Meta Platforms Inc. is facing a potential $18 billion settlement with nearly all US states over allegations concerning the impact of Facebook and Instagram on teenage users. The agreement would resolve a series of lawsuits, investigations and legal claims, although Meta would not necessarily pay the full amount.
Under the deal, Meta has committed to paying roughly $12.7 billion to states over the next 10 years as an initial obligation. An additional $5.3 billion could be added if other major social media companies agree to similar settlements and adopt comparable protections for teenagers. The largest part of the agreement, worth about $16.7 billion, would go to 47 states, Washington, DC, and three US territories. The funds could be used by individual states for programmes such as youth mental health services, crisis intervention, after-school activities and digital wellness initiatives.
The settlement also includes $459 million related to privacy claims stemming from older cases and investigations connected to the Cambridge Analytica controversy. The scandal involved the collection of Facebook users' personal information during the 2016 US presidential campaign. Texas has separately agreed to a $1 billion settlement with Meta, announced by Attorney General Ken Paxton. Although the Texas agreement was negotiated independently, Meta says it is included within the overall $18 billion package.
Meta will also provide $75 million toward litigation costs within 30 days of the settlement taking effect. States may additionally use part of their settlement allocations to cover legal expenses. A major condition of the agreement involves competitors including TikTok, YouTube and Snap. Meta says it will only be required to make the additional $5.3 billion payment if TikTok and YouTube reach comparable financial agreements with states. The companies would also face expectations around teen safety, including daily usage limits, fewer evening notifications and stronger age-verification systems.
New Mexico and Florida are the only states outside the settlement. New Mexico recently secured nearly $1 billion from Meta after winning its own case, while Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has rejected the multistate agreement, arguing that the proposed compensation does not adequately reflect the alleged harm to children. The settlement could therefore have consequences extending beyond Meta's finances. If other major platforms agree to similar terms, it could push the wider social media industry toward stricter rules on teen accounts, age verification, screen time and digital safety.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Bloomberg.
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has invited Japanese companies, particularly those from the Kansai region, to participate in India’s rapidly expanding semiconductor industry and take advantage of the opportunities emerging in the sector. Speaking at an Investors and Business Roadshow, Goyal said India’s first Semiconductor Mission received a government commitment of $10 billion and, with support from state governments, helped attract about $20 billion in investments. The government has now introduced Semiconductor India Mission 2.0 with a $15 billion allocation. Combined with state-level incentives, the initiative is expected to generate around $50 billion in additional investment.
Goyal said India was prepared to provide further financial support as demand for chips continues to grow. He noted that India’s annual semiconductor consumption is projected to reach around $150 billion within the next five years, creating significant opportunities for companies looking to innovate, manufacture and develop technology in the country.
The minister also highlighted opportunities beyond the semiconductor industry. He referred to Japan’s interest in bringing around 300,000 Indian workers into different sectors and suggested that Kansai-based companies could help train them in Japanese language, workplace culture and professional practices before they begin working in Japan.
Goyal encouraged business leaders from the Kansai region to visit India and explore partnerships through investments, joint exhibitions, industry discussions and exchange programmes. Food processing was another sector he identified as having strong potential for India-Japan cooperation. He said India could benefit from Japanese expertise and quality standards to improve processed-food production, while Japanese companies could use India as both a growing consumer market and a technology partner.
The minister also highlighted the maritime sector, noting that nearly 250,000 Indian seafarers currently work on ships across the world. He pointed to an agreement with Mediterranean Shipping Company to establish a major seafarer training academy in Mumbai and encouraged Japanese shipping companies and maritime institutes to consider similar partnerships.
Goyal said cooperation in semiconductors, skilled manpower, food processing and shipping could create substantial opportunities for Japanese businesses while supporting India's broader economic and manufacturing ambitions. The outreach comes as India continues to strengthen its semiconductor ecosystem and attract global investment in advanced manufacturing and technology. For Japanese companies, closer engagement with India could provide access to a large domestic market, skilled workforce and an expanding industrial base.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.
A security scare at Louisiana State University (LSU) disrupted a memorial event honoring legendary baseball coach Skip Bertman after authorities received a threat targeting the university campus. The incident happened Tuesday evening at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, where LSU was holding a Celebration of Life for Bertman, who died earlier this month at the age of 88. The gathering brought together members of the LSU community, former athletes, officials and supporters to remember the longtime coach and athletic director.
During the event, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sid Edwards and East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff Sid Gautreaux were escorted out of the venue by security personnel as authorities responded to the reported threat. LSU Police began investigating after the threat appeared on social media. Investigators reportedly traced an internet protocol address connected to the post, helping them identify and locate a suspect. The person was subsequently taken into custody.
Authorities have not released the suspect's name or provided full details about the allegations. Information about a possible motive and specific charges also remains limited as the investigation continues. Despite the disruption, LSU Police said they did not believe there was an active or credible threat to the broader campus community based on the information available to investigators.
The security response nevertheless highlighted the precautions authorities take when a potential threat emerges during a large public gathering. With hundreds of people attending the Bertman memorial and several senior government officials inside the building, security teams acted quickly while investigators worked to establish whether the online post posed a genuine danger.
The incident came as LSU was honoring Bertman's extraordinary contribution to the university. He coached the Tigers from 1984 to 2001 and led the baseball program to five national championships and 11 College World Series appearances. He later became LSU's athletic director and remained an influential figure in the university's athletic history.
