Australia’s government introduced a bill to parliament aiming to ban social media use for children under 16, with potential fines of up to A$49.5 million ($32 million) for platforms that fail to comply. The law would enforce age verification, possibly using biometrics or government IDs, setting the highest global age limit for social media use without exemptions for parental consent or existing accounts.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the reforms as a response to the physical and mental health risks social media poses, particularly for young users. Harmful content, such as body image issues targeting girls and misogynistic content aimed at boys, has fueled the government’s push for strict measures. Messaging services, gaming, and educational platforms like Google Classroom and Headspace would remain accessible under the proposal.
While opposition parties support the bill, independents and the Greens are calling for more details. Communications Minister Michelle Rowland emphasised that the law places responsibility on platforms, not parents or children, to implement robust age-verification systems. Privacy safeguards, including mandatory destruction of collected data, are also part of the proposed legislation. Australia’s policy would be among the world’s strictest, surpassing similar efforts in France and the US.
Donald Trump’s potential return to the White House is viewed as a positive development for India‘s IT services sector, according to Wipro Executive Chairman Rishad Premji. Speaking at an event in Bengaluru, Premji noted that Trump’s ‘pro-business and pro-growth’ policies, including lower taxes and fewer regulations, could encourage greater spending by corporate clients. This comes after challenging quarters for Indian IT firms, with clients cutting back on discretionary projects due to global economic uncertainty.
Premji also highlighted the need for caution regarding inflation, tariffs, and potential changes in United States immigration policies, particularly H-1B visas, which are crucial for Indian IT workers. The US account for a significant portion of the sector’s revenue. Stricter outsourcing rules could pose challenges, but analysts remain optimistic about overall growth.
JPMorgan analysts echoed this sentiment, stating that extended US corporate tax benefits could boost technology spending, further benefiting Indian IT companies. The sector will monitor Trump’s policies closely for long-term impact.
Vietnam and Burundi have partnered to strengthen their telecommunications and technology development collaboration. The agreement, signed on 19 November, was attended by key officials from both countries.
Notably, Vietnam’s telecom provider, Lumitel, has significantly contributed to Burundi’s market, paying over $500 million in taxes and securing a dominant market share. Given the shared challenges of war, sanctions, and poverty faced by both nations, it was emphasised that digital technology could address issues such as rural-urban wealth gaps and limited public services.
In light of this, Vietnam encouraged further investment in Burundi, particularly beyond telecommunications, and proposed increased exchanges in ICT, digital economy, and workforce training to accelerate Burundi’s digital transformation. Furthermore, scholarships and short-term online training programs were announced to support the development of Burundi’s digital workforce.
In response, Burundi’s government expressed gratitude for Vietnam’s expertise, particularly in telecommunications, and praised Lumitel for its significant role in improving the local market. Burundi also invited Lumitel to expand its operations, with assurances of government support to ensure favourable business conditions.
Moreover, platforms such as Vietnam International Digital Week were acknowledged, as they foster global digital partnerships and facilitate the exchange of technological experiences. Finally, Vietnam reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Lumitel’s growth and emphasised that Vietnamese enterprises must comply with local laws and tax obligations while operating abroad.
The Somali government is developing a unified fibre optic deployment policy to streamline the installation and expansion of fibre optic infrastructure across the country. That initiative aims to foster collaboration among national telecommunications companies, reduce deployment costs, and support the growth of the digital economy.
Moreover, the policy seeks to improve national interconnection and enhance the efficiency of infrastructure expansion. However, the fibre optic network in Somalia remains underdeveloped and fragmented, with only isolated segments deployed by sub-regional operators.
Despite being connected to five international submarine cables, weak cross-border connections and the lack of a robust national network backbone limit the distribution of global capacity. As a result, uneven broadband access, poor network quality, and suppressed market competition significantly hinder equitable digital development.
While implementing the policy could improve the quality and coverage of internet services in Somalia, several challenges remain. These include, for example, limited access to affordable broadband-compatible devices, a lack of attractive data-driven services, insufficient local content, and a digital skills gap.
Consequently, these barriers contribute to the country’s low internet penetration rate of only 27.6% in early 2024. Therefore, addressing these challenges is crucial to ensuring more equitable access to digital resources and enabling the growth of Somalia’s digital economy.
PayPal has partnered with Xoom to enhance access to its stablecoin, PayPal USD (PYUSD), in Asia and Africa. Announced on 19 November, the collaboration aims to facilitate cross-border transactions even outside traditional banking hours. Xoom has teamed up with Cebuana Lhuillier and Yellow Card to manage PYUSD disbursements in these regions.
