Sindh-based writer and educator Assadullah Channa, in an article for Pakistan Observer, criticises Pakistan for repeatedly failing to reform its madrassa education system, calling it a long-standing national weakness shaped by clerical control and political timidity. He argues that despite decades of pledges and several reform campaigns, madrassas still function outside government regulation, operating as religious and ideological centres disconnected from modern needs.

The Pakistan Observer notes that madrassas remain vital for many low-income families, offering free schooling, food, and accommodation. Yet Channa warns that their increasing independence, combined with the state’s inability to oversee them, has created a system resistant to modernisation and vulnerable to radical ideas.

From Ayub Khan’s 1961 attempt to introduce modern subjects, to Musharraf’s 2003 Madrasah Reform Project, to the 2014 National Action Plan, every reform effort has been blocked by powerful clerical groups. Channa says successive governments have avoided challenging religious leaders because they depend on them for political support. This reliance has made clerical organisations untouchable, enabling them to oppose reforms in the name of protecting Islam.

According to the article, this has resulted in a parallel education system producing graduates disconnected from Pakistan’s economic and social realities. The issue, Channa stresses, is not only administrative but ideological, as many madrassas still promote rigid, exclusivist teachings hostile to pluralism. Even after international pressure and tragedies like the 2014 Peshawar school attack, reform attempts have been inconsistent and short-lived. Channa concludes that without sustained political resolve and willingness from religious leaders to adapt, madrassa education will remain stagnant, holding back national development and reinforcing extremism.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

Google’s YouTube announced a "disappointing update" to millions of Australian users and creators on Wednesday (Dec 3), confirming that it will follow Australia’s new, world-first ban on social media accounts for teenagers. This means users under 16 will be locked out of their accounts within days. The decision ends a standoff between YouTube and the Australian government, which had initially exempted the platform because of its educational use, but later included it. YouTube stated that viewers must now be at least 16 to sign in, arguing that the law will not actually improve child safety and may make younger users less safe on the platform.

Australia’s move is being closely monitored by other countries considering similar rules, setting a potential global model for how major tech companies balance child protection with access to online services. The government says the ban is necessary due to growing evidence that platforms are failing to shield children from harmful content. YouTube said that from December 10, all under-16 users will be automatically signed out, preventing them from liking, commenting, subscribing, or posting, though they can still watch videos without logging in. This will also block underage creators from accessing their channels. The company did not specify how it will verify ages and reiterated that the ban weakens parental controls, which only work when a child is signed in.

Communications Minister Anika Wells criticised YouTube’s warning that logged-out browsing is unsafe, saying that if the platform itself believes the logged-out experience is not appropriate for young users, that is a problem YouTube must address. The law prohibits anyone under 16 from holding accounts, with penalties of up to A$49.5 million for violations. Other major platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat have agreed to comply, while only X and Reddit have yet to publicly commit. Wells noted that the tech landscape is constantly shifting, and more platforms may be added as user behaviour changes.

According to the eSafety Commissioner, YouTube has about 325,000 Australian users aged 13 to 15, trailing Snapchat and Instagram in that age range. The regulator also reports that more than one-third of Australians aged 10 to 15 have encountered harmful content on YouTube, the highest among major platforms.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong said China is increasingly extending its military reach deeper into the Pacific, warning in a Tuesday speech in Canberra that the strategic landscape around Australia is becoming more competitive. Wong noted that China is expanding its economic and security influence and stepping up military activity in the region, often without the level of transparency expected by neighbouring countries. She stressed that the stability and prosperity of South Pacific nations rely on cooperation and collective action.

She said regional unity, particularly through the Pacific Islands Forum, helps smaller and mid-sized nations balance power imbalances and maintain their ability to resist external pressure. Wong also referenced the A$20 billion in trade restrictions China imposed on Australia between 2020 and 2023, saying Australia has long warned Pacific nations about the risks of economic coercion as they deepen their ties with Beijing.

As Australia seeks stronger security and economic partnerships across the Pacific, she acknowledged that external powers’ growing engagement is reshaping the region and that Australia now faces a constant contest for influence. Australia, she added, can no longer assume it is the sole preferred partner for Pacific nations.

