EU Proposes ‘Kids Act’ Banning Social Media Under 13 Over Mental Health Risks 16/09/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen Social media will be banned for children under 13 across the European Union according to the newly proposed “EU Kids Act”, announced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen today (16 September) in Brussels. The sweeping digital health initiative mandates strict parental oversight for young teenagers aged 13 to under 15 across all 27 […] Continue reading -> EU is Failing to Stem Illegal Tobacco Trade and Rising Health Risks, Auditors Warn 08/09/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen Fragmented enforcement and uncoordinated policies fail to stem the illegal tobacco trade in Europe, a new report by the EU Court of Auditors finds. The surge of unregulated novel nicotine products and a shift toward illegal manufacturing sites expose significant regulatory gaps. The auditors demand that Brussels take a more active role to establish a […] Continue reading -> Clashing Convictions of Taliban and the West is Costing Afghan Lives 31/08/2026 Mukesh Kapila Two sets of dogmas contend in Afghanistan: those of the Taliban and the West. Neither side pays the real price for their beliefs. Ordinary Afghans do with their lives. Some aid agencies labour quietly to bring help and hope through a dozen practical ways that bypass competing doctrines. They deserve support. In March last year, […] Continue reading -> Historic Meta Settlement Mandates Safer Social Media for Youth 27/08/2026 Editorial team Following a landmark agreement in the United States on Wednesday, social media giant Meta agreed to pay up to $18 billion to US states. This historic settlement obliges the company to make Instagram and Facebook safer for children. Scientific research – including a landmark report by an expert panel commissioned by the European Commission – […] Continue reading -> Gavi Welcomes Restoration of US Funding – But No Clarity on How Agency will Phase out Thimerosal 30/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen The United States has unlocked frozen Gavi funding, resolving a bitter political impasse in Washington while doubling down against the WHO. But can the alliance eliminate thimerosal, a mercury-containing preservative, from its stockpiles without leaving millions of vulnerable children unprotected? The United States will immediately release $600 million for fiscal years 2025–2026 in frozen Gavi […] Continue reading -> Global Food Security Improves, Although Billions Still Lack Affordable Healthy Diets 22/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen About 43 million fewer people are undernourished today compared to a peak in 2022, during the COVID pandemic. Yet undernutrition and a lack of diet affordability still haunt more than half a billion people globally. Crises and conflicts increase risks. Global food security improved slightly in 2025 as hunger fell to 7.8% from 8.1% in […] Continue reading -> France Passes Strict Youth Social Media Ban But New Law Lacks Strong Enforcement Mechanism 22/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen France has adopted a strict youth social media ban for minors under 15, taking effect in September. But major enforcement hurdles remain, as lawmakers stripped the bill of direct platform sanctions to avoid clashing with European Union rules. The law also faces a constitutional review over the fundamental rights of children and parents. Minors under […] Continue reading -> Youth Social Media Restriction Gains Critical Momentum in European Union 14/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen The European Commission is preparing more robust youth social media restrictions to protect children from addictive algorithms, following urgent expert warnings and landmark court rulings. But unlike the blanket digital bans imposed in countries such as Australia on everyone under the age of 16, restrictions would be eased gradually as children grow older. As countries […] Continue reading -> From Waiting Room to Labour: How Task-Shifting in Nigeria is Saving Lives 08/07/2026 Bashar Abubakar A Task Shifting/Task Sharing investment in Kano State in Nigeria is empowering community health workers and improving maternal and newborn outcomes KANO, Nigeria – It is antenatal day at Gwale Primary Health Care Centre (PHC) in the suburbs of Kano, the capital of the state by the same name and the second biggest city in […] Continue reading -> Digital Regulation for Youth Health: Joint Statement by WHO and France Demands Urgent Action 05/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen A lack of youth online safety is a global public health crisis that demands systemic platform regulation to protect children from harm, according to a joint declaration by the French government and the World Health Organization (WHO). They demand urgent digital governance to mandate safe platform redesigns, as nations struggle to enforce easily bypassed social […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older posts
