Spain is poised to ban social media access for children under 16, requiring platforms to implement strict age verification to shield minors from online risks like addiction and manipulation. This significant digital reform, announced by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, will also hold social media executives accountable for illegal content and algorithm manipulation, aligning with broader European efforts.
Monash and Harvard researchers have achieved a groundbreaking epigenetic discovery, finding a way to permanently "switch off" cancer-causing genes, which promises shorter treatment durations and reduced severe side effects for patients. This innovative therapy targets specific proteins in aggressive acute leukemia cells, with clinical trials anticipated to begin later this year.
A U.S. F-35C fighter jet dramatically shot down an Iranian Shahed-139 drone aggressively approaching the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea on February 3, 2026. This incident, confirmed as self-defense by U.S. Central Command, marks a significant escalation of U.S.-Iran tensions following an earlier Iranian attempt to seize a U.S.-flagged tanker.
The U.S. EPA has launched a critical soil cleanup at Ohio's East Troy Superfund site, targeting dangerous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from former industrial operations. Expected to conclude by summer 2026, this vital project aims to protect local health and drinking water from cancer-causing chemicals, supported by President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The World Health Organization has launched a critical appeal for nearly US$1 billion to address 36 global health emergencies in 2026, aiming to provide life-saving care to millions amidst humanitarian crises. Despite declining donor support, this vital funding is emphasized as a strategic investment for global security, especially for acute needs in regions like Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine.
A federal judge dramatically intervened, blocking the imminent termination of deportation protections for over 350,000 Haitian immigrants just as their Temporary Protected Status was set to expire. The court sharply rebuked the Department of Homeland Security's decision as "arbitrary and capricious," citing potential bias and Haiti's dangerous conditions, prompting DHS to vow an appeal to the Supreme Court.
