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)
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
SOTEU 2026 — SANCTIONS MUST BITE. My proposal for the next phase of EU Russia policy is simple: boycott, embargo, sanction, defund. The objective is to reduce the revenues, financial channels, technology access and international networks that sustain Russia’s war effort. That https://t.co/r95fzr0Kjb #SOTEU2026 #Sanctions #RussiaPolicy #RU
SOTEU 2026 — SANCTIONS MUST BITE. My proposal for the next phase of EU Russia policy is simple: boycott, embargo, sanction, defund. The objective is to reduce the revenues, financial channels, technology access and international networks that sustain Russia’s war effort. That https://t.co/Hgknd5o1sj #SOTEU2026 #Sanctions #EUForeignPolicy #RU
My message after SOTEU 2026 is simple: Europe’s free-trade agenda is still unfinished. @vonderleyen I want the EU to build a much wider network of trade agreements with strategic partners: USA, Taiwan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the African Union/AfCFTA and the GCC-6 — https://t.co/IVnqeeVGdI #FreeTrade #EUStrategy #GlobalPartnerships #USA #TW #BD #PK #LK #AF #GCC
For context on this Russian GRU terror network targeting America and Europe, and the special role played by a Cuban salsa teacher living in a town near Finland. https://t.co/o0sGQWS4G1 #RussianGRU #Terrorism #Cuba #RU #US #EU #CU #FI
A new study published in JAMA Network Open suggests that the antibiotic cefepime, commonly used for pneumonia and urinary infections, is associated with a higher risk of death, necessitating a careful reevaluation of its use. (translated)
PUTIN’S BOXING NETWORK REACHES TRUMP JR. 🥊🇷🇺🇺🇸 Sport. Money. Politics. Influence. The issue is not who meets whom. The issue is transparency: who finances the institutions, who provides access, who benefits, and whether Kremlin-linked networks are gaining influence in the West https://t.co/Uk7dXh0GtL #PutinsBoxingNetwork #Transparency #KremlinInfluence #RU #US
🔥Ukraine’s Defense Forces struck multiple key Russian military targets overnight, including a drone launch site near Donetsk, EW and radar stations in Bryansk region, a MESH network relay, and a fuel depot in occupied Luhansk. Damage assessment is ongoing. 🇺🇦 #Ukraine #UkraineWar
🚨 TRAIDORES DA PÁTRIA? Estou acionando as autoridades e pedindo a investigação de Flávio Bolsonaro pela acusação de que sua campanha está recebendo dinheiro internacional, vindo dos Estados Unidos, de uma organização ligada a Donald Trump. De acordo com a acusação, a campanha de Flávio é abastecida por recursos da Rockbridge Network, um grupo estadunidense fundado por J.D Vance, vice-presidente dos EUA, e Chris Buskirk, um sócio de Donald Trump Jr., filho de Donald Trump. A ponte entre a campanha de Flávio Bolsonaro e a Rockbridge Network seria realizada pelo empresário Tallis Gomes, da empresa G4, e por Pedro Sang. E, conforme a imprensa, pessoas ligadas à campanha de Flávio Bolsonaro confirmam que Pedro Sang trabalha dentro do QG de Flávio Bolsonaro aqui em São Paulo, com contato direto com o marqueteiro de Flávio. Receber dinheiro de fora para financiar uma campanha eleitoral para a presidência da República é um crime grave. E é uma traição sem precedentes à nossa pátria, que somente um filho de Jair Bolsonaro e irmão de Eduardo Bolsonaro seria capaz de cometer. Por isso, estou pedindo à Procuradoria-Geral Eleitoral que Flávio Bolsonaro e a acusação de financiamento internacional sejam devidamente investigados. Não podemos aceitar que dinheiro de fora mande nas eleições daqui. E muito menos que os interesses de Donald Trump e sua turma ditem a campanha eleitoral, ou até mesmo um possível mandato, de um candidato à presidência da República. #FlávioBolsonaro #Eleições2024 #Investigação
Secondo quanto riportato da Reuters, la Commissione europea sta preparando un ampio divieto per gli under-15 residenti nell'Unione europea su social network, piattaforme video, chatbot di IA e giochi online, nell'ambito dell'EU Kids Act. Il piano prevede anche la verifica dell'età degli utenti e maggiori controlli sull'accesso ai servizi digitali. Prima di entrare in vigore la proposta dovrà comunque essere approvata da Parlamento europeo e Stati membri #EUKidsAct #Privacy #SicurezzaOnline
A young woman just over eighteen was kidnapped and raped for hours in a basement in Castellammare di Stabia by a 26-year-old man, who had lured her through a social network, using wooden beams to immobilize her. (translated)
WE WILL DEFEND THE UNITED KINGDOM — WHATEVER IT TAKES. 🇬🇧 My presidential policy is clear: keep NATO Britain united, defend our allies, confront and dismantle the political, economic and strategic networks of our enemies, and rebuild the strength of the democratic West. I want a https://t.co/RU9NEihcCw #DefendUK #NATO #DemocraticWest #GB
