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There was “no meaningful shift” away from big tech platforms like TikTok and Instagram in the immediate wake of Australia’s world-leading teen social media ban, government documents obtained by AFP show.Australia in December banned under 16s from a raft of popular social media platforms, launching a world-first crackdown designed to protect children from online bullying and “predatory algorithms”. There is strong global interest in whether Australia’s laws could provide a blueprint for how to rein-in increasingly powerful tech giants.Government documents obtained by AFP using freedom of information laws give an early glimpse into how the restrictions are working. They showed that platforms such as Instagram and TikTok were still “dominating app store rankings and downloads” one month on from the ban.Data compiled throughout January showed “no meaningful shift away” from these platforms, noted an internal briefing from Australia’s eSafety Commission. Users dabbled with other apps not covered by the ban but “largely returned to major, established platforms”, officials wrote in the briefing dated February 2. A separate document cautioned it was hard to draw firm conclusions from app download data so soon after the ban.“Limitations of this data are that it does not reflect usage of an app or the age of the user, however it gives early indicators if an app is rising in popularity.” One of the chief concerns driving Australia’s social media ban was the desire to stamp out cyberbullying.Complaints of cyberbullying on banned social media platforms increased 26 % when comparing January 2026 with January 2025, the documents said. Complaints had largely stemmed from TikTok. A spokeswoman for the eSafety Commission — Australia’s online watchdog — said the documents only covered a short period of time as the laws were bedding down.“Continued analysis as more data becomes available will support more robust, evidence-based conclusions regarding longer-term trends, reporting behaviours and impacts of (a minimum age for social media),” the commission told AFP in a statement. TikTok was approached for comment.A raft of nations are now reportedly mulling a similar social media crackdown. The documents showed that Israel, the United Kingdom, Norway and New Zealand met with Australian officials after expressing an “interest” in the ban. “eSafety has experienced significant global interest in the world’s first social media minimum age legislation, including implementation and compliance,” the commission said.“The internet doesn’t stop at the border and nor should our efforts to minimise harm, especially to children.” Australia in March accused big tech companies of “failing to obey” their obligations under the new laws.The eSafety Commission found a “substantial proportion of Australian children” were still scrolling banned platforms. “Australia’s world-leading social media laws are not failing. But big tech is failing to obey the laws,” Communications Minister Anika Wells told reporters at the time.“Australia will not let the social media giants take us for mugs.”Tech companies face fines of up to $33.9mn (Aus$49.5mn) under the laws.More than 5mn accounts belonging to underage Australian users have been removed since the laws came into effect, according to government figures. 

Growing support for far-right parties is pressuring European governments to introduce stricter controls on immigration. Switzerland is set to vote on a proposal that would take the idea to the next level — imposing a cap on its population.The initiative could lead eventually to a blanket ban on new arrivals if the number of residents rises from around 9mn currently to above 10mn, with little distinction made between refugees, skilled workers and top managers on six-figure salaries.Citizens will likely vote on the proposal next year under the country’s unique system of plebiscites on constitutional amendments and policy, and polls suggest there’s a chance they’ll approve it. The risk is it could lead to shortages of critical skills that end up harming Switzerland’s competitiveness. The outcome will show how far citizens are willing to go to preserve some of the traits that made their country such an appealing destination. What prompted the call for a Swiss population cap? Switzerland’s dynamic economy has made it a major draw for foreign workers. The country is home to global businesses including UBS Group AG, Nestle SA and Novartis AG. Its relatively low taxes, highly skilled population and lean approach to government have also drawn in big foreign businesses including Google, IBM Corp and Walt Disney Co. The country’s per-capita economic output is now the sixth-highest in the world.The nation’s population has grown steadily for almost five decades, and many locals now complain of sky-high rents, traffic jams and overcrowding on trains and buses that harm their quality of life.The right-wing Swiss People’s Party, or SVP, won 28% of the vote in the last election with a campaign that presented Swiss citizenship as a privilege, not a right. It came up with the idea of a population limit in 2023, presenting it as a way to preserve the Swiss lifestyle and protect its environment from excessive human activity. How fast is Switzerland’s population growing? Switzerland’s population has grown by about 10% over the past decade. That’s much quicker than in the European Union, where the population grew less than 2% over the same period, according to World Bank data. Migration is the biggest contributor to the Swiss population increase, with the natural growth rate — the difference between births and deaths — accounting for only about a tenth of the growth.The increase was especially high in 2023 as national statistics factored in the arrival of refugees from Ukraine for the first time. In most years, migrants have come largely from the EU or countries with which Switzerland has a free-trade and association agreement. Is the vote likely to pass? There’s a fair chance that it will, even though the government — which in Switzerland is always composed of the largest parties, including the SVP — opposes the plan. A poll conducted in late November and published on December 7 suggested that 48% of voters were either inclined to back the proposal or had already decided to vote for it. A smaller percentage, 41%, was against, while 11% of voters were undecided.In Switzerland’s system of direct democracy, citizens cast ballots as much as four times a year on issues ranging from inheritance taxes to whether apes should get human rights. Support for a proposal tends to decline as the vote date draws nearer. However, an earlier survey in July also showed a 48% approval rate for the population cap idea, suggesting it has a steady base of support that is not so likely to shrink. What would enforcing the population cap involve? Supporters of the plan propose a multi-step arrangement that would be triggered if Switzerland’s population surpasses the 9.5mn mark before 2050. That’s quite likely to happen: Current forecasts project the country will come close to the threshold in five years and cross it by 2035.The first target would be asylum seekers and families of foreign residents who wish to follow them into Switzerland. People admitted to the country on a temporary basis would no longer be entitled to a residence or settlement permit, citizenship or any other right of residence.