Meta (formerly the Facebook company) has concludes plans on the construction of $10 billion worth of subsea cable that will link the whole world.

The project is a massive fiber-optic underwater cable that will cover over 40,000 kilometers and cost more than $10 billion to install.

According to reports, Meta will be the exclusive owner and user of the underwater cable, which is a first for the business and marks a significant milestone in its infrastructure development.

This comes days after Alphabet’s Google (GOOG) said it plans to build a subsea cable that would connect Australia’s Indian Ocean territory of Christmas Island to the northern garrison city of Darwin.

READ ALSO: Meta reveals new ‘classifier tool’ which detects teens who lie about their age on Instagram  

The action was taken as Australia looks to establish more undersea cable channels to Asia to the west and to the United States through the South Pacific to lessen its exposure to digital disruption.

“These new cable systems will not only expand and strengthen the resilience of Australia’s digital connectivity through new and diversified routes but will also complement the government’s active work with industry and government partners to support secure, resilient, and reliable connectivity across the Pacific,” said Communications Minister, Michelle Rowland, in a statement.

1. 2014 Mercedes-AMG G63

-Engine: 5.5L twin-turbocharged V8

-Power: 536 hp @ 5,500 rpm

-Torque: 760 Nm (560 lb-ft) @ 2,000-5,000 rpm

-Gearbox: 7-speed automatic

-Drivetrain: All-Wheel Drive (AWD)

-Weight: Approximately 2,550 kg (5,622 lbs)

Performance:

-0-100 km/h (0-62 mph): 5.4 seconds

-Top Speed: Limited to 210 km/h (130 mph)

-Ex-Showroom Price: Starting around $150,700 USD

Other Features: Live axle suspension, premium interior with fewer modern tech amenities compared to newer models.

2. 2022 Mercedes-AMG G63

-Engine: 4.0L twin-turbocharged V8

-Power: 577 hp @ 6,000 rpm

-Torque: 850 Nm (627 lb-ft) @ 2,500-3,500 rpm

-Gearbox: 9-speed automatic

-Drivetrain: All-Wheel Drive (AWD) with advanced 4×4 capabilities

-Weight: Approximately 2,560 kg (5,644 lbs)

Performance:

-0-100 km/h (0-62 mph): 4.5 seconds

-Top Speed: 240 km/h (149 mph) with the optional AMG Driver’s Package

-Ex-Showroom Price: Starting around $179,000 USD

Other Features: Modern tech, including MBUX infotainment, updated suspension for improved ride quality, and luxurious interior refinements Differences:

1. Engine and Performance: The 2022 model offers more power and quicker acceleration due to its updated engine and gearbox.

2. Technology: The 2022 G63 benefits from the MBUX system, better connectivity options, and driver-assistance features, lacking in the 2014 version.

3. Suspension and Comfort: The newer G63 has independent front suspension for a smoother ride, compared to the rigid live axle setup of the 2014 model.

4. Price: The 2022 model is significantly more expensive due to its advancements and luxury improvements.

Both models retain the iconic boxy design and off-road prowess, but the 2022 version represents a modernized and more luxurious iteration of the classic G-Class.

Australia nears social media ban for children after heated debate

By Renju Jose and Byron Kaye

SYDNEY (Reuters) -Australia moved closer on Wednesday to banning social media for children under 16 after the parliament’s lower house passed a bill even as Alphabet’s Google and Facebook-owner Meta pressed the government to delay the legislation.

Marking some of the toughest social media controls in the world, Australia’s House of Representatives passed the bill 102 votes to 13 after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s centre-left Labor government secured bipartisan support for the ban.

The Senate is expected to debate the bill later on Wednesday, with the government keen to ensure it is passed by the end of the parliamentary year on Thursday.

Albanese, trying to lift his approval ratings ahead of an election expected in May, has argued that excessive use of social media poses risks to the physical and mental health of children and is looking for support from parents.

The planned law would force social media platforms to take reasonable steps to ensure age-verification protections are in place. Companies could be fined up to A$49.5 million ($32 million) for systemic breaches.

Australia plans to trial an age-verification system that may include biometrics or government identification to enforce the ban.

A Senate committee backed the bill this week, but also inserted a condition that social media platforms should not force users to submit personal data such as passport and other digital identification to prove their age.

The committee added that the government must “meaningfully engage” with youth when framing the law.

“Young people, and in particular diverse cohorts, must be at the centre of the conversation as an age restriction is implemented to ensure there are constructive pathways for connection,” committee Chair Senator Karen Grogan said.

In submissions to parliament, Google and Meta said the ban should be delayed until the age-verification trial finishes, expected in mid-2025. Bytedance’s TikTok said the bill needed more consultation, while Elon Musk’s X said the proposed law might hurt children’s human rights.

IMPACT ON FAMILIES

The ban was first announced during an emotionally charged parliamentary inquiry into social media, which included testimony from parents of children who had self-harmed due to cyber bullying.

It has fuelled vigorous debate with youth advocates arguing it robs children of a voice and parent groups saying under-16s are too young to navigate the digital world.

Teenagers have said the law could cut them off from their most important social and family connections, arguing a ban is not the solution.

“I understand that using social media a lot is not a good thing and I’m working on it,” said Sydney high-school student Enie Lam, 16. “But a ban is not going to work,” she said.

Albanese’s party, which does not control the Senate, won crucial support from the opposition conservatives for the bill, but has failed to win over the left-leaning Greens and some far-right lawmakers on civil liberties and privacy grounds.

One conservative lower house member broke from their party and voted against the bill on Wednesday, a rare event in Australian politics, and two conservative senators said they also would vote against it, arguing the law should be delayed until the age-verification trial was complete.

Even the Australian Human Rights Commission, an independent statutory authority, opposed the ban saying it violated children’s rights to self-expression and to participate in society.

Still, polling shows public support overwhelmingly in favour of the move. A YouGov survey released this week showed 77% of Australians backed the ban, up from 61% in August.

Australian media, from the publicly owned Australian Broadcasting Corp to Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp, also support the ban. An editorial campaign by News Corp, the country’s biggest newspaper publisher, pushed for the ban under the banner “Let Them Be Kids”.

“Our members feel that this is one of the biggest issues impacting on themselves and their families at the moment,” said Jenny Branch-Allen, president of the Australian Parents Council, an advocacy group.

“Big companies have to start taking responsibility. Let’s try and reduce the incidents we’re hearing involved with social media and young people in Australia.”

($1 = 1.5451 Australian dollars)