The Marsalek chats are a warning to Austria: Russian influence operations are not some distant abstract threat — they have been planned for Vienna. According to DER STANDARD’s reporting, Jan Marsalek and his network discussed creating fake “Azov” structures, placing https://t.co/W7csIl0LeI #Marsalek #RussianInfluence #Austria #AT #RU
Um documento reforça a suspeita de ligação entre a campanha de Flávio Bolsonaro e o grupo de empresários trumpistas Rockbridge Network. O documento, revelado pelo Amado Mundo, detalha como seria a exploração de terras raras brasileiras pelos Estados Unidos em um eventual governo de Flávio Bolsonaro. O material surge em meio à acusação de que a campanha venha sendo abastecida com dinheiro da Rockbridge Network, grupo de empresários trumpistas fundado pelo vice-presidente americano, J.D. Vance. Elaborado por André Marinho, aliado de Flávio e candidato ao governo do Rio de Janeiro pelo Novo, o documento detalha como seria a exploração de terras raras no Brasil pelos Estados Unidos. Em entrevista ao Amado Mundo, Marinho confirmou ser o autor do material, que faz uma série de referências à campanha de Flávio Bolsonaro. Marinho nega, apesar disso, que o documento tenha relação com a campanha de Flávio. Confira a reportagem completa no site https://t.co/bxLxSfxjbm. #TerrasRaras #FlávioBolsonaro #Eleições2026 #Rockbridge #JDVance #FlávioBolsonaro #TerrasRaras #Eleições2026
The Erosion of Western Civilization’s Social Fabric It is hard to fathom how much of Western civilization’s social fabric has eroded in just a single decade. No healthy society debates whether “the system” is to blame for a child murderer’s crimes and then expresses support for the monster. Such a society certainly does not celebrate the assassinations of moderate and respectable political figures, nor does it allow repeat violent offenders back onto the streets to terrorize the general public. The best explanation I have heard for this phenomenon of macrosocial insanity is *Political Ponerology* by Andrew Lobaczewski—the study of how pathological personalities infiltrate and transform social institutions. This process does not require an entire population of psychopaths. In fact, it is often only a small minority that forms the core of the pathological movement. A relatively small party or group is led by psychopaths, who are natural experts at manipulation, deception, intimidation, and ruthlessness. The ideologues are the ones who design the system. They create abstract ideologies, often criticizing reality for falling short of their arbitrary expectations. Human beings become nothing more than nodes in a network, to be organized and managed by supposedly more intelligent minds. Then there are the spellbinders, who serve as the movement’s salespeople. They package tyranny as safety, envy as justice, and coercion as compassion. Their primary tool of persuasion is emotional alignment rather than truth or logic. These three types rely on three other groups to normalize their totalitarian system: the spellbound, adapted conformists, and bystanders. The spellbound are true believers who experience participation in the movement as a kind of moral crusade. Adapted conformists support the system because of the security, status, or comfort it provides—or because they fear ostracism. Bystanders are generally aloof and avoid conflict at all costs, believing that ignorance and cowardice will spare them.
🇲🇽 Hoy, en el #SmackDown post SNME y previo a Triplemanía 34 desde el Arena CDMX de Ciudad de México, México: 🔵 Undisputed WWE Championship: CM Punk (c) vs. Sami Zayn 🔵 Interim WWE Women's Championship: Chelsea Green (c) vs. Nia Jax 🔵 Campeonatos por Parejas de AAA: War Raiders (c) vs. Damian Priest & R-Truth 🔵 Campeonato Mundial de Peso Crucero de AAA: Rey Fénix (c) vs. Ricky Saints 🔵 Cody Rhodes y Randy Orton, presentes tras lo ocurrido en SNME 🔵 Paige vs. Nikki Bella Que sea el inicio de un gran fin de semana en México y Las Vegas. 🟣 Estaremos reaccionando EN DIRECTO en https://t.co/nHi1ldYNMc tanto a #SmackDown como a la Noche 1 de Triplemanía 34, con 30 mins de previa ⏰ Horarios para ver #SmackDown en directo: 🇲🇽 6pm 🇺🇸🇨🇦 8pm ET, 5pm PT 🇪🇸🇩🇪🇫🇷🇮🇹🇵🇱🇧🇪 02.00 horas 🇮🇨🇵🇹🇬🇧🇮🇪 01.00 horas 🇦🇷🇺🇾🇵🇾🇧🇷 9pm 🇻🇪🇧🇴🇵🇷🇩🇴🇨🇱 8pm 🇨🇴🇵🇪🇵🇦🇪🇨🇨🇺 7pm 🇨🇷🇸🇻🇭🇳🇬🇹🇳🇮🇧🇿 6pm 🇸🇦 3am 🇮🇳 5.30am 🇵🇭 8am 🇦🇺 11am AEDT, 10.30am ACDT, 10am AEST, 8am AWST 📺 El show se podrá ver en USA Network en Estados Unidos y en Netflix en la mayoría del resto de países (España y Latinoamérica incluidos) #WWE #SmackDown #Triplemanía34
In California, a new law prohibits social networks from offering features designed to create addiction to users under the age of 16, imposing fines of up to $50,000 for violations. (translated)
