Meta Platforms is on the brink of a potentially punishing showdown with European regulators over its “pay-or-consent” privacy scheme for Facebook and Instagram users. If the company’s recent tweaks fail to satisfy the European Commission’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) requirements, Meta could incur fines of up to 5 percent of its average daily global revenue—translating…
H&M has delivered a second-quarter profit that surpassed market forecasts, underscoring the early success of CEO Daniel Erver’s strategic overhaul. While sales dipped modestly amid cautious consumer spending, H&M’s renewed focus on profitability, efficiency enhancements and a refreshed product mix propelled operating profit to 5.91 billion Swedish crowns, edging past analysts’ 5.88 billion crown estimate.…
When the Trump Organization unveiled its gold-hued T1 smartphone this month, it boasted of a “MADE IN THE USA” badge front and center on its website. But within days of the launch, that claim quietly vanished, replaced by vague references to “American-Proud Design” and devices “brought to life right here in the USA.” The retreat…
Oxford and Cambridge, long synonymous with academic excellence, ceded ground in the latest global university league tables, reflecting growing strains on Britain’s higher-education system. In the annual QS World University Rankings, Oxford slipped to fourth place and Cambridge fell to sixth, marking the second consecutive year both institutions have lost podium positions. Experts point to…
U.S. exchanges and the Securities and Exchange Commission have been engaged in months of high-level discussions aimed at overhauling the regulatory framework for publicly traded companies. With the number of listings languishing near multi-decade lows—down 36 percent since 2000—market operators are pressing for targeted relief to lower the cost and complexity of going and staying…
Britain’s antitrust authority is poised to compel Google to provide users with prominent links to rival search engines, marking a significant intervention in the digital marketplace. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has invoked new powers under the UK’s Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill to address concerns that Google’s entrenched market position—accounting for more…
China’s flagship “Summer Davos” forum in Tianjin has long been hailed as a symbol of the country’s commitment to global economic engagement. Yet this year’s Annual Meeting of the New Champions is unfolding against a backdrop of mounting uncertainty—raising questions about whether the event can live up to its lofty ambitions. From faltering domestic growth…
Australia’s landmark social media age-restriction law is set to take effect this December, barring children under 16 from creating accounts on major platforms. Yet a fierce debate has erupted over whether YouTube should be exempted from the rules—a dispute that pits the country’s eSafety Commissioner against the government and the Silicon Valley giant alike. As…
Global environmental organization Greenpeace made headlines Monday by staging a protest in St. Mark’s Square against Jeff Bezos’ upcoming wedding to journalist Laura Sanchez. Unfurling a 20-by-10-meter banner depicting the Amazon founder laughing beside the slogan “If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay more tax,” activists from Greenpeace Italy and the…
European carmakers Stellantis and Renault have launched a joint campaign urging Brussels to carve out a new, less‑stringent vehicle category to shield domestic manufacturers from an influx of low‑cost Chinese small electric vehicles. Facing mounting pressure from competitively priced mini‑EVs that skirt the high engineering and regulatory costs imposed by the European Union, the two…
