Pentagon vs. Press Freedom: The U.S. military newspaper Stars and Stripes fired editor-in-chief Erik Slavin and removed publisher Max Lederer after CBS comments about “hypothetical censorship,” underscoring how defense funding can still collide with editorial independence. Australia News Economics: Australia passed a News Bargaining Incentive levy that could charge big platforms (including Meta and Alphabet/Google) 2.5% of local ad revenue unless they strike deals with enough publishers—another push to force payment for news. Social Media Accountability: A landmark U.S. trial against Meta over teen addiction claims could drive structural changes to Instagram/Facebook features tied to engagement. Press Under Pressure: In Nigeria, Pinnacle Daily editor Sunday Michael Ogwu alleged police beat him with an electric cable while covering a demolition; police invited him to testify while also accusing him of trying to sway public sentiment. Regulation After Tragedy: Ireland’s wrong-way M9 crash funerals renewed scrutiny on dangerous-driving content online and the state care system for children. Audience Measurement: Nielsen integrated DASH baseline data to better align TV/streaming viewing measurement, aiming to settle long-running disputes in ad and media planning. Media Education: Manipal University Jaipur added AI-driven and creator-economy electives to its online MA Journalism & Mass Communication.