Hungary warns multinational force in Ukraine could trigger direct conflict with Russia
Hungary’s foreign minister on Wednesday criticised European plans to establish military hubs in Ukraine, saying the move risks pushing Europe closer...
Spotify paid a record $10B in royalties in 2024, with 1,500+ artists earning over $1M. Despite growth, it faced legal challenges over songwriter payments, though a U.S. lawsuit was dismissed. Streaming's impact on artist revenue remains a key industry debate.
Spotify has announced that it paid out a record-breaking $10 billion in royalties to the music industry in 2024, marking the largest annual payout in its history. The Swedish streaming giant revealed that nearly 1,500 artists earned over $1 million in royalties last year, reflecting the platform’s continued influence on the music business.
Over the past decade, Spotify’s annual royalty payments have surged tenfold, rising from $1 billion in 2014 to the current $10 billion milestone. This growth highlights the increasing role of streaming services in shaping modern music consumption and artist revenue.
However, Spotify faced legal challenges last year, including a lawsuit in the United States that accused the company of underpaying songwriting royalties for millions of tracks. A federal judge in New York dismissed the case in 2024, easing concerns about potential financial repercussions.
As Spotify continues to expand, its impact on the music industry remains significant. While the record payout is a positive sign for artists and rights holders, ongoing discussions about fair compensation in the streaming era are likely to persist.
Germany’s foreign intelligence service secretly monitored the telephone communications of former U.S. President Barack Obama for several years, including calls made aboard Air Force One, according to an investigation by the German newspaper Die Zeit.
Diplomatic tensions between Tokyo and Beijing escalated as Japan slams China's export ban on dual-use goods. Markets have wobbled as fears grow over a potential rare earth embargo affecting global supply chains.
Open-source intelligence (OSINT) sources reported a significant movement of U.S. military aircraft towards the Middle East in recent hours. Dozens of U.S. Air Force aerial refuelling tankers and heavy transport aircraft were observed heading eastwards, presumably to staging points in the region.
Iran’s chief justice has warned protesters there will be “no leniency for those who help the enemy against the Islamic Republic”, as rights groups reported a rising death toll during what observers describe as the country’s biggest wave of unrest in three years.
Two people have been killed after a private helicopter crashed at a recreation centre in Russia’s Perm region, Russian authorities and local media have said.
U.S. oil major Chevron and private equity firm Quantum Capital Group are reportedly preparing a joint bid to acquire Lukoil’s international assets, as the sanctioned Russian energy company seeks to divest its overseas operations.
The U.S. dollar's share of global reserves fell to nearly 40% at the end of 2025, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which says it's 10% lower than at the start of 2024. However, gold has risen and overtaken the dollar to be above 50% in global reserves according to the IMF data.
The U.S. dollar has strengthened against major peers on Tuesday, while the euro fell following slower-than-expected inflation in Europe. Market movements were relatively subdued as investors focused on upcoming U.S. economic data.
Wall Street closed higher on Tuesday, boosted by optimism over artificial intelligence (AI) and a strong rally in Moderna shares, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average approaching a record high.
India’s largest oil refiner, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), has taken a significant step towards diversifying its crude oil supply by purchasing Colombian crude, from state oil company Ecopetrol, for the first time.
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