Author Archives: Newsaccessadmin

Big Brother Naija season 10 launches with shocking twist as Housemates battle for ₦150m

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The milestone 10th season of Big Brother Naija kicked off in spectacular fashion on Saturday night, with host Ebuka Obi-Uchendu introducing the first batch of housemates and unveiling a major twist that has already shaken up the game.

With the theme “10/10,” this season promises top-tier drama, fierce competition, and high-stakes entertainment. But the biggest surprise? The ₦150 million grand prize won’t go to just one winner in a single lump sum.

For the first time in BBNaija history, housemates must earn the prize money weekly by participating in various tasks and challenges issued by Big Brother. This new “work-and-reward” format means that consistent effort, strategy, and teamwork—or rivalry—will be key to securing the bag.

Read Also: How to watch Big Brother Naija season 10 on GOtv, DStv, Showmax, other online platforms

The twist adds a fresh level of unpredictability to the show, ensuring that viewers stay glued to their screens for the entire 10-week run, which is scheduled to end on October 5.

So far, only half of the housemates have entered the house, with the second group set to join during part two of the premiere on Sunday. As always, fans can expect flirtations, feuds, friendships, and plenty of surprises as the season unfolds.

With ₦150 million up for grabs and a brand-new format in play, Big Brother Naija Season 10 is already living up to its name — 10/10 drama, 10/10 twists, and 10/10 entertainment.

Stay tuned to News Access NG for daily updates, housemate profiles, eviction news, and exclusive BBNaija coverage.

Burger King launches new cold foam coffees, real juice lemonades in menu overhaul

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Burger King is expanding its beverage menu in the U.S. with the launch of four Iced Coffee with Cold Foam options and two Real Juice Lemonades, available now at participating locations nationwide.

The new drinks, confirmed by the fast-food giant on Friday, July 25, aim to boost sales during off-peak hours and appeal to a growing market of customers looking for refreshing, café-style beverages outside traditional meal times.

New Iced Coffee Flavors with Cold Foam

Burger King’s iced coffee lineup now includes:

  1. Vanilla Cold Foam – brewed iced coffee with cream and vanilla syrup
  2. Mocha Cold Foam – iced coffee with mocha syrup and cream
  3. Plain Cold Foam – iced coffee with cream (select locations only)
  4. Black Cold Foam – bold black iced coffee topped with cold foam

These options range from rich and creamy to simple and robust, targeting both sweet drink lovers and those who prefer a cleaner coffee taste.

New Real Juice Lemonades

Also hitting menus are two lemonade-based fruit refreshers:

  • Strawberry Lemonade – lemonade infused with strawberry purée
  • Mango Peach Lemonade – lemonade mixed with mango and peach purée

Both are made with real fruit juice and are designed to provide a natural, vibrant flavor experience.

Calories and Pricing

Read Also: Google launches Hustle Academy 2025 for African SMBs

The drinks vary significantly in nutritional content. For instance:

  • Vanilla Cold Foam Coffee: 270 calories
  • Strawberry Lemonade: 300 calories and 73 grams of sugar
  • Mango Peach Lemonade: similar calorie and sugar levels

Prices begin at $2.99, with slight variations depending on location. In some areas, prices may go up to $3.39, according to Fast Food Post.

A Profitable Play in Beverages

Though higher in calories, the drinks offer strong profit margins. According to restaurant tech provider Toast, while typical restaurant margins sit at 3–5%, beverages like these can yield margins up to 90%, making them a key part of Burger King’s revenue strategy.

Part of a Larger Brand Strategy

This beverage rollout is part of Burger King’s “Reclaim the Flame” campaign—a multi-year effort to revitalize the brand through menu innovation and customer engagement.

Earlier this year, the fast-food chain also introduced the BBQ Brisket Whopper, created through its “Whopper by You” campaign, which allows customers to submit sandwich ideas. The burger includes slow-cooked brisket, crispy onions, BBQ sauce, lettuce, tomato, mayo, and a flame-grilled beef patty, and is also available in a junior size for a limited time.

With this menu revamp, Burger King appears committed to challenging competitors like McDonald’s and Starbucks in the quick-service beverage space.

44 countries Nigerian passport holders can visit without visa in 2025

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Nigerian passport has achieved its highest ranking in five years, moving up to 88th position in the latest Henley Passport Index, released on July 18, 2025.