**media[392261]**If the threshold of 10mn residents is crossed, the country would then withdraw from what the proposal describes as “population-driving” international treaties.If the population doesn’t fall back below 10mn two years after that, Switzerland would as a final step quit the free-movement accord it has with the European Union. This would have far-reaching consequences as it would trigger the cancellation of a range of other bilateral deals the Swiss have with the bloc. It would also call into question the residence rights of some 1.5mn EU citizens currently living and working in Switzerland and threaten the country’s access to the EU’s single market. How does Switzerland’s business community view the proposal? Various lobby groups have expressed concerns. Economiesuisse warned of “substantial” damage from the proposal, pointing to an expected shortage of 430,000 workers by 2040 that it said could not be filled without immigration. Manufacturing lobby Swissmem said the recruitment of skilled workers from the EU is “essential” for the export-dependent sector.Some individual business leaders support the proposal, including Ems-Chemie Holding AG Chief Executive Officer Magdalena Martullo-Blocher and businessman Thomas Matter. Both are lawmakers for the SVP in the national parliament. What could be the impact on Switzerland and its economy? There have been no formal estimates of the proposal’s economic impact, but it’s widely assumed it would be a drag on growth. Beside the expected labour shortages and an accelerated aging of society, there’s the risk of severe trade disruption if the bilateral agreements with the EU — the destination for more than 40% of Swiss exports — were to fall away.The initiative’s proponents argue such issues would be offset by lower housing rents and lower costs for infrastructure and public welfare. 

At least 17 protesters were killed Monday when Nepal police dispersed young demonstrators in Kathmandu demanding the government lift its social media ban and tackle corruption.Several social media sites -- including Facebook, YouTube and X -- have been inaccessible in Nepal since Friday after the government blocked 26 unregistered platforms, leaving users angry and confused.Police used rubber bullets, tear gas, water cannon and batons when the demonstrators pushed through barbed wire and tried to storm into a restricted area near parliament. "Seventeen people have died," Shekhar Khanal, spokesman for the Kathmandu valley police, told AFP.Khanal said about 400 people were injured, including over 100 police.Following the violence, home minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned at a cabinet meeting in the evening, local media reported."I had been there for a peaceful protest, but the government used force," said Iman Magar, 20, who was hit in his right arm."It was not a rubber bullet but a metallic one, and it took away a part of my hand. The doctor says I need to undergo an operation."Sirens wailed through the city as the injured were taken to hospitals."I have never seen such a disturbing situation at the hospital," said Ranjana Nepal, information officer at the Civil Hospital, which received many of those wounded."Tear gas entered the hospital area as well, making it difficult for doctors to work," she told AFP.The United Nations demanded a swift and transparent probe of the violence."We are shocked by the killings and injury of protesters in Nepal today and urge a prompt and transparent investigation," UN rights office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said in a statement."We have received several deeply worrying allegations of unnecessary or disproportionate use of force by security forces."Amnesty International also called for an investigation, and said live ammunition had been used against protesters.The district administration imposed a curfew in several key areas of the city, including the parliament, the president's residence and Singha Durbar, which houses the prime minister's office.Some of the demonstrators had climbed over the wall into the parliament premises and its gate was vandalised.Similar protests were organised in other districts across the country.Popular platforms such as Instagram have millions of users in Nepal who rely on them for entertainment, news and business."We were triggered by the social media ban but that is not the only reason we are gathered here," said student Yujan Rajbhandari, 24."We are protesting against corruption that has been institutionalised in Nepal."Another student, Ikshama Tumrok, 20, said she was protesting the "authoritarian attitude" of the government."We want to see change. Others have endured this, but it has to end with our generation," she told AFP.Demonstrators had started their protest in Kathmandu with the national anthem and waving the country's flag, before chanting against the social media stoppage and corruption.There have been several corruption cases reported in the last few years involving ministers, former ministers and high-profile officials.Since the ban, videos contrasting the struggles of ordinary Nepalis with the children of politicians flaunting luxury goods and expensive vacations have gone viral on TikTok, which is still operating."There have been movements abroad against corruption, and they are afraid that might happen here as well," said protester Bhumika Bharati.The cabinet decided last month to give the affected social media firms seven days to register in Nepal, establish a point of contact and designate resident grievance and compliance officers.The decision came after a Supreme Court order in September last year.In a statement on Sunday, the government said it respected freedom of thought and expression and was committed to "creating an environment for their protection and unfettered use".Nepal has restricted access to popular online platforms in the past.The government blocked access to the Telegram messaging app in July, citing a rise in online fraud and money laundering.It lifted a nine-month ban on TikTok in August last year after the platform agreed to comply with Nepali regulations.UN urges probe The United Nations demanded a swift and transparent investigation on Monday after a rights group accused police in Nepal of firing on people protesting against corruption, social media ban, killing at least 17. "We are shocked by the killings and injury of protesters in Nepal today and urge a prompt and transparent investigation," UN rights office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said in a statement.

