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Heat waves: US propose new regulations to protect workers

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By Francesca Hangeior.

 

The United States President, Joe Biden, has proposed new regulations aimed at protecting labourers working in extremely high temperatures, as heat waves intensified by climate change increasingly blanket the nation.

The rule according to reports would be aimed at mail carriers, delivery people, construction workers, landscapers, restaurant staff and others exposed to consistently high heat indexes, which measures how the temperature actually feels to humans.

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The measure — which would affect about 35 million workers, according to the government — would apply to those working both inside or outside who can expect to be exposed to a heat index of 80 degrees Fahrenheit (26 Celsius) or higher.

“The purpose of this rule… is to significantly reduce the number of worker-related deaths, injuries and illnesses suffered by workers who are exposed to excessive heat… simply by doing their jobs,” a senior administration official told reporters.

Under the rule, employers would be required to develop heat injury and illness prevention plans, and appoint a workplace heat safety coordinator.

If the heat index were to hit the 80-degree mark, workers would have to be provided with drinking water and access to break areas in the shade or in air-conditioned spaces.

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Measures also would have to be implemented to allow for the “acclimatization” of employees who are either new or returning to work after illness, including more frequent breaks and a reduced workload until employees are back up to speed.

“Three out of four workers who die on the job” due to heat-related illnesses “die in that first week on the job,” the official said.

The rule, if finalized after a period for public debate, would be the first such rule in the United States at the federal level.

If the heat index were to exceed 90 degrees Fahrenheit, all employees would be allowed a 15-minute break every two hours, and managers would be required to monitor their workers for symptoms of heat-related illnesses.

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Some workers, such as emergency medical personnel, would not be subject to the new rule.

The announcement, which comes as summer sets in across the United States, is one of a series of measures unveiled Tuesday by the Biden administration concerning extreme heat.

But the new work rule could be scrapped by a new administration should Biden not be reelected in November.

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Strikes on Iran to continue until ‘I say it’s enough’ – President Trump declares

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US President Donald Trump has vowed that American military strikes on Iran will continue until he personally decides they have achieved their objectives, declaring that the campaign will not stop “until I say it’s enough.”

Speaking with Fox  News on Tuesday, July 24, Trump said the US forces would ‘hit them very hard tonight, very hard tomorrow night’ in a brutal campaign that won’t stop until he says ‘enough.’

‘I’ll save the energy targets for last, but ultimately we’ll hit energy targets,’ Trump warned.

‘We’re going to hit them very hard the night after, and then next week it gets really bad for them because next week comes the power plants.’

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Trump also said the US would target bridges next week unless Iran was willing to negotiate a peace deal that included giving up their nuclear ambitions.

He vowed the attacks will continue ‘until I say it’s enough.’

In an update late on Tuesday night, CENTCOM advised another round of strikes had been completed, hitting dozens of military targets near the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian coastal areas.

‘US fighter aircraft, drones, and naval vessels launched precision munitions against Iranian missile and drone sites, naval capabilities, and coastal defense systems during the seven-hour wave to further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping and civilian crews,’ the update said.

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US forces resumed the naval blockade against vessels transiting to or from Iranian ports and coastal areas.

The latest US bombing comes after Trump notified Congress that the war would resume after Iran breached the memorandum of understanding by targeting commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump did not rule out using US ground forces to ensure that his key objectives are met, especially when it comes to removing Iran’s enriched uranium.

US forces had been careful not to harm Iran’s civilian population with strikes, but Trump warned Iran that everything was on the table.

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‘You better make a deal, or you’re not going to have anything left,’ he said.

The President also likened Iran to ‘a great boxer’ that needed to be put to the mat.

‘You think you have them beat, then they’ll come back and give you a shot,’ Trump said.

Trump suggested later in the interview with Fox News that he wasn’t interested in continuing negotiations  with Iran because ‘they lie.’

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He also said the last contact he had with negotiators was an hour ago.

The President praised his Cabinet for its work on the Iran issue, including Pete Hegseth, as he said ‘oil is flowing like never before.’

He also announced he was replacing the 20 percent fee the US was charging on the Strait of Hormuz to various Gulf States.

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UK announces social media curfew for 16, 17-year-olds

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Children aged 16 and 17-year-olds in the UK will face a voluntary overnight social media curfew, alongside a shutdown of infinite scrolling and mandatory breaks in AI chatbot use, under new plans announced by Technology Secretary Liz Kendall.

According to a report by The Independent UK on Tuesday, the measures form part of the government’s wider restrictions on children’s social media use, and will see default settings block access for older teenagers between midnight and 6 am.

Kendall, in a statement, said, “These measures will be crucial in helping young people get the sleep they need, focus on school and college, and spend more quality time with family and friends, all of which are fundamental to building a happy, healthy and fulfilling adult life.

“We want young people to enjoy the benefits of technology while having the tools to make the online world a place where they can thrive.”

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The Independent said features designed to keep users engaged, such as never-ending video reels and algorithmic feeds, will also be automatically switched off under the new defaults.

However, the report noted that critics have questioned how effective the measures will be, given that 16 and 17-year-olds will be able to turn off these default settings themselves.

The curfew plan follows last month’s announcement of a broader social media ban for under-16s by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s government, expected to cover platforms including Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X, but not messaging services such as WhatsApp and Signal, from next spring, according to the newspaper.

The report added that responsibility for working out key details of the policy will fall to Andy Burnham, who is set to become prime minister after winning the Makerfield by-election.

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Kendall is also reportedly pushing new safeguards for children using artificial intelligence, including requiring under-18s to take regular breaks while using chatbots, and a crackdown on AI services that give dangerous, misleading or unverified mental health advice.

Ministers are said to be considering banning chatbots deemed a serious threat to children.

Conservative shadow education secretary Laura Trott reportedly criticised the plan, describing it as “another dog’s dinner from Labour” and arguing that curfews teenagers can simply switch off “won’t achieve anything.”

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South Africa Confirms Visa-Free Entry for 22 African Countries, Excludes Nigeria

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The South African government has reaffirmed its visa exemption policy, allowing citizens of 22 African countries to enter the country without obtaining a visa in advance, subject to the permitted duration of stay and applicable entry conditions.

According to the country’s official visa exemption policy, eligible travellers may enter South Africa for periods ranging from 30 to 90 days, depending on their nationality.

The African countries currently eligible for visa-free entry include:

Algeria – up to 30 days
Benin – 30 days or less
Botswana – up to 90 days
Cabo Verde (Cape Verde) – 30 days or less
Comoros – up to 90 days
Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) – up to 30 days
Gabon – 30 days or less
Guinea – up to 90 days
Kenya – up to 30 days
Lesotho – 30 days or less
Madagascar – up to 30 days
Malawi – 30 days or less
Mauritius – 30 days or less
Mozambique – up to 90 days
Namibia – 30 days or less
Rwanda – up to 30 days
Seychelles – 30 days or less
Eswatini – 30 days or less
Tanzania – up to 90 days for ordinary passport holders
Tunisia – up to 90 days
Zambia – 30 days or less
Zimbabwe – up to 90 days

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South Africa also grants visa-free entry to holders of the African Union Laissez-Passer and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Laissez-Passer under its exemption policy.

Authorities, however, noted that visa-free access for some countries, including Kenya, Benin and Gabon, is subject to specific conditions. Travellers are therefore advised to confirm the latest entry requirements with South African authorities before making travel arrangements.

Notably, Nigeria is not among the countries currently eligible for visa-free entry into South Africa, meaning Nigerian passport holders are still required to obtain a visa before travelling.

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