Category: International

International

Australia’s Bold Social Media Crackdown: Will Kids Actually Log Off?

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral International Desk

Australia has entered a new digital era as it begins enforcing its controversial move to remove children under 16 from social media. The government has framed the shift as a necessary intervention to protect young people from online harm, but many kids have no intention of logging off. In fact, a recent survey of more than 17,000 Australian youths showed that three-quarters plan to keep using social platforms even after the ban begins, and only a small fraction believe the change will work. In the days leading up to the rollout, teens traded tips on bypassing restrictions and encouraged each other to migrate to more obscure apps, raising fresh concerns about children drifting into even less regulated online spaces. With the ban landing just as the long summer holiday begins, the timing adds a layer of complexity for families and regulators.

While Australia describes the legislation as world-leading, skepticism remains widespread. Hard age limits might block some young teens today only to usher them in the moment they turn 16, without ever addressing the conditions that make these platforms risky in the first place. Research from the American Psychological Association has emphasized that age alone isn’t a reliable measure of digital readiness and that blanket bans don’t confront the underlying design choices that keep kids hooked. Even so, many Australians support the move, tired of hearing about the tragic consequences of unchecked online spaces. Reports of youth suicides, drug access and harassment have made it clear that the status quo isn’t working. Surveys from the US, UK and Australia continue to show alarming rates of online grooming, unwanted sexual content and growing concerns about the mental health impact of algorithm-driven feeds.

Critics argue the ban risks cutting off essential community spaces for marginalized young people, including LGBTQ, Indigenous and rural teens whose primary peer networks often exist online. Others point to loopholes: kids can still watch YouTube anonymously, and platforms like Roblox are exempt by categorizing their social features as gaming. And of course, many digitally savvy teens will inevitably find a way around the new rules. Still, the policy sends a clear message to Silicon Valley: governments are no longer willing to accept passivity from tech companies when it comes to youth safety. If more countries follow, platforms may be forced to redesign their systems, strengthen protections and take responsibility for growing evidence of harm.

Australia’s ban is far from perfect, and no one should expect it to trigger a nostalgic return to analog childhoods. But it has ignited a vital global debate about balancing protection with connection and about reshaping digital spaces to serve young people rather than endanger them. If raising a child takes a village, protecting them online requires an even larger one. Australia has taken a first step. Others will now have to decide whether they follow—or leave the future of childhood in the hands of tech giants.

International

Autistic Scottish Artist Nnena Kalu Shatters Turner Prize ‘Glass Ceiling’ with Historic Win

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral International Desk

Scottish artist Nnena Kalu has achieved a landmark victory by winning the Turner Prize 2025, a moment widely described as historic for both contemporary art and the representation of neurodivergent artists. Born in Glasgow and now 59, Kalu has built a career centred on raw, expressive hanging sculptures constructed from wrapped materials such as fabric, tape, and rope. Her works, known for their bold physical presence and layered textures, have long been admired within specialist circles, but her Turner Prize win places her firmly on the global art stage.

The jury praised her practice as “bold and compelling,” emphasising the intensity and uniqueness of her artistic language. While Kalu’s neurodivergence has been part of her public narrative, jury chair Alex Farquharson made clear that the prize was awarded purely on the strength and distinctiveness of her work, noting that the quality of her practice is inseparable from who she is as an artist.

For years, Kalu has continued creating in the face of misunderstanding and discrimination, something her supporter Charlotte Hollinshead highlighted with emotion as she celebrated the win. She described the moment as “seismic,” saying it breaks a “very stubborn glass ceiling” that has kept many disabled and neurodivergent artists on the margins of mainstream recognition. The victory is also being hailed by disability charity Sense, which called her shortlisting alone “incredibly significant.”

This year’s Turner Prize finalists included Iraqi painter Mohammed Sami, British artist Rene Matic, and Canadian-Korean artist Zadie Xa, each known for exploring themes ranging from war trauma to race and folklore. Their works have been exhibited at Cartwright Hall Art Gallery in Bradford since September. Still, Kalu’s deeply physical and emotionally resonant sculptures set her apart in the eyes of the jury.

The Turner Prize, established in 1984 and organised by Tate, has often sparked debate and occasionally controversy. It has also served as a launching pad for major artists including Gilbert & George, Anish Kapoor, Rachel Whiteread, and Steve McQueen. Kalu’s win continues this legacy of spotlighting groundbreaking artistic voices while expanding the conversation around who is seen, celebrated, and uplifted in the art world.

