Author: Web Desk

Washington: US President Donald Trump has announced sweeping 50 per cent tariffs on a broad range of Canadian imports, marking a sharp escalation in trade tensions between the two neighbouring countries. The new duties, which the White House said will take effect in 30 days, target consumer and industrial products while exempting several key Canadian exports. According to the White House, the tariffs apply to goods including wine, alcoholic beverages, hockey sticks, cement and other manufactured products. However, major exports such as energy, potash, critical minerals and fish will remain exempt. Trump said the move was prompted by what he…

Paris: French lawmakers are set to vote on a bill that would ban children under the age of 15 from accessing social media platforms, as the government steps up efforts to protect young people from the potential harms of excessive online use. If approved, France would become one of the latest countries to introduce strict age-based restrictions on social media, following Australia, which implemented a nationwide ban on users under 16 across platforms including Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube. The proposed French law is expected to take effect before the start of the next academic year if it receives final…

Kinshasa: The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has claimed 930 lives, with health officials warning that attacks on medical workers and treatment centres are severely hampering efforts to contain the rapidly spreading disease. The country’s health ministry said the death toll had risen to 930 out of 2,344 confirmed and probable cases recorded as of July 18. Officials also reported 37 new deaths over the previous 24 hours, marking one of the highest daily increases since the outbreak began. The outbreak was declared in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on May 15 and has since become…

Rabat: Morocco plans to expand its hotel capacity by 60,000 beds ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, increasing the country’s accommodation capacity by around one-fifth as it prepares to co-host the tournament with Spain and Portugal, Tourism Minister Fatim-Zahra Ammor said. The expansion forms part of Morocco’s broader strategy to strengthen its tourism industry and ensure the country is ready to welcome millions of football fans during the global event. According to Ammor, the government views the 2030 World Cup as an opportunity to create long-term economic benefits rather than a short-term tourism boost. Morocco has already added around…

Oslo: More than 100 homes have been destroyed and hundreds of residents evacuated as firefighters continue battling a fast-moving wildfire in southern Norway that has spread from a residential area into nearby forestland, emergency officials said. The blaze erupted in Krokstadelva, in the municipality of Drammen, about 50 kilometres west of Oslo, before rapidly engulfing homes and surrounding vegetation. Authorities said strong winds and dry conditions have fuelled the fire, making it difficult for emergency crews to contain the flames. The wildfire remains out of control and continues to threaten nearby communities. Around 80 firefighters, Civil Defence personnel and six…

Washington: The US Justice Department has said federal employees can now download and use TikTok on government-issued devices, reversing a restriction introduced in 2022 over national security concerns. In a memorandum released on Friday, the department said the earlier ban no longer applies after TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, completed a restructuring of its US operations. Under the agreement, control of TikTok’s US user data and operations has been transferred to a joint venture known as TikTok USDS, which became operational in January. The Justice Department said the current version of TikTok no longer presents the national security risks that…

Spain: Football fans around the world are revisiting a remarkable set of photographs taken nearly two decades ago after images of Lionel Messi holding and bathing a baby Lamine Yamal resurfaced ahead of Sunday’s FIFA World Cup final. The heartwarming pictures have gone viral as Argentina’s veteran captain and Spain’s teenage sensation prepare to meet on football’s biggest stage. The photographs were taken in 2007 during a charity event organised by UNICEF and Barcelona. Yamal’s family had won a raffle that offered participants the chance to take part in a photoshoot with a first-team Barcelona player. Photographer Joan Monfort, who…

Kampala: Uganda has discharged its last remaining Ebola patient, marking a major milestone in the country’s efforts to contain the outbreak and beginning the official 42-day countdown required before it can be declared Ebola-free. The announcement was made by the Ministry of Health, which said the final patient had recovered and was released from isolation on July 16. Since mid-May, Uganda has confirmed 20 cases of the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola. Health authorities said 15 of those infections involved people who had travelled from the neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the outbreak continues to spread. Uganda has…

London: Britain’s media regulator, Ofcom, has launched an investigation into TikTok to determine whether the platform has done enough to protect children from harmful online content. The probe will examine whether TikTok’s UK operations have failed, or continue to fail, in meeting child safety requirements under the country’s Online Safety Act. The investigation comes a month after the UK government introduced a blanket ban on social media use for children under the age of 16, alongside restrictions on gaming and live-streaming platforms. The measures form part of broader efforts to strengthen online protections for young users and reduce their exposure…

Atlanta: Lionel Messi produced another unforgettable performance as Argentina came from behind to beat England 2-1 and book their place in the FIFA World Cup final. The 39-year-old captain provided two decisive assists as the defending champions reached their second consecutive final and the third World Cup final of Messi’s illustrious career. England took the lead in the 55th minute through Anthony Gordon and looked on course to cause an upset. However, Argentina gradually took control of the contest, dominating possession and creating sustained pressure in the closing stages. Messi became the driving force behind the comeback, repeatedly troubling England’s…