This marks a steady improvement from 91st earlier in the year and a more significant leap from 97th at the end of 2023.

However, despite the upward shift in global ranking, Nigerian passport holders still enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to only 44 countries, a number unchanged from last year.

Nigeria now shares the 88th spot with Ethiopia and Myanmar, maintaining a similar position to that recorded in the index’s January 2025 update.

Published quarterly, the Henley Passport Index ranks the world’s passports based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and insights from global mobility experts. It reflects the number of countries a passport grants access to without requiring a visa beforehand.

Read Also: Top 50 most powerful Passports in the World 2025

Below is the full list of 44 countries Nigerian citizens can currently visit without a visa or with visa-on-arrival access:

Africa:

1.            Benin

2.            Burkina Faso

3.            Burundi

4.            Cameroon

5.            Cape Verde

6.            Chad

7.            Comoros

8.            Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)

9.            Djibouti

10.          Gambia

11.          Ghana

12.          Guinea

13.          Guinea-Bissau

14.          Kenya

15.          Liberia

16.          Mali

17.          Mauritania

18.          Mauritius

19.          Mozambique

20.          Niger

21.          Rwanda

22.          Senegal

23.          Sierra Leone

24.          Somalia

25.          Togo

Caribbean:

26.          Barbados

27.          Dominica

28.          Haiti

29.          Saint Kitts and Nevis

Asia & Oceania:

30.          Cambodia

31.          Cook Islands

32.          Fiji

33.          Iran

34.          Kiribati

35.          Lebanon

36.          Maldives

37.          Micronesia

38.          Montserrat

39.          Niue

40.          Palau Islands

41.          Samoa

42.          Timor-Leste

43.          Tuvalu

44.          Vanuatu

Top 50 most powerful Passports in the World 2025

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The Henley Passport Index has released its 2025 global ranking of the world’s most powerful passports, with Singapore and Japan taking the top positions.

The index, which ranks passports based on the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa, places Singapore and Japan at the top with visa-free access to 193 destinations each. South Korea follows closely in third place, offering access to 190 countries.

Other countries in the top 10 include France, Germany, Italy, and Spain (189 destinations each), followed by Finland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Ireland, Austria, Denmark, Belgium, Luxembourg, Portugal, and Norway, all of which provide access to between 188 and 189 destinations.

The United States, which once held the top position in 2014, now ranks 10th with access to 182 countries, while the United Kingdom sits slightly higher at 186 destinations.

Read Also: Nigeria’s passport jumps to 88th on Global Index

The Henley Passport Index is widely regarded as the authoritative global ranking of passports, measuring mobility based on the number of countries passport holders can visit without needing a visa in advance. It draws on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the world’s most accurate travel database, and is further refined by the research team at Henley & Partners.

The index, which covers 199 different passports and 227 travel destinations, is updated monthly and has tracked global mobility trends for over 20 years. It serves as a critical reference for governments, analysts, and global citizens assessing the strength of national passports.

Top 50 Countries on the Henley Passport Index 2025 (Visa-Free or Visa-on-Arrival Access)

1.            Singapore (193)

2.            Japan (193)

3.            South Korea (190)

4.            France (189)

5.            Germany (189)

6.            Italy (189)

7.            Spain (189)

8.            Finland (189)

9.            Sweden (188)

10.          Netherlands (188)

11.          Ireland (189)

12.          Austria (189)

13.          Denmark (189)

14.          Belgium (188)

15.          Luxembourg (188)

16.          Portugal (188)

17.          Norway (188)

18.          United Kingdom (186)

19.          Switzerland (187)

20.          New Zealand (187)

21.          Australia (185)

22.          Czechia (185)

23.          Poland (185)

24.          Hungary (185)

25.          Malta (185)

26.          United Arab Emirates (184)

27.          Estonia (184)

28.          Canada (184)

29.          Lithuania (182)

30.          Iceland (182)

31.          United States (182)

32.          Slovakia (183)

33.          Slovenia (183)

34.          Latvia (183)

35.          Croatia (183)

36.          Greece (187)

37.          Cyprus (178)

38.          Romania (177)

39.          Bulgaria (177)

40.          Chile (176)

41.          Argentina (170)

42.          Brazil (170)

43.          Hong Kong (SAR China) (169)

44.          Israel (168)

45.          Barbados (163)

46.          Mexico (159)

47.          Uruguay (157)

48.          Seychelles (156) ← Top in Africa

49.          St. Vincent and the Grenadines (154)

50.          St. Kitts and Nevis (154)

Top 50 most powerful Passports in the World 2025
Top 50 most powerful Passports in the World 2025

Nigerian passport jumps to 88th on Global Index

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Nigeria’s passport has made its strongest showing in five years, climbing to 88th place in the latest Henley Passport Index, released on July 18, 2025.

