The paper concerns the European Union’s upcoming second carbon market, known as “ETS2”, which from 2028 will impose a price on CO2 emissions produced by heating and transport fuels

International News via Reuters:

Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Luxembourg have opposed calls by other European governments to delay the EU’s upcoming carbon market, as political pressure mounts for the bloc to curb energy costs, a joint paper by the countries showed.

The paper concerns the European Union’s upcoming second carbon market, known as “ETS2”, which from 2028 will impose a price on CO2 emissions produced by heating and transport fuels.

The EU has already delayed the market’s launch by one year, and fast-tracked the distribution of revenues to governments from the scheme. But that has not quelled pushback from leaders in Slovakia and the Czech Republic, who say it will raise fuel bills. 

AMBASSADORS TO DISCUSS STRONGER PRICE CONTROLS

“Any further postponement or amendments related to the market-based price of ETS2 would substantially undermine the effectiveness of EU climate policy,” Sweden and the other countries said in the paper circulated among EU governments and seen by Reuters.

EU countries’ ambassadors meet on Wednesday to sign off on stronger controls on ETS2 prices, which Brussels proposed after 19 countries demanded this last year. The four countries’ paper said that once these changes are passed, the EU should leave the system alone.

Debates about changing ETS2 further “are reducing the system’s credibility and increase uncertainty for investment decisions by firms and households,” they said.

ETS2 is designed to encourage the shift to electric vehicles and cleaner home heating systems, by putting a price on CO2 emissions, and recycling the revenues from the scheme to subsidise electric cars and energy-saving home renovations for poorer households and smaller businesses.

Brussels has also faced mounting pressure from some governments and industries to weaken its existing carbon market, which puts a price on CO2 emissions from industries and power plants.

The European Commission will propose a review of the existing carbon market later this year. Some governments are eyeing that as a route to also change ETS2, since it is governed by the same law, EU diplomats said.

Reporting by Kate Abnett; Editing by David Holmes

The decision follows a positive recommendation from the European Union’s drug regulator in December for the drug’s 7.2 milligram dose

International News via Reuters:

Novo Nordisk said on Tuesday the European Commission has approved a higher dose of its popular obesity drug Wegovy, providing patients and doctors with an option that may support greater weight loss.

The decision follows a positive recommendation from the European Union’s drug regulator in December for the drug’s 7.2 milligram dose.

With the approval, doctors in the EU may now prescribe the 7.2 mg dosage as three 2.4 mg injections, to be taken in one sitting, once a week, the Danish drugmaker said.

In a 72-week late-stage trial involving 1,407 adults without diabetes, participants on the 7.2 mg dose lost an average of 20.7% of body weight, compared with 17.5% for the 2.4 mg dose.

Novo has also applied for an EU approval of a 7.2 mg single-dose pen. If approved, this could be available this year, the company said.

Reporting by Mariam Sunny in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar

The ban comes amid mounting concerns over the impact of social media on children’s health and safety

International News via Reuters:

Australia in December became the world’s first country to ban social media for children under 16, blocking them from platforms including TikTok, Alphabet’s YouTube and Meta’s Instagram and Facebook.

The ban comes amid mounting concerns over the impact of social media on children’s health and safety.

Below is a summary of what countries and companies are doing to regulate access to social media.

AUSTRALIA

A landmark law forced major social media platforms to block minors under 16 from December 10, 2025, one of the world’s toughest regulations targeting major tech platforms. 

Companies that fail to comply could face penalties of up to A$49.5 million ($34.9 million).

BRITAIN

Britain is considering an Australia-style ban on social media and tighter AI chatbots safety rules for children under 16 as early as this year, technology minister Liz Kendall said.

CHINA

China’s cyberspace regulator has put in place a so-called “minor mode” programme that requires device-level restrictions and app-specific rules to restrict screen time depending on age.

DENMARK

Denmark said in November it would ban social media for children under 15, while parents could provide access to certain platforms to kids down to the age of 13. 

FRANCE

France’s National Assembly in January approved legislation to ban children under 15 from social media amid growing concerns about online bullying and mental health risks. The bill needs to pass through the Senate before a final vote in the lower house. 

GERMANY

Minors aged 13 to 16 are allowed to use social media only if their parents provide consent. But child protection advocates say controls are insufficient.

GREECE

Greece is “very close” to announcing a social media ban for children under 15, a senior government source told Reuters on February 3. 

INDIA

India’s chief economic adviser called for age restrictions on social media platforms in January, describing them as “predatory” in how they keep users engaged online, two days after tourist state Goa said it was weighing restrictions akin to Australia’s.

ITALY

Children under the age of 14 need parental consent to sign up for social media accounts, while no consent is required above that age.

MALAYSIA

Malaysia said in November it would ban social media for users under the age of 16 starting from 2026.

NORWAY

The Norwegian government in October 2024 proposed raising the age at which children can consent to the terms required to use social media to 15 from 13, although parents would still be permitted to sign off on their behalf if they are under the age limit.

The government has also begun work on legislation to set an absolute minimum age limit of 15 for social media use.

SLOVENIA

Slovenia is drafting a law that would prohibit children under 15 from accessing social media, Deputy Prime Minister Matej Arcon said in a news conference on February 6. 

SPAIN

Spain will ban access to social media for minors under 16 and platforms will be required to implement age verification systems, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said early in February.

It was unclear if the proposed ban would require approval by the country’s highly fragmented lower house.

THE U.S.  

The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act prevents companies from collecting personal data from children under 13 without parental consent. Several states have passed laws requiring parental consent for minors to access social media, but they have faced court challenges on free speech grounds. 

EU LEGISLATION

The European Parliament in November agreed on a resolution which is not legally binding calling for a minimum age of 16 on social media. 

It urged a harmonised EU digital age limit of 13 for social media access and an age limit of 13 for video-sharing services and “AI companions”.

TECH INDUSTRY

Social media platforms including TikTok, Facebook and Snapchat say people need to be at least 13 to sign up. 

Child protection advocates say the controls are insufficient, and official data in several European countries shows huge numbers of children under 13 have social media accounts. 

($1 = 1.4174 Australian dollars)

Compiled by Christine Chen in Sydney, Hugo Lhomedet and Paolo Laudani in Gdansk; Editing by Milla Nissi-Prussak and Bernadette Baum