A US federal judge has dismissed a major antitrust lawsuit filed by Elon Musk‘s social media company, X Corp., over allegations that top advertisers boycotted the platform.

The decision marks a significant legal setback for Musk, who has claimed that brands deliberately withheld billions in advertising revenue from X, formerly known as Twitter.

The case, which began in 2024, named the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA) and major companies, including Mars, CVS Health, and Colgate-Palmolive, as defendants.

According to CNBC, X alleged that the advertisers acted together to harm the company financially, even though such a move went against their own business interests.

However, US District Judge Jane Boyle of the Dallas federal court found that X failed to demonstrate it suffered harm under federal antitrust law.

In her ruling, Boyle wrote, “The very nature of the alleged conspiracy does not state an antitrust claim, and the court therefore has no qualm dismissing with prejudice.”

X Claims Billions Lost in Alleged Ad Boycott

The advertisers had argued that X could not prove a coordinated boycott. In court filings, CVS and the other companies maintained that they made independent decisions about where to spend advertising dollars.

They said concerns over X’s brand safety after Musk’s 2022 takeover—during which several employees were fired—led them to choose other platforms, NY Post reported.

These companies stressed that their actions were standard business decisions, not part of a conspiracy.

The lawsuit claimed that the advertisers, through the WFA initiative called the Global Alliance for Responsible Media, collectively withheld “billions of dollars in advertising revenue” from X.

Musk and X argued this harmed their ability to compete, but the judge concluded the complaint did not meet the legal requirements for an antitrust claim.

X and the World Federation of Advertisers have not publicly commented on the ruling. Musk, known for his bold statements on social media, has not yet reacted publicly to this setback.

Originally published on vcpost.com

For a South Florida native, the silence and serenity are what hits you first.

Just a stone’s throw from the relentless horn-honking of Surfside and the designer-clad crowds of Bal Harbour Shops, Indian Creek Village exists in a vacuum of enforced peace. There are no sirens, tourists, and certainly no uninvited guests — only the whistle of the Atlantic wind and the rhythmic clap of waves against private piers.

Behind massive entry gates and dense tropical foliage lies a 300-acre fiscal safe haven where America’s billionaires aren’t just buying homes, but investing in a sovereign-level of security that Julian Johnston, one of Miami’s top luxury brokers, says is now the ultimate commodity.

“It is a political sanctuary. I’d say, also, the security itself is extremely tight. I mean, when you drive up, if you don’t have permission to get on, [the police] are actually quite rude and they tell you to go away,” the Corcoran Group agent — who has more than $10 billion in sales under his belt in the area — told Fox News Digital during a private tour of Indian Creek.

MARK ZUCKERBERG BECOMES LATEST CALIFORNIA BILLIONAIRE TO RELOCATE TO FLORID AMID TAX CONCERNS

“I think Indian Creek is an island unto itself,” he continued. “As a community… you’ve got the marina nearby, you can walk to the Four Seasons and go to the beach and it’s a lower-density construction. So there’s not as much traffic, and it’s just a beautiful place to live.”

Commonly known as the “Billionaire Bunker,” successful business leaders and celebrities including Jeff Bezos, Carl Icahn, Tom Brady, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, Julio Iglesias, Adriana Lima, David Guetta, Don Shula and others have long called Indian Creek home. The ultra-exclusive neighborhood made recent headlines for its newest resident, Mark Zuckerberg, who paid a record $170 million for an under-construction property.

The migration is fueled by more than just sunshine; it is a tactical retreat from a wave of tax-the-rich proposals sweeping through blue-state legislatures like California, Washington and New York. While lawmakers and unions move to enact aggressive new levies on capital gains and unrealized wealth, the “Billionaire Bunker” provides a predictable fiscal fortress. 

“Even starting with South Beach and Miami Beach, there’s only a thousand homes on the water, approximately… There’s only four real islands in this location that the owners own the roads, so you cannot get on without permission,” Johnston said. “People covet privacy, security… and so with such limited inventory, prices have risen very fast in the last couple of years.”

Zuckerberg’s new estate currently sits as a skeleton of modern concrete bones, still fully exposed to the coastal Miami elements. Parked outside his unfinished home appeared to be an unmarked, blacked-out SUV keeping watch over the lot.

