An Indian-origin man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for the murder of a 24-year-old woman on a beach in Australia's Queensland in 2018, local media reported. The Supreme Court in Cairns on Monday found former nurse Rajwinder Singh, 41, guilty of killing Toyah Cordingley, ABC News reported on Tuesday. Justice Lincoln Crowley said Singh's motive for murder was "unknown", characterising it as an "opportunistic killing", the report added. Singh killed Cordingley while she was walking her dog at Wangetti Beach north of Cairns on 21 October 2018, The Guardian reported on Tuesday. Cordingley worked in a health food and pharmacy store in Port Douglas and also volunteered at an animal refuge. Singh left for India after the murder, leaving behind his wife, children and parents in Australia. "You left without even saying a proper goodbye to your wife, your parents, your children, demonstrating that your only concern was to save your own skin, regardless of the consequences for your family", ABC News quoted Crowley as saying. Singh was given a non-parole period of 25 years, seven years after he killed Cordingley, it said. He was extradited from India two years ago after Queensland police posted AUD 1 million reward for his information, the report added. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
10 December,2025 05:32 PM IST | Canberra | PTIAustralia is poised to become the first country to implement a minimum age for social media use on Wednesday, according to the reports. Platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube will be required to block over a million accounts of users under 16, marking the start of a wave of global regulation. From midnight (1300 GMT), ten major platforms must comply or face fines of up to USD 49.5 million. While the law has drawn sharp criticism from tech companies and free speech advocates, it has been praised by parents and child welfare groups. The rollout ends months of speculation about whether a country can limit children’s access to technology that has become integral to modern life. It also begins a live experiment closely watched by global lawmakers frustrated with what they see as Big Tech’s slow adoption of effective harm-minimisation measures, as per the reports. Governments from Denmark to Malaysia, and even some U.S. states, have announced similar plans, following revelations that Meta had internally acknowledged its products could harm teenagers’ mental health while publicly denying it. “While Australia is the first to adopt such restrictions, it is unlikely to be the last,” said Tama Leaver, professor of internet studies at Curtin University. “The social media ban in Australia is very much the canary in the coal mine.” The British government, which recently began enforcing under-18 restrictions on pornographic websites, said it is “closely monitoring Australia’s approach to age restrictions.” The eSafety Commissioner, tasked with enforcing the ban, has commissioned Stanford University and 11 other academics to study the policy’s impact on thousands of young Australians over at least two years. Initially covering ten platforms, including YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, the list may expand as new apps emerge or young users migrate to alternatives. Most platforms have pledged to comply using age inference techniques, such as analysing online activity, selfies, identification documents, or linked bank accounts. Elon Musk’s X remains the notable holdout, calling the ban a “backdoor way to control access to the internet.” A High Court challenge is pending, according to the reports. For social media businesses, the ban signals a new era of structural stagnation, as user growth and engagement decline. Platforms argue they earn little from advertising to under-16s, but the ban disrupts a pipeline of future users. Before implementation, 86 per cent of Australians aged 8–15 were active on social media. “The days of social media as a platform for unbridled self-expression are coming to an end,” said Terry Flew, co-director of the University of Sydney’s Centre for AI, Trust, and Governance. While platforms had earlier introduced minimum age limits and privacy features, Flew says, “Had these structures existed during the social media boom, this debate might never have happened.”
