Ben Stokes the thunder god primed for Ashes series that may change his Australian legacy

Meta, the owner of Instagram, has announced that accounts belonging to users under the age of 16 will be closed starting December 10. This decision aligns with the Albanese government's new social media regulations aimed at protecting young users from online risks.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has indicated a potential overhaul of the police structure in England and Wales, describing it as 'irrational.' She highlighted a disparity in police performance across different regions, which she termed a 'postcode lottery.'

Tropical cyclone Fina has intensified to a category two storm and is expected to approach the Northern Territory coast of Australia on Friday. If it makes landfall, it would mark the earliest cyclone of the season to do so since 1973. The Bureau of Meteorology reported that Fina is currently located about 370km northeast of Darwin and is projected to turn southward.

New federal guidelines in Australia recommend that general practitioners provide enhanced care for patients with higher breast density, which can complicate cancer detection in mammograms. This change follows the experience of Krysty Sullivan, who was diagnosed with breast cancer eleven months after receiving an all-clear result from a routine mammogram.

A report commissioned by conservationists indicates that Australia's official figures on forest cover may be misleading. While the data suggests an increase in forest area since 2008, the analysis argues that new growth is often misclassified and does not compensate for the loss of biodiversity in species-rich forests. This raises concerns about the ecological accuracy of Australia's deforestation statistics.

Meta has begun notifying Australian users under 16 that their Facebook and Instagram accounts will be deactivated by December 10, in compliance with the Albanese government's social media ban. Affected users will receive 14 days' notice through in-app messages, emails, and SMS before their access is terminated.

Beth Mead, an Arsenal and England forward, emphasizes the urgent need for football to adapt to climate change, warning that without such adaptation, the sport may become a privilege rather than a right. Reflecting on her experience during the Euro 2025 tournament in Switzerland, she describes the extreme heat conditions and the extensive preparations made by the England team to cope with the climate's impact on their performance.

Mitchell Starc has expressed disappointment among Australian players regarding the relocation of the opening Ashes Test from Brisbane's Gabba, known as the 'Gabbatoir', to Perth Stadium. Starc noted that players had preferred to start the series in Brisbane, where England has historically struggled. The groundsman assured that the recent Metallica concert did not impact the wicket's condition.