Author: Gulf News Week
AFP via Getty ImagesFrance’s top court has struck down a ban on social media for under-15s, saying it infringed upon freedom of expression.The legislation was backed by French lawmakers in July, making it the first European country to block young people from the platforms, after concerns over the harmful effects on children’s mental health.Friday’s ruling by the Constitutional Council overrides the ban, which Emmanuel Macron had pledged would be introduced in stages from September.Responding to the news, the French president immediately asked Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to prepare a new draft that would take into account all the council’s points.The…
Bezos-backed consortium buys a third of LiverpoolLiverpool’s owners agree to sell around a third of the club to a consortium including billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos – in a deal that values the Reds at more than £5bn.1 hr agoLiverpool
Getty ImagesThe US president argues that a ballroom is necessary for large events and enhanced security at the White House. US President Donald Trump has asked the Supreme Court to allow him to continue building a $400m (£295m) ballroom at the White House without congressional permission. The emergency application comes one week after an appeals court ordered construction to stop until Congress approves, upholding a ruling won by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which sued the administration last year. In the latest filing, US Solicitor General D John Sauer asked that work be allowed to continue while the administration…
Lokale Politie DendermondeLocal police shared images of the hoard, discovered earlier this weekBuilders renovating a house in Belgium have discovered a stash of gold reportedly worth some €9m (£7.6m) sealed into the walls of its cellar.The construction workers stumbled across the hidden trove of gold bars and coins while drilling to lay new sewage pipes in the property in east Flanders earlier this week, local media report.The discovery has sparked interest in who might get to keep the hoard – with both the builders and the local charity that owns the site having a chance of claiming it.After launching an…
Anadolu via Getty ImagesMany migrants have attempted to swim from Morocco to the Spanish enclave Ceuta This weekend, Mohammed wants to travel from Morocco to the neighbouring Spanish enclave of Ceuta, on the northern tip of Africa.He’s a Moroccan man in his twenties and wants to emigrate to Europe – not least because he’s been seeing lots of videos on Instagram that make the trip look easy.He contacts several of the Instagram accounts and one replies, claiming to have helped “many people” and offering him advice on how to cross for hundreds of pounds.Except Mohammed isn’t real – he’s a…
Getty ImagesBulgarian singer Dara won this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, after topping both the public and the jury voteOrganisers of the Eurovision Song Contest are proposing major rule changes to discourage voting campaigns that aim to influence the results.Under the current system, viewers can vote up to 10 times for their favourite act by phone, text message or online.In a letter to participating broadcasters, the EBU reportedly suggested moving the vote entirely online and forcing the public to select their top three acts – instead of being able to vote multiple times for one contestant.The EBU said politically motivated voting…
BBC MundoDeivi (left) with Winder and their father Deivid”The earthquake is haunting me,” Deivi Delfín says.The 15-year-old feels like he and his brother, Winder, have been chased by tremors these past few months, having lived through two that struck with devastating effect in Venezuela, only to get caught up in another this week after moving to Colombia.He tells the BBC that he and his brother, 17, no longer felt like children, having witnessed corpses damaged beyond recognition.After their home in La Guaira – the area of Venezuela hardest hit by the twin quakes on 24 June – was reduced to…
Watch: What happens if Luigi Mangione pleads guilty?Mangione is accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York – but any plea deal in his federal case could impact a separate state trial.10 hrs agoUS & Canada
LIVEParliamentary investigation resumes into Farage hours after he wins Clacton by-electionThe Reform UK leader won the contest, which was boycotted by major political parties, but didn’t attend the declaration.
New Zealand break with Oceania Football Confederation to withdraw Infantino supportNew Zealand break rank with Oceania’s football governing body to become the latest nation to withdraw support for Fifa president Gianni Infantino.3 hrs agoWorld Cup