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Internet providers not liable for music piracy by users: top US court

The US Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday in a landmark copyright case that internet service providers (ISPs) are not liable for online pirating of music by their users.

California jury finds Meta, YouTube liable in social media addiction trial

A Los Angeles jury on Wednesday found Meta and YouTube liable for harming a young woman through the addictive design of their social media platforms, ordering the companies to pay $3 million in damages and opening the door to potentially far larger punitive awards.

Oil prices slip, stocks rally on Mideast peace hopes

Oil prices tumbled and stock markets rallied Wednesday on reports of a US plan to end the war with Iran -- which promptly rejected Washington's overtures, according to state media.

Gattuso says Italy's World Cup play-off 'biggest match' of career

Gennaro Gattuso on Wednesday called Italy's World Cup play-off semi-final against Northern Ireland the most important match of his coaching career.

Sakamoto leads skating swansong with 'Time to Say Goodbye' at worlds

In her farewell tournament Japanese figure skater Kaori Sakamoto took a narrow lead over compatriot Mone Chiba during the short programme at the world championships on Wednesday.

Oldest dog DNA suggests 16,000 years of human companionship

The discovery of the oldest ever dog DNA suggests they have been our best friends for nearly 16,000 years -- 5,000 years earlier than had previously been thought, new research said Wednesday.

Iran media casts doubt on US peace plan

State media in Iran said Wednesday that Tehran had rejected a US plan to end fighting, as the head of the United Nations warned that the Middle East war was spiralling out of control.

Rare mountain gorilla twins born in DR Congo: park authorities

In a rare occurrence in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, twin mountain gorillas were recently born in the Virunga National Park, renowned for its biodiversity but threatened by conflict.

Ex-midwife enthroned as first female Archbishop of Canterbury

A former nurse made history Wednesday when she was enthroned as Archbishop of Canterbury, the first woman to lead the centuries-old mother church of the world's 85 million-strong Anglican community.

AC Schnitzer: When Iconic Tuners Fall Silent

The announced end of AC Schnitzer by the close of 2026 is far more than the disappearance of a well-known tuning brand. It is a warning signal with meaning far beyond the BMW enthusiast scene. When a company that for decades stood for sporty BMW refinement, forged wheels, suspension upgrades, exhaust systems and a distinctly German form of engineering passion can no longer operate its manufacturing and tuning business economically in Germany, the issue is no longer just about one brand. It becomes a question about Germany as an automotive business location. AC Schnitzer therefore turns into a symbolic case: one that reflects weakening competitiveness, a cost structure that has become increasingly hard to carry and a growing public impression that politics is reacting too slowly, too cautiously and too late.That is why the topic strikes such a deep emotional nerve. AC Schnitzer was never merely a supplier of aftermarket parts. The company represented an entire culture of refinement, balancing factory-like elegance with a more rebellious edge. For many BMW fans, it was part of the national automotive landscape: Aachen, BMW, motorsport associations, complete vehicle programs, distinctive forged wheels, aerodynamic components, performance kits and memorable special builds. In that sense, the end of AC Schnitzer is not simply a balance-sheet story. It is also the loss of a piece of industrial identity.The reasons behind the closure are revealing because they expose exactly the chain of problems that German industry has been discussing for years. At the core lies a toxic mix of rising development and production costs, slow approval procedures, intensifying international competition and shifting demand. The most striking point is the complaint about the length of the German approval system. If aftermarket parts reach the market many months after foreign competitors have already launched theirs, a specialist niche player loses precisely what matters most: timing, visibility and margins. On top of that come more expensive raw materials, volatile exchange rates, supplier disruptions, tariffs in important export markets, hesitant consumer spending and the gradual decline of the combustion-engine culture that once fueled large parts of the tuning scene. AC Schnitzer is therefore not describing a single isolated problem, but a concentration of structural burdens.