Jimmy Donaldson, the YouTuber known as MrBeast, said on 9 July he is willing to “fill the role” of chief executive at X, the social-media platform owned by Elon Musk.

Donaldson’s statement circulated online after multiple posts claimed current CEO Linda Yaccarino is preparing to step down. Neither Yaccarino nor X has issued a public confirmation of her departure, and no formal talks between the company and Donaldson have been disclosed.

With more than 100 million followers across platforms, Donaldson is regarded as the world’s most-watched YouTuber. His offer, if taken up, would bring an influential digital creator with a large built-in audience to the helm of X.

YouTube will tighten its monetization rules on 15 July, blocking ad revenue for videos it deems “inauthentic,” a category the company now defines as mass-produced, repetitive, reused or fully AI-generated content. The change applies across the YouTube Partner Program, which governs how creators earn from advertising and other revenue-sharing features.

YouTube characterises the measure as a clarification rather than a wholesale policy shift. Rene Ritchie, the platform’s Head of Editorial & Creator Liaison, described the update as a “minor” revision to longstanding guidelines that have always required original and authentic uploads. Reaction videos and other remix formats that add substantial new commentary remain eligible for earnings, the company said.

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Google said on 9 July that it has started deploying its Gemini generative-AI assistant to Wear OS smartwatches, replacing Google Assistant. The roll-out, which will reach Pixel Watch as well as Samsung, OnePlus, Oppo, Xiaomi and other devices running Wear OS 4 or later "over the coming weeks," lets users summon Gemini with the familiar “Hey Google” hot-word, a side-button press or a watch-face icon. The assistant supports conversational queries, multi-step tasks and access to Gmail, Calendar, YouTube Music and other Google services directly from the wrist.

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Alphabet Inc. drew a cluster of price-target increases from Wall Street after several brokers updated their views ahead of the company’s second-quarter earnings report. Oppenheimer lifted its target to $220 from $200 while keeping an Outperform rating, citing survey data showing consumers prefer Alphabet’s new AI Mode to rival ChatGPT. TD Cowen reiterated its Buy recommendation with a $195 target, saying the broad rollout of AI Mode should lengthen user engagement and reinforce Google Search’s resilience against chatbot competition. Earlier, Wells Fargo nudged its target to $177 from $175 and maintained an Equal Weight stance, forecasting stronger search revenue but flagging uncertainty from the ongoing U.S. Department of Justice antitrust trial.

The latest revisions put the highest forecast for Alphabet’s Class A shares about 27% above the stock’s prior close. Analysts said generative-AI upgrades and stable advertising trends are likely to underpin near-term growth, although litigation risks remain. Alphabet is due to report second-quarter results later this month.

Alphabet’s autonomous-vehicle unit Waymo has begun allowing teenagers aged 14 to 17 to hail its driverless Waymo One taxis without an accompanying adult, starting this week in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The programme marks the first time the company has formally opened its service to unaccompanied minors.

Parents must invite their children through an existing Waymo account, after which the teens can book rides, share real-time trip status and generate receipts that are automatically sent to guardians. Waymo said specially trained rider-support agents will monitor journeys around the clock and can bring parents into calls if necessary. Until now, customers needed to be at least 18 years old to ride alone, and California still bars unaccompanied minors from autonomous vehicles, delaying similar access in San Francisco and Los Angeles.

The move mirrors Uber’s introduction of teen accounts in 2023 and underscores Waymo’s push to broaden ridership as it scales commercial robotaxi operations. The company says it is providing more than 250,000 paid trips each week across Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Austin and plans to extend the teen programme to additional U.S. cities outside California as local rules permit.

Epic Games has withdrawn its antitrust claims against Samsung Electronics after the two companies reached an undisclosed settlement on 7 July. In a filing with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, Epic formally dismissed Samsung from a lawsuit that had accused the phone maker of conspiring with Alphabet’s Google to stifle rival app marketplaces.

