AUSTRALIA: The government announced today that YouTube will be among the social media platforms that,  from December, must ensure that account holders are aged at least 16, reversing a position taken months ago on the popular video-sharing service.

The age restrictions take effect on December 10 and platforms will face fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars (around £25m) for “failing to take responsible steps” to exclude underage account holders, a government statement said.

EAST AFRICA: Troops from Uganda and South Sudan have clashed along their common border, leaving at least four dead, a Ugandan military official said today, as tensions flared in the West Nile area of north-western Uganda.

Three South Sudanese soldiers were shot dead by Ugandan troops, who retaliated after a soldier on their side was killed on Monday.

INDIA: US President Donald Trump said today that he would impose a 25 per cent tariff on goods from India, plus an additional import tax because of India’s purchasing of Russian oil. 

He wrote on his Truth Social platform that India “is our friend,” but its tariffs on US goods "are far too high.”

Mr Trump added that India buys military equipment and oil from Russia, which he said had enabled the war in Ukraine.

TURKEY: Ankara will begin supplying natural gas from Azerbaijan to Syria to help the country generate electricity, Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said today.

Natural gas from Azerbaijan will be delivered to Syria via the Kilis pipeline through Turkey from August 2, Mr Bayraktar told the Anadolu Agency, adding that Qatar was contributing to the project’s financing.