EU is Failing to Stem Illegal Tobacco Trade and Rising Health Risks, Auditors Warn 08/09/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen Fragmented enforcement and uncoordinated policies fail to stem the illegal tobacco trade in Europe, a new report by the EU Court of Auditors finds. The surge of unregulated novel nicotine products and a shift toward illegal manufacturing sites expose significant regulatory gaps. The auditors demand that Brussels take a more active role to establish a […] Continue reading -> Clashing Convictions of Taliban and the West is Costing Afghan Lives 31/08/2026 Mukesh Kapila Two sets of dogmas contend in Afghanistan: those of the Taliban and the West. Neither side pays the real price for their beliefs. Ordinary Afghans do with their lives. Some aid agencies labour quietly to bring help and hope through a dozen practical ways that bypass competing doctrines. They deserve support. In March last year, […] Continue reading -> Historic Meta Settlement Mandates Safer Social Media for Youth 27/08/2026 Editorial team Following a landmark agreement in the United States on Wednesday, social media giant Meta agreed to pay up to $18 billion to US states. This historic settlement obliges the company to make Instagram and Facebook safer for children. Scientific research – including a landmark report by an expert panel commissioned by the European Commission – […] Continue reading -> Gavi Welcomes Restoration of US Funding – But No Clarity on How Agency will Phase out Thimerosal 30/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen The United States has unlocked frozen Gavi funding, resolving a bitter political impasse in Washington while doubling down against the WHO. But can the alliance eliminate thimerosal, a mercury-containing preservative, from its stockpiles without leaving millions of vulnerable children unprotected? The United States will immediately release $600 million for fiscal years 2025–2026 in frozen Gavi […] Continue reading -> Global Food Security Improves, Although Billions Still Lack Affordable Healthy Diets 22/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen About 43 million fewer people are undernourished today compared to a peak in 2022, during the COVID pandemic. Yet undernutrition and a lack of diet affordability still haunt more than half a billion people globally. Crises and conflicts increase risks. Global food security improved slightly in 2025 as hunger fell to 7.8% from 8.1% in […] Continue reading -> France Passes Strict Youth Social Media Ban But New Law Lacks Strong Enforcement Mechanism 22/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen France has adopted a strict youth social media ban for minors under 15, taking effect in September. But major enforcement hurdles remain, as lawmakers stripped the bill of direct platform sanctions to avoid clashing with European Union rules. The law also faces a constitutional review over the fundamental rights of children and parents. Minors under […] Continue reading -> Youth Social Media Restriction Gains Critical Momentum in European Union 14/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen The European Commission is preparing more robust youth social media restrictions to protect children from addictive algorithms, following urgent expert warnings and landmark court rulings. But unlike the blanket digital bans imposed in countries such as Australia on everyone under the age of 16, restrictions would be eased gradually as children grow older. As countries […] Continue reading -> From Waiting Room to Labour: How Task-Shifting in Nigeria is Saving Lives 08/07/2026 Bashar Abubakar A Task Shifting/Task Sharing investment in Kano State in Nigeria is empowering community health workers and improving maternal and newborn outcomes KANO, Nigeria – It is antenatal day at Gwale Primary Health Care Centre (PHC) in the suburbs of Kano, the capital of the state by the same name and the second biggest city in […] Continue reading -> Digital Regulation for Youth Health: Joint Statement by WHO and France Demands Urgent Action 05/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen A lack of youth online safety is a global public health crisis that demands systemic platform regulation to protect children from harm, according to a joint declaration by the French government and the World Health Organization (WHO). They demand urgent digital governance to mandate safe platform redesigns, as nations struggle to enforce easily bypassed social […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older posts
Clashing Convictions of Taliban and the West is Costing Afghan Lives 31/08/2026 Mukesh Kapila Two sets of dogmas contend in Afghanistan: those of the Taliban and the West. Neither side pays the real price for their beliefs. Ordinary Afghans do with their lives. Some aid agencies labour quietly to bring help and hope through a dozen practical ways that bypass competing doctrines. They deserve support. In March last year, […] Continue reading -> Historic Meta Settlement Mandates Safer Social Media for Youth 27/08/2026 Editorial team Following a landmark agreement in the United States on Wednesday, social media giant Meta agreed to pay up to $18 billion to US states. This historic settlement obliges the company to make Instagram and Facebook safer for children. Scientific research – including a landmark report by an expert panel commissioned by the European Commission – […] Continue reading -> Gavi Welcomes Restoration of US Funding – But No Clarity on How Agency will Phase out Thimerosal 30/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen The United States has unlocked frozen Gavi funding, resolving a bitter political impasse in Washington while doubling down against the WHO. But can the alliance eliminate thimerosal, a mercury-containing preservative, from its stockpiles without leaving millions of vulnerable children unprotected? The United States will immediately release $600 million for fiscal years 2025–2026 in frozen Gavi […] Continue reading -> Global Food Security Improves, Although Billions Still Lack Affordable Healthy Diets 22/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen About 43 million fewer people are