Epic’s September 2024 complaint targeted Samsung’s ‘Auto Blocker’ security setting, which is switched on by default and prevents users from installing apps from sources other than Google Play or Samsung’s Galaxy Store. The game developer argued the feature hampered distribution of the Epic Games Store and reinforced Google’s dominance in Android app distribution.

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Isomorphic Labs, a drug discovery startup under Alphabet's Google DeepMind, is preparing to initiate its first human clinical trials for AI-designed drugs later this year. The company, which emerged from DeepMind's AlphaFold technology that revolutionized protein folding predictions, aims to accelerate drug development by making it up to ten times faster and 90% cheaper. These AI-designed molecules primarily target cancer treatment and represent a new approach to pharmaceutical research by leveraging artificial intelligence to design medicines. Isomorphic Labs has secured $600 million in funding and established partnerships with pharmaceutical giants Novartis and Eli Lilly to support this endeavor. Colin Murdoch, president of Isomorphic Labs and chief business officer at Google DeepMind, confirmed the company is "getting very close" to starting human trials. The move could potentially transform drug discovery processes and challenge existing regulatory frameworks such as those of the FDA.

Elon Musk said his artificial-intelligence start-up xAI "could launch its first AI-powered game by the end of next year," signaling an expansion beyond its Grok chatbot into interactive entertainment. The timeline implies a release in late 2026, roughly two years after xAI’s founding.

The game initiative is expected to draw on Grok-4, the next version of xAI’s model that Musk and outside developers say will add video-generation capabilities. "AI video generation is advancing at the speed of light," Musk wrote, underscoring the company’s focus on multimodal output.

Read more

BLACKPINK has officially launched their 2025 DEADLINE World Tour, kicking off with a concert in Goyang, South Korea. The tour features a setlist that includes their greatest hits such as "Kill This Love," "Pink Venom," and "How You Like That," as well as solo performances by members Jisoo, Lisa, and Jennie. During the opening show, the group debuted their new single "JUMP," which is set for official release on July 11, 2025. The release is accompanied by a music video teaser directed by Dave Meyers that has garnered over 3.5 million views within 24 hours on YouTube.

BLACKPINK has also shared rehearsal photos and teaser images for "JUMP," building anticipation among fans worldwide. The tour is expected to continue with dates in North America, with ticket information available online. Notable K-pop artists such as BABYMONSTER, SEVENTEEN, and Red Velvet's Irene and Seulgi were spotted attending the DEADLINE World Tour show, highlighting the event's prominence within the industry.

The Canadian government has officially abandoned its digital services tax targeting major technology companies, a move confirmed by the Canada Revenue Agency which stated that companies who paid the now-defunct tax must await new legislation before receiving refunds. The White House characterized this development as Canada yielding to pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stating that Prime Minister Carney and Canada "caved" to the United States. This reversal is seen as a boost to Big Tech firms and may complicate similar tax efforts internationally. Meanwhile, health authorities in Canada and elsewhere have raised concerns about the risks of vaping cannabis and nicotine products among youth, with new excise duties being imposed in some regions such as South Africa. However, the primary focus remains on Canada’s withdrawal from the digital services tax, which had targeted American technology giants often referred to as GAFAM (Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon, Microsoft).

YouTube star Jimmy “MrBeast” Donaldson has drawn global attention with a new video chronicling a friend’s six-month bid to shed 100 pounds for a US$250,000 reward. Posted on 21 June, the 26-minute film surpassed 80 million views within two days, underscoring the reach of the world’s most-followed creator.

The challenge placed participant Majd Khader in a bespoke training facility stocked with exercise equipment and pre-selected meals. Khader met the target in 178 days and ultimately received about US$417,000, reflecting incremental bonuses disclosed in the video. He later donated US$10,000 to a fund for the family of his coach.

Read more

Alphabet has widened its voluntary severance programme, offering fresh rounds of buyouts to employees in its Knowledge & Information division, central engineering, and even core search and advertising teams as it reshapes operations around artificial-intelligence products and battles antitrust scrutiny in the United States and Europe.