This marks a steady rise from its 91st position earlier this year and a significant improvement from 97th at the end of 2023. Despite the improved global ranking, Nigerian passport holders still enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to only 45 countries, a figure that has remained unchanged since last year.

Nigeria now shares the 88th position with Ethiopia and Myanmar, maintaining a similar grouping to that seen in the January edition of the index.

The Henley Passport Index, published quarterly, ranks passports based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and global geopolitical analysis. It measures the level of travel freedom each country’s passport provides.

Read Also: 12 European countries that offer Nigerians easy visa

While the latest ranking reflects incremental progress, Nigeria’s passport remains in the lower tier in Africa. It ranks above just six countries on the continent: the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), South Sudan, Sudan, Eritrea, Libya, and Somalia, the same as in the previous year.

The country’s passport had hit a low point in 2021, placing 103rd globally. It has since shown gradual improvement, moving to 98th in 2022, 90th in mid-2023, and now up to 88th in July 2025.

Seychelles Leads Africa, Singapore Tops the World

Seychelles continues to hold the most powerful passport in Africa, with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 156 destinations. However, it dropped slightly in the global ranking, slipping from 22nd in March to 24th in July.

Globally, Singapore retained its No. 1 position, offering access to 193 destinations without a visa. On the other end of the spectrum, Afghanistan remains the world’s least powerful passport, with access to only 25 countries.

The United States, which once topped the ranking in 2014, continues its downward trend and now ranks 10th in the latest index.

Here is a full list of Henley Passport Index Rankings (July 2025 Edition)

