Yoast can be pretty strict with its traffic light system, especially when it comes to SEO title length. I've been there, trying to squeeze titles into their "green" criteria and worrying it might mess with user experience.But honestly, I'm starting to think it's not as crucial as Yoast makes it seem. Just like you, I've noticed longer titles all over the place, especially on platforms like Google News. It seems like the focus is shifting more towards clarity and relevance rather than just fitting into a character limit.Take that example you mentioned from The Star—super long title, but it's packed with info and probably doing just fine in terms of clicks and engagement. If a longer title helps convey the message better and attract readers, it might be worth bending the "rules" a bit. At the end of the day, it's all about balancing SEO guidelines with what works best for your audience. Maybe test out a few longer titles and see how they perform. Yoast's recommendations are helpful, but they aren't the be-all and end-all.