According to an internal memo from Nick Fox, who heads the Knowledge & Information group, eligible U.S. staff are being offered 14 weeks of base pay plus one additional week for every year of service, accelerated stock-option vesting and six months of health insurance. The plan builds on a programme launched earlier this year that targeted roughly 25,000 workers tied to Google’s operating-system projects; Alphabet has not disclosed how many employees are expected to accept the latest offer.

Read more

Alphabet’s Google is facing a fresh antitrust challenge in Europe after the Independent Publishers Alliance filed a formal complaint with the European Commission on 4 July. The group, joined by the Movement for an Open Web and U.K. non-profit Foxglove Legal, accuses Google of abusing its dominance in online search through its AI Overviews—algorithm-generated summaries that sit above traditional links in search results and have been rolled out in more than 100 countries since last year.

Read more

Tyler Wall, the fitness trainer featured in MrBeast's viral YouTube challenge titled "Lose 100 LBs, Win $250,000!", died during the 85-day weight loss competition. The challenge involved participants attempting to lose 100 pounds for a cash prize, with one contestant winning $417,000. Wall's unexpected death occurred while he was actively coaching a participant in the challenge, drawing widespread attention and condolences across social media. MrBeast has publicly expressed his commitment to charitable work through his platform, revealing he has donated over $50 million despite facing criticism. Separately, former gymnast Diego Hypolito disclosed he lost R$10 million in a short period and participated in the reality show BBB 25 to rebuild his image and support his family. Additionally, ex-BBB Lucas Buda shared struggles related to financial instability and personal security.

The U.S. Senate voted 99–1 on Tuesday to strip a provision that would have barred states from regulating artificial-intelligence systems for a decade from President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax-cut and spending bill, known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” Republican Thom Tillis of North Carolina cast the lone vote to retain the moratorium; every other senator backed an amendment offered by Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee to delete it.

Read more

Google Cloud has promoted Sashikumar Sreedharan to Managing Director for India, replacing Bikram Singh Bedi, who moves to a new role as Vice-President for Asia-Pacific strategic initiatives. The appointment is effective immediately, the company said on 1 July.

Sreedharan joined Google Cloud in 2023 as chief operating officer for APAC after leading Microsoft’s enterprise business in India and holding senior positions at SAP and IBM. He brings more than three decades of technology-sector experience and will oversee Google Cloud’s go-to-market organisation, working with enterprise and digital-native customers, partners and developers across the country.

Read more

Alphabet Inc.'s Google has signed a landmark power purchase agreement to buy 200 megawatts of electricity from Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS), a Massachusetts Institute of Technology spinoff. The deal represents the largest direct corporate offtake agreement for fusion energy to date and involves power from CFS's planned first commercial ARC fusion plant in Chesterfield, Virginia, expected to begin delivering electricity to the grid in the early 2030s. Google is also increasing its investment in Commonwealth Fusion Systems, highlighting fusion energy as a key component in meeting the rising energy demands driven by artificial intelligence and data center growth. The 200 MW purchase amounts to half of the ARC plant's projected 400 MW output, which could power approximately 150,000 homes. While Commonwealth Fusion Systems has yet to demonstrate the technology's reliable and economical power generation, this agreement underscores Google's long-term commitment to advancing fusion energy as a clean and scalable power source. The deal has drawn attention as a significant step toward commercializing fusion power, with backing from prominent investors including Bill Gates' tech fund.

Australia is advancing toward implementing a ban on social media use for children under 16, a move described as a world-first by the Albanese government. The legislation faces practical challenges, particularly in identifying underage users on social media platforms. The ban has sparked debate about the balance between digital participation and protecting the integrity and safety of children online. Experts emphasize the need for reliable information to help parents manage their children's screen time and social media use.