10 December,2025 12:18 PM IST | Australia | mid-day online correspondentAn earthquake of magnitude 4.3 struck Afghanistan in the early hours of Wednesday, according to information shared by the National Center for Seismology (NCS). The tremor was recorded at a depth of 150 km. In a post on X, the NCS said, "EQ of M: 4.3, On: 10/12/2025 00:30:01 IST, Lat: 36.39 N, Long: 70.88 E, Depth: 150 Km, Location: Afghanistan." This latest quake follows another magnitude 3.8 earthquake reported by the NCS a day earlier, indicating continued seismic activity in the region. That tremor occurred at a depth of 70 km, with the agency posting, "EQ of M: 3.8, On: 09/12/2025 14:36:02 IST, Lat: 35.87 N, Long: 69.41 E, Depth: 70 Km, Location: Afghanistan." Further movement was recorded earlier the same day when a magnitude 4.5 earthquake struck at a shallow depth of 10 km, a level that typically increases the likelihood of aftershocks. The NCS said, "EQ of M: 4.5, On: 09/12/2025 13:17:35 IST, Lat: 34.53 N, Long: 70.54 E, Depth: 10 Km, Location: Afghanistan." Shallow quakes such as this tend to be more dangerous because seismic waves reach the surface quickly, causing stronger shaking and a higher potential for damage and casualties. Afghanistan frequently experiences earthquakes, especially in the Hindu Kush region, which is known for high seismic activity, according to the Red Cross. On November 4, a powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck northern Afghanistan, killing at least 27 people and injuring 956 more, according to Sharafat Zaman Amar. CNN reported that the tremor also damaged one of the country's most iconic mosques. Families were jolted awake as the quake hit near Mazar-i-Sharif at a shallow depth of 28 km, the United States Geological Survey said. Afghanistan's location atop several active fault lines, formed along the collision zone between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, makes it highly prone to frequent seismic disturbances. A major fault line also runs directly through Herat. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) notes that Afghanistan remains extremely vulnerable to natural disasters, including earthquakes, landslides and seasonal flooding. Repeated tremors worsen the situation for communities already struggling with decades of conflict and limited development, leaving them with minimal resilience to withstand multiple shocks. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
10 December,2025 10:06 AM IST | Kabul | ANIFormer Nepali ministers, officials and a Chinese company were charged with corruption over financial irregularities during the construction of an international airport. The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority filed on Sunday cases against 55 people and the China CAMC Engineering Company Limited, one of the biggest such cases in the Himalayan nation, accusing them of inflating construction expenses by more than USD 74 million. It remains unclear when the hearing will begin. Two officials of the Chinese company have been named in the charges filed at the Special Court in Kathmandu, which handles corruption cases related to government dealings. The bidding agreed on with the government in 2012 was set at USD 169.6 million, but Nepali officials increased the amount to a little over USD 244 million "in collusion with the Chinese company," the commission said. The airport, at the resort city of Pokhara, 200 kilometres west of Kathmandu, was built with a loan from China Exim Bank. It was expected to draw foreign tourists to the picturesque city, the starting point of many trekking routes in Nepal. However, it failed to attract international flights since operations began in 2023, according to local reports. Court cases in Nepal can take months if not years to be resolved. Corruption is widespread in the South Asian country. In September, massive demonstrations against corruption led by youth, which left dozens killed, forced the government to step down, and an interim administration was installed. General elections are expected in March. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
10 December,2025 10:03 AM IST | Kathmandu | APPope Leo XIV insisted Tuesday that Europe must have a role in any Ukraine peace deal and criticised what he said was the Trump administration's effort to "break apart" the long-standing US-European alliance. Leo spoke to reporters after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is on another tour to rally European support for Kyiv. The American pope said they discussed the need for a ceasefire and the Vatican's efforts to facilitate the return of Ukrainian children taken by Russian authorities. Leo was asked about the US peace proposal and the seeming sidelining of European powers in the process. Speaking as he left his vacation home in Castel Gandolfo, Leo insisted that Europe's role was crucial to any deal. "Seeking a peace agreement without including Europe in the talks is unrealistic, given the war is in Europe," he said. "Guarantees are also being sought for security today and in the future. Europe must be part of this, and unfortunately, not everyone understands this, but I think there is a great opportunity for European leaders to unite and seek a solution together." Zelenskyy has said there are three documents in the peace agreement being discussed with US and European partners: a framework document of 20 points, a second document