Launched in 2023, PYUSD is an Ethereum-compatible stablecoin backed 1:1 by US dollars and issued by Paxos Trust Company. It competes with other regulated stablecoins like USDC and is the only stablecoin integrated into PayPal’s payment system. PayPal has positioned PYUSD as a versatile digital currency for developers, wallets, and Web3 applications.
PayPal has been actively expanding PYUSD’s reach, including a recent launch on the Solana blockchain and partnerships with firms like MoonPay and Anchorage Digital. However, despite these efforts, PYUSD remains a smaller player in the market, lagging behind giants like USDT and USDC, which dominate the stablecoin sector with significantly larger market capitalisations.
At the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Chinese President Xi Jinping warned against allowing AI to become the exclusive domain of wealthy nations. Speaking at the global forum, Xi called for stronger international governance and cooperation to ensure equitable access to AI technologies.
Xi highlighted China’s commitment to supporting developing countries, unveiling a joint initiative with G20 partners to improve access to scientific and technological innovations in the Global South. The Chinese leader also cautioned against protectionist policies, such as tariffs on Chinese goods, which he argued undermine global trade and the transition to green economies.
The remarks come as Xi tours Latin America, echoing similar criticisms of economic barriers he raised at the APEC forum in Peru. His appeal for openness and collaboration underscores China’s broader efforts to position itself as a champion of equitable global development.
Keppel DC REIT will acquire full ownership of two data centres in Singapore, KDC SGP 7 and KDC SGP 8, as part of a $1.03 billion divestment deal. The acquisition involves Keppel’s Connectivity Division transferring its 51% stake in a joint venture with Cuscaden Peak Investments to Keppel DC REIT. Keppel will retain operational and management roles for the facilities.
The transaction aims to bolster Keppel DC REIT’s income stability while unlocking potential growth opportunities, including rental increases and expanded capacity. CEO Loh Hwee Long highlighted the deal’s immediate benefits, describing it as accretive to distribution per unit and supportive of long-term portfolio strength.
To fund the acquisition, Keppel DC REIT announced plans for an equity fundraising effort targeting approximately S$1 billion. New units will be priced between S$2.074 and S$2.128, providing additional financial stability for the purchase.
Keppel’s share of the divestment price is estimated at S$280 million. The move further strengthens the company’s commitment to the data centre industry while maintaining a key management role within its facilities.
The Thai government will extend its digital wallet scheme to a second phase, covering four million people and distributing 40 billion baht, according to Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira.
Around 14.5 million people benefitted from the initial phase, which was part of a nationwide economic stimulus effort aimed at boosting consumer spending.
The programme is expected to reach a total of 45 million individuals once fully implemented, cementing its role as a flagship government initiative.
Officials in Thailand are positioning the digital wallet scheme as a cornerstone of the country’s recovery strategy, with significant investments planned to stimulate growth.
Africa’s largest mobile operator, MTN, is exploring partnerships with low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellite providers to improve internet access in rural and remote areas, CEO Ralph Mupita announced on Monday. Satellite-based internet, increasingly popular in Africa through providers like Elon Musk’s Starlink, offers high-speed connectivity where traditional infrastructure is costly or impractical.
MTN is conducting trials with several LEO satellite operators and considering becoming a reseller for enterprise customers in specific regions. Competitors like Vodacom and Cell C are also embracing LEO partnerships, with Vodacom teaming up with Amazon’s Project Kuiper.
Mupita emphasised the need for regulatory fairness, calling for satellite providers to meet the same requirements as terrestrial operators, such as compliance with data privacy and spectrum access rules. While Starlink is operational in parts of Africa, regulatory hurdles remain in countries like South Africa, where a clear framework for satellite internet is still being developed.
South Korean Naver Corporation has partnered with Saudi Arabia’s National Housing Company to establish a joint venture focused on digital twin platform projects in the Middle East. Digital twin technology, which creates virtual replicas of real-world environments, will be central to the collaboration, enabling advanced urban planning, real-time monitoring, disaster prediction, and smart city development.
The venture will develop city monitoring platforms and mapping applications to enhance public administration and services. That initiative builds on Naver’s previous success in implementing digital twin platforms for Riyadh and four other Saudi cities, solidifying its position as a leader in smart city innovation.
The partnership aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, a national initiative to drive digital transformation and sustainable development. By integrating advanced technologies into urban planning and public administration, the joint venture aims to support the creation of efficient, modern cities, furthering technological and economic progress in the region.