It’s a stark contrast to the finished, bougainvillea-covered Mediterranean arches of the mansion Johnston showed to Fox News Digital. Though that completed home is not formally for sale, its market price is estimated to be more than double what Zuckerberg paid due to its specific location and views.

“Fifty percent of the sales on Indian Creek are off-market. There are some that are just thinking about selling, and it becomes known in the community, and they’ll start getting offers,” he said. “They don’t really want to advertise because that can draw a lot of tire kickers and people that are interested to see the home.”

OVER $126M IN 60 DAYS — FLORIDA REAL ESTATE TYCOONS SAY BLUE-STATE WEALTH MIGRATION IS NOW PERMANENT

The agent noted that it typically takes one year for plans and permits, and three years to build a significant home on the island. He also explained how Bezos bought a 20-year-old Indian Creek property “in beautiful condition” for $75 million “just for somewhere to sleep” while his other two adjacent lots are being developed for his larger estate.

Driving by their residences, Bezos’ homes had long and winding driveways with iron gates and carefully tailored landscaping; Brady’s home appeared to be an almost entirely glass, gray-toned house from the front, with modern yet chic furniture and art visible through the window panes.

“When Tom Brady started building, he was thinking about selling the house for $80 to $100 million. Now he’s turning down offers four or five years later of $200 million,” Johnston said as another example.

“Some developers are doing very high-end homes now, but these end users, they have no budget. So then they’ll elevate those finishes even further, and they’ll build their dream home,” he continued. “I think this neighborhood is not attainable for some of us, including me. I think even some of the owners themselves are shocked.”

Socializing on and around the man-made island has seemingly replaced New York City and Silicon Valley boardrooms, as the top agent pointed out changes in the way business deals and venture capital decisions are being made outside of their traditional offices.

“One of my clients… he’s a VC, he’s worth about $14 billion, and he would walk out in Manhattan, he’d go, ‘I put on my bulletproof vest, I go to war… Down here, I go out in shorts and a T-shirt, I walk on my conference call to a coffee shop, I finish that, I do another meeting… I found more peace with my life, I’m just as efficient,’” Johnston recalled.

With more than half of $1 trillion in combined net worth living on Indian Creek, it’s solidifying itself as the epicenter of a permanent wealth migration. However, the juxtaposition of the billionaires’ playground and an exceedingly risky market for average buyers is wide — UBS’ Global Real Estate Bubble Index for 2025 recently put Miami in the No. 1 spot for the real estate market with the highest bubble risk on Earth, surpassing the peak of the 2006 housing bubble.

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But Johnston argues that the trickle-down effect is funding massive public works, like high-speed transit and nearby affordable housing for the island’s vast support staff.

“I think it’s only going to benefit Miami greatly,” he said. “It has become more expensive and there’s been some push away from that. But the city is doing something about it, developers are reacting to it and there are peripheral areas now that are getting built out with beautiful retail and bus services and public transport, and I think it’s only going to make the city better and better.”

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Unilever is facing a new legal challenge after former Ben & Jerry’s board chair Anuradha Mittal filed a defamation lawsuit in federal court on Thursday.

The case, filed in Oakland, California, claims the company and its spun-off Magnum ice cream unit made false statements that damaged her reputation.

Mittal, who was removed from her role in December, alleges that Unilever and Magnum “vilified and discredited” her due to her support for Palestinian rights and calls for a ceasefire in Gaza.

According to the complaint, tensions grew after Unilever announced the Magnum spinoff in March 2024.

The lawsuit states that Mittal was accused of serious misconduct, including self-dealing, receiving improper benefits, and misusing funds from the Ben & Jerry’s Foundation.

She also claims the companies portrayed her as creating a toxic work environment and being unfit to lead.

The filing argues these claims were false and made with “actual malice,” meaning they were either knowingly untrue or shared without regard for the facts, Reuters reported.

“Defendants achieved their goal of thoroughly humiliating and discrediting Ms. Mittal,” the complaint states, adding that the situation caused harm to her reputation as well as personal struggles, including depression and insomnia.

