Author: Grace Johnson

Big Tech may face a defining legal battle. A major trial over social media addiction has started and could reshape the technology industry. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified before a jury for the first time over allegations that social media harms young people. His testimony came more than four years after leaked internal documents suggested the company knew its platforms could harm users. Internal documents presented in a Los Angeles courtroom seemed to confirm long-standing concerns. Meta knew preteens used its apps. The company aimed to maximize scrolling time. It also ignored expert advice on safety, although Meta said the…

The European Union faces sharp criticism after a report revealed enormous subsidies for foods that harm the climate. Experts urge the EU to launch a Plant-Based Action Plan to promote sustainable diets and help farmers move away from meat and dairy. Red meat and other climate-harming foods receive disproportionate EU subsidies, raising concerns over misuse of taxpayer money. Charity Foodrise released a report showing that in 2020, the EU’s common agricultural policy (CAP) allocated far more funding to high-emission animal foods than to plant-based options. Animal-sourced foods received roughly 77 percent of total CAP subsidies, totaling €39 billion of the…

The US Supreme Court ruled that President Donald Trump exceeded his authority when he imposed sweeping global tariffs last year.The court decided by six votes to three that Trump could not use a 1977 emergency law to tax imports from nearly every country.The judges said only Congress can create new taxes under the Constitution. The ruling left open whether consumers and companies could receive refunds for the estimated $130bn generated by the tariffs.The court did not address refunds, and further legal disputes are expected.Hours after the decision, Trump signed a proclamation under a different law to impose a new 10%…

US researchers say a single nasal spray vaccine could protect against coughs, colds and flu. The vaccine could also prevent bacterial lung infections and may even reduce allergies. Scientists at Stanford University tested the universal vaccine in animals and still need human clinical trials. They describe the approach as a radical break from more than 200 years of vaccine development. Experts called the findings exciting but emphasized that the research remains at an early stage. Traditional Vaccines Target Only One Illness Current vaccines train the immune system to fight a single infection. A measles vaccine protects against measles, and a…

US President Donald Trump delivered his latest ultimatum to Iran on Thursday during a Board of Peace meeting. Trump formed this Middle East coalition to stabilise the region. He could soon draw that region into a new war. The mix of peace language and military threats exposed competing impulses in Trump’s second-term foreign policy. The standoff between Washington and Tehran shows this contradiction most clearly. The escalation could trigger the largest US air campaign in years. Trump said he prefers diplomacy and wants a deal that ends Iran’s nuclear weapons programme. A White House official said Iran would be “very…

Mark Zuckerberg appeared in court Wednesday to defend Meta against claims it targeted children and teenagers. Lawyers presented internal documents suggesting the company prioritized younger users. Zuckerberg said the communications were misrepresented. This was his first jury appearance amid years of criticism of Meta, which owns Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp. YouTube is also part of the trial, which could influence thousands of similar lawsuits. TikTok and Snapchat settled shortly before the trial, with terms undisclosed. Meta maintained it protects young users and blocks accounts under 13. Still, lead plaintiff lawyer Mark Lanier presented emails and research showing Meta employees discussed…

“Life is becoming more expensive,” says Alexander, an advertising specialist from Moscow who works for a large corporation. His monthly food budget jumped by more than 22% in one month, rising from 35,000 roubles to 43,000 roubles. Russia’s economy now sits between stagnation and decline, and many citizens feel the financial impact of the war in Ukraine as it approaches its fourth year. Alexander noticed price increases for almost all essential goods in supermarkets, including eggs, chicken fillets, and seasonal vegetables. Journalists changed all names in this report to protect sources. Even his daily Americano on the way to work…

US President Donald Trump said he will be indirectly involved in talks between Iran and the United States starting later Tuesday in Geneva. He spoke to reporters aboard Air Force One and said he believes Iran wants to reach a deal on its nuclear programme. The second round of talks in Switzerland follows repeated military threats against Iran over its deadly crackdown on anti-government protests and the ongoing dispute over its nuclear programme. On Monday, Iran’s foreign ministry said it believes the US position has shifted toward a more realistic line. Iran Seeks Sanctions Relief as US Pushes Wider Agenda…

Big Tech companies are accelerating artificial intelligence development with unprecedented capital expenditure. They plan spending above 700 billion dollars in 2026, equal to about 590 billion euros. This marks a roughly 75 percent increase compared with 2025. Several companies released earnings reports and outlined their spending plans. Analysts confirmed these projections and stressed their strategic importance. Wall Street focuses heavily on the combined capital expenditure figure. The market tracks more than 700 billion dollars flowing into AI infrastructure this year. That amount exceeds Sweden’s nominal GDP for 2025, according to IMF estimates. Global chip sales are expected to reach one…

Health agencies warn that measles remain a major challenge in Europe, despite a decline in cases in 2025 compared with the previous year’s record. Experts urge urgent action to reduce vaccine hesitancy and prevent fresh outbreaks across the continent. Measles often disappear from headlines, but they continue to spread in several European countries. Europe reported 127,350 measles cases in 2024, which marked the highest total since 1997. Cases declined in 2025, but infections still doubled compared with 2023, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Sabrina Bacci, head of the ECDC programme on vaccine-preventable diseases and immunisation,…