Author: Grace Johnson

Mark Zuckerberg appeared in court Wednesday to defend Meta against allegations 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 related lawsuits. TikTok and Snapchat settled shortly before the trial, with terms undisclosed. Meta insisted 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 hovers 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 approach. Iran Focuses on Nuclear Programme and Sanctions Relief Iran…

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 emphasised their strategic significance. 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 serious challenge in Europe, despite a decline in cases in 2025 compared with the previous year’s record. Experts call for urgent action to counter vaccine hesitancy and prevent renewed outbreaks across the continent. Measles often disappear from public debate, 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…

Aluminium prices fell on Friday, while zinc, nickel, and lead also declined. Investors reacted to reports that US President Donald Trump may ease tariffs on imported metals. Markets factored in a potential policy shift ahead of November’s midterm elections. The three-month aluminium contract on the London Metal Exchange dropped more than 2.5% to $2,965.75 per tonne by midday. The most active contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange fell 1.76% to 23,195 yuan per tonne. Broad Pullback Hits Industrial Metals Zinc traded at $3,316.50 per tonne, down $51.95 or 1.54%. Nickel fell $257 to $16,993.38 per tonne, a decline of 1.49%.…

US President Donald Trump revoked a 2009 scientific finding that classified greenhouse gases as a threat to public health. The rule had underpinned federal efforts to regulate emissions from vehicles, power plants, and industry. The White House described the action as the “largest deregulation in American history,” claiming it will lower car costs by $2,400 and ease pressure on automakers. Environmental groups called it the most significant climate rollback yet and pledged to challenge it in court. Trump attacks Obama-era climate regulations Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump said the 2009 finding was “a disastrous policy that hurt the American…

Close Vote Signals Resistance to Tariff Policy The US House of Representatives voted to overturn President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canadian goods. Lawmakers approved the resolution with 219 votes in favor and 211 votes against. Six Republican lawmakers joined Democrats to support the measure. The vote remains symbolic because the US Senate must approve it and Trump must sign it. Trump is very unlikely to sign the resolution into law. Trump Escalated Tariffs After Winning a New Term Trump imposed several tariffs on Canada after his re-election. He recently threatened a 100% import tax in response to Canada’s proposed trade…

US Agency Refuses to Accept Application and Questions Trial Design The US Food and Drug Administration refused to accept Moderna’s application to review its first mRNA seasonal flu vaccine. The company confirmed the decision on Tuesday. The refusal marks another setback for mRNA vaccine development in the United States. Several health officials in the Trump administration have recently criticized the technology. The FDA said the application lacked an adequate and well-controlled trial. The agency said the control group did not reflect the best available standard of care in the United States during the study. Moderna said regulators did not identify…

Discord will soon require users worldwide to verify their age before they can access adult content. Users must confirm their age with a face scan or upload an official ID document. The chat platform says it has more than 200 million monthly users. Discord says the new safety approach will place everyone into a teen-appropriate experience by default. The platform already enforces age checks in the UK and Australia to comply with online safety laws. Discord will expand the system globally from early March. Savannah Badalich, Discord’s policy head, said teen safety remains a priority. She said teen-by-default settings will…