Mittal is seeking damages, though the exact amount has not been disclosed.

Ben & Jerry’s Dispute With Unilever Intensifies

Unilever has not publicly responded to the lawsuit. However, Magnum said in a statement that the claims are “unfounded” and expressed confidence that the court process will support its position.

This legal dispute is the latest chapter in a long-running conflict between Unilever and Ben & Jerry’s leadership over the brand’s independence and social mission.

According to Yahoo, the ice cream company, founded in 1978, has long been known for its activism. It was acquired by Unilever in 2000, but its board has continued to advocate for social and political causes.

Tensions escalated in 2021 when Ben & Jerry’s announced it would stop selling products in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Since then, disagreements over the company’s direction and messaging have continued to grow.

In November 2024, Ben & Jerry’s filed its own lawsuit against Unilever, accusing the parent company of trying to weaken its board and limit its activism.

Originally published on vcpost.com

As several Indian pharma giants race to launch cheaper generics for Semaglutide, the active ingredient in popular weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy, international brokerage Jefferies said that Sun Pharma, Lupin and Torrent Pharma can emerge as the eventual winners.

Novo Nordisk’s patent for GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) therapy expired last week. Jefferies in its latest report said that after the patent expiry, more than 10 brands have launched their versions online, and over 40 brands are expected to join the race across injectables and oral forms.

The international brokerage noted that price points for the monthly dose of the injectable version are in the range of Rs 1,290-4500, with Natco and Glenmark offering products at the lower end of the range, and Dr Reddy’s and Torrent at the higher. “Most companies have launched their own brands, while others have formed partnerships (Torrent/Lupin are sourcing from Zydus). Torrent Pharma, the sole generics firm to supply the oral version, has priced it at a lower discount (30-50%) vs. injectables. Zydus offers a reusable multi-dose pen device; this differentiated offering allows patients to progressively titrate their dosage over the course of the treatment,” it added.

Products already sold out online

Despite the strong inventory build-up by companies, Jefferies claimed that there is a shortage in online channels. Out of the 10 brands that have already launched their generic versions only, the products by only 3-4 brands are still available while the rest are sold out, it said. Multiple reasons including inaccurate demand forecasts, limited supply quantities sent to online channels and supply chain hurdles due to regulatory crackdowns were cited as the possible reasons by the brokerage.
Additionally, the launches face intensified regulatory surveillance against unauthorized sale and promotion by the regulator in order to ensure ethical practices in the supply chain of GLP-1 drugs. “Our interactions with companies suggest the product is still in the initial days of launch. Companies are testing the waters with demand and supply, and they expect the market to settle down in the next few months. Impact of Semaglutide launch on existing diabetes drugs should also become clear in coming months,” Jefferies wrote.

Why Sun Pharma, Lupin and Torrent Pharma can emerge as winners

Notably, these are strictly prescription-drugs. Endocrinologists and internal medicine specialists can mainly prescribe the drugs, along with cardiologists only for some indications. “Thus, companies with strong connect with specialist doctors and a large-scale cardio franchise such as Sun, Lupin and Torrent could emerge as eventual winners,” the international brokerage said.
The Nifty Pharma is among the only two sectoral indices which were in the green on NSE on Friday. Piramal Pharma, Mankind Pharma and other stocks gained up to 2%, as seen in the afternoon.Jefferies has a ‘Buy’ call on Alkem Laboratories, Emcure Pharmaceuticals, Lupin, Mankind Pharma, Sun Pharma, Torrent Pharma and Zydus Lifesciences. It however has an ‘Underperform’ rating for Cipla and Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories.

As per industry data, the penetration of GLP-1 drugs is still very low in India, reaching only about 5% of people with diabetes and 4% of those with obesity. This leaves a vast untapped pool in the country, which has over 100 million diabetics and 250 million individuals with obesity.

Ozempic was priced at Rs 8,800–11,175, while Wegovy cost Rs 10,850–16,400 a month. In comparison, Mounjaro (tirzepatide) from Eli Lilly cost between Rs 13,000 and Rs 26,000 per injection, depending on the dosage. Each injection consists of four monthly shots.

The high prices of existing drugs have led investors to expect that cheaper generics will see strong demand in India, although regulatory oversight remains critical.