with security guarantees, and a third document about Ukraine's recovery. Leo was asked about the US peace plan for Ukraine, but appeared to respond to a broader question about the Trump administration's views on the US-Europe alliance. Just last week, the Trump administration released its US national security strategy, which questions the US-European alliance and stresses a desire to improve US-Russia relations. Leo said what he had read would "make a huge change in what was for many, many years a true alliance between Europe and the United States." Additionally, some comments by US President Donald Trump suggest an effort "trying to break apart what I think needs to be an alliance today and in the future." While some people in the United States may agree with that effort, "I think many others would see things in a different way," Leo said. The Holy See has tried to remain neutral in Russia's war while offering solidarity and concrete assistance to what it calls the "martyred" people of Ukraine. Leo has met now three times with Zelenskyy and has spoken by telephone at least once with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The American pope has called for a ceasefire and urged Russia in particular to make gestures to promote peace. The Vatican has also tried to facilitate the return of Ukrainian children taken by Russian authorities, and last month, Leo met with some returned children at the Vatican. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
10 December,2025 10:01 AM IST | Rome | APThe fiancee of a man who died on a cruise ship has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Royal Caribbean, alleging it negligently served him at least 33 alcoholic drinks and was liable for his death after crew members tackled him to the ground and stood on him with their full body weight. Connie Aguilar's lawsuit for the death of Michael Virgil seeks unspecified damages and a jury trial. Royal Caribbean did not immediately respond to an email requesting comment on Tuesday. Aguilar and Virgil were on a round trip voyage from Los Angeles to Ensenada, Mexico, with other members of their family, including their autistic son, at the time of Virgil's death in December 2024, the lawsuit said. Crew members on board Navigator of the Seas served Virgil more than two dozen drinks, after which he got lost and became agitated trying to find his room, it said. That is when crew members tackled him and stood on him with their full weight, the lawsuit charges. They subjected him to prolonged prone restraint, compressed his back and torso, and impaired his breathing, the lawsuit said. At the captain's request, crew members administered a sedative and sprayed him with pepper spray, the lawsuit said. This treatment led to respiratory failure, cardiac arrest and Virgil's death, it continued. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide. It said Virgil died from the combined effects of mechanical asphyxia, which is when force or an object blocks breathing; obesity; an enlarged heart and alcohol intoxication. The lawsuit said crew members should not have served Virgil alcohol because he "exhibited obvious visual signs of intoxication" and were negligent for doing so, the lawsuit said. Maritime common law requires carriers like Royal Caribbean to "supervise and assist passengers likely to engage in behaviour dangerous to themselves or others," the lawsuit said. Royal Caribbean also failed to exercise its right to stop serving alcohol to Virgil to protect his life, the lawsuit said. The company's ships, it added, are deliberately designed to ensure there are alcohol-serving stations "in every nook and cranny" and the company "does as much as possible to encourage and facilitate alcohol consumption" on board. The lawsuit said medical personnel on board lacked proper education, licences, experience and skills and it failed to properly train crew members to assess when to stop serving a passenger. The lawsuit was filed Friday in federal court in Miami, where Royal Caribbean, the world's second largest cruise company, has its headquarters. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
10 December,2025 09:57 AM IST | Washington | APUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Rome on Tuesday as he continued to rally European support for Ukraine while resisting the US pressure for a painful compromise with Russia. On Monday, Zelenskyy held talks in London with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to strengthen Ukraine’s hand amid mounting impatience from US President Donald Trump. The Ukrainian president arrived at Castel Gandolfo, a papal residence outside Rome, for a meeting with Pope Leo XIV and is set to have talks with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni later. Answering reporters’ questions in a WhatsApp chat late on Monday, Zelenskyy reaffirmed his firm refusal to cede any territory, saying that “we clearly don’t want to give up anything”, even as “the Americans are looking for a compromise today”. “Undoubtedly, Russia insists that we give up territories,” he said. “According to the law, we don’t have such a right. According to Ukraine’s law, our constitution, international law, and, to be frank, we don’t have a moral right either.” This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
