Greece has announced plans to ban social media access for children under the age of 15, in a move aimed at addressing growing concerns over the impact of online platforms on young people’s mental health.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the restriction, set to take effect from January next year, is intended to tackle rising levels of anxiety, sleep disruption and what he described as the “addictive design” of social media applications.

In a video message shared on TikTok, Mitsotakis said many young people feel overwhelmed by constant comparisons and pressure to remain online, while parents have raised concerns about poor sleep and increased anxiety among their children.

He described the planned measure as “difficult but necessary,” stressing that the goal is not to distance young people from technology entirely, but to protect them from harmful digital environments. “The addictive design of certain applications… takes away your innocence and your freedom,” he said.

The move places Greece among a growing number of countries seeking stricter controls on children’s use of social media. Australia recently introduced a law requiring platforms such as TikTok, YouTube and Snapchat to remove accounts held by users under 16 or face heavy fines. Other European nations, including France, Austria and Spain, are also pursuing similar restrictions.

In the United Kingdom, the government has launched a consultation on a potential ban for under-16s, while Ireland and Denmark are considering comparable measures.

However, social media companies have pushed back against blanket bans, arguing they may be difficult to enforce and could inadvertently isolate vulnerable teenagers. Reddit is currently challenging Australia’s law in court.

Mitsotakis also signalled Greece’s intention to pursue action at a broader European level. In a letter to Ursula von der Leyen, he called for a unified EU framework to strengthen protections for minors online.

Proposals include mandatory age verification systems for users under 15, a potential Europe-wide ban for that age group, and requirements for platforms to re-verify users’ ages every six months.

A gunman has been killed and two suspects injured following a shootout near the Israeli consulate in Istanbul, in what Turkish authorities have described as a terrorist attack.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the incident as a “heinous act of terror,” vowing that such attacks would not undermine national security. Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci confirmed that two police officers were also injured in the exchange of gunfire, though their injuries were not life-threatening.

According to officials, the attackers had travelled to Istanbul from the city of Izmit in a rental car, with two of the suspects identified as brothers. The interior ministry named the deceased gunman as Yunus E.S., stating that he had links to a terrorist organisation “that exploits religion,” a phrase widely understood to refer to the Islamic State group. No organisation has officially claimed responsibility for the attack.

Authorities clarified that only one attacker was killed, correcting earlier reports that suggested two fatalities. The two injured suspects, identified as Onur Ç and Enes Ç, remain in custody as investigations continue.

Officials said the attackers were armed with rifles and pistols and engaged police in a gunfight in broad daylight near the consulate, located in Istanbul’s central Besiktas district. Footage circulating on social media appears to show the moment one of the gunmen was shot by police.

Governor Davut Gul confirmed that no Israeli diplomatic staff were present at the consulate at the time of the incident. The building has reportedly been unoccupied for more than two years amid strained relations between Turkey and Israel over the war in Gaza.

The interior ministry said investigators had uncovered “intensive digital communication” between the suspects and that interrogations of the wounded attackers were ongoing.

“We will not allow the climate of trust in Turkey to be damaged by such vile provocations,” Erdogan said, stressing the government’s determination to maintain stability.

Israel has launched fresh strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure, targeting key petrochemical facilities amid escalating regional tensions tied to the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian media reported that the Marvdasht Petrochemical Complex was hit in what officials described as an “enemy attack.” The Fars news agency said the strike caused a fire that was quickly brought under control, while the semi-official Tasnim news agency, citing local authorities, reported that the damage to the facility was not significant.

Earlier, Israel confirmed it had struck the South Pars petrochemical plant in Asaluyeh, one of Iran’s most critical energy hubs. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz acknowledged the operation, while Iranian outlets said several production units were damaged but no casualties were recorded.

The strikes come against the backdrop of heightened warnings from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has threatened broader attacks on Iranian infrastructure if Tehran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz. In a recent social media post, Trump warned that Tuesday could mark “Power Plant Day and Bridge Day” if Iran fails to comply.

The Strait of Hormuz is a vital global shipping route through which roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply passes, making any disruption a major concern for international markets.

In addition to infrastructure targets, the Israel Defense Forces said it had killed the intelligence chief of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a move that signals a deepening escalation in direct confrontations.

Across the wider region, military activity has intensified. Reports from Lebanon describe near-constant fighter jet activity, while in northern Israel, a separate strike has killed four people.