The policy has drawn international attention, with discussions on digital age limits and child safety extending beyond Australia. Concerns about excessive screen time and its impact on physical activity among youth have also been highlighted by organizations such as Fundación Deporte Joven. The ban includes restrictions on platforms like YouTube and reflects broader global conversations about digital childhood and online safety.

The latest update to Android 16 introduces a security feature designed to detect and warn users when their smartphones connect to fake cell towers, commonly known as 'stingray' devices. These devices are often used in man-in-the-middle attacks to intercept communications and track phone locations, even when the device is in airplane mode. The new functionality aims to enhance user privacy by alerting individuals to suspicious network connections that could compromise their data. However, the effectiveness of this protection depends on manufacturers implementing the necessary support for the feature. Additionally, Android 16 includes other security improvements to prevent spam calls and unsafe network connections.

Spanish children are spending ever-longer periods alone in front of mobile phones, according to a new report by the children’s charity Educo. The study, based on a survey of 2,316 families, estimates that about 375,000 youngsters aged six to 13—roughly 10 % of the cohort—spend hours of the day without adult supervision while using a smartphone. The average Spanish child receives a first handset at nine years and 10 months, and by age 13 smartphone penetration reaches 93 %. Parents said the problem deepens during the summer break: 40 % observed a sharp increase in screen exposure, with daily phone use rising from two hours 35 minutes during the school term to roughly three hours at weekends. Educo added that nearly one-third of these so-called “iPad kids” have no usage limits.

The findings intensify pressure on Spanish lawmakers to advance a pending bill on child protection in digital environments and bolster calls by Educo for publicly funded holiday activities as an alternative to screens. Similar trends are appearing elsewhere. Fresh Ofcom research shows children in the United Kingdom now average almost three hours online each day, primarily on YouTube and Snapchat. In the United States, peer-reviewed papers in the Journal of the American Medical Association link heavy, addictive screen use with higher rates of depressive symptoms and suicidal behaviours in adolescents. Health specialists have also warned of rising myopia, noting that one in three children world-wide is already near-sighted and that the share could reach 50 % by 2050 if device use continues unabated.

Jimmy Donaldson, the YouTuber known as MrBeast, said on 9 July he is willing to “fill the role” of chief executive at X, the social-media platform owned by Elon Musk.

Donaldson’s statement circulated online after multiple posts claimed current CEO Linda Yaccarino is preparing to step down. Neither Yaccarino nor X has issued a public confirmation of her departure, and no formal talks between the company and Donaldson have been disclosed.

With more than 100 million followers across platforms, Donaldson is regarded as the world’s most-watched YouTuber. His offer, if taken up, would bring an influential digital creator with a large built-in audience to the helm of X.

YouTube will tighten its monetization rules on 15 July, blocking ad revenue for videos it deems “inauthentic,” a category the company now defines as mass-produced, repetitive, reused or fully AI-generated content. The change applies across the YouTube Partner Program, which governs how creators earn from advertising and other revenue-sharing features.

YouTube characterises the measure as a clarification rather than a wholesale policy shift. Rene Ritchie, the platform’s Head of Editorial & Creator Liaison, described the update as a “minor” revision to longstanding guidelines that have always required original and authentic uploads. Reaction videos and other remix formats that add substantial new commentary remain eligible for earnings, the company said.

Read more

Google said on 9 July that it has started deploying its Gemini generative-AI assistant to Wear OS smartwatches, replacing Google Assistant. The roll-out, which will reach Pixel Watch as well as Samsung, OnePlus, Oppo, Xiaomi and other devices running Wear OS 4 or later "over the coming weeks," lets users summon Gemini with the familiar “Hey Google” hot-word, a side-button press or a watch-face icon. The assistant supports conversational queries, multi-step tasks and access to Gmail, Calendar, YouTube Music and other Google services directly from the wrist.