undernourished today compared to a peak in 2022, during the COVID pandemic. Yet undernutrition and a lack of diet affordability still haunt more than half a billion people globally. Crises and conflicts increase risks. Global food security improved slightly in 2025 as hunger fell to 7.8% from 8.1% in […] Continue reading -> France Passes Strict Youth Social Media Ban But New Law Lacks Strong Enforcement Mechanism 22/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen France has adopted a strict youth social media ban for minors under 15, taking effect in September. But major enforcement hurdles remain, as lawmakers stripped the bill of direct platform sanctions to avoid clashing with European Union rules. The law also faces a constitutional review over the fundamental rights of children and parents. Minors under […] Continue reading -> Youth Social Media Restriction Gains Critical Momentum in European Union 14/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen The European Commission is preparing more robust youth social media restrictions to protect children from addictive algorithms, following urgent expert warnings and landmark court rulings. But unlike the blanket digital bans imposed in countries such as Australia on everyone under the age of 16, restrictions would be eased gradually as children grow older. As countries […] Continue reading -> From Waiting Room to Labour: How Task-Shifting in Nigeria is Saving Lives 08/07/2026 Bashar Abubakar A Task Shifting/Task Sharing investment in Kano State in Nigeria is empowering community health workers and improving maternal and newborn outcomes KANO, Nigeria – It is antenatal day at Gwale Primary Health Care Centre (PHC) in the suburbs of Kano, the capital of the state by the same name and the second biggest city in […] Continue reading -> Digital Regulation for Youth Health: Joint Statement by WHO and France Demands Urgent Action 05/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen A lack of youth online safety is a global public health crisis that demands systemic platform regulation to protect children from harm, according to a joint declaration by the French government and the World Health Organization (WHO). They demand urgent digital governance to mandate safe platform redesigns, as nations struggle to enforce easily bypassed social […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older posts
Historic Meta Settlement Mandates Safer Social Media for Youth 27/08/2026 Editorial team Following a landmark agreement in the United States on Wednesday, social media giant Meta agreed to pay up to $18 billion to US states. This historic settlement obliges the company to make Instagram and Facebook safer for children. Scientific research – including a landmark report by an expert panel commissioned by the European Commission – […] Continue reading -> Gavi Welcomes Restoration of US Funding – But No Clarity on How Agency will Phase out Thimerosal 30/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen The United States has unlocked frozen Gavi funding, resolving a bitter political impasse in Washington while doubling down against the WHO. But can the alliance eliminate thimerosal, a mercury-containing preservative, from its stockpiles without leaving millions of vulnerable children unprotected? The United States will immediately release $600 million for fiscal years 2025–2026 in frozen Gavi […] Continue reading -> Global Food Security Improves, Although Billions Still Lack Affordable Healthy Diets 22/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen About 43 million fewer people are undernourished today compared to a peak in 2022, during the COVID pandemic. Yet undernutrition and a lack of diet affordability still haunt more than half a billion people globally. Crises and conflicts increase risks. Global food security improved slightly in 2025 as hunger fell to 7.8% from 8.1% in […] Continue reading -> France Passes Strict Youth Social Media Ban But New Law Lacks Strong Enforcement Mechanism 22/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen France has adopted a strict youth social media ban for minors under 15, taking effect in September. But major enforcement hurdles remain, as lawmakers stripped the bill of direct platform sanctions to avoid clashing with European Union rules. The law also faces a constitutional review over the fundamental rights of children and parents. Minors under […] Continue reading -> Youth Social Media Restriction Gains Critical Momentum in European Union 14/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen The European Commission is preparing more robust youth social media restrictions to protect children from addictive algorithms, following urgent expert warnings and landmark court rulings. But unlike the blanket digital bans imposed in countries such as Australia on everyone under the age of 16, restrictions would be eased gradually as children grow older. As countries […] Continue reading -> From Waiting Room to Labour: How Task-Shifting in Nigeria is Saving Lives 08/07/2026 Bashar Abubakar A Task Shifting/Task Sharing investment in Kano State in Nigeria is empowering community health workers and improving maternal and newborn outcomes KANO, Nigeria – It is antenatal day at Gwale Primary Health Care Centre (PHC) in the suburbs of Kano, the capital of the state by the same name and the second biggest city in […] Continue reading -> Digital Regulation for Youth Health: Joint Statement by WHO and France Demands Urgent Action 05/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen A lack of youth online safety is a global public health crisis that demands systemic platform regulation to protect children from harm, according to a joint declaration by the French government and the World Health Organization (WHO). They demand urgent digital governance to mandate safe platform redesigns, as nations struggle to enforce easily bypassed social […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older posts
