Australia adds questions on gender and sexual orientation to national censuses

A striking case related to attempts to remarry for benefits from a government program was discovered in Agra. A total of 1201 girls participated in the collective marriage program by submitting applications in the district. After conducting an online verification of these applications, the administration found that about a thousand of them were invalid.

The investigation revealed that a significant number of women were already married. Some had only been married four months ago, while others were married eight months ago. Despite this, they submitted applications to participate in the collective marriage program, aiming to take advantage of its benefits. During the online verification, their marital status was identified, and the administration deemed such applications invalid.

Furthermore, the check uncovered applicants who were minors. It also emerged that some applicants had an annual income exceeding three hundred thousand rupees, leading to the rejection of their applications according to the program's eligibility rules.

This year, the Agra district has set a target to conduct marriages for 1522 couples under the collective marriage program. Applications were accepted starting in April. Out of the total of 1201 girls who applied, about a thousand applications were scrutinized after the verification process began.

The highest number of applications were rejected in the developed areas of Bah, Achnara, and Jaithpur. Of the planned 1522 couples, only 201 applicants have been deemed eligible so far. Thus, the majority of the submitted applications were excluded during the verification process.

It was found that some women applied for benefits while already being married. Their marriages had taken place four or eight months prior. Once their marital status became apparent during the online process, the administration annulled these applications. Nevertheless, some applicants explained their actions over the phone, claiming their intention was not fraudulent acquisition of government funds.

One applicant from Achnara stated that when she was planning the wedding date, the application procedure for the collective marriage program had not yet started. Therefore, she married through the standard process. When the program started later, she also applied, but her application was rejected due to her prior marriage.

These women are demanding that the government establish timeframes for the program so that poor and deserving families who recently married can benefit from this aid in the future. They argue that there should be a system in place for such families if the program launched after the wedding date was decided.

The District Social Affairs Director, Nagendra Pal Singh, reported that the entire collective marriage program procedure is conducted online. He specified that 1201 applications were received from April to July 30, of which about a thousand were found invalid during verification. He added that re-applications from eligible applicants are currently underway, and collective marriage events will be organized after their review.

Social media platforms will be required to submit detailed reports on the protection measures adopted for children, as established by the Digital ECA. Platforms with more than one million users under 18 must publish the first transparency reports by September 17th.

This requirement was determined by the National Data Protection Agency (ANPD) and stipulates that disclosures will occur semi-annually on the companies' websites. The initiative also aims to allow monitoring of how digital services manage complaints and risks involving children and adolescents.

The reports must specify the channels available for receiving complaints about possible violations against minors, in addition to indicating the volume of notifications received and the resolutions applied in each situation. It is equally necessary to explain the procedures used by the platforms to identify child accounts and illicit acts, as well as describe the improvements implemented to strengthen the safety of younger users.

Another crucial point is the need to inform the methods used to obtain the presented data. According to the ANPD, these documents will serve as a way to account to both society and the public authorities. The ANPD will be responsible for analyzing such reports, monitoring their application, and regulating parts of the Digital ECA, with the goal of better understanding platform practices.

Among the aspects that can be examined in these documents, it is noteworthy that this information may help in formulating future regulations aimed at protecting children and adolescents in the digital environment. The first document will refer to the period from January 1st to June 30th, 2026. However, since the obligations of the Digital ECA only came into effect on March 17th, companies without data referring to January and February may consider only the interval between March 17th and June 30th, maintaining the publication deadline for September 17th.

After this first cycle, the schedule will follow civil semesters. Reports for the January to June period must be published by August 1st, while data from July to December must be disclosed by February 1st of the following year. The ANPD also advised companies to send a copy of the report to the agency at the time of its publication.

The Digital ECA gained the nickname 'Lei Felca' after the repercussion of a viral video about adultification. With the introduction of these new reports, it will be possible to track in greater detail how platforms are applying the safeguards provided for in the legislation.

Latvia has launched an operation named 'Lobisomem' to combat illegal migration from Belarus. This was announced by the Prime Minister of Latvia, Andris Kulbergs, at a press conference attended by military personnel and security service officers.

Kulbergs explained that the operation will last throughout August and will target individuals and networks of migrant smugglers who assist in the clandestine transportation and accommodation of people crossing through Latvia towards other European countries.

The Minister of Internal Affairs of Latvia, Jānis Dombrava, reported that on the night before Monday, a group of migrants attempted to dig a tunnel under the border between Belarus and Latvia.

Border police confirmed that 15 people attempting to illegally cross the border from Belarus via a tunnel they dug themselves were detained the previous evening. This was the first such case discovered by the authorities. The incident occurred in Skrudale, near the Silene border crossing, in the southeast of the country.

Although only attempts to bypass the fence have been registered so far, Latvia plans to investigate whether other tunnels have been built along the border with Belarus. The country accuses Belarus of stimulating illegal immigration as part of hybrid warfare and in response to European Union (EU) sanctions.

According to the State Border Guard Service, Lithuania recorded the entry of 1829 people across the EU external border through Latvia until July 29. Meanwhile, Estonian media reported approximately 90 migrants who managed to cross the border from Latvia.

Latvia does not have a direct land connection to Western Europe, unlike Lithuania, which borders Poland.

Kulbergs characterized illegal migration from Belarus as a form of 'hybrid warfare' against Europe, as well as a 'business' for smugglers, which, according to him, will be sharply reduced thanks to this operation.

An interdepartmental task force will conduct this mission. It includes specialists from the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as organizations and institutions responsible for tactical operations, the Armed Forces, the State Border Guard, and the police.

The Minister of Defence of Latvia, Ravis Melnis, stated that the group will use various unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and video surveillance systems 'for timely threat detection.' The Armed Forces have already mobilized additional personnel and equipment to support the border guard.

Kulbergs noted that data from UAVs and sensors regarding activity along the border will be synchronized, ensuring 'round-the-clock drone surveillance, seven days a week.'