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)

Amid persistent global uncertainty and volatility, a more constructive view is emerging on Indian equities as valuations correct meaningfully across sectors. Sahil Kapoor from DSP Mutual Fund speaking with ET Now noted that the market backdrop has changed significantly over the past two years, pointing out, “Indian markets were trading upwards of 25 times multiple… valuations were also very-very challenging at that time.

Fast forward to today, Nifty trades below 20 times multiple… valuations have come down significantly.” While earnings growth has slowed to a more modest pace, he emphasised that the decline in valuations is now creating opportunities for investors willing to take a long-term view. “Earnings growth is still the challenge, but at least valuations have come down significantly… buying cheap or below fair value is in our control,” he said, underscoring the importance of focusing on what investors can control in uncertain environments.

Within sectors, Kapoor sees financials, particularly private sector banks, as offering compelling risk-reward.

He highlighted that “top private banks are trading close to two times price to book… some are near Global Financial Crisis lows,” adding that such levels provide a favourable entry point even without aggressive earnings assumptions. He further noted that “even if credit growth aligns with nominal GDP at 10% to 12%, it still makes sense to go overweight,” suggesting that reasonable growth expectations are sufficient to justify allocation to the sector. Addressing concerns about competition from public sector banks, Kapoor maintained that the feared disruption has not yet materialised in the data.

“If PSU banks were underpricing aggressively, it should reflect in market share… but it has not appeared in numbers,” he said, adding that private banks continue to gain share steadily despite the prevailing narrative. He also pointed out that investors are currently benefiting from a combination of negative sentiment and cyclical pressures, which have compressed valuations.

In the IT sector, Kapoor acknowledged that growth has slowed sharply, with “revenue growth… between zero to 3%… a very-very low number.” However, he noted that much of this weakness is already reflected in stock prices, making valuations more attractive. Importantly, he highlighted that “margins have not shrunk… that suggests businesses are managing the cycle well,” indicating resilience despite the slowdown. With large IT companies trading at compressed multiples, he believes selective accumulation could be warranted. “At 14–17 times multiples, there is no harm in nibbling into these names,” he said, pointing to strong return metrics and long-term business quality.
On the subject of foreign institutional investors, Kapoor pushed back against the widely held belief that flows drive returns. “Flows do not cause returns… there is no correlation,” he said, arguing that valuations and fundamentals remain far more important. He also noted that currency concerns may be less of a headwind going forward, observing that “the rupee is quite oversold… a lot is already priced in.” This combination of factors, he suggested, could make India more appealing to global investors at current levels. “This is the time to look at India more constructively,” he added.Beyond financials and IT, Kapoor sees emerging opportunities in other pockets of the market as well. He pointed out that “some FMCG names have been completely beaten down… even a small uptick in consumption can revive the sector,” while also highlighting select opportunities in auto ancillaries and chemicals. According to him, the current environment allows investors to build a diversified portfolio of quality businesses at more reasonable valuations.

Despite the improving valuation comfort, Kapoor remains cautious on broader market segments, particularly mid- and small-cap stocks. He concluded, “The preference for us is largecap… small and midcap are still not there,” signalling a continued tilt towards stability and quality in the current phase.

With valuations resetting across key sectors and much of the pessimism already priced in, Indian equities are gradually turning attractive again. However, the approach remains measured—focused on largecaps, quality businesses, and disciplined accumulation rather than aggressive risk-taking.

Health officials are closely monitoring the highly mutated COVID-19 variant BA.3.2, nicknamed “Cicada,” after detections in wastewater samples from at least 25 U.S. states and clinical cases as of early 2026. The Omicron descendant, first identified in South Africa in November 2024, has raised concerns over potential immune escape but has not yet driven a surge in severe illness or hospitalizations nationwide.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention detailed the variant’s spread in a March 19, 2026, report in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. BA.3.2 carries roughly 70 to 75 substitutions and deletions in the spike protein compared with JN.1 lineages used in the 2025-2026 vaccines, prompting laboratory studies suggesting reduced neutralization from existing antibodies.