Gavi Welcomes Restoration of US Funding – But No Clarity on How Agency will Phase out Thimerosal 30/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen The United States has unlocked frozen Gavi funding, resolving a bitter political impasse in Washington while doubling down against the WHO. But can the alliance eliminate thimerosal, a mercury-containing preservative, from its stockpiles without leaving millions of vulnerable children unprotected? The United States will immediately release $600 million for fiscal years 2025–2026 in frozen Gavi […] Continue reading -> Global Food Security Improves, Although Billions Still Lack Affordable Healthy Diets 22/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen About 43 million fewer people are undernourished today compared to a peak in 2022, during the COVID pandemic. Yet undernutrition and a lack of diet affordability still haunt more than half a billion people globally. Crises and conflicts increase risks. Global food security improved slightly in 2025 as hunger fell to 7.8% from 8.1% in […] Continue reading -> France Passes Strict Youth Social Media Ban But New Law Lacks Strong Enforcement Mechanism 22/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen France has adopted a strict youth social media ban for minors under 15, taking effect in September. But major enforcement hurdles remain, as lawmakers stripped the bill of direct platform sanctions to avoid clashing with European Union rules. The law also faces a constitutional review over the fundamental rights of children and parents. Minors under […] Continue reading -> Youth Social Media Restriction Gains Critical Momentum in European Union 14/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen The European Commission is preparing more robust youth social media restrictions to protect children from addictive algorithms, following urgent expert warnings and landmark court rulings. But unlike the blanket digital bans imposed in countries such as Australia on everyone under the age of 16, restrictions would be eased gradually as children grow older. As countries […] Continue reading -> From Waiting Room to Labour: How Task-Shifting in Nigeria is Saving Lives 08/07/2026 Bashar Abubakar A Task Shifting/Task Sharing investment in Kano State in Nigeria is empowering community health workers and improving maternal and newborn outcomes KANO, Nigeria – It is antenatal day at Gwale Primary Health Care Centre (PHC) in the suburbs of Kano, the capital of the state by the same name and the second biggest city in […] Continue reading -> Digital Regulation for Youth Health: Joint Statement by WHO and France Demands Urgent Action 05/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen A lack of youth online safety is a global public health crisis that demands systemic platform regulation to protect children from harm, according to a joint declaration by the French government and the World Health Organization (WHO). They demand urgent digital governance to mandate safe platform redesigns, as nations struggle to enforce easily bypassed social […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older posts
Global Food Security Improves, Although Billions Still Lack Affordable Healthy Diets 22/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen About 43 million fewer people are undernourished today compared to a peak in 2022, during the COVID pandemic. Yet undernutrition and a lack of diet affordability still haunt more than half a billion people globally. Crises and conflicts increase risks. Global food security improved slightly in 2025 as hunger fell to 7.8% from 8.1% in […] Continue reading -> France Passes Strict Youth Social Media Ban But New Law Lacks Strong Enforcement Mechanism 22/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen France has adopted a strict youth social media ban for minors under 15, taking effect in September. But major enforcement hurdles remain, as lawmakers stripped the bill of direct platform sanctions to avoid clashing with European Union rules. The law also faces a constitutional review over the fundamental rights of children and parents. Minors under […] Continue reading -> Youth Social Media Restriction Gains Critical Momentum in European Union 14/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen The European Commission is preparing more robust youth social media restrictions to protect children from addictive algorithms, following urgent expert warnings and landmark court rulings. But unlike the blanket digital bans imposed in countries such as Australia on everyone under the age of 16, restrictions would be eased gradually as children grow older. As countries […] Continue reading -> From Waiting Room to Labour: How Task-Shifting in Nigeria is Saving Lives 08/07/2026 Bashar Abubakar A Task Shifting/Task Sharing investment in Kano State in Nigeria is empowering community health workers and improving maternal and newborn outcomes KANO, Nigeria – It is antenatal day at Gwale Primary Health Care Centre (PHC) in the suburbs of Kano, the capital of the state by the same name and the second biggest city in […] Continue reading -> Digital Regulation for Youth Health: Joint Statement by WHO and France Demands Urgent Action 05/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen A lack of youth online safety is a global public health crisis that demands systemic platform regulation to protect children from harm, according to a joint declaration by the French government and the World Health Organization (WHO). They demand urgent digital governance to mandate safe platform redesigns, as nations struggle to enforce easily bypassed social […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older posts
