Meta’s decision to settle the case on Wednesday came as a surprise. I was expecting weeks of courtroom drama as 29 states – almost two-thirds of North America – took on one US tech giant. Technically, the trial was about children’s online privacy. It was based on a US law called the Children’s Online Privacy … Read moreMeta’s $18bn settlement may hasten reckoning for social media on child safety
European football body UEFA is set to formally withdraw its threat to boycott FIFA competitions after receiving assurances that FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s failed World Cup selloff plan will not be revived. UEFA’s member federations are meeting Thursday in Monaco ahead of the Champions League draw, where they are expected to end the boycott threat, … Read moreUEFA set to end FIFA boycott threat over Infantino’s $20bn investor plan
The United States has imposed sanctions on the British activist group Palestine Action and the pro-Palestine international movement Masar Badil as the administration of President Donald Trump intensifies a global crackdown on critics of Israel. The US Department of the Treasury also imposed financial penalties on Wednesday against Autistici Inventati, an Italy-based group that provides … Read moreUS imposes sanctions on Palestine Action and other left-wing groups
Prince Harry, his wife Meghan and their two children have landed in the United Kingdom, according to British media. The couple – who quit their royal duties six years ago and moved to California – arrived at Birmingham Airport on Wednesday as private citizens. Their return to Britain follows the surprise news last week that … Read morePrince Harry and Meghan Markle return to UK after royal rift
Italian police have recovered three paintings worth more than $10 million that were stolen several months ago. The chief of police in Parma, Andrea Pagliaro, told the AFP news agency on Friday that nine Moldovans were being investigated in connection with the theft, and that five of them were believed to have carried out the … Read moreItalian police recover stolen paintings worth over $10m
France’s Constitutional Council has upheld a law passed by parliament to legalise assisted dying in specific circumstances, while striking down a separate bill that sought to ban under-15s from using social media. The council, France’s highest constitutional authority, issued its rulings on Friday. The decisions mark both a victory and a setback for President Emmanuel … Read moreTop French court upholds assisted dying law, rejects teen social media ban
One week on from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye signing their joint defence agreement, the Turkish defence ministry revealed more details about the alliance on Thursday. They include plans to hold joint military exercises and to deepen cooperation between their defence industries. The bid to deepen security cooperation between three of the biggest economies among … Read moreMutual defence: The alliances that preceded Turkiye-Pakistan-Saudi pact
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has referred to the United Kingdom as the “Islamic Republic of Britain”, a dig at one of Israel’s historically closest European allies. Netanyahu made the remark on the Israeli podcast Melech Blitzer Haim that aired on Thursday as he objected to British media coverage of Israel. As an example, Netanyahu … Read moreIsraeli PM Netanyahu calls UK ‘the Islamic Republic of Britain’
Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter has slammed the football governing body’s plans to create a $20bn subsidiary to run the World Cup, saying the tournament was not a commercial asset that belonged to a few executives. “Football belongs to no individual and to no institution. It belongs to the people,” Blatter told the news agency … Read moreEx-FIFA chief Blatter blasts plan to sell stake in World Cup to investors
Deadly wildfires have spread across Turkiye and Greece after weeks of devastation in Spain, France and Portugal. Two firefighters died battling a forest blaze on the Greek island of Crete on Wednesday, the fire department said, as several fires started around the country fanned by gale-force winds. Another died in a separate fire in the … Read moreWildfires spread in Greece and Turkiye as EU chief urges climate action