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A new draft code of conduct released on Thursday by officials in Australia would require tech giants like Google and Facebook to start paying news companies to distribute their content.
Why it matters: If Australia adopts the plan and it becomes a model for others around the world, such measures could offer a significant boost to the news industry, especially local news, as it faces financial decline.
Details: Under the proposed new code, the Australian government says it will give U.S. tech companies three months to negotiate terms with publishers over how they will compensate them for their work.
The rule has been in motion for a while. The Australian government said in April that it would be developing some sort of mandatory order for tech giants to pay news firms.
Context: History shows that tech giants, and Google in particular, don't take well to these types of measures.
The tech industry's argument against such laws is that because they're too broad, companies would end up overpaying and decide to quit the markets they cover. That could harm local publishers who depend on distribution from the tech firms.
Be smart: Many in the media industry argue that companies like Google and Facebook use its content to make their services more valuable to users and rake in billions of dollars in ad revenue as a result. The tech platforms say the media companies freely provide them with headlines and snippets to share because they want the traffic the platforms send them.
The big picture: The plan is part of a larger global effort to tilt the scales back in favor of content creators and away from tech companies as the pandemic continues to eat at the advertising market, putting thousands of local and national media companies out of business.
What's next: The draft plan will be open for comment for a month, after which it will move to consideration by Australia's parliament.
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Protests sparked earlier this year by the dissolution of Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit's Future Forward Party have evolved into a massive youth-led movement that's rattling Thailand's establishment, including the once-untouchable monarchy.
What he's saying: "No one knows how this is going to end or where this journey is going to lead us," Thanathorn told Axios in a Zoom interview this week. “We would like to see a peaceful transition to democracy, but it’s not really up to us."
Background: Thanathorn has had a short and tumultuous political career since leaving the family business — Thailand's largest auto parts manufacturer — to co-found the Future Forward Party and challenge the ruling junta in 2019.
After Future Forward finished a strong third, the backlash began.
Student leaders are demanding constitutional reform and new elections, as well as protections for LGBTQ people and an end to corporal punishment in schools. Most shocking is their demand for reform of the monarchy.
Between the lines: Thailand is a constitutional monarchy in which politics are constrained by the ever-present prospect of a military coup (they are more frequent in Thailand than anywhere else on Earth).
Driving the news: Parliament delayed a decision last week on whether to amend the constitution, prompting yet more protests.
What to watch: With the protests continuing to grow, he says the range of possible outcomes includes Prayuth's resignation, fresh elections or even another military coup.
His bottom line: “Even though there’s no clear path to democracy at this point in time — even though things look very dark ... I think we are very hopeful in the sense that genuine democracy is achievable."
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) said on CNN's "State of the Union" Sunday that she believes it's "extremely important" that Joe Biden offer Sen. Bernie Sanders and other progressive leaders Cabinet positions if he's elected president.
The big picture: Ocasio-Cortez was pressed repeatedly on policy differences between her and the more moderate Biden, including her opposition to fracking and support for Medicare for All. She responded that it would be a "privilege" and a "luxury" to be able to lobby a Biden administration on progressive issues, insisting that the focus right now should be on winning the White House.
What she's saying: "I think what a lot of people misunderstood about the progressive movement is that it wasn't a slogan when Bernie ran on saying, 'Not me, us.' And so it's not just about where Bernie Sanders is next term or what role that Sen. Sanders is playing, but it's really about who the Biden administration is choosing to lead agencies across the board," Ocasio-Cortez said.
Worth noting: Politico reported last week that Sanders is interested in becoming Biden's Labor secretary. If he's tapped for a Cabinet position, however, Vermont's Republican governor would get to decide who fills his Senate seat.
Congratulations! You're about to be eligible to ... wait some more for the vaccine.
The big picture: States are expanding eligibility for COVID vaccines by broad age groups — and some are opening it to all adults. But that doesn't always mean they have enough vaccine supplies to offer appointments to everyone in the new groups.
What they're saying: “The problem is not the eligibility standards. The problem is the supply," New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a local TV interview this week after New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo expanded eligibility to everyone 50 and over.
Other local health officials are sending similar messages.
The other side: Russ Schwartz and Katherine Quirk, who launched a Facebook group to help Florida seniors find vaccines, say the state — which is expanding by age groups — has steadily increased its vaccine supplies and sites to the point where it's easier to help people find options now.
Between the lines: Some states are moving a lot faster than Biden's goal of making all Americans eligible for vaccinations by May 1. The latest include Florida and California; all Florida adults will be eligible to get the shots as of April 5, and California will be open to all adults on April 15.
The bottom line: "It could put some states and governors in a difficult position if they say 'yes, we’re opening the gates' and a lot of people can’t get appointments," Kates said.