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When Smartphone Use Becomes a Problem: The Rise of Digital Disorders
Smartphones and social media have become part of everyday life, but experts are increasingly examining what happens when digital habits become difficult to control. Behaviours such as doomscrolling, FOMO, nomophobia and problematic social media use are attracting growing attention as they begin to interfere with sleep, work, education, relationships and physical activity.
Not every person who spends hours online has an addiction. The key issue is whether someone can control their behaviour and whether excessive use causes significant problems in daily life.
Gaming disorder is currently the clearest example of a recognised digital condition. The World Health Organization includes it in the ICD-11 classification. It involves losing control over gaming, giving it greater priority than other activities and continuing to play despite harmful consequences. Symptoms generally need to persist for at least 12 months and cause substantial disruption to personal, social, educational or professional life.
Social media addiction is less clearly defined. It is not currently recognised as a separate ICD-11 diagnosis, but researchers often describe problematic social media use. Warning signs include repeatedly checking platforms, spending longer online than intended, becoming distressed when access is unavailable and neglecting other responsibilities.
A major WHO survey involving almost 280,000 adolescents aged 11, 13 and 15 across 44 countries and regions found that 11% showed signs of problematic social media use, up from 7% in 2018. The figure was 13% among girls and 9% among boys.
FOMO, or the fear of missing out, can also encourage repeated checking of messages, social networks and news. Researchers have linked FOMO with problematic online behaviour and difficulties managing emotions.
Doomscrolling describes repeatedly consuming negative news about wars, disasters, accidents and other crises. Although people may seek information to feel prepared, constant exposure to distressing material can increase anxiety and create a cycle of worry and further checking.
Nomophobia refers to anxiety associated with being without a mobile phone or losing access to digital connections. It is not an official medical diagnosis, but researchers are studying its relationship with FOMO, social media use and anxiety.
Other technology-related experiences include phantom vibration syndrome, where people believe their phone has vibrated when it has not, and sleep problems caused by late-night screen use.
The physical effects can also matter. Long periods on smartphones may contribute to inactivity, eye strain and neck or muscle discomfort.
Experts say the most important question is not simply how many hours someone spends on a phone. It is whether they can put it down and whether continued use is damaging other parts of their life.
When digital activity begins taking priority over sleep, work, study, relationships or physical activity, it may be time to reconsider how technology is being used.
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Trump Signs Sweeping Russia Sanctions Bill Into Law
US President Donald Trump has signed into law a sweeping sanctions package targeting Russian officials, banks, energy interests and a network of tankers used to transport Russian oil, in the latest US effort to increase economic pressure on Moscow over the war in Ukraine.
The legislation, now known as the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, was signed by Trump on Friday after receiving broad bipartisan support in Congress. It passed the Senate by 86 votes to 11 and the House of Representatives by 262 to 159.
The measure is named after the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who worked on the legislation for more than a year before his unexpected death in July. Graham had been a prominent supporter of stronger economic measures against Russia.
The bill targets Russian officials and financial institutions, as well as the country’s so-called shadow fleet of tankers that has been used to move Russian energy despite existing Western restrictions. The legislation is intended to reduce the revenues available to the Kremlin as the war in Ukraine continues.
A major provision gives the US president authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on goods from countries that are among the largest purchasers of Russian oil or natural gas. The measure also covers countries that help Russia evade sanctions. Certain countries that have significantly reduced their purchases of Russian energy can qualify for an exception under the legislation.
The expanded tariff powers drew criticism from some Democratic lawmakers. They generally supported stronger measures against Russia but raised concerns that the legislation gives Trump broad authority to impose tariffs on countries beyond Russia’s immediate trading partners.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries questioned why Congress would give the president what he described as broad authority to impose additional tariffs that could affect the US economy.
The legislation also extends US sanctions provisions targeting Iran for another five years. The Iran measure was a key part of negotiations before the final version received Trump’s approval.
Richard Blumenthal, the Democratic senator who co-drafted the bill with Graham, praised its passage after the House vote and paid tribute to his late colleague.
Graham’s sister, Senator Darline Graham, who was appointed to complete his Senate term, also said he would have been proud of the legislation’s passage.
The signing gives the Trump administration new statutory tools to restrict Russian energy revenues and penalise countries that continue major purchases of Russian oil and gas. Analysts and critics have also pointed to the wider trade implications of the new tariff authority, particularly for countries that maintain significant energy ties with Moscow.
