A Wednesday morning stroll around the world

🇳🇱 The Netherlands convicted 17 drug cartel members in its largest criminal trial ever. Members of the "Mocro-maffia" cartel, one of the Netherlands' largest cocaine distributors, were handed prison sentences ranging from just under two years up to life over the course of the six-year trial. Dutch officials sentenced the cartel’s kingpin – who was the Netherlands’ most-wanted fugitive for years – to life in prison for his involvement in at least five assassinations across the country.

🇨🇳 China revised its law on state secrets, adding to risks for foreign businesses. Chinese law requires that anyone intending to disclose information relating to state secrets, national security, or China's leaders must get government authorization – with an expansive definition of these terms that US officials say allows China to censor essentially all information pertaining to politics, economics, and society. The new changes to the law are the first since 2010, and increase its scope to include more sensitive information like certain “work secrets” in addition to state secrets.

🇳🇿 New Zealand officially overturned the world’s first generational smoking ban. The law, previously set to take effect in July, would’ve banned tobacco sales for people born after 2008, cut nicotine concentration in tobacco products, and reduced the number of tobacco retailers. New Zealand’s new PM said yesterday’s repeal is aimed at curbing inflation and improving the economy, which fell into recession in 2023. The former smoking ban acted as a model for anti-tobacco legislation worldwide, including efforts in Canada, Australia, France, Mexico, and the UK.