UK plans to ban social media for under-16s; other news briefs included

The British government plans to ban children and young people under the age of 16 from accessing social media, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer indicating that a ban is imminent. Starmer hopes the legislation will be passed before Christmas and come into effect next spring.

"Social media makes children unhappy, it makes it easier for bullies to harass and abuse them, and it can even harm their mental health," the Prime Minister stated, according to The Guardian. The British proposal is expected to include stricter regulations than Australia's existing ban. The UK's legislation may prohibit all major social media platforms and also restrict online products not covered by the ban, such as certain gaming apps, while preventing children from chatting with strangers.

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Social media makes children unhappy, it makes it easier for bullies to harass and abuse them, and it can even harm their mental health.

In separate news, French President Emmanuel Macron condemned an attack on a 1,000-year-old Ukrainian monastery, calling it unjustifiable and reinforcing France's commitment to working towards a ceasefire in the region. The monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is described as a symbol of Ukraine's spiritual and cultural history. The Ukrainian Foreign Minister reportedly called Putin one of "history's worst barbarians" following the attack.

Additionally, the article briefly notes that Nikolaj Ehlers' family was proud after he secured the Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes. Denmark's C25 index rose 0.6 percent in morning trading. Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz commented on the U.S.-Iran agreement, stating that Israeli soldiers would remain in a self-declared security zone in southern Lebanon. He warned of retaliation if Iran attacked Israel due to events in Lebanon, despite reports of Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon occurring concurrently.

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This attack only strengthens our commitment together with our allies and partners to do everything to work towards a ceasefire, which Russia still refuses.