Read more

Alphabet Inc. drew a cluster of price-target increases from Wall Street after several brokers updated their views ahead of the company’s second-quarter earnings report. Oppenheimer lifted its target to $220 from $200 while keeping an Outperform rating, citing survey data showing consumers prefer Alphabet’s new AI Mode to rival ChatGPT. TD Cowen reiterated its Buy recommendation with a $195 target, saying the broad rollout of AI Mode should lengthen user engagement and reinforce Google Search’s resilience against chatbot competition. Earlier, Wells Fargo nudged its target to $177 from $175 and maintained an Equal Weight stance, forecasting stronger search revenue but flagging uncertainty from the ongoing U.S. Department of Justice antitrust trial.

The latest revisions put the highest forecast for Alphabet’s Class A shares about 27% above the stock’s prior close. Analysts said generative-AI upgrades and stable advertising trends are likely to underpin near-term growth, although litigation risks remain. Alphabet is due to report second-quarter results later this month.

Alphabet’s autonomous-vehicle unit Waymo has begun allowing teenagers aged 14 to 17 to hail its driverless Waymo One taxis without an accompanying adult, starting this week in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The programme marks the first time the company has formally opened its service to unaccompanied minors.

Parents must invite their children through an existing Waymo account, after which the teens can book rides, share real-time trip status and generate receipts that are automatically sent to guardians. Waymo said specially trained rider-support agents will monitor journeys around the clock and can bring parents into calls if necessary. Until now, customers needed to be at least 18 years old to ride alone, and California still bars unaccompanied minors from autonomous vehicles, delaying similar access in San Francisco and Los Angeles.

The move mirrors Uber’s introduction of teen accounts in 2023 and underscores Waymo’s push to broaden ridership as it scales commercial robotaxi operations. The company says it is providing more than 250,000 paid trips each week across Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Austin and plans to extend the teen programme to additional U.S. cities outside California as local rules permit.

Epic Games has withdrawn its antitrust claims against Samsung Electronics after the two companies reached an undisclosed settlement on 7 July. In a filing with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, Epic formally dismissed Samsung from a lawsuit that had accused the phone maker of conspiring with Alphabet’s Google to stifle rival app marketplaces.

Epic’s September 2024 complaint targeted Samsung’s ‘Auto Blocker’ security setting, which is switched on by default and prevents users from installing apps from sources other than Google Play or Samsung’s Galaxy Store. The game developer argued the feature hampered distribution of the Epic Games Store and reinforced Google’s dominance in Android app distribution.

Read more

Isomorphic Labs, a drug discovery startup under Alphabet's Google DeepMind, is preparing to initiate its first human clinical trials for AI-designed drugs later this year. The company, which emerged from DeepMind's AlphaFold technology that revolutionized protein folding predictions, aims to accelerate drug development by making it up to ten times faster and 90% cheaper. These AI-designed molecules primarily target cancer treatment and represent a new approach to pharmaceutical research by leveraging artificial intelligence to design medicines. Isomorphic Labs has secured $600 million in funding and established partnerships with pharmaceutical giants Novartis and Eli Lilly to support this endeavor. Colin Murdoch, president of Isomorphic Labs and chief business officer at Google DeepMind, confirmed the company is "getting very close" to starting human trials. The move could potentially transform drug discovery processes and challenge existing regulatory frameworks such as those of the FDA.

Elon Musk said his artificial-intelligence start-up xAI "could launch its first AI-powered game by the end of next year," signaling an expansion beyond its Grok chatbot into interactive entertainment. The timeline implies a release in late 2026, roughly two years after xAI’s founding.

The game initiative is expected to draw on Grok-4, the next version of xAI’s model that Musk and outside developers say will add video-generation capabilities. "AI video generation is advancing at the speed of light," Musk wrote, underscoring the company’s focus on multimodal output.

Read more

BLACKPINK has officially launched their 2025 DEADLINE World Tour, kicking off with a concert in Goyang, South Korea. The tour features a setlist that includes their greatest hits such as "Kill This Love," "Pink Venom," and "How You Like That," as well as solo performances by members Jisoo, Lisa, and Jennie. During the opening show, the group debuted their new single "JUMP," which is set for official release on July 11, 2025. The release is accompanied by a music video teaser directed by Dave Meyers that has garnered over 3.5 million views within 24 hours on YouTube.

