In this week’s wrapup, we look at why India’s growing obsession with opinion trading platforms is raising regulatory alarms, how CRISPR just saved a baby’s life (and might cure cancer next), the feud between YouTuber Mohak Mangal and ANI Media, how Cartoon Network is staging a comeback in a streaming-first world and why Japan lost its crown as the world’s top creditor to Germany.

And for this week's markets edition, we discuss the rally in National Stock Exchange (NSE) shares, which are soaring in the unlisted market. What’s driving the frenzy and what does it tell us about investor sentiment? Click here to read the full markets story and know more.

Meanwhile, here’s a recap of what we wrote over the week…

The curious case of Indian prediction markets

Online platforms where people bet on everything from cricket scores to election results are booming in India. Nearly 5 crore Indians are already using them. But there’s one problem. They exist in a legal grey area.

No regulator wants to touch them. SEBI says they’re not securities. The courts haven’t clarified if it’s skill or chance. And platforms are operating unchecked, using stock market lingo, mimicking complex products like CFDs and confusing users into thinking they’re trading, not gambling.

Check out our Monday newsletter to know how other countries deal with opinion trading and why India might finally need to pick a side.

Are we ready to cure cancer?

Six months ago, a baby with a fatal liver condition called CPS1 deficiency had no hope of survival. Until scientists tried something radical: a personalised gene-editing therapy using CRISPR. And it worked.

But this miracle also reignited an old debate. How far should we go with gene editing? Is it okay to fix deadly mutations, but wrong to tweak human embryos for “desirable traits”? And where do we draw the ethical line between treating disease and playing God?

Check out Tuesday’s story to know the science behind CRISPR, how it’s being tested in cancer treatments, and why global regulation could still be lagging behind the tech.

Is ANI a bully?

YouTuber Mohak Mangal recently accused ANI Media, the newswire giant, of demanding ₹48 lakhs to remove copyright strikes from his videos. And other creators have echoed similar complaints.

But is ANI in the wrong? Not really. It owns the content and can enforce its rights. Yet, India’s copyright laws around “fair use” are fuzzy at best. The courts haven’t defined clear rules, and creators are left in limbo.

Our Wednesday newsletter talks about this battle and why India urgently needs an upgrade to its copyright framework.

What’s up with Cartoon Network?

In 2022, people thought Cartoon Network was gone for good. The studio was folded into Warner Bros. Animation staff were laid off and its identity seemed lost.

But now, it’s plotting a comeback with nostalgia-laced reboots, adult-focused content like Rick and Morty and a big push into streaming. Even in India, CN is going all in with local content and dubbed classics.

But how did it all happen? Especially, when CB went through debt-fuelled corporate mergers, collapsing ad revenues and shifting kid habits.

Find it all in our Thursday’s story.

Japan is no more the world's top creditor. But why?

For the past 34 years, Japan was the world’s top creditor. Which means it was lending more to the world than it borrowed. But now, Germany has taken the lead.

The twist? Japan didn’t fall behind because it did poorly. In fact, it hit a record high in net external assets. But Germany surged ahead thanks to a stronger current account surplus, currency advantages and a shift in global investments.

We explained why the euro beat the yen, how interest rates are reshaping the creditor game and whether Japan can reclaim its crown. Check it out in our Friday newsletter.

Finshots Weekly Quiz 🧩

Here’s your chance to win some exclusive Finshots merch. All you have to do is click on 👉🏽this link, answer all the questions correctly by 12 noon on June 6th (Friday) and tune in to our Sunday newsletter aka Sunny Side Up next week to check if you got lucky.

That’s it from us this week. Have a great weekend!

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