  1. Singapore – 193
  2. Japan – 190
  3. South Korea – 190
  4. Denmark – 189
  5. Finland – 189
  6. France – 189
  7. Germany – 189
  8. Ireland – 189
  9. Italy – 189
  10. Spain – 189
  11. Austria – 188
  12. Belgium – 188
  13. Luxembourg – 188
  14. Netherlands – 188
  15. Norway – 188
  16. Portugal – 188
  17. Sweden – 188
  18. Greece – 187
  19. New Zealand – 187
  20. Switzerland – 187
  21. United Kingdom – 186
  22. Australia – 185
  23. Czechia – 185
  24. Hungary – 185
  25. Malta – 185
  26. Poland – 185
  27. Canada – 184
  28. Estonia – 184
  29. United Arab Emirates – 184
  30. Croatia – 183
  31. Latvia – 183
  32. Slovakia – 183
  33. Slovenia – 183
  34. Iceland – 182
  35. Lithuania – 182
  36. United States – 182
  37. Liechtenstein – 181
  38. Malaysia – 181
  39. Cyprus – 178
  40. Bulgaria – 177
  41. Monaco – 177
  42. Romania – 177
  43. Chile – 176
  44. Andorra – 171
  45. Argentina – 170
  46. Brazil – 170
  47. San Marino – 170
  48. Hong Kong (SAR China) – 169
  49. Israel – 168
  50. Brunei – 164
  51. Barbados – 163
  52. Bahamas – 159
  53. Mexico – 158
  54. Uruguay – 157
  55. Seychelles – 156
  56. St. Vincent and the Grenadines – 156
  57. St. Kitts and Nevis – 154
  58. Vatican City – 154
  59. Antigua and Barbuda – 152
  60. Costa Rica – 149
  61. Mauritius – 149
  62. Panama – 148
  63. Trinidad and Tobago – 148
  64. Grenada – 147
  65. Ukraine – 147
  66. Paraguay – 146
  67. St. Lucia – 146
  68. Macao (SAR China) – 144
  69. Dominica – 143
  70. Peru – 143
  71. Taiwan (Chinese Taipei) – 139
  72. Serbia – 138
  73. El Salvador – 135
  74. Guatemala – 134
  75. Solomon Islands – 134
  76. Colombia – 132
  77. Honduras – 132
  78. North Macedonia – 130
  79. Samoa – 129
  80. Tonga – 129
  81. Marshall Islands – 128
  82. Montenegro – 128
  83. Nicaragua – 127
  84. Tuvalu – 127
  85. Bosnia and Herzegovina – 123
  86. Georgia – 123
  87. Kiribati – 123
  88. Micronesia – 123
  89. Palau Islands – 123
  90. Albania – 122
  91. Moldova – 121
  92. Venezuela – 119
  93. Russian Federation – 114
  94. Türkiye – 114
  95. Qatar – 112
  96. South Africa – 103
  97. Belize – 102
  98. Kuwait – 100
  99. Timor-Leste – 96
  100. Ecuador – 94
  101. Maldives – 93
  102. Guyana – 91
  103. Saudi Arabia – 91
  104. Vanuatu – 91
  105. Bahrain – 90
  106. Fiji – 90
  107. Jamaica – 88
  108. Oman – 88
  109. Nauru – 87
  110. Papua New Guinea – 86
  111. Botswana – 85
  112. China – 83
  113. Kosovo – 82
  114. Belarus – 81
  115. Thailand – 81
  116. Kazakhstan – 79
  117. Namibia – 79
  118. Bolivia – 78
  119. Suriname – 78
  120. Lesotho – 76
  121. eSwatini – 74
  122. Indonesia – 74
  123. Dominican Republic – 73
  124. Malawi – 73
  125. Morocco – 73
  126. Azerbaijan – 72
  127. Kenya – 71
  128. The Gambia – 71
  129. Tanzania – 70
  130. Armenia – 67
  131. Benin – 67
  132. Cape Verde Islands – 67
  133. Ghana – 67
  134. Tunisia – 67
  135. Uganda – 67
  136. Zambia – 67
  137. Mongolia – 65
  138. Philippines – 65
  139. Sierra Leone – 65
  140. Kyrgyzstan – 63
  141. Rwanda – 63
  142. Zimbabwe – 63
  143. Mozambique – 62
  144. Uzbekistan – 62
  145. Sao Tome and Principe – 61
  146. Cuba – 60
  147. Togo – 60
  148. Burkina Faso – 59
  149. Cote d’Ivoire – 59
  150. India – 59
  151. Senegal – 59
  152. Gabon – 58
  153. Madagascar – 58
  154. Guinea – 57
  155. Mauritania – 57
  156. Niger – 57
  157. Equatorial Guinea – 56
  158. Tajikistan – 56
  159. Algeria – 55
  160. Mali – 55
  161. Guinea-Bissau – 54
  162. Cambodia – 52
  163. Chad – 52
  164. Comoro Islands – 52
  165. Haiti – 52
  166. Bhutan – 51
  167. Central African Republic – 51
  168. Jordan – 51
  169. Liberia – 51
  170. Vietnam – 51
  171. Cameroon – 49
  172. Egypt – 49
  173. Turkmenistan – 49
  174. Angola – 48
  175. Burundi – 48
  176. Congo (Rep.) – 48
  177. Laos – 48
  178. Djibouti – 47
  179. Ethiopia – 45
  180. Myanmar – 45
  181. Nigeria – 45
  182. Lebanon – 44
  183. Congo (Dem. Rep.) – 43
  184. South Sudan – 43
  185. Iran – 42
  186. Sri Lanka – 42
  187. Sudan – 41
  188. North Korea – 40
  189. Bangladesh – 39
  190. Eritrea – 39
  191. Palestinian Territory – 39
  192. Libya – 38
  193. Nepal – 38
  194. Pakistan – 32
  195. Somalia – 32
  196. Yemen – 32
  197. Iraq – 30
  198. Syria – 27
  199. Afghanistan – 25

Trump arrives in Scotland for four-day visit

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U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Scotland on Thursday evening for a four-day private visit, marking a rare trip by a sitting American president to the country. His visit includes high-level meetings, golf course openings, and renewed criticism of wind energy and immigration policies in Europe.

Air Force One touched down at Prestwick Airport shortly before 8:30 p.m., where Trump was received by Scottish Secretary Ian Murray and U.S. Ambassador to the UK Warren Stephens. He spoke briefly to journalists before departing for his Turnberry golf resort in South Ayrshire.