BLACKPINK has also shared rehearsal photos and teaser images for "JUMP," building anticipation among fans worldwide. The tour is expected to continue with dates in North America, with ticket information available online. Notable K-pop artists such as BABYMONSTER, SEVENTEEN, and Red Velvet's Irene and Seulgi were spotted attending the DEADLINE World Tour show, highlighting the event's prominence within the industry.

The Canadian government has officially abandoned its digital services tax targeting major technology companies, a move confirmed by the Canada Revenue Agency which stated that companies who paid the now-defunct tax must await new legislation before receiving refunds. The White House characterized this development as Canada yielding to pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stating that Prime Minister Carney and Canada "caved" to the United States. This reversal is seen as a boost to Big Tech firms and may complicate similar tax efforts internationally. Meanwhile, health authorities in Canada and elsewhere have raised concerns about the risks of vaping cannabis and nicotine products among youth, with new excise duties being imposed in some regions such as South Africa. However, the primary focus remains on Canada’s withdrawal from the digital services tax, which had targeted American technology giants often referred to as GAFAM (Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon, Microsoft).

YouTube star Jimmy “MrBeast” Donaldson has drawn global attention with a new video chronicling a friend’s six-month bid to shed 100 pounds for a US$250,000 reward. Posted on 21 June, the 26-minute film surpassed 80 million views within two days, underscoring the reach of the world’s most-followed creator.

The challenge placed participant Majd Khader in a bespoke training facility stocked with exercise equipment and pre-selected meals. Khader met the target in 178 days and ultimately received about US$417,000, reflecting incremental bonuses disclosed in the video. He later donated US$10,000 to a fund for the family of his coach.

Read more

Alphabet has widened its voluntary severance programme, offering fresh rounds of buyouts to employees in its Knowledge & Information division, central engineering, and even core search and advertising teams as it reshapes operations around artificial-intelligence products and battles antitrust scrutiny in the United States and Europe.

According to an internal memo from Nick Fox, who heads the Knowledge & Information group, eligible U.S. staff are being offered 14 weeks of base pay plus one additional week for every year of service, accelerated stock-option vesting and six months of health insurance. The plan builds on a programme launched earlier this year that targeted roughly 25,000 workers tied to Google’s operating-system projects; Alphabet has not disclosed how many employees are expected to accept the latest offer.

Read more

Alphabet’s Google is facing a fresh antitrust challenge in Europe after the Independent Publishers Alliance filed a formal complaint with the European Commission on 4 July. The group, joined by the Movement for an Open Web and U.K. non-profit Foxglove Legal, accuses Google of abusing its dominance in online search through its AI Overviews—algorithm-generated summaries that sit above traditional links in search results and have been rolled out in more than 100 countries since last year.

Read more

Tyler Wall, the fitness trainer featured in MrBeast's viral YouTube challenge titled "Lose 100 LBs, Win $250,000!", died during the 85-day weight loss competition. The challenge involved participants attempting to lose 100 pounds for a cash prize, with one contestant winning $417,000. Wall's unexpected death occurred while he was actively coaching a participant in the challenge, drawing widespread attention and condolences across social media. MrBeast has publicly expressed his commitment to charitable work through his platform, revealing he has donated over $50 million despite facing criticism. Separately, former gymnast Diego Hypolito disclosed he lost R$10 million in a short period and participated in the reality show BBB 25 to rebuild his image and support his family. Additionally, ex-BBB Lucas Buda shared struggles related to financial instability and personal security.

The U.S. Senate voted 99–1 on Tuesday to strip a provision that would have barred states from regulating artificial-intelligence systems for a decade from President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax-cut and spending bill, known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” Republican Thom Tillis of North Carolina cast the lone vote to retain the moratorium; every other senator backed an amendment offered by Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee to delete it.