In the aquatic realm of the Gulf, amid its waves and currents, and ranging from near the surface to the depths, the kingfish reigns supreme in excellence and beauty.It is far more than a mere fish, it is a living legend, embodying power, speed, and majesty in its most sublime form, with a torpedo-like sleek body and a lustrous silver sheen that mirrors the pride of the sea.This fish narrates an eternal tale of survival, endowed with astonishing abilities. Its extraordinary speed renders it an unparalleled hunter, striking like an arrow to seize its prey with pinpoint precision, while its exceptional manoeuvring skills allow it to evade any danger in a flash, leaving adversaries bewildered and stunned.The kingfish ranges in length from 50 to 150 centimetres and can weigh up to 35 kilograms in exceptional cases, with females generally larger, particularly in advanced stages of life.Strikingly, it is a symbol of hospitality and the essence of maritime heritage, occupying a premium standing in luxurious feasts during occasions. However, to ensure the preservation of this maritime wealth, colossal efforts are being undertaken to regulate fishing practices and place restrictions on the sizes of fish that are allowed to be caught, as long as the increasing demand for kingfish punches well above its stockpile weight, triggering stringent surveillance to ensure sustainability.Accordingly, the Ministry of Municipality, represented by the Fisheries Department, has recently announced the launch of the kingfish fishing ban season from Aug 15 to Oct 15, 2025. Based on the decision, the use of gill nets for fishing is prohibited, and the trade and transport of such nets are also banned, while only line fishing is permitted.Qatar News Agency reached out to Director of the Fisheries Department Abdulaziz al-Dehaimi, who outlined the key objective of this annual ban, stressing that it primarily intends to protect fish stocks and ensure sustainability in the Qatari marine habitat, as this kind of fish is one of the critical economic species.Dehaimi further added that the ban offers an opportunity for fish recovery and for augmenting the stock to remain abundant for the next generations, affirming that the ban duration is two months based on scientific studies and monitoring data, which confirmed that halting the use of gill nets during this period enhances the reproduction of the kingfish, offering the new generations enough time to grow and ultimately elevate the total stock.The department's surveillance operators and the competent judicial authorities vested with this mission are monitoring the situation daily to ensure people are abiding by this decision and other regulatory rules through inspections of fishing boats and ports, Dehaimi highlighted.Dehaimi stressed that financial and administrative penalties are imposed on violators in accordance with the provisions of Law No. 4 of 1983 on the exploitation and protection of marine resources.He indicated that the department has been committed to launching awareness programmes for fishermen and the public through media campaigns and workshops to highlight the significance of the ban and the measures regulating fisheries, in addition to engaging local media outlets in disseminating the awareness messages.He stressed that the department gives foremost priority to this kind of fish and other species in collaboration with the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) states, to bolster co-ordinated efforts by sharing data and expertise through the GCC's Standing Fisheries Committee, under the umbrella of the FAO-affiliated Regional Commission for Fisheries (RECOFI), to ensure that unified fishing ban seasons are proposed to strengthen the sustainability of shared fish stockpiles throughout the Gulf region.Periodic studies are conducted annually by the department to assess kingfish stockpiles alongside 36 other marine species. These assessments measure biomass and estimate the appropriate fishing effort to secure maximum sustainable yield, Dehaimi highlighted.He said the results have consistently shown a marked improvement in the abundance of these stockpiles in recent years, underscoring the effectiveness of the ban in meeting its objectives.Kingfish, members of the mackerel family and close relatives of tuna, rank among the fastest pelagic fish, he added, affirming that they can sustain high speeds over extended periods without significant energy depletion, at times reaching up to 60km per hour.The Arabian Gulf stands as one of the world's foremost habitats for kingfish. Its warm, relatively shallow waters create ideal conditions for growth and reproduction. They are also native to the Arabian Sea and the Red Sea, while the Gulf of Oman functions as a vital corridor for their migration between the Indian Ocean and the Gulf, where vast numbers converge during seasonal movements, Dehaimi outlined.Kingfish are among the richest natural reservoirs of essential nutrients, boasting a balanced composition of high-quality proteins, healthy fats, and vital vitamins and minerals indispensable to human health, making them an ideal choice for those pursuing a wholesome and well-balanced diet. (QNA)