H&M’s Brand Reboot and Efficiency Drive Lift Profits Beyond Expectations

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.…

Trump Organization Has Not Used ‘Made in USA’ Claim for T1 Smartphone Amid Production Realities

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 Slide as Global Peers Surge Ahead

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…

Choice Screen on the Horizon as UK’s CMA Targets Google’s Search Dominance

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…

Rising Doubts Cast Shadow Over China’s ‘Summer Davos’

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…

YouTube Exemption Under Fire as Australia’s eSafety Chief Pushes for Uniform Under-16 Ban

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…

Local Chinese governments promote ‘automated exports,’ inflating car sales and growth figures

Local authorities across China have increasingly turned to “zero-mileage” car exports as a shortcut to bolster auto sales figures and inflate regional growth statistics. By registering brand-new vehicles as used and shipping them overseas, municipal and provincial governments are helping prop up domestic production numbers while meeting ambitious economic targets set by Beijing. This strategy…

Blistering Heat Waves Tied to Global Warming Spark Health Alerts Across US East and Midwest

Millions of Americans from New England to the Great Lakes have been grappling with “oppressive” heat this week as temperatures soar into record territory, prompting health warnings, travel disruptions and renewed scrutiny of climate change’s role in extreme weather. With high humidity pushing heat index values above 110°F in some areas, authorities are urging residents…

Greenpeace Condemns Bezos’ Venice Wedding for Environmental and Social Costs

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 Automakers Seek Lighter Rules to Counter Chinese Mini‑EV Invasion

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…