Read more

Google Cloud has promoted Sashikumar Sreedharan to Managing Director for India, replacing Bikram Singh Bedi, who moves to a new role as Vice-President for Asia-Pacific strategic initiatives. The appointment is effective immediately, the company said on 1 July.

Sreedharan joined Google Cloud in 2023 as chief operating officer for APAC after leading Microsoft’s enterprise business in India and holding senior positions at SAP and IBM. He brings more than three decades of technology-sector experience and will oversee Google Cloud’s go-to-market organisation, working with enterprise and digital-native customers, partners and developers across the country.

Read more

Alphabet Inc.'s Google has signed a landmark power purchase agreement to buy 200 megawatts of electricity from Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS), a Massachusetts Institute of Technology spinoff. The deal represents the largest direct corporate offtake agreement for fusion energy to date and involves power from CFS's planned first commercial ARC fusion plant in Chesterfield, Virginia, expected to begin delivering electricity to the grid in the early 2030s. Google is also increasing its investment in Commonwealth Fusion Systems, highlighting fusion energy as a key component in meeting the rising energy demands driven by artificial intelligence and data center growth. The 200 MW purchase amounts to half of the ARC plant's projected 400 MW output, which could power approximately 150,000 homes. While Commonwealth Fusion Systems has yet to demonstrate the technology's reliable and economical power generation, this agreement underscores Google's long-term commitment to advancing fusion energy as a clean and scalable power source. The deal has drawn attention as a significant step toward commercializing fusion power, with backing from prominent investors including Bill Gates' tech fund.

Australia is advancing toward implementing a ban on social media use for children under 16, a move described as a world-first by the Albanese government. The legislation faces practical challenges, particularly in identifying underage users on social media platforms. The ban has sparked debate about the balance between digital participation and protecting the integrity and safety of children online. Experts emphasize the need for reliable information to help parents manage their children's screen time and social media use.

The policy has drawn international attention, with discussions on digital age limits and child safety extending beyond Australia. Concerns about excessive screen time and its impact on physical activity among youth have also been highlighted by organizations such as Fundación Deporte Joven. The ban includes restrictions on platforms like YouTube and reflects broader global conversations about digital childhood and online safety.

The latest update to Android 16 introduces a security feature designed to detect and warn users when their smartphones connect to fake cell towers, commonly known as 'stingray' devices. These devices are often used in man-in-the-middle attacks to intercept communications and track phone locations, even when the device is in airplane mode. The new functionality aims to enhance user privacy by alerting individuals to suspicious network connections that could compromise their data. However, the effectiveness of this protection depends on manufacturers implementing the necessary support for the feature. Additionally, Android 16 includes other security improvements to prevent spam calls and unsafe network connections.

Spanish children are spending ever-longer periods alone in front of mobile phones, according to a new report by the children’s charity Educo. The study, based on a survey of 2,316 families, estimates that about 375,000 youngsters aged six to 13—roughly 10 % of the cohort—spend hours of the day without adult supervision while using a smartphone. The average Spanish child receives a first handset at nine years and 10 months, and by age 13 smartphone penetration reaches 93 %. Parents said the problem deepens during the summer break: 40 % observed a sharp increase in screen exposure, with daily phone use rising from two hours 35 minutes during the school term to roughly three hours at weekends. Educo added that nearly one-third of these so-called “iPad kids” have no usage limits.

The findings intensify pressure on Spanish lawmakers to advance a pending bill on child protection in digital environments and bolster calls by Educo for publicly funded holiday activities as an alternative to screens. Similar trends are appearing elsewhere. Fresh Ofcom research shows children in the United Kingdom now average almost three hours online each day, primarily on YouTube and Snapchat. In the United States, peer-reviewed papers in the Journal of the American Medical Association link heavy, addictive screen use with higher rates of depressive symptoms and suicidal behaviours in adolescents. Health specialists have also warned of rising myopia, noting that one in three children world-wide is already near-sighted and that the share could reach 50 % by 2050 if device use continues unabated.