Pakorn Supajitsoontorn/iStock via Getty Images Greece will ban social media for children under the age of 15 from next year, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced on Wednesday, making it the latest country to follow Australia's landmark move. In a video message posted on TikTok, Mitsotakis said the ban was necessary to protect children's mental health. "The addictive design of some apps, th...
Pakorn Supajitsoontorn/iStock via Getty Images Greece will ban social media for children under the age of 15 from next year, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced on Wednesday, making it the latest country to follow Australia's landmark move. In a video message posted on TikTok, Mitsotakis said the ban was necessary to protect children's mental health. "The addictive design of some apps, the profit model that's based on how long you spend in front of your mobile phone screen and takes away some of your innocence and freedom, must end at some point," he said. "Science is clear: when a child is in front of screens for hours, their brain does not rest." The Parliament needs to clear the ban, after which it is expected to become effective on Jan. 1, 2027. "Our goal is to push the European Union in this direction as well," Mitsotakis added. The Greek government has already banned the use of mobile phones in schools. It also set up the "Kids Wallet" app to enable parents to manage and supervise their children's online presence. Australia was the first country to enact a social media ban for children, followed by Indonesia. Countries including the UK, Spain, France, Denmark and Austria are weighing similar bans/restrictions. According to the EU-funded Greek Safer Internet Center, 75% of children using social media in Greece are of primary‑school age. More on social media restrictions Australia mulls legal action against Meta, others over teen ban breaches Meta found guilty by N.M. jury in child safety trial; receives $375M penalty Indonesia to ban social media for children under 16 Czech prime minister backs social media ban for kids under 15 France’s National Assembly OKs social media ban for under-15s
DNY59/E+ via Getty Images This analysis serves as an update to my previous analysis of Beacon Financial Corporation ( BBT ) that was published on September 4 . While Seeking Alpha shows that article as the first one written for the company on Seeking Alpha, it was actually my second, as I had previously covered the company four months earlier when it was operating under another name, Berkshire Hil...
DNY59/E+ via Getty Images This analysis serves as an update to my previous analysis of Beacon Financial Corporation ( BBT ) that was published on September 4 . While Seeking Alpha shows that article as the first one written for the company on Seeking Alpha, it was actually my second, as I had previously covered the company four months earlier when it was operating under another name, Berkshire Hills Bancorp . Berkshire Hills completed a merger with Brookline Bancorp on September 1 of last year in what it referred to as a “ merger of equals. ” A change in name to Beacon Financial was a result of the merger. In my first analysis of Berkshire Hills, I rated the stock as a buy based on its valuation at the time as well as the growth prospects that the merger would bring. In September, I downgraded BBT to a Hold, citing a few concerns with its operations after the addition of Brookline. We are just under three weeks away from seeing Beacon's Q1 2026 financial results, and I thought it was a good time to revisit the company's prospects for the year ahead. As is the case following most M&A activity, the first quarter of the new version of Beacon was clouded with a number of charges and one-time expenses. In the case of BBT, many of those costs may extend into the first quarter of this year. Because of the continued lack of visibility for the potential of Beacon Financial and its continued lackluster performance metrics, I am maintaining my Hold rating moving into what could be a very important earnings season. About Beacon Financial Headquartered in Boston, MA, Beacon Financial is the holding company for Beacon Bank, a full-service regional bank that operates in five states —Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Beacon Bank was ranked as the 87th largest bank in the US at the end of 2025 by the Federal Reserve , with $23.2 billion in total assets. It serves its customers through a total of 149 branch locations. Readers who are eager to learn more...
While the calendar has long-since flipped over to 2026, you still have a few more days to contribute to an IRA for 2025. The deadline for 2025 contributions is April 15, the same day taxes are due. A Roth IRA can be a great way to supercharge your retirement savings. You'll benefit from tax-free growth from your investments, and best of all, tax-free withdrawals in retirement. Opening an IRA is fa...
While the calendar has long-since flipped over to 2026, you still have a few more days to contribute to an IRA for 2025. The deadline for 2025 contributions is April 15, the same day taxes are due. A Roth IRA can be a great way to supercharge your retirement savings. You'll benefit from tax-free growth from your investments, and best of all, tax-free withdrawals in retirement. Opening an IRA is fast, easy, and free. Check out our list of the best IRA brokers to get started before Tax Day . But not everyone will qualify to contribute to a Roth IRA. There are important income restrictions imposed on the account that you need to be mindful of. Continue reading
A Samsung Electronics Co. shareholder is seeking to sell all their remaining shares in the company for up to 3.1 trillion won ($2.1 billion) through a block trade, according to terms of the deal seen by Bloomberg News, in one of the biggest such offerings in South Korea. The seller, named as Shinhan Bank Co. , is offering 15 million shares at 204,395 won to 208,605 won each, the terms show. That r...
