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Europe's long-delayed Ariane 6 rocket set for July 9 launch
Europe's long-delayed Ariane 6 rocket set for July 9 launch
Economy
by  AFP

The next-generation Ariane 6 rocket, a crucial programme for Europe's space ambitions, is due to lift off on July 9 following years of delays, the European Space Agency said Wednesday. Philippe Baptiste, head of France's CNES space agency, told AFP: "The program was delayed, we all suffered from it, but it is Europe's return to space access and we are confident about the date."

'All Eyes on Papua' campaign generates interest in deforestation cases
'All Eyes on Papua' campaign generates interest in deforestation cases
Technology
by  AFP

A campaign seeking to drive support for Indigenous tribes fighting palm oil plantations in eastern Indonesia is spreading widely online after taking inspiration from an AI-generated image of Gaza. "I believe the support we're seeing reflects a shared concern with the Awyu and Moi tribes in their resistance," Tigor Hutapea, a lawyer for the tribes, told AFP about the online campaign.

Italy fines Meta over data use, account transparency
Italy fines Meta over data use, account transparency
Economy
by  AFP

Italy's competition authority on Wednesday fined global tech giant Meta 3.5 million euros ($3.8 million) for a lack of transparency in its use of data and management of Instagram and Facebook accounts. It also said Meta "did not accurately manage" the suspension of users' Facebook and Instagram accounts.

Japan aims to quadruple overseas market for anime, games
Japan aims to quadruple overseas market for anime, games
Economy
by  AFP

Pop-culture powerhouse Japan wants to expand its overseas market for video games, manga and anime fourfold to $130 billion in about a decade, the government has said. In its revised "Cool Japan" strategy released Tuesday, the government said it aims to boost exports of these cultural assets to 20 trillion yen (nearly $130 billion) by 2033.

Australian watchdog drops court fight with X over violent posts
Australian watchdog drops court fight with X over violent posts
Technology
by  AFP

Australia's online watchdog on Wednesday dropped a legal effort to force Elon Musk's X to remove posts depicting the violent stabbing of a Sydney priest. The watchdog had ordered Musk's company to globally remove about 65 video and audio clips of the April 15 non-fatal attack in a church.