YouTube Exemption Under Fire as Australia’s eSafety Chief Pushes for Uniform Under-16 Ban

Australia’s landmark social media age-restriction law is set to take effect this December, barring children under 16 from creating accounts on major platforms. Yet a fierce debate has erupted over whether YouTube should be exempted from the rules—a dispute that pits the country’s eSafety Commissioner against the government and the Silicon Valley giant alike. As…

Local Chinese governments promote ‘automated exports,’ inflating car sales and growth figures

Local authorities across China have increasingly turned to “zero-mileage” car exports as a shortcut to bolster auto sales figures and inflate regional growth statistics. By registering brand-new vehicles as used and shipping them overseas, municipal and provincial governments are helping prop up domestic production numbers while meeting ambitious economic targets set by Beijing. This strategy…

Blistering Heat Waves Tied to Global Warming Spark Health Alerts Across US East and Midwest

Millions of Americans from New England to the Great Lakes have been grappling with “oppressive” heat this week as temperatures soar into record territory, prompting health warnings, travel disruptions and renewed scrutiny of climate change’s role in extreme weather. With high humidity pushing heat index values above 110°F in some areas, authorities are urging residents…

Greenpeace Condemns Bezos’ Venice Wedding for Environmental and Social Costs

Global environmental organization Greenpeace made headlines Monday by staging a protest in St. Mark’s Square against Jeff Bezos’ upcoming wedding to journalist Laura Sanchez. Unfurling a 20-by-10-meter banner depicting the Amazon founder laughing beside the slogan “If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay more tax,” activists from Greenpeace Italy and the…

European Automakers Seek Lighter Rules to Counter Chinese Mini‑EV Invasion

European carmakers Stellantis and Renault have launched a joint campaign urging Brussels to carve out a new, less‑stringent vehicle category to shield domestic manufacturers from an influx of low‑cost Chinese small electric vehicles. Facing mounting pressure from competitively priced mini‑EVs that skirt the high engineering and regulatory costs imposed by the European Union, the two…

Eli Lilly Sees Strong Uptake of Mounjaro as India’s Obesity Market Poised for Rapid Growth

Eli Lilly has reported a warm reception for its obesity and diabetes therapy Mounjaro in India, underscoring both the urgent need for effective weight‑management solutions and the vast commercial potential of one of the world’s fastest‑growing markets for obesity drugs. Having outpaced competitors to bring the once‑weekly injectable to Indian patients earlier this year, Lilly…

Precision Eludes Power: The Daunting Challenge of Striking Iran’s Nuclear Sites

Decimating Iran’s nuclear infrastructure demands far more than a wave of fighter jets or a few bunker-busting bombs. From subterranean fortresses shielded by mountains of rock to intricate air-defense networks and the looming specter of regional escalation, any attempt to neutralize Tehran’s uranium enrichment facilities presents an operational labyrinth. Even the world’s most powerful militaries…

Global Ad Giants Unite to Preserve Price Floors in India’s Media Market

India’s Competition Commission has unearthed evidence showing that the world’s leading advertising agencies secretly coordinated to fix commission rates and pitch pricing, effectively placing a floor under media-buying costs for major clients. Top executives from global groups—including WPP’s MediaCom, Omnicom Media, IPG Mediabrands, Publicis, Havas, Dentsu and Madison—used industry associations and encrypted messaging to align…

Google Faces Uphill Battle as EU Advocate General Recommends Upholding Record €4.1 Billion Antitrust Penalty

An adviser to Europe’s highest court has urged judges to reject Google’s appeal against the European Commission’s landmark fine, signaling a strong likelihood that the tech giant will fail in its bid to overturn a €4.125 billion penalty for abusing its dominance in mobile operating systems. Advocate General Juliane Kokott of the Court of Justice of…

Samsung Accelerates Push to Slim Foldables and Close the Gap on Chinese Rivals

Samsung Electronics is gearing up to unveil a markedly thinner iteration of its flagship foldable smartphone, part of a broader strategy to reclaim leadership in a segment where aggressive Chinese competitors have recently outpaced the South Korean giant on device slimness and weight. With the foldable category still representing a niche but high‑margin corner of…