Creator economy & Cannes Lions: Cannes is leaning into “creator town” energy, with 13,000+ attendees and 250+ creators chasing brand deals and content opportunities—signaling how influencer-led marketing is moving from the margins to the center. Influencer marketing in Nigeria: Nigeria’s creator economy is surging past 250,000 active influencers, with brands shifting budgets toward performance-led creator partnerships and micro-influencers. Ad effectiveness awards: Uber Eats and Special US won the Grand Effie for “Football is for Food,” underscoring how sports fandom can be turned into measurable growth. Regulation & ad compliance: India’s CCPA fined Storia Foods and English Oven ₹1 lakh each over misleading “100%” claims, warning that absolute numbers can’t be used loosely. Sports media rules: UEFA says Euro 2028 hydration breaks won’t mimic World Cup stoppages unless heat thresholds are met. Retail media & promotions: New York is criticized for heavy lottery advertising spend, while Best Buy is pushing World Cup tie-in discounts for EA Sports FC 26. Marketing tech & privacy: Research highlights a browser-based attack that can fingerprint visited sites via SSD timing, adding fuel to the privacy-and-ads debate. Local brand building: Oman’s Chamber launched its 5th Franchise Programme to help scalable Omani brands grow and create jobs.