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Egypt’s Parliament is preparing to regulate children’s use of social media to address what lawmakers describe as “digital chaos.” The House of Representatives said it will draft legislation aimed at limiting risks posed by online platforms, AP reported.

AP wrote that the move follows calls from President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, who urged restrictions on children’s social media use. He said limits should apply until children reach an age where they can handle such platforms responsibly. The president pointed to Western countries considering similar measures.

Around half of Egyptian children under 18 use social media, exposing them to harmful content and cyberbullying, according to a 2024 study. Australia has already banned social media for children under 16, while the UK and France are weighing restrictions. These developments have fueled debate in Egypt over child safety, privacy, and digital wellbeing.

An explosion and fire tore through a cookie factory in central Greece, killing at least four workers and leaving one person missing, AP reported. The blast struck the Violanta biscuit plant near Trikala during the night shift. The fire that followed severely damaged the factory.

Seven people, including a firefighter, were taken to hospital with injuries. Authorities said none of those hospitalized were in serious condition. Firefighters battled the blaze for hours before recovering four bodies from the wreckage.

AP wrote, police believe the explosion may have started near the factory’s ovens, which run nonstop. All the victims recovered were women. Investigators and emergency crews remain at the site as the cause of the blast is examined

At Yiwu International Trade City, China’s largest wholesale market, shoppers are crowding into a small stall ahead of the Lunar New Year.
According to the Reuters, they are hunting for an unusual hit: a red plush horse with a frown, a gold bell on its neck, and shy-looking eyes. The toy has gone viral online as China prepares to welcome the Year of the Horse.

Nicknamed the “crying horse” by social media users, the toy was meant to smile. A factory mistake turned its mouth upside down, creating a sad expression instead. Shop owner Zhang Huoqing said to Reuters that the flawed toy spread online after a customer failed to return it.

The gloomy horse has struck a chord with young Chinese workers who say it reflects job stress and long hours. It also fits the rising trend for “ugly-cute” collectibles. Vendors say demand is surging, with shelves quickly selling out as the holiday approaches.

Taiwan is monitoring what it called "abnormal" changes to China's military leadership after its most senior general was put under investigation, and will use various methods to decipher Beijing's intentions, Defence Minister Wellington Koo said on Monday (Jan 26), Reuters reported. 

China announced on Saturday that Zhang Youxia, second-in-command under President Xi Jinping as vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, and another senior officer, Liu Zhenli, were under investigation for suspected serious violations of discipline and law.

"We will continue to closely monitor abnormal changes among the top levels of China's party, government, and military leadership. The military's position is based on the fact that China has never abandoned the use of force against Taiwan," Koo told reporters at parliament, according to Reuters.