10 December,2025 09:41 AM IST | Rome | AgenciesCommunications between Earth and NASA spacecraft were critically vulnerable to hacking for years until an AI found the flaw and fixed it in just four days. The vulnerability in the CryptoLib security software that protects spacecraft-to-ground communications was sniffed out by an AI cybersecurity algorithm developed by California-based start-up AISLE. The vulnerability could have enabled hackers to seize control over countless space missions, including NASA’s Mars rovers, according to the cybersecurity researchers. The researchers said the vulnerability was found in the authentication system and could have been exploited through compromised operator credentials. For example, the attackers could have gained access to user names and passwords of NASA employees through social engineering, methods such as phishing or infecting computers with viruses uploaded to USB drives and left where personnel could find them. In other words, an attacker could remotely hijack the spacecraft or just intercept the data it is exchanging with ground control. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
10 December,2025 09:24 AM IST | Los Angeles | AgenciesUS President Donald Trump, on Monday (India time Tuesday) said on Truth Social that he informed Chinese President Xi Jinping that the US will allow NVIDIA to ship its H200 products to approved customers in China under conditions meant to keep national security strong. Trump said that President Xi “responded positively,” adding that 25 per cent will be paid to the US. He said the move will support American jobs, strengthen manufacturing, and help taxpayers. Trump also said the earlier policies forced the US to spend billions on “degraded” products that nobody wanted. “The Biden administration forced our great companies to spend billions of dollars building ‘degraded’ products that nobody wanted… a terrible idea that slowed Innovation, and hurt the American worker. That era is over!” he said. According to Trump, NVIDIA’s customers in the United States are already working with their advanced ‘Blackwell’ chips and will later use ‘Rubin’ chips. He said these products are not part of the arrangement with China. In the post, Trump also said that the Department of Commerce is finalising the details of the policy. He noted that the same approach will apply to AMD, Intel, and others that operate in the semiconductor industry. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
10 December,2025 09:21 AM IST | Washington | AgenciesCambodia's powerful Senate President Hun Sen on Tuesday vowed that his country would carry out a fierce fight against Thailand as a second day of widespread renewed combat between the Southeast Asian neighbours drove tens of thousands of people to flee border areas. Fighting broke out following a skirmish in which one Thai soldier was killed Sunday night, despite a ceasefire that ended five days of fighting in July over competing territorial claims along their border, which resulted in dozens of civilian and military dead on both sides, and the evacuation of over 100,000 civilians. Both sides vow to keep fighting.In a statement posted to Facebook and Telegram, Hun Sen claimed that his country had refrained from firing back on Monday, but overnight began to shoot back at Thai forces. He wrote that a strategy of concentrating on where Thailand was advancing would allow Cambodia to "to weaken and destroy enemy forces through counterattacks". Thailand's army said Cambodian forces had fired artillery at a village in Sa Kaeo province early Tuesday morning, though the strike caused no casualties. Thailand says that Cambodian forces also fired at its troops Sunday and Monday, as each side blames the other for firing the first shots. "Cambodia wants peace, but Cambodia is forced to fight back to defend its territory", Hun Sen said. Hun Sen was Cambodia's long-serving prime minister until 2023, when he was succeeded by his son Hun Manet, but is still widely seen as the country's de facto leader. Cambodia's military announced Tuesday that the new fighting had killed seven civilians and wounded 20. A spokesperson for the Thai military announced Tuesday that one solder had been killed and 29 wounded in the new fighting. Speaking at a news conference, Thai Rear Adm. Surasant Kongsiri said the navy was strengthening its position in eastern Thailand near the border with Cambodia. Thailand on Monday carried out airstrikes along the frontier, which it said were a defensive action targeting military installations. Surasant said such operation would continue "until attacks stop". Villagers on both sides flee to safety.A separate statement from Thailand's 2nd Army Region, situated along the border, said almost 500 temporary shelters have been set up in four border provinces, accommodating 125,838 people. Additional refugees from the fighting are expected to stay with relatives in safe areas. It said Cambodia attacked Thai positions with rocket and drone attacks. Cambodia said people fled villages near the border. Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said Monday in a televised speech that military operations would be carried out as necessary to defend the country and protect public safety. "Thailand has never wished for violence. I'd like to reiterate that Thailand has never initiated a fight or an invasion, but will never tolerate a violation of its sovereignty", he said. The two nations have a history of ill will.Thailand and Cambodia have a history of enmity over centuries and experience periodic tensions along their land border of more than 800 kilometers (500 miles). The ceasefire that was agreed to end July's fighting was brokered by Malaysia and pushed through by pressure from US President Donald Trump, who threatened to withhold trade privileges from the two nations unless they agreed to it. A more detailed agreement signed in October called for removing heavy weapons and equipment from the border; desisting from disseminating false information, accusations, and harmful rhetoric; implementing measures to restore mutual trust and full diplomatic relations; and coordinating operations to remove land mines. None of these actions appear to have been implemented in full or in good faith by either side. After the ceasefire, both nations continued to fight a bitter propaganda war using disinformation, alongside minor outbreaks of cross-border violence. Prisoners and land mines have been sticky issues.A major Cambodian complaint has been that Thailand continues to hold 18 prisoners taken prisoner when the ceasefire became active. Thailand accuses Cambodia of laying new land mines in the areas under dispute, in several cases maiming Thai soldiers. Cambodia says the mines are left over from decades of civil war that ended in 1999. The mines issue caused Thailand to declare earlier this month that it was indefinitely pausing implementation of the details of the ceasefire until Cambodia apologized for the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed concern over the new fighting, especially the use of air strikes and heavy weapons, and called on the warring parties to recommit to the ceasefire. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
09 December,2025 04:11 PM IST | Surin(Thailand) | APJapan was assessing damage Tuesday and cautioning people of potential aftershocks after a late-night 7.5 magnitude earthquake caused injuries, light damage and a tsunami in Pacific coastal communities. At least 33 people were injured, one seriously, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency said. Most of them were hit by falling objects, public broadcaster NHK reported. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told reporters an emergency task force was formed to urgently assess damage. "We are putting people's lives first and doing everything we can", she said. At a parliamentary session Tuesday, Takaichi pledged the government would continue its utmost effort and reminded people they have to protect their own lives. The 7.5 magnitude quake struck around 11:15 p.m. in the Pacific Ocean, around 80 kilometers (50 miles) off the coast of Aomori, the northernmost prefecture of Japan's main Honshu island. The U.S. Geological Survey measured the quake at 7.6 magnitude and said it occurred 44 kilometers (27 miles) below the surface. A tsunami of up to 70 centimeters (2 feet, 4 inches) was measured in Kuji port in Iwate prefecture, just south of Aomori, and waves up to 50 centimeters struck other communities in the region, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. NHK reported the waves damaged some oyster rafts. The agency lifted all tsunami advisories by 6:30 a.m. Tuesday. Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said about 800 homes were without electricity and Shinkansen bullet trains and some local lines were suspended in parts of the region in the early hours of Tuesday. East Japan Railway said it is aiming to resume bullet trains in the region later Tuesday. Power was mostly restored by Tuesday morning, according to the Tohoku Electric Power Co. About 480 residents sheltered at Hachinohe Air Base and 18 defense helicopters were mobilized for a damage assessment, Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said. About 200 passengers were stranded for the night at New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido, NHK reported. Part of a domestic terminal building was unusable Tuesday after parts of its ceiling cracked and fell to the floor, according to the airport operator. The Nuclear Regulation Authority said about 450 liters (118 gallons) of water spilled from a spent fuel cooling area at the Rokkasho fuel reprocessing plant in Aomori, but that its water level remained within the normal range and there was no safety concern. No abnormalities were found at other nuclear power plants and spent fuel storage facilities, the NRA said. JMA cautioned about possible aftershocks in the coming days. It said there is a slight increase in risk of a magnitude 8-level quake and possible tsunami occurring along Japan's northeastern coast from Chiba, just east of Tokyo, to Hokkaido. The agency urged residents in 182 municipalities in the area to monitor their emergency preparedness in the coming week, reminding them that the caution is not a prediction of a big one. Monday's quake occurred just north of the coastal region where the magnitude 9.0 quake and tsunami in 2011 killed nearly 20,000 people and destroyed the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. "You need to prepare, assuming that a disaster like that could happen again," JMA official Satoshi Harada said. Smaller aftershocks were continuing Tuesday. The U.S. Geological Survey reported a magnitude 6.6 and later a 5.1 quake in the hours after the initial temblor. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
09 December,2025 12:49 PM IST | Tokyo [Japan] | APADVERTISEMENT
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