Ayoola Atitebi

Instagram owner Meta and Pinterest have made substantial donations to the charity established in memory of Molly Russell, a 14-year-old who took her own life in 2017 after viewing suicide and self-harm content on their platforms. A coroner determined that online material contributed to her death. The donations went to the Molly Rose Foundation, which advocates for internet safety. Both companies declined to comment when approached by the BBC. Molly's family stated they decided against legal action and would "never accept compensation" for her death. Through their solicitor, they explained they would "pursue the aims we share with Meta and Pinterest through the Molly Rose Foundation to help ensure young people have a positive experience online." Meanwhile, Meta faces multiple lawsuits in the US from families claiming their children were harmed by social media, with attorneys general from over 40 […]

A federal judge has ordered the US government to temporarily resume funding legal aid for unaccompanied migrant children, stating it enhances fairness in the immigration system. US District Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin of San Francisco issued the order Tuesday, preventing thousands of children traveling alone from losing their legal representation. The ruling follows the Trump administration's March 21 cancellation of a contract with the Acacia Center for Justice, a nonprofit that facilitates legal representation for these minors. Acacia criticized the termination, arguing that legal assistance for vulnerable children is "more crucial than ever" as deportations increase under the new administration. "The administration's decision to end these services undermines due process, disproportionately impacts vulnerable children, and puts children who have already experienced severe trauma at risk for further irreparable harm or exploitation," said Shaina Aber, Acacia's executive director, in a press release. […]

Myanmar authorities observed a minute of silence Tuesday for victims of a devastating earthquake that claimed over 2,700 lives, including 50 children at a preschool near Mandalay. The commemoration occurred as aid organizations reported desperate conditions in affected areas, with survivors struggling to secure basic necessities like food, water, and shelter. Friday's magnitude 7.7 earthquake—Myanmar's strongest in over a century—struck at lunchtime, destroying both ancient pagodas and modern structures. Military leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing announced the death toll had reached 2,719, potentially exceeding 3,000, with 4,521 injured and 441 missing. The disaster also killed at least 20 people in neighboring Thailand. In Mandalay, sirens sounded at precisely 12:51 pm, marking the moment the earthquake struck. Rescue workers at the heavily damaged Sky Villa apartment complex lined up with hands clasped behind their backs to pay respects while officials […]