Author: Emily Harper

Epic Games and Google said they reached a “comprehensive settlement” to end a five-year legal battle over the Google Play app marketplace on Android, according to a joint filing in federal court in San Francisco. The agreement, which still requires approval from the U.S. District Judge James Donato, aims to “put their disputes aside” while making Android a more competitive platform for users and developers, the companies indicated. Key financial and operational terms remain under seal pending the court’s review. How The Case Reached A Turning Point Epic filed lawsuits in 2020 against both Google and Apple, challenging in-app payment…

Nearly 500 travel organizations and companies, led by the U.S. Travel Association, are warning that a prolonged federal government shutdown could trigger widespread turmoil during the Thanksgiving rush, one of the nation’s busiest travel weeks. In a letter to congressional leaders, the coalition urged passage of a “clean continuing resolution” to reopen the government before the holiday to prevent longer lines, schedule snarls, and an erosion of traveler confidence. The industry’s alarm follows a recent sign of strain: the Federal Aviation Administration issued a temporary ground stop for some flights bound for Newark Liberty International Airport due to staffing issues,…

Thousands of fans filled the streets of downtown Los Angeles to celebrate the Dodgers’ second straight World Series win. The city turned into a sea of blue as the championship parade rolled through, bringing together families, lifelong supporters, and baseball’s biggest stars for a day of pure joy. The City That Never Sleeps on Championship Day Los Angeles shut down for hours as the Boys in Blue rode double-decker buses waving to the crowd, holding the Commissioner’s Trophy high. Fans showed up long before sunrise. Alejandro Alba and his son Jayen were among the first to arrive. “Last year I…

After 14 years at the helm of Balmain, French designer Olivier Rousteing is stepping down from his role as creative director, marking the end of a transformative era for the historic fashion house. His departure follows a year filled with major changes across the fashion industry, yet Rousteing’s exit stands out as one of its most emotional milestones. A Legacy of Innovation and Identity When Olivier Rousteing took over as creative director in 2011, he was only 25 years old. His appointment made history—he became the first Black designer to lead a French heritage house and the youngest non-founding designer…

As COP30 is around the corner in Belém, Brazil, negotiators, scientists, and campaigners are emphasizing a simple idea: it is time to turn pledges into action people can see. After three decades of climate talks, the world is still experiencing record heat, severe floods, and wildfire smoke that drifts across borders. Many countries have targets on paper, but fewer have delivered the policies and investments needed to meet them. That is why this year’s gathering is being framed as an “implementation COP,” with a focus on clear timelines, credible funding, and progress that can be checked between summits. Officials say…

Novo Nordisk has raised its offer for Metsera to as much as $10 billion, intensifying a takeover fight with Pfizer for the clinical-stage obesity-drug developer. Metsera said the revised proposal includes $62.20 in cash per share plus a $24 contingent value right (CVR) tied to development and regulatory milestones, up from Novo’s prior bid that peaked at $9 billion. In parallel, Pfizer, which struck an agreement in September to acquire Metsera, reworked its terms to $60 per share in cash while cutting its CVR to $10. Metsera’s board called Novo’s new proposal superior, setting a short window for Pfizer to…

The Closest Full Moon in Six Years If you look toward the eastern sky after sunset this week, you’ll see the moon shining brighter and larger than usual. This is the 2025 Beaver Moon — and it’s not just any full moon. It’s the largest and closest supermoon in years, reaching its nearest point to Earth at just under 222,000 miles. The Beaver Moon, named after the season when beavers build their winter lodges, will be the biggest and brightest full moon of the year. According to NASA, a supermoon can appear up to 14 percent larger and 30 percent…

The U.K. Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has referred the proposed $3.7 billion merger of Getty Images and Shutterstock to an in-depth Phase 2 investigation, saying initial remedies offered by the companies did not dispel concerns that the tie-up could lead to higher prices, worse terms, and lower quality for editorial and stock imagery customers in Britain. The decision follows a Phase 1 review in which industry feedback, including from media groups, warned of potential harm to competition across newsrooms, publishers, advertisers, and creative agencies. Market Reaction And Company Responses Both companies said they were disappointed by the referral but…

High Stakes in an “Off Year” Americans are heading to the polls today in what is technically an “off-year” election — one without presidential or congressional races. Yet, the results will carry national significance. Voters in New York City, Virginia, and New Jersey are choosing new leaders, while Californians are deciding whether to approve a rare mid-decade redistricting measure that could reshape the political landscape. From the future of progressive politics in New York to the fate of congressional maps in California, the outcomes could serve as a preview of next year’s midterm elections — and a test of Donald…

President Sworn in Amid Internet Blackout and Deadly Crackdown Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan was sworn in Monday for a new term in a tightly controlled ceremony marked by grandeur but no public attendance — a stark contrast to previous inaugurations. Hassan claimed victory with 98 percent of the vote in the October 29 election, but opposition groups and rights advocates say the result was neither free nor fair. The country’s largest opposition party, Chadema, was banned from participating in the vote, and its leader, Tundu Lissu, remains imprisoned on treason charges. His party has rejected the election outcome outright.…