HYDERABAD: India moved 50,000 people to relief camps on Monday as it began evacuations a day before Cyclone Montha, intensifying over the Bay of Bengal, is set to bring strong winds and heavy rains to its east coast, officials said.
Authorities canceled holidays for emergency staff and ordered schools and colleges to close in coastal areas of the southern state of Andhra Pradesh and the eastern state of Odisha forecast to be hit by the harsh weather.
The cyclone is likely to turn into a severe storm by Tuesday, before crossing the coast of Andhra Pradesh later in the day, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
“Evacuation of people from near the coast in Kakinada district has already started,” a disaster management official in Andhra Pradesh told Reuters.
Nearly 50,000 people have been moved to relief camps, a government report showed.
Disaster teams have fanned out to move families from low-lying areas in Andhra Pradesh, where the government expects 3.9 million people to be affected.
Fishermen in the neighboring state of Odisha were warned to avoid venturing to sea.
Cyclones frequently hit India’s east coast between April and December. A super cyclone that killed nearly 10,000 when it hit Odisha in October 1999 remains one of the country’s deadliest natural disasters.
Authorities in the southern state of Tamil Nadu have urged people to keep alert following forecasts for heavy to very heavy rain in some districts.
Chennai, the state capital, is prone to flooding during intense rains, such as those brought by Cyclone Michaung in 2023.
In the Himalayan nation of Nepal, disaster authorities have warned of possible rain and snowfall from Tuesday through Friday and advised trekkers to keep alert.
Floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains across Nepal killed 53 people this month.
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India evacuates tens of thousands as cyclone Montha gains strength
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India evacuates tens of thousands as cyclone Montha gains strength
- Cyclone likely to turn into a severe storm by Tuesday, before crossing the coast of Andhra Pradesh later in the day
- Disaster teams have fanned out to move families from low-lying areas in Andhra Pradesh
TikTok to comply with ‘upsetting’ Australian under-16 ban
SYDNEY: TikTok said Friday it will comply with Australia’s imminent ban on under-16s joining social media on the day it comes into force, but told users the changes “may be upsetting.”
Australia’s world-first legislation comes into effect December 10, curbing the world’s most popular social media platforms and websites, including TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.
Companies face fines of Aus$49.5 million ($32 million) if they fail to take “reasonable steps” to comply.
TikTok will block under-16s in Australia on the day the law comes into effect, it said, meaning they will no longer be able to hold or create an account.
“Teens with an existing account will be notified that they will no longer be able to use their existing account, which will become inactive,” it said.
“If they previously published content, it will no longer be available for others to view on TikTok.”
The social media giant said youngsters who have been blocked can submit an appeal to prove their age, including by facial images, credit card authorization or official ID.
“We understand that these changes may be upsetting, but they are necessary to ensure that TikTok complies with Australian law,” the company said in a statement.
Teens who fall under the law will have a choice of confirming their age, downloading their information, deleting their account, or asking for a reminder to recover their TikTok accounts when they turn 16.
TikTok urged parents to “have conversations” with their teens to ensure they are truthful about their age.
“We understand that these changes may be upsetting, but they are necessary to ensure that TikTok complies with Australian law.”
An Internet rights group last week launched a legal challenge to halt the ban.
The Digital Freedom Project said it had challenged the laws in Australia’s High Court, calling them an “unfair” assault on freedom of speech.
Australia’s restrictions have generated interest around the world as regulators wrestle with the potential dangers of social media.
Malaysia indicated it was planning to block children under 16 from signing up to social media accounts next year, while New Zealand will introduce a similar ban.
Australia’s world-first legislation comes into effect December 10, curbing the world’s most popular social media platforms and websites, including TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.
Companies face fines of Aus$49.5 million ($32 million) if they fail to take “reasonable steps” to comply.
TikTok will block under-16s in Australia on the day the law comes into effect, it said, meaning they will no longer be able to hold or create an account.
“Teens with an existing account will be notified that they will no longer be able to use their existing account, which will become inactive,” it said.
“If they previously published content, it will no longer be available for others to view on TikTok.”
The social media giant said youngsters who have been blocked can submit an appeal to prove their age, including by facial images, credit card authorization or official ID.
“We understand that these changes may be upsetting, but they are necessary to ensure that TikTok complies with Australian law,” the company said in a statement.
Teens who fall under the law will have a choice of confirming their age, downloading their information, deleting their account, or asking for a reminder to recover their TikTok accounts when they turn 16.
TikTok urged parents to “have conversations” with their teens to ensure they are truthful about their age.
“We understand that these changes may be upsetting, but they are necessary to ensure that TikTok complies with Australian law.”
An Internet rights group last week launched a legal challenge to halt the ban.
The Digital Freedom Project said it had challenged the laws in Australia’s High Court, calling them an “unfair” assault on freedom of speech.
Australia’s restrictions have generated interest around the world as regulators wrestle with the potential dangers of social media.
Malaysia indicated it was planning to block children under 16 from signing up to social media accounts next year, while New Zealand will introduce a similar ban.
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