President Donald Trump signaled over the weekend that he may push back the June 19 deadline for ByteDance to divest TikTok’s U.S. operations if no satisfactory deal is struck in time. His remarks, made during an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” at his Mar-a-Lago estate, inject fresh uncertainty into the short-video app’s future, even…
Tesla’s new car registrations in Britain and Germany plunged to their lowest levels in over two years last month—even as overall electric-vehicle (EV) demand in both markets continued to climb. In April, Tesla sold just 512 vehicles in the U.K.—a 62 percent drop from 1,352 in the same month a year earlier—while German deliveries fell…
A shifting transatlantic landscape and the brutal realities of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine are driving Europe’s defence industry into a high-stakes talent war for artificial-intelligence experts. Where once top AI engineers looked to Silicon Valley, today many are arriving—or returning—to work on Europe’s cutting-edge battlefield systems. Industry leaders, start-up founders and recruits point to U.S.…
Starbucks’ ambitious turnaround has hit turbulence, as the global coffee chain grappled with a fourth consecutive quarter of same-store sales declines and shrinking profit margins. Despite bold promises from CEO Brian Niccol and a high-profile “Back to Starbucks” initiative, the company’s performance fell short of investor expectations. A confluence of factors—from inflated prices and menu…
In a surprising pivot this week, President Donald Trump announced a package of measures designed to soften the impact of his own auto tariffs, granting U.S. automakers and their suppliers temporary relief from steep import levies. The decision, coming just days before 25 percent duties on foreign-made vehicles and parts were set to take effect,…
In April 2025, China’s manufacturing sector experienced its most significant contraction in 16 months, highlighting the mounting challenges facing the world’s second-largest economy. The official Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) fell to 49.0, down from 50.5 in March, signaling a contraction in factory activity. This downturn is attributed to a combination of factors, including aggressive U.S.…
Volvo Cars today announced an ambitious SEK 18 billion (approximately $1.87 billion) “cost and cash action plan” and simultaneously scrapped its financial outlook for both 2025 and 2026, after reporting a sharp collapse in first‐quarter profit amid weakening sales, mounting price pressure and rising trade‐policy headwinds. The Chinese‐owned Swedish automaker posted an operating profit of…
Emerging economies are leading the charge when it comes to trusting artificial intelligence (AI), according to a landmark global survey that highlights a widening trust gap between developing and mature markets. The study, which canvassed more than 48,000 respondents across 47 countries, found that 60 percent of individuals in emerging markets are willing to place…
Crude oil prices slid sharply on Tuesday, weighed down by a broad-based reassessment of global demand amid mounting economic headwinds. Investors and analysts cut their growth projections after fresh indicators pointed to slowing activity across major economies—from Europe’s manufacturing contraction to faltering consumer spending in China—casting a pall over the outlook for oil consumption in…
The euro has rocketed nearly 10% against the dollar since early March, compounding the pain for Europe’s export-heavy companies already reeling from sweeping U.S. tariffs. Normally, currencies weaken in response to punitive duties, softening the blow by making exports cheaper. Instead, a confluence of factors—ranging from market jitters over U.S. trade policy to a sudden…