As of February 11, 2026, the variant appeared in 23 countries, with notable rises in parts of Europe. In the U.S., it was first detected June 27, 2025, in a traveler arriving at San Francisco International Airport from the Netherlands. The initial clinical sample from a U.S. patient came January 5, 2026. Wastewater surveillance later identified it across diverse states, indicating broader circulation than confirmed cases suggest.

Origin and Nickname

Researchers coined “Cicada” because the variant remained largely undetected for months after its initial identification, much like the insect that spends years underground before emerging. It descends from the earlier BA.3 Omicron subvariant that circulated briefly in 2021-2022 before fading. BA.3.2 represents a genetically distinct lineage, separate from dominant JN.1 offshoots like XFG.

Two sublineages, BA.3.2.1 and BA.3.2.2, have been noted, with ongoing evolution observed. The World Health Organization placed it on its variants under monitoring list in December 2025, citing the high mutation count and potential antibody evasion without evidence of a clear growth advantage or increased severity at that time.

Spread in the United States

Wastewater samples detected BA.3.2 in 132 sites across 25 states by February 11, 2026, including California, New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Florida, Texas, Hawaii and others. Additional findings included four traveler nasal swabs, three airplane wastewater samples and five clinical respiratory specimens from four states.

By mid-March, some trackers showed detections in up to 29 states and Puerto Rico, though overall prevalence remained low — around 0.19% to 0.55% of sequenced samples in national surveillance from December 2025 to March 2026. In contrast, certain European countries saw BA.3.2 reach 10% to 40% of sequences between November 2025 and January 2026.

National COVID-19 case levels stayed relatively low in early 2026, with other Omicron subvariants still dominant. Experts emphasize that wastewater signals often precede clinical detections, serving as an early warning system.

Symptoms of the Cicada Variant

Symptoms linked to BA.3.2 mirror those of other recent Omicron subvariants and generally remain mild, especially in vaccinated or previously exposed individuals. Common reports include:

• Cough
• Fatigue
• Runny nose or congestion
• Headache
• Sore throat
• Mild fever or chills
• Body or muscle aches

No data indicates BA.3.2 causes more severe disease than circulating strains. Hospitalized cases identified so far involved older adults with underlying conditions or a young child receiving outpatient care; all survived. Doctors note that sore throat sometimes appears prominent.

Risk Factors and Immune Escape Concerns

The primary concern stems from the variant’s mutations potentially reducing protection from prior infection or the 2025-2026 vaccines targeting LP.8.1 antigens. Laboratory studies showed lower antibody neutralization against BA.3.2 compared with JN.1 strains, though real-world effectiveness data is still emerging.

Higher-risk groups include:

• Older adults, particularly those 65 and older
• People with comorbidities such as heart disease, diabetes or weakened immune systems
• Unvaccinated or under-vaccinated individuals
• Those with recent waning immunity

Prevention and Public Health Response

Health officials recommend staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccination, including the 2025-2026 formulation. While it offers the best protection against severe outcomes from current strains, its effectiveness against BA.3.2 may be somewhat lower. Additional layers of defense include:

• Testing when symptomatic
• Improved indoor ventilation
• Masking in crowded or high-risk settings
• Hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette

Broader Context in 2026

Six years after the pandemic’s start, COVID-19 remains endemic, causing millions of illnesses and thousands of deaths annually in the U.S. Seasonal patterns and new variants continue to influence transmission. BA.3.2’s slow emergence highlights how SARS-CoV-2 can evolve in under-monitored lineages before gaining traction.

Public health messaging focuses on preparedness rather than alarm. Most infections produce mild illness, and existing tools — vaccines, antivirals and basic precautions — help mitigate risks. WastewaterSCAN and similar projects have proven valuable for early detection.

For individuals, monitoring personal symptoms and consulting healthcare providers for testing or treatment remain key. Those at higher risk should discuss booster timing with their doctor.

As spring progresses, officials will watch whether BA.3.2 gains ground or remains a minor player. Continued vigilance, vaccination and surveillance will guide responses to this and future variants.

While Cicada adds another chapter to COVID-19’s evolution, current evidence suggests it does not signal an immediate major threat. Americans can reduce personal risk through familiar preventive steps while public health systems track its trajectory.