News
Philippines Accuses China Coast Guard of Ramming Vessel in South China Sea
The Philippines has accused a China Coast Guard vessel of ramming a government fisheries boat in disputed waters of the South China Sea, in the latest maritime confrontation between the two countries.
The Philippine Coast Guard said the incident occurred on Friday while the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessel BRP Datu Magat Salamat was carrying out a patrol and delivering fuel assistance to Filipino fishermen. The vessel was operating about 54 nautical miles from the coast of Palawan.
Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Jay Tarriela said the Chinese vessel, identified as CCG-21585, crossed behind the Philippine boat at about 11:04 a.m., passing within roughly 10 metres.
About nine minutes later, the Chinese vessel repeated the manoeuvre and made contact with the BFAR vessel, according to the Philippine Coast Guard. The collision damaged railings and metal support structures on the Philippine vessel and displaced equipment on its deck. No injuries were reported.
Video released by the Philippine Coast Guard showed the Chinese vessel close to the stern of the Philippine boat, with crew members reacting to the approaching vessel. Photographs released after the incident showed damaged railings and other parts of the deck.
The China Coast Guard disputed Manila’s account and said the Philippine vessel was responsible for the collision. Chinese coast guard spokesman Jiang Lue said the Philippine ship ignored repeated warnings, changed course and accelerated across the path of the Chinese vessel.
He said the actions of the Philippine side had threatened the safety of Chinese personnel and vessels, and called on Manila to stop what Beijing described as provocative activities. China said its vessel had acted professionally during the encounter.
The confrontation occurred near a shoal in the Spratly Islands, an area that has been a recurring source of tension between China and the Philippines. Beijing claims sovereignty over most of the South China Sea, including areas claimed by several Southeast Asian countries.
An international arbitration tribunal ruled in 2016 that China’s expansive claims had no legal basis under international law. China rejected the ruling and has continued to maintain its claims.
Tensions between Manila and Beijing have increased again in recent months following a period of relative calm. In July, the Philippines accused Chinese vessels of using water cannon against government ships near Scarborough Shoal and reported another confrontation involving Philippine personnel near Second Thomas Shoal.
The latest incident adds to a series of encounters involving coast guard and fisheries vessels as both countries continue to assert competing maritime claims in the strategically important South China Sea.
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US Military Faces Weapons Shortages After Iran War, Pentagon Report Says
The US military is facing shortages of ammunition and advanced weapons following its war with Iran, according to a report by the Defence Department’s inspector general, highlighting the pressure placed on American weapons stockpiles and defence production.
The report, submitted to Congress, said the scale of weapons used during the conflict created “strategic inventory shortfalls” and revealed bottlenecks in the US defence industry’s ability to replenish critical supplies.
The conflict, known as “Operation Epic Fury”, began on February 28. Between the start of the war and June 30, the operation cost an estimated $33.4 billion (€29 billion), with about $22.3 billion spent on munitions.
Defence experts have estimated that rebuilding stocks of advanced missiles and defensive interceptors to levels seen before the conflict could take about three years.
The report also detailed significant losses of US military equipment during the fighting. Four F-15 fighter jets were destroyed and one F-35 aircraft was damaged. Seven KC-135 tanker aircraft were damaged or destroyed, including five that were hit by Iranian munitions while on the ground in Saudi Arabia.
Up to 30 MQ-9 Reaper drones were also destroyed, according to the report. Each drone costs about $30 million (€26 million), adding significantly to the military’s equipment losses.
Despite the findings, President Donald Trump has continued to dismiss concerns about US weapons availability. Trump said the country’s ammunition supplies were “virtually unlimited” and claimed American weapons production had reached record levels.
In a post on Truth Social on Monday, Trump said the United States was producing “more exquisite and elite weapons than at any time in our history”.
The Pentagon has also maintained that the US military has the weapons required to fight any conflict.
The inspector general’s report, however, pointed to wider challenges facing the US defence industry. The rapid consumption of advanced munitions during the war placed additional pressure on manufacturers already dealing with production constraints and lengthy timelines for some weapons systems.
The conflict also caused extensive damage to US military facilities across the region. Hundreds of buildings and other structures were damaged or destroyed at American bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman and Jordan.
The cost of repairing or rebuilding those facilities was not included in the $33.4 billion estimate for Operation Epic Fury.
US authorities have not yet determined whether all the damaged facilities will be rebuilt. They also have yet to establish who will ultimately pay for the repairs.
The report provides one of the clearest assessments so far of the financial and military costs of the Iran conflict, while raising questions about the ability of the United States to rapidly replace advanced weapons if it faces another major conflict.
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