“It’s great to be in Scotland,” President Trump told reporters, as his motorcade of more than two dozen vehicles made its way to the resort.

Praise for Starmer and Trade Deal

Trump expressed admiration for UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, whom he is set to meet on Monday. “I like your Prime Minister. He’s slightly more liberal than I am – as you’ve probably heard – but he’s a good man. He got a trade deal done,” he said. “They worked on that deal for 12 years — he got it done. It’s a good deal for the UK.”

He also spoke positively of Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney, calling him “a good man”, and said he looks forward to their meeting.

Golf, Protests, and a Security Clampdown

Trump is expected to spend the weekend at Turnberry before traveling to Aberdeenshire to open a new 18-hole golf course at his Menie estate. Referring to the late actor Sean Connery, Trump said: “If it weren’t for Sean Connery, we wouldn’t have those great courses — he helped get me the permits.”

Read Also: Trump halts Student Loan forgiveness under IBR plan

His arrival has sparked planned protests in Edinburgh and Aberdeen, and a large-scale security operation is underway across South Ayrshire and Aberdeenshire. Police Scotland, reinforced by officers from across the UK, has implemented road closures, diversions, and security checkpoints, including a high perimeter fence around Turnberry.

Criticism of Wind Farms and Immigration

Speaking at Prestwick, Trump took aim at wind energy projects, calling them harmful to the landscape and wildlife. “Stop the windmills. You’re ruining your countries. It’s so sad,” he said. “They’re ruining your beautiful fields and valleys, and if they’re in the ocean, they’re ruining your oceans.”

Trump has long opposed wind power projects in Scotland, including one off the coast of Aberdeen that he fought, and lost, in court in 2019.

He also delivered a warning on illegal immigration, calling it an “invasion that’s killing Europe.” Drawing parallels to his own U.S. immigration policies, Trump claimed, “Last month, we had nobody entering our country. Nobody. We shut it down.”

He accused Europe of failing to act, saying, “You’ve got to stop this horrible invasion or you won’t have Europe anymore.”

Epstein Case, Pardons, and Diplomacy
When asked about developments in the Epstein files and Ghislaine Maxwell’s

Fed Govt denies raising JSS1 minimum age for admission to 12

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The Federal Ministry of Education has debunked a misleading report by The Punch Newspaper claiming that the minimum age for admission into Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS1) has been raised to 12 years.

In a statement released on Friday in Abuja by the Ministry’s Director of Press, Mrs Folasade Boriowo, the Ministry said the report was entirely inaccurate.

She added that it did not come from any official source and did not reflect government policy.

She clarified, “For the avoidance of doubt, the minimum age for admission into JSS1 remains 10 years.

Accordingly, no child should complete primary education below the age of 10.”

Read Also: FG debunks rumour of WAEC, NECO cancellation

Boriowo urged the public and education stakeholders to disregard any contrary claims.

Read Also: NASS clears JAMB of alleged misappropriation

The statement also quoted the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, who reaffirmed that the prescribed minimum age for admission into Nigerian universities is 16 years.

He emphasised that the policy was consistent, non-negotiable, and applied regardless of how early a student completed secondary school.

“The Ministry maintains that this age benchmark ensures the cognitive and emotional readiness of students for higher academic engagement,” the statement added.

The Federal Ministry of Education urged the public, educational institutions, and media outlets to always seek clarification from official sources before acting on or publishing unverified information.

(NAN)

Meta to halt Political Ads in EU over new transparency law

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Meta has announced it will stop selling and displaying political ads across the European Union starting this October, citing difficulties in complying with new EU regulations.

The tech giant made the announcement on Friday in response to the EU’s upcoming Transparency and Targeting of Political Advertising (TTPA) law. In a blog post, Meta described the legislation as “unworkable,” saying it introduces excessive obligations that create “an untenable level of complexity and legal uncertainty” for platforms and advertisers operating in the EU.

The TTPA, adopted by the European Commission in 2024, requires all political advertisements to be clearly labeled with details about the sponsor, the related election or referendum, the cost of the ad, and the targeting criteria used. The law also mandates that user data can only be used for political advertising with explicit consent and bans the use of sensitive data like political opinions or racial and ethnic information for profiling.

Read Also: Apple updates App Store age ratings for child safety

Meta said it had held extensive consultations with EU officials but ultimately determined that complying with the law would force it to provide a political ad service that “doesn’t work for advertisers or users” or exit the space altogether.

