Global Policy

The United States, Russia and China are accelerating development of compact nuclear reactors for deployment on the lunar surface, seeking to meet the energy needs of future Moon bases. The shift marks a move beyond one-off missions and crewed landings toward infrastructure-scale energy systems on another world, opening a new phase of space-energy geopolitics and posing fresh questions for international space governance, the outer-space treaty regime and the risk of a new kind of arms race.

Australia is weighing tighter limits on under-16 social media use after a fresh survey indicated more than 80 percent of teenage respondents had circumvented existing age checks through VPNs, borrowed accounts or by misrepresenting their age. Regulators and lawmakers are debating options that range from compulsory age-verification infrastructure to larger penalties for non-compliant platforms, reigniting an international debate over how to balance child safety, digital identity and platform responsibility.

According to The Block, U.S. crypto advocacy group Stand With Crypto unveiled its first round of Senate endorsements after the digital asset market structure bill was blocked in a procedural vote, aiming to advance crypto asset-related legislation through grassroots mobilization and policy advocacy. The group mobilized millions of voters on crypto issues during the 2024 election cycle, and the new list is seen as an important signal of the crypto industry’s continued push on the legislative front.