Currently, eleven Pacific Island nations recognise Beijing, with several—such as Tonga—carrying substantial debt to Chinese state banks, while three maintain ties with Taiwan. Despite global uncertainty in development funding, Wong said Australia continues to be a dependable partner, pledging A$2.2 billion in development assistance and A$1.3 billion in climate finance to Pacific countries. China’s Ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, stated last year that China’s activities in the Pacific are not part of a military strategy and should not be seen as a threat.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

A major attack took place at a Pakistani forces’ camp in Balochistan’s Chagai district on Sunday evening, when a suicide bomber detonated explosives at the main entrance of the Frontier Corps headquarters in Nokundi, according to security officials cited by The Balochistan Post (TBP). Officials reported that gunfire continued inside the facility after the initial blast, though they did not provide casualty details. Initial reports indicated that the bomber’s explosion at the main gate allowed several armed assailants to enter the camp. Gunfire and multiple explosions were heard for over an hour, and clashes were ongoing at the time of reporting.

No group immediately claimed responsibility, but later on Sunday, the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) stated that a sub-unit had carried out a “heavy attack” on what it described as the central compound used by foreign personnel working on the Reko Diq and Saindak mining projects in Nokundi, as noted by TBP. The BLF claimed the operation was still in progress and promised a detailed statement after its conclusion. Pakistani authorities have not responded to the BLF’s claims.

This attack is part of a wider surge of militant activity across Balochistan over the past 24 hours, during which armed groups have targeted Pakistani forces with IED explosions, ambushes, and attacks on checkpoints in multiple areas. Analysts say the recent wave of attacks shows that Baloch armed groups retain the capability to strike at will, despite strict security measures. Internet services, transportation routes, and several urban centers have been restricted in recent days to prevent attacks, yet militants have continued operations in various locations, TBP reported. Chagai district, where the attack occurred, hosts the Reko Diq copper and gold reserves—among the largest undeveloped deposits globally—and is a critical part of Pakistan’s mining and investment plans, according to TBP.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

Pippa and Kiran talk about the prime minister’s Monday speech and consider whether it will distract from claims that the chancellor misled the public with her budget statements. Also: disorder at Your Party’s inaugural conference.

Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from The Guardian.

Author and columnist Sean Kelly argues that even though Labor holds a strong majority and the opposition is distracted by internal conflict, there are indications that Anthony Albanese’s government may squander the chance voters have given them. Kelly speaks with Guardian Australia’s political editor Tom McIlroy about his new Quarterly Essay, where he explores Labor’s shift from idealistic ambitions to a more pragmatic approach. The former staffer to Rudd and Gillard says that although Albanese’s cautious style has helped him win two elections, it may now prove to be the prime minister’s biggest vulnerability.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from The Guardian.

Australia exports more weapons and ammunition to the United Arab Emirates than to any other nation. This week, Team Defence Australia occupies a prominent spot at a weapons exhibition in Dubai. However, human rights groups are urging the government to halt defence exports to the UAE amid reports that its arms are being supplied to a militia accused of mass killings in Sudan. Senior journalists Ben Doherty and Henry Belot discuss with Nour Haydar Australia’s expanding involvement in the global arms trade.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.

The US government released blurry footage showing a fishing boat moving through the Caribbean Sea before disappearing in a flash of light. Andrew Roth, the Guardian’s global affairs correspondent, tells Annie Kelly that this US airstrike near Venezuela’s coast was just the first in a series targeting what President Donald Trump calls “narco-terrorists.” With US aircraft carriers and 10,000 troops now being sent to the region, Roth explains what is known about US plans for Venezuela, the diplomatic breakdown that led to this situation, and which members of the Trump administration are pushing this aggressive policy. Tom Phillips, the Guardian’s Latin America correspondent, examines Trump’s claim that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro leads an organized crime syndicate. He details the corrupt system Maduro has built to shield himself, compares the current situation to previous US interventions in the region, and discusses how other Latin American countries are responding to the US threat.

Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from The Guardian