France Passes Strict Youth Social Media Ban But New Law Lacks Strong Enforcement Mechanism 22/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen France has adopted a strict youth social media ban for minors under 15, taking effect in September. But major enforcement hurdles remain, as lawmakers stripped the bill of direct platform sanctions to avoid clashing with European Union rules. The law also faces a constitutional review over the fundamental rights of children and parents. Minors under […] Continue reading -> Youth Social Media Restriction Gains Critical Momentum in European Union 14/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen The European Commission is preparing more robust youth social media restrictions to protect children from addictive algorithms, following urgent expert warnings and landmark court rulings. But unlike the blanket digital bans imposed in countries such as Australia on everyone under the age of 16, restrictions would be eased gradually as children grow older. As countries […] Continue reading -> From Waiting Room to Labour: How Task-Shifting in Nigeria is Saving Lives 08/07/2026 Bashar Abubakar A Task Shifting/Task Sharing investment in Kano State in Nigeria is empowering community health workers and improving maternal and newborn outcomes KANO, Nigeria – It is antenatal day at Gwale Primary Health Care Centre (PHC) in the suburbs of Kano, the capital of the state by the same name and the second biggest city in […] Continue reading -> Digital Regulation for Youth Health: Joint Statement by WHO and France Demands Urgent Action 05/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen A lack of youth online safety is a global public health crisis that demands systemic platform regulation to protect children from harm, according to a joint declaration by the French government and the World Health Organization (WHO). They demand urgent digital governance to mandate safe platform redesigns, as nations struggle to enforce easily bypassed social […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older posts
Youth Social Media Restriction Gains Critical Momentum in European Union 14/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen The European Commission is preparing more robust youth social media restrictions to protect children from addictive algorithms, following urgent expert warnings and landmark court rulings. But unlike the blanket digital bans imposed in countries such as Australia on everyone under the age of 16, restrictions would be eased gradually as children grow older. As countries […] Continue reading -> From Waiting Room to Labour: How Task-Shifting in Nigeria is Saving Lives 08/07/2026 Bashar Abubakar A Task Shifting/Task Sharing investment in Kano State in Nigeria is empowering community health workers and improving maternal and newborn outcomes KANO, Nigeria – It is antenatal day at Gwale Primary Health Care Centre (PHC) in the suburbs of Kano, the capital of the state by the same name and the second biggest city in […] Continue reading -> Digital Regulation for Youth Health: Joint Statement by WHO and France Demands Urgent Action 05/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen A lack of youth online safety is a global public health crisis that demands systemic platform regulation to protect children from harm, according to a joint declaration by the French government and the World Health Organization (WHO). They demand urgent digital governance to mandate safe platform redesigns, as nations struggle to enforce easily bypassed social […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older posts
From Waiting Room to Labour: How Task-Shifting in Nigeria is Saving Lives 08/07/2026 Bashar Abubakar A Task Shifting/Task Sharing investment in Kano State in Nigeria is empowering community health workers and improving maternal and newborn outcomes KANO, Nigeria – It is antenatal day at Gwale Primary Health Care Centre (PHC) in the suburbs of Kano, the capital of the state by the same name and the second biggest city in […] Continue reading -> Digital Regulation for Youth Health: Joint Statement by WHO and France Demands Urgent Action 05/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen A lack of youth online safety is a global public health crisis that demands systemic platform regulation to protect children from harm, according to a joint declaration by the French government and the World Health Organization (WHO). They demand urgent digital governance to mandate safe platform redesigns, as nations struggle to enforce easily bypassed social […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older posts
Digital Regulation for Youth Health: Joint Statement by WHO and France Demands Urgent Action 05/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen A lack of youth online safety is a global public health crisis that demands systemic platform regulation to protect children from harm, according to a joint declaration by the French government and the World Health Organization (WHO). They demand urgent digital governance to mandate safe platform redesigns, as nations struggle to enforce easily bypassed social […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older posts