2026 https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/south-african-rand-slides-oil-price-surge-pressures-emerging-market-currencies-2026-09-15/ 9. KENYA — Nairobi awarded 2029 World Athletics Championships in historic African first Importance: 6/10 — Significant Nairobi will host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, making Kenya the first African country to stage the event. The championships will take place at Kasarani Stadium. Beyond the sporting significance, the decision represents a major international-profile opportunity for Kenya and is likely to accelerate investment in stadium, transport and visitor infrastructure. Source: Reuters, 15 Sep 2026 https://www.reuters.com/sports/nairobi-host-2029-world-athletics-championships-african-first-2026-09-15/ 10. ESWATINI / UNITED STATES — Two U.S. government personnel accidentally shot by Eswatini soldiers Importance: 6/10 — Significant Eswatini's government confirmed that soldiers accidentally shot two U.S. government personnel during an anti-smuggling operation in the country's northeast. The Americans sustained minor injuries. Both governments are investigating the incident, which Eswatini's military acknowledged has a diplomatic dimension. Source: Associated Press, 15 Sep 2026 https://apnews.com/article/284210c69a3c67fdb491c77093977803 #Africa #AfricaNews #TopNewsOfAfrica #SouthAfrica #UnitedStates #USSouthAfrica #Diplomacy #VisaRestrictions #ForeignPolicy #Geopolitics #Rand #SouthAfricanRand #AfricanMarkets #EmergingMarkets #OilPrices #EnergyShock #Inflation #Economy #RedSea #Egypt #SaudiArabia #BabElMandeb #MaritimeSecurity #ShippingSecurity #SuezCanal #GlobalTrade #HornOfAfrica #Security #AfricaToday #wrldorg
"The black ball," the film by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi that pays homage to Federico García Lorca and addresses historical memory, has been selected by the Academy of Cinema to represent Spain in the race for the Oscar after winning the Best Direction Award at Cannes and is being prepared as Netflix's big bet for the awards season. (translated)
After decades of speculation, Blizzard Entertainment has officially announced that Netflix is working on an animated series based on the video game classic "Diablo," which will bring the dark fantasy world of Sanctuary to life. (translated)