The evening was intended to be a tribute to one of LSU's most celebrated sports figures. Instead, the event was briefly overshadowed by a security operation that prompted the evacuation of several high-profile officials. Investigators are continuing to examine the reported threat and the circumstances surrounding the arrest. Further details about the suspect and any potential charges are expected to emerge as authorities continue their investigation. The LSU community has been advised to rely on official information as investigators work to determine exactly what prompted the threat and whether anyone else was involved.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Hindustan Times.
The Indian Coast Guard has brought two Chinese nationals rescued from the sunken bulk carrier MV Ocean Winner safely to Paradip, Odisha, as a large-scale search operation continues in the Bay of Bengal for 22 crew members who remain missing. Indian Coast Guard Ship Varad transported the two survivors to Paradip on August 27. Officials said both men received medical attention during the journey and were handed over to authorised representatives of the shipping company after arriving at the port. Bureau of Immigration officials and local police were present during the handover.
The survivors have been identified as Pan Tonglai and Chen Jianhe. They were rescued from a life raft in the Bay of Bengal on August 22 after the merchant vessel MT AISOPOS responded to the distress situation and located them. The Coast Guard said the survivors continued to receive medical care aboard ICGS Varad while being transported back to the mainland. Their safe arrival at Paradip marks the latest development in the ongoing rescue effort following the sinking of MV Ocean Winner.
The Panama-registered bulk carrier was carrying 24 crew members when it issued a distress alert on August 22. The crew included 20 Chinese nationals, three Myanmar nationals and one Bangladeshi national. The vessel was operating around 300 nautical miles north-northwest of Diglipur in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands when the emergency was reported.
Following the distress alert, Indian authorities launched a coordinated search involving Coast Guard ships, aircraft and merchant vessels operating in the region. ICGS Varad was assigned a key role in the search while coordinating with other vessels in the area. During an aerial surveillance mission, a naval aircraft detected a distress transmission and directed ICGS Varad towards the suspected location. Coast Guard personnel subsequently recovered an emergency beacon from the area and confirmed that it was linked to MV Ocean Winner. On the morning of August 25, at around 7 am, ICGS Varad located a lifeboat believed to belong to the missing vessel. A boarding team examined the lifeboat but found no survivors inside.
The search has since been expanded, with additional Coast Guard ships and aircraft deployed across the designated area of the deep Bay of Bengal. Authorities are continuing efforts to locate the remaining 22 crew members, with the operation being conducted on an urgent basis given the difficult conditions involved in an offshore search. The rescue of Pan Tonglai and Chen Jianhe has provided some hope amid the ongoing operation, while search teams continue to cover the surrounding waters for any further signs of the missing crew.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Indian Coast Guard.
The water level of the Gandak river in Bihar began receding on Thursday, offering relief to residents of low-lying areas after flash floods in Nepal caused a sharp rise in water levels. Discharge from the Gandak Barrage at Valmikinagar in West Champaran fell from 1.50 lakh cusecs late Wednesday night to around 1.04 lakh cusecs on Thursday morning. Authorities had opened all 36 barrage gates after floodwaters from Nepal entered the river system. Officials said the situation remained under close watch as rainfall in Nepal's Devghat area briefly caused the water level to rise again. No damage to embankments has been reported so far. The Bihar Water Resources Department has kept teams on alert and is continuously monitoring the Gandak and Ganga rivers. District administrations in vulnerable areas have also been instructed to issue timely warnings and remain prepared for any emergency. Flash floods in Nepal's Bhotekoshi River have caused significant loss of life, with officials reporting a rising death toll.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from PTI.
The White House has announced the threat of sanctions against countries that continue to conduct trade with Iran, intensifying Washington’s efforts to put further economic pressure on Tehran as its military campaign faces mounting challenges. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent unveiled what he described as “Operation Economic Outcast”, drawing a comparison with the historic D-Day invasion to underline the scale of the economic measures being pursued against Iran. The strategy aims to deepen Iran’s economic isolation by discouraging other countries from maintaining commercial ties with Tehran. However, China, Iran’s largest trading partner, has already indicated that it is unlikely to support or comply with President Donald Trump’s efforts to target the Iranian economy. The latest measures come as the Trump administration looks to increase pressure on Tehran and force an end to the conflict. The move raises questions over how effective the economic campaign will be and whether Washington can persuade major trading partners to join its strategy. Lucy Hough discusses the latest developments with Julian Borger, senior international correspondent, examining the US pressure campaign, China’s position and what the economic escalation could mean for the wider conflict.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.
More than two years after Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom was killed by Israeli forces while travelling with a World Central Kitchen humanitarian convoy, Israel has cleared the soldiers involved of criminal responsibility. The decision has drawn strong criticism, including from Frankcom’s family and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who described it as an “outrage.” With increasing demands for accountability, an apology and possible compensation, political editor Tom McIlroy discusses with Reged Ahmad what the decision means for Australia-Israel relations and whether ties between the two countries have reached a new low.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has announced a broad set of initiatives covering family support, housing, technology and Singapore’s national resilience. Hairianto Diman and Justine Moss speak to SMU School of Law Associate Professor Eugene Tan about the major measures, their significance for Singaporeans and what they reveal about the Government’s priorities for the country’s next stage of growth.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.
Singapore’s prison population is ageing, with one in six inmates now aged 60 or above, compared with one in 10 in 2019. Daniel Martin spoke with Quentin Lee, Assistant Director and Lead Psychologist at the Singapore Prison Service’s Psychological and Correctional Rehabilitation Division, who is part of a National Committee sub-group focused on preventing offending and re-offending among older adults. They explored the factors driving the rise in elderly inmates and examined the support needed to help older offenders and ex-offenders break the cycle of crime and reintegration into society.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.