With £25,000 awarded to the winner and £10,000 to each shortlisted artist, the prize remains one of the most influential in the global art landscape. Kalu’s triumph is being recognised not only as a personal achievement but also as an important cultural moment — one that promises to open doors for future generations of disabled and neurodivergent artists. Her perseverance, creativity, and commitment to her vision have culminated in a victory that resonates far beyond the gallery walls.

International

UAE Sets New Unified Timing for Friday Sermon & Prayer from January 2026

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The United Arab Emirates has officially announced a new unified timing for the Friday sermon and Jumu’ah prayer across all emirates. Beginning January 2, 2026, the Friday sermon will commence at 12:45 pm, followed immediately by the congregational prayer.

This nationwide alignment aims to bring uniformity to prayer schedules and ensure consistency for worshippers across the country. Mosques throughout the UAE have been instructed to adhere to the fixed timing every week.

Authorities have also advised worshippers to arrive early to maintain order, avoid congestion, and prepare spiritually ahead of the sermon. The shift in timing is expected to streamline community coordination and strengthen the collective experience of the weekly Jumu’ah prayer.

Readers are encouraged to stay tuned for more updates on religious guidelines and nationwide scheduling changes.

International

India’s Deepavali Festival Inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List

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India’s Deepavali festival has officially been inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The announcement came on Wednesday during a key session of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, currently held at Delhi’s Red Fort.

This year marks the first time India is hosting the committee’s annual meeting, now in its 20th edition, running from December 8 to 13. Attendees at the session celebrated the announcement with chants of “Vande Mataram” and “Bharat Mata ki Jai”, highlighting the moment’s significance for the Indian delegation.

With Deepavali now recognised, India’s tally on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list rises to 15, joining other celebrated elements such as the Kumbh Mela, Kolkata’s Durga Puja, Gujarat’s Garba dance, yoga, Vedic chanting, and Ramlila, the dramatic retelling of the Ramayana.

Delhi’s Art, Culture, Language and Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra called the inclusion a significant milestone for India’s cultural identity, praising the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in securing the recognition. He highlighted how UNESCO’s acknowledgment underscores the depth of India’s spiritual traditions and the enduring importance of the festival.

Understanding Intangible Cultural Heritage

According to UNESCO, intangible cultural heritage goes beyond monuments or artefacts and includes living traditions and expressions passed down through generations. These may encompass:

  • Oral traditions and performing arts
  • Rituals and festive practices
  • Community knowledge of nature and the universe
  • Traditional craftsmanship

UNESCO emphasizes that the value of intangible heritage lies not just in the practice itself, but in the knowledge, skills, and identity it transmits from one generation to the next. Such heritage fosters dialogue, mutual respect, and social cohesion, making it crucial in a globalized world.

Key characteristics of intangible cultural heritage include:

  • Traditional and Contemporary: Practices reflect inherited customs while adapting to modern life.
  • Inclusive: Shared across regions or cultures, passed down and contributing to community identity.
  • Representative: Defined by the communities maintaining it, not exclusivity.
  • Community-Based: Heritage exists only when recognised and upheld by the community itself.

Deepavali’s recognition by UNESCO highlights the festival’s enduring cultural, spiritual, and social significance, celebrating India’s vibrant heritage on a global platform.

International

CEC Gyanesh Kumar to Assume Chairship of International IDEA in 2026

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Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar is set to take over as Chair of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) for the year 2026, positioning India at the forefront of global democratic collaboration. He will formally assume the role on 3 December 2025 during the Council of Member States meeting in Stockholm, Sweden.

Founded in 1995, International IDEA is an intergovernmental organisation dedicated to strengthening democratic institutions, electoral processes, and political participation across the world. With 35 member countries and the United States and Japan as observers, the organisation works to promote inclusive, resilient, and accountable democracies.

India, a founding member of International IDEA, has been a key contributor to its initiatives and governance. The upcoming chairship reflects international recognition of the Election Commission of India (ECI) as one of the most trusted and innovative election management bodies globally. As a nation that conducts elections for nearly one billion voters through transparent, well-documented systems, India’s experience is seen as invaluable to global democratic development.

As Chair, Gyanesh Kumar will guide the organisation’s strategic agenda, emphasising knowledge-sharing, professional exchanges among Election Management Bodies (EMBs), and evidence-based electoral reforms worldwide. The collaboration will also strengthen ties between International IDEA and ECI’s training institute — the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM).

IIIDEM has emerged as a global hub for election-related training and capacity building, having signed MoUs with 28 countries and trained 3,169 officials from 142 nations. Joint research, workshops, and training programmes between IIIDEM and International IDEA will address critical challenges such as disinformation, electoral violence, and declining voter trust.

Under Gyanesh Kumar’s leadership, India aims to share its best technological and administrative election practices with EMBs globally while contributing to a stronger, more resilient global democratic landscape.