A Samsung Electronics Co. shareholder is seeking to sell all their remaining shares in the company for up to 3.1 trillion won ($2.1 billion) through a block trade, according to terms of the deal seen by Bloomberg News, in one of the biggest such offerings in South Korea. The seller, named as Shinhan Bank Co. , is offering 15 million shares at 204,395 won to 208,605 won each, the terms show. That represents a discount of 0.9% to 2.9% to Samsung’s closing price of 210,500 won on Wednesday. The seller is also conducting a sale of 206,633 preferred shares, amounting to roughly $19 million, according to the terms. Previously: Samsung Family Member to Sell $1.5b Shrs for Tax, Loan Repayment Bank of America Corp., Citigroup Inc., JPMorgan Chase & Co., Shinhan Securities Co. and UBS Group AG are joint bookrunners, the terms show.
Developer China Vanke ( CHVKY ) ( CHVKF ) reportedly told some bondholders that it is seeking to extend a yuan bond due this month with an offer to repay 40% of the principal upfront, as it again races to avoid default. Vanke is considering offering the same terms as earlier proposals to extend three other bonds by a year, Bloomberg reported. The move highlights how a company at the epicenter of C...
Developer China Vanke ( CHVKY ) ( CHVKF ) reportedly told some bondholders that it is seeking to extend a yuan bond due this month with an offer to repay 40% of the principal upfront, as it again races to avoid default. Vanke is considering offering the same terms as earlier proposals to extend three other bonds by a year, Bloomberg reported. The move highlights how a company at the epicenter of China’s property crisis is still facing liquidity challenges. The developer is mulling several options, including potentially asking to extend maturities as long as 10 years, the report said. More on China Vanke Co., Ltd. Historical earnings data for China Vanke Co., Ltd. Financial information for China Vanke Co., Ltd.
Stocks surged and oil dropped below $100 after the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire in exchange for Tehran reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The deal buys time for the two sides to potentially reach a longer agreement to end the six-week conflict, which has killed thousands of people and sparked a global energy crisis. The Opening Trade has everything you need to know as markets open acros...
Stocks surged and oil dropped below $100 after the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire in exchange for Tehran reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The deal buys time for the two sides to potentially reach a longer agreement to end the six-week conflict, which has killed thousands of people and sparked a global energy crisis. The Opening Trade has everything you need to know as markets open across Europe. With analysis you won't find anywhere else, we break down the biggest stories of the day and speak to top guests who have skin in the game. Hosted by Anna Edwards and Guy Johnson. (Source: Bloomberg)
US is in weaker position than before war as Tehran has shown capacity to inflict pain on Trump administration Middle East crisis – live updates The announcement of a two-week ceasefire has allowed Donald Trump to hail the reopening of the Hormuz strait as a victorious dawn of a new golden age, but it is Iran that now enters peace talks with the stronger hand. The Tehran regime goes to the negotiat...
US is in weaker position than before war as Tehran has shown capacity to inflict pain on Trump administration Middle East crisis – live updates The announcement of a two-week ceasefire has allowed Donald Trump to hail the reopening of the Hormuz strait as a victorious dawn of a new golden age, but it is Iran that now enters peace talks with the stronger hand. The Tehran regime goes to the negotiations planned for Friday in Pakistan bloodied but still intact. It still holds a stockpile of highly enriched uranium (the original crux of the conflict with the US, Israel and allies), and it now claims at least part-control of the strait, having demonstrated its power to close the narrow waterway and hold the world to ransom. Continue reading...
A Chinese diplomat said Beijing had made its “own efforts” in pushing for a ceasefire between the US and Iran, shortly after Donald Trump credited China with playing a pivotal role in that deal. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning on Wednesday listed the efforts her country had made in recent weeks to deescalate the conflict at a regular briefing in Beijing, without directly addressing r...
A Chinese diplomat said Beijing had made its “own efforts” in pushing for a ceasefire between the US and Iran, shortly after Donald Trump credited China with playing a pivotal role in that deal. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning on Wednesday listed the efforts her country had made in recent weeks to deescalate the conflict at a regular briefing in Beijing, without directly addressing reports China helped convince Tehran to reach the truce. “China has consistently advocated for a ceasefire and to resolve the conflict through political and diplomatic means, and to achieve long-term stability in the Gulf and Middle East region,” she said, when asked about the detente. “China made its own efforts in this regard.” Mao’s comments come hours after Iran and the US agreed to a two-week pause in hostilities mediated by Pakistan, and as talks begin for a more durable peace plan. That deal was announced shortly before Trump’s deadline expired threatening attacks on civilian infrastructure in Iran. The New York Times, citing three unidentified Iranian officials, reported that Iran accepted the ceasefire proposal following intervention by China, which asked the Islamic Republic to show flexibility and defuse tensions. In an interview with AFP after the ceasefire announcement, Trump said he believed China had persuaded Iran to negotiate. Since the conflict began, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had made 26 phone calls with relevant counterparts, while Beijing’s special envoy conducted shuttle diplomacy in the Gulf, Mao said. Last week, China and Pakistan issued a five-point initiative , which called for an immediate ceasefire in the Iran war and for the safeguarding of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Underscoring Beijing’s close diplomatic ties to Tehran, Iran’s top diplomat in China on Wednesday called on the world’s No. 2 economy to help “guarantee peace” in the Middle East. “We hope different sides could guarantee that the US would not resume the war,” Irani...