EU clears $110bn Paramount and Warner Bros merger, but it remains on hold in US - BBC News

• Prize-winning author Salman Rushdie testified on Thursday during the federal terrorism trial of 28-year-old Hadi Matar. • Matar was previously convicted of state-level attempted murder following a 2022 attack at a cultural institution where Rushdie was scheduled to speak.

• The European Union has determined that TikTok failed to adequately protect the privacy of children's accounts, leaving them vulnerable to access by adults. • This finding highlights a critical failure in the platform's privacy settings, which were intended to shield minors from potential risks and unwanted interactions.

• An independent study reveals that Prime Video and Amazon Music actively highlight local European content and artists to improve their discoverability. • The findings emphasize Amazon Music's 10-year track record of helping European creators expand their reach from local scenes to global audiences.

• The Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock will host a Suffragist Tea Party at 2 p.m. this Saturday, July 25, 2026. • The event celebrates Arkansas’ ratification of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote, and features a curated tea menu and gift giveaways.

• On-location filming in Los Angeles remains sluggish and continues to trend downward compared to last year's figures. • While the number of shoot days for incentivized productions is showing slow growth, it has not been enough to offset the broader decline.

• On-location production in Los Angeles has decreased by 12%, according to a new study by FilmLA. • The decline is primarily attributed to a continued exodus of reality TV productions, although high-employment TV dramas have remained more stable.

• The European Central Bank (ECB) has unveiled ten finalist designs for future euro banknotes, focusing on themes of culture and nature. • Proposed designs include portraits of iconic figures such as Leonardo da Vinci for the €100 note, Bertha von Suttner for the €200 note, as well as Maria Callas, Beethoven, and Marie Curie.

• Malaysia has achieved a high global ranking in travel accessibility, surpassing advanced economies such as the United States, Iceland (joint 10th), and Hong Kong (14th). • Other Southeast Asian nations trailed behind, with Thailand ranking 63rd (77 destinations), Indonesia 68th (70 destinations), and the Philippines 72nd (65 destinations).

• The European Union has approved Paramount's $81 billion acquisition of Warner Bros., though the deal is subject to specific conditions. • The merger will consolidate major media assets, placing HBO Max, CNN, and the "Harry Potter" franchise under the same corporate roof as CBS, "Top Gun," and Paramount+.

• Deadline has released its annual comprehensive schedule of premiere dates for new and returning TV series across broadcast, cable, and streaming platforms for 2026. • Key dates include May 10, featuring the BAFTA Television Awards on E! and Season 12 of 90 Day Fiancé on TLC, and May 11, with Netflix debuting Season 4 of Mark Rober's CrunchLabs.

• The European Union has officially approved Paramount's $81 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. • This regulatory greenlight removes a significant legal hurdle, allowing the two media giants to proceed with the massive merger.