“Once again, we’re seeing regulatory obligations effectively remove popular products and services from the market, reducing choice and competition,” Meta wrote in the blog post.

Meta is not alone in this stance. Google has also stated it will halt political advertising in the EU by October, echoing similar concerns about operational challenges and legal ambiguity under the new law.

The move is the latest development in a growing series of clashes between the European Union and major tech firms. The EU has been actively tightening rules around data privacy, AI governance, ad tracking, and digital competition to curb Big Tech’s influence across the region.

With political campaigns increasingly moving online, the impact of Meta and Google pulling political ads could reshape digital campaigning strategies ahead of future EU elections.

Apple updates App Store age ratings for child safety

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Apple has announced a significant overhaul of its App Store age-rating system, expanding its classifications and introducing new requirements for developers as part of a broader push to enhance child safety online.

The tech giant revealed on Thursday that it is replacing its previous 12+ and 17+ age categories with new 13+, 16+, and 18+ ratings, while maintaining the existing 4+ and 9+ options. The changes are already live in the public beta versions of Apple’s latest operating systems — iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, tvOS 26, visionOS 26, and watchOS 26 — and will roll out to all users this September.

In addition to the revised age tiers, developers are now required to answer an updated set of content-related questions when submitting or updating apps on the App Store. These questions cover topics such as violence, medical and wellness themes, in-app capabilities, and parental control features. Apple will then use the responses to calculate an appropriate age rating for each app, which developers can review and adjust via App Store Connect.

Read Also: OpenAI unveils ChatGPT Agent Mode that can Think and Act

Apple says it has already applied the updated rating system to all existing apps and games in the App Store. The goal is to provide more accurate and transparent guidance for parents while preventing children from accessing content deemed inappropriate for their age.

To further enforce age-appropriate experiences, the App Store will limit where certain apps appear. For instance, apps with higher age ratings will not be featured in editorial content, or in the “Today,” “Games,” or “Apps” tabs for child users.

This update forms part of Apple’s broader child safety initiative, first announced earlier this year. Alongside the new age ratings, Apple is simplifying the process of setting up child accounts and encouraging parents to share their child’s age information — which will be relayed to developers to tailor content appropriately.

Apple updates App Store age ratings for child safety

Importantly, Apple has created a new developer API that allows app makers to access age-range data without collecting a child’s actual birth date, helping preserve user privacy. This data, entered by parents during device setup, is expected to be more reliable than information entered directly by children within apps.

Developers must opt into this API to access age-range data for customization purposes. Those who fail to adopt the new system may see reduced visibility and distribution of their apps, especially if the content isn’t aligned with the revised age guidelines.

The move comes as lawmakers across the U.S. intensify efforts to regulate children’s online experiences, with several states proposing legislation that would require parental consent before minors can download certain apps. While companies like Apple and Google have generally argued that age verification should be handled by app developers, some lawmakers and rival tech firms are pushing for app store operators to take more direct responsibility.

Apple’s revised age-rating system is positioned as a middle-ground solution, aiming to support regulatory goals while protecting user privacy and enhancing safety for younger users across its platforms.

Severe thunderstorm warning issued for parts of Rhode Island, Massachusetts

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The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for parts of Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts on Thursday, July 25, effective until 4:30 p.m.

Affected areas in Rhode Island include Warwick, East Providence, Portsmouth, Barrington, Bristol, Warren, and Tiverton. In Massachusetts, the warning covers Middleborough, Dartmouth, Wareham, Somerset, Swansea, Raynham, and Rehoboth.

According to the National Weather Service, the storm is capable of producing damaging winds of up to 60 mph and nickel-sized hail. Residents in these areas are advised to seek shelter immediately and remain indoors until the threat has passed.

Read Also: Extreme heat warning issued for Lawrence, Douglas County as storms loom

A severe thunderstorm warning is issued when a storm with the potential to cause serious damage is either occurring or imminent. It signals the need for immediate action, as such storms can produce strong winds, heavy rainfall, and hail.

In addition to the localized warning, a broader severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect for the rest of Rhode Island, as well as parts of Connecticut and Massachusetts, until 9 p.m. Thursday.

Residents in the affected areas are urged to monitor local weather updates, stay indoors during storm activity, and be prepared for rapidly changing weather conditions.