The Japan Times

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced legislation to ban social media use by children under 16, with fines up to 10% of global platform revenue and mandatory age verification. Coalition partner Winston Peters and the New Zealand First party have stated opposition to the bill. Australia implemented a similar ban last year, though a June study found limited impact on teen usage.

Billboards for Innovent Biologics and Meituan appeared in a Shanghai metro station on July 6 while companies including Eli Lilly compete in the once-weekly GLP-1 injection market. China’s National Health Commission projects that overweight or obese adults could exceed 65 percent of the population by 2030. Local rules bar direct prescription-drug advertising, prompting indirect promotions on transit and e-commerce platforms.

Shein Global Holdings acquired Everlane for $80 million in May 2024. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), an interagency panel led by the Treasury Department, is reviewing the transaction following a voluntary filing by Shein after closing. The review examines potential national security implications of the deal between the Chinese-linked fast-fashion company and the U.S. apparel retailer.

Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram since 2018, testified on August 26, 2026, in a federal court trial in Oakland, California, brought by four states as part of a 2023 lawsuit by 29 states against Meta. The proceedings focus on child safety and privacy issues, with Instagram's 2024 teen accounts and default take-a-break feature among the topics addressed. The trial, which began last week and is expected to last six weeks, involves California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey, while the remaining states will proceed later.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick applied last-minute pressure during U.S.-Canada trade negotiations, contributing to their collapse according to The Japan Times. President Trump subsequently imposed new tariffs, prompting Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to vow retaliation. Lutnick's actions were driven by concerns that the framework deal was too generous to Canada and threatened U.S. metal producers.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney held a news conference in Ottawa on Saturday after trade talks with the United States collapsed late Friday. President Donald Trump imposed new tariffs, prompting Canadian retaliation and plans for a domestic aid package designed to last through the remainder of Trump's term. Carney's government sees little chance of resuming talks before U.S. midterm elections.

A mudslide at Gyirong Port on August 26, 2026, severed roads, communications, and power while causing major casualties and missing persons, prompting search-and-rescue operations and directives from President Xi Jinping. Concurrent flash floods in Nepal's Rasuwa district killed eight people and damaged infrastructure. Both events occurred in a region that experienced similar incidents in the prior year.

Verified reports confirm record-high ocean temperatures, breaking sea surface and air temperature records, and the formation of a super El Niño event described as the strongest in living memory. These developments are documented across two sources without disagreement on the core measurements. Interpretations of causes, policy implications, and long-term context vary by perspective.

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced retaliatory 50% tariffs on US steel and aluminum effective September 8, matching President Trump's prior 50% tariffs on Canadian goods. Both sets of measures target approximately $20 billion in annual bilateral trade. Canada also announced a C